Category Archives: dairy free

Tuesday, November 15, 2011

Pumpkin-Spiced Chocolate Covered Pear with Toasted Pecans

Here we have #3 idea for combining pumpkin and chocolate.  So there isn’t any actual pumpkin in this one, but we do have pumpkin spice!  This is a super fun twist on your basic dark chocolate.  Husband loved it.  The spiced chocolate works well with the sweet, juicy pear and the toasted pecans provide a nutty crunch.  Really fun and easy dessert.  Also a great idea for a party.
Stayed tuned for the final pumpkin + chocolate recipe next week (just in time for Thanksgiving): 
chocolate pumpkin coconut ice cream!!

Ingredients
2-3 ripe organic pears (soft to touch but not mushy)
1 bar of the best chocolate on the planet
1 teaspoon pumpkin spice mix (or to taste)
1 cup chopped pecans, lightly toasted 

How To
*Wash and dry your beautiful pears 
*Heat chocolate bar on low over double boiler (if you don’t have one, it’s pretty easy to fashion a makeshift version with your everyday pots and saute pans)
*Add pumpkin spice mix to melted chocolate, stir and remove from heat
*Drizzle chocolate over half of pear
*Sprinkle on toasted pecans
*Set on cookie cooling rack 

Notes
*You can certainly add some sweetener to the chocolate.  We happen to like the dark chocolate flavor.  Adding a tablespoon of honey, agave, coconut sugar, etc., will give it a little sweet kick
Shared on: Slightly Indulgent Tuesdays
Posted by Amber at

Labels: cane sugar free, chocolate + pumpkin, dairy free, dessert, gluten free.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

* Copy This Password *

* Type Or Paste Password Here *

You may use these HTML tags and attributes: <a href="" title=""> <abbr title=""> <acronym title=""> <b> <blockquote cite=""> <cite> <code> <del datetime=""> <em> <i> <q cite=""> <strike> <strong>

Friday, November 11, 2011

5 Super Easy and Super Tasty Side Dish Ideas For Your Thanksgiving Feast (dairy free, gluten free, white potato free, cane-sugar free, vegan)

Turkey is great, but a side dish can be the star of the Thanksgiving show!  I love to see what people have lined up at their Thanksgiving mealyou know the turkey is going to be there, no big surprise, but let me loose on the buffet table so I can check out how the sweet potatoes are dressed, what’s going to shine in the cranberry sauce, what’s that awesome looking bread?  Creating alternatives to traditional Thanksgiving cuisine is super easy.  Check out my 5 very easy side dishes.  There are endless possibilities for your meal, but my motto is to keep it easy, keep it fun and keep it super tasty!
***************************************************
#1
Roots and Fruits
(Roasted Parsnips, Apples, Pears and Walnuts)

Ingredients
5 medium parsnips, peeled and chopped
1 small red onion, chopped
2 pears, peeled and chopped
1 Granny Smith apple, peeled and chopped
1 1/2 cups of  walnuts
Oil (of choice)
Garlic granules 

How To
*Add parsnips, onion, pears, & apple to favorite baking dish
*Drizzle with oil
*Add 2 tablespoons garlic granules
*Roast at 400 degrees for about 35-40 minutes (check at 35)
*Lightly toast walnuts in saute pan
*Add to roasted roots and fruits 
*Mix together
*Add salt if desired, I omit.  
*Serves 4-5
***************************************************
#2
Socca Bread 
Gluten free, Grain free, Sugar free, Vegan, ACD, Xanthan gum free, Yeast free, Egg free….absolutely AMAZING flatbread!!!
(recipe from December/January issue of Living Without Magazine, pg.41)
Ingredients
1 1/2 cups chickpea flour (garbonzo bean flour)
1 1/2 cups filtered water
2 1/2 tablespoons oil (I used grapeseed)
1 tablespoon chopped fresh rosemary (you must use fresh!
3/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1 tablespoon minced dried onion (I used onion powder)

How To
*Whisk together chickpea flour, water, 2 tablespoons oil, rosemary, salt, pepper, onion (minced or powder).  Let sit at room temperature for 30 minutes.  This gives the batter a chance to thicken up a bit
*Coat a large round nonstick skillet with oil and heat over med until hot (add oil to pan after removing the socca and get it nice and hot for the next one)
*Pour 1/2 cup batter into pan and swirl around a bit (sort of like a crepe).  use heat-safe spatula to loosen sides
*Cook socca until crispy on one side, flip and brown on the other side
*Serves 4-5
***************************************************
#3
Smashed Sweet Potatoes and Cauliflower 
(this is really nice substitute for those of you who don’t want white potatoes at your meal; the cauliflower adds a nice texture and balances out the sweetness of the sweet potatoes – and best part, no boiling required!)

Ingredients 
3 large sweet potatoes, chopped
1 head of cauliflower, separated 
Oil of choice
Garlic granules (or 4 cloves fresh garlic)

How To
*Add sweet potatoes and cauliflower to your favorite roasting dish
*Drizzle with oil 
*Add about 1 1/2 tablespoons garlic granules (or smash the fresh garlic cloves and add in)
*Toss ingredients with oil and garlic 
*Roast at 400 degrees for 40 minutes
*Keep ingredients in roasting pan and use a potato masher to smash ingredients together.  Add another drizzle of oil for some additional moisture
*Add 1/4 teaspoon salt 
*Smash everything together well 
*Top with a little cinnamon (optional)
*Serves 4-5
***************************************************
#4
20-Minute Cane-Sugar Free Cranberry Sauce
(my kids ate this up like candy!)

Ingredients 
4 cups fresh cranberries
1 cup filtered water
1 sweet red apple, small chop
3 dates, seeded and small chopped 
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
1/3 cup honey
1 large orange

How To
*In medium sauce pan bring cranberries and water to a boil, stir and turn down to a simmer
*Add apple, honey, dates and briskly stir
*Turn down to low and gently simmer for about 15 minutes 
*Turn off heat and add juice of 1 orange and cinnamon 
*When cool, transfer to fridge until ready to serve
*Top with orange zest
***************************************************
#5
Fig and Walnut Stuffed Acorn Squash 

Ingredients
2 acorn squash
2 cups fresh chopped figs
1 Granny Smith apple, peeled and chopped
1 ripe pear, peeled and chopped
1 1/2 cup walnuts, chopped
Oil of choice
3 tablespoons honey
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon nutmeg
pinch of ground ginger 

How To
*Cut squash in half and remove seeds, run oil around inside of squash
*Place face down in baking dish, coated with a little oil 
*Bake at 400 for 30 – 40 minutes (check at 30)
*In sauce pan, add oil, apple, pear, & walnuts, saute or a few minutes
*Add figs and salt, saute for a few minutes
*Add in honey and spices, saute together and cook on low until all ingredients are soft and have combined juices and most of the honey and oil has cooked off.  Turn off and allow to cool a bit before adding to baked squash
*Remove squash from oven when finished and turn over.  Allow to cool face up
*Add mixture to squash
*Serves 4 very hungry folks or up to 8 if each squash half is divided 

Wishing You a Health-full and Happy Thanksgiving
Be Well, Amber 
Shared on: A Gluten-Free Holiday Week 2 – Thanksgiving Favorites
Posted by Amber at

Labels: cane sugar free, dairy free, egg free, gluten free, sides, soy free, thanksgiving side dishes, vegan.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

* Copy This Password *

* Type Or Paste Password Here *

You may use these HTML tags and attributes: <a href="" title=""> <abbr title=""> <acronym title=""> <b> <blockquote cite=""> <cite> <code> <del datetime=""> <em> <i> <q cite=""> <strike> <strong>

Thursday, November 10, 2011

Pumpkin Coconut Almond Smoothie

What to do with all that pumpkin puree in my fridge?  Ah ha!  Give it to the kids in a super healthy drink.  Did it work?  I’m tipping my imaginary hat as we speak!  Hubby loved this drink too.  Seriously though, drink your pumpkin – it’s super yummy.

Ingredients
-1 cup plain homemade pumpkin puree
-1 cup full fat coconut milk (BPA free)
-1 cup filtered water 
-1 teaspoon vanilla 
-2 tablespoons almond butter
-2 tablespoons honey (vegans, use maple syrup) add more if needed 
-2 tablespoons carob powder 
-1 teaspoon cinnamon (or just top smoothie with a pinch)

How To
1.  Add all ingredients to blender (high speed or otherwise)
2.  Blend until smooth

Notes
*My kiddos drank this straight from the blender (okay not literally – but I did when no one was looking) so it wasn’t chilled and still a hit
*Place smoothie in the fridge for a few hours if desired (no separation will occur)  
*I used carob in this recipe.  I gave this drink to my kiddos today as a late afternoon pick-me updidn’t want to give my daughter stimulating cacao this late and my son can’t eat cacao due to his eczema.  I would just omit this completely if you don’t like carob or thinking about substituting with cacao, as if you add cacao it essentially becomes this drink – which is all good toobut this coconut pumpkin smoothie is so awesome without the very overpowering taste of chocolate.
Shared on: Pennywise Platter Thursdays, Slightly Indulgent Tuesdays, Wellness Weekend, 
Posted by Amber at

Labels: cane sugar free, dairy free, drinks, gluten free, soy free, vegan.

4 Comments

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

* Copy This Password *

* Type Or Paste Password Here *

You may use these HTML tags and attributes: <a href="" title=""> <abbr title=""> <acronym title=""> <b> <blockquote cite=""> <cite> <code> <del datetime=""> <em> <i> <q cite=""> <strike> <strong>

Monday, November 7, 2011

Chocolate Pumpkin Brownies (vegan, grain free, cane-sugar free, dairy free, egg free)

Did I mention my husband is a HUGE chocoholic?  Well he is.  More than anyone I’ve ever met in my life.  And he likes the good stuff this man.  I’m not talking about a Hersey’s bar (although if you gave him one he would eat it).  My husband’s list of loves would probably go something like this: 1) his family, 2) the outdoors, 3) chocolate.  And if he was outdoors with his family eating chocolate he would probably explode (with joy).  So this chocolate series is dedicated to my sweet-teeth husbandand my daughter who is quickly following suit in the chocolate-loving department. 

Here we have recipe #2 in the pumpkin + chocolate series.  I don’t know about you, but I like chewy brownies.  Not cake-like brownies.  I thought it would be a fun challenge to make these grain free.  So the trick here was to make a grain free brownie that didn’t crumble apart.  I’m pleased with the final product.  My husband LOVES this brownie, as does my daughter.  They both gave it a two-thumbs up, and that’s saying something from my chocolate connoisseurs.  How wonderful to make something so healthy and sinfully tasty for the ones I love.    
(grain free, gluten free, dairy free, cane-sugar free, egg free, soy free, xanthan gum free) 

Ingredients
-2 cups raw almonds
-1 cup raw walnuts
-1/2 cup raw cacao powder
-1/4 cup coconut flour
-2 tablespoons arrowroot powder
-1/4 teaspoon baking soda
-1/4 teaspoon salt

-1/2 cup pumpkin puree 
-1/3 cup + 1 tablespoon grade B maple syrup (room temp) 
-1/2 teaspoon liquid stevia (vanilla or cocoa flavor is nice)
-1 teaspoon vanilla
-1/4 cup applesauce (room temp)
-1 tablespoon ground chia seeds
-3 tablespoons water
-1/4 cup coconut oil – liquified
-1/4 cup non-dairy milk (or water)
-1/4 teaspoon ginger 

How To
Preheat oven to 375

In a food processor:
1.  Add almonds and grind until fine and slightly moist 
2.  Add walnuts to almonds and blend together until the nuts start to stick together a bit- test with fingers
3.  Add cacao powder, blend/pulse
4.  Add arrowroot, baking soda, ginger, coconut flour, and salt…
5.  Blend, blend, blend, pulse, pulse, pulse

In a separate bowl:
1.  Whisk together: pumpkin puree, maple syrup, vanilla, coconut oil, applesauce and milk (or water) 
2.  In a separate small bowl stir together chia and water until thick then add to wet ingredients. mix
3.  Add dry ingredients from food processor into wet ingredients and mix
4.  Transfer batter to 8×8 baking dish
5.  You can either line the 8×8 baking dish with parchment paper or spray oil and dust with coconut flour.  I used oil & flour.  
6.  Bake 30 minutes or until sides start to harden and crisp up

Notes
*The middle will be moist, but will firm up as it cools, but overall stays rather moist.  
*I would wait several hours before cutting into the brownies (if you can) or wait until the next day (yeah right).
*Top with melted chocolate (I melted 1/2 of this chocolate bar with 1/2 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice)
Shared on: slightly Indulgent Tuesdays,  
Gluten Free Wednesdays, Week 5 of Home for the Holidays: Gluten Free Style,  Fat Tuesday, Whole Food Wednesdays, GFE’s Virtual Support Group, Fresh Bites Friday, Freaky Friday, Fight Back Friday, Friday Food, Pot Luck Party Fridays, Feed Your Soul Friday, Superfood Sunday 
Posted by Amber at

Labels: chocolate + pumpkin, dairy free, dessert, egg free, gluten free, grain free, soy free, vegan, xanthan gum free.

23 Comments

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

* Copy This Password *

* Type Or Paste Password Here *

You may use these HTML tags and attributes: <a href="" title=""> <abbr title=""> <acronym title=""> <b> <blockquote cite=""> <cite> <code> <del datetime=""> <em> <i> <q cite=""> <strike> <strong>

Thursday, November 3, 2011

Raw Carrot Hummus (SCD, Paleo GAPS).

I try to make a few raw dishes every week.  So this week instead of making my usual cooked hummus I did a little raw twist and wow!  Yum to the tum.  First off, my son LOVES it.  He couldn’t get enough and my daughter gobbled it up too.  When you make something your children eat and love and it’s super healthy you can’t help but feel like the day has been a wild success.  I used the carrot hummus at snack time and dressed with some veggies.  How fun was snack time today.  And remember, this version is to my taste (and my kid’s), you may like less of this and more of that, and that’s great – have fun make and it your own.    

Ingredients
4 medium organic carrots 
2 – 4 tablespoons organic raw tahini (use the 2 tbsp if you want more carrot taste, I used 4 because I love the taste of tahini and I used the 1 & 1/2 lemons)
Juice from 1 & 1/2 lemons (if using less tahini, use less lemon)
1/2 teaspoon celtic sea salt (or to taste)
1/2 teaspoon garlic granules
Oil (of choice) I use grapeseed

How To
1.  Peel and rough chop carrots
2.  Add carrots to food processor and give a quick run 
3.  Add tahini and mix until incorporated
4.  Add lemon, salt and garlic
5.  Blend
6.  Continue blending and drizzle in oil until desired creaminess
Some other presentation ideasthe color is brilliant! 
My daughter’s creation: 
a one-eyed carrot monster, she called it.   
Shared on: A Gluten-Free Holiday 2011Allergy-Free Wednesdays   Real Food WednesdaysGluten-Free WednesdaysWhole Food Wednesdays, Allergy-Friendly Fridays, Friday Foodie Fix,  Raw Foods Thursdays,, Wellness Weekend, Allergy Free Alaska  Healthy Vegan Fridays 
Posted by Amber at

Labels: dairy free, dips, gluten free, raw, SCD, snacks, vegan.

10 Comments

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

* Copy This Password *

* Type Or Paste Password Here *

You may use these HTML tags and attributes: <a href="" title=""> <abbr title=""> <acronym title=""> <b> <blockquote cite=""> <cite> <code> <del datetime=""> <em> <i> <q cite=""> <strike> <strong>