Just Enough Fig Pockets

If you saw my Instructable for Nutella Noir Chocolate Squares, you already know that I love dark chocolate. Really dark chocolate: 100% cacao unsweetened baking chocolate.

It is actually the cacao which is the source of the many health benefits which are attributed to "chocolate". I found lots of articles and studies about the many good health benefits to be found in cacao. Here, for those interested, is a link to one such article: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3820066/ .

By using the unsweetened 100% cacao bar as a base, I get all of the health benefits of dark chocolate without added sugar.

Of course, eaten by itself, 100% dark chocolate is not at all sweet, so I combine it with other pure foods to balance the flavor. One of my favorite combinations uses just three ingredients to make what I have found to be the perfect energy snack:
Just Enough Fig Pockets.

I always have a serving in my pocket for those times when I find my energy flagging.

Just Enough Fig Pockets are also the perfect snack when it comes to storage and preparation. None of the ingredients require refrigeration, they have a long shelf life, they are not easily bruised or damaged, they meet TSA requirements, so you can take them with you on a plane.

There are 3 ingredients:

100% cacao dark chocolate baking bar.
I always use Ghirardelli's 100% cacao unsweetened baking chocolate.


Organic dried figs.
These provide natural sweetness and fiber.

Organic dry roasted almonds or walnuts. These are a source of protein .

I find this combination to be perfectly in balance: I never feel a sugar rush, or a carbo load, just a nice lift and an energy boost which can keep me going.

You will need a cutting board, and a knife which you can use to slit the fig.

1. The Ghirardelli bar can be broken into 8 squares. One square will fill several figs.
Break off a square from the bar, then break the square into smaller bits.

2. Use the knife to slit one side of the fig.
Gently spread the sides to open a pocket in the fig.

3. The nuts will be used whole, so they need no special preparation.

If you have time to prepare ahead, you can easily make a week's worth of Just Enough Fig Pockets from one Ghirardelli bar, a pack of dried figs and a pack of nuts.

If you are pressed for time, you can make a single Just Enough Fig Pocket to take with you that day.

If you are in a real time crunch, you can just put the 3 ingredients in a bag, and combine them at snack time.

To Make a Just Enough Fig Pocket:

Place nut(s) and Ghirardelli bits into the pocket you cut in the fig. The goal is to balance the flavor and texture of the 3 ingredients to your taste.

Close the sides of the fig over the filling.

Wrap the fig in plastic wrap or foil.