Dark Chocolate Date Caramel Hearts

What a perfect little DIY Valentine's Day treat. Simple, cute and tasty, it checks all the boxes.

The "caramel" is simply pureed dates with water and sea salt. For best results, you'll want to search out some soft medjool dates. If your dates are a little less fresh and not quite as soft, you'll want to soak them in water before blending.

Ok, so I will be the first to admit I am not a chocolatier. I have tempered chocolate in the past, but in most instances, I am much more into convenience than perfection and simply melt my chocolate in a double boiler without all the pomp and circumstance. But this does create some limitations- if your finished creation then sits out at room temperature for more than a day or two, you will notice that it starts to look a little less pretty, which can affect the texture of the chocolate as well.

So the trick is you'll have to store them in the fridge or freezer to keep them looking pretty.

Dark Chocolate Date Caramel Hearts
Makes 15 hearts

Ingredients

1 1/4 cup dark chocolate chips

1 cup of large medjool dates, pitted (took about 8 large dates)
1/8 tsp. fine sea salt
1/4 cup hot water

Directions

Set chocolate to melt in a double boiler (or non reactive bowl over a pot of simmering water), until melted smooth.

Remove pits from dates. Place dates and sea salt in a food processor and process, streaming in hot water as needed to get a smooth caramel, without getting too liquid-y. Use more of less water as needed. It'll take a few minutes to get it super smooth and you'll have to stop and scrape the sides down several times.

Using silicone heart molds, spoon chocolate in to each mold and use a butter knife to coat the bottom and all sides. Set in freezer for 5 minutes. Remove and scoop a small amount of caramel in to each center. Top with additional melted chocolate until you reach the top of the mold. Set in freezer for another 15 minutes or until completely solid. Remove and pop out hearts.

Enjoy within the day, or store in fridge until serving.

Almond Flour Snickerdoodles

Alright alright, these aren't true snickerdoodles, but there is something about them that reminds me of my favorite childhood treat, matured and with a touch more class.

They hint at almond without screaming it in your face, are soft and chewy and somehow leave you feeling satisfied after just one or two.

And they take about ten minutes to make. Are you sold yet?

Almond Flour Snickerdoodles
Makes 12

Ingredients

1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. raw sugar

2 cups almond flour
1/4 cup unrefined coconut oil
1/4 cup maple syrup
1/4 tsp. almond extract
3/8 tsp. salt

Directions

In a small bowl, mix cinnamon and sugar together. 

Mix all remaining ingredients together in food processor until the dough gathers and turns in to a ball. With slightly wet hands, roll dough in to 12 small balls and place on parchment paper lined baking sheet. Flatten into cookie shapes. Sprinkle with cinnamon sugar. 

Bake at 350 degrees for 8 minutes, rotate and continue for another 4 minutes, or until beginning to brown. Set aside to cool before enjoying. 

Salted Caramel Cashew Ice Cream

With summer heat waves in full force across the country, ice cream has been on my mind. But let's face it, probably not the best treat to be indulging in every day, which is roughly how often we seemed to be consuming it. So I decided to go searching for a healthier version that I could feel good about serving my family. A simple search found that I was not alone.

The key to these cashew based ice creams is the dates. Not only do they deliver a caramely sweetness, but they keep the ice cream silky in texture, as opposed to solely sweetening with syrup or honey, which yields an icier result.

The ingredient list is simple, there is no churning or ice cream machine involved, and you'll have healthy ice cream to enjoy directly out of the freezer. If you do not have a high powered blender, such as a Vitamix and Blendtec, I would recommend soaking the cashews and pitted dates for several hours in the milk, to soften them up enough to blend smoothly. 

The cinnamon packs a punch- you can take it down a notch by halving the amount if you prefer. The flaky sea salt is also optional. I love it, but my three year old is less sure, so know your audience. 

Finally, this is not the kind of ice cream you want sitting around for too long in your freezer, I find that after a few days it starts to loose some of it's silky texture. Best made in small batches and enjoyed often.

Salted Caramel Cashew Ice Cream

Inspired by Blissful Basil

Ingredients

1 1/4 cups unsweetened plant-based milk
1 cup pitted and packed soft, sticky medjool dates (about 12 dates)
3/4 cup raw cashews (heaping)

2 tbs. maple syrup

1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. fine-grain sea salt

1/8 tsp. flaky salt for top

Directions

Place all ingredients except for the flaky salt in a high-speed blender and process until very smooth, scraping down sides as needed. Pour into a parchment paper lined dish and sprinkle with flaky salt. Freeze until hard, at least 6 hours. In the first few days, this scoops beautifully right out of the freezer. If it lasts more than a few days, let sit for a few minutes before serving.

Banana Flax Muffins

I have a policy where if I make a recipe on the regular, I make sure to add my personal touch and get it to the blog. This is a great example of that in action. It helps me collect my favorites, and easily share them with others. 

These days I sometimes have a two-year old baker's helper, so I try to stick to vegan batters, since almost as much goes in to her mouth as in to the pan. So I swapped the eggs out for soaked flax seed, and added some grain diversity to make sure we're benefitting from all the various grains have to offer. Feel free to try out quinoa, buckwheat or amaranth flour in place of the millet flour if you're feeling adventurous, they all lend a unique flavor and nutritional profile. 

If you can’t find millet flour, you can use an extra ½ cup of oat flour instead. If you’d rather use whole wheat, you can replace both the oat and millet flour with 2 cups whole wheat flour. 

Final note, we love making these as mini muffins, which seem like the perfect snack size. They freeze really, if 36 seems like an intimidating number.

Banana Flax Muffins

Makes 16 full-size muffins or 36 mini muffins

Ingredients

3 tbs. of ground flax combined with 3 tbs. of warm water

¼ cup maple syrup

3 ripe bananas, mashed

2/3 cup applesauce

1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil

1 tbs. vanilla

1 1/2 cup oat flour

1/2 cup millet flour

2 tsp. baking powder

1 tsp. baking soda

1/2 tsp. salt

1/2 tsp. cinnamon

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Oil muffin tins with a paper towel and dash of oil

Combine the flax and water mixture and set aside until thickened.  In a medium bowl, mash the bananas, add applesauce, oil, and vanilla.  In a large bowl, combine the flours, baking powder, baking soda, salt and cinnamon. Mix well. Add the wet mixture to the dry mixture and stir until combined.

Scoop batter into your muffin tins, about 2/3 full.  Place in the oven and bake for 15 minutes for full size muffins or 12 minutes for minis.

Cashew Coconut Fudge

Just in time for Valentine's Day, I present you with Cashew Coconut Fudge- the perfect blend of salty, sweet and delicious.

Some people assume that clean eating means you have to give up on your favorite foods. Not exactly. It is all about finding new ways to appreciate the flavors and textures you love, from ingredients you feel good about. Here is one great example. 

If you have 10 minutes to kill, I recommend giving this one a try. 

Cashew Coconut Fudge
Recipe inspired by Detoxinista
Serves 12

Ingredients

1 cup cashew butter
⅓ cup unrefined coconut oil
¼ cup maple syrup
¼ cup cocoa powder
½ tsp. sea salt
1 tsp. vanilla extract

Directions

Place cashew butter, coconut oil and maple syrup in food processor and blend until smooth. Add cocoa powder, salt and vanilla and continue to process until well blended. Batter will be loose.

Pour fudge batter in to a parchment paper-lined small baking pan and spread smooth. Place in freezer for 45 minutes. Remove from freezer and slice into 12 squares.

Store fudge in freezer for optimal texture- these will get very soft at room temperature.

Peanut Butter Truffles

These truffles are a staple in my household- they are a breeze to whip up, containing just 5 ingredients, and can be stored in the freezer for any late night emergency that may arise. The are perfect for holiday gatherings, and in a cute package, make a great stocking stuffer.

I prefer them made with raw honey for its nutritional benefits and flavor compliment to the peanut butter, but you could substitute maple or brown rice syrup if need be. If peanuts are a problem, I would suggest cashew butter over almond. 

I don't bother to temper the chocolate coating- but that is because I store them in the freezer and we go through them surprisingly quickly. If out at room temperature for a few days, the chocolate will "bloom", which affects the appearance and texture more than the flavor. If you are interested in learning how to temper chocolate, I recommend following these directions. 

Peanut Butter Truffles
Makes 16-20

Ingredients

1 tbs. ground flax + 2 tbs. water
3/4 cup dark chocolate chips
1 cup peanut butter
1/3 cup raw honey
1/2 tsp. sea salt

Directions

In a small bowl, combine ground flax and water. Let sit until thickened.

In a double boiler, or bowl over a simmering pot of water, melt chocolate chips.

Combine all ingredients except chocolate in a food processor and run until dough begins to form a ball, scraping sides down as necessary. Remove and roll into 16- 20 small balls.

Dip each ball in melted chocolate, using a spoon to cover sides. Remove to a parchment paper lined baking sheet and let cool. Store in fridge or freezer until ready to serve.

Relax. Eat Well.

Florida Lime Pie

I have warm weather and sunshine on the brain- we leave for a quick trip to Captiva Island, off Florida's coast, on Saturday. To me, that means: citrus. Bright, zesty and fresh, citrus is like a shot of sunshine no matter what the weather is really like outside.

So this is an ode to the classic Key Lime Pie- with some serious upgrades. Soaked raw cashews and coconut milk lend the requisite creaminess, while sticking with whole foods. Maple syrup replaces the sugar, but could just as easily be raw honey.

The crust is a nutty mix of almonds and dates, minced up and packed down into individual cupcake cups. You can find these stiff cups, which are a bit taller than normal, in most specialty kitchen shops. I love them because they peel off and leave you with a stunning individual-sized dessert.

Ingredients

1/2 cup raw almonds (pecan or walnuts will also work)
1/2 cup soft medjool dates, pitted
¼ tsp. sea salt
1 cup raw cashew, soaked for 4-12 hours, drained
3/4 cup coconut milk
1/4 cup coconut oil
1/2 cup lime juice, about 3 large limes, reserving zest
1/2 cup maple syrup

Directions

Place almonds and dates in a food processor with sea salt and pulse until finely chopped. Test by pressing the dough lightly to see if it holds together. Press into the bottom of 10 stiff cupcake holders. Set aside.

Place drained cashews along with remaining ingredients (except lime zest) in a high power blender. Process until very smooth, scraping down as needed. Pour into cupcake holders over nut crust until full. Top with lime zest and freeze until firm. Remove from freezer 10-15 minutes before serving.

Relax. Eat Well.

Fresh Orange Sorbet in Citrus Shells

What a perfect melding of winter and spring- a transition dish, with the flavors of the season we are leaving behind, and the textures and sensations of the one that is to come.

I have never made sorbet before, and haven't had an ice cream maker since childhood. This recipe does not require any fancy equipment- just a food processor or blender, and some muscle (for all that juicing). So simple, yet so sweet.

I happen to have a mix of oranges and tangelos in my fridge, so I used two of each. Feel free to take liberty with the citrus you choose- next time I am going to try adding in some shaved ginger and maybe even a touch of fresh mint to bring some additional excitement to the tongue. I would just add this in when making the simple syrup, and strain afterwords. I'd also love to replace some or all of the sugar with honey- but that is for another day. 

This step is completely optional- but I think it is so fun to use the citrus half shells as the serving container- just juice each half completely, and use a spoon to scrape out the remaining pith. Give it a good wash and dry, and then stick them in the freezer with the sorbet to be used when ready.

Fresh Orange Sorbet in Citrus Shells
Serves 4-6

Ingredients

4 oranges (or your favorite citrus)
1 lemon
1/3 cup water
1/2 cup cane sugar

Directions

Wash citrus well and cut in half along the middle. Juice completely- you should end up with about 1.5 cups of juice.

To make a simple syrup, add water and sugar to a small pot. Bring to a simmer over low-medium heat, and cook for 2 minutes. Remove from heat, pour into a bowl and chill in freezer for 10 minutes.

If planning to serve the sorbet in the citrus shells, take a spoon and scrape each half clean, removing any remaining pith, while being careful not to break through. Dry and place in the freezer.

Once chilled, combine simple syrup with citrus juice in a medium bowl. Freeze for 2-4 hours, stirring occasionally. Once frozen, scoop into a food processor or blender and blend until smooth.

Can serve immediately, or store in an airtight container in the freezer for a few days. When serving, scoop sorbet into a frozen citrus half and enjoy!


Relax. Eat Well.

Dairy-Free Hot Chocolate

I'm not going to get too verbose today. It's cold and blustery, and the snow is coming down in those big flakes that renew your love for winter, as long as it is being experienced through the window while curled up on the couch. The only thing that can make it better is a cup of hot chocolate, and a puppy at your feet.

This is the hot chocolate I have been making for myself all winter. It's fairly simple, and composed of ingredients I generally have in my kitchen at all times, with all natural sweeteners and good quality chocolate. I like to amp it up a notch with a dash of peppermint extract to give it a minty kick.

Try to enjoy a mug full without shedding a layer- I dare you.

Dairy-free Hot Chocolate

Serves 1

Ingredients

1.5 cups unsweetened plant-based milk (I like a mixture of almond and soy milk)
1-2 tbs. maple syrup (depending on your sweetness preference)
1 tsp. cocoa powder
2 tsp. dandy blend or other herbal coffee substitute
1/4 tsp. vanilla extract
1/4 tsp. sea salt

1/4 tsp. peppermint extract (optional)

Directions

Combine all ingredients in a small saucepan. Whisk to dissolve powders into milk, until completely smooth. Warm over low-medium heat until hot, uncovered. Taste, and adjust with extra syrup if desired. Enjoy immediately.

Relax. Eat Well.

Real Fig Newtons

I am pretty in love with turkish figs lately. In salads, with good cheeses, as a paste on flatbreads, in cookies- you just can't go wrong.

A nice source of potassium, which helps control blood pressure, figs are a healthy addition to the diet as well. Given their high fiber content and balanced sweetness, they make a great snack in between meals and have the power to class up any gathering. When serving a nice cheese plate, quartered turkish figs always make an appearance, and can become the star of the party. Be warned.

The blanched almond flour in this recipes yields a delicate and flaky crust, high in protein and naturally gluten-free. Although all of the ingredients are on the pricey end of the spectrum, a little goes a long way and I promise you will not be disappointed with the results. Save it for a special occasion and enjoy every last crumb.

Real Fig Newtons

Inspired by The Iron You and adapted from The Gluten-Free Almond Flour Cookbook

Makes about 30 large cookies

Ingredients 

2 ½ cups blanched almond flour
½ tsp. sea salt
¾ cup raw organic honey
¼ cup unrefined organic coconut oil, melted
1 tbs. vanilla extract

1 cup dried turkish figs
1/4 cup squeezed lemon juice (about 2 lemons)
2 tsp. vanilla extract

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Place dried figs in a food processor and blend until they are well chopped. Add lemon juice and vanilla and process until a smooth paste forms.

In a large bowl combine almond flour and sea salt.

In another small bowl add honey, coconut oil and vanilla extract. Mix until well combined.

Add wet ingredients to dry ingredients and mix until a wet dough forms. It will seem a bit sticky, that is what you want. Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour.

Take the dough out of the fridge and divide into 4 parts. Between two pieces of parchment paper, using a rolling pin, roll each section of the dough out into a rectangle that is approximately 1/4 inch thick and 4 inches wide.

Spread a couple of tablespoons of the fig mixture lengthwise down the rectangle. Using the parchment paper, fold the dough along the long side to envelop the filling inside the dough.

Repeat with the remaining parts of the dough. Using wet fingers, smooth the seam and roll the package so that the seam ends up underneath. Seal at each end.

Carefully transfer the bars to a parchment paper lined baking sheet and bake in the oven for 10 to 15 minutes, or until golden brown.

Remove from the oven and score with a sharp knife about every 2 inches. Let cool for 5 minutes and then cut into slices.

Allow to cool completely before enjoying.

Relax. Eat Well.

Harvest Pearsauce

It seems like fall snuck up on me this year- and pounced. We went from 80 degrees one week to 50's the next, and with the dip the trees exploded with color, apples starting falling to the ground along every road side and the wool vests burst onto the scene.

I have had the pleasure of slightly too many pears coming my way this year (can you ever have too many?). They came about a month ago when a client shot me an email that her pears were ready, and invited me to take some home to work into her wedding menu. Yes, please. 5 gallons later, we had Pear Ginger Honey Preserves for the VT Cheese Board and chopped frozen pears galore for a Butternut Squash Pear Soup, to be served as passed hor d'oeuvre "shooters".  With a bit of a pile up in the freezer, I decided to pull some out this week for some Pearsauce.


Don't hold your breath- but this might even turn into "Pear Cider Donuts" later next week- energy levels permitting.

Organically grown pears don't always look pretty, but its mostly a cosmetic thing. Sure, you have to cut away the occasional rotten spot or insect hole, but the majority of the fruit is absolutely delicious. They have a short harvest season and life-span off the stem, so it is best to process them right away after harvest. I realize this post might be a little late for this year's harvest, but maybe it will get you thinking for the next.

I just washed, cored and chopped these babies, threw them in some freezer bags and froze until solid. Not peeling the pears cuts way down on prep time, and saves the insoluble fiber found mostly in the skin. Once it is pureed, no one will even notice.

When they defrost, much of the juice is released, which is a potently sweet syrup in its own right. I just poured that right into the pot with the thawed pears for this sauce- no additional sweetener needed. The result is absolutely delicious. The texture is distinctly pear, with a slight grit that you might not be used to with applesauce. My advice: just embrace it. YUM.

Harvest Pearsauce
Makes 1 quart

Ingredients
8 cups fresh or 6 cups thawed pear chunks, washed chopped with peel on
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1/8 tsp. nutmeg

Directions

Put all ingredients in a small pot, cover and place over medium heat until you have a serious simmer. Turn the heat down slightly and continue to cook down for 10-20 minutes.

With an immersion blender, puree mixture until nice and smooth. Taste and adjust seasonings to your preference- optional additions could be grated ginger, maple syrup, clove, or cardamon.

Knotweed Syrup

I have been experimenting with Japanese knotweed this spring, as there is certainly no shortage of this extremely invasive species on our Vermont riversides and backyards. Now that you see an image of it, you have probably noticed it everywhere, right? In the early spring, when the shoots are young, it is tender enough to eat raw or cooked. The taste is similar to rhubarb, perhaps with a bit more citrusy tang. I was simply cutting the young shoots at the base, removing the leaves, and using them anywhere I would rhubarb- in dessert bars, cakes, or even in savory soups.

After our late frost, I noticed that the stalks got pretty tough, too fibrous to really chew through and enjoy on their own. But the flavor was still there- so I started to make some simple knotweed syrups- for pancakes, mixed drinks, morning bowls or yogurt and the like. Here is a very simple recipe for a knotweed syrup- I encourage you to try it yourself for a local, and very inexpensive natural sweetener.

I used a few beets to help bring a crimson hue to this syrup- as the greenish/brown of the knotweed alone did not wet my appetite. Another option (especially in a month or so) would be fresh
strawberries. Yuummm.


Knotweed Syrup

Ingredients
6 cups of chopped knotweed, leaves removed and ends trimmed
6-8 cups of water
1/2 cup of raw cane sugar, or maple syrup, plus more to taste
1/2 cup of red beet, diced
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1/8 tsp. allspice
1/8 tsp. salt
1-2 tbs. arrowroot, or organic cornstarch

Directions

Place knotweed through beet in a small pan, narrow enough so that the water nearly covers the knotweed. Over high heat, bring to a boil. Remove lid, lower heat to medium-low and continue to cook until both the knotweed and beets are soft, tender and broken down, about 20-30 minutes. Remove from heat, add spices and cool.

Once cool enough for the blender, blend the entire mixture until completely smooth, adding additional water as needed. Using a cheesecloth lined funnel, strain mixture into a quart sized mason jar. As the mixture will be thick, you will probably have to work in batches, pouring some into the cheesecloth, and then squeezing the liquid though, similar to making nut milk.

Once you have strained the entire mixture, you should have about a quart of syrup. Taste and adjust sweetness with additional maple syrup or honey to taste. I like to give it a final strain through a fine-mesh strainer to remove and fiber strands that might have snuck through.

Rinse original pot and return strained syrup to the stove top. Over medium heat, bring syrup to a low simmer and whisk in 1 tbs. arrowroot. Continue to whisk until thickened, just a minute or two, adding a second tablespoon if necessary.

Enjoy as a mixer for seasonal cocktails, over bowls of toasty granola, to flavor plain yogurt, or for an interesting syrup for morning waffles and pancakes. I also used it to make a chia pudding, simply by blending about 2 cups of the syrup with 1 cup of chia seeds and a few frozen strawberries (this makes a lot- you might want to downscale). I then used some of the chia pudding as the center for my Almond Thumbprint Cookies- it bakes down into a nice gooey filling! Tee hee hee.



Relax. Eat Well.