If a bag of unhealthy deep-fried corn chips are eaten in the forest, do they make a sound? (Yes. Sorry.)
-Anonymous
To me, summer means camping – a great excuse to get out under the trees, run around barefoot, wear the same jeans four days in a row, and inevitably, appreciate the real, fluffy bed I have to come home to. No doubt camping is great, but it certainly isn’t without its challenges — one such being healthy food. You’d think the most beautiful and natural environments would similarly inspire us to be on our freshest and healthiest behavior. Instead, all too often the worst of the worst (think marshmallows, wieners, king-sized corn chip bags, etc) come merrily along in the cooler, with an almost Vegas-like “what happens in the forest . . .” attitude.
But hold up. Awesomely healthy/delicious camping foods (read: foods that will actually make you feel like going for a hike instead of an extended hibernation) are embarrassingly easy to make. Case in point, my recipe for Good Seed Crackers. When it comes to the best-of-the-best nutrition, not a square millimeter of these awesome crackers is wasted. Crunchy, savory, and fully snackable, this recipe includes some of the best seeds around: chia seeds, flax seeds, and hemp seeds. Together, they’re loaded with full-spectrum protein, healthy omega fats, plenty of fiber and minerals. Plus, they keep very well for several weeks, and depending on how you cut them, also make a great base for an open-style sandwich, or crumbled into croutons. So seriously, make a big batch, have them on hand, and make the great outdoors proud.
Good Seed Crackers
The good seeds: Chia, Hemp & Flax combine in this recipe to form these absolutely delicious crackers — turning a simple snack into a nutritious feast.
NOTE: In regards to the Navitas Naturuals Sprouted Omega Powder, this is a product I enjoy and use often – not just in smoothies as it is intended, but in recipes for healthy breads, crackers, and baked goods. Made from sprouted chia, sprouted flax, and sprouted brown rice, the sprouted Omega Powder does not add a tremendous amount of flavor per se, but is nutritionally a great source of natural and plant-based essential fatty acids and fiber. Essential fatty acids (Omega 3,6, and 9) have a wide range of health benefits, including supporting a strong cardiovascular system and enhancing the immune system. Additionally, sprouting these seeds greatly enhances their nutritional profile and bioavailability of vitamins, minerals, protein, beneficial enzymes, and amino acids. You can purchase it in health food stores or via the Navitas link on the right side of the page. Alternately, you can also use ground flax seed powder in its place.
You’ll need to use a dehydrator for this recipe, as the omega oils are rather “sensitive” and don’t like high heat. If you don’t have one, you may also use your oven, setting it on the lowest temperature it will go, and then spreading the cracker dough on wax paper on top of a cookie sheet. Leave the oven door slightly ajar to keep the temperature low, and “bake” until crisp (will take several hours, depending on oven temperature).
Makes about 2½ dozen crackers.
¼ cup chia seeds
2 Tbsp flax seeds
1/3 cup + 1 Tbsp Navitas Naturals Sprouted Omega Powder (or use ground flax powder)
1 cup water
2/3 cup hemp seeds
2 Tbsp coconut oil
¾ tsp sea salt
¼ tsp black pepper
½ tsp garlic powder
Soak: Place chia, flax and sprouted omega powder in a bowl and stir in water. Allow to stand for 10 minutes to allow seeds to soak up water.
Combine: Add in hemp seeds, coconut oil, salt, pepper and garlic powder.
Dry: Spread the mixture into a thin layer on a nonstick dehydrator sheet. With a knife, score spread into squares for easy separation when dry. Dehydrate at 115 degrees for 12-20 hours or until crispy, flipping once for uniform dehydration.
Store in an airtight container.
Reprinted with permission from Superfood Kitchen © 2012 by Julie Morris, Sterling Epicure, an imprint of Sterling Publishing Co., Inc. Photography by Julie Morris.
