Hi friends!
I hope you all enjoyed Gena’s guest post last night!! I know I did…..it was so intriguing and educational! Thanks, Gena!
I’m not going to do a whole recap from yesterday because it was very much of the same old thing….lots of oat bran, bars, fruit, nut butter and chicken for dinner made by my mama, along with my favorite sweet and sour red cabbage and a baked garnet yam—-
I DID however make my very first batch of raw maple syrup cinnamon cashew butter! Oh, Vita Mix, how I love thee.
Voila!
Well I guess its not 100% raw because of the maple syrup but I did use raw cashews and it did turn out totally AWESOME! So easy, too. I felt so accomplished afterwards! 🙂
One of the ways I enjoyed it yesterday was on a crisp Fuji apple after 30 minutes of swimming laps (drills of 100 meter freestyle alternated with kickboard and BOY does that kickboard ever work those quads!!!). Wednesday is swimming day and I also did Level 1 of The Shred when I got home.
I also had plenty of my new obsession, which is Cacao Bliss cashew/coconut butter in a variety of ways…..
And my very favorite way to eat this butter of the gods—
A reader asked if she should keep this out in the pantry or in the fridge. Definitely keep this out of the fridge, as the jar directs. If you store it in the fridge it will become rock hard! I like to “melt” a little bit at a time in the microwave for 10 seconds to give it that delicious spreadable consistency. 🙂
Well, considering it is 3:10 AM right now, I am off to make a snack for the road then head to work! So excited to have my new maple cinnamon cashew buttah in my oats this morning and then come home and bake loads and loads of Super Charge Me cookies for the lovely Jessica and Lindsay (oh and a few for me, too) 😉
Tina
April 9, 2009 at 4:31 amYour nut butter looks fantastic! And thanks for the heads up about the cacao bliss, I hadn’t seen that the label stated it should not go in the fridge… hmm. I just assume all things like that should be in the fridge so that they don’t go bad. I also warm a little bit to give it a more spreadable consistency. It’s soo good, and I can’t believe it’s so low in fat and calories (as compared to other chocolate spread or pb for example).
Courtney (The Hungry Yogini)
April 9, 2009 at 5:32 amOh your cashew buttah looks DIVIN! Yummm! Have a great day at work!
Kate (Foodie on a Mission)
April 9, 2009 at 5:37 amNEED.
Hahah. I definatley want to try that cashew butter! The only kind I’ve ever tried has been the pre-made, roasted type that comes in a jar. I like raw cashews so much better though, and luckilly for me I have a big ole’ bag of em’ from Whole Foods!
I’d guess the Cacoa Bliss has to be unfridgerated because of the coconut. Coconut oil is usually pretty darn firm at room temperature so I can’t imagine how hard it would get when it was COLD. Yikes. I’m glad you caught that on the label!
Katrina
April 9, 2009 at 5:44 amYay! Welcome back! Not that the other Gena wasn’t lovely, but… Your raw Cashew butter looks lovely! Speaking of nut butters, have yo tried PB2? I just got some samples in the mail to review for my blog. I already used one of the Chocolate PB2 packets to make Chocolate, Chocolate Chip, Chocolate PB2 Banana Bread, gluten free of course! On a whole different topic, I don’t understand this whole auction thing. How does/did it work? Also, I am visiting my fam in Tampa. This AM I’m going to a hot yoga class and am SUPER excited about it! Wish me luck!
VeggieGirl
April 9, 2009 at 6:13 amI see a SWEET POTATO!!!!!!!! 😀
Hope you received my response to your email!!
megan
April 9, 2009 at 6:38 ami love all your different nut butters! I’m so tempted to try out some new ones, but we are seriously lacking in health food type stores where I live. I haven’t even seen almond butter since I moved here!
brandi
April 9, 2009 at 6:54 amthat cashew butter looks awesome!
have a great day 🙂
Foodie (Fab and Delicious Food)
April 9, 2009 at 7:46 amThe cashew butter looks great!
Kristin @ Iowa Girl Eats
April 9, 2009 at 7:50 amOhhh chocolate nut butters – might be the key to my heart!!!
K
April 9, 2009 at 8:05 amOh my goodness! That cashew butter is divine!!
Nicole
April 9, 2009 at 8:18 amThe cashew butter looks fabulous!
elliebelle
April 9, 2009 at 8:19 amThat cashew butter looks amazing! Do you have a recipe?
Also, just a side note – thanks for adding a link a while back to YogaDownload. I’d never been to that website and I tried my first free 20 minute class last night. It was great (except for the constant interruptions by my phone and boyfriend! haha) 🙂
Melissa
April 9, 2009 at 8:19 amOMG that Cacao Bliss cashew/coconut butter looks awesome! And your Cashew Butter ain’t too shabby either. YUM!!
Maureen
April 9, 2009 at 8:33 amEverything in this post has me literally drooling. you are a good role model for how people can fit rich, decadent foods into a healthy lifestyle!
Lynna
April 9, 2009 at 9:12 amI just tried Raw Crunch Almond Butter from Trader Joe’s and I have to say I like it much better than the kind I used to get made with roasted almonds. I wish I had a Vita Mix/Cuisinart so I could make my own too!
Shannon (The Daily Balance)
April 9, 2009 at 9:24 amthe nut butter looks delish! love the maple syrup mix-in 😉
have a great day at work!
Michelle
April 9, 2009 at 9:26 amJenna, your blog is great and your pictures/recipes are AMAZING! Also, the guest post by Gena yesterday was wonderful and really interesting.
Run Sarah
April 9, 2009 at 9:53 amThat cashew butter looks fantastic…I need to try that in my magic bullet.
Kristin
April 9, 2009 at 9:58 amGlad you’re back, I’m craving cashew butter now!
Jess
April 9, 2009 at 10:10 amMmm…nut butter. Maybe I could go raw. 🙂
Matt
April 9, 2009 at 10:12 amOh man that cashew butter looks good. I am drooling right now!
Sarah (lovINmytummy)
April 9, 2009 at 10:17 amWelcome back!
I saw your apple slices and thought, “How could she NOT have the homemade nut butter on them?” Phew. I was worried.
Have a great day!
Michelle Hisae
April 9, 2009 at 10:20 amDo you think it would be a total disaster if I tried to blend the cashews in a blender? I don’t have a vitamix. 🙁
jenna
April 9, 2009 at 3:33 pmMichelle,
Honestly, I think you NEED a food processor for this one. It would be too strong for a blender’s blades unfortunately!!! You could always try though!
Marissa
April 9, 2009 at 10:48 amHow great you made your own!
Meg
April 9, 2009 at 11:24 amSo glad to you have you back and I’m loving the copious amounts of nut butter in this post!!! I am just about out of my maple cinnamon almond butter, maybe cashew butter will be the next one I try….
Hope you have a good day at work today.. wait I think you’re done now.. well I hope you have a good weekend! HAPPY EASTER!
Audrey
April 9, 2009 at 1:53 pmthat cashew butter looks so good, too bad i’m allergic to cashews haha..i’m always tempted to try some again whenever i see them however i know my face would erupt with hives booo.
Kristin
April 9, 2009 at 6:29 pmWould you mind sharing the general proportions of your cashew butter? Cashews are one of the few “nuts” I don’t have sensitivities to and I have an overabundance of maple syrup right now. It looks so tasty!