Tag Archives: Dessert

Chocolate Truffle Cookies Dusted with Cocoa Powder, Gluten Free and Decadent

Chocolate Truffle Cookies Dusted with Cocoa Powder, Gluten Free and Decadent

The smell of a rich chocolate cookie baking in the oven is delightful. Pull them out, and let them cool, then sprinkle them with more high fat cocoa powder like my favorite Droste Cocoa Powder. After they cool, and you have dusted them with more heavenly cocoa powder, curl up on the sofa with a hot steamy cup of strong coffee, a couple of these cookies and a good book, and indulge in these buttery, cookie treats. Make sure you have a napkin, because you will be licking cocoa powder off your lips, and it may get on your book without one! 😉 You are sure to get a surge of joy, because chocolate is known for positively impacting mood, specifically dark chocolate with high cocoa content. This is due to the flavonoids and theobromine, which can stimulate the release of endorphins (feel-good chemicals) in the brain. I don’t know if being female makes me love it even more, but I don’t understand how you couldn’t like chocolate. Don’t forget the cozy throw or quilt! I have my own built in water bottle in the form of my delightfully fluffy pug, Ming.

Ming Ming the Pug

I have made these cookies on repeat, because they are so good and lower in sugar, without sacrificing flavor. The butter to flour ratio is perfection, and they are reminiscent of a decadent, rich chocolate dark chocolate truffle.

Winter is here in breathtaking Northern Michigan. I am delighted to say that the ski hills have opened in November this year, which hasn’t happened in a while because of warmer winters. There is plenty of powder and ski resorts to choose from. I expect the lake to freeze this year, due to the more seasonal weather we are having so far. Last year was a very mild winter and also very dry. This is a photo of my morning walk around the lake. I like to get outside and walk year round as long as the weather permits.

First Snow of the Winter, Up North Michigan

I think I may get a set of snow shoes to try out too. They have come a long way since I’ve last went snow shoeing. They are much smaller and easy to manage. Any advice on how to choose a pair? Coming in after a snowy adventure is a good time for cookies and a warm beverage!

Here is the recipe for my cookies:

Chocolate Truffle Cookies Dusted with Cocoa Powder, Gluten Free and Decadent

2 Cups of Measure for Measure Gluten Free Flour Blend

2 Sticks of Unsalted Butter

1/4 Cup of good quality cocoa powder with higher fat content (I use this.)

1/4 Teaspoon of Salt

1/2 Cup of Maple Sugar

1 Teaspoon of Quality Vanilla Extract

Directions: In a stand mixer or using a hand mixer with a large bowl, beat your butter, sugar and salt together for two minutes until light and fluffy. Add in your vanilla extract, and then in a separate bowl whisk your flour and 1/4 cup of cocoa powder together before adding it to the butter mixture. Mix on low speed until incorporated to prevent a flour mess, and then turn to high just until completely blended. Lay out a parchment lined cookie sheet, and using a tablespoon cookie scoop, scoop the cookies into balls on the cookie sheet. Now, pick up each scoop of dough, and roll it into a nicely shaped ball. Place the cookie sheet in the refrigerator for half of an hour. Meanwhile, preheat your oven to 325 degrees.

After the cookie dough has chilled, bake the cookies in your preheated oven two inches apart on two separate cookie sheets for 20 minutes. Remove the cookies from the oven, and cool completely. Then, dust them with more cocoa powder like shown below before eating.

Enjoy! This makes about 2 dozen cookies.

Gluten-Free Chocolate Tahini Truffle Cups You’ll Love

Chocolate Tahini Truffle Cups in Hedgehog Dish

When September comes rolling around, I often find myself craving rich, indulgent treats, especially sweets that remind me of decadent chocolate truffles. I like to think I manage to behave pretty well around sweets. A big part of that self-control comes from my experience with food sensitivities—I’ve learned to be mindful, or else I pay the price later with feeling less than my best. After eliminating the troublesome culprits and getting serious about relearning what works for my body, I began healing my leaky gut. Through lab and genetic testing, I discovered my gluten intolerance. Since then, I’ve been able to reintroduce nearly all food groups—except for gluten. We constantly hear—and deep down, we all know—that too much sugar isn’t doing us any favors. But complete deprivation? That’s not an option for me. These two-bite chocolate cups are the perfect solution when those sweet, chocolatey cravings hit—they satisfy my sweet tooth without overindulging.

Chocolate Tahini Truffle Cups

Keep these delicious, creamy, nutty tasting, melt in your mouth chocolate cups in your freezer. Enjoy Life chocolate chips are my go to since they are so allergen friendly and excellent quality.

Can we talk cute woodland creatures for a minute? Isn’t this the cutest hedgehog dish? I am obsessed with cute hedgehogs and other woodland creature home decor. It’s so cozy, and bringing the nature theme indoors is so relaxing. These hedgehog dishes are so playful. I love their delicate little faces. I was gifted a set of four of these nesting hedgehogs. I love using them for company!

Chocolate Tahini Truffle Cups

1/2 Cup of Tahini (I used this kind)

1 Cup of Chocolate Chips (you can use dark chocolate chips or semi-sweet)

You will need a mini muffin cup pan and approximately 20 mini muffin cup paper liners.

This recipe is Super Easy and much better for you than a store bought nut butter cup! In a double broiler, melt the Tahini and Chocolate Chips together, whisking until all the chocolate is melted. Using a teaspoon cookie scoop or spoons, evenly fill the muffin cup liners about two thirds full. Place the pan in your freezer. These will be solid in about 30 minutes. After they are firm, you can store your Chocolate Tahini Truffle Cups in an airtight container in the freezer. These yummy cups are a great little pick me up! Speaking of pick me ups, self care is huge for well being. When we get busy, run down or overloaded, it can be a recipe for disaster….(pun intended).

Many of you remember Perfectly Posh! Well, this pampering company is back in a BIG way! I couldn’t be happier to have all their natural based, quality bath, body and skincare products back in my life! It’s like a dream come true for many who these products were their go to favorites. They were a big part in reminding me to slow down and take time for self care. They have the best quality products at really good price points. I have a link to them at the top bar of my homepage. They don’t include nasty additives and ingredients, just good clean fun, and you can find a lot of the products rated in EWG Skin Deep! I am a Posh Advocate and am sharing my love of helping people through all areas of well being, in addition to healthy recipes. Perfectly Posh is the absolute BEST pampering company that has amazing products for self care and pampering! We can’t be there for others until we are there for ourselves first. Self Care is not a luxury, not a nice to have. It’s necessary. Self care is an essential daily practice that reminds us that we are alive and that we matter. Every person matters and deserves self care. It’s true you can’t pour from an empty cup, and it’s not just for girly girls. If you shower, Posh is for you! This includes the guys in your life.

Perfectly Posh Because You Deserve Self Care! We All Deserve to be Pampered.

You can find all their products here. I also have started a sample of the month club for free. Each month I send you a fun sample! But, you need to opt in by filling out this form for me.

Have a wonderful day! I hope you make and enjoy this new recipe! I’d love to hear from you in the comments!

Sam

Strawberry Sangria Sorbet

 

Strawberry Sangria Sorbet

Strawberry Sangria Sorbet

I feel sorry for myself plenty on this new diet.  Honestly, I have my moments.  But, dry red wine is allowed. Yipee!  I love wine!  I enjoy sitting with my husband and sipping red wine. I love wine tastings, they are a fun and social event! I like browsing the wine shops.  I like making wreaths out of the corks.  I have had to give up a lot, but not wine.  Red is my favorite anyway, so I am okay with not having white wine.

Sangria’s are so refreshing on a hot summer day, I thought, why not Sangria Sorbet? Here is my version of a spiked summer treat! Adults Only! 🙂

Ingredients:

1 pound fresh organic strawberries

1/2 cup fresh squeezed orange juice

1/4 cup fresh squeezed meyer lemon juice or regular lemon juice

1/4 cup clear honey

1/2 cup dry red wine (I used Spanish Grenache)

Blend all the ingredients in a blender until pureed.  Refrigerate until well chilled. Freeze in an ice cream maker, and then hopefully sit outside with someone you really like and enjoy!

4 Servings, or 16 Scoops

Strawberry Sangria Sorbet

Strawberry Sangria Sorbet