IV. Week Four: Holiday Entrées and Sides with Hallie at Daily Bites
V: Week Five: Breakfast and Brunch with yours truly
And this week marks one of my favorite themes of all : DESSERT! It’s being hosted by Maggie at She Let Them Eat Cake.
Be sure to hop over to Maggie’s blog to check out her Gingerbread Cupcakes and giveaway! You can also link up your own GF dessert recipes and leave a comment to enter today’s giveaway. Here’s what Maggie will be giving away:
To enter to win either book, just leave a comment on Maggie’s blog, or link up a recipe of your own!
And now, who’s ready for dessert? I think we’ve waited long enough!
I actually first made this pie quite a while ago (some of you may remember that I posted about it on Facebook), but I’ve been holding on to the recipe, clinging to it like Scrooge gripping his last penny so that I could save it for this very post. Seriously, this is one is a show-stopper, a perfect finale to a holiday meal or any special occasion. And it’s worth every second of the effort involved.
I recently served this to a friend of the HH’s who came for dinner (he’s a typical Standard American Diet kinda guy–McMuffin for breakfast, cheeseburger for lunch, Pringles on the go and pizza for dinner) and he scraped the plate clean, eagerly accepting a second serving. The HH, who is fond of any dessert that’s light, cool and creamy, declared this to be one of my best recipes to date. I think so, too.
The funny thing is, I don’t consider myself to be a “pie person.” There are folks who adore pies; those who dive right in to the filling, virtually ignoring the crust; and, alternately, those who pick away at the pastry indifferent to the oozing cherries or blueberries or glistening apple slices within. I would normally consider myself one of the latter, if I ever ate pie at all. I thought of the filling as merely a “crust delivery vehicle.”
In this case, though, the entire package must be savored, the layers of crust, ganache, mousse and drizzle melding together in one tantalizing confection. The base is a chocolate shortbread crust, adapted from the recipe in Sweet Freedom (revamped to be gluten-free and ACD-friendly). Next is a layer of intense dark chocolate ganache, a perfect marriage of smooth and condensed. The top layer, a serendipitous combination of coconut whipped cream, smooth almond butter and dark chocolate, is so pillowy, rich and creamy that you may need a moment to compose yourself after you take your first sinful bite.
I also experimented with the pie as a torte in a springform pan, with an equally enticing outcome. So no matter what your own preference, you can still enjoy this exquisite dessert.
Depending on which format you choose, you may end up with a tad extra ganache at the end of the process. In fact, I found myself with about 1/2 cup (120 ml) left over after the pie was assembled.
So, what did I do with it?
[Pumpkin Oatmeal Bowl with Chocolate Ganache Swirl.]
Oh, yes. Yes, I did. Maybe I am a pie person, after all.
And here are the desserts that other Gluten Free Holiday participants made today:
And don’t forget. . . I’ve got a Holiday Mega Ebook Sale going on from now until the end of the year–any two of my ebooks (including Sweet Freedom!) for just $10.95! Details or place an order here.
Black Bottom Almond Mousse Pie with Chocolate Ganache Drizzle
This is a perfect dessert to serve at a special occasion, a holiday meal, or any time you want to impress your guests. No one will believe there’s no dairy, eggs, or refined sugar in this amazing confection!
1/2 tsp (2.5 ml) powdered pure stevia (I like NuNaturals)
1/2 tsp (2.5 ml) baking powder
3/4 tsp (7.5 ml) xanthan gum
1/8 tsp (.5 ml) fine sea salt
1/3 cup (80 ml) virgin coconut oil, preferably organic, at room temperature (not melted)
For the Ganache:
7 ounces (200 g) good quality unsweetened chocolate, coarsely chopped (I use Cocoa Camino; I’ve heard that Scharffen Berger is also great)
1/4 cup (60 ml) smooth natural almond butter (I prefer Maranatha, but Nuts to You worked, too)
1-1/2 cups (360 ml)** full-fat coconut milk (from a can), preferably organic (I use Thai Kitchen, which has a high fat content; I can’t guarantee results with other brands)
1/3 cup (80 ml) plain or vanilla rice, soy, or almond milk
1 Tbsp (15 ml) pure vanilla extract
40 drops plain or vanilla liquid stevia (I use NuNaturals)
2 cups** (480 ml) full-fat coconut milk (from a can), preferably organic (I use Thai Kitchen, which has a high fat content; I can’t guarantee results with other brands)
1 cup (240 ml) smooth natural almond butter (I prefer Marantha; Nuts to You worked well, too)
60 drops plain or vanilla liquid stevia, about 1 tsp/5 ml (I use NuNaturals)
2 tsp (10 ml) pure vanilla extract
1/2 tsp (2.5 ml) pure almond extract
1 level teaspoon (5 ml) xanthan gum
** I used two cans (400 ml or 14 oz) for this entire recipe. Measure out the 1-1/3 cups/320 ml for the ganache; you should have about 2 cups left for the mousse.
Bake the Crust: Preheat oven to 350F (180C). Line a 9-inch ( cm) pie plate or 8-1/2 inch ( cm) springform pan with parchment, or spray with nonstick spray. Set aside.
Mix the coconut sugar, agave nectar, vanilla and water in a smal bowl and mix to begin dissolving the sugar. Set aside while you prepare the dry ingredients.
In the bowl of a food processor, blend the all-purpose flour, brown rice flour, cocoa powder, stevia, baking powder, xanthan gum and salt until well combined. Add the coconut oil and pulse a few times to break it up, then blend until well distributed (it will look dry and crumbly; this is as it should be). Pour the wet mixture in a ring over the dry and process again until it comes together in a dough.
Press the dough into the pie plate or on the bottom only of the springform pan (if it’s too soft to stay on the sides of the pie plate, refrigerate it for about ten minutes and then re-press; flute edges if desired.) Prick the bottom of the crust here and there with a fork.
Bake in preheated oven for 15-25 minutes, until dry and lightly browned on the edges. Allow to cool while you prepare the ganache.
Prepare the Ganache: Place all ingredients in a medium-sized, heavy-bottomed pot over lowest possible heat. Heat, stirring constantly, until chocolate is melted and mixture is smooth. Taste and adjust sweetness if necessary by adding more stevia, a drop or two at a time (you can add more coconut sugar if you like, but unless you continue to cook the mixture, it won’t dissolve and your ganache will be grainy).
Measure out 2 cups (480 ml) of the mixture and pour it over the crust in the pie plate or pan; reserve the rest to drizzle on top of the pie. Place the crust in the refrigerator for at least an hour so the ganache can firm up.
When the ganache is firm, make the mousse: In the container of a high-powered blender (I use a VitaMix), place all ingredients except for the xanthan gum. Blend for 30 seconds to a minute, until everything is well mixed and very smooth. Add the xanthan gum and blend on low speed until incorporated, then blend on high for 15 seconds or so, until the mixture firms up and appears to no longer be blending; this should happen fairly quickly. (If you don’t have a VitaMix, you can still make this, but you will need to make the mousse in two batches as a regular blender will not be strong enough to mix the entire thing at once; this even stresses the VitaMix a bit! Use exactly half of each ingredient in each batch, then proceed as follows).
Turn the mousse into the prepared crust and spread evenly over the ganache (or you can swirl it into a fancy pattern on top if you like). Drizzle as much of the reserved ganache as you like in a random pattern over the top of the mousse. Refrigerate until the ganache and filling are both firm, at least 4 hours or overnight.
Cut slices from the pie plate, or, to unmold the springform pan, run a sharp knife along the edge before loosening the sides of the pan. Makes 8-10 servings. Store, covered, in the refrigerator up to 5 days. May be frozen (I freeze individual slices on a cookie sheet in the freezer; once solid, I wrap each slice in plastic wrap, then store the wrapped slices in a ziploc bag. To defrost, remove the slices and allow to defrost, still wrapped, overnight in the refrigerator).
Last Year at this Time: My Way of Eating (my food philosophy, sort of)
Those of you who follow me on Facebook or twitter might already know that I’ve spent eight out of the past nine days without my computer. (It was infected with a horrible virus that three computer fix-it guys couldn’t fix; we lucked out on Number Four). Because my full-time job occurs almost entirely online, and because I also write this blog and write for other websites, and because I am a wee bit addicted to social networking, being without my computer felt a little like an amputation. (Okay, fine, that is a slight exaggeration. It felt like being thrown into solitary confinement in a maximum-security prison. It felt like being transported to Oslo without any money or any interpretor. It felt like someone had shaved my head and stuck a big “Kick Me” sign on my posterior while I’d been sleeping.)
In the end, my involuntary break allowed me to do a few things around the house I’d previously had no time to do (or had been avoiding): I organized our CD collection, cooked up a bunch of new recipes, taught The Girls a new trick, spent evenings with the HH, finally folded all my sweaters, and even read a book–the paper kind!. And, as it turned out, the world did not stop spinning because I couldn’t be at my desk for the greater part of the day. And while I wouldn’t wish a computer virus on anyone (well, except maybe for the hackers who created it), the outcome really wasn’t all that bad. I retrieved most of my stuff (minus a few older files) and I had a few days of more-than-usual introspection and a slower pace. All good, right?
In fact, my leisurely morning routine from last week is what brings me to today’s post. During my week after The Crash (no, no, don’t panic; I’m not suddenly prognosticating about the economy. I mean my computer crash, silly!), I also rediscovered the joys of a cooked, hot breakfast (and even on a school day!)
[See all the crinkles on that bag? That's because I've been using it--a lot.]
Quite some time ago, the lovely folks at iHerb sent over a sample product for me to try (full disclosure: I did not pay for the product, nor was I obliged to write something about it, nor was I obliged to write anything positive). Today’s foodstuff is from Madre Labs, a company that produces a variety of superfood-based products using whole foods as raw materials. (They also created the Midori Greens I reviewed a while back). I tried out a sample of Cocoa Cardio powder, a mix of non-alkalized cocoa powder, beet root powder and hibiscus extract. Instructions on the bag suggest using it as a beverage (the way you’d sip cocoa or coffee). Of course, when it comes to anything edible, I cannot simply follow instructions!
the non-alkalized cocoa contains more polyphenols (heart health-promoting substances) than regular Dutch process cocoa;
the powder can be used in the same way as cocoa powder–who says you have to restrict yourself to beverages?;
I love beets and was tickled every time I noticed the deep red accent they imparted to the foods I made with it;
once sweetened, the powder had a lovely flavor that was almost equally “cacao” and “fruity”;
it’s chocolate, people!
The first thing I did was mix up my habitual chia pudding, using a little Cocoa Cardio for additional flavor. As you can see, the beets made their presence known in the red undertones of this pudding:
The real triumph, however, was a Chocolate Almond Butter made with Cocoa Cardio (and you know how crazy I am about nut butters). I also recently discovered Ashley’s Breakfast Bakes, and with my extra (non-computer) time in the mornings, I decided to treat myself to a version of Carob and Buckwheat Breakfast Bake, bathed in a cascade of melty nut butter and topped wtih a dollop of Plumberry Jam (about which I’ll post anon). The combination of moist, crunchy breakfast cake; melty, gooey nut butter; and tart, sweet jam was almost tranformative.
Yes, I’m glad I’ve got my computer back. . . . but just a little sad that treats like this will now be relegated once again to the weekend.
And now you can try some Cocoa Cardio for yourself!
The Giveaway: Enter the giveaway from iHerb to win one of five pouches of Cocoa Cardio! To enter, simply leave a comment on this post telling me what you like about Cocoa Cardio (or any other Madre Labs product).
The contest will remain open until midnight my time on Monday, November 7th, after which time I’ll choose five winners at random and post their names here (so be sure to come back and check if you won!).
The Rules: Winners must be registered at iHerb (it’s free) to be eligible. If you are outside the US, you may be required to pay shipping charges, depending on the taxes or tariffs of your country. Winners are asked to email me at dietdessertdogsATgmailDOTcom, with their full mailing address, once their names have been announced.
[Warm, cakey, crunchy, caroby bliss, all bathed in a melted, sweet, chocolate and fruity topping. Can you think of a better breakfast?]
Carob-Buckwheat Breakfast Bake (adapted from here) with
Heart-Healthy Chocolate Almond Butter (Suitable for ACD Stage 2 and beyond)
Although I use two ramekins, this is actually a single-serving recipe. Because I found the interior of the bake was taking too long to cook all the way through, I divided the batter in two so that it would bake up more quickly. You can always use Ashley’s method and bake it in a single-serve (heat proof) soup bowl for a single “cake.”
2 heaping Tbsp (40 ml) whole uncooked buckwheat groats, ground in a coffee grinder (about 1/4 cup/60 ml once ground)
1 Tbsp (15 ml) whole gluten-free grain of choice (I’ve used buckwheat, teff, amaranth [pictured] and quinoa, all with good results!)
2 Tbsp (30 ml) chopped walnuts, cashews or other nut; or sunflower, pumpkin or hemp seeds (my favorites were walnuts and hemp seeds)
1/4 cup (60 ml) unsweetened applesauce
1/4 cup (60 ml) unsweetened plain or vanilla almond, soy or rice milk
1 tsp (5 ml) pure vanilla extract
1 Tbsp (15 ml) Almond-Chocolate Butter (recipe follows) or any nut butter you fancy
2 tsp (10 ml) sugar-free jam of choice (I used homemade plum-cranberry jam)
Preheat oven to 350F (180C). Spray a single-serve, oven proof soup bowl or two ramekins (about 7 ounces/200 ml each) with nonstick spray. If using ramekins, place them on a cookie sheet.
In a medium bowl, whisk together the ground buckwheat, whole buckwheat, cinnamon, carob powder, chia seeds, flax seeds, baking powder and salt. Stir in the walnuts.
Add the applesauce, milk and vanilla and stir to blend well. Turn the mixture into the loaf pan or divide evenly between the two ramekins.
Bake 30-35 minutes, rotating the pan about halfway through, until the batter is dry and puffed and a tester inserted in the center comes out clean. Top with nut butter and a dollop of jam (or your favorite sugar-free jam). Makes one very generous serving. May be frozen (but why would you want to?).
Chocolate (Beet) Almond Butter
A delicously smooth and glossy almond butter flavored with Cocoa Cardio. Chilled, it’s solid and spreadable, but it will soften at room temperature. A truly delicious way to get your heart-healthy antioxidants!
1 cup (240 ml) smooth natural almond butter (I use Maranatha)
2 scoops Cocoa Cardio (may sub with 3 Tbsp plus 1 tsp/50 ml regular cocoa)
2 Tbsp (30 ml) coconut oil, preferably organic
pinch fine sea salt
1/4-1/2 tsp (1-2.5 ml) pure stevia powder, to your taste (I used NuNaturals)
Whisk all ingredients together in a bowl or in a mini food processor until smooth and evenly blended. Transfer to a jar or covered container and refrigerate until ready to use. Makes 1-1/4 cups (300 ml). Will keep, refrigerated, for up to 3 weeks.
["Mum, hang on a second here. . . did you say, 'taught the Girls a trick'? But wait. . . how can you teach your daughters a trick?! What happened to three equal beings working cooperatively through our own free will to assure that your slippers are where they should be? It's a philosophical conundrum. . . I mean, I've suspected for quite some time that Chaser and I were adopted, but is there something else I should know. . . ?! Mum?!"]
Today I’m delighted to be a featured guest blogger on Sunny’s lovable blog, And Love It, Too. Her theme this month is lunchbox lunches, and I’ve contributed one of my favorites, raw collard wraps. They’re not only sugar free and gluten-free, but grain-free, too! They make a perfect lunch for anyone on the anti-candida diet, at any stage of the diet (and of course they’re great for anyone who simply wants to eat healthier!).
For the recipe and a little info about the wraps, check out my post on her blog, here.
And be sure to come back later today for another raw recipe–this time, dessert!
[A favorite raw breakfast: chocolate almond spread on apple slices.]
Remember the days when there was only one kind of nut butter–and nobody was allergic to it?
I think I ate peanut butter almost every day until my late 30s. As a kid, I slathered it on saltines alongside chocolate milk during cartoon-drenched Saturday mornings; I ate it in sandwiches for lunch throughout my teen years; once I acquired my own kitchen in which to experiment in my 20s, I packed it into celery hollows for snacks, baked it in cookies, muffins or the occasional Rice Krispie square; later, I ate it straight out of the jar for an immediate PMS pick-me-up, or after a late night when I was too tired to cook.
When I hit my 30s and moved to Toronto, I experienced an almond butter epiphany. For a time, I gave up the previously favored legume. In the past decade, I’ve branched out to hazelnut, pecan, walnut, cashew and “mystery” butters (ie, a combination of several different nuts). Nut butter is definitely a staple in the DDD household, and one of my favorite foods.
These days, it seems I’m once again battling the mercurial ups and downs of my scale (ever since baked goods–albeit ACD-friendly–have reappeared on my menus). With summer thoroughly upon us (whoopee! yahoo! yay! Danks Gott! Hallelujah! Bravo! Yeeeeee-haw!) and the desire for raw fruits and vegetables in full force, I thought I’d take advantage and amp up my intake of raw produce, thereby simultaneously reducing my intake of grains and flours as a way to get back on track. This raw almond butter offered a key resource in the battle.
While I do enjoy almond butter made from toasted almonds, it’s never been a favorite base for chocolate nut butter; I’ve always thought that, no matter how much chocolate is added, the toasted almond flavor always predominates. It’s sort of like another musician trying to sing a duet with Celine Dion–whether it’s R. Kelly, Andrea Bocelli or even Barbra Streisand–all you hear is that wacky Chanteuse. On the other hand, whenever I’ve sampled raw almond butter, I found the taste rather insipid and bland (sort of like listening to Michael Bublé).
In the end, it was the nondescript flavor that rendered raw almond butter an ideal vehicle for raw cacao in this recipe. When the two are blended together, the cacao really shines, revealing all its complex flavors from fruity notes of strawberry to caramel undertones and its own subtle honeyed sweetness. Yes, my friends, this is chocolate at its finest and in full flavor! I also used vanilla bean powder for the first time and was delighted with how it adds its own luscious fragrance and character to the mix.
Overall, this raw nut butter is easy to make (though it does take a bit of time) and is almost dessert-like in its chocolate intensity (in fact, once refrigerated, it firms up enough that the texture resminded me of fudge). Not so sweet that it requires toning down with something savory, it’s great directly on a spoon or spread on any (alimentary) partner you fancy. Drizzled on apple slices is one of my favorite ways to enjoy a decadent-tasting, still healthy and raw breakfast.
Who knows? I may revert to the classic peanut butter one day. But for now, Saturday mornings were made for Raw Chocolate Almond Butter.
And don’t forget. . .
Giveaways Gone Wild III continues! Don’t forget to enter for a chance to win a copy of my friend Amy Green’s new cookbook, Simply Sugar and Gluten Free! For a review, recipe, and all the details, see this post.
A fantastic spread atop toast, crackers, apple slices or whatever your fancy (raw sweet potato rounds worked really well for me). To make the spread suitable for ACD Stage One, simply sub carob powder for the cacao.
2 cups (340 g) raw natural almonds, with skin
3 Tbsp (45 ml) raw cacao powder (or cocoa, at your own risk–it is more bitter than cacao; or use carob for ACD Stage 1)
pinch fine sea salt
2 tsp (10 ml) whole vanilla bean powder or 1 tsp (5 ml) pure vanilla extract (see instructions)
3 Tbsp (45 ml) coconut oil, preferably organic
70-80 drops plain or vanilla stevia liquid, to your taste (I use NuNaturals)–about 1-1/4 tsp (6 ml)
Place the almonds, cacao powder, salt and vanilla bean powder in the bowl of a food processor (if using liquid vanilla extract, don’t add it yet, but save it to add with the stevia instead). Process until the mixture looks like a powder, with no pieces of almond visible.
Add the coconut oil and stevia (and liquid vanilla, if using) and continue to process until a ball forms, which will then roll around for a bit before breaking up into a paste; continue to process for another 3-5 minutes, scraping sides occasionally, until the butter is almost liquid and very smooth. (This may require some patience; if you just can’t wait, you’ll still enjoy a somewhat grainier nut butter.).
Pour into a clean jar or container and store in the refrigerator until ready to use. It will firm up in the fridge; for a softer, pourable nut butter, allow to come to room temperature before using. Makes about 1-1/4 cups (300 ml). Store, covered, in refrigerator up to 2 weeks.
*Note: to make the recipe ACD-Stage 1 friendly, simply sub carob powder for the cacao or cocoa. No, it won’t be chocolate any more, but it will still taste yummy.
This post is linked up to Sugar Free Sundays, where you’ll find a collection of recipes without refined sugar.
[What I should have made for our Christmas dinner this year. . . . ]
What. . . is it December 27th, already?? Hope you’ve all had a wonderful holiday season so far! I must confess, the last few days have been among the laziest of my life. And you know what? It felt great!
So what have the HH, the Girls and I been up to since I last visited this space? Here’s a quick recap:
The Girls Express their Annoyance. The Girls posed for their 2010 Christmas card, and if all your comments are any indication, they clearly seemed peeved at having to don those costumes. Let’s just say I’ll never be another William Wegman. (“Mum, we weren’t annoyed so much as impatient. . . for our presents! Thanks for those treats we got! And can we have more of that white stuff? Oh, and who is that handsome Weimeraner in that photo?!”).
Start the Day Off Right. After sleeping in until we awoke naturally sans alarm, the HH and I bounded out of bed to open our gifts. And while they were polite enough not to disturb us while we slept, the Girls were certainly lively enough as soon as they confirmed we were awake:
["Elsie, play with me or I will eat you!"]
So, while the HH took the dogs for a trail walk, I set about making a hearty brunch to tide us over until dinnertime:
[These fabulous pancakes, topped with homemade sweet almond-coconut butter and plum sauces, with eggplant bacon (recipe coming soon).]
Best to Stick with Tradition, Even if It’s Non-Traditional. Those of you who’ve been reading DDD for a while will likely recall that our regular holiday tradition for the past few years has been an Indian feast, often shared with the CFO. Well, when my sister couldn’t make it this year, the HH proclaimed, “I want something traditional! I want TURKEY!”.
Regular readers will also know that the HH eats, well, everything. And as long as he prepares his own food, I don’t attempt to influence what he consumes. So off we went to get an organic turkey for him to cook. While he roasted his turkey, I prepared my new recipe for a holiday nutroast.
By 7:00 PM, dinner was finally served. Here’s my plate:
As I said, I shouldn’t have messed with our (non-traditional) tradition. While tasty enough, my nut roast was not what I’d call a success. I do have an inkling of how to improve it and will share as soon as I give it a try.
Turkey =Doggie Crack. The Girls, on the other hand, devoured their turkey scraps in no short order. This was the first time Chaser ever tasted turkey, and let me tell you, the crazed look it sparked in her eye was even more frenzied than usual. I got the stare pretty much the rest of the day.
[What was that white stuff, Mum? And can I please have some more?"]
And Elsie wasn’t immune, either:
[I've just got to be patient, and I'm sure there will be more turkey forthcoming. . . . "]
It’s Good to Chillax. I think that last week of school, frantic prepping for Christmas, buying a new car (so that the HH can have my old car, since his was totalled) and various and sundry other errands has wiped a goodly portion of my mind clean, sort of the way reformatting clears out your hard drive. I’ve felt pretty much incapable of any sustained thought or activity since Christmas morning, wandering around the past few days in a bit of a haze (albeit with a semi smile on my face and a very full belly), without much to say in this space. The HH is off work until the first week of January, so we’ll be spending quite a bit of time together.
["Life is so rough when you're waiting for turkey. . . *sigh*."]
Yesterday morning, for instance, the HH and I (after sleeping in yet again), spent most of the AM reading the entire newspaper, front to back, for the first time in months.
[The HH's coffee cup, and the news: freak east coast snowstorms and Boxing Day Deals.]
Then we proceeded to clean up the detritus from our Christmas dinner:
[The HH's wine glass, the morning after. Sadly, no wine for me this year. Damn you, ACD!]
We sat by the fireplace, sipped on coffee/matcha tea and listened to music (including my new Pink CD, a gift from the HH):
[On the left: my matcha tea. On the right: the HH's wine glass. . . afternoon incarnation.]
I also went to see How Do You Knowwith my friend Eternal Optimist yesterday afternoon (we had planned on The King’s Speech, but they were sold out; still, Reese Witherspoon is always winsome, and that Paul Rudd is such a cutie).
And now, after even more lounging about today, I finally feel ready to leap back in to cooking and blogging about recipes.
["Elsie, do you think we'll get any more turkey?"]
Sorry to say I won’t be sharing that nut roast recipe just yet.
In the meantime, here’s the recipe for the African Sweet Potato Stew I mentioned in this post, which some of you asked about. It’s a tried-and-true success that I’ve made many times in the past. It’s hearty, filling, with chunks of sweet potato and chickpeas bathed in a rich, creamy coconut milk gravy that’s infused with a variety of spices and the mineral-rich addition of collards.
Perhaps I should add it to the menu for next year’s Christmas feast.
The list of ingredients does seem long, but so much of this is spice that the actual prep time isn’t as much as you’d think. The recipe makes a huge vat of stew, so you can package and freeze it for later consumption, too.
1 Tbsp (15 ml) coconut or extra virgin olive oil, preferably organic
1 large onion, chopped
1 thumb-size piece ginger, peeled and chopped
4 garlic cloves, chipped
1/2 cup (120 ml) cilantro leaves, chopped
1 red bell pepper, cored and chopped
1 small jalapeno pepper, minced (or use 1/2 tsp/1.5 ml chili flakes)
1 Tbsp (15 ml) ground cumin
1 tsp (5 ml) whole mustard seeds, brown or yellow
2 tsp (10 ml) ground coriander
1 tsp (5 ml) ground turmeric
1 tsp (5 ml) paprika
1/4 tsp (1 ml) cayenne pepper
1 large can (19 oz or 500 ml) diced tomatoes, drained (reserve the juice)
2 medium sweet potatoes, peeled and chopped into 1-inch (2.5 cm) cubes
2-3 medium white potatoes, chopped into 1-inch (2.5 cm) cubes
1 can (12 oz or 400 ml) coconut milk
1/3 cup (80 ml) natural smooth almond or peanut butter (use almond for ACD)
1 pound (500 g) collard greens, midribs removed and shredded
2 cups (480 ml) cooked chickpeas
Heat the oil in a large pot or dutch oven over medium heat; add the onion, ginger, garlic and cilantro and sauté until the onion is translucent, about 7 minutes. Add the red pepper, jalapeno, cumin, mustard seeds, corinder, trumeric, paprika and cayenne and cook a couple more minutes. Add the tomatoes, sweet potatoes, potatoes and coconut milk; cover and bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer, covered, until the potatoes are soft, about 15 minutes.
Place the almond butter in a small bowl or glass measuring cup and scoop about 1/2 cup of the liquid from the stew, adding it to the nut butter; mix well, until smooth. Pour the mixture back into the pot and blend it in. Add the collards and chickpeas and continue to cook until the greens are soft, another 5-10 minutes. If the sauce is too thin, allow to simmer, uncovered, stirring occasionally, until desired thickness is reached. Serve over rice or cooked quinoa. Makes 6-8 servings. May be frozen.
[Fantastically versatile, high fiber and low(er) fat. . . savory spread, here on a raw veggie cracker.]
It was while lunching with a friend in New York last weekend that I first had the inspiration for collard rolls with sweet potato spread.
Okay, maybe it wasn’t exactly while we were lunching, but more like a day or two later. And oh, all right, maybe it wasn’t specifically collard rolls with sweet potato that I ate back then, but more like nori rolls with pumpkinseed pâté. Oh, and sure, maybe I wasn’t hit with inspiration, exactly, but perhaps something more like. . . a touch of indigestion? But you know, it’s taken me thirteen years to wend my way back to New York since my previous visit, and I feel I should now milk that trip for all it’s worth. Besides, I’ve always wanted to say something like, “It was while lunching with a friend in New York last weekend that I first had the inspiration. . . . “ Makes me sound rather the jet-setter, don’t you think? Or maybe like a younger (of course that would be much younger) version of like Ina Garten.
(I know. But just indulge me).
Although I tend to eat raw foods fairly regularly, a dinner of entirely raw nourishment requires a bit of forethought since the HH generally won’t partake (or, if he does, it’s just a side dish for him). However, I was on a raw roll both in New York and immediately afterward. It began with that lovely lunch before I left the city, followed by a raw dinner that same evening back in Canada. Then, this past Saturday, the HH and I went out for a birthday dinner. My choice of venue? Rawlicious.
The best part of eating at a raw food restaurant, for me, isn’t the food–though food is paramount, of course. No, the best part is that someone else prepares it, expending all the time and effort that entails. Since I’ve created a few elaboraterawmeals at home myself, I am aware of how much preparation precedes a multi-textured, multi-seasoned and veggie-rich dishl such as the ones the HH and I enjoyed.
First up, we shared a platter of “nachos,” served with a trio of “sour cream,” guacamole and salsa. Heaven! Then the HH feasted on a raw bolognese “pasta” (made from spiralized zucchini), while I chowed down on a raw “tortilla”–a collard wrap filled with a hunk of nut “meat” along with a variety of colorful shredded veggies and sauce. I fully admit to being a poor, poor food blogger (though so far, anyway, a fairly good Vegan MoFoer) since I was so excited about the prospect of finally eating at the place that I forgot my camera at home!
[My version of raw collard wraps. . . I guess Valerie and I had the same idea! ]
Since I can’t offer you photos of my professionally-prepared collard wrap, I thought I’d share pics of my own creation. My wrap is an amalgam of the nori roll I had in New York crossed with the raw collard wrap from Rawlicious. With one important diversion: I added a spectacular spread made from sweet potatoes.
Sweet potatoes are such a regular fixture in the DDD household that even The Girls receive their portion almost every day; I regularly grind up raw sweet potato along with cauliflower, greens, or apples to add to their dinner. And while I am happy to consume the sweet spuds in their uncooked state as well, this spread adds a bit of cooked yam to the otherwise raw roll.
I’ve tried the spread in both a sweet and a savory incarnation, and both are spectacular. Blending the sweet potato purée with either nut or seed butter results in a smoother, lighter spread, and one with less than half the calories and only 1/3 the fat of plain nut butter. After noshing on this spread on crackers, scones, a chickpea pizza and straight from the jar for the past 4 days, I’ve concluded that I might just like this better than straight almond butter (gasp!).
You can play around with the varieties of nut or seed butter you use as well as with proportions of sweet potato vs. butter. I’ve found the 2:1 ratio works best for me, but do what pleases you most.
This is also my first submission to this month’s SOS Kitchen Challenge hosted by Kim and me–our ingredient this month is (you guessed it) sweet potatoes.
Sweet or Savory Sweet Potato Spread (suitable for ACD Stage 1 and beyond)
I used the savory version as the base in raw collard wraps, and the sweet on an amazing breakfast “pizza” (recipe coming up soon). Use the savory spread as the base for sandwiches, on polenta rounds, tossed with pasta, or wherever you want to add some creamy texture. The sweet spread is perfect on muffins or scones, toast, or even pancakes.
The Savory:
1 cup (240 ml) packed sweet potato purée
1/2 cup (120 ml) natural unsalted sunflower seed butter (or another nut or seed butter of your choice)
1 clove garlic, minced
1 tsp (5 ml) freshly squeezed lime juice
1 to 1-1/2 tsp (5-7.5 ml) garam masala, to your taste (or substitute 1/4 tsp/.5 ml ground ginger, 1/2 tsp/2.5 ml cinnamon and a pinch of cloves)
1 Tbsp (15 ml) fresh cilantro or parsley, chopped
The Sweet:
1 cup (240 ml) packed sweet potato purée
1/2 cup smooth natural unsalted almond butter (or another nut or seed butter of your choice)
1 tsp (5 ml) cinnamon
10-20 drops plain or vanilla stevia liquid, to your taste
1/8 tsp (.5 ml) fine sea salt
For both versions: Place all ingredients in the bowl of a food processor and process until smooth and well combined. Transfer to a clean jar and store in the refrigerator. Makes about 1.5 cups (360 ml). Will keep, covered in the refrigerator, up to 5 days. I haven’t tried freezing it, but am guessing it would hold up well if defrosted overnight in the refrigerator.
[Sometimes, you just want to eat something now. I've decided to offer a mini-post every once in a while, for a dish that comes together incredibly quickly or else is so easy to make that no recipe is required. Here's today's "Flash in the Pan." (For other FitP recipes, see "Categories" at right).]
[Rutabaga "fries"--who'd have ever thought?]
I hadn’t intended to post another Flash in the Pan so soon after the chia pudding a while ago, but it’s been that kind of week over here at the DDD household. . . and all I’ve had time for are lightning-quick recipes.
No matter; these oven fries have quickly become a new little obsession. They’re a simple, speedy way to spruce up your more conventional oven fries, and a convenient means to use root veggies that you might not normally consider eating (to wit, rutabaga–in fact, this is the only way I’ve ever had that vegetable and actually liked it!). And with the crazy Canadian weather still throwing a few final chilly rainstorms our way, these are a great comfort food.
[Parsnip fries--they'll make you a fan of parsnips!]
You can use pretty much any root vegetables you fancy here, or mix up several in one batch for a tasty, higher-protein side dish.
[Sweet Potato fries--a classic!]
So far, we’ve had these with rutabaga, parsnips, and sweet potatoes, but I can envision all kinds of variations: regular spuds would be a perfect foil for a spicy, almondy crust; or how about your favorite squash, cut into fries? You could even bake up some cauliflower florets this way.
I’ll be back next time with a “real” recipe for some yummy burgers. . . AND an exciting book giveaway!
“Mum, we’d be happy eating pretty much any variation of these. . . or how about just giving us some of that almond butter coating?”
Almond-Crusted Root Vegetable Oven “Fries”
This recipe couldn’t be simpler. The only caveat is to be sure to bake the fries long enough, so that the coating becomes somewhat crispy; this isn’t the time for mushy, just-done fries. When properly baked, the almond coating crisps up nicely, the fries themselves begin to caramelize and sweeten, and the whole package is entirely irresistible.
1 medium rutabaga, 3 medium parsnips, 2 medium sweet potatoes, or other root vegetables of your choice, peeled and cut into thin fry-like strips (or use a combination of those listed)
3 Tbsp (45 ml) smooth natural almond butter
1 Tbsp (15 ml) extra virgin olive oil, preferably organic
1/2 tsp (2.5 ml) fine sea salt
other spices of your choice: garlic salt, curry powder, cumin, garam masala, Chinese 5 spice powder, etc. (about 1 tsp/5 ml total)
Preheat oven to 400F (200C). Line a large baking tray with parchment paper, or spray with nonstick spray.
Place the “fries” in a large bowl. In a small bowl, combine the almond butter, oil, and spices. Drizzle the coating over the fries, and toss the mixture with a large spoon (or even better, your hands) until they are all evenly coated.
Line the fries up on the cookie sheet in a single layer. Bake 35-50 minutes (depending on thickness of your fries), until the coating is browned and a bit crispy, and the fries are fully cooked. Makes 3-4 servings. Will keep, refrigerated, up to 3 days.
[For even more desserts, check out Desserts without Compromise, my new ebook with 19 original recipes (all sugar free, gluten free, egg free and dairy free)! To learn about the recipes or to purchase, click here. To see photos of all the desserts, see this post.]
[Raw key lime tarts--NOT an ACD-inspired recipe (yippee!) See below.]
After the great response I got from my Anti-Candida Breakfasts post, I thought you all might be interested in some ACD desserts. Since this phase of the diet is very clear about NO SWEETENERS (except for stevia), NO FRUIT (except for limes, lemons and avocados), and NO FLOURS (except for bean flours, in teensy amounts), we ACD followers have to get pretty creative when it comes to satisfying the sweet tooth. And believe me, my sweet tooth has been mighty insistent of late.**
So today’s post is all about desserts–the non-sugar, non-sweetener, non-flour way! Doesn’t that just sound unbelievably appetizing? (I know, I have been deluding myself this way for over a month now). OOOOOH, YUM! Read on to share my painbe glad you’re not me find a few surprises you might actually like!
Faux Applesauce
[Seriously, doesn't that look just like applesauce?]
For some reason, the ACD vetoes all squashes except zucchini, yellow squash (basically jaundiced zucchini) and spaghetti squash. While browsing through one of the forums about the diet, I came across this idea for mock applesauce–essentially, you bake a spaghetti squash, scoop out the (remakrably spaghetti-like) flesh, then purée it with cinnamon and stevia. I added a touch of ginger and cardamom as well. It was surprisingly good, and, I’m sure, would be fabulous if made with an actual sweetener like agave or pure maple syrup. I’ve been enjoying this after dinner on occasion when I need something I can pretend is fruit.
“Chocolate Pudding”
[Well, the texture is perfect, at least. . . . ]
I placed the title of this dessert in quotation marks, because there is no way anyone would mistake this for actual chocolate pudding. Oh, the texture was fabulous, but when you sweeten cocoa with stevia, the result is, shall we say, rather pucker-inducing. Well, except to me, when I’m desperate for chocolate and don’t care if it’s bitter or has a stevia “aftertaste,” that is. The HH wouldn’t even finish the first spoonful (though he did concede that the texture was great). I’m going to work on a non-candida version of this because I know it will be irresistible when made with some other type of sweetener!
[Pure yum!]
One of my favorite junky sweet treats when I was in my teens and 20s was Nielsen “Macaroons.” They were essentially milk chocolate (or should I say, “milk chocolate flavored“) rosettes–sort of like Hershey kisses with toasted coconut in them–and I adored them. I’d stop at the Bulk Barn on my way home from class and purchase a small bag, then munch away during the bus ride home. In my 20s, of course, I was able to do so without any ill effects or physical consequences (well, except for the time that guy in the seat beside me put his hand on my knee–not connected to macaroons, I reckon). My, how times have changed since then! Not only can I no longer eat that way, but these days, I’d be whacking that guy’s hand with my umbrella and disturbing fellow passengers by shrieking at the top of my lungs.
Although I haven’t eaten the Nielsen variety in about a decade, these little confections reminded me of them–only much, much healthier. To me, these sweets taste like actual milk chocolate (not chocolate “candy”), mixed with coconut.
Now, I know there are about 17,428 versions of a “nut butter, carob and coconut” treat on the Internet, but this one is my own (original!) creation, and dear to my heart. And besides, I’d love to know whether any of you out there agree about the taste (or is it simply my ACD-addled tasted buds playing tricks on me?).
Carob-Coconut Sweeties
I’ve deliberately made a small batch here, so that (if the highly unlikely situation should ever arise, you understand) it’s not a tragedy if you happen to eat the entire batch. However, if you’re sharing with more than one person, or serving several, you may wish to double the recipe.
In a food processor (I use my Mini-Prep; any small processor is recommended for this recipe), blend the almond butter, tahini, carob powder, salt and chia until you have a smooth paste. Add the stevia and vanilla, if using, and whir again to blend. Add the coconut and hemp seeds and pulse until evenly distributed. Scoop the mixture by teaspoonfuls and roll into balls. Refrigerate (or freeze) 20 minutes or more to allow the mixture to firm up a bit. (If you can’t wait to dig in, they’re still delicious right away, but they will be fairly soft). Makes 4-5 balls.
ACD variation: use stevia instead of other sweetener and be sure the vanilla is alcohol-free.
[This is carob, but for a chocolate variation of the pudding, use chocolate almond, soy, hemp or other milk]
As I mentioned in a previous post, this is one of my favorite treats, even when I’m not following the ACD. This version boasts carob, cinnamon, and a touch of stevia. If you’re feeling adventurous, add a teaspoon or two of ground flax seeds to the mix as well. (You wacky dessert-lover, you!)
I was amazed to discover that this recipe, which I’ve been eyeing for almost a year now, is actually more or less acceptable for the ACD! A few minor adjustments, and the HH and I were both able to enjoy these lovely tarts (pictured above is the date-sweetened crust). You could also make the filling on its own and spoon it up as a pudding. As a bonus, this is a raw dessert. You don’t want to overindulge, however, as it does contain quite a hit of fat in each serving.
3/4 cup (80-90 g) dry, raw macadamia nuts, hazelnuts, walnuts, or a combination
1/4 tsp (1 ml) fine sea salt, optional
1/2 cup (120 ml) pitted dry medjool dates, chopped (see note)
Filling:
3/4 cup (180 ml) chopped just-ripe avocado flesh (1-2 avocados)
3-4 Tbsp (45-60 ml) freshly squeezed lime juice
1/4 cup (60 ml) agave nectar, light or dark
2 tsp (10 ml) finely ground chia seeds, optional (but the filling is more runny without it)
lime zest or kiwi slices for garnish
Lightly grease 5 individual tart pans, or line with parchment rounds (I use 3″ or 7.5 cm pans with removable bottoms). If your pans don’t have removable bottoms, it’s worth it to line them with parchment paper rounds, as the crust will stick otherwise. Set aside.
In the bowl of a food processor, process the coconut, nuts, and sea salt until the mixture resembles a coarse meal. Add the dates and process until it comes together in a “dough” (it’s ready when the mixture sticks together if pinched between your fingers and thumb). Press the “dough” evenly along the bottom and up the sides of the tart pans.
If you’ve scraped the processor bowl fairly clean, there’s no need to wash it for this step. In the same processor, blend the avocado, lime juice, agave and chia and blend until very smooth. Spoon the mixture evenly into the crusts and smooth the top.
Freeze the tarts until firm, at least 2 hours. Remove from the freezer 10-15 minutes before serving, garnish with zest or fresh fruit, and enjoy. Makes 5 tarts.
ACD Variation: Instead of the dates, use 2-3 Tbsp (30-45 ml) smooth almond, cashew or macadamia butter to help the dough adhere. Or omit the crust and just eat the filling! For the filling, use stevia to taste in place of the agave.
**Every source you read about the ACD says that, as long as you stick to the plan, your sugar cravings will disappear in 3-4 days. Excuse me while I guffaw. I’m well in to Week Five, and sugar is calling to me just as loudly and insistently as ever.
PS. To read about a real dessert recipe by yours truly, flip open the May/June issue of Clean EatingMagazine for my second Happy Endings recipe!
UPDATE: SOME OTHER ACD-FRIENDLY DESSERTS on Diet, Dessert and Dogs (This is just a partial list. For a full list, see the Recipe Index):
Desserts without Compromise, my ebook with 19 ACD friendly dessert recipes, from grain-free fudgy brownies to cookies to mousse to vanilla custard–all sugar free, egg free, dairy free and gluten free (desserts for all phases of the diet)
Cupcakes, frosting, puddings and other non-sweet dishes in my Anti Candida Feast Ebook(for those just beginning, and 2nd phase of the diet)
Maybe I am a pie person, after all.
