A Savory Stew of our Favorites

Wednesday, October 13, 2010

Chocolate Avocado Frosting

Ingredients:
1/4 c peanut or almond butter
1/4 c honey (plus more)
1/8 c water
1/8 c cocoa powder
pinch of salt
1 medium avocado
1 T coconut oil (or butter)
1 t vanilla

Blend in blender. Gets better if refrigerated overnight.

From: kaylaeatshealthy.blogspot.com

Grain Free Chocolate Cake

Ingredients:
1-15 ounce can of unseasoned black beans
OR 1 1/2 cup cooked beans, any color
5 large eggs
1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
6 tablespoons unsalted organic butter OR extra virgin coconut oil
3/4 cup erythritol plus 1/2 teaspoon pure stevia extract OR 1/4-1/3 cup honey plus 1 teaspoon stevia OR 1 cup Splenda
6 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
1 teaspoon aluminum-free baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 tablespoon water (omit if using honey)

Mint Chocolate variation:

2 teaspoons mint extract (in place of 2 teaspoons vanilla)

Preparation:
Preheat oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit. Spray a 9" cake pan with extra virgin olive oil cooking spray, or just grease it with a thin layer of butter. Dust cocoa all over the inside of the pan, tapping to evenly distribute. Cut a round of parchment paper and line the bottom of the pan, then spray the parchment lightly.

Drain and rinse beans in a strainer or colander. Shake off excess water. Place beans, 3 of the eggs, vanilla, stevia (if using) and salt into blender. Blend on high until beans are completely liquefied. No lumps! Whisk together cocoa powder, baking soda, and baking powder. Beat butter with sweetener (erythritol or honey) until light and fluffy. Add remaining two eggs, beating for a minute after each addition. Pour bean batter into egg mixture and mix. Finally, stir in cocoa powder and water (if using), and beat the batter on high for one minute, until smooth. Scrape batter into pan and smooth the top. Grip pan firmly by the edges and rap it on the counter a few times to pop any air bubbles.

Bake for 350 degrees for 40-45 minutes. Cake is done with the top is rounded and firm to the touch. After 10 minutes, turn out cake from pan, and flip over again on to a cooling rack. Let cool until cake reaches room temperature, then cover in plastic wrap or with cake dome For BEST flavor, let cake sit over night. I promise this cake will not have a hint of beaniness after letting it sit for eight hours! Frost immediately before serving.

From: healthyindulgences.blogspot.com

Grain Free Pumpkin Bread

Ingredients

  • 1 ½ cups almond flour
  • ¼ teaspoon sea salt
  • ½ teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • ¼ teaspoon ground ginger
  • 1 pinch ground cloves
  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • ¼ cup raw honey
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 cup fresh baked pumpkin

Instructions

  1. In a large bowl combine almond flour, salt, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger and cloves
  2. Mix butter, honey, eggs and pumpkin until smooth
  3. Stir wet ingredients into dry
  4. Grease a loaf pan with butter and pour in batter
  5. Bake at 350° for 40-45 minutes
From: http://cosmicrhino.com

Saturday, October 2, 2010

Quick Doughnuts

Every conference we carry on a little tradition that the sistas started (that would be my mother's sisters- of which I emphatically claim to be one of. No, not literally, but I'm part of the sistahood). While the men are at the priesthood session, the women make homemade doughnuts. Stacks and stacks. Covered. In chocolate. Powdered sugar. Cinnamon sugar. If you are JD, the doughnut is merely the vehicle to cram as much sprinkles into your mouth as humanly possible. Since it's just JD and I, we make ourselves sick and then give the rest away because I don't know how to reduce. The tradition is stacks and stacks.

Well this year is one of those years. My mom calls them "Chicken Nugget Thanksgivings". Trying to make the perfect recipe of doughnuts was just not in the cards. So I discovered this little trick:

1. Buy refrigerated buttermilk biscuits.
2. Cut a hole in the center just like you would for doughnuts.
3. Fry.

There you have it. Quick and easy. Now- I have to say that they are not as good as the real deal. And when I tasted them I was disappointed. I tried dipping in chocolate and again, disappointed. Then I dipped them in cinnamon sugar. That's when the magic happened. Yummy! I didn't have any powdered sugar so I don't know if that would have been good. But also, I bought the regular refrigerated biscuits instead of buttermilk. I wonder if that would have made a difference.

All in all, the perfect doughnut, this is not. But a great and fast substitute? Definitely.

Pumpkin Butter

Ingredients

  • 1 cup Pumpkin Puree
  • 1 cup Plain, Nonfat Yogurt (vanilla Works Just As Well)
  • 1 teaspoon (more If Desired) Pumpkin Pie Spice
  • 1 cup (heaping) Powdered Sugar

Preparation Instructions

Stir all ingredients together well. Store in the refrigerator; will keep for five to six days.

From: pioneerwoman.com