AWARE Newsletter - February 12, 2014

A Sweet Treat for Valentine's Day!

Happy Valentine's Day from momsAWARE! Are you indulging in some sweet treats? Do you feel guilty about your love for chocolate? We thought you would enjoy our article on the origins of chocolate and healthy options for satisfying that craving! See What About Chocolate? for resources and recipes to help make your Valentine's Day "sweeter" than ever before!

Would you like to try making a homemade treat using raw cacao? The following recipe is a great way to begin!

Cacao Almond Balls

Ingredients:

• 2 c. soaked and dehydrated raw almonds
• 3/4 c. raw cacao powder
• 8 pitted dates *
• 1 tbsp. coconut oil
• Pinch of sea salt
• 3 tbsp. filtered water (you may need more)
• 1 c. raw, unsweetened shredded coconut

Grind almonds in food processor. Add all but shredded coconut. Blend well. Add enough water to make the mixture moist. Form in balls and roll in shredded coconut. Store in refrigerator until hardened.

These can remain at room temperature for several hours, but are best stored in the fridge.

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* I always ferment dates before I incorporate them into a recipe. Simply pack the pitted dates into a mason jar and cover with a mixture of 1/4 c. water kefir and filtered water, or 1/4 c. whey and filtered water. Add enough water to cover the dates. Place a cap on the jar and leave at room temperature for 2 days.

Strain the dates and dehydrate at a temperature of 110 degrees for several hours. The dates will be sticky enough to use in recipes, but with less sugar.

Natural Year Challenge: Month Two

It's not too late to join us for the momsAWARE Natural Year Challenges! Our 10-step journey to more natural living continues with the following topics:

Make Laundry Soap. In our Natural Year Challenge: Household Edition, we use three simple ingredients to create a natural laundry alternative that's free of chemicals and fragrances, and will also save you money! A helpful how-to video and additional laundry tips are included with our recipes for both powdered and liquid laundry soap.

Make a Meat Stock. In our Natural Year Challenge: Food Edition, we learn how to make a nutritious meat stock. We'll also give you a few tips on the healthiest ways to prepare meats. Be sure to check out our helpful how-to video that demonstrates the proper handling of chicken feet!