The best plan is to train your taste buds away from sugary treats.  When you have been off sugar for a while, fruit tastes unbelievably sweet and delicious!

However, this is real life we are living. It’s going to happen. You will be at a party or family gathering where everyone is scarfing down the goodies. Chances are you won’t stand around feeling deprived.  You will join in.  So make plans ahead of time and make a treat that you can eat without guilt.  Here is one I recently tried at our Memorial Day family picnic.  It turned out pretty well, but I liked it better after it had been in the refrigerator a while longer as it held its shape better and had the texture of a very moist and chewy brownie.  Before being so well chilled it tasted like brownie batter — which wasn’t bad.  By the way, you will need a food processor or powerful blender (I have a Vita-Mix) to make this recipe.

I found this recipe on Pinterest, and have tried to find the originator to give credit. Sometimes that is a challenge, since the good ones tend to be passed along to several sites.  I believe the creator of the recipe is Brianne at http://www.femfusionfitness.com.

 Ingredients

• 1 cup unsweetened coconut flakes
• 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1/4 tsp. cinnamon
• pinch of salt
• 1 tsp. vanilla
• 1 cup sunflower seed butter, or other nut butter
• 1/4 cup raisins
• 1/4 cup dried cherries
• Mini chocolate chips and 1/4 cup chopped dried cherries for a topping

 Directions

Cover the raisins and dried cherries with about 1/3 cup water and soak for five to ten minutes.  Don’t discard this water, as you will use it later.

Process coconut in a food processor on high until finely ground. Add the cocoa, cinnamon and salt and process until combined.  Next add the nut butter, raisins, cherries and the soaking water.  It should form a large mass. If it is too crumbly, add 1 tablespoon or so more liquid (milk or water).

Turn the dough into a 7 3/4 square pan or a loaf pan.  Press it evenly into the pan, then sprinkle chocolate chips and chopped dried cherries on top.  Press them gently into the batter.  Chill, then cut into squares and serve.

You will notice that there is no added sugar in this recipe.  However, there is sugar in the fruit and in the mini chocolate chips.  While it isn’t so light on calories, the nut butter does lower the glycemic index number, and the coconut flakes, the other main ingredient, is very low glycemic.  Taken together, this is an acceptable dessert — although you don’t want to eat the whole batch yourself!  The no-bake aspect makes it a great recipe for hot summer days.

Eating to live and living for Christ,

Susan Jordan Brown