Rich Chocolate Pudding

You may be surprised by the main ingredient of this rich chocolate pudding but I promise no one will even know!

2 ripe medium AVOCADOS!!!
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 cup agave
1 tsp pure vanilla

Blend the insides of the avocados in a food processor or blender in till smooth. Add the remanding ingredients and process again till fully blended. Your pudding should turn out to be smooth, rich, and chocolaty! You may enjoy right away but it's better served chilled. This is also delicious topped with bananas, strawberries or even raspberries. Enjoy!

* Verdict from my kid taste testers ~ I served this to four kids ages 10, 7, 5 and 3. Next time I will double the recipe because they all LOVED IT! They were absolutely clueless it was made from avocado. My 10 year old hates, I mean HATES avocado and he was licking him bowl asking for more. I will be keeping this one a secret for awhile, but I sure can't wait to tell him. ;)

Blueberry Flax Shake

1 (10 oz) bag of Frozen Blueberries (or mixed berries)
Juice of 1/2 Lemon
1-2 handfuls of Spinach (about 2 cups)
4 inches of Cucumber, cut into chunks
half of one Avocado
1-2 cups Water (or coconut water or rice/almond milk)
2 tablespoons Agave (or honey)
1 tablespoon Flax Seed
1 tablespoon Greens powder (optional)

Blend all ingredients together until desired consistency.

Hazelnut Chocolate Spread

This was inspired by a Simply Healthful reader! You could call this a wannabe "Nutella" recipe. If you are not fond of the amount of coconut oil in this recipe you could use your favorite cold pressed oil instead. Many people use sunflower seed oil.

¾ cup Dates, soaked in 3 Tb hot water or ¾-1 cup raw Agave Nectar
¼ cup raw Almond butter or raw Hazelnut butter (if using Agave up the amount, making it more than the Agave Nectar)
3 Tb raw Cacao powder or raw Carob powder
4 Tb+ cold pressed Coconut Oil
1 tsp Vanilla extract or Vanilla flavoring
¼ tsp Real Salt

In a food processor combine all ingredients. I usually like to do the coconut oil last, adding tablespoon by tablespoon until it is the consistency that I like. To avoid heating you could also fold in the oil after processing all other ingredients.

If stored in the refrigerator this recipe will harden into a nice fudge! Enjoy!

Almond Butter Balls

My kids love these for after school snacks!

1 cup Almond Butter or Natural Peanut Butter
2 1/2 cups Oats
1/2 cup Ground Flax Seed
1/2 cup Agave or 3/4 cup Honey
Carob Chips or Unsweetened Coconut, Optional

Mix all ingredients in a bowl, I use my hands. When it is mixed well, form into balls. Store these in the refrigerator.