Raw almond coconut cacao nib bites

Raw almond coconut cacao nib bites

Wake up in the middle of the night. Where are my goggles? Find them under Thom’s elbow; lift it up, snatch them back, put them over my big head. Roll over to check the time. It’s 4:47. It’s always 4:47. Sit up. Go to rub my eyes and realize there are goggles in the way. Oh, and you’re not supposed to rub your eyes. Grab my shirt from the end of the bed. I got naked in my sleep again. I bet Thom liked that. Put on pants. A warm sweater. Tiptoe across the cold tile floor, into the bathroom. Sit on the toilet and empty the truckload of urine my bladder collected last night. Take off my goggles. Look at the container of soap sitting at the sink.

AROMATHERAPEUTIC Hand & Body Care Hard-working, naturally derived ingredients and essential oils provide a fresh and clean approach. Oh, how gentle LAVENDER has been valued for it’s wonderful scent that is soothing & believed to RELIEVE FATIGUE. All from an herb.

Wait a minute. You can read the soap label? From here? YOU CAN READ THE SOAP LABEL? Jump up off the toilet. Forget to wash my hands. Run out into the main living area and stand across the room from the bookshelf. I can read every title. Every subtitle. I can identify the books that were loved too much; their bindings are broken, their corners are worn. I can see the growth rings and knots in the woody frame. I can see everything. Clear as day.

Jump with joy. Literally. Do that weird kick/punch thing you do when you get excited. Maybe knock over a chair. You should probably pick it back up. Cry. Hard. For your new vision and ability to see every detail of this beautiful place. Every detail that not even glasses could help you see. Every detail of which you were robbed for the first 24 years of your life. Wash your hands. Give thanks to the man who corrected your 20/200 vision with that fancy laser machine. Think about kissing his face all over next time you see him. Run into the bedroom and kiss Thom's face all over. Make waffles. Stuff your face with raw almond coconut cacao nib bites and ruin your appetite for waffles. Eat a waffle anyway because not eating a waffle just wouldn't be right. Eat a waffle anyway because today we're celebrating eyeballs that finally serve their purpose. All thanks to a man and his fancy laser machine.

Ground almonds + coconut
Raw almond coconut cacao nib bites
Raw almond coconut cacao nib bites

Notes: I've got to admit - it's taken me almost a year (gasp!) to share this recipe with you guys. Kicking myself. Are you kicking me, too? The add-ins at the end are going to seem like a lot, but trust me on this - add 1/4 cup of each the chopped almonds and cacao nibs. I rolled a few of them in cacao powder to amp up the chocolate flavor, but it didn't make too much of a difference. You can find the baked version here. And if you want real deal almond joy bites, go here. Or! If you're not into the awesomeness that is almond + coconut + chocolate, might I interest you in raw brownie bites?

RAW ALMOND COCONUT CACAO NIB BITES

1 cup unsweetened shredded coconut
3/4 cup raw almonds, divided
Pinch of Himalayan salt
8 medjool dates, pitted
3 tbsp raw almond milk (or water)
1/4 cup cacao nibs

In a food processor fitted with the S blade, blend the coconut, 1/2 cup of the almonds, and sea salt into a fine meal. Add the dates and pulse for 30-45 seconds. Add the nut milk; pulse until combined. Transfer the mixture to a small mixing bowl. Coarsely chop the almonds then stir into the mixture, along with the cacao nibs. Using a 1 teaspoon cookie scoop, drop the cookies onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Freeze for 30 minutes then transfer to an air tight container. Will keep in freezer for several months but I doubt they'll last that long.

Yield: about 55 bites

25 comments:

  1. YAY for your eyeballs!!!! And this recipe! I just love your story telling skills.

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  2. Congratulations on your laser eye surgery success! That's so wonderful :)

    And thanks for sharing the recipe. Looks delicious.

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  3. Yay for being able to seeeeeeeee! And for these bites, of course!

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  4. I'm so glad your surgery was a success! I did the exact same thing two years ago (ripping off goggles in my sleep and all) and when I could finally see, I probably kick-punch-danced more than is socially appropriate. Having vision is just THE greatest thing.

    And so is your blog! I'm always looking for paleo dessert-ish stuff, and these look amazing. Thanks for sharing them!

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  5. They look so good & you used a scoop. Not sure why I've never done that with my raw/nobake balls & bites. I need to. Yours are all so perfect!

    Congrats on your eyeballs!

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  6. so happy to hear about your eyeball success!
    xo
    kittee

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  7. Great news on the eyes! I bet these bites were perfect celebration food.

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  8. Mmm! I love raw desserts. (Happy to see a happy post on my first visit.)

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  9. Congratulations on your eyesight! I can't even imagine how exciting that would be.

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  10. I cannot wait to get laser eye surgery some day. To wake up and be able to see... man that would be glorious :)

    These bites sound delicious! I've been looking for recipes for a friend of mine who just had a baby; I want to make some food for her for when she's exhausted and needs something quick. I think these would be perfect lil energy bites for her :)

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  11. From the second sentence of this post, I knew you were talking about eye surgery! I've been there, and how - I was legally blind since age 6 (my vision was 20/1,250 - no, that's not a typo) and at age 22, I was finally able to have corrective lens surgery. The minutes, hours, and days following that afternoon were some of the most dazzling of my entire life, as I watched a world I'd never seen emerge before me.
    To this day, almost six years later, I keep a washcloth draped over the clock in my bedroom, because it still arrests and disorients me to wake up in the middle of the night and actually be able to see what time it is.
    Many, many congrats to you and your beautiful eyes! These (eyeball-shaped?) bites look like the perfect way to celebrate.

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  12. As someone who has got used to living in a blurry world, I can't imagine how incredibly exciting (and somewhat scary) it must be to be able to see properly & clearly! Congratulations, I'm so glad the surgery was a success and I hope you enjoy your new eyes.

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  13. gorgeous blog! great both recipes and photography!
    i'm going to watching you for now on dear.
    cheers :)
    xxxFiC.

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  14. Hooray for laser surgery! My fiance has awful eyesight (an operation that went wrong when he was little left him with permanent double vision) so I always like to hear vision success stories :-)
    Gorgeous recipe too - perfect for celebrating with.

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  15. So awesome Ashlae! congratulations! I am so happy that you are happy :)
    I couldnt read much for 2 years in between, but with continuous practice i now can. I am so tired of audiobooks:)

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  16. Recipes + storytelling = awesome blog reading.

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  17. Yay for being able to see! I'm so happy for you. xo

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  18. Congratulations on your sight! And man... the ease and deliciousness of raw desserts are the death of me. Thoughts, "hmmm, I'm bored/have a taste for something sweet"... ten minutes later I have eaten a pound of nuts.

    I will probably make these tonight. And curse you for reminding me of them for a second but love them and this blog all the same :)

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  19. My husband just had LASIK surgery a month ago and I smiled reading your experience because its such a wonderful thing! Congratulations!!!

    Also, I can't wait to make these raw balls this weekend!

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  20. Congratulations on your surgery going well! that's awesome news! these bites look incredible!

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  21. So glad you got your peepers fixed! Loved the story. Such a talented writer (and baker), my friend!

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  22. I'm going to dream of these.

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  23. Congrats on your awesome vision! Fancy laser machines rock!

    Also, tried this out. They're SO addicting. I may have eaten 6... or 10. Ya know, one or the other. ;)

    -Eimy

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  24. My husband made these (at my request) this past weekend and they are AMAZING. Great, great recipe.

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