(with various secret, healing ingredients & an in-depth look into why you REALLY want to make these before, or as,  you start your menstrual cycle).

hello beautiful beings!

Welcome back to the next sweet treat recipe. This one was a truly alchemical process of creation. I was trying to think of something to make using some of the divine roots, shoots & tinctures from Aether Herbalist & Apothecary and all I knew when I was starting the process was that I wanted to create something fabulous. Something really decadent, sweet & just super satisfying. I could probably say that most of the inspiration struck when I was thick in the throws of menstrual cycle and craving all of the things. The things that I crave most when on my cycle is always: bananas, chocolate, peanut butter, oats & soy milk. When I actually looked deeper into why I would possibly be craving these things during each of my cycles, I realised again that the body is intelligent beyond belief. And below I will share with you why! 

Apparently between ovulation & menstruation, the female body uses a lot of magnesium and therefore there is an increased need to obtain more magnesium through dietary means hence why we might crave food goods that are denser in magnesium (as well as foods rich in potassium, iron and other hormone-balancing properties). What you might find too is that you may also crave 1) things that are very dense & comforting and 2) also foods that are a lot more nutrient dense. 

Bananas:

Bananas are high in potassium & magnesium, they are also high in B6, copper & manganese (which helps immensely with cramps by having a relaxing effect on the muscles). Bananas are also incredibly satisfying and balancing for Vata dosha due to their creamy sweet quality.

Chocolate:

As we know, cacao and cocoa is really high in minerals such as iron (which is great when menstruating as you are losing iron through the loss of blood), cacao is also high in magnesium & zinc. Chocolate/cacao also has a strong anti-oxidant profile (when eaten as dark chocolate or preferably as raw cacao).  

Soy milk:

Soy milk is a great source of protein, calcium & vitamin D, A, potassium & vitamin B-12. The soy bean is high in compounds that act the same way in the body as the female hormone called estrogen (hense why I crave it so explicitly during menstruation). 

This is what I have found on Estrogens via ‘Dr Google’: “Estrogens are a group of sex hormones that promote the development and maintenance of female characteristics in the human body. They play an essential role in the growth and development of female secondary sexual characteristics, such as breasts, pubic and armpit hair, and the regulation of the menstrual cycle and reproductive system. During the menstrual cycle, estrogen produces an environment suitable for the fertilization, implantation, and nutrition of an early embryo.” (source: https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/277177.php).

Oats:

Oats are hearty, warming & sustaining and not to mention, incredibly comforting. Oats are high in manganese, phosphorus, magnesium and also have copper, iron, zinc, folate, vitamin B1 and B5. Oats are also high in anti-oxidants and soluble fibre. And are again, super soothing for all doshic types - especially Vata due to the warming, soothing quality of oats.  

Peanut butter:

As we know a healthy dose of healthy fats goes a long way with maintaining ones’ health and this is especially true for women’s hormonal health. (I also tend to have massive cravings for tahini & avocado when menstruating). Apparently the high amounts of vitamin E in peanut butter helps a lot with cramping & inflammation. 

SO, bottom line is that if you find yourself menstruating and wanting to eat the whole jar of peanut butter in a sitting, or eating all the avocados & chocolate know that you can trust your body. IT KNOWS what it is doing and it knows what you need in order to create a happy, healthy & rich internal environment.

Two of the healing roots used in this creation are: Maca Root Powder & Pine Pollen. 

Maca is a powerful Adaptogenic root that gives immense stamina, strength & power to the physical body and the mind. It has potent medicinal & nutritional value. It is a source of several vitmains & minerals (especially vitamin C, copper & iron) and has 20 amino-acids,  including the 8 essential amino acids. It is often associated with increasing energy levels and libido, it also has been known to help with stress & depression. One of the most helpful benefits of Maca is its’ ability to “harmonize the endocrine system” (which is the system in the body responsible for regulating metabolism, reproduction, growth, development, sleep, mood and tissue function - hence why it is also something I crave on my menstrual cycle and why this is a really beneficial root to add into your diet to support your hormonal health for both men and women). 

Pine Pollen: “The medicinal use of Pine Pollen dates back over 1500 years to China.

Pine pollen is very simply the pollen of pine trees. Pollen is actually a form of a seed; and, like all seeds, it contains the fundamental nutrients and essence necessary to grow a towering 100-foot tall pine tree that can live for hundreds of years. As such, it contains an incredibly wide spectrum and high concentration of unique and rare nutrients that do much the same for the human body as it does for the tree itself: promotes rapid growth, rejuvenation, and healing. In chinese medicine, pine pollen is considered to be a tonic herb, capable of nourishing all major organs of the body including the lungs, kidney, liver, heart, and spleen. This powerful supplement contains over 200 bio-active nutrients including 17 amino acids, b vitamins, vitamins a, c, and d as well as powerful antioxidants like superoxide dismutase, resveratrol, and more. It is an exceptionally powerful medicine for improving immune function and lowering the systemic inflammation that often leads to cellular oxidation. It also increases levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD) - the bodies master antioxidant as well as glutathione, which help detoxify environmental pollutants and oxidative stress from the body.

Pine Pollen contains bioavailable forms of androstenedione, testosterone, DHEA (dehydroepiandrosterone), androsterone and a wide variety of other phyto-steroidal compounds which harmonize and powerfully rejuvenate the endocrine system.

Pine pollen has traditionally been used to enhance the immune system and treat low libido, depression, cognitive decline, among other things.

So, when mulling over ideas about what to make, I knew I wanted to incorporate all of these beautiful things into one delicious, neatly packaged treat. At first the idea of making a rendition of a Reese’s cup came to my mind & so I ventured forth into the world of experimenting with that being my guiding idea: to create a healthy, healing, whole-food based, delicious Reese’s cup. Along the way, I let go of that thought slightly as I saw this creation take on it’s own alchemical magic. And so these oaty, chocolate-y, peanut buttery, Reese’s-like tarts were created.

BASICALLY, this is a period-time MUST have. Between the herbal tonics that aid the endocrine (hormone) system, reduce inflammation, support the immune system & support the major organs of the body and the everyday food staples like bananas, peanut butter & oats, we are pretty much SET to support ourselves both in nutrients and in TASTE (i.e. satisfying soul, mind, emotions, PMS and heart with ENJOYMENT) with this little tartlette. 

NOW, to get into the magic that is this tart. 

 

ingredients:

For the Crust:

• 1 cup quick cook Jungle Oats

• 1/2 cup desiccated coconut 

• 1/4 cup of turbinado sugar/coconut sugar/raw cane sugar 

• 3 tablespoons coconut oil, melted

• 4 tablespoons smooth peanut butter 

• 2-3 tablespoons of water

• Pinch of salt 

• 8 cylacone muffin holders 

• 1 muffin tray 

 

For the Filling:

• 1 tin of chickpeas, washed and drained. Keep 1 tablespoon of the liquid from the tin. 

• 1/4 cup of smooth peanut butter

• 1/4 cup of soy milk 

• 1 tablespoon of aquafaba

• 1.5 tablespoons of honey 

• 1/2 banana 

• 1 teaspoon of liquid stevia

• 1 teaspoon Maca Powder

• 1 teaspoon Pine Pollen 

 

For the Ganache: 

• 4 blocks of dark chocolate (I used Lindt) 

• 1 teaspoon of coconut oil 

Method:

1. Preheat oven to 180 degrees celsius or 350 degrees Fahrenheit. In a food processor add in the oats, the desiccated coconut, the salt and the finely blended sugar (this is important as you don’t want the tart shells to have big granules of sugar - I used a nutribullet to quickly zap the sugar into a finer powder like consistency). 

2. In a small saucepan place the water, coconut oil & peanut butter and bring together to melt. Add to the food processor and blend on high until a rough dough-like ball forms (test it by pressing some of the mixture in between your fingers to ensure that you can press it together and it will hold in order to make little tart shells). Place this mixture into the fridge for about 20 minutes to cool so that you can work with it more easily. Place the 8 muffin holders into the muffin tray (for extra support) & set aside. 

3. While the crust mixture cools, make the filling. Place all the filling ingredients into the nutribullet or blender of choice & blend on high until a very smooth & delicious paste/puree forms. 

4. Take the dough mixture out of the fridge & press into the 8 muffin holders wich are held in place by the supporting muffin tray underneath to make your crusts. This can be a bit challenging but I assure you - it is WELL worth the patience! Place into the oven and bake for 10 minutes. Take out of the oven & fill with your peanut butter filling. 

5. Place back into the oven for a further 20 minutes. 

6. While they are baking, melt the chocolate for your ganache in a bain-marie. It is really nice to have a dark chocolate for this because the rest of the tart is really sweet so the dark bitterness of the chocolate really acts as an important balancing flavor to the sweetness of the tart. NOTE: if you would like a hardened chocolate topping, do not add the coconut oil when melting the chocolate. If you would like a slightly softer “ganache” like topping then add in the coconut oil because then as it cools it will not harden completely. 

7. Once the tarts are out of the oven, let them cool a bit and then top them with the chocolate mixture. 

8. OPTIONS TO SERVE: You can eat them as is, warm & fudgy & cosy. OR, place in the fridge & let them cool and then tuck into them! You can even place one or two into the freezer & have the option of a delicious frozen treat! I also like to top with a fresh berry like raspberry or/and a sprinkling more of pine pollen.

9. ENJOY!