Christ is risen!
I know we no longer greet each other with this greeting but it is a greeting that is cheerful to me. I know of a saint that would keep saying it all year round.
I recently discovered something about my health which makes sense why I cannot be consistent with blogging about amazing recipes that I test. I literally beat myself up about this but I have to take care of my health. I cannot help you if I can’t help myself is what many people tell me. Lord have mercy on me and help me. My doctor, quoting her exact words, “You test positive for lyme but you somehow healed yourself.” Bewildering and amazing at the same time to hear this. When I was looking into the symptoms of lyme, it ALL makes sense now. My infectious disease doctor, who is helping me heal the post lyme disease syndrome, has told me that there are no strict dietary restrictions but it doesn’t hurt to eat the Mediterranean diet, which I am currently on and have been living this way for almost a decade. I have personally noticed that certain foods trigger some symptoms. Moderation is key otherwise anxiety goes through the roof. Or I find myself crying after a wonderful work out at the gym or painting. Crying is no surprise to me, humbly speaking. I cry easily. But it is a disease that makes no sense.
I hope you can forgive me with my inconsistency. I thank the Lord at the same time because I think that I may be able to help those who face the challenges of lyme and its symptoms. It is a journey that requires patience, persistence, and most of all, rest. It gives me hope that my blog can rede those in need of help. Anxiety, depression, and fatigue are the hardest symptoms, in my personal opinion, to live with on a daily basis. One moment you are smiling, the next moment you are sobbing.
On a positive note…
The current time we are living in is the Apostles Fast. I live in a different kind of calendar than the rest of the world. I will not go into a long schpeel about that. If you’re an Orthodox Christian who practices the moderately strict fast, you are in for a treat! Or if you are someone who lives a vegetarian/vegan lifestyle for any reason, be prepared for a real treat as well!!! I just hope you don’t have nut allergies of any kind, since nuts are the main attraction in this recipe.
So. I have A TON of almond flour. I am applying the gluten free diet more into my life for too many reason to bore you with. I am not diagnosed as celiac nor have intense gluten issues but I do feel better when I have less. My doctor claims I have IBS. Noticing the symptoms from gluten, I feel better with the gluten free alternatives.
Another bag of almond flour came and I am not sure what to do with all of it. God guide me! As I was pouring the bags of almond flour into a large container — to have more space for other ingredients in my pantry — I noticed there was a recipe on the back of the bags: Fudge Brownies.
Thank the Lord! Sometimes it can get complicated cooking with gluten free flour.
I have not had brownies in ages and thought this might be a good one to try out. This recipe seems easy to make and I have all of the ingredients on hand. Let’s do some baking! *break out in70s dancing*
My usual baking experience as a kid was ‘Pillsbury’ cookies or brownies from a box, with a small handful of experiences filled with baking cupcakes from scratch with my then childhood friends. My mom, raised traditionally, learned how to cook but moved to the States escaping communism before she could learn baking. To me, baking back then seemed like an expensive hobby so it wasn’t one I pursued during my teenage years to manage my anxiety. My tendency was to buy art supplies and make peace signs and abstract art. Painting was and is an expensive hobby as it is! 🙂
Egg Replacement
I will note, this recipe by ‘Nature’s Eats’ uses eggs but I veganized it by using aquafaba, which luckily I have fresh on hand. I have a Greek husband, for one thing (even though hummus isn’t a Greek thing). But he loves the homemade hummus I make so I tend to have this on hand. I consider aquafaba to be an essential staple to have in any pantry. If you do not have fresh aquafaba or canned chickpeas, apple sauce can be used in place of eggs as well. There are many egg alternatives to use (it all depends on their use) but aquafaba and applesauce are my favorite substitutes for eggs.
Cacao Powder
The cacao powder I use for this recipe is “Addictive Wellness Raw Cacao Powder”. It is sugar-free, gluten-free, vegan and paleo friendly. It is considered the highest antioxidant food, grown in volcanic soil, ethically sourced, an heirloom species, mycotoxin-free. Additionally, it is rich in magnesium, zinc, iron, and chromium. Furthermore, it is low in carbs, GMO free, dairy free, sugar-free, raw. so you don’t need to feel the guilty when eating these, if that’s on your mind! 😉 You might even say, OH FUDGE, that is really good! 😄😁
Sugar And Sweetness
If you are someone who can’t have sugar but can have honey, maple, yacon syrup, agave, and or any other liquid sweetener I haven’t mentioned, go ahead and give it a try! First off, I believe that desserts aren’t meant to be healthy! They are supposed to be a treat! Simple as that. Truth be told, many us indulge in sweets excessively. I, for one am a sucker for certain sweet things but I cannot over do it otherwise. But this recipe is a healthy dessert treat to have with a glass of milk of choice (non dairy for me, thank you very much).
I will get back to you on the full nutritional benefits on the ingredients in these brownies. I have been withholding this recipe from you long enough. I blame the BeeGees. They inspire so much joy in me that I have been lacking lately. May these brownies bring you joy like the joy that Christ brings to me in moments of grace when I am pain free.
Ingredient
1 cup Nature’s Eats Original Almond flour, or almond flour of choice
2 cups creamy almond butter or nut butter of choice
1 tsp baking powder
Chocolate chips (as many as you want)
1 cup maple syrup
1/2 cup cacao powder
1 tsp vanilla extract
6 tbsp apple sauce or aquafaba
Directions
- Preheat the oven to 350 F.
- In a large bowl, add almond butter, maple syrup, applesauce or aquafaba, and vanilla extract. Mix well until you get a smooth texture.
- Incorporate the dry ingredients, make sure you mix them well. Add in the chocolate chips in the batter.
- Pour the batter in an 8×8 baking pan. Add more chocolate chips on top and bake for 35 minutes. Wait until they cool down and enjoy.
Nutritional Benefits
Cacao Powder
Nutritional Profile of “Addictive Wellness Raw Cacao Powder”:
Nutritional Amount per Serving:
Total Fat: 2 g Saturated Fat: 1 g Trans Fat: 0 g Cholesterol: 0 mg Sodium: 0 g Total Carbohydrates: 2 g Dietary Fiber: 2 g Total Sugars: 0g Includes 0 g Added Sugars Protein: 2 g Calcium: 7 g Iron: 1 mg Potassium: 80 mg Magnesium: 8% Copper: 20%
Sources
Original recipe is by “Nature’s Eat”. This vegan recipe is an original adapted by me.
A Spiritual Steward 
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