Flax Crackers

Making your own dried flax crackers is easy and rewarding. Instead of snacking on potato chips and other packaged crackers, use these homemade crackers for a much more nutritious detox snack. They’re great with dips and spreads or crumbled on top of salad in place of croutons.

Flax seeds provide cleansing fiber that will help regulate your bowels and clean your colon. They are also packed with Omega-3 essential fatty acids which protect your heart and bones, control blood pressure and are anti-inflammatory. The lignans found in flax seeds have been show to lower women’s risk of breast cancer and to reduce menopausal symptoms through natural hormone regulation. Flax seeds come in a variety of colors. Golden flax, as opposed to brown, is said to be more nutritious.

These crunchy flax crackers are made with simple ingredients and dried in a dehydrator, warm oven or by sunlight. It’s important to soak the flax seeds overnight beforehand to enhance digestibility and nutritional value. It also makes the seeds gelatinous so they stick together to form crackers.

Ingredients:

(use organic whenever possible)

4 cups flax seeds, soaked overnight

2 tablespoons (or more!) chopped herbs (parsley or cilantro)

1 teaspoon sea salt (adjust to taste)

1. Combine all of the ingredients in a large bowl and mix well.
2. Spread mixture about ¼ inch thick onto teflex sheets, parchment paper or other non-stick surface. Use a bowl of water to keep dipping hands or utensil in, making it easier to spread.
3. In a food dehydrator, dry at 145 degrees for 2 hours, then reduce to 115 degrees for 6-8 hours. If using an oven, bring it to warm and let dry for 2-3 hours then turn the oven off. Leave for as many hours as it takes to get to desired crispness. Direct sunlight through a window is another great way to dry your crackers – it may take two to three days, depending on your climate.
4. Once dry, break up into manageable sizes (these aren’t uniform but free-form) and store in an airtight container. They will last for weeks!

• Add sesame seeds, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds or ground nuts for extra nutrition and flavor.
• There are many variations you can make with this basic cracker recipe. Make different flavors by adding any of the following:
• Cayenne or chili powder
• Curry
• Soaked sun-dried tomatoes
• Italian seasoning
• Minced fresh garlic or garlic powder