Oh Dear Blog:My apologies for neglecting you since this summer. Truth is, I have been doing more living, and less time on-line and bloggin’.
Wow! I had no idea that Zavi being mobile would need so much of my time to the point that I wouldn’t even have time to give you a quick update. So here it is. The Update and of course a lovely recipe just in time for the Holidays. Chewy-fudgy-Brownie bites!
Zavier is now a year young! We celebrated by going to Au Lac Restaurant in Fountain Valley Ca.
What an amazing little man he is! At about 1o-ish months he began taking his first steps! Since then he has been helping me with things like sweeping, mopping the floor with his favorite fruit and of course reorganizing the lower cupboards and drawers in each room. He absolutely loves the access to clean water found in the toilet and thinks the stick with the brush is a fabulous tool to bless things around the house.
If he can reach the baskets of seasonal fruits in the kitchen pantry shelves, he will pick out the perfect juicy one (persimmons this time of year) and have an elaborate ceremony all over the kitchen tile floor and himself. He really knows how it’s done and with such passion!
We purchased a high chair off of craigslist.org which was a brilliant purchase I must say! It is an Eddie Bower all wood high chair with a clever second table design for quick clean up without having to remove the child from the chair. Because we dine at a low to the ground table (similar to a large coffee table) with cushions around it I at first did not see the point of getting a tall chair for him to look down on us while we eat. We have a routine now that Zavi seems to be a huge fan of. We place him in his wooden throne and feed him the green smoothie while we stand near him and sip ours. This way we can all be together enjoying our meal at relatively the same eye level, connecting. When we take time to connect through the eyes or through close conversation with Zavi I have noticed makes a big difference in how he acts and behaves. Zavi sits calmly and talks to us (in his language) and feels “included” which is important.
Not only does Zavi sit still while we feed him his green smoothie every morning; it gives us a few moments of uninterrupted time to clean up after his reorganizing adventures and fresh fruit sacrifices.
Now onto the food. There is one recipe in particular I want to share today because I have given it out at least five times in the past two weeks for treat ideas friends can take to Holiday gatherings.
Brownies are one of the simplest recipes and are incredibly decadent!
Fudge Brownies / bites Serves however many are closest to the plate
2 c walnuts
2 c packed of medjool dates pitted
Pinch of pink salt
½ tsp cinnamon (more if you wish)
1/2c -3/4 c cacao powder ( the more you use, the more chocolaty it will be)
Step 1: In an emergency Must-Need-Brownie-Now situation you may omit this soaking the walnuts step. There may be a slight bitter flavor because of the walnuts not being sprouted, but it will still be delicious.
Two days before brownie time, place walnuts in water and soak 6-8 hrs. Rinse well then place in dehydrator and dry at 118° until all moisture is removed. Apx 1 full day.
Ding so will get rid of the “bitter taste” or tannins walnuts have when not sprouted.
Step 2: Place all ingredients into food processor and pulse several times until brownie consistency is reached.
Step 3: Using a small ice cream scoop or TB measurer, form brownies into fun shapes. You may also gently press the brownie mix into a lasagna pan or round torte pan and cut into desired brownie sizes/ shapes.
Place these brownies on a decorative platter and watch them disappear!
Recipe variation: You may press this into a pie pan as chocolate crust!
