NuJuju
or one interpretation of Nutella®
- 1 cup hazelnuts — nourishes qi and brightens the eyes, nourishes spleen and stomach
- 10 to 14 Jujube (red dates) pitted, fresh or dried, but not petrified — nourishes blood, calms the spirit, nourishes spleen qi
- 1 1/2 tablespoons of your best heirloom cacao powder — antioxidant, mineral rich, bliss
- a pinch of Celtic Sea salt — moisturizes, strengthens, harmonizes internal organs, brightens the eyes, clears toxins
- warmed spring or filtered water — please use with reverence, purpose and gratitude
Place the pitted jujubes into your high-speed blender with about 1/2 cup warmed water. Let sit for about 20 minutes. Blend until finely chopped. At this stage they won’t really make a paste. If you need a bit more water, add by the tablespoon to avoid drowning. Spoon the mixture out of the blender and set aside. You don’t have to wash the blender yet.
Toast your hazelnuts on a cookie sheet in a 350 degree oven for about 16 minutes, but don’t let them burn. Stay nearby and you will receive the lovely toasted aroma that signals perfection.
Now, pour your toasted hazelnuts into the blender and blend until they coalesce into a nice, smooth nut butter.
Add in the blended dates, the cacao powder, salt and perhaps, if needed, just a bit more water and blend again until you observe a buttery, sometimes glossy, NuJuju.
Try NuJuju on scones, toast, apples, bananas, cupcakes, with goji flowers… or simply lick the spoon.