Happy Tuesday my friends! I hope you all had a wonderful weekend and Monday. So begins the last full week I will spend at work in Kingston (only working 2 days next week) which is making it seem like it’s flying by- and it’s only the second day! Every shift lately it seems I have to check whether or not it’s my last shift with certain people. It’s funny how I didn’t realize how much I loved my job and the people I work with until the prospect of leaving them came up. Talk of transferring to Toronto brings stirrings of tears to my eyes and I have to quickly change the subject before I completely embarrass myself. I’m sure on my last day I’ll be an absolute wreck!
I did get some great news today though- my transfer to Toronto came through so I’ll have a job as soon as I move! It’s a bit of a weight off my shoulders to say the least.
Now moving on to what you are all here for really- the food!
I don’t know if you guys remember almost 2 weeks ago when I enlisted your help to name a nut butter? Well, I’m finally here to share the recipe for it! I’m also going to share a little protein bite I concocted with it, that while not the fanciest nosh in town- it’s filled with protein, fiber and it’s just sweet enough to kill that dessert craving. Plus, it’s made from scraps in the pantry/fridge, which is great for me lately :)
Sometimes great food happens by accident.
I was craving some nut butter, with none to be found in the house. I had a few varieties of nuts but not quite enough of any of them to churn into a creamy, smooth spread. So I picked 2, tossed them in my processor and walked away for a minute.
I expected to come back to some ground up nuts, sticking to the side of my processor, waiting to scraped down. I expected to have to coax the nuts into a butter, because we all know how stubborn they can be.
But when I came back, to my surprise, this is what I found:
Ok I didn’t find it exactly like that all pretty in a bowl, but it was smooth almost immediately just asking to be dug into with a finger. And that’s just what I did :)
Easiest nut butter ever. Brazil nuts and hazelnuts are a match made in heaven! The sweetness of the hazelnuts combined with the intriguing flavour of Brazil nuts all tied together by a little vanilla and sea salt. And don’t worry if you don’t like brazil nuts, they aren’t my favourite either- their flavour totally melds into the others creating a unique and delicious flavour.
Not to mention the fact that this nut butter is super healthy!
- Did you guys know that a single brazil nut contains your daily requirements of selenium? It’s even better than taking a supplement as evidenced by this study.
- Selenium helps protect against many cancers (prostate and breast are the most notable), is a powerful antioxidant (can you say snit-aging?) and helps boost immune function
- Loaded with fiber to help keep those movements nice and healthy (you all know which movements I’m talking about, yes?)
Other fun facts!
- It’s not actually a nut, but a seed, named after the the tree it’s fruit comes from, The Brazil Nut tree!
- the most significant producer and exporter of this nut is Bolivia, not Brazil
- Brazil nut oil is commonly used as a lubricant for clocks- random.
Okay, okay, I’ll share the recipe now ;)
Vanilla Brazelnut Butter (Vegan, Gluten-free, Sugar-free, Raw)
Ingredients (~ 1 1/2 cups)
- 1 1/2 cup raw hazelnuts, soaked and dehydrated preferably
- 1 cup raw Brazil nuts, soaked and dehydrated preferably
- 2 tsp vanilla powder (or extract)
- pinch sea salt
- 3 drops vanilla stevia, or to taste
Instructions
Process the nuts into a food processor until they form a butter, stopping to scrape down the sides as necessary.
Add the vanilla powder, salt and stevia and process for a few more seconds, until well mixed. Spoon into a jar, and sneak a few scoops straight from the processor bowl ;)
And now for some protein bites! These are super high in protein and fiber, plus use up some pantry scraps!
Vanilla Protein and Fiber Bites (Vegan, Gluten-free, Sugar-Free, Raw Option)
Ingredients
- 2 cups millet puffs
- hazelnut pulp (from nut milk made with 1 cup soaked nuts, or another nut pulp)
- 3 tbsp Vanilla Brazelnut Butter (or another homemade nut butter + vanilla extract)
- 4 tbsp coconut oil
- 1 scoop Vanilla Sunwarrior Warrior Blend protein powder
Instructions
Process millet puffs and pulp in a food processor until finely ground.
Add the Sunwarrior and nut butter and process to combine. Then with the food processor running slowly pour in the coconut oil.
When incorporated, form the mixture into balls and place on a baking sheet. Place in the freezer for about 30 min to allow them to harden. Store in the fridge or freezer (depending on how hard you want them).
When frozen these are a little like truffles when you bite into them which I love!
I'm submitting this recipe to Fat Tuesdays, Slightly Indulgent Tuesday, Allergy Free Wednesday, Foodie Friends Friday, Keepin it Real Thursday and Wellness Weekend!
I'm running a little behind on posting recipes, so hopefully I'll post a couple more soon! Enjoy your day everyone!
My husband has a peanut sensitivity. I am wondering if he would like this instead. I will have to give it a try. Thanks for sharing on Foodie Friends Friday and I hope you will come and share more great recipes this week.
http://marlys-thisandthat.blogspot.com
It’s definitely a good option! It doesn’ taste like peanut butter but has a great creamy texture and lots of sweetness. I hope he likes it! I will deifnitely share some this week :)
I love brazil nuts, so I bet this is amazing!! Thanks for sharing on Foodie Friends Friday!
Thank you Erika! If you like brazil nuts, you will LOVE this. It made me fall in love with them!
Give me the spoon and the jar, NOW please. I LOVE Brazil nuts, oh and hazelnuts and yeah ALL nuts. Awesome.
Haha nuts are amazing I agree :) and I definitely do eat this with a spoon so I would happily pass you one too! As long as we each had our own jars though ;) too good to share!
A pili nut is a tropical raw nut almost like a macadamia nut, it has the almost same consistency, I can’t wait to see if I can combine it with a more oily nut and make nut butter I will let you know how it turns out!
Very cool, I’ll have to keep my eyes out for it! I love discovering new foods :)
I know something about the accidents in the kitchen.
this week I’ve experimented with homemade poptarts and ended up with delicious, crunchy cookies with peanut butter instead :)
What a delicious sounding mistake! It’s funny how some of the tastiest things are born out of a mistake :)
“Brazelnut Butter,” I love it!!! :D
Hehe me too :)
Congrats on the transfer! That must be a huge relief!
I don’t have brazil nuts nearly enough, and never would have thought to put them in a butter. It looks and sounds amazing- can’t wait to give it a try! :-)
Thanks Kristy! And it had never occurred to me to use them that way either- it’s amazing where trying to use up fridge scraps will take you!
YUM! I have some random Pili nuts in my freezer that I need to use up, you have totally inspired me to whip up some nut butter!
Your butter looks so creamy and amazing, lets hope mine turns out just a fraction as good as yours.
Congrats on the job!
ooo what is a pili nut? I’m intrigued! I hope your nut butter turns out fabulously!
And thank you :)
This looks like heaven in a bowl! I know it’s meant for spreading and such but I like nut butters straight up on a spoon!!! hehe. Or smothered onto a banana. Mmm! Understandable how you’re feeling as you transition. I have a feeling you’ll love living in Toronto. Next time I’m there we should meet up at one of the raw restaurants!
Oh I totally do that with nut butters too- because I mean when is bread/fruit but a vehicle for getting the nut butter in you?
I would love to meet up with you in Toronto! Be sure to let me know next time you’re in town :)
I’m glad you posted this recipe. I was drooling over the nutbutter when you first posted a pic of it! thanks!
Awesome, I’m glad! Sorry it took me so long!
This nut butter sounds (and looks) incredible! I have never tried nut butter with brazil nuts but I’m very keen to get onto that now. Also – congratulations on the transfer :) That’s great news!
Thank you! It’s definitely smooth and creamy and has a unique taste, plus it’s delicious! I hope you like it!
And thank you! It’s such a relief to know I’ll have a job and that’ll I’ll already know most of it!
This looks amazing!!!!
Thank you!
Wowzah, I love the idea of this. I love brazil nuts but I have never thought of making a butter out of them! Genius! I can’t wait to try this.
Thanks Alaine! If you love brazil nuts you will definitely like this! Let me know what you think!
Your brazelnut butter looks so flippin’ good! I’ve been in an almond butter rut and need to change it up! As luck would have it, I just bought some brazil nuts and I always have hazelnuts lying around so you better believe I’ll be making this very soon :)
Ha, please ignore the fact that I commented twice… I’m no good with computers :)
Haha we’ve all made that mistake ;). And I’m not either.
That brazelnut butter looks divine! As much as I love homemade almond butter, I’m in a serious almond butter rut and need to branch out!! As luck would have it, I just bought a bunch of brazil nuts at the store and I always have hazelnuts lying around so I will be making this very soon :)
Awesome, glad I could help with the rut :) It’s definitely delicious tasting, I hope you like it!
A nut butter with so much ‘I’m good for you’ – this is why I love your blog my friend :D
You rock!
Cheers
Choc Chip Uru
Aww you are too sweet Uru! :)
Great news on your transfer, Gabby! Nice to have a little bit of stress taken away. Have to say I’ve never been a Brazil nut fan – don’t know why – think it’s a texture thing. So maybe all ground up and combined with hazelnuts (which I love), it would be a whole different ball game. It certainly looks heavenly!
Thank you Ann! Yes I was so relieved. My manager kept telling me not to worry because they would find me a place no matter what this store said, but it feels good to have it decided and done :)
Yes I think the trick with brazil nuts is to combine them with other flavours. I agree, they are not my favourite nut!
Awesome name, I don’t think I’ve ever had brazil nuts but I could be wrong. I only made nut butter once, it was with hazelnuts when I tried to make nutella but that didn’t work out haha they tasted good though the consistency was just off and I ended up naming them fudge lol which was fine cause it was delicious, just had to be kept in the fridge. But this is an awesome creation :)
Thanks Kammie! I didn’t start eating brazil nuts till about a year ago when I realized how nutritious they were. They aren’t my fav taste-wise though so I try and find ways to make them delicious. This is definitely one of them!
yay for employment in Toronto! That sure is a sigh of relief:) and YES! that nut butter looks delicious! i love the vanilla note — i’ll have to try that next time! i love making nut butters out of brazil nuts and other nuts — i always use 1/2 brazil nuts in the recipes (party because of flavor and partly because they’re cheap!!!:) ) Best of luck as you prepare for your exciting move!
You’re so right Caralyn! They are cheap- I never even thought of that! I will certainly me using that frugal tip from now on :)
Thank you! I’ll be sure and update you lots!
Good to know, thanks!
It’s always so hard saying goodbye to people and a place of work you love. I’m always the same, I get choked up when saying goodbye and really don’t like it at all. It always feels so final. It’s great you’ve got a transfer though. That should help you settle in a bit better.
This nut butter sounds gorgeous. Another thing I’ve never tried making, I didn’t know the brazil nut is actually a seed. I’m going to have to do some more research into brazil nuts. For some reason I like the thought of eating seeds a lot more than nuts. Not sure why! They probably seem healthier. Like the pine nut.
I’m terrible at goodbyes! I always make a fool of myself, even if I know I’m going to see them soon! I hate them and sometimes my strategy is to not make it a goodbye- it’s what I did when I left Ireland. We all treated it as, “I’ll be seeing you soon” and it honestly helped so much even though we knew it wouldn’t be soon. I was honestly a wreck at that point in my life! This time isn’t as bad since it’s not such a big move, but it’s still tough! You never realize what you have till it’s gone I guess?
This nut butter is so luxurious tasting, yet so healthy! Isn’t it funny all the things you can find out about a food with just a quick google search? I know what you mean- I’m the same way with grains sometimes- I like eating quinoa. buckwheat and millet more than rice because they aren’t actually grains and I feel better about it. Weird eh?
Yes I do that too and pretend I’ll see people soon. I’ve moved around so much in my life and said that so many times but at least we’ve got facebook now.
I’m the same with quinoa too. I prefer seeds to grains too. I didn’t know millet wasn’t a grain so I guess that’s why that’s a healthier option too.
Oooh two recipes in one post, I love it! The Vanilla Brazelnut butter sounds so delicious! Are the nuts raw or roasted? I love the addition of the vanilla, I bet it has such a rich, delicious flavor!
Congrats on getting the transfer, that is so great that you will have a job when you get there! I know what you mean about leaving a place that you love. I cried for days after I graduated college! You’ll be able to keep in touch though and you’ll meet more great people when you start in Toronto! Enjoy every minute you have with your friends in these last few days and look forward to all of the great moments to come in Toronto! I’m so proud of you!
Haha well the one recipe isn’t really one- just a way to help use up scraps around the kitchen ;) But I’m glad you like them! The nut butter tastes so luxurious Sarah :)
Thank you! I’m so excited about all the new people I’ll meet, but saying goodbye just always makes things more final! Luckily I have a little while longer to enjoy with them. And I can always visit. It’s just starting to sink in now- not only will I be welcoming new things, but leaving things behind. That’s always a tough realization!
You are so wonderful Sarah, thanks for your support, means so much!
Oh and the nuts are raw! I’ll try and remember to update the recipe to reflect that!
Brazelnut butter, I love it. I’ve started adding protein powder to my nut and seed balls too, now that there are so many tasty vegan flavours out these days (didn’t used to be!). I haven’t tried Sunwarrior but I have tried and love Vega Chocolate or Vanilla Chai. Have you compared the taste of Sunwarrior to Vega?
I actually use both! For me, Vega has a really distinctive taste that I don’t always love depending on the application. Sometimes I find it easier to mask than others. So generally I prefer Sunwarrior- I just find the taste works into food better! But I love the added nutrition from greens, etc. that Vega has. I guess I just prefer to use Vega on it’s own!
hey girl. sorry for my lack of following the last couple of days – my computer totally died! i have seriously missed you guys. you are always so creative with your recipes – can i please be more like you? :)
Don’t even worry, I totally understand! Hope your computer is ok/that you found a good replacement!
I missed you too! I was so happy to see an update on your move this morning!
Aww thanks Sara! See now I always wish I was more like you- I tend to get so lazy with cooking, my daily meals are never as good as yours! But I totally appreciate your kind words! Sometimes creativity is just born out of accidents- which is usually the case with me haha