Blissful Raw Cacao-Coconut Spread (vegan, grain-free, sugar-free, nut-free, dairy-free, soy-free, paleo)

This Homemade “Cacao Bliss™”-like spread is vegan, grain-free, sugar-free, raw and suitable for Stage 1 and beyond on an anti-candida diet.

Friends often remark about how well-behaved The Girls are, mostly because they always lie quietly beyond the kitchen/family room boundary whenever we eat, patiently waiting for us to finish the meal. In that way, they’re a classic Pavlovian example, having internalized the notion that, if they keep their distance while we enjoy our dinner, they’ll receive an edible reward once we’re done. From their perspective, the correlation is easy: lie quietly until sounds of knives and forks stop and Mum pushes out her chair = food and treat jackpot at the end of it all.

Basically, they’ll do just about anything for food. (Otherwise, how could we explain this?).

On the other hand, they have literally no desire for human affection when food isn’t involved. With one exception: The Belly Rub.

Elsie will let me massage her belly for, oh, hours, if I wished. True, she offers absolutely no indication that she even realizes I’m doing it (not a muscle moves, not a sigh is emitted, not a whisker twitches); but should I stop, she raises her head, then hits me with her best Border Collie Eye, implying that I have wounded her mortally. According to the HH, those belly rubs are Elsie’s version of being “blissed out.”

Since I don’t experience the benefit of belly rubs (hear that, HH?), I seek my bliss elsewhere, more often than not involving one or another kind of chocolate.  And if you’re familiar with Cacao Bliss, the raw, vegan spread by Artisana, then you likely know what I’m talking about. Clearly, someone at that company knows a thing or two about healthy gastronomic bliss!

Woefully, the cost factor prohibits buying too much of the stuff–probably a good thing, since you don’t want to overdo it with this thick, rich-tasting, subtly sweet and very intensely chocolate spread. It’s a perfect treat on toast (or in my case, rice cakes), or melted in lieu of syrup on pancakes. Add it to smoothies, or just eat it on its own.

Alas, I tried to acquire some samples to give away to y’all, but never heard back from the company (though, hey, Artisana, it’s not too late!). In the meantime, I took some time and figured out how to whip up my own version that, I daresay, is just as good. And best of all, there’s an ACD-friendly variation that I’ve been enjoying this past week while I work through the Candida Kick-Start course with the rest of the group.

Blissed out on an anti-candida diet? Yes, it’s totally possible! And, well, pretty much my mission these days with all the  food I create.

I’ll warn you , though: when it comes to this Blissful Raw Cacao-Coconut Spread, consume at your own risk. After the first spoonful, it’s all I can do to keep from baring my belly to the HH.

“Mum, notice how we’re just waiting here patiently outside the kitchen (right)? That spread looks good and everything, but don’t forget that we can’t eat chocolate. . . so there better be some other dog-friendy treat on the way once you’re done (right)? RIGHT?!”

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