Dark Chocolate Cranberry Cookies

Posted on November 29, 2014 by Sarah

I want to keep this recipe a secret. I really do.

But I can’t. It would be reprehensible of me to refuse to share this gem of a cookie with my readers. Besides, you deserve something really good after such a long wait. Please accept my apology in the form of this chocolaty, tangy morsel.

It’s not just my recipe either. My good friend, Tanisha, joined me in the kitchen last night, and this is what came of it. Great things happen when friends end up in the kitchen. This cookie is proof.

More often than not, my inspiration for creating a dessert recipe is found in a decadent sweet that has enough simple carbohydrates to keep your blood sugar levels elevated for weeks. On top of that, it’s usually void of any nutritional value.

I think I can speak for Tanisha, too, when I say, our goal is to make desserts that rival the original in taste while adding a lot of powerful nutrients.

In this case it was the Double Dark Chocolate Pomegranate Cookies, one of our winter time favorites, that got a complete health makeover.

No white flour (actually, no grains at all), no gluten, no refined sweetener. Just the good stuff, plain and simple. Cranberries are high in antioxidants (as are pomegranates, so feel free to substitute.) and so is dark chocolate, so consider this your immunity boost for cold season. (See disclaimer below.)

Dark Chocolate Cranberry Cookies

Recipe created by Sarah and Tanisha

1 c. almond flour
1 c. cocoa powder
1/4 t. baking soda
1 t. arrowroot powder
5 T. butter
1/2 c. honey
1 egg
2 t. vanilla
1 c. chopped fresh cranberries
1 c. dark chocolate chips or chunks

1. Heat oven to 350 degrees. Cover a cookie sheet with parchment.

2. Combine almond flour, cocoa powder, soda, arrowroot powder. Cut in butter. (I used my fingers because I’m lazy and didn’t want to get out any equipment.)

3. Mix in honey, egg, and vanilla.

4. Add chocolate and cranberries.

5. Eat some cookie dough.

6. Place dough in heaping tablespoons on the parchment covered sheet, leaving room to spread a little.

7. Bake for 12 minutes.

8. Slide parchment on to a cooling rack and repeat steps 5-9.

9. Enjoy!

Disclaimer –

I am not a doctor or registered dietitian. I do not claim to cure any cause, condition, or disease, though my suggestions may prove helpful. I do not provide medical aid or nutrition for the purpose of health or disease. Howbeit, every food one chooses to consume either greatly benefits one’s health, or diminishes thereof.

This is merely a food blog in the most colossal way possible. The information held on this blog is solely the opinion of a layman of the kitchen. The research and information covered in this blog is open to public domain for discussion and in no way breaches or breaks the boundaries of any law that I currently know of. I am not a doctor nor do I claim to have any formal medical background, however my background with food from decades in the kitchen is extensive. I am not liable, either expressly or in an implied manner, nor claim any responsibility for any emotional or physical problems that may occur directly or indirectly from reading this blog or the baking and eat of the recipes hereon.

Mexican Chocolate Pudding Souffles with Cinnamon Whipped Cream

Posted on October 19, 2014 by Sarah

It must be the colder weather.

I’m craving spicy in everything from cheese stuffed Anaheim peppers to fruit smoothies kicked off with ginger and cayenne. (Seriously, you have to try this mixture of ingredients in the blender – fresh pineapple, oranges, lemons, coconut oil, honey, ice, fresh ginger and cayenne pepper. Yum!!!!)

So you won’t find it hard to believe me when I tell you I made Mexican chocolate in two different forms two nights in a row. I hardly make anything twice in a row, so this was really something for me!

The idea started off with the leftover roasted yam in the refrigerator. It was so sweet and gooey I just had to add cocoa to it. And, with autumn in the air, there’s absolutely no reason why I shouldn’t put cinnamon and some heat in it, too.

Hello, again, cayenne pepper!

These delightful souffles are grain and gluten free, have no refined sugar, and are easily dairy free as well… if you leave off the whipped cream and use the alternative milk, of course.

Mexican Chocolate Pudding Souffle

2 c. cooked yam or sweet potato, preferably, not the starchy ones.
8 egg yolks
1/2 c. honey
1 T. vanilla
1 t. sea salt
1 1/2 t. cinnamon
1/2 t. cayenne pepper
3 T. coconut flour
1 c. cocoa powder
2 c. milk (cow, almond, any kind will do.)

Heat oven to 350 degrees.

Pour all of the above ingredients into a blender or food processor and blend until smooth. Pour into a bowl.

Combine…

8 egg whites
1/2 t. cream of tartar

…and beat until stiff peaks form. Fold into the chocolate mixture. Spoon mixture into 10-12 mugs (depends on the size of your mugs) filling just until 2/3 full.

Turn oven down to 325 degrees and bake souffles for 25 minutes.

Let cool slightly before topping with whipped cream and serving.

Cinnamon Maple Whipped Cream

1 c. whipping cream
2 T. maple syrup
1/4 t. cinnamon

Whip until desired consistency, or pour into a cream whipper.

I chose to bake these in mugs because warm mugs are just cozy and their easy and you don’t even have to grease them. AND, they leave the perfect amount of room on the top for all the whipped cream you could want. Well, maybe…

Summer’s Dessert – Fruit Pizza

Posted on July 13, 2014 by Sarah

You might be surprised if I tell you that we aren’t big into Birthday cakes around here. Yes, we make them every now and then, but most of us choose something besides cake for our birthday dessert. Desserts like Rootbeer Floats, Frozen Chocolate Peanut Butter Pie, Strawberry Shortcake, or Fruit Pizza. The options are boundless, why confine it to cake???

The last person to celebrate a birthday here just didn’t care, but I knew what he wanted – something healthy, free of processed sugar, and loaded with fruit.

Because it’s summer.

Sorry about the terrible photos. The lighting was bad and I was too lazy to take more pictures. Besides, who’s going to wait around this thing for someone to take appropriate blog post photos?

This colorful and delightful dessert sports a paleo and gluten-free crust, cream cheese hinting of orange, and your favorite seasonal (or not so seasonal) fruits. You should try it. Today.

Here’s how…

Fruit Pizza

2 c. oats
2 c. walnuts
2 c. dates, pitted
1/2 t. sea salt
4 T. butter
16 oz. cream cheese, softened
1/2. c. Greek vanilla yogurt
1/4 c. honey (or more to taste)
4 drops Young Living Orange Essential Oil (or 1/2 t. orange extract)
1 t. vanilla
fruit of your choice – I like the textural combination and colors of strawberries, mandarin oranges, kiwis and blueberries.

Combine oats, walnuts, dates, and sea salt in a food processor and pulse until fine. Add butter and blend until combined. Form into a ball and pat out on to a pizza pan. (You may want to use parchment if you’re using a metal cookie sheet or pizza pan.)