Tag Archives: Dairy Free

Grain Free Spice Cake with Dairy Free Maple Buttercream and Blackberry Swirl

Birthday Spice Cake with Vanilla Blackberry Buttercream

It was my birthday this week, and I am a self-professed cake addict! So what is a girl gone grain free to do when she misses her traditional spice cake, comes from an artisanal baking background, and wants something fancy for her birthday dessert? Well it’s been on my to do list to make a celebration cake recipe of my own for a few years now, and I finally did, with some inspiration from some of my favorite traditional baking books and my love of blackberries!

I made this cake with three layers. The recipe is written for individual layers so that you have the option to make two or three layers for your cake depending on how many servings you need. Three layers makes the cake look more impressive and serves twelve people, two layers will serve eight.

Grain Free Spice Cake with Dairy Free Maple Buttercream and Blackberry Swirl

For the Cake:

Preheat the oven to 350º degrees F.

Grease 8″ cake pans with organic shortening, and line the bottoms with parchment paper cut into a circle to fit the pan. I do this by setting the pan on top of the parchment and drawing a circle around the outside of the pan with a pencil and then cutting out the circle.

Ingredients:

1/3 Cup of Coconut Flour

3 Pastured Eggs

1/3 Cup of Coconut Milk

1/4 Cup of Applesauce (no sugar added)

2 Tablespoons of Olive Oil

2 Tablespoons of Maple Syrup

1 Teaspoon of Pure Vanilla Extract

1/2 Teaspoon of Baking Soda

1/2 Teaspoon of Cinnamon

1/4 Teaspoon of Ground Ginger

1/4 Teaspoon of fine Sea Salt

1/8 Teaspoon of Cloves

1/8 Teaspoon of Nutmeg

1/2 Teaspoon of Fresh Lemon Juice (this is added at the end to activate the baking soda)

Directions:

Add the eggs and coconut milk to a mixing bowl. Beat with a hand held electric mixer. Add the remaining wet ingredients except the lemon juice, and mix with for one minute. In a separate bowl, whisk together the dry ingredients. Add the dry ingredients in two batches to the wet ingredients, mixing for one minute after each addition. Finally, add the fresh lemon juice and mix for approximately 30 seconds. Pour the cake batter into the prepared pan and bake for 35 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean when inserted into the center of the cake.

Cool on a wire rack for five minutes before removing the cake from the pan and cooling completely on a wire rack.

Grain Free Birthday Cake with Vanilla Blackberry Buttercream

Blackberry Syrup

You can make the syrup up to three days in advance. But you can also make it on the day you bake the cake. It is straightforward and cools quickly.

Ingredients:

1 pint of fresh blackberries

1/4 cup of honey

pinch of salt

Directions:

Reserve seven blackberries for the top of the cake. Place the remaining blackberries, honey and pinch of salt into a small saucepan, and bring it to a boil over medium-high heat. After it comes to a boil, reduce the heat, and simmer the blackberries, honey and salt for ten minutes on the stove. Using a fine mesh sieve and a bowl, pour the blackberries into the sieve over the bowl, and gently press the juices into the bowl. Discard the pulp and seeds. Cool in the refrigerator or let cool at room temperature. Set aside for when you are ready to decorate the top of the cake. You will want to make sure it is completely cool before swirling in on the top of your frosting.

Dairy Free Maple Buttercream

The inspiration for this buttercream comes from Joanne Chang owner of Boston’s Flour Bakery!

Ingredients:

1 1/2 Cups of Maple Sugar

6 Egg Whites

1 1/2 Cups of Organic Shortening

1 Teaspoon of Vanilla Extract

1/4 Teaspoon of Sea Salt

Directions:

In a medium metal mixing bowl, whisk together the eggs and maple sugar. Place the pan on top of a simmering pot of water to create a double boiler. The water should be about 4 inches deep and not able to touch the bowl with the egg slurry in it. Whisk the egg and sugar occasionally for about 6 to 8 minutes until it is hot to the touch. It should be 160º degrees. I used a thermometer to test.

Pour the egg and sugar into bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a whip attachment, or you can use a hand-held mixer. Whip on medium-high until you get a beautiful white fluffy meringue. Turn the mixer to low and slowly add the shortening to the meringue one dollop at a time (about a tablespoon) until all the shortening is incorporated into the meringue. Increase the speed back to medium, and beat for 2 to 3 additional minutes. The buttercream should be smooth. Add the vanilla and salt and continue to beat for another 1 to 2 minutes.

It you are not using the buttercream within 30 minutes, refrigerate until you are ready to do so, and then fluff it with the mixer before spreading onto the cake.

Now, get your blackberry syrup and lets frost! Your cake is cooled right?

Grain Free Birthday Spice Cake

To frost the cake. Place a dollop of frosting on your cake stand, and place the first cake round on top of it. This helps keep the cake in place. Spread frosting on the first layer out to the edges. Place the second layer on top, and repeat if you are using a third layer. Place the last layer on the cake and then with an offset spatula frost the sides of the cake as you turn the stand. Now, frost the top of the cake. After the cake is frosted the way you like it, place small spoonfuls of the blackberry syrup artfully around the cake. Make the marbled design by drawing the sharp tip of a knife through the syrup repeatedly from one side to the other and through your syrup dollops to create a marbling effect. Let your inner artist shine! 🙂 Top with the reserved blackberries. Refrigerate the cake until you are ready to serve it.

It’s time to celebrate!!!

Farmhouse Jumbo Molasses Cookies

Molasses has such an earthy, rich flavor, and it has vitamins and minerals in it unlike it’s refined sugar counterpart. I revamped this old family favorite to make it refined sugar free and grain free and bring you a bit of the old fashioned farmhouse feel. The flavor is outstanding in this soft cookie with cinnamon, ginger and cloves! I have tested it on 1-year-olds, teens, and my hubby and tweaked them four times before getting them how I wanted them.

Farmhouse Jumbo Molasses Cookies – Grain Free, Refined Sugar Free, Paleo

Here is an article about some of the benefits of blackstrap molasses from Natural Living Ideas – 10 Blackstrap Molasses Benefits That Will Convince You To Get A Jar.

Farmhouse Jumbo Molasses Cookies

Makes 7 – 8 Jumbo Cookies

Preheat the oven to 350º degrees. Line two cookie sheets with parchment paper.

Ingredients:

3 Eggs

1/4 Cup of Blackstrap Molasses (I use this kind)

1/4 Cup of Pure Maple Syrup

1/4 Cup of Coconut Oil (soft but not melted)

1/2 Cup of Coconut Flour

1/2 Teaspoon of Pure Vanilla Extract

1/2 Teaspoon of Cider Vinegar

1 Teaspoon of Baking Soda

1/4 Teaspoon of Sea Salt

1 Teaspoon of Cinnamon

1 Teaspoon of Ginger

1/2 Teaspoon of Cloves

4 Teaspoons of Coconut Sugar for the tops of the Cookies

Directions:

In a large bowl with a hand held electric mixer, cream together the eggs and coconut oil. Add the molasses, maple syrup, and vanilla extract. Beat until creamy and combined. In a separate bowl, whisk together the dry ingredients except the coconut sugar. Add half the dry ingredients to the wet and mix until combined. Add the second half of the flour mixture and beat for one minute. Add the apple cider vinegar. This will activate the baking soda. Beat for approximately 30 seconds. Set the cookie dough aside for five minutes and grab the coconut sugar. This allows the coconut flour to absorb the wet ingredients. With a large muffin sized scoop or a 1/4 cup measure, scoop balls of cookie dough onto your parchment lined cookie sheets, spacing them three inches apart. Sprinkle each cookie with 1/2 teaspoon of coconut sugar. With three fingers, gently press down on the cookies to flatten evenly. See photo below. The coconut sugar keeps the dough from sticking to your hands when you press, and it adds a nice crunch to the top.

Pressing Farmhouse Jumbo Molasses Cookies

Bake in your preheated oven for 13 to 15 Minutes just until set. If you over bake them, they will not be as moist as they could be, and who doesn’t like a moist cookie?

Farmhouse Jumbo Molasses Cookies – Gluten Free, Grain Free

Remove the cookies from the oven and cool on the cookie sheets.

Farmhouse Jumbo Molasses Cookies – Dairy and Gluten Free Made with Coconut Flour

These keep at room temperature for three days, and they freeze exceptionally well!

Enjoy!

Eat Your Nutrients!

Chicken Pizza Paillards

Chicken Pizza Paillairds

Paillards is a French term for pounded or thinly sliced meat. Paillards are quick cooking and tender. For these Chicken Pizza Paillards, I used Primal Palate’s Super Gyro Seasoning Blend. It is my favorite gluten free seasoning blend of Himalayan pink salt oregano, marjoram, thyme, and garlic. This is a fabulous, juicy chicken dish! A quick tip I got from Rachel Ray, buy boneless chicken breasts in bulk for savings, and pound them into paillards and freeze between sheets of parchment. Then when you want to make a quick cooking chicken dinner, you can just pull the amount you want out of the freezer. They thaw very quickly!

Chicken Pizza Paillards

Ingredients:

4 Boneless Chicken Breasts

16 Oz. of White Button Mushrooms, Sliced

6 Tablespoons Olive Oil

Pizza Sauce (I used Muir Glen Organic which has no Sugar Added)

Fresh Basil, Chopped

3 Tablespoons of Aged Balsamic Vinegar (my favorite is 18 year old from Fustinis)

Super Gyro Seasoning Blend

Sea Salt

Directions: Preheat your oven to 350° degrees F. Pound the chicken breasts to about a half inch thick using a meat pounder, and cover the chicken with plastic wrap when pounding to prevent splatter. Slice the mushrooms, and add them to a cast iron skillet with 3 tablespoons of the olive oil. Sprinkle with a generous double pinch of sea salt, and cook over medium high heat for ten to fifteen minutes until nice and golden brown. When they are golden brown, add in 3 tablespoons of aged balsamic vinegar and cook until it has evaporated and infused into the mushrooms. Set aside.

In a large nonstick, oven-safe skillet, add the last 3 tablespoons of olive oil and heat over medium high heat. Season your pounded chicken generously with Super Gyro Seasoning by Primal Palate on both sides. (A nice even coat. The amount depends on the surface area of your chicken. I like to be generous) Add the seasoned chicken to the hot skillet and cook for 4 minutes a side or until golden brown on each side. Now, pop the chicken into the oven for five minutes, or until the center of the chicken reaches 165° degrees. While the chicken is in the oven, heat up the pizza sauce.

Remove the chicken from the oven and top each breast with the hot pizza sauce, 1/4 of the mushrooms and sprinkle with chopped basil.

Enjoy!

Sandra

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Chicken Pizza Paillards

Peach Mango Sorbet

Peach Mango Sorbet - Paleo

The peaches are so good this year, and I have been finding ways to enjoy them almost every day while they are fresh and in season. One of the ways I have been eating them is by making a fresh sorbet with peaches and mango in my blender for instant sorbet. I peel and dice the fresh fruit and freeze it first. Find the full recipe below.

Peaches are packed with nutrition and soluable fiber and aid digestion. Here’s a great article on 18 Amazing Benefits of Peaches including skin health, vision, immune system and anti-aging properties. I added just 1 1/2 tablespoons of low glycemic coconut sugar to the recipe that serves three. It is important to buy organic peaches, because they are on the dirty dozen list.

Here’s the simple and delicious recipe for you to enjoy!

Peach Mango Sorbet

Ingredients:

2 Organic Peaches, Washed, Peeled, Diced and Frozen

1 Mango, Washed, Peeled, Diced and Frozen

1 Tablespoon of Fresh Squeezed Lemon Juice

1 1/2 Tablespoons of Coconut Sugar

Directions: Add all the ingredients to a high speed blender with a plunger (I used a Vitamix) and blend until thick and creamy. Serve immediately, or place the sorbet in a glass freezer dish and freeze for later. If you save it for later, remove the sorbet from the freezer and let it sit on the counter for ten to fifteen minutes to soften.

Enjoy your day!

Sandra

Pumpkin Seed Pesto

Pumpkin Seed Pesto - Rich in Zinc and Nutrients

Pumpkin Seeds are rich in zinc, magnesium and plant based omega-3s. But, did you know they make a pretty amazing tasting pesto? Well they do! They almost taste cheesy, and they make a very creamy pesto dip!

This recipe is currently my new favorite dip/spread! It’s quick and easy to make!

Pumpkin Seed Pesto

Ingredients:

1 Cup Fresh Basil, lightly packed

3/4 of Olive Oil

1/2 Cup of Raw Pumpkin Seeds (the kind that are shelled, I use these)

1 Clove of Fresh Garlic (or you can use garlic infused olive oil)

1 Tablespoon of Fresh Lemon Juice

1 1/2 Teaspoons of Sea Salt

1 Teaspoon of Aged Balsamic Vinegar

Directions: Blend the ingredients in a high speed blender until smooth and creamy. Store in the refrigerator.

Perfect for serving with an appetizer tray. It also makes a delicious sauce to drizzle on chicken and seafood as well as salad!

Enjoy!

Sandra Shields, Certified Health Coach

Grain Free Peach Cobbler

Grain Free Peach Cobbler on a Spoon

The peaches are fresh, juicy, ripe, and begging to be baked into something with cinnamon and nutmeg. There is nothing like peach season for eating peaches! They are at their most excellent and not to be missed! Peaches are sweet juicy pleasures, but they also are packed with health benefits and a broad range of nutrients!

The fiber in peaches helps keep you regular, they are rich in ascorbic acid and zinc (which also has anti-aging properties) to aid your immune system, rich in vitamin C and flavonoids for healthy skin, and contain the carotenoids lutein and zeaxanthin for eye health.

The batter for the cobbler features coconut flour, pastured eggs and natural maple syrup as the sweetener.

Grain Free Peach Cobbler

Grain Free Peach Cobbler

Preheat your oven to 350° degrees. Grease a 8″ x 8″ square pan with coconut oil.

Ingredients for Filling:

4 cups of peaches, peeled, pitted and sliced (about 4 peaches)

1/4 Cup of Maple Syrup (I used local)

2 Tablespoons of Lemon Juice (fresh squeezed)

1/2 Teaspoon of Cinnamon

1/4 Teaspoon of Nutmeg

1/8 Teaspoon of Sea Salt

Toss the peaches and filling ingredients together in a bowl, and set aside to let them start releasing some of their juices.

Ingredients for Cobbler Topping:

1/3 Cup of Coconut Flour (I use this brand) scooped and leveled, it makes a big difference with coconut flour how it is measured!

1/3 Cup of Coconut Milk

2 Tablespoons of Melted Coconut Oil

3 Pastured Eggs

1/4 Cup of Applesauce (no sugar added)

1 Teaspoon of Vanilla Extract (gluten free here)

1/2 Teaspoon of Fresh Squeezed Lemon Juice

1/2 Teaspoon of Baking Soda

1/4 Teaspoon of Cinnamon, plus more for sprinkling the top before baking

Directions:

In a medium mixing bowl, add the eggs and beat with an electric hand mixer until frothy. Add your coconut milk and beat. Slowly pour in the melted coconut oil while beating. Add the applesauce, vanilla extract and lemon juice and blend. Sift together the coconut flour, cinnamon and baking soda. Add it to the egg mixture, and mix with the electric mixer for one minute. It will thicken.

After mixing up the cobbler topping, pour your peach filling into the prepared 8″ x 8″ square pan. Dollop the cobbler batter on top as desired and sprinkle with some additional cinnamon, about 1/4 teaspoon, no need to be perfect with this, just a pinch or so though.

Bake in your preheated oven for 30 minutes. The peaches should be bubbling and the cobbler topping golden brown. Remove from the oven, and cool slightly before serving warm. You can also reheat any leftover cobbler quickly in the microwave if you want to eat it warm.

Sliced Peaches in Pan for Grain Free Cobbler

Peach Cobbler Filling

Batter on Peaches for Baking a Grain Free Cobbler

Ready to Bake above.

Serves Six

Enjoy!

Sandra

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Mango Cashew Chicken Salad

Mango Cashew Chicken Dinner Salad

This salad is inspired by one of my favorite salads from Red Mesa Grill in Northern Michigan. I order it every year from their gluten free menu and it is so good, I decided to recreate it at home adding my own spin on it.

Mango Cashew Chicken Summer Salad

The salad has a delicious combination of sweet juicy mango, crunchy cashews, tart cranberries, onion and roasted chicken. The mango dressing is bursting with vitamin C. It is a perfect Summer main dish salad!

Mango Cashew Chicken Salad

Mango Cashew Chicken Salad

Begin with making a marinade for the chicken breasts:

Marinade:

1/4 Cup of Olive Oil

Zest and Juice of 1 Lime

2 Cloves of Smashed Garlic

2 Tablespoons of Apple Cider Vinegar

1/2 Teaspoon of Sea Salt

Whisk the marinade together well. Add 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts to a gallon zip bag, and pour the marinade over the chicken. Seal the bag, and place it flat in the refrigerator for 3 hours, flipping once halfway through to ensure the chicken is evenly seasoned. You can refrigerate the chicken for up to 24 hours in the marinade.

Now prepare your salad dressing.

Mango Salad Dressing

Mango Salad Dressing:

Ingredients;

1 1/4 Cup of Ripe Mango, diced

1/4 Cup of Good Olive Oil

2 Tablespoons of Fresh Squeezed Lime Juice

2 Tablespoons of Fresh Cilantro

2 Tablespoons of Raw Apple Cider Vinegar (I use this kind)

1 Green Onion, sliced

1 Teaspoon of fine Sea Salt (I like this brand)

Blend the mango and olive oil in a blender until completely smooth and creamy. Add the lime juice, salt and cider vinegar and blend to incorporate. Now, add the fresh scallion and cilantro, and pulse the blender just until you can see tiny bits of scallion and cilantro. You want to be able to see it and not completely incorporate it into the dressing.

Refrigerate the dressing. This will keep 3 days in the refrigerator.

Now to make the salad! 🙂

Mango Cashew Chicken Salad Prep

Mango Cashew Chicken Salad Ingredients:

4 Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breasts

1 – 5 oz. Container of Organic Baby Romaine, washed and spun dry

1/2 Head of Organic Iceberg Lettuce, washed, spun dry and torn into bite-sized pieces

1 Ripe Mango, Diced in to 1 inch pieces

1/2 Cup of Salted or Raw Cashews

1/4 Cup of Apple Juice Sweetened Dried Cranberries (I use this brand)

1/4 Cup of Green Onion, Sliced

1/4 Cup of Red Onion, Finely Diced

Additional Sea Salt for Sprinkling

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 375° degrees. In a cast iron skillet, add 2 tablespoons of olive oil and heat on medium-high. Remove the chicken breasts from the marinade, and sprinkle them with additional sea salt, and add them to the pan. Brown the breasts two minutes per side, until golden brown, but not cooked through. Place the chicken on a baking sheet, and place them in the preheated oven. Bake for 20 minutes or just until the chicken reaches 165° at the center. Remove the chicken from the oven, and set aside to cool while you prepare the rest of the salad.

Mound the salad greens in a large bowl. Drizzle with a generous amount of Mango Salad Dressing. Sprinkle the mango, cashews, cranberries, green onion and red onion on top. Slice your cooked chicken breasts on a diagonal (they can still be warm) and arrange the breasts on the top of the salad. Sprinkle with some additional sea salt to taste.

Serve!

4 Large Dinner Sized Servings (1 Chicken Breast per person)

Double Chocolate Bakery Style Cookies

Double Chocolate Cookies - Coconut Flour Baking

We talked about getting in your vegetables, which is so important to our overall health! Community and celebrations are equally important and a key factor that Octogenarians living in the Blue Zones of the world all have in common. Celebrations invariably have food, including sweet choices. Balance is key and not diving in face first into a whole batch. Believe me, I’ve been there! Think college years! I myself love a delicious treat that is full of healthier ingredients! So, here is one we enjoy here at my home that I am proud to bring to any gathering!

Double Chocolate Cookies Date Sweetened Coconut Flour

This Double Chocolate Jumbo cookie recipe is a healthier version of a coffee shop cookie, but just as delicious, with less guilt, and more benefits! I used a date paste I made myself with just pureed dates. You can easily make a batch and keep it on hand in the refrigerator, or make just enough for this recipe. It takes very little time! There are local pastured eggs in these beauties, Enjoy Life chocolate chips (here) which are dairy and soy free, raw cacao and heart healthy olive oil. Let’s bake!

Jumbo Double Chocolate Grain Free Cookies

These are perfect for a picnic or while sitting in the park waiting for the Fireworks!

Double Chocolate Jumbo Cookies with Coconut Flour

Double Chocolate Bakery Style Cookies

Preheat your oven to 350º degrees.

Date Paste Directions:

Soak 1 1/2 cups of Medjool Dates in hot water for five to ten minutes until soft. Drain and remove the pits. Blend in a blender with 1/2 cup of hot water. That’s it! Date Paste. You will use 1/2 cup in this recipe. The rest lasts a long time in the refrigerator, or you can freeze it or make just enough for these cookies.

Ingredients:

1/2 Cup of Date Paste

1/2 Cup of Olive Oil

1/3 Cup of Coconut Flour

1/4 Cup of Raw Cacao Powder (here)

2 Pastured Eggs

1 Tablespoon of Grass Fed Collagen (optional here)

1 Teaspoon of Pure Vanilla Extract

1/2 Teaspoon of Baking Soda

1/4 Teaspoon of Sea Salt

1/2 Cup of Enjoy Life Mini Chocolate Chips (here)

Directions:

With a handheld electric mixer, cream the olive oil and date paste. Add the vanilla and the eggs, one at a time, blending after each addition. In a separate bowl, sift together with a wire whisk the coconut flour, raw cacao powder, salt, baking soda and gelatin. Add it to the date and egg mixture, and blend thoroughly. Fold in the mini chocolate chips, then let sit for five minutes. The coconut flour will thicken up the batter. Scoop the dough onto a large parchment lined cookie sheet with a muffin sized scoop, spacing the cookies evenly into 8. Flatten slightly with a fork so the tops are even. Bake for 15 minutes.

Remove from the oven and cool on the cookie sheet for ten minutes. Mmmmmm!

Enjoy your day!

Double Chocolate Cookies Grain Free and Yummy

Teriyaki Chicken and Quinoa or Cauliflower Rice

This is a hearty dish utilizing my new teriyaki sauce recipe that is soy free and healthy. I have been experimenting with quinoa lately in my cooking, and find I tolerate it very well. This is a pleasant discovery since I admire the benefits of quinoa, such as it being a good source of protein, with all nine essential amino-acids in it and fiber. I buy sprouted quinoa here. If you are eating grain free or strict Paleo, substitute cauliflower rice (here is a video demonstration from Cooking Light on how to make delicious cauliflower rice) for the quinoa.

Teriyaki Chicken and Quinoa

The Teriyaki Chicken and Quinoa also has one of my favorite things………lots of veggies! I am The Eat Your Veggies Lady after all! I have included broccoli (cruciferous vegetable), carrots (a root vegetable and a good source of Vitamin A and healthy carbs), scallions (alliums which are cholesterol lowering and cardiovascular protective), mushrooms (a significant source of zinc, calcium, iron, potassium, folic acid and more), and I just couldn’t help myself, I added some fresh basil on top of each bowl at the end, because I like it’s flavor so much (it’s benefits are, disease fighting, antibacterial, and combats stress).

First you will make the sauce. This can be made ahead and kept in the refrigerator until you are ready to use it. It is a wonderful condiment to have on hand, so any extra will not go to waste.

Soy Free Teriyaki Sauce

Makes 2 Cups

You will need a medium sauce pan and a blender.

Ingredients:

10 ounces of Frozen Pineapple (or fresh)

1/2 of a Red Apple, cored but not peeled

1/3 Cup of Chopped Yellow Onion

1/3 Cup of Coconut Aminos (a soy free alternative made from coconut sap)

1/3 Cup of Fresh Orange Juice

1/4 Cup of Apple Cider Vinegar

2 Cloves of Garlic, minced or 2 Teaspoons of Garlic Infused Olive Oil

2 Tablespoons of Honey

1/2 Teaspoon of Ground Ginger

1/2 Teaspoon of Sea Salt

Directions: Add all the ingredients to the sauce pan and bring to a boil. Reduce heat, and simmer until the apple is tender, about five to ten minutes. Cool for fifteen minutes. Add it to your blender and puree until smooth. Add the sauce back to your sauce pan, and simmer again until reduced by a third. Store refrigerated in a glass container until ready to use.

Now to prepare the Teriyaki Chicken and Quinoa!

Teriyaki Chicken and Quinoa – Soy Free

Teriyaki Chicken and Quinoa

Prepare enough Quinoa to make 4 servings according to package directions. Set aside, covered.

Ingredients for Teriyaki Chicken:

2 1/2 pounds of boneless, skinless chicken thighs cut into 1 inch cubes

4 Cups of Fresh Broccoli Florets cut into bite size pieces

4 Cups of Carrots, peeled and diced into 1/2 inch pieces (this is about 4 large carrots)

6 ounces of fresh mushrooms, diced (I used oyster mushrooms. Use the kind you like.)

1/2 Cup of Scallions, sliced

2 Tablespoons of fresh Basil

4 Tablespoons of Olive Oil, divided

1 1/4 Teaspoons of Sea Salt, divided

1/2 Teaspoon of Ground Black Pepper, divided (omit for nightshade free)

Directions:

In a large skillet, add 2 tablespoons of Olive Oil. Turn your burner to high heat, then add the chicken cubes to the olive oil and sprinkle it with 1/2 teaspoon of salt and 1/4 teaspoon of pepper. Brown the chicken on one side for 5 minutes, then flip and brown the other side for 5 minutes. Remove the chicken from the pan into a large bowl and set aside. Don’t worry if it is still pink. You will cook it more.

In the same pan, add 1 tablespoon of olive oil. Over medium high heat add the diced carrots and a half teaspoon of salt and 1/4 teaspoon of pepper. Cook for five minutes. Then, add the broccoli to the carrots and cook another five minutes, stirring frequently. You can add a little broth or water if needed.

Add the carrots and broccoli to the chicken in the bowl.

Add the remaining tablespoon of olive oil to the pan and the mushrooms. Sprinkle with 1/4 teaspoon of salt and brown the mushroom over medium high heat. This should take about 5 minutes.

When the mushrooms have browned, add the chicken and vegetables back into the pan and bring up to a sizzle over medium high heat. Stir in the scallions and 1 cup of prepared teriyaki sauce. Add more if needed. Cover and cook over medium heat for five minutes until the chicken is cooked through.

Oyster Mushrooms

Chicken and Broccoli

Teriyaki Chicken and Quinoa

Serve beside the cooked quinoa, sprinkle with fresh chopped basil and some extra scallions.

Teriyaki Chicken and Quinoa

Serves 4 – 6 people with leftovers. 🙂

Eat Your Nutrients!

Lemon Fig Cake

Lemon Fig Cake on a Plate

Lemon Fig Cake

Lemon Fig Cake (Coconut Flour)

Date Sweetened Lemon Fig Cake Using Coconut Flour

Yes, I love cake, and I am a healthy eater and consider myself vegetable forward. I don’t eat refined sugar anymore. I ditched it several years ago in favor of natural sweeteners like dates, honey, maple syrup and coconut sugar. After some practice and experimentation in the kitchen, and reading a lot of cookbooks on baking with alternative sweeteners, (You should see my library, seriously. Does anyone else read cookbooks like novels?) I find I prefer the natural sweetener’s flavors over the white stuff. I like options! Dates give substance to baking, are a whole food, and have a rich flavor similar to brown sugar. Honey is distinct, light, and good for neutral baking. It does have a tendency to over brown at too high of a heat. Maple syrup is very distinctive. I think everyone can picture that flavor on their tongue. It is delicious in chocolate breads and with pecans for example, and coconut sugar has an earthy flavor and is closest in texture and application to refined white sugar.

Lemon Fig Cake Grain Free

Lemon Fig Cake

So, tada………introducing Lemon Fig Cake! Don’t worry if you think you don’t like dates, they are not predominant in the cake. They just add moistness and structure to the cake and contain a ton of trace minerals, calcium and fiber. Dates are a fruit and a whole food sweetener.

Lemon Fig Cake

Ingredients:

6 Eggs (I used local)

1 Cup of Medjool Dates (Soaked and Pitted)

1/2 Cup of Coconut Flour (here)

1/2 Cup of Apple Sauce

1/2 Cup of Dried Figs, halved

1/4 Cup of Olive Oil

2 Tablespoons of Fresh Squeezed Lemon Juice

Zest of 1 Lemon (organic)

1/2 Teaspoon of Baking Soda (Gluten Free here)

1/2 Teaspoon of Pure Vanilla Extract (I use this kind)

1/4 Teaspoon of Fine Sea Salt

Directions:

Preheat your oven to 350º degrees F. Line an 8 inch square baking pan with parchment paper and set aside.

Place the dates in a bowl, and cover with very hot filtered tap water, and soak for five minutes. Halve your dried figs from stem to base and set aside. If they are extremely dry, you should soak them as well. In a food processor with a blade attachment, crack six eggs. Pit the dates after soaking and add them to the eggs. Then, process the eggs and dates until you have just little flecks of date in your batter. Add the remaining ingredients, except the figs, and process for about one minute until the batter is a smooth creamy yellow and a thick cake batter. Scrape the batter into your prepared parchment lined pan. Now, add your figs decoratively on the top, cut side up and bake for 25 to 30 minutes, or until the cake springs back when lightly touched with your finger. Cool on a wire rack, then remove the cake from the pan using the parchment paper as handles.

Lemon Fig Cake Batter (Grain Free)