Tag: vegan

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Dessert Gluten Free Recipes

Raw “Caramel” Bites

RawCacaoCaramelBites.

Lately, all I have been posting is recipes and this blog is about food but not exclusively.  It’s just been a very busy season lately. With spring my little diva’s are in sports like lacrosse which are a huge time commitment. and I went back to school to get my second degree in Fitness and Exercise Science and Advanced Personal Training which is a big time commitment.I have a toddler which is a big time commitment. Needless to say my thoughts, although I still have them have been fleeting and I have no time to capture them and post but I am working on it.   I still have time to dabble in the kitchen though and recipes are just easier to post then thought provoking inspirational post. Those for now are captured in my journal till I can figure out a way to make some time to publish regularly here. So please forgive me for overwhelming you with my kitchen experiments and favorite recipes. I promise I will get to some juicy content very soon as soon as I figure out how to navigate this season of life better.

Anyways, this weekend I was meal prepping and something that I had saw on Facebook hand inspired me (yes, I make time to scroll through social media but not post. I know I need to prioritize) moving on. You know those “Recipe Video’s” that every day become more popular. Its a 45 second video clip of someone making an amazing looking treat, meal or whatever. There are a few pages that are very well know and popular. Anyways, I was scrolling and I saw one from Food Matters for a Raw Caramel Slice. It looked delicious and I mental noted and shared it to my timeline to make in the future.  The future came last Saturday, I was meal planning and I decided for a treat to add the ingredients to my grocery list.

 

EnjoyingRawCacaoBites

Now, have you every actually attempted to make one of those video clip foods? I don’t know about you but mine don’t always turn out how the video did. For some reason I think it takes them a lot longer than 45 seconds to make them in real life, ha ha. No, but there is always something a little off about the recipe when I attempt it.   This one I found SUCCESS and it was oh so delicious success.  In hindsight I would change the measurement of one ingredient and add one ingredient (which I did in the recipe here)  but other than that it was simple and actually looks like the last shot in the video clip.  I also would highly recommend it and so would my toddler (please excuse the hair it was Sunday, wash and twist night at my house). If you’re looking for a naturally sweetened chocolate indulgence that requires no baking this is the treat for you. This is my adaptation of the Raw Caramel Slice. Please give it a try and let me know what you think?

RawCacaoBites Steps

 

 

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Dessert Gluten Free Recipes

Pecan Chai Date Bars

 

Pecan Date Bar

Today is National Pie Day and I have a great recipe for a yummy, healthier version of pecan pie.  Once you’ve had this you won’t miss that sweet confection. When I went gluten/wheat free a few months ago I felt like I was going to miss out on all the goodness that gluten provides.  I had tried a few store bought cookies and items and was very disappointed with the lack of moisture, weird after taste and all together lack of flavor.  Like everything now I had to go gluten/wheat free and start making things from scratch. If you have read previous “Mealtime Monday’s” you know that I am always experimenting. This time I wanted to use up the last of the Medjool dates that I had.  I recently started baking with Medjool dates and they are a great sweet alternative to refined white sugar.  My family is starting to really become a fan and the baby loves these as a treat now so I have to keep them hidden.

While scrolling through Pinterest I came across a Oat Date bar that of course had whole wheat flour and it was just Oats and Dates which seemed a little boring to me. So, after some adjustments I came up with this really yummy gluten free alternative.  There really moist, just enough sweetness and will have you wanting more.  I added Pecans because I thought it would be a welcomed flavor and came up with these magical bars.  I would say if there is someone with a nut allergy just omit the Pecans and you’re good to go. These bars are a great source for natural energy too and add in some dried fruit, chocolate chips and give yourself even more variety. One tip, store these in a Air Tight Container and keep cool. The coconut oil will make these really soft if left out too long.

I am so glad that there are so many alternative flours you can use now other than whole wheat.  I know going from what you are used to and changing up your diet can be really stressful and hard but here I am a few months later and I am not missing my wheat.  Sometimes it’s hard to eat out but for the most part I find it a pretty easy transition.  If you’re making the switch to gluten free hang in there you will get used to it soon! If you’ve been living this life not as a fad diet but as an actual health issue for many years and just need another tasty to add to your repertoire, well here you go! Either way, I hope you enjoy!

What’ s your favorite pie?

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Recipes

Southwest Quinoa with Avocado Cilantro Dressing

 

ostella bistro (1)

Are you looking for a recipe that is really easy? Very Tasty? Healthy and Fresh? This is it. I don’t even know where I got this recipe but over the years I have made it my own.  I was raised in a faith that was vegetarian so a lot of our meals were plant based protein.  One of my favorite meals from childhood is called Haystacks which is very similar to this but no quinoa and refried beans instead of black beans. I think one day playing around in the kitchen as you know I often do, this recipe was born.  I started bringing it to functions for my potluck and everyone ask me the recipe. So, one day I sat down and wrote out exactly what I do but there are so many things that you can do with it, add to it.

This is a great meal to take for  Potlucks because it’s great for people with food allergies, or preferences. Swap a few ingredients and it can be Vegan or Vegetarian. Quinoa is gluten free friendly too and it taste so good.  Got lots of protein and iron too. I love making this all year long and it is really simple and easy. Everyone loves my Southwest Quinoa.  Another great thing is it freezes AWESOME! Can’t go wrong.  Top your salad, eat it with Tortilla chips, in corn or flour tortillas,casserole and even in Wontons with some cheese baked or fried its the best appetizer.  Its also one of those recipes you can adapt. Sometimes I add green enchilada sauce or red enchilada sauce instead of the avocado cilantro dressing and it takes on another flavor.  I am sure there are other ways I serve it but just can’t think of them at the moment but those are a few ideas. Its one of my families favorites. Let me know what your family thinks of it and other ways you end up serving it.

[amd-yrecipe-recipe:12]

 

 

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