In case you haven't experienced it or can't remember it, being a senior is high school is rough stuff. Don't get me wrong- the school work feels less intense. But it's the gosh darn college applications and finding the motivation to actually get up in the morning that makes everything so hard. And of course, I struggle with the realization that this time next year, I won't have a kitchen of my own to work in, or two little poodles to cuddle with, or even be able to come home from school and go on jogs with my mom.
This is the first year in four years that my brother and I are on the same campus, and it's been fun to wave to him between classes and find him at shared club meetings. But I am also really, really ready to get a change, to move on, to meet lots of new people, and to find out more about what I don't know.
This is the first year in four years that my brother and I are on the same campus, and it's been fun to wave to him between classes and find him at shared club meetings. But I am also really, really ready to get a change, to move on, to meet lots of new people, and to find out more about what I don't know.
The weather here in North Carolina is steadily becoming beautiful: the mornings are chilly and gray and the afternoons are bright and sunny. I can sit outside for hours and not get too hot or too cold- a phenomenon that exists in NC for about 2 weeks each year. But it always seems like a lot of stress comes when the weather is the most beautiful. I remind myself of this everyday, and I'll remind you as well: take a deep breath, smile at the sky, and treat yourself to an ice cream sandwich.
Don't treat yourself to just any ice cream sandwich! This recipe raw, vegan, wheat-free, dairy-free, and pretty darn healthy. Not only is it chocolatey and delicious, but it also contains the energy boost you need to get through your day (or at least to get you to your next ice cream sandwich bite!). It's nothing short of amazing, between the rich, chewy crust and the dense coconut ice cream on the inside. It's the ultimate guilt-free dessert, and I am super happy to share it with you!
Raw Chocolate Ice Cream Sandwich Bars
(makes 6 bars)
Ingredients:
Directions:
(makes 6 bars)
Ingredients:
- 1/3 cup of oats
- 1 cup of dates, soaked in hot water
- 2 tablespoons of cocoa powder
- 2 tablespoons of almond milk (heated)
- 1 teaspoon of coconut oil
- 2-4 tablespoons of coconut fat (the solid of a refrigerated can of coconut milk)
- 2 more tablespoons of cocoa powder or 1/4 cup of solid dark chocolate
- Optional: sprinkled cinnamon to taste
- Optional: 2 teaspoons of powdered sugar
Directions:
- Soak the dates in hot water for ten minutes.
- In a blender, grind up the oats into a flour. Add in the cocoa powder, cinnamon, and dates, and continue to blend the mixture into a dough.
- Separate the dough into 2 equal parts. Press one half into the bottom of a small bread pan, making it a flat surface. (This is the bottom crust of the sandwich.) Store it in the freezer while preparing the ice cream filling. Keep the other half of the dough in the refrigerator.
- Clean out the blender. Put in the hot almond milk, coconut oil, coconut fat, chocolate, and powdered sugar. Blend until it reaches a thick, cream-like texture.
- Pour the ice cream into the pan with the bottom crust on it. Freeze it for another few hours, or until the ice cream center becomes solid.
- Once the center is solid, press the other half of the crust mixture on the top of the filling, being sure to cover the whole thing. Put the pan back in the freezer for another hour or so.
- Slice it into 6 bars, each about 3/4 - 1 inch thick. They are best when slightly thawed.