As the saying goes, “You are what you eat”.… I’ve been eating a lot (I mean, a lot) of Moringa, a miracle tree loaded with nutrients that grows well here in tropical Belize (my home, sweet home!)

In last week’s culinary adventures with the superfood goddess Moringa, we covered that girl in chocolate! (She had a luxury spa treatment with cacao and honey.)

This week, she was ready for some strenuous physical exercise (because goddesses like to … stay in shape)…. So, she packed up and went for a hike.

 

Well, here’s what really happened: I was sitting on my front porch enjoying a handful of cashews. I reminisced about all the exhilarating hikes I’ve enjoyed while living and working in Central California – aaah, the adventure, the breathtaking coastline and panoramic views….

I will never forget hiking Mount Shasta in Northern California. I made it to the summit…. I put my name in the book of life that’s up there for any hiker who actually makes it to Heaven. 

Moringa used to go hiking by herself (on numerous occasions)….

because she needed to blow off steam from dealing with the stress of being in a job that she didn’t like very much….

… But goddesses like to play with other superhumans, too. She likes to have the company of other, like-minded spirits who understand and inspire her. Who could she take with her on a hike?

As I nibbled on my cashew, I got an idea…

I’ll make myself into a granola bar! Then I won’t be alone anymore… I’ll be surrounded by delicious, playful super foodies like myself ….

So, I donned my apron and headed straightaway to the kitchen to gather the ingredients:

First and foremost …. chocolate. But not just any old chocolate. This dark, handsome God of goodness was thrilled to join the goddess Moringa on her hiking adventure: 85% dark Goss Chocolate, handmade right here in Blue Crab Beach, Belize!

Moringa doesn’t usually use a recipe. She just wings it (ahem, she’s an angel, remember?) … That’s how she rolls… Here’s what Moringa wanted to roll into … 

• natural peanut butter (not Jiffy, folks, and here’s why)
• organic honey (locally sourced)
• organic oats (go with Bob’s Red Mill, baby)
• cinnamon
• sea salt
• coconut oil

I first crushed the dried moringa leaves while Sammie the dog watched (I had piqued his canine curiosity).

Then, I chopped the cashews and chocolate.

… Mixed everything together with a few pinches of sea salt…

By now, Sammie the dog was like, Hmmmm, smells like … doggie treats!

So, I pressed the goo onto my cookie sheet (greased with coconut oil, of course) and formed it into something that looked more like a semi-appealing human treat. (Okay, you’ll just have to trust me on this one)….

In case you’re wondering, the brown stuff sprinkled on top is organic cacao powder, because… cacao rocks my world and always will.

I let it bake on 300 degrees for about 12 minutes while I … went hiking in my mind.

(Damn, I miss that Toyota.)

Briiiiiiiiiinnnnnnnngg!

… Time to take the granola bars out of the oven!

Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmm… Moringa rolled into peanut buttery super food goodness: perfect for that long, strenuous hike in the mountains of my mind! (I live on the beach in the tropics now, so I kind of have no choice but to … imagine).

Sammie the dog stood by anxiously waiting to try a bite, too.

I think Sammie the dog and his daddy really liked ’em! They were so jazzed up, they started dancing!

If you’re anything like me (which I highly doubt), you’ll also want to have fun experimenting with your own handmade granola bars! Here are some … recipes (if you really need one). I highly recommend just winging it. You just might sprout your own angel wings and fly off to an enchanted, fairy-filled mountain yourself!

If you’re ever in California and feel like getting your butt kicked into shape, consider hiking Mount Shasta… although, I’d recommend at least 8 months of rigorous pre-hike training.

Check out this video about climbing Mount Shasta (cool music!) and be sure to watch till 6:56, where they slide down the mountain on their butts (it’s a glacier… I mean, the mountain, not their butts) — sliding down the glacier and the concomitant thrill makes this ass-kicking hike well worth it!

Enjoy, and don’t forget to take your superfood, high energy granola bars!