Coco-Nutty Truffles

Posted on September 15, 2012 by

Easy, quick, just a handful of whole-food ingredients. That sums up my cooking these days. But that’s okay, because when the kiddo comes home from school ravenous and needs a snack NOW, these coco-nutty truffles are just the thing. You can use any nut butter. His favorite is, of course, peanut butter.

I have not tried these with the finely shredded coconut – only with the flaked variety. If you use finely shredded, you may have to adjust proportions.

The raw cacao is optional, and a more grown-up taste. If you’re not using it, be sure to chill the “dough” before rolling it. It will be a little less sticky that way.

Vegan Coco-Nutty Truffles

Vegan Coco-Nutty Truffles

Coco-Nutty Truffles

1/4 cup nut butter
1/4 cup maple syrup
2/3 cup (64 g) blanched almond flour
1 cup (65 g) flaked unsweetened coconut
3-4 T. raw cacao powder (optional)
Pinch salt (if your nut butter is unsalted – optional)

 

Mix nut butter and maple syrup until well combined. Stir in the almond flour, coconut and salt (if using). Chill dough. Scoop out tablespoon-size chunks and roll into balls. Optionally roll the balls in raw cacao. Keep in fridge.

Want to find more good for you treats? Check out Wellness Weekends. For quick and easy gluten-free recipes, check out 5 Ingredient Mondays.

Posted in coconut, desserts, grain-free, nightshade-free, nuts, snacks | Tagged , , , , | 10 Comments

Vanilla Coconut Ice

Posted on September 5, 2012 by

It’s been hot. I haven’t been baking. Except those darn coco-meal cookies that I can’t get quite right even after 5 batches.

My food has been boring. Some might even say vanilla.

Except sometimes vanilla is good.

Like this.

Vanilla Coconut Ice - A Quick, Vegan Frosty Treat

Vanilla Coconut Ice – A Quick, Vegan Frosty Treat

Vanilla Coconut Ice

1 can (14 ounces) full fat coconut milk
2 T. date paste
1 t. vanilla extract
10 drops (or to taste) NuNaturals vanilla liquid stevia
3 ice cubes
1/2 cup cold water

Blend all ingredients in a blender until well-mixed and frothy. Freeze in ice cream maker according to manufacturer’s instructions. Top with your favorite toppings (that’s nut butter and chocolate chips in my house.)

Want more slightly indulgent treats? Try Slightly Indulgent Tuesdays.

Posted in coconut, dates, desserts, grain-free, nightshade-free, nut-free, vegan | 4 Comments

SRC: Smoky Caramel Brussels Sprouts

Posted on August 20, 2012 by

Wait just a gol’ darn minute. How is it possibly Secret Recipe Club time again? Where the heck did my summer go? Didn’t I just post my last SRC post yesterday?

No?

Oh.

Well, anyway, this month’s installment of the Secret Recipe Club features none other than Rhonda, the Kitchen Witch. Her about page is fascinating, and I’m totally jealous of all her travels. And, I love that she is unapologetic about being exactly who she is.

The world needs more people like that.

Since I happen to be on a bit of a veggie kick, I headed straight to her vegetable recipes. She has loads of other categories for all you meats and sweets people. But, she gives a nice nod to us veggie lovers, too.

So, what caught my eye? This did.

Smoky Caramelized Brussels Sprouts

Smoky Caramelized Brussels Sprouts

That’s her brown sugar and smoked sea salt brussels sprouts, modified Mommy Bowl style – which means that I made them dairy-free and refined sugar-free.

Brussels sprouts are a favorite veggie of mine, but the kiddo is less enthused. I’ve convinced him that they’re very good tolerable when shredded and flavored with lots of sesame oil, ginger, and garlic. But, I was hoping that the sweet + salty combo would have him begging for more of these.

Apparently, though, I’ve taught him too well.

You know what he said?

“Why would anyone put sugar on a vegetable?!?”

He choked down two bites. The boy has no taste. (Unless he’s tasting anything mixed with peanut butter. Hm…. brussels sprouts and peanut butter…. There are possibilities….)

I ate the rest. Myself. All at once. Yum.

Smoky Caramelized Brussels Sprouts

1/2 pound brussels sprouts, stems trimmed and cut in half (or quarters if they’re big)
1 T. coconut oil
1 T. palm sugar
pinch of smoked sea salt (I used Maldon flakes, which are big, so a pinch is really all I needed.)

Place brussels sprouts in a microwave-safe dish and add 1 T. water. Microwave on high for 3 minutes. Melt coconut oil in a frying pan. Add microwaved sprouts and cook for 4 minutes on medium high heat. They will begin to brown. Be careful not to burn them. Sprinkle on sugar and salt and toss to melt sugar and caramelize it. (This happens quickly with palm sugar – maybe 30 seconds.) Serve. Top with some pecans for a protein kick if eating as a main dish.

Check out the rest of the Secret Recipe Club offerings.


Looking for more gluten-free recipes? Check out Gluten-Free Fridays.

| 32 Comments

SRC: Italian Roasted Broccoli

Posted on July 23, 2012 by

It’s time for the Secret Recipe Club again! I’m still in the midst of my elimination diet, and while I have added a couple of things back in, I worried this month that I wouldn’t be able to find a recipe from my assigned blog, Wendy Weekend Gourmet. But, Wendy has an amazing array of recipes. Just check out her recipe index!

I immediately starting searching for veggie-riffic recipes, and I came across her Dynamic Side Dish Duo post. While I can’t eat potatoes yet, and I had to make a few minor adjustments to the roasted broccoli recipe, I knew reading it that it was the recipe for me.

And, was it ever! Super yummy, easy, and so good for you – this dish is light and lemony and, with my modifications, both vegan and nut-free.

Thanks Wendy!

Oh, and while Wendy might call this a side dish, I just call it lunch.

Vegan, Nut-Free Italian Roasted Broccoli

Vegan, Nut-Free Italian Roasted Broccoli

Italian Roasted Broccoli

5 cups (1 bunch) broccoli florets
2 cloves garlic
4 T. olive oil (divided)
zest and juice of 1 lemon
1 T. chopped basil
2 T. sunflower seeds
salt & pepper

Preheat oven to 400°.  Toss broccoli with 3 T. olive oil and the garlic. Roast for 15-25 minutes. Remove from oven and toss with remaining ingredients. Serve!

Check out all the recipes from Group C’s Secret Recipe Club Reveal:


Posted in basil, broccoli, grain-free, Italian, nut-free, side dish, sunflower seeds | Tagged , , , | 28 Comments

Kelp Noodles in a Nut-Free “Peanut” Sauce

Posted on July 18, 2012 by

I made a grocery shopping error. I accidentally grabbed the salted roasted sunflower kernels. And then, still blissfully unaware of my error, I threw the entire bag into the food processor and made sunflower butter.

Just in case you’re wondering, I don’t recommend doing that.

But, now I have a jar of sunbutter that is really only suitable for savory applications.

No problem. I’m creative. And, I’ve been wanting to make an Asian No-Peanut Sauce. And, you know what? It’s downright tasty, as well as being nut-free, grain-free, vegan, and can be made entirely raw by skipping the sesame oil & using raw sunbutter. And, while I’m not entirely sure, I think it fits the whole paleo/primal diet, too. (Well, they’d probably top it with a giant chunk of free-range chicken.)

This should work with regular sunbutter as well. You may need to add a touch of salt, or increase the coconut aminos.

Peanut Sauce without the Peanuts? Yes, please!

Peanut Sauce without the peanuts? Yes, please!

Kelp Noodles with Asian No-Peanut Sauce

1 bag Sea Tangle Kelp Noodles
1 carrot, grated
1/2 bag (4.5 ounces) bean sprouts
1 cup broccoli florets (steamed and chilled if desired, otherwise raw)

Open bag and soak kelp noodles in warm water for 20 minutes. Make sauce.

No-Peanut Sauce

1 inch piece of ginger, grated or minced finely
1 clove garlic, sliced
1 green onion, sliced
1/2 small bunch cilantro
Juice of 1 lime
1 T coconut aminos
3 T. sunbutter (Use raw sunflower seeds to make this raw.)
1 T. toasted sesame oil (Skip or use raw sesame oil to make this raw.)
1 t. sweetener of choice (I used yacon powder)
1/4 cup sunflower oil

Put all ingredients except sunflower oil in the food processor and process until smooth. With food processor running, drizzle in the sunflower oil. Process until emulsified.

To Assemble

Drain kelp noodles and toss with sauce and veggies. Chill for at least an hour to allow flavor to develop. Garnish with additional cilantro and whole sunflower seeds, if desired.

Looking for more allergy-friendly recipes? Check out Allergy Free Wednesdays. Want a variety of healthy recipes? Check out Wellness Weekends.

Posted in Asian, broccoli, carrots, grain-free, main dish, nightshade-free, nut-free, raw, sunflower seeds, vegan | Tagged , , , | 13 Comments

Non-Dairy Queen Ice Cream Cake (Take 2)

Posted on July 16, 2012 by

A long time ago, I posted a super simple dairy-free “Better than Dairy Queen” ice cream cake. The picture sucked, and it was barely a recipe at all. And, yet, it still continues to be one of my most popular posts.

Well, I make some sort of dairy-free ice cream cake every July, for the kiddo’s dad’s birthday. And, I decided it was about time I posted a better recipe.

This year’s rendition is uber-healthy – raw, vegan, refined sugar-free, and could easily be made nut-free. It’s not quite as quick and simple as the old recipe. And, the photo still sort of sucks. (Do you have any idea how hard it is to photograph ice cream cake in July? With no air conditioning? When it’s 100 degrees out? *sigh*) But, I think you’ll like this version more anyway.

Banana Chocolate Ice Cream Cake

Banana Chocolate Ice Cream Cake

Banana Chocolate Ice Cream Cake (raw, vegan)

Ice Cream Layer

2 frozen bananas
2 T. raw non-dairy milk (I used almond. Hemp would work, too.)

Freeze a cookie sheet, small tray, or large plate.* When fully chilled, put bananas and milk in a food processor, and blend, scraping occasionally, until light and fluffy. Divide evenly between 2 English muffin rings, placed on frozen tray. Return tray to freezer and freeze until solid.

Once solid, remove from freezer and remove rings. They slide off easily if you just warm the outside slightly by holding in your hands for 20 seconds or so. After removing rings, replace one ring half way down one layer. (You’re making a “mold” for the next layer.) Return both layers to the freezer while making the cake crumbs.

Cake Crumbs

2 T. palm sugar
1/4 cup walnuts (use sunflower or pumpkin seeds for nut-free)
1/2 t. vanilla
1 T. raw cacao

In a small blender (Magic Bullet style), blend all ingredients until crumbly. Fill the ring that is half-way empty. Adjust the ring to fit all the crumbs so that you can make an even top. Freeze solid.

Fudge

3 dates, soaked in water for 1 hour
1 T. raw cacao powder
1-2 T. water

Blend all ingredients. Start with 1 T. water, and add the second tablespoon if needed. Remove the banana/cake layered ring from freezer. Carefully push the ring up about 1/4 inch. Fill with fudge. Freeze solid.

Chocolate Sauce

1 T. coconut nectar, agave nectar, or maple syrup (not raw and will have a stronger taste)
1 T. raw cacao powder
1 t. water

Mix all ingredients with a spoon.

To assemble: carefully remove ring from layered cake. Place on plate. Top with solid banana layer. Drizzle with sauce. Return to freezer until ready to serve.

*Note: it’s not crucial to use a frozen tray. But, it does help keep the ice cream layer from seeping out under the English muffin ring.

Looking for more grilled or chilled recipes? Check out the Chillin’ and Grillin’ Backyard Barbecue Event. Nothing ends a barbecue better than ice cream.

Posted in bananas, chocolate, desserts, grain-free, nuts, raw, vegan | Tagged , , , | 19 Comments

Coconut Carob Truffles

Posted on July 7, 2012 by

Oh coconut, how I’ve missed you. But, now you’re back! So, let’s have a torrid love affair in the shape of a truffle, okay?

Okay.

Vegan, Nut-Free, Sugar-Free Coconut Carob Truffles

Vegan, Nut-Free, Sugar-Free Coconut Carob Truffles

Coconut Carob Truffles – Vegan, Grain-free, Nut-free, Sugar-free

1/2 cup roasted pumpkin seeds, ground fine in a coffee grinder
1/2 cup carob powder
1/2 cup unsweetened, finely shredded coconut (plus more for rolling)
15 drops NuNaturals Vanilla liquid stevia (or to taste)
1 t. vanilla
1/4 cup coconut milk

Mix all ingredients until thick dough forms. Roll into balls. Roll balls in additional coconut. Refrigerate. Eat.

Fill your weekend with wellness with more recipes from Wellness Weekends.

Posted in coconut, desserts, grain-free, nightshade-free, nut-free, vegan | Tagged , , , | 13 Comments