Macadamia Nut Fudge (21DSD, Paleo & SCD)

Well, I've survived one week of the 21 Day Sugar Detox and I've got to say I love it!  I feel fabulous and I'm eating HEAPS and still losing weight. :)  Now that makes me happy.
Some of you may notice that this recipe is very similar to my recipe for Cashew & Macadamia Nut Fudge that I posted earlier in the year.  It's one of my favorites and I often make it without sweetener.  The kids don't agree, but I don't think it needs it.
Anyway, I thought it'd be a good one to adapt for the 21DSD.  If you're not on the detox, add honey to taste to sweeten.  Enjoy!
I've been keeping a journal (except on the weekend!) on how I'm going on my detox.
So if you'd like to hear all the details, I've pasted it below the recipe.  :)









Macadamia Nut Fudge
Prep time: 5 mins
Setting time: 30 mins
Makes: 48 pieces

Ingredients:

1/3 cup cacao butter pieces
1/3 cup coconut oil
1 cup of macadamia butter
1/4 teaspoon vanilla bean powder
Honey to taste (optional - not for 21DSD)
1 cup macadamia nut pieces
shredded coconut &
salt to sprinkle on top

Instructions:

1. Melt cacao butter pieces in the microwave.  Mine takes about 3 minutes.
2. While that's melting, scoop the macadamia nut butter into a small bowl.
3. Tip the melted cacao butter into the bowl and mix together.
4. Melt the coconut oil (about 30 seconds) and add.
5. Stir in the vanilla bean powder.  Mix well.
6. Line an 8 inch square tin with baking paper.
7. Spread macadamia nut pieces over the bottom of the tin.
8. Pour nut mixture over the macadamia nuts.
9. Sprinkle with shredded coconut and salt.
10. Put in the fridge or freezer to set.
11. Cut into pieces and enjoy. :)
12. Store in the fridge or freezer.  

I made my own macadamia nut butter for this recipe.  I roasted 2 cups of macadamia nut pieces in the oven at 180 degrees Celsius (350F) for about 12 minutes.  I then processed them in my food processor until they turned into butter.  This happened much quicker than it has for other types of nuts that I've tried. :)  The 2 cups of loose nuts turned into about 1 cup of nut butter after it was processed.

Have you seen my new social media widget?  You can now easily subscribe for updates via email, Facebook, Twitter or Google +. :)

21DSD

Day 2.

Yesterday I ate a lot, but no sugars.  :)  I made some fruit & sweetener free Bliss Balls with almonds, cashews and pistachios.  (Probably won’t use pistachios again, they turn the mixture a bit green.) Mixed the nuts in the food processor with ¼ cup cacao butter and ¼ cup coconut oil.  Probably too much oil, but never mind.  Rolled them in coconut oil.

Ate lots of them last night, but felt very sated with all that fat.  Didn’t miss sugars at all and had a great night’s sleep, waking up after 8 hours. Nice.

I still feel full this morning so just had some veggies for breakfast.

Day 3

I didn’t sleep well last night.  We had roast lamb for dinner and I ate about 6 sugar free Bliss Balls but I was very full and tossed & turned all night.  Tummy not happy.

I feel tired this morning and not hungry at all.  I just had some veggies for breakfast.

Think today I’ll have to have just meat & veg.  Those nuts must be very hard to digest. 

Loved today’s suggestion of making a Pinterest board to journal each meal.  Should make me accountable! :)

Day 4

I’m starting to feel  better.  I made some cookies with 1 jar cashew butter, ½ cup shredded coconut, ¼ cup coconut oil and 1 egg.  Bake at 175 for 12 mins.  Not a perfect recipe; very delicate when warm but firm up when stored in fridge.

The sweet and ‘must eat’ cravings even though I’m not hungry are abating.  Still feel very full.

Didn’t sleep well, not sure if because of too many nuts or because the smoke alarm was beeping!

Made a yummy dinner with turkey thighs, coconut milk, garam marsala and veggies.  Was great and very satisfying.

Day 7

I love the 21DSD!  I love the way I feel so much better without sweet things.  I don’t need as much sleep, my skin is glowing and my face not puffy anymore.

I’ve had to recheck the allowed foods as I was a bit confused.  Not all nuts are permitted.  I don’t usually eat peanuts, so that’s not a problem, but I do like cashews.  They aren’t allowed on 21DSD.  I’m also not sure if I’m allowed to have cacao butter.  Cocoa  and cacao are allowed, but I can’t find any mention of cacao butter.

I had a fun weekend and spent some time making some coconut & vanilla muffins.  Too much liquid and too much fat because I used coconut cream and water.  LOL.  Never mind, they are OK when eaten straight out of the fridge.  I’ll have to work on this recipe.

1 week down!  Day 8

Well, I’ve lost 0.8 kg while eating LOTS of food.  I’ve felt very satisfied and many times TOO full.  I really need to make sure I’m not overeating.

I’m sleeping so well and I feel great.  Interesting, the red bumps on the backs of my arms are almost gone. :) 

I'm glad that I’m not thinking about food as much as I used to.  I’m excited to try new savory dishes (a first for me!) instead of focusing on sweets.  I liked the suggestion in one of the daily emails to try different herbal teas.  I’ve found one with fennel and aniseed that I’m really enjoying.  After dinner I usually - ALWAYS have something sweet, so I’ve been having the herbal tea and a couple of sugarless bliss balls and some flaked coconut.  Very satisfying.  Habits are such an important thing.  I like the habit of something yummy after dinner and it would be very sad to give it up all together.  Changing a habit to a healthier option isn’t as daunting as giving it up all together.  
I'm looking forward to week 2. :)

If you'd like more information on the 21DSD, click the link below: