Chocolate and peanut butter taste really, really good together. And they look pretty good together too!

I attended a conference recently and learned some darn amazing tricks regarding food photography with my little iPhone.  REALLY amazing.  There are apps out there that fix and finagle anything, to make it look more than appetizing.
In all honesty, I have felt rather inadequate as a food blogger, when I compare my photos to other’s.  My daily defense, though, which I consistently repeat aloud when I’m alone at home, is that my words and content are about much more than food – at least they are to me.  I certainly love and appreciate the visual appeal, but I also so love and appreciate the opportunity to truly nourish – whether that be with food, words, or spirit.

In any case, enjoy these little yummy bites!
In a marriage of peanut butter and chocolate, NOTHING can go wrong…

Chocolate Peanut Butter Brownie Bites

1 c. toasted hazelnuts
3/4 c. raw almonds or pecans (pecans allow for a richer brownie)
1 1/2 c. dates, pitted and soaked, and then chopped
1 c. all natural peanut butter
6 Tbs. unsweetened cocoa powder
3/4 tsp. vanilla extract
1/4 c. unsweetened, shredded coconut

Place hazelnuts and almonds in the food processor and whir until finely ground.  Add the dates and process again until well mixed and the mixture forms into a sticky consistency.  Add peanut butter, cocoa powder, and vanilla.  Process again until smooth, scraping down the sides of the processing bowl as needed.  Transfer to an 8″x 8″ baking pan.  Smooth and press until evenly distributed throughout pan and nice and smooth on top.  Sprinkle with coconut, brushing the shreds all around the top of the brownies, and even pressing the shreds into the raw brownie batter just a little.  Chill for 3-4 hours.  Cut into tiny bite sized treats – or giant mouthful sized treats, if so desired!

**Look at this photo – I even learned how to add lettering and change fonts!  Oh, my iWonder!!