Tuesday, March 9, 2010

Primal-Style Canyon Ranch Snacks


Both of these recipes are simplified versions of snacks from Canyon Ranch's Nourish cookbook, and both are Primal Blueprint-friendly:

Chocolate Almond Trail Mix

3 1/2 cups whole almonds (toasted and lightly salted is fine)
3 cups dried cranberries
2 cups raisins
2 cups extra dark chocolate chips

Mix everything together. Makes about twenty super-tasty 1/2-cup servings.

Pumpkin Crunch

1 cup pumpkin seeds
1 1/2 teaspoons canola oil
2 tablespoons pure maple syrup
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cup dried cranberries

Toss the pumpkin seeds and oil in a small bowl, and spread the seeds on a baking sheet that's been lightly sprayed with canola oil. Toast in a preheated 300 degree oven for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Put the toasted seeds in a bowl and stir in the maple syrup, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt until the seeds are well coated. Spread the coated seeds on the baking sheet again, and bake for another 15 minutes until golden brown, stirring occasionally. The seeds burn easily, to check 'em frequently and adjust the baking time as necessary.

Take the baking sheet out and allow the seeds to cool completely. Combine with the dried cranberries, and divvy everything up into ten 1/4-cup servings.