Chocolate Cherry Brain Boosters

I didn’t expect to find anything very exciting in The Healthy Mind Cookbook, but check out these truffles!

Dark chocolate elevates your mood & improves heart health; walnuts boost memory; cherries aid sleep patterns; and a sprinkling of curry powder on toasted coconut flakes acts as an anti-inflammatory.

Need I say more? Go feed your brain!

Ingredients:

4 tablespoons unsweetened shredded coconut flakes

2 tablespoons boiling water

2 ounces 62-72% dark chocolate, preferably Valhrona, finely chopped

1/2 cup walnuts, chopped into small pieces

1 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder, preferably Valhrona

1 cup Medjool dates, halved and pits removed

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Fine sea salt 

1/4 cup dried cherries, chopped into small pieces

1/4 teaspoon curry powder

Mise en place

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 300 degrees F, and toast the coconut flakes on a baking sheet for 8 - 10 minutes, or until they are golden. Set aside.

2. While the coconut flakes are toasting, prepare the mise en place, that is, get all the ingredients assembled and chopped.

3. Boil about 1/2 cup of water in a pot.

4. Put the chocolate shavings in a bowl and add two tablespoons of the boiling water; use a small whisk to dissolve the chocolate and then whisk until it has a glossy sheen. Set aside.

4. In a food processor, pulse the walnuts, cocoa powder, dates, vanilla and 1/8 teaspoon of sea salt for about 1 minute. Add the chocolate and blend it all together, about another minute. 

5. Transfer the mixture to a bowl and stir in the chopped cherries. Cover and put the bowl in the refrigerator for about 2 hours, or until it is chilled and the mixture is firm.

6. Sprinkle the curry powder and a pinch of salt over the cooled toasted coconut flakes and mix well. 

7. When the chocolate mixture is ready, spoon up about 2 teaspoons and make a ball between your hands; roll it in the coconut mixture. Repeat with the remaining mixture.

8. Put the truffles in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Eat when chilled through. Truffles will keep for up to 2 - 4 days in the refrigerator. 

#paleo #chocolate #truffles #dessert

Recipe from The Healthy Mind Cookbook, Big Flavor Recipes to Enhance Brain Function, Mood, Memory and Mental Clarity by Rebecca Katz and Mat Edelson.