Healthy Coconut Chocolate Haystack Drops

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Healthy Coconut Chocolate Haystack Drops

Coming back jet lagged from an overseas trip, I was in need of a sweet treat that was at least decently healthy for me. So, putting together a number of recipe inspirations, I came up with these delightful morsels. They are easy and tasty and you can add in other items to bump up the health factor. Coconut is a miracle oil. Just do a google search on the benefits, and this alone will inspire you to make them. Add in the honey for natural anti-bacterial/microbial properties as well as a good and natural sweetener, cocoa powder and its antioxidants as well as endorphin boosting properties and these three ingredients alone are worth the effort. Then, we have oats for heart and gut healthy fiber, a second dose of coconut (fiber) and when you add in flax/chia seed you are getting proteins, fibers, anti-oxidants. Almonds are an anti-oxidant and boost the protein. Blueberries and Tart Cherries are a super food which will boost the value even more.

Be sure to keep them in a cool place, as coconut oil melts at body temperature.

1/2 cup Coconut Oil
1/2-3/4 cup Honey (to taste)
4 heaping tsp Cocoa powder. (I used King Arthurs double dark dutch)

Melt the oil in a sauce pan, add honey and cocoa powder. bring to a boil, whisking constantly, and remove from heat.

Add in:

3 cups quick cooking Oats (I prefer organic, gluten free)
1 cup shredded Coconut (unsweetened would be ideal, natural as possible, but Bakers brand works in a pinch)
1 tsp Vanilla
1/2 tsp Almond Extract

Mix completely and drop in dollops on to waxed paper and let cool and harden. If your kitchen is warm, you will need to refrigerate to harden.

**additional suggested add-ins: flax seed, chia seed, pumpkin seed, healthy chopped nuts like almond or walnut, dried cranberries or blueberries, peanut or almond butter.

**for a prettier presentation, let them firm up, and then roll in to balls. At this point, you can roll in additional cocoa powder for easier handling, like you would for a truffle. I would reduce oats to 2 1/2 cups if adding in a lot of additional add-ins.

Domestic Goddess Tip : Reviving Dog Bones

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Domestic Goddess Tip : Reviving Dog Bones

My furry kids are pretty good about chewing bones until they are pristinely white and cleaned of every single lick of goodness. At this point, the tasteless bones lay about the house, but still have lots of good ‘chew’ left on them.
To get Little Man and Big Girl interested in them again, and save myself some cash, I gently boil them in beef broth (Little Man has allergies, so we stay away from chicken) then let them cool before serving.
They will enthusiastically chew them as if they were brand new! This works for antlers they have grown weary of also. I have found Antler interest to last the longest, but it can’t hurt to refresh them with a soak.
Give it a try, your canine companion will love you for it!

Cuteness Alert: Little Man!

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Cuteness Alert: Little Man!

In the midst of snow-maggedon, when many are tight on patience, sometimes we just need to pause and appreciate the cuteness in life.
And so, here is Little Man, with his heart melting look.
I hope it warms your day, even if you have mountains of snow outside your door!