Chocolate Nut Muffins by Organic Merchant, Photographed by Pia J B.
It’s no secret that I’ve been an enthusiast of naturopath Chalimah Jeanne’s organic teas for many years. I first came across her collection when we moved to Sydney in 2011, while wandering through Paddington Markets. Chalimah has such a beautiful energy and incredible wealth of knowledge, and I found myself coming back for more. For those who’ve been around for a while, you might recall I featured her teas in a story I wrote for Country Style back in 2013, and have continued to use her teas over the years for styling projects and as gifts for clients.
Last year I had the pleasure of collaborating with Chalimah to photograph both her new packaging (you’ll see these sensuous images soon) as well as the recipe cards for her new Dust Collection. Dust is a range of healthy & delicious raw cacao infusions, designed to improve mental focus and physical performance. There are six infusions in the range: Super, Sex, Soothe, Spark, Shine, and Spirit. Each one is designed specifically to enrich the characteristics we need to strengthen within us.
Chalimah wanted to create some beautiful recipe cards that show the many ways you can incorporate the infusions, as they are not only wonderful as warm elixirs but also scrumptious in pancakes, muffins, smoothies and popsicles. So one morning, she made an incredible array of some of her favourite foods and I came with my camera to photograph them all on her long wooden dining table.
Would you like to see some of the photographs? I took many, it was such a beautiful setting. And there was a gorgeous natural coppery light that came through, infusing everything with a warmth and glow. Here are a few of my favourites…
Nourish Bowl…
Ingredients:
1 cup buckwheat hulls
2 cups plant mylk
4 heaped tsp DUST infusion of your choice
2 tbsp chia seed/flaxseed
1/2 cup fruit – currants/raisins (optional)
How to assemble:
Combine ingredients into a bowl and soak overnight to allow hulls/seeds to soften.
Once soaked, transfer to saucepan and cook over low heat for 15-20 minutes or until thick and creamy. Add more mylk or water if needed.
Serve into bowls topped with your choice of suggestions from the list below.
Suggestions to add…
Grated apple with cinnamon
Fresh figs with honey and walnuts
Poached pears with vanilla
Pomegranate jewels and pistachios
Cacao Pancakes…
Ingredients:
1 cup buckwheat flour
4 heaped tsp DUST infusion of your choice
1 tsp baking soda
2 tbsp coconut sugar (optional)
1 to 1.5 cups plant mylk
How to assemble:
In a large bowl, combine all the dry ingredients and stir well.
Whisk in mylk to create a batter.
Set stove top to medium and add butter/coconut oil.
Gently pour 1/3 cup of batter into pan using ladle/large spoon to create pancakes roughly the size of an orange.
Flip pancakes over once bubbles have risen on the surface.
Set / stack cooked pancakes on wire rack or plate and continue until batter is finished.
Chocolate Nut Muffins…
Dry ingredients:
2 cups buckwheat flour
1 cup ground seed/nut meal
1/4 cup coconut sugar
1/4 cup DUST infusion of your choice
1 tsp bi-carb
Wet ingredients:
3/4 cup plant mylk
2 eggs or chia egg replacement*
2 ripe bananas mashed
1/2 cup hazelnuts/frozen berries
1/2 cup coconut oil/butter melted
*Chia egg replacement = 1 tbsp chia seeds + 3 tbsp of water. Combine and set aside for approx. 10 minutes.
How to assemble:
Preheat oven to 180 ̊C.
In a large bowl, combine all the dry ingredients and stir well.
In a smaller bowl, combine all the wet ingredients and stir well.
Add wet mixture to the dry ingredients and combine (It’s OK if the mixture is a little lumpy).
Spoon mixture into muffin tray or baking cups.
Cook for 20-25 minutes or until skewer comes out clean.
Cool in tray for 5 minutes then transfer to wire rack.
Store in airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days.
There are more wonderful recipes at Organic Merchant so please head on over, along with more details about the full Dust range and where to purchase them. And Organic Merchant’s instagram is here.
Enjoy!!
With Love,
Pia xx