Blueberry Cornbread Muffins April 19, 2013

Blueberry Cornbread Muffins

Blueberry Cornbread Muffins
with a hint of lime

Ingredients

– 1 1/4 cup GF ground cornmeal
– Just under 1/4 cup ground flaxseed
– 1 1/2 tsp baking powder
– 1 1/2 tbsp honey
– Pinch of sea salt
– 1 egg
– 1 cup unsweetened almond milk (or chilled coconut milk)
– handful of fresh or frozen (de-thawed) blueberries
– juice squeezed from one fresh lime
-olive or canola oil (just enough to lightly coat baking tray)

Method

1) Preheat oven to 425°F. Combine ingredients in large bowl, mixing well.

2) Lightly coat 8 muffin baking tray spaces with olive or canola oil. You can skip this step if you have a non-stick pan. If you don’t have a muffin baking tray, you can use a regular baking tray and pour the mixture into about 8 muffin foil tins.

3) Bake at 425°F for 15-20 minutes. Mine only took 15 minutes. Enjoy hot and place the rest in a sealed container to store in the fridge. The muffins are great chilled as well. The perfect spread to compliment: earth balance organic coconut spread + fresh lime juice + light shake of salt. Enjoy!

Note: If you are serving these to individuals with gluten allergies, make sure that you purchase ground corn flour that is clearly labeled as gluten-free. While corn is naturally free of gluten, some unlabeled varieties may be processed in a facility that also processes wheat products. For those without an allergy or intolerance, any cornmeal is fine but go for one with a GF seal if anyone eating the muffins has celiac to be certain there’s no cross-contamination risk. 

Pure Delicious Pecan Pie December 29, 2012

Pure Delicious Pecan Pie
with dates & fresh ginger 

Creamy, pure, & simple

I have moved this recipe to my new website! Find the recipe here. 

Guanabana Coconut Smoothie June 21, 2012

Ripe Guanabana & Coconut Milk Smoothie

Guanabana Coconut Smoothie
with white mushroom & banana

Ingredients

– 1/4 package of Frozen Guanabana Pulp

I used Goya 100% Guanabana Pulp. Goya is often found in a separate freezer aisle from the rest of the frozen fruits.

– 1/2 frozen banana
– 1 handful sliced white mushrooms

Look for the kind that provide 100% DV of vitamin D. Only mushrooms that are exposed to UV light synthesize vitamin D. Check the label to see if your brand provides it.

– 1 cup calcium fortified coconut milk

From the refrigerated section. Such as Silk Pure Coconut- go for the unsweetened

-Dash of cinnamon

Method

Blend until smooth. Serve fresh.

Hot Cocoa that Loves You Back February 4, 2012

Rich, warm, drinkable cocoa so good you won't believe how good it is for you!

More Love Hot Cocoa
healthy twist on a cozy classic

Leave the packets behind. Artificial sweeteners, additives, who needs them? Ok, the “just add water” kind is great for camping but this choc-full-of-nutrient blend is almost as easy to make. A cup does wonders to satisfy those persistent chocolate cravings without gulping down hefty doses of saturated fat, sugar, and calories.

BREW IT
– 4-5 tsp unsweetened Cocoa Powder (alkali-free if possible)
– 3/4 cup Almond milk or Coconut Milk (or a mix)
-1-2 drops of Real Vanilla Extract
-Dash of cinnamon & nutmeg (optional)
-1/8 tsp Stevia powder OR  1/2 tsp Honey

In a microwave safe ceramic mug (no metal), spoon in cocoa powder then add almond or coconut milk. Add remaining ingredients except for honey–if you are using this instead of stevia–which can be added at the end. Stir ingredients and microwave on high for 1 minute and 30 seconds. Carefully remove mug and stir well.

Pineapple Banana Mango Smoothie January 9, 2011

Pineapple Banana Mango Smoothie

Take a tropical escape with this Pineapple Banana Mango Smoothie: Fresh banana, frozen pineapple, frozen mango, unsweetened coconut milk.

Customize It
To amp up the protein add a few spoonfuls of unsweetened fat-free yogurt. Trying to get more greens? Toss in a few spoonfuls of fresh or frozen spinach. You’ll never taste it with the flavor of sweet, tangy, pineapple dominating the drink.

Nutrition Highlight: Pineapple is a very rich source of vitamin C and is a mildly anti-inflammatory food. To get the most nutritional bang for your buck be sure to look for the unsweetened kind when buying frozen. The fruit has plenty of natural sweetness without adding extra.

Plantain Coconut Berry Smoothie November 7, 2010

 

Plantain Coconut Berry Smoothie: Fresh plantain (ripened to sweetness), unsweetened coconut milk, frozen strawberries, blueberries, mango, and a spoonful of spinach.

Plantains are an excellent source of potassium (even more per gram than a banana), vitamin A, and vitamin C. When allowed to ripen for several days, they can become very sweet and be used like a banana and eaten raw. Plantains are also commonly used like a potato when they are less ripe, and make delicious chips, and tasty baked dishes.

Unsweetened Coconut Milk adds a delicious creamy, tropical taste to smoothies and is a great way to reduce added sugars. Check the label of the carton before you buy and look for the variety with 0g of added sugar and that is fortified with vitamin D and calcium. While coconut milk does contain some saturated fat (5g/serving), research has shown that the type of saturated fat found in coconuts, medium chain fatty acids (MCFAs) may be processed differently in the body than the saturated fats that are present in animal products.  The brand of coconut milk that I bought was also fortified with vitamin B12 (providing 50% of the daily RDA), making it a very good choice for vegetarians and vegans who may be lacking B12 (usually only found in animal products) in their diets.