I know.  You just read “hemp” in the title and immediately assumed it was about marijuana.  I GET IT.  I live in Oregon, where it is now legal to smoke, grow, and posses these controversial little plants.

But that’s not what this post is about.  Because I’m not about to touch that conversation with a 10 ft bong pole.

Hemp hearts.  These are the shelled seeds of the hemp plant, and they are loaded with maximum nutrition.  Back when we were trying to find new and varied protein sources for my food intolerant toddler, these were a saving grace.  I mixed them with a little bit of raw honey to make them barely sticky, and gave my kid the spoon.

He was a serious fan.

Now that summer is squarely upon us, I have zucchini coming out of my ears.  It’s one of my kid’s favorite foods so I planted a few little seedlings…and they grew.  In fact, they’re mutant and grow as big as my head. Or roughly seven times as big as my hand.

We have to get creative to use them all, so I’ve been trying out different recipes using as few ingredients as possible to maintain the natural flavor of the fantastic zucchini, and to get them out of my kitchen fast.

I made a fast coating of hemp seeds, arrow root, a dash of tumeric, paprika and salt.  They were a fast hit with my family, and we chowed all of them.

ALL. OF. THEM.

They went so fast that I didn’t even manage to get a good picture because they were so tasty and nobody could wait for a dumb camera.

Did I mention they’re paleo and vegan, too?

Ingredients:

• 1 large (ish) zucchini, cut into sticks
• 1/2 cup hemp hearts
• 2-3 Tbsp arrow root powder or tapioca flour
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp tumeric (optional)
• dash of paprika
• small bowl of water
• Coconut oil for cooking

Instructions:

1. In a medium frying pan, heat 1/4 inch of coconut oil until hot. (Typically medium+ setting, but don’t let it smoke.)
2. Combine hemp hearts, arrow root, and spices and blend throughly.
3. Take a piece of zucchini and dip it in the water. Remove and lightly shake excess water off.
4. Press each flat side firmly in the flour mixture and then place into hot oil, flat side down.
5. Rotate the zucchini to get both flat sides nice and brown (2-3 min each side). Be careful not to burn them!
6. Place on paper towel lined plate to drain off excess oil.

Eat as soon as they are cool!  These stay fresh and delicious for a good 30 minutes after cooking.

What are your zucchini hacks?

Zzzzz,
Carrie

The post Hemp Heart Crusted Zucchini Fries {Vegan, Paleo} appeared first on Our Stable Table.

Friends.  I’ve done the unthinkable.

I’ve given up refined Sugar for the summer.

No Salt & Straw.

No Petunia’s.

No sweet treats from Cascadia Bakery.

Because I have a problem.  Sugar means too much to me.  I can’t resist it right now.  I need to give it up for a while until I can use it responsibly.

Which might be never.  But I’m giving it until September, just to be sure. Because I don’t want the diabeetus.

One of my favorite treats is chocolate and peanut butter, but because of FPIES, we can’t keep peanuts in the house.  I love sunflower seed butter (aka sunbutter) as a substitute for peanut butter.  It’s safe for peanut and tree nut allergy peeps, and gives a comparable, creamy taste.  I don’t miss it peanut butter at all.  In fact, you can pretty much always find me with a spoonful of sunbutter in my hand when I get too busy and forget to feed myself.

I’m also pretty committed to using raw cacao nibs when possible.  Raw cacao is full of antioxidants, magnesium, potassium, fiber, and can help fight heart disease and lift your mood naturally.  With a little bit of coconut oil for good measure, these treats aren’t just freaking delicious, they’re also super healthy for you.

Sign me up.  Twice.

I shared these with some of my best friends who are also trying to leave that jerk, Sugar, behind.  The consensus? We can no longer live without them.

Ingredients for Chocolate Layer:

• 1/2 cup ground cacao nibs (I use my nutribullet, but a coffee grinder would work, too.)
• 1/3 cup coconut oil, melted
• 1-2 Tbsp raw honey, or erythritol
• 1 tsp vanilla extract

Ingredients for Sunbutter Fudge Filling:

• 3/4 cup sunbutter
• 1/4 cup coconut oil
• 2 Tbsp raw honey or erythritol
• 1 tsp vanilla extract

Directions for Chocolate Layer:

1. Whisk together all the ingredients until fully incorporated.
2. Pour into lined cupcake or mini-cupcake molds, filling about 1/3 of the way.
3. Pop in freezer for 15 minutes until solid.

Directions for Sunbutter Fudge:

1. Whisk all ingredients together.
2. Pour mixture on top of frozen chocolate.
3. Freeze or refrigerate until firm.
4. Remove from refrigerator or freezer for 3 minutes, add flake salt on top, and devour.

These stay good forever in the freezer, and several weeks in a sealed container in the refrigerator.  But good luck.  The sunbutter cups haven’t survived 24 hours in my house.  Maybe ever.

Open your heart and let the sunbutter in,

Carrie

The post Salted Sunbutter Cups with Raw Chocolate {Paleo} appeared first on Our Stable Table.