Friday, August 29, 2008

Low Carb Chocolate and Hazelnut Higgedly Piggedlys




I have made a few new recipes lately which I will share sometime but this one would be my favourite as far as chocolate goes, it is very moorish so consider yourself warned :)

The image button doesn't seem to be working for me at the moment? but you can see what it looks like here: Low Carb Chocolate and Hazelnut Higgedly Piggedlys



Low Carb Chocolate and Hazelnut Higgedly Piggedlys

Note: non metric users, for each cup add an extra tablespoon, for each half a cup an extra half a tablespoon, as metric cup measures are slightly bigger.

200g/7oz Lindt 85% (broken into smallish pieces)
200g/7oz hazlelnuts, freshly roasted and either chopped or halved (I halved because they look good)
1.5 cups blanched almond meal
1/2 cup dessicated coconut (unsweetened finely shredded coconut, but coconut flour works too)
1/2 cup splenda
1tsp vanilla
50g/2oz coconut oil (I suggest trying first with an extra 50g or so of butter/coconut oil as my last batch turned out crumbly, see here)
50g/2oz unsalted butter
1/4 teaspoon salt (perhaps add half and taste in case its too much for the amount of base I made or do what I did and accidentally omit it and use salted butter)

Preheat oven to 180C/350F and grease baking tray with butter.

Melt butter and coconut oil, mix in vanilla.

In a large bowl mix together the almond meal, salt, coconut and splenda then mix in the wet ingredients. Press into tray firmly and bake until it starts to brown and smell like a yummy almond cookie!

Take out of the oven and let sit for a minute to firm then sprinkle the chocolate evenly over the top and place back into the oven for one more minute or until chocolate is melted.

With a palette knife spread the melted chocolate evenly and then scatter over the hazelnuts and gently press into the chocolate. chuck in fridge for a few hours to set.

Once set take out of fridge and using the tip of the knife stab it gently allowing it to break into jagged pieces, don't try to slice it because then the hazelnuts break up and it will look more messy. Store in a container and chuck into the fridge.

Tuesday, August 12, 2008

Rethinking Low-Fat Advice and Living in Starvation Mode

I was looking through the forum for some articles on fat for one of our new members whom is a little worried about fat, particularly saturated fat, we have all been there, right?

Anyway, whilst doing so I came across a couple of little nuggets that I posted ages ago which were such a good read. I would link to the original articles but it seems they are no longer online which is such a shame, I am very grateful that I quoted them otherwise I would never have come across them again. I really enjoyed reading these again and wanted to share.

These articles are from 1998 published in the Healthy Weight Journal, yet so applicable today.

Rethinking Low-Fat Advice

Living in Starvation Mode

Enjoy :)