One of my absolute favorite bedside snacks during postpartum was dried/rehydrated plums* from Fruit Bliss. Yes, dried plums are another name for prunes, but as prunes tend to get a bad rap, I’m going to stick to calling these little jewels dried plums to keep the appeal factor high. They are like little jammy gooey tart/sweet bombs, and I just can’t rave about them enough! This indulgent version of them is a wonderful bite for any time of day, and incorporates my favorite lactation chocolate-raw cacao rich in antioxidants, and coconut oil which is a galactagogue, and an incredibly beneficial fat to consume postpartum.
Ingredients:
1 package Fruit Bliss Plums** (you can use another brand or any dried fruit really, but I can’t vouch for the same level of tastiness)
Nut Butter of choice-I like hazelnut for these, but almond or peanut will also be great!
2 Tablespoons coconut oil
2 Tablespoons raw cacao
2 teaspoons honey or maple
1 generous pinch of sea salt
**Local Maine folks! You can get these at the Belfast Coop, as well as Royal River Natural Foods in Freeport.
Over very low heat, in a small saucepan gently melt coconut oil until just melted. Remove from heat and gently whisk in cacao, honey and sea salt. It will take a minute or two to full incorporate the ingredients, but don’t rush it-this can cause the mixture to separate-whisk nice and gently until the the mixture looks smooth and uniform. Set aside while you are stuffing your plums!
Time to stuff your plums! This is the most difficult part of this recipe, and its not too difficult, just messy! If you’ve got a little kiddo in the house-this is a great project for them!
With a chopstick, scoop a very small amount of your nut butter, and poke into the hole of the plum. I like to identify where the hole is before loading up my chopstick. Continue to poke small amounts of nut butter into the hole of the plum, until it feels a little plump-approximately 1/2 teaspoon worth. Go ahead and stuff as many plums as you like, but keep in mind you have enough chocolate to coat 6-8 of them. The rest can be set aside for less luxurious, but still delicious snack.
Now take 6-8 of your stuffed plums, and place on a piece of wax or parchment paper, arranged about a 1 inch apart from one another. Now take your saucepan with the melted chocolate, and spoon the chocolate over each plum. This will create one big “bar” of chocolate and plums-this is good!
Now place your chocolate in a cool place (or if it’s summertime, the fridge) until the bar is entirely set. This should take 1-2 hrs. Now with a knife, cut your plums out of the bar, and you will now also have little pieces of plain lactation chocolate to nibble on too!
Store chocolate covered plums & chocolate bits in the fridge-the coconut oil in the chocolate will cause everything to melt if it gets too warm.
ENJOY!
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*Constipation is a very common during the postpartum period, and can cause a lot of added distress and discomfort to bathroom visits. I liked to stay ahead of it, and snacked on these plums and other high fiber snacks frequently throughout the day to keep my bowel movements regular.
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My recipes are always free, but I do ask that you contribute to the organization or individual who needs assistance or support receiving reproductive care. We are continuing to raise funds for Mitchell, a local Penobscot artist located in Portland ME, and expecting her first child this year. Please make sure to donate to her birth fund HERE.