"Life is uncertain. Eat dessert first." - Ernestine Ulmer

Hi, I'm Jennifer Trecartin and I'm a chocoholic.

Yes, it's true: a holistic nutritionist and a chocolate addict all wrapped into one and I am not afraid to show it. Luckily, I have figured out a way to feel guilt-free when I discovered the magic of raw chocolate. Raw chocolate is a whole world apart from the cooked chocolates you find in candy bars, cakes and cookies. It is also known as Therobroma Cacao, which literally means "Food of the Gods".



Chocolate Cream Pie

This is the creamiest, richest, AND healthiest pie I have yet to create. There are over 25,200 antioxidants in every spoonful of raw cacao powder so you don't have to feel guilty when asking for seconds!

Crust:

1 cup almonds
1 cup pecans OR walnuts
1 cup Medjool dates, pitted (approximately 10) OR 1 cup raisins
1 tsp cinnamon OR 1/2 tsp cinnamon, 1/4 tsp ground cardamom and 1/4 tsp ginger powder

Place the nuts and spices in a food processor fitted with the "s" blade and process until finely ground. Add the dates and process until well combined. Press the mixture into a deep 9 inch pie plate evenly along the bottom and sides. Once you have sculpted the crust, chill it in the fridge of freezer to set while you make the I've-died-and-gone-to-heaven chocolate cream filling.

Filling:

2 avocados, pitted and diced
1 banana, peeled and sliced
18 Medjool dates, pitted
2 tsp of real vanilla extract OR powder
1/2 cup cacao powder

Place the filling in the pie crust and use the back side of your spoon or a spatula to spread it around and to make it look pretty. Put it in the freezer to set for about an hour. While you wait, give me a call and I will be over to enjoy a slice ASAP!

Hugs and chocolate,
Jennifer xo

Cookie Heaven

These protein rich cookies are a dream! You will most likely have all of the ingredients on hand and they take about 20 mins to make from start to finish. Bonus points- they are free of gluten, eggs, and dairy and still taste like a real cookie! I think the Cookie Monster will even approve of these little morsels.

Ingredients:
(makes 8 cookies)

1 cup ground nuts (I used almonds today, but pecans and walnuts also work well.)

½ tsp nutmeg
¼ tsp cloves
1 tsp cinnamon
¼ tsp allspice
**Use any or all of the spices listed as you see fit. I am the kind of girl that does a sprinkle of this and a dash of that. Let me know if you come up with any great combinations!**

¼ cup maple syrup
1 tsp vanilla extract or a ½ tsp of real vanilla powder

Method:

Mix dry the ground nuts and spices together in a bowl. Add the maple syrup and vanilla and stir until everything is well combined. Drop in teaspoons on a baking sheet. Bake at 300’ for 12-15 minutes. Be sure to let the cookies cool before attempting to move them or they will just crumble and fall apart.

Also, for my dear friends with nut allergies: I have tried these using sunflower and pumpkin seeds instead and they were equally as tasty. Hooray! Life is good.

Enjoy, and don't worry about feeling too guilty if you end up eating the whole batch!

Health and happiness,
Jennifer xo

"Sun is shining. Weather is sweet. Make you wanna move your dancing feet." – Bob Marley

Hello summer! Finally, a sunny Saturday in Vancouver. My edible advice of the week is to kick back and relax with this delicious and refreshing drink:

Creamsicle Smoothie
Makes approximately 2.5 cups

- 1/2 cup filtered water
- 1 cup cantaloupe
- 1 orange
- 1 banana

Wash and peel the fruits. Remove the seeds of the cantaloupe. Blend all of the ingredients together until you've reached creamy smooth consistency. This also makes a great frozen treat if you pour the smoothie into a Popsicle mold and freeze for a few hours. Divine!

Your vitamin C, A and B6 stores will thank you as these tropical treats are rich in all three. Now get out and enjoy the gorgeous sunshine and enjoy the good life!

Love and laughter,
Jennifer xo

Wakie, wakie, rise and shine!

Steel cut oats, is there a better breakie for a rainy day? Their texture is chewy with a slight crunch and their warmth adds a bit of sunshine to your morning despite the weather conditions.

Not only are they scrumptious, they are also rich with nutritional value, hooray! These little flakes are high in B-vitamins, calcium, protein and fiber. In fact, just one cup of steel-cut oats contains 8 g of insoluble fiber. Your colon is going to love that!

At large, whole grains reduce cholesterol and high blood pressure and help prevent heart disease, cancer and diabetes. They help flush toxic waste, unwanted fat and cholesterol out of your system and provide added antioxidants to your day that help you stay healthier, look younger, and live longer. Another bowl, please!

Recipe:
1 cup steel cut oats

3 ½ cups water

Pinch of Himalayan salt
½ cup almond, hemp, or rice mylk
1 teaspoon vanilla bean powder

cinnamon, nutmeg, raisins, fresh berries, nuts, seeds or whatever healthy toppings you so please.

1. Bring the water to a boil in a large pot. Add the steel cut oats and Himalayan salt. Give it a little stir.
2. Reduce the heat to medium low and cook for 30 minutes. Make sure you stir the oats occasionally so they don’t stick to the pan.
3. When the oats start to thicken, at about 30 minutes, add in the mylk and vanilla. Stir it all together and cook for ten more minutes.
4. Add in the fancy toppings as you wish.

*Note-you can use 4 cups of water and omit the mylk, I just like the creaminess that it adds.*

Serve the oats hot. This batch makes 4-6 servings.

If you want you can let the oats cool and refrigerate in a glass container for later in the week. To reheat, I add a splash of mylk or water and reheat on the stovetop. They have the highest protein to carb ratio, thus more sustained energy throughout the day. Say good-bye to feeling burnt out mid afternoon.

So, raise your smoothie and make a toast,
to our dearly beloved steel cut oats!

Jennifer xo

Laughter is the best medicine

"A day without laughter is a day wasted." -Charlie Chaplin

Research is suggesting scientific truth to the age old adage, "Laughter is the best medicine". Scientists are examining how laughter can help:

Protect the heart Laughter improves the function of blood vessels and increases blood flow, which can help protect you against a heart attack and other cardiovascular problems. It has been shown to improve your HDL (good cholesterol) levels and reduce inflammation.

Support Immune System Laughter decreases stress hormones and increases immune cells and infection-fighting antibodies, thus improving your resistance to disease.

Soothe Stress A study by Loma Linda University revealed that laughter helps lower the stress hormone cortisol by 39%. It also triggers the release of endorphins, the body’s natural feel-good chemicals promoting an overall sense of well-being and can even temporarily relieve pain.

And so much more!

So, my edible advice of the week is to call up your friends and get together for a healthy feast (visit myedibleadvice.com for recipes) and lots of laughter!!!

One love,

Jennifer xo

Chocolate Avocado Mousse

Ok, so I was having a relatively not-so-great day until my recent discovery. I am so excited to share, my little fingers can't type fast enough! My girlfriend had mentioned in passing that she had been treated to this delicious chocolate mousse and that she would share the recipe soon. She let me know it was simple, healthy and that the secret ingredient was avocado. Sounds too good to be true, right? WRONG! I have no idea if this is the same recipe because my chocolate cravings got the best of me this morning and I opened my fridge to an avocado that needed to be eaten today. Serendipitous! So, I put on my lab coat and started experiementing and here it is folks, a healthy chocolate mouse to live for! Voilà, My Edible Advice of the day:

Chocolate Avocado Mousse

1 avocado

8 Medjool dates, chopped

1/4 cup cocao powder

1 teaspoon vanilla extract or the real deal vanilla bean if you are fancy and wealthy

Place all ingredients in food processor. Blend, blend, blend – scraping sides when necessary – until smooth.

That’s it! I don't know, I suppose it makes 2-3 servings but I am sitting here typing and eating it directly from the food processor and I am nearly done. Oops! You can't judge, it is totally healthy.

Enjoy,

Jennifer xoxo

Jamie Oliver's TED Prize wish: Teach every child about food | Video on TED.com

Jamie Oliver's TED Prize wish: Teach every child about food | Video on TED.com