Homemade Christmas gift – Chocolate Walnuts

I made chocolate covered walnuts this year as a homemade Christmas gift for the family and friends. It is very easy, takes about 20 minutes, and can be made a few weeks ahead of the occasion.

First, you need to get all the ingredients: walnuts, a dark chocolate bar, spices, coconut oil, coconut flakes.

Second, you need to get all the supplies: the glass jars (1/4 -1 cup), ribbons, the gift bags and tissue paper.

Third, set a time to get it done. Viola!

This gift is beautiful, delicious, and unique. The recipe will make 2 cups of chocolate walnuts. If you plan to use 1/2-cup jars, then you will make 4 gifts. If you use 1/4-cup jars, you will get 8 gifts. Enjoy and let us know how it worked out for you!

We wish a very Merry Christmas to you and yours!

The Recipe:

Ingredients:

  • 2 cups walnuts
  • 1 dark chocolate bar (or the equivalent amount of raw homemade chocolate pieces)
  • 2 Tbs coconut oil
  • 1/4 tsp pumpkin spice
  • 1 Tbs shredded coconut
  • a pinch of Himalayan salt

Yield: 2 cups or 16 servings

Method:

  1. In a double boiler, melt the chocolate bar, add coconut oil, and pumpkin spice and stir gently until well incorporated and liquid. Remove from heat.
  2. Add walnuts to the chocolate liquid and mix well until fully covered.
  3. Spread walnuts on a sheet covered with a parchment paper, sprinkle with shredded coconut and put in a freezer for 1 hour.
  4. Serve immediately with fresh fruits or berries. 1 serving is 1/8 cup.
  5. Keep frozen for up to 2 months or refrigerated for up to 5 days.

Recipe variations:

  • Soak and dehydrate the walnuts for optimal digestibility
  • Instead of walnuts, use almonds, pistachios or other nuts

Optional: you can make your own chocolate from raw cacao powder, dates, maple syrup, and coconut oil

Enjoy this beautiful and delicious dessert!

Nataliya.

A recent study: a Plant-Based diet and Heart Disease

Green Salad.

These are the highlights of the recent randomized clinical trial done in NYU Langone Health, presented at the American Heart Association (AHA) and reported by The Wall Street Journal.

The purpose of this eight-week study was to evaluate the effect of the vegan diet versus AHA diet on the inflammatory markers in patients with coronary artery disease.

One hundred participants received a two-month supply of food and assessments by dietitians and doctors. The inflammatory marker highly sensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) and serum lipid profiles were measured.

Researchers concluded that a plant-based diet reduced systemic inflammation and improved serum lipids better than the AHA diet. The scientists recommended a follow-up with a larger trial.

An update with more details will be posted once this study becomes available in the PubMed or other scientific databases. Stay tuned!

References:

Clinical Trials. (2017). Vegan versus AHA diet effect on inflammation and glucometabolic profile in patients with CAD (coronary artery disease). Retrieved from https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02135939

Lagnado, L. (December 5, 2017). Is being vegan good for your heart? The Wall Street Journal. Health. Retrieved from https://www.wsj.com/articles/is-a-vegan-diet-good-for-your-heart-1512491418

New York University. (2017).Langone Health. Education and research. https://med.nyu.edu/

New York University. (2017). Steinhardt. Department of Nutrition and Health Studies. https://steinhardt.nyu.edu/nutrition/