My Gluten-Free Pizza Dough

• 2 ½ c. Bob’s Red Mill All-purpose Flour

• 1 c. Almond Flour

• ¼ c. Olive Oil

• 1 ½ tsp. Sea Salt

• 1 Tbs. Tapioca Starch

• 2 pkgs. active dry Yeast

• ½ tsp. Sugar or Honey (for proofing)

• 1 ½ c. very warm Water

• Add : ¼ c. chopped organic Green Onion, or 1 tsp. dry (1 Tbs. fresh) Oregano to dough for a twist

Place yeast and sugar in warm water to proof.  Set aside for 10 minutes.

Place flours, oil, salt and starch in Food Processor or mixer with dough blade.  Blend until crumbly.  Add herbs if you’re using any, and slowly add 1 c. of the water while processor/mixer is on. 

Add as much of the rest of the water until dough holds together and is soft to the touch, but not very sticky.  If it is too sticky sprinkle a little flour and process until incorporated and dough is smooth.

Place dough in a glass or stainless steel bowl that has been lightly oiled, cover and let rise for 45 minutes.

I like to pat the circles out by hand to 1/4″ thickness (thinner is better), but you can take 4 oz. of dough (for mini pizzas) and roll with a rolling-pin, or make one large or two medium pizzas.

Top with your choice of sauce, and chopped veggies and herbs.. then finish off with shredded plant-based Cheese.

Bake in lower half of 425º oven for 12 – 15 minutes, or until bottom is golden brown and cheese is melty. Will make 6 – 7 small pizzas depending on size.  Also fun for appetizer size pizzas.

~ Enjoy! ♥

Lime Coconut Cream for Citrus Almond Cake

Make 1 recipe of the Almond Citrus Cake, and bake in a 9" Spring-form pan.

While it cools, make the topping.

Lime Coconut Cream

• 1 15oz. can Coconut Cream (not milk)

• 1-1/2 Tbs. Lime juice or 1 tsp. organic Lime zest (optional)

• 1 tsp. Pure Vanilla extract (2 tsp. if you don't use Lime)

• 2 Tbs. Pure Maple Syrup

• 1/4 c. toasted Cashews or Hazelnuts, crushed

Refrigerate can of Coconut Cream upside-down, for at least 3 hours or overnight.

When ready to use... flip can back upright, and open. Any liquid should be floating on top. Drain the liquid carefully using the lid, so you don't lose any cream.

1. In a dry metal bowl, beat cream with mixer for about 3-4 minutes or until it thickens and holds soft peaks.

2. Add the lime juice and extract and beat another minute.

3. Add maple syrup and beat again, until the consistency is what you desire.

4. Refrigerate for 30 minutes to an hour.  The cream will thicken considerable when chilled.

5. Spread on cake and garnish with nuts and/or fruit of your choice.

If you have leftover cream:

1. Use to top fresh fruit, or in cocoa, or oatmeal

2. Mix in chopped fruit and chocolate chips and freeze for a summer treat!

Pink Coconut-Banana Cream Squares with Chocolate Chips

Natural, vegetable-derived food coloring is thankfully now available, but using actual fruit and veggie juice is even better. I save the liquid after cooking beets for a pink dessert. Use strong flavors to mask the beet taste.

This treat is super simple and actually good for you.

Pink Coconut-Banana Cream Squares

• 1 can Coconut Cream (not milk), refrigerated overnight

• 1 organic Banana, mashed

• 2 - 3 Tbs. liquid from boiling organic Beets

• 2 Tbs. Psyllium Husk (don't skip this, if unavailable use freshly ground flax seeds)

• 1 Tbs. Chicory Root Powder (or Coconut Palm Sugar)

• 1-1/2 tsp. Orange Blossom Water (in ethnic section of market)

• 1/2 c. Dark Chocolate Chips (or Carob chips for Vegan)

• Blueberries and/or Raspberries for topping

Drain liquid from coconut cream. Place cream in mixer bowl and beat on medium speed until fluffy, about 6 - 7 minutes.

Add mashed banana, and the rest of the ingredients. Beat for 2 more minutes until well mixed. Stir in Chocolate chips.
Pour into round remekins or a rectangular glass dish. (I don't recommend using metal pans for this dessert.)

Top with berries and cover tightly. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour. Serve with more berries if desired.

Cheers! ♥

Hot Cross Buns - Any Day of the Week!

Ever wonder why we seem to feel that traditional Holiday Fare must be served solely on their respective observed Holiday? Wouldn't it be wonderful to both awaken the energy held in said Holidays and enjoy the foods served, during other times of the year?

The dark chocolate chunks made this a dessert. Of course you're welcome to use a few raisins instead.

ChiPPY Hot Cross Buns

Dry Ingredients:

• 3¼ cups gluten-free flour (about 1 lb.).
  For the best results use a GF flour blend; 1-1/4 c. Sorghum flour 1-1/8 c. Gluten Free Oat Flour (e.g. Bob's Red Mill) 1/4 c. Potato Starch, generous 1/2 c. Almond Flour/Meal

• 2 Tbs. Coconut Palm Sugar or Birch Xylitol

• 2 Tbs. Apple Pectin (opt)

• 2½ tsp. Yeast

• 2½ tsp. Psyllium Husk powder

• 1 tsp. Ceylon Cinnamon

• 1 tsp. Pink Sea Salt

• ¼ tsp. each: Ginger, Cardamom, Nutmeg

• 3/4 c. Dark Chocolate Chips or 1/2 c. Raisins

Wet Ingredients:

• 1½ c. Almond Milk

• 3 Range Free Eggs

• 4 Tbs. organic, grass-fed Ghee, melted

• 2 tsp. Pure Vanilla Extract

Next day:

• 1/4 teaspoon Instant Yeast ( or regular yeast mixed with 1 Tbs. warm water and let it sit for 5 minutes)

• 1 Tbs. Warm Water

Egg Wash:

• Mix 1 large Egg with 1 Tbs. Almond or Coconut Milk

Method

1. Combine all dry ingredients (except fruit or chocolate chips)

2. Combine wet ingredients and then add to the mixed dry ingredients. Fold in fruit or chocolate chips.

3. After mixing dough thoroughly, cover tightly with wax paper, then a clean dish towel and refrigerate in a bowl overnight.

4. The next day: Dissolve the 1/4 teaspoon of instant yeast in the water. Stir this into the dough.

5. Grease two 8"x8" square or two 9" round pans with coconut oil, and place 8-9 balls of the dough into each pan. Preheat oven to 350º F.

6. Smooth out the tops of the buns and brush with the egg wash.

7. With a sharp knife, slice a shallow cross (+) in the top of each roll. Let them rest in a warm room (or 100 degree oven) for about 10-12 minutes.

8. Place baking pan in the center of the oven and bake for 25-30 minutes, rotating once during baking, until the buns are golden brown and firm to the touch.

9. Allow buns to cool for about 10 minutes in the pan before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely... if you can wait that long!

No icing necessary, but you must try them warm with a smear of coconut oil and sprinkle of cinnamon.

Almond Cheese Panini

The Panini

Heat a panini grill or cast iron skillet over medium heat.

Slice some Almond Cheese and organic Tomatoes, and wash a few Spinach or Arugula leaves.

The Tapenade

Toss a handful of Kalamata olives in a blender with a large clove or garlic, some dry thyme and a dash of lemon. Blend for 4 seconds, then while running, drizzle 2 Tbs. of olive oil through top opening. Blend for another 3 -4 seconds.

Assembly

Spread a olive oil or ghee on one side of 2 Gluten Free slices of bread. place them on a plate oil side down. Spread with Tapenade, top with Tomato, Spinach leaves and finally the Cheese. Top with the other bread slice.

Place in grill or pan and cook for about 3-4 minutes watching that it doesn’t get too brown. Flip carefully and grill the other side.

Chia Chocolate Cupcakes - GF & Vegan

For extra goodness: Melt 10 oz. 75 - 80% dark chocolate in a double boiler, add 1 Tbs. almond or coconut milk and 1 packet Stevia. Stir well and smear on the cupcakes as they reach room temperature.

Recipe

• 3/4 rounded c. Sorghum flour

• 3/4 rounded c. Potato starch or tapioca starch

• 1/2 c. unsweetened raw Cocoa Powder

• 1/4 c. Chia seeds

• 1 Tbs. ground Flax seeds

• 3/4 c. Birch Xylitol (or 3 packets pure Stevia)

• 1/2 tsp. Sea Salt

• 1 tsp. Psyllium Husk Powder

• 1 tsp. Baking Powder

• 1 tsp. Baking Soda

• 1 Pasture-Raised Egg (or 2 Tbs. freshly ground Flaxseed for Vegan)

• 3 Tbs. virgin Olive Oil

• 2 tsp. Vanilla

• 1/2 tsp. Distilled Vinegar

• 1 c. warm Water, Green Tea or Decaf Coffee

Line a 12-c. cupcake pan with paper or silicon liners. Preheat oven to 350º F.

Whisk together the dry ingredients.

Add in the warm water (or tea or coffee), egg, chia seeds, oil, vanilla, and vinegar and beat until smooth. Beat for 2-3 minutes.

Scoop the batter into the 12 lined muffin tin cups.

Bake for about 15-20 minutes, until an inserted toothpick comes out clean.

Remove the cupcakes to a wire rack and let cool completely.

~To Your Health! ♥

Non-Dairy Fruity Parfait

Blueberries, our star Anti-oxidant fruit, is fun to cook with. And avocados... another super-anti-oxidant fruit, lends its creaminess to this parfait recipe that I adapted to be non-dairy and no-sugar (unless you choose to use honey).

Avocado-Blueberry Parfait

• 1 organic Lime

• 1 Avocado

• 1 c. organic Silken Tofu

• 3 Tbs. Honey (or 3 packets Stevia)

• 1 c. fresh organic Blueberries                            

• 1 tsp. Orange blossom water *

• 2 Tbs. Birch Xylitol 

• 2 tsp. Water

• 1 Tbs. finely chopped Mint leaves + 4 sprigs for Garnish

Zest the lime.  Squeeze the juice and set both aside.

Combine avocado, tofu, Stevia or honey, lime juice, and zest in the bowl of a food processor fitted with metal blade.  Pulse about 10 times.  Scrape down sides of the bowl , and process for about 2 minutes, until tofu is smooth.  Chill while preparing the rest.

Place 1 Tbs Xylitol, 2 tsp. water and orange blossom water (or honey) in small pot over medium-low heat. Bring to a simmer. Add the blueberries. Toss to coat and remove from heat.

Add chopped mint to the avocado mixture and stir.

Divide a third of the blueberries in the bottoms of 4 parfait or dessert dishes. Dollop with half of the avocado mixture. Top with another third of the blueberries, followed by the remaining avocado mixture. Top with the remaining blueberries. Garnish with the mint sprigs.

~ In Good Health! ♥

   *Orange Blossom water is the flavor that gives Middle Eastern Baklawa (not Greek Baklava which uses honey) its distinct flavor.  Place a few drops in your water for a refreshing flavor.

Flourless Almond-Butter Apricot Cookies

This is a somewhat delicate cookie since it is flourless. 1 c. roasted Almond Butter, drain off oil 2/3 c. Xylitol (or 1 Tbs. Stevia) 1 omega-3 Egg 1/4 tsp. Vanilla or Almond extract 1/3 c. dried Apricots, chopped

Preheat oven to 350º.

almond butter cookie

Using mixer, beat almond butter and xylitol until blended. Add egg, vanilla and apricots.

Form into 1-inch balls and place in rows on large, ungreased baking sheet.  With a fork made a criss-cross patter on each cookie to flatten.

Bake 12-14 minutes.  Oil will pool as they cook.

Cool thoroughly on baking sheet to keep from crumbling.

P.S. You can make this a Vegan recipe by substituting 1 Tbs. freshly ground flax seeds for egg.

~Bon Apetit! ♥

Chocolate Quinoa Cookies - Vegan

I stumbled upon this recipe at foodrefashionista's blog... and was intrigued by the idea of a quinoa cookie! I have adapted it to fit in our cancer prevention diet by adding ground flax-seeds, a little rye flour and substituting coconut oil for coating the cookie sheets.  This is a high protein, high fiber recipe.  I used raw cocoa powder.

raw cocoa powder

Ingredients

• 1 cup cooked Red Quinoa

• 1 Banana

• ¼ cup Almond meal

• ¼ cup White bean flour (or Pamela's Gluten-Free all-purpose flour)

• ¼ c. Rye flour

• 1 Tbs. freshly ground Flax-seeds

• ¼ cup + 1 Tbs. Xylitol (or your preferred  low-glycemic natural sweetener)

• 1 small Apple

• 1 tbsp. raw Cocoa powder

• 2 tsp. Vanilla

• 1 tsp. ground Cinnamon

• 1 tsp. Baking powder

• 1 tsp. Baking soda

• Pinch of Salt

• Coconut Oil for pan

quinoa cookies 2

Directions

quinoa cookies 1

1. Rinse and cook quinoa according to package directions

2. Put banana, apple and almond meal in processor and pulse until fruit is mashed

3. Mix in the rest of the ingredients

4. Drop batter from a Tablespoon onto  oiled cookie sheets

5. Cook in a 350° F oven for 20 minutes

6. Remove from sheet and cool on racks

Makes about 22 cookies.

~ Buen provecho! ♥