A few weeks ago I was sent a wonderful selection of products from Indigo Herbs of Glastonbury, a small family owned business that I had been unaware of until now. They specialise in health and nutrition products so are right up my street!
I love it when I have a selection of ingredients to choose from with which to develop some new recipes! As you can see from the photo I had a great selection to choose from!
Some of the products I had never heard of, let alone knew what their health benefits were, so I set about doing some research!
First up, bee pollen. First of all I wasn’t sure how I felt about eating something that took bees so long to make. One website quotes that to make 1 teaspoon of bee pollen one bee has to work for 8 hours a day for a month!
Since I had been given it, I decided that I should make the best use of it so I set about creating a recipe that would combine it with fruit; it is said that eating it with fruit ensures that it acts faster and is more effective. The benefits are said to range from boosting the immune system to treating allergies to aiding digestion. To find out more check out this article.
Secondly, I had never heard of white mulberries! I found out that they are often used to treat diabetes (they slow the breakdown of sugars in the gut so that they are absorbed more slowly into the blood stream), high cholestorol, high blood pressure and muscle and joint pain!
My daughter absolutely loves them, needless to say there were not many left for me to make something with! Little pots full of mulberries were snuck off into various parts of the house to be enjoyed on their own! She is crazy about them but I can think of far worse things to be crazy about!
Making the raw organic chocolates was great fun! It was so simple with the kit that Indigo Herbs had sent…everything I needed was in there including great instructions and the correct measurements.
Once the kids had gone to bed I had a lovely relaxing time melting the ingredients together and creating the most amazing smell in the house (I am surprised it didn’t wake the kids up!)…
All the ingredients waiting to be used!
Melt the cocoa butter in a bowl over boiling water…
Add the vanilla powder…
Add the raw cacao powder…
All the ingredients melted together with the agarve…mmm
I made mulberry chocolates!
…and doughnut shaped ones!
They are DELICIOUS!
For my non-banana loving children I snuck some banana powder into their daily breakfast pancakes. They loved the flavour and particularly liked the fact that there were no lumps of banana (which is what they hate)! I liked the fact that they were getting the goodness of banana in a form that they accepted!
The Tummy Tamer tea is described on their website as a settling, calming blend of all things good and herbal for the digestive system. This tea is for relieving digestive discomfort, stimulating the digestive process and refreshing the palate. Its a cooling, calming mix of Peppermint and Catnip, with a twist of fennel, and the mellow, mild tastes of Chamomile and Marigold. I have to say that tummy problems or not, this is a delicious tea and one that I would imagine could become a store cupboard essential for those of you with coeliac disease or other digestive issues. It is certainly calming.
Finally, here is the recipe for my healthy snack bars that include the wonderful bee pollen. They are great after exercise or to give the kids an energy boost after school. I have to say that since eating one of these each day my hayfever symptoms have diminished to the point of stopping my antihisamines. Whether that is coincidence or the bee pollen doing its thing, who knows!
The addition of chocolate on top makes them more luxurious but they are equally nice without it. In fact my daughter prefers the non-chocolate version! Let me know what you think…
Healthy Seedy Snack Bars (Gluten-free, Dairy-free, Nut-free, Egg-free, Sugar-free )
Ingredients
- 100 g dried dates - pitted
- 50 g dried apricots
- 60 g virgin coconut oil - melted
- 1/2 - 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 tsp almond butter - optional
- 50 g almonds
- 50 g pumpkin seeds
- 50 g sesame seeds
- 50 g sunflower seeds
- 1 tbsp banana powder - optional
- 2 tbsp bee pollen - if you don't have it, leave it out
Instructions
- Place all the ingredients into a food processor and blend until they stick together. You will need to scrape the sides down a couple of times to get to this point. If you don't have a food processor make it with whole seeds, and chop the nuts into small pieces. My kids won't eat seeds but will eat them chopped up like this!
- Find an appropriately sized dish (depending on how deep you want your bars to be) and press the mixture firmly in.
- Place in the fridge for a few hours to set.
- If you want to add a chocolate top, melt some good quality dark chocolate (check ingredients) and pour over the top. Alternatively, buy the raw chocolate kit from Indigo Herbs or use my recipe for raw mint chocolate, leaving out the mint if you just want plain chocolate.
- Place back in the fridge before cutting into bars and storing in the fridge.
Jo @ 3 Kids and a Gluestick says
Everything looks great! I love the ides of the seed bars too. My daughter absolutely loves seeds in any shape or form so I might have to give these a try 🙂
Emma T says
These all look great. I love the chocolate donuts! Hadn’t thought of making seed bars as N’s not keen on oaty bar type of things/flapjacks (odd child), and don’t think the OH would be keen, but I’d love them
TheBeesleyBuzz says
oh my goodness – white mulberries!!! I am so excited reading this – My mum was iranian and the iranian word for mulberries is ‘toot’ and they are delicious – i had them lots growing up – they were one of my absolute favourite foods -but didn’t have a clue where to buy them these days. How wonderful i now know thanks to you!!! xxx
Mel says
Wow, these products seem great, I bet you were happy to try them. How exciting to be working with ingredients you had never heard about (you are a pioneer, Vicki!). Those chocolates look like they just came out of a French chocolatier’s. The snack bars look yummy. Perfect for lunchboxes. Mel
The Free From Fairy says
Ah thanks for your kind words! There are no chocolates left 🙂
Em @ snowingindoors says
Those chocolates looks fabulous, so glossy and professional. I’ve heard amazing things about making your own chocolate and now I’m determined to try it out, thanks for the inspiration x
The Free From Fairy says
The kit that Indigo Herbs does is so easy and the chocolates are amazing! And GOOD for you too! My mint chocolate recipe is a good one too if you don’t want to buy a kit. Again, they are good for you…natural sugar and no dairy. Let me know how you get on!
Sonia says
Oh those snack bars look absolutely delicious! I think I have most of the ingredient so might have to give them ago this evening. I fancy a treat xx
The Free From Fairy says
How did you get on? Please let me know what you thought! They are super easy to make and a really healthy snack!