Sunday, December 22, 2013

Cinnamon & Coconut Sugar Dried Apples

I absolutely adore making homemade holiday gifts for friends and family.  They are always well received and appreciated.  Dried apples were on my list this year to make as gifts and the addition of cinnamon and coconut sugar makes these dried apples so festive and delicious.  You could certainly leave the apples plain, but I just love the added spice.  As gifts I also like to make homemade greeting cards, coconut ginger granola, homemade almond butter, and homemade lotions (and other beauty products such as facial toner and body spray).  Another favorite is the gift of tea.  You can get so creative with tea, purchasing loose leaf and fun tea paraphernalia (check out my All Things Tea Pinterest board for more tea ideas).   

Happy Holidays to all.  I'm signing off until January.  Until then, wishing you a restful and peaceful holiday filled with love and laughter.    
-Amber & The Tasty Alternative Family 
CinnamonCoconut Sugar Dried Apples 

Ingredients:
-4 pounds of apples (any variety will do, I used Fuji)
-1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon 
-1/4 cup coconut sugar

Equipment:
-A good knife or mandoline
-Dehydrator 

How To:
1.  Wash, peel and slice apples (slice thick for chewy dried apples, slice thin for crispy dried apples).  I like to cut out center seeds and the core.  
2.  Add apples to a large bowl and using hands, toss the apples with the cinnamon and coconut sugar, making sure all the apples are well covered.
3.  Transfer apples (in one layer) onto a dehydrator with mesh screens.
4.  Dehydrate on 95 degrees for 8 -10 hours  (basically, overnight). I encourage you to test out different drying times.  For another method, dehydrate on high (140 degrees) for 3 hours, then turn down to 95 degrees and dehydrate until your desired texture.  

Notes:
*Yes you can make these in the oven set at a low temperature, however, I have not tried this, so I cannot give any specific directions.  If you try it in the oven, please report back and let us know how it goes.  I suspect they will be more like apple chips, but you never know.
*If you use a mandoline, the slices will be very thin and almost crispy.  Hand slice thicker pieces for that nice chewy fruit dried texture.
The cut apples tossed in the cinnamon and coconut sugar 
Here are the apples all dried and ready for the jars
Good morning you pretty little apples.  
These dried overnight.  
{affiliate links in post}
This recipe was shared on: Wellness Weekend, Paleo Link Party, Whole Food Fridays

Tuesday, December 17, 2013

Allergy Free Wednesdays Holiday Edition Week 98: December 18th 2013

Hello Friends.  
We are taking a vacation from AFW the week of December 23rd.  Have a wonderful Holiday.  
Peace and love from The Tasty Alternative Family. 

Hello and welcome to Allergy-Free Wednesdays (AFW).
  AFW is a weekly blog hop where folks can share their allergy-free cuisine, gain knowledge about allergy-related topics/issues, and connect with others living or caring for someone with food allergies.

This is a weekly blog hop hosted by myself and five other fabulous allergy-free bloggers.  Your weekly submissions will be shared on all 6 blogs!  Check back each week for reader favorites and recipe highlights.  

Your AFW Hostesses:
Adrienne @ Whole New Mom
Janelle @ Gluten Freely Frugal
Laura @ Gluten Free Pantry
Nancy @ Real Food Allergy Free
Tessa @ Domestic Diva
And me!
What can I link-up on AFW?
  • We welcome allergy-free cuisine in any shape or form
  • Tips & allergy related articles/information are welcome
  • Food allergies, intolerances, and sensitivities all welcome
  • Rules & Guidelines *Please provide a link directly to your post (not your homepage).
  • Please provide a link back to our weekly blog hop somewhere in your post.
  • Please provide a description of your recipe, such as DF (dairy free), GF (gluten free), SF (sugar free), V (vegan), etc.
  • Recipes do not have to be free of all common allergens, just allergy-free in some way.
  • TWO weekly submissions max please.
  • Grab yourself a badge and help support Allergy-Free Wednesdays and the allergy-free community.
  • Entries that don’t comply with stated rules and guidelines will be respectfully removed.
Please leave a comment after you link-up and tell us about your weekly submission(s). We love to hear from you!
By linking up, you agree that I may make use of any applicable pictures in my Allergy-Free Wednesday posts, and that, by your entering, you are giving permission to use them and/or re-pin them via Pinterest. You also, by entering, guarantee that the picture is not someone else’s work , or else has a broad license (for example with stock photography put in public domain).
______________________________
Featured Recipes & Highlights

Each week AFW features the most most popular recipe from the previous week, and the six AFW hostesses will highlight their favorites.  Please note that your submission must contain a link back to our Allergy-Free Wednesday's Blog Hop in order to be featured.  

So without further ado...

May I present you with the most popular submission (most viewed by readers):

Big Soft Paleo Ginger Molasses Cookies
From: Allergy Free Alaska

And here are my favorite recipes/posts from last week:

Grain Free Fig Tarts
(suitable for SCD/Paleo)
From: Gluten Free, SCD, & Veggie

Raw Gingerbread
From:  Omnomally

Mexican Hot Chocolate
From:  Recipes to Nourish 
   *
Thanks for visiting Allergy-Free Wednesdays!
And thanks for being awesome and reading through our guidelines before linking up!
_________________________________

Sunday, December 15, 2013

Festive Coconut Ginger Granola

I posted this granola recipe two years ago and thought it was worth revisiting this year.  At the time I included it with a homemade raw persimmon pudding as parfaits, but feel like this granola needs its own post.  I LOVE making homemade gifts and granola is such an easy (and always well received) gift.  So if you're feeling a little stuck on what to make for your child's teacher or searching for something to take to a gift exchange, this is a great option.  
Happy Holidays.  
Festive Coconut Ginger Granola 

Ingredients 
(click on links for where to buy)

dry:
-2 cups certified gluten-free rolled oats
-1 cup unsweetened shredded coconut 
-1/2 cup raw organic almonds
-1/2 cup raw organic walnuts
-1/2 cup pumpkin seeds
-2 tablespoons hemp seeds
-1 tablespoon chia seeds
-1/4 cup coconut sugar
-Pinch of salt
-1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
-1 teaspoon ground ginger 

wet:
-1/2 cup local honey (vegans use maple syrup or coconut nectar) 
-1 teaspoon vanilla extract 
-3 tablespoons melted coconut oil here or here

How To
Preheat oven to 350
1.  Combine oats and shredded coconut in a large bowl.  
2.  Add the almonds to a food processor (with S-blade), and chop up until they are in little bits, then add almonds to the oats and shredded coconut.
3.  Add the walnuts and pumpkin seeds to a food processor and chop until they are in small bits, add to mixture.  
4.  Then to the bowl add the hemp, chia, salt, ginger and cinnamon.
5.  In separate bowl add honey, coconut oil and vanilla.  Mix well with spatchula (I use a silicone). 
6.  Add wet ingredients to dry and mix (with hands preferably) until the entire mixture is well incorporated and moist.  Now allow this mixture to rest for about 10 minutes.  
7.  Put a piece of parchment paper on a baking sheet.  Spread the granola out on the parchment paper.  Please note that when you spread out the granola, it needs to be in a very thin layer with small holes of parchment paper showing through.  This allows the heat to cook all around the granola and latch it together.  
8.  Bake for 10 minutes exactly (not a second longer).  Transfer the parchment paper to a cooling rack.  The granola will be soft out of the oven, but become hard once cooled.  

This granola tastes great with my vegan 
persimmon coconut pudding in sweet little parfaits 
{affiliate links in post}
This recipe was shared on: Wellness Weekend 

Friday, December 13, 2013

The Ultimate List of Healthy Christmas Cookies 2013


I have a treat for all you cookie lovers out there.  Sandra from Candida Diet Plan put together a great round-up of super healthy holiday cookies.  You've got to check out this list!!  There is something here for everyone.  Click here for the full post.  
Enjoy my friends and Happy Holidays.  


Tuesday, December 10, 2013

Allergy-Free Wednesdays Week 97: December 10, 2013

Hello and welcome to Allergy-Free Wednesdays (AFW).
  AFW is a weekly blog hop where folks can share their allergy-free cuisine, gain knowledge about allergy-related topics/issues, and connect with others living or caring for someone with food allergies.

This is a weekly blog hop hosted by myself and five other fabulous allergy-free bloggers.  Your weekly submissions will be shared on all 6 blogs!  Check back each week for reader favorites and recipe highlights.  

Your AFW Hostesses:
Adrienne @ Whole New Mom
Janelle @ Gluten Freely Frugal
Laura @ Gluten Free Pantry
Nancy @ Real Food Allergy Free
Tessa @ Domestic Diva
And me!
What can I link-up on AFW?
  • We welcome allergy-free cuisine in any shape or form
  • Tips & allergy related articles/information are welcome
  • Food allergies, intolerances, and sensitivities all welcome
  • Rules & Guidelines *Please provide a link directly to your post (not your homepage).
  • Please provide a link back to our weekly blog hop somewhere in your post.
  • Please provide a description of your recipe, such as DF (dairy free), GF (gluten free), SF (sugar free), V (vegan), etc.
  • Recipes do not have to be free of all common allergens, just allergy-free in some way.
  • TWO weekly submissions max please.
  • Grab yourself a badge and help support Allergy-Free Wednesdays and the allergy-free community.
  • Entries that don’t comply with stated rules and guidelines will be respectfully removed.
Please leave a comment after you link-up and tell us about your weekly submission(s). We love to hear from you!
By linking up, you agree that I may make use of any applicable pictures in my Allergy-Free Wednesday posts, and that, by your entering, you are giving permission to use them and/or re-pin them via Pinterest. You also, by entering, guarantee that the picture is not someone else’s work , or else has a broad license (for example with stock photography put in public domain).
______________________________
Featured Recipes & Highlights

Each week AFW features the most most popular recipe from the previous week, and the six AFW hostesses will highlight their favorites.  Please note that your submission must contain a link back to our Allergy-Free Wednesday's Blog Hop in order to be featured.  

So without further ado...

May I present you with the most popular submission (most viewed by readers):

Angie's Story
(as MUST read)
From: Phoenix Helix

And here are my favorite recipes/posts from last week:

Roasted Acorn Squash Stuffed with a 
Cherry, Walnut, and White Bean Salad
From: Made to Glow


Chocolate Caramel Cups
From: Sandi's Allergy Free Recipes 



Make Your Own Cacao Powder
From: A Life Unprocessed 
   *
Thanks for visiting Allergy-Free Wednesdays!
And thanks for being awesome and reading through our guidelines before linking up!
_________________________________

Tuesday, December 3, 2013

Allergy-Free Wednesdays Week 96: December 4, 2013

Hello and welcome to Allergy-Free Wednesdays (AFW).
  AFW is a weekly blog hop where folks can share their allergy-free cuisine, gain knowledge about allergy-related topics/issues, and connect with others living or caring for someone with food allergies.

This is a weekly blog hop hosted by myself and five other fabulous allergy-free bloggers.  Your weekly submissions will be shared on all 6 blogs!  Check back each week for reader favorites and recipe highlights.  

Your AFW Hostesses:
Adrienne @ Whole New Mom
Janelle @ Gluten Freely Frugal
Laura @ Gluten Free Pantry
Nancy @ Real Food Allergy Free
Tessa @ Domestic Diva
And me!
What can I link-up on AFW?
  • We welcome allergy-free cuisine in any shape or form
  • Tips & allergy related articles/information are welcome
  • Food allergies, intolerances, and sensitivities all welcome
  • Rules & Guidelines *Please provide a link directly to your post (not your homepage).
  • Please provide a link back to our weekly blog hop somewhere in your post.
  • Please provide a description of your recipe, such as DF (dairy free), GF (gluten free), SF (sugar free), V (vegan), etc.
  • Recipes do not have to be free of all common allergens, just allergy-free in some way.
  • TWO weekly submissions max please.
  • Grab yourself a badge and help support Allergy-Free Wednesdays and the allergy-free community.
  • Entries that don’t comply with stated rules and guidelines will be respectfully removed.
Please leave a comment after you link-up and tell us about your weekly submission(s). We love to hear from you!
By linking up, you agree that I may make use of any applicable pictures in my Allergy-Free Wednesday posts, and that, by your entering, you are giving permission to use them and/or re-pin them via Pinterest. You also, by entering, guarantee that the picture is not someone else’s work , or else has a broad license (for example with stock photography put in public domain).
________________________________
Featured Recipes & Highlights

Each week AFW features the most most popular recipe from the previous week, and the six AFW hostesses will highlight their favorites.  Please note that your submission must contain a link back to our Allergy-Free Wednesday's Blog Hop in order to be featured.  

So without further ado...

May I present you with the most popular submission (most viewed by readers):

Pumpkin Dessert
(this would be super easy to make dairy free & heath-ify it up a bit)
From: Hope's Kitchen 

And here are my favorite recipes/posts from last week:

Best Ever Brined Turkey with Gluten Free Gravy
From: Gutsy by Nature 
Real Fruit Leathers
(dairy and gluten free)
From: The Fussiest Eater 
Apple Goji Berry Spiced Cider
From: Swirls and Spice
   *
Thanks for visiting Allergy-Free Wednesdays!
And thanks for being awesome and reading through our guidelines before linking up!
_________________________________

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