With just a few simple ingredients, whip up these cherry pecan energy bites in under 10 minutes for a nutritious, power-packed snack! Chock full of super foods including pecans, cherries and oats – they’re deliciously packed with nutrients.
Ingredients
1 cup toasted pecan halves or pieces
1 cup dried cherries
4 medjool dates, pitted
1/4 cup old-fashioned oats
1 tablespoon cacao powder, plus more for coating
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
Add all of the ingredients to the bowl of a food processor.
Pulse until the ingredients begin to bind and form a loose dough-like ball.
Roll into 1-inch balls. Roll the balls in cacao powder (optional) and transfer to an airtight container. Refrigerate until ready to serve. Makes 10 to 12 energy bites.
Notes
To make this recipe gluten-free, substitute 1/4 cup of certified gluten-free old-fashioned oats.
The energy balls will stay fresh in the refrigerator for up to 7 days.
A fresh Atlantic salmon is gently drizzled with olive oil, lightly coated with a sweet honey and topped with finely crushed pistachios. Recipe by Chef Jesse Brune.
INGREDIENTS
10 ounces of fresh Atlantic salmon (a little more than half a pound)*
½ tablespoon olive oil (optional)
1 tablespoon raw honey
1/4 cup pistachios, finely crushed and chopped
Salt and pepper
INSTRUCTIONS
Preheat oven to 375°F.
Cut salmon in half to make two 5-ounce pieces. If salmon has skin still attached, leave it on to lock in extra moisture.
Gently drizzle olive oil on salmon, leaving an extremely light coat.
Lightly season with salt and pepper.
Pour honey over salmon halves and gently rub honey into meat using the back of a spoon.
Spread chopped pistachios over flat surface of plate and place glazed portion of the fish onto the pistachios, generously covering surface.
Place pistachio-covered salmon into an oven-safe dish or on a cookie sheet lined with foil. Place in heated oven for 10 minutes or until done (shouldn’t take more than 12 minutes max).
To make sure the salmon is done, gently press surface of fish with a fork. There should be a firm bounce.
1/4 ounce fast rise yeast or 1 tablespoon fresh yeast
1/3 cup unsalted butter
1/2 cup milk, plus 2 tablespoons milk
2 large eggs
Syrup
1/2 cup unsalted butter
1 tablespoon unsalted butter
2 tablespoons turbinado sugar (brand Sugar in the Raw)
4 tablespoons maple syrup
3 tablespoons light corn syrup
1 cup hazelnut pieces
Glaze
1 large egg
2 tablespoons milk
Filling
3 tablespoons sugar
1/2 cup light brown raw sugar (demerara) or 1/2 cup turbinado sugar (brand Sugar in the Raw)
1 tablespoon cinnamon
INSTRUCTIONS
Butter a 12-cup muffin pan.
Line a roasting pan or baking pan with parchment paper (for turning the sticky buns onto later) large enough to cover muffin pan.
Combine flour, sugar, salt and yeast in a large mixing bowl.
Melt butter in the milk over very low heat and beat in eggs.
Stir milk/butter mixture into the dry ingredients to make the dough. Knead for 10 minutes or for 5 with dough hook. When it is springy and satiny, form a ball and put in a greased bowl. Turn to coat and cover with plastic wrap. Leave in a warm place for 1 hour or until doubled in size.
Syrup: Using an electric mixer cream butter until soft and smooth and add sugar. Beat in syrups and then divide mixture among the muffin cups and top with hazelnuts (about a tablespoonful in each sticky-based waiting cup.).
Preheat oven to 350.
Knock dough back, knead once or twice and then roll out to a large rectangle (apx 24X12) with the long side nearest you. Beat egg and add milk; glaze the dough using a pastry brush or your fingers.
Mix the filling ingredients in a little bowl and sprinkle onto the dough. Now, roll up from the long side and away from you, carefully and firmly (not too tight) keeping a firm sausage shape.
Cut into 12 even slices, and lie each slice spiral-swirly cut side up, on top of the nuts and syrup in the muffin cups.
Leave to rise for about 20 minutes then put into the oven and bake for 20 to 25 minutes, by which time they should be golden.
Place roasting pan or baking sheet on top and turn the whole thing the other way up. Remove the muffin tray and dislodge any nuts that are still stuck in it, adding them, along with any residual syrup, to the upturned buns.
Pistachio-powered portabella mushroom. Recipe by Jeremy Jones, professional snowboarder and National Geographic Adventurer of the Year.
INGREDIENTS
3 Large portabella mushrooms, whole
Enough olive oil to generously coat and drizzle on mushrooms
1 ¼ cups Shelled pistachios, chopped
3 Garlic cloves
Sprinkle tops with Hemp seeds to taste (option)
Salt, pepper and dried herbs like fresh basil or parsley (option)
INSTRUCTIONS
Remove stems and wash mushroom caps. Coat all sides with olive oil. Finely chop one garlic clove per mushroom. Sprinkle inside the mushrooms. Coarsely chop pistachios and fill each cap to the top. Generously drizzle olive oil on top of chopped pistachios.
Bake at 400 degrees, Fahrenheit for 10-15 minutes.
Serve as a main dish or slice into bite-size chunks for an appetizer.
These cookies offer the ultimate sweet and savory flavors by combining chunks of dark chocolate with chopped hazelnuts. Each cookie is finished with a crunchy sprinkle of flaked sea salt. They are sure to become a new favorite to enjoy with a cup of tea or to take along for a seasonal picnic with friends.
INGREDIENTS
¾ cup granulated sugar
¾ cup light brown sugar
1 cup unsalted butter, softened
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 large egg
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon fine sea salt
2 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
1 cup chopped roasted hazelnuts
2 (3-ounce) bars Moonstruck Dark Chocolate 68% Cacao, chopped
2 tablespoons Jacobsen Pure Flake Finishing Salt
INSTRUCTIONS
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F and line two large baking sheets with parchment paper.
Add the sugars and butter to the bowl of a stand mixer. Mix on low and then increase to medium-high. Mix for about two minutes until pale yellow in color and smooth. Scrape the sides of the bowl.
Add the vanilla and then mix in the egg. Mix in the baking soda and salt. Next add the flour and mix on medium until a cookie dough forms, about 1 minute. Add the hazelnuts and then add the chocolate and mix on low for about 20 seconds to combine all ingredients.
Transfer the cookies in generous tablespoon portions to the baking sheets with no more than 12 cookies per tray. Sprinkle the top of each cookie with flaked sea salt. Bake each tray for about 10 minutes, until the cookies begin to brown at the edges and are firm in the center.
Let cool for 3 minutes on the tray and then transfer to a cooling rack to cool completely.
Preheat oven to 375°F. Lightly oil or line baking tray with parchment paper.
Place the macadamia nuts, flour, sugar and ginger in a food processor and process to a fine powder.
Add the egg and vanilla, then gradually pour in the milk in a thin stream with the motor running until mixture just starts to come together.
Transfer to a floured board and knead gently to a smooth dough.
Shape dough into bite-sized balls, place on baking tray and press gently with a fork, or shape into 2 x ¾ inch thick rounds. If making the rounds, mark into wedges, pinch the edges and pierce several times with a fork.
Bake for 12-15 minutes or until golden. Lift one and check the base to test.
Cool on a wire rack before placing in sealed containers.
‘Tis the season for variety, and pecans make for a nutritious and versatile snack. Pair them with a number of accouterments – from fruits and vegetables to cheese and chocolate – for a simple yet impressive snack platter, you can serve during holiday festivities.
Pecan, bacon and Jalapeno cheese ball (see recipe notes)
Assorted seasonal fresh fruit like blueberries and apples
Assorted seasonal fresh vegetables like peppers, cherry tomatoes and cucumbers
Assorted dried fruit like figs, dried apples
Toasted pecan halves
Honey
Whole grain mustard
Olives
Cured meat, if desired
Crackers or bread toasts
Dark chocolate
INSTRUCTIONS
To assemble: arrange pecan, bacon and jalapeno cheese ball, roasted red pepper dip, and desired accouterments on a large platter, cutting board, or slate slab and allow guests to serve themselves.
¾ cup Whey protein or your favorite vegan protein powder
2 1/3 cup Salted American pistachio kernels
1 teaspoon Salt
½ cup Sugar
1 tablespoon Vegetable oil
¼ cup Water
INSTRUCTIONS
In food processor, combine: dried blueberries, coconut flakes, golden flax seed, whey protein, and salted American pistachio kernels. Pulse, for roughly 20 seconds. In small sauce pan combine: salt, sugar, vegetable oil, and water. Boil for 15 seconds. Add wet ingredients to dry ingredients and mix. Using wax paper on baking sheet, flatten mixture evenly. Freeze for 10 minutes and enjoy. Store by wrapping in wax paper.
