What the Fudge?

The heavens looked down on the fudge and it was a good thing. (Do you have to actually pay Martha Stewart when you use that term?) No matter where I set this fudge the sunshine would wrap around it and glisten as if the sky itself wanted to taste the goodness of this treat.  If you tasted it, you would understand why as well! This is why I am sharing with you the recipe, as I am a foodie evangelist sharing with all of you through the monitor just how you can have healthy food and once in a while a fabulous treat that will cause you zero guilt.  Please note, I said once in a while treat, not that you can eat this treat while on the treadmill thinking somehow it will be the miracle food that will lean you out while you dine on it’s delight. It won’t–it is in the class of junk food that is not poison, how is that? However, if given a list of foods to purchase that are junk, this would never be on it. This is right up there with granolas and whole grain breads–but it has chocolate in it! I mean–look at it! YUM! It was also kid tested and very–very approved!

So–let’s get on with it, shall we?

What the Fudge
1 cup natural peanut butter (crunchy or creamy)
1 cup local honey*
1 cup sunflower seeds
1 cup flax seeds
1 cup organic cocoa powder

Step 1: Heat the honey on medium heat for about 5 minutes then add peanut butter and mix in really well.  You can see in the first image here it is still separate, the honey and peanut butter are just swirling around each other not totally in love as of yet. So–keep mixing till it looks like the next image.

See how it is creamy and thick and rich looking in this second image–make it look like this.  This is the foundation of the fudge and making sure you cook it while doing this and stirring it until it is emulsified will give you that chewy texture that feels so good in your mouth!

Step 2: While still cooking stir in the cocoa powder until completely blended.  It looks good, doesn’t it? Well, do not sample it, it is HOT!

Step 3: Remove from heat and stir in the seeds–you have to fold them in really as mixing is very difficult to do at this point.  Once again, I want to remind you that this is hot…hot hot hot. (OK so I burned myself trying it, can you tell?) Press this seed mixture into a lightly greased pan and slice up while still warm into 1″ cubes. This really should be step 4 but I did not get a picture–you know, because I burned myself and was all preoccupied.

Other good ideas:

–Add some dried fruits like cherries
–Add in different seeds like sesame or some chopped nuts