dirty blondies
I was admittedly on a bit of a sweets kick as we were wrapping out the long PNW winter/spring…and I imagine I haven’t been alone! A lot of us can use a little extra somethin’ somethin’ when that sun isn’t shining and why not make it nutrient dense and add a little yin to that yang. It’s all about balance.
Let me introduce you to one of my favorite new inventions to date — DIRTY BLONDIES! Aka brownies X blondies, but better and sexier than you’ve ever experienced.
See the recipe below for a super simple, and dare I say nutritious, treat as follows:
INGREDIENTS
✧ 1 c unsalted butter or virgin coconut oil
✧ 1 c coconut sugar
✧ 1 c brown sugar
✧ 2 large free range eggs, at room temperature
✧ 2 tsp pure vanilla extract
✧ 1 c almond flour or gluten-free flour blend
✧ 3/4 c coconut flour
✧ 1/2 tsp baking powder
✧ 1/2 tsp pink Himalayan salt
✧ 2 tsp of Moon Juice Sex Dust® (or 1 tsp of organic maca powder + 1 tsp of organic cacao powder + 1/2 tsp organic ground cinnamon)
NOTES
꩜ Shop wild, organic (spices & oils included) & in season whenever possible, plus make sure to fully clean all residue off produce with baking soda prior to cooking.
INSTRUCTIONS
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees and coat a 9x9 pan with with butter or coconut oil.
2. In a large bowl, mix melted butter or oil and sugar.
3. Add eggs and vanilla and whisk vigorously until smooth.
4. Add flour, baking powder, salt and Sex Dust® (or alt spice mix) and stir until well incorporated.
5. Pour batter into the prepared pan and smooth out.
6. Place in the oven to bake for 20 minutes until edges are golden and toothpick comes out mostly clean…I prefer them on the softer side.
7. Allow to cool completely, then cut into squares and enjoy!
Some functional food for thought —
SEX DUST®
What I love about this blend from Moon Juice® is that it’s not really just about libido and being a sex goddess — though more power to you if that’s what you want to focus on, sex is a key pillar of health! What I think makes this this powder so magical is that its nutrient focus is really on BALANCE and ENERGY! Which then of course also corresponds to a healthy libido and we all want that gusto for life. As per Moon Juice®, “Sex Dust® is a stimulating blend of adaptogens and herbs that target stress to support healthy hormonal balance, libido, and creative energy.* Informed by Traditional Chinese Medicine and Ayurveda, this Moon Dust® combines Shatavari, Shilajit, Epimedium, Schisandra, Cacao, and Maca.” The reason I suggest the abbreviated alternative blend (in the event you don’t have this fabulous Moon Juice® power on hand) is because cacao has been shown to stimulates endorphin release, maca is known to support mood, energy, and healthy sexual function and cinnamon is a low-key powerhouse that not only adds sweetness, but is also an aphrodisiac and can lower blood sugar to keep us in balance. BOOM! Magic.
(HOMEMADE/WHOLE INGREDIENT) DESSERT
Yes, enjoying dessert is good for you health! And allow me to share my top 3 reasons for why I strongly believe this…
1. MENTAL HEALTH
2. WEIGHT MANAGEMENT
3. ENERGY
The more we restrict ourselves, the more we’re going to crave what we’re restricting ourselves from — which in turn, may not be good for our mental health or weight weight management. For instance, if we’re thinking of how much we want some chocolate (or even our favorite salty snack if we’re less of a sweets person), but then deprive ourselves of this, there is a much greater probability we will binge on some at some point in the near future and/or even justify eating less healthful food throughout our day since we did were so “good” at avoiding the deemed gluttonous item when we wanted it. There are many unhealthy cycles we can develop, it’s most ideal to listen to our bodies and eat intuitively.
On top of this, dieting that involves sudden decreases to our intake of carbohydrates and sugar deprives our bodies of the necessary glucose needed for energy. This can lead to us feeling sluggishness, experience mental fog and distraction, as well as potentially feel depressed! The mind body connection is ever present.
There’s no reason to not enjoy dessert in moderation — life is meant to be sweet! When we take a bite out of our favorite desserts and our moods instantly level up, it’s due to the fact that foods with naturally high percentages of carbohydrates help the brain and body to produce chemicals (including serotonin) that contribute to overall emotional well being. The benefits of enjoying dessert simply outweighs the negative impact.
As with everything I make, I love to know the ingredients will fuel not only a beautiful plate, but a beautiful feeling inside. Steeped in the culture of being raised in Japanese and Italian homes, I understand the magnitude of importance food holds. I also believe in the philosophy of eating to live versus living to eat. It really is not about deprivation, it’s about remaining mindful and raising the vibration — no matter how incredible something taste’s, it’s also about how it “tastes” to our minds, bodies and souls that will keep the true “deliciousness” with us long past the moment of actual consumption. Pillars I continue to remind myself:
1. The quality of ingredients matter.
2. Less is always more.
3. Think loving thoughts while cooking and the food will taste better! #truth
4. Remain present while enjoying the intimate act of eating, it’s a game changer.
With love & gratitude, cheers to your good health!
medical disclaimer: all information is intended for general information purposes only and should not be considered as personal medical advice. individuals should always consult their healthcare provider before administering any of the suggestions made on thebalancedcalm.com to ensure they are appropriate for their specific circumstance.
