Dates for Dessert!

We work very hard to avoid sugar in our house. Too much sugar causes weight gain but, there are many other reasons that it is great to cut back on or avoid sugar. There is naturally occurring sugar is some fruits, like dates and these can work as replacements for refined sugar. Sugar can also increase your risk of heart disease and high blood pressure. Acne and Type 2 diabetes can also result from too much sugar. Inflammation is a by-product of too much sugar which puts you at risk for various types of cancer. Depression, skin aging and the aging of cells have also been linked to sugar consumption. Have you heard of the sugar crash? You are desperate for a sugar spike and then you crash and your energy is depleted. Finally, fatty liver, kidney disease, tooth decay, gout and cognitive decline have all been linked to refined sugar. Having a treat once a month (an ice cream or chocolate) is fine, but a daily dose of refined sugar is not really worth the risk. Enjoy life and find your “sweetness” in coconut, fruit, dates, monk fruit, etc.

No-Bake Twix Cups or Bars

In a food processor, blend to make crumbs – 1 – 1/2 cups of walnuts and 20 dates. Press the crumbs into the bottom of silicon tart pans (any shape will do). You can also press them into a loaf pan (with parchment paper in the bottom).

In the food processor, blend to make a smooth, creamy paste – 2 cups of cashews, 8 tablespoons of coconut oil, 6 tablespoons of vanilla and 2 teaspoons of vanilla. Cover the walnut base with this mixture. Use a wet spoon (dipped in ice water) to spread the paste out.

Melt 2 cups of chocolate chips and 1 tablespoon of coconut oil, 1 minutes at a time in the microwave, stirring between each minute. When it is melted, pour over the cashew cream and spread out with a spoon.

Freeze overnight and enjoy.