Almond Butter Chocolate Treats

   I'm all alone!!! :(   Adam and the kids went to Bancroft yesterday to visit some friends at a cottage, but I stayed home to get some prep work done for Caleb's birthday party coming up, as well as getting things ready to have some friends over for dinner tonight. I also needed to get ready to "teach painting" at an art camp being offered by our church in Belleville. I say "teach painting" because most people know how to paint, but most people want and need some direction.

    I am (obviously!) teaching about impressionism, and am excited to bring some of the things I've learned over the years to the kids at the camp. If I could tell my 13 year old self what I know now, I feel like my paintings would have come without so much grief (though, I suppose, they may not have become what they are now without the grief?). I worked on 2 paintings (an apple and a pear) for years....seriously, for years! I didn't know how to get them 'just right' (whatever that is!). Then an artist couple had come over for dinner, and the husband said something so simple, but so profound. It was (basically) "to paint how you want something to look, not what you think others expect it to look like". I was like, "whaaaaaaa?" It was eye-opening!

    I was trying to do something with the apple and pear painting that was not me. I was literally fighting myself. So, I went back to these paintings (which were hiding in my basement, by the way, when my friends saw them and commented), and finished them within a few days. And I love them! All that to say, I am looking forward to working with the kids, and giving them the freedom to understand that art (especially impressionism) is what you make it. It's an expression, not a science. 

   Well, now that I've brattled on about painting, let's talk about food! 

   This little treat is a no-bake delight, perfect for these beautifully hot summer days! They have just a few ingredients, and can be made with any nut butter you want, and if you're not a paleo follower, you could change up the chocolate top (by simply melting some chocolate chips with a bit of milk). You could also use brown sugar in the base if you wanted to. I've never tried that though...so, it's an experiment you can do if you wanT! :)  My favourite part of these was how small I cut them! It makes them just the right size for a treat, just a wee bite.

Almond Butter Chocolate Treats
Adapted from The Big man's World

For the base:

• 1/2 Cup Coconut Flour
• 1/2 Cup Almond Flour
• 1/4 Cup Coconut Sugar
• 1/2 Cup Almond Butter (or any natural nut butter you love!)
• Pinch o' Salt
• 1/4 Tsp Cinnamon
• 1/4-1/2 Cup almond milk (or any milk or milk alternative)-The amount is variable because coconut milk absorbs A LOT of liquid!

For the chocolate top:

• 1 Ounce dark, unsweetened chocolate, chopped up small
• 1 Tbsp almond milk (or the milk of your choice!)
• 1 Tbsp maple syrup

Method:

Base:

1. Prepare a dish for your bites. I use a regular sized loaf pan. If your pan is too big, the bars/squares/bites will be really, really thin! So, choose wisely! :) Anyway, whatever you choose, use parchment paper to line the dish, and also to give yourself "handles" to lift the bars out of the pan when they are ready to be cut
2. In a bowl, sift in the coconut flour and almond flour (this is optional, but I like to get them "soft and fluffy"). Now whisk those sifted flours together with the coconut sugar, salt and cinnamon
3. Add the almond butter to the dry ingredients, and mix together. You'll need to get your hands in there to really incorporate it properly. It'll be crumbly once it's all worked in
4. Now add the milk, 1 tablespoon at a time, and work into your crumbly mix. You want the finished product to be like a dense dough
5. Once you've got a nice 'dough', press it into your prepared dish and set aside.

Top:

1. In a small saucepan, place the ingredients for the chocolate top
2. Slowly (slowly!!!) warm them up, and once the dark chocolate is nearly completely melted, remove from the heat, and continue to stir to let the mixture fully melt and combine
3. Pour the chocolate over the almond butter base & spread it out
4. Cover and refrigerate for 2 or more hours
5. Once set, cut into nice, bite sized pieces, and put into an airtight container in the fridge where you can snack on them at your leisure! :)   

   Pretty simple stuff here, people  :)  

   I actually found the longer these stayed in the fridge, the more I liked them. I kept them for about 3 weeks, and the last few were the best. Just sayin'.
 
   Well, I've had my coffee, Adam and the kids just got home safe and sound, and now it's time for me to head into the big city! 

   Have a great day one and all!