The peanut butter cup gets a new look.

For a dessert, I often take walnuts, drizzle them with honey, add a few chocolate chips and call it a night. I then got to thinking how such a combo would work as a variation of the classic peanut butter cup, only deconstructed. This recipe does just that. It glorifies my makeshift dessert into something a bit more crave-worthy and gourmet. It’s also super easy!

Walnuts are the star of this desert. Almonds are garnering a lot of spotlight these days, and for good reason, but walnuts deserve some stage time too. In fact, walnuts contain nearly twice the amount of antioxidants than the same portion of any other nut. Walnuts also contribute to heart health, reduce the risk of certain types of cancer, prevent Type 2 diabetes and are packed with protein and fiber.

I use 70-percent dark chocolate in this recipe to minimize sugar content, but you could go ahead and use any chocolate you’d like.

Honey Walnut Butter Chocolate Bark

Ingredients:

• 200 grams dark chocolate (about 2 bars)
• 2 cups walnuts
• 2 tbsp honey
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon
• Dash of sea salt

Recipe:

Melt your favorite dark chocolate in a saucepan over low heat. Continuously mix the chocolate to break down the pieces. Be careful not to burn the chocolate.

Pour half the melted chocolate onto parchment paper. Spread until it forms an eighth-inch thick piece and put it into the freezer to harden. Set aside the other half of the melted chocolate for later use.

While the chocolate firms up in the freezer, spread the walnuts on a parchment paper lined baking sheet and drizzle evenly with honey.

Pop into a 350 degree Fahrenheit oven for approximately 12 minutes, or until the walnuts just begin to brown. Stay near the oven to prevent the walnuts from burning.

When finished, remove the walnuts and let them cool for a few minutes before placing them into a food processor to blend. When blending, standby as the walnuts turn from chunky to grainy. Once mealy like flour, add the sea salt and cinnamon. Continue to process until smooth but clumpy. Be patient – it will form butter. When it is complete, you should be able to shape the walnut butter with your hands.

Remove the chocolate from the freezer and, keeping about 1/2-inch in from the edge of the chocolate, place an even layer of the walnut butter atop the chocolate. You will have to pat down the walnut butter between your hands before placing onto the chocolate, as it’s too thick to be spreadable.

Pour the rest of the melted chocolate atop the walnut butter, sealing the edges.

Place the bark back into the freezer one last time to harden for another 10 minutes. When finished, break the bark into chunks for sharing (or not)!

Enjoy!

Aylin Erman currently resides in Istanbul and is creator of plant-based recipe website GlowKitchen.

The post Recipe: Honey Walnut Butter Chocolate Bark appeared first on EcoSalon.

Here are 12 real food alternatives to falling prey to the “junk food jones.” Some of these may seem high in fat, and they are, such as olives, nuts or cheese. However, the idea is quality not quantity. Enjoy the good things in life, but within reason, and you’ll find you are more than satisfied.

The trick is to keep real food snacks around, or bring them with you, so you’re not tempted with impulse buys near the register when you’re filling up at the gas station or buying office supplies. It’s all about retraining your palette and your habits.

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1. Nuts: Almonds, Pistachios, Cashews

I’ve gotten in the habit of keeping a bag of roasted almonds in my bag at all times. Yum!

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2. Fresh Fruit

I’ve been really enjoying oranges recently, especially tangerines. Other easy fresh fruit snacks are grapes, apples or pears.

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3. Dried fruit

Great on the go.

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4. Vegetables with hummus

An excellent source of fiber all around.

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5. Rice cakes with natural peanut butter or almond butter

Or celery with peanut butter. Remember the old days of “ants-on-a-log?”

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6. Cheese

Yes. Really. But good cheese! I’m still a believer that a few slices of cheese are better than eating a bag of potato chips. Try eating with rye crackers, thinly sliced, toasted pain au levain bread or simply on its own. My current favorites are aged gouda or goat gouda, gruyere, and manchego.

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7. Olives

Greek olives are nice to have on hand, especially when you’re eating cheese. You may need to shop around a bit to find your favorite style and olives can vary in quality depending on where you buy them from.

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8. Roasted vegetables

I’m a big fan of sweet potato fries. Mind you, when I say sweet potato fries, I don’t mean the ones at the pub down the street. Oven roast your own with a bit of olive oil, salt, pepper and fresh thyme. Delicious! Asparagus, which is currently in season, is another great option. Eat the spears like fries. Or, make a roasted beet salad to have on hand with onions and feta cheese.

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9. Straight up avocado

With salt. What’s not to love.

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10. Natural granola or fruit bars

Try 18 Rabbits or Larabars.

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11. The combination. Plain yogurt with granola, fruit and nuts

This is like dessert! Try experimenting with different fruit combinations or adding shredded coconut or a dusting of ground flax seed.

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12. Dark chocolate

Instead of reaching for cookies, try this alternative. A few squares of dark chocolate are inimitably satisfying.

Images: inside_man, minianna.com, givingitatry, aggleton, prakhar, Sashertootie, JC handmade, mwhammer,  MGF Lady Disdain,  aSILVA, CaseyJ

The post The Junk Food Jones: Retraining Your Palate with 12 Real Food Alternatives appeared first on EcoSalon.

While I may strive to eat healthy, it isn’t always easy. I still have sudden cravings for Fritos or frozen pizza, as buried taste memories re-surge from my heedless junk food days. I still have my moments of devouring a bag of potato chips or a recent favorite, corn nuts, but overall, I try hard to avoid such snacks. Still, we all sometimes need a snack. Question is: what should we be snacking on?

Here are 12 real food alternatives to falling prey to the “junk food jones.” Some of these may seem high in fat, and they are, such as olives, nuts or cheese. However, the idea is quality not quantity. Enjoy the good things in life, but within reason, and you’ll find you are more than satisfied.

The trick is to keep real food snacks around, or bring them with you, so you’re not tempted with impulse buys near the register when you’re filling up at the gas station or buying office supplies. It’s all about retraining your palette and your habits.

1. Nuts: Almonds, Pistachios, Cashews

I’ve gotten in the habit of keeping a bag of roasted almonds in my bag at all times. Yum!

2. Fresh Fruit

I’ve been really enjoying oranges recently, especially tangerines. Other easy fresh fruit snacks are grapes, apples or pears.

3. Dried fruit

Great on the go.

4. Vegetables with hummus

An excellent source of fiber all around.

5. Rice cakes with natural peanut butter or almond butter

Or celery with peanut butter. Remember the old days of “ants-on-a-log?”

6. Cheese

Yes. Really. But good cheese! I’m still a believer that a few slices of cheese are better than eating a bag of potato chips. Try eating with rye crackers, thinly sliced, toasted pain au levain bread or simply on its own. My current favorites are aged gouda or goat gouda, gruyere, and manchego.

7. Olives

Greek olives are nice to have on hand, especially when you’re eating cheese. You may need to shop around a bit to find your favorite style and olives can vary in quality depending on where you buy them from.

8. Roasted vegetables

I’m a big fan of sweet potato fries. Mind you, when I say sweet potato fries, I don’t mean the ones at the pub down the street. Oven roast your own with a bit of olive oil, salt, pepper and fresh thyme. Delicious! Asparagus, which is currently in season, is another great option. Eat the spears like fries. Or, make a roasted beet salad to have on hand with onions and feta cheese.

9. Straight up avocado

With salt. What’s not to love.

10. Natural granola or fruit bars

Try 18 Rabbits or Larabars.

11. The combination. Plain yogurt with granola, fruit and nuts

This is like dessert! Try experimenting with different fruit combinations or adding shredded coconut or a dusting of ground flax seed.

12. Dark chocolate

Instead of reaching for cookies, try this alternative. A few squares of dark chocolate are inimitably satisfying.

Images: inside_man, minianna.com, givingitatry, aggleton, prakhar, Sashertootie, JC handmade, mwhammer,  MGF Lady Disdain,  aSILVA, CaseyJ

The post The Junk Food Jones: Retraining Your Palate with 12 Real Food Alternatives appeared first on EcoSalon.