Yikes!
Way back, when I started feeding my sweet little Savannah solid foods, I can oh-so-clearly remember really questioning the package labels like I never had before. Sure, if you read my story you know I definitely read food labels, but it wasn't until my innocent baby sat in my arms I, then, started looking at them differently. The pediatrician prescribed baby rice cereal, but when I read the label on the box recommended to me, I could not help but wonder if it was truly rice I was forcing down her. Shortly after a few successful attempts, it was no surprise that after many months of no issues on breast milk, she now developed constipation. The next prescription was to then administer prune juice or a stool softener (or both) after the rice cereal.
Now, call me crazy, but my mommy radar went a little nuts. We love our pediatrician. We love Drs.(and nurses, hospitals, surgeons...Of course), but this just simply did not compute. My baby was now suffering and I created every bit of it. Instead of me pounding myself to the ground with mom guilt, anxiety and panic, I trusted my creator and started making my own baby food (and feeding her after she nursed if she was still hungry). I cooked brown rice. I mashed it up. I thinned it with breast milk. My baby girl thrived.
Fast forward 7 years and we're still eating brown rice together (and thriving)! The only difference now is we are making treats instead of mashed up breast milk (can you even imagine?!) When I asked Savannah if I could dedicate my next recipe post to her she didn't even hesitate and squealed "Scotcharoos!!!!". This puffed brown rice dessert-looking goodness offers nutrition and health in every bite. The raw honey and nut/seed butters' benefits are far too expansive to even begin to list. As the two chocolate-loving ladies in the house, this treat is our staple. Consider yourself warned: when you add-in more real food, your guts will feel soothed, your tastebuds alive and a little bit will satisfy even the sweetest of sweet tooths.
Cleaned Up Scotcharoos
by Audrey Byker Health Coach
1 cup raw honey(local, even better!)
1 cup natural peanut butter(or natural nut or seed butter of choice)
7 cups brown rice puffs
1 cup raw or roasted seeds(we use hemp and sunflower)
1 cup dark chocolate chips(Enjoy Life, Ghirardelli, or Costco, in that order)
1 tsp coconut oil.
In small saucepan bring honey to low boil then boil for 1 min. Remove from heat. Add PB, stir well. Add warm mixture to rice puffs and stir well. Press into a 9x13 pan, press down to flatten with silicone spatula or damp fingers.
Melt chocolate chips and coconut oil in double broiler or microwave, in 30 sec. increments. Stir well until smooth. Drizzle and/or spread over bars. Cover and freeze briefly to set. Store at room temp or fridge, cut into squares.
