Happy New Year! What is my resolution this year? Well, I certainly want to post more often. That was my resolution last year and I definitely succeeded! I'd like to try to top myself this year and try to post even more often. I also want to try to vary my recipes a little more. I did make a lot of cookies this year, by the way. I think it's time to move on. I mean, I'll still make cookies, but just not as many. ^_^' I usually have a New Year's promise every year to be more healthy. I think I've over done this in the past, however. I tried to be "healthy" by eating more raw foods a couple years ago. I tried to be about 75% raw every day and mostly succeeded. However, my body was not happy. The way I ate was doing a number on my digestive system. I just couldn't handle the amount of raw foods I was eating. I was also eating far too much sugar. Now that I know what types of foods agree with my body and how much of them to eat, being healthy is a breeze! I haven't felt better in a very long time. I eat what I want for the most part, not too much though, and I drink plenty of water and tea. I use vitamin supplements to keep my health as optimal at possible. I also try to cook simple dishes at home using seasonal ingredients. I try to keep my sugar intake down as much as possible. That's all I do! I always shake my head when I think about all the time I wasted "dieting" and "cleansing". I felt worse when I wanted to feel better. I think that I've found a way to make things that I want while also making them more healthful and balanced . If you don't consume too much of anything, you won't try to compensate by adding or eliminating anything else! Makes sense, right?
The most flavorful part of these pancakes is the chocolate hazelnut butter drizzle for the top. This is where the bulk of fat and sugar comes from, so use this as much or as little as you'd like to control the sweetness. I used Justin's chocolate hazelnut butter, which is an all-natural alternative to the very popular yet junky Nutella. Nutella is definitely just frosting that is posing as hazelnut butter. What a strange thing, right? Well, fear not! If you have a craving for something delicious, creamy and full of chocolate flavor, whip up these pancakes for breakfast, lunch, dinner or dessert! They're small, so sharing is optional. ;) Chocolate Hazelnut PancakesYield: approx 6-2" round pancakes Free of: Gluten, Refined Sugar*
Instructions
Here's to a healthy and delicious 2016! The highlight of my Christmas baking has and always will be snickerdoodles. I absolutely love them. I love them so much, that I made them for my very first blog post! When I first began baking without eggs or dairy, I thought recreating something as simple as a snickerdoodle (my favorite cookie ever) wouldn't be challenging at all. Boy, was I totally wrong! There's something that eggs do in a snickerdoodle recipe that really makes a difference. The puffy, cakey yet slightly crisp texture sets the snickerdoodle apart from its sugar cookie cousin. Sugar cookies are nice, sure, but they're pretty flat in texture. Even if you add baking powder and soda to your recipe, it doesn't come close to achieving the rise that I expect from a snickerdoodle batter. Since my discovery of aquafaba, I've been curious to see what its effect on cookies would be. I've used it for the first time in my cookies this year and my goodness. I'm hooked! Aquafaba combined with Ener-G egg replacement powder is the best thing to happen to my cookies since coconut sugar. This combination of binding power and rising agent gives cookies the fluff that I was missing so much. The best thing about using aquafaba for these cookies is that they stay up! My main issue with making snickerdoodles before was that their rise was great in the oven, but deflated once they cooled. Using aquafaba is wonderful because it maintains the cookie's shape in any temperature. These cookies freeze beautifully, too. Feel free to make these ahead of time if you are busy. I totally did that and no one knew! ;) The greatest thing about this recipe is that it's derived from the recipe that I know and love from my childhood. My grandma used to make these with my sister and I when we were little. I looked forward to it every Christmas. The ones we made were not gluten-free, but the ones I have for you today are! This recipe does hold up to it's gluten-containing counterpart. I tested the batter by using unbleached all-purpose flour in place of the gluten-free flours (sub 1 for 1) and it's great! The texture changes slightly, but not in a bad way. The gluten-free variation is actually a little more on the moist side, which isn't a bad thing at all!. The gluten-containing version is a little more sturdy and not as soft. Either way, they are absolutely delicious and simple to make. I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday! New Year's is right around the corner, too, so maybe make these little guys for any shin-dig you may attend/host! They're definitely a crowd pleasing cookie. From my kitchen to yours, Happy New Year! <3 ^_^ Aquafaba Snickerdoodles
Instructions Oven 375 F.
I've got another scrumptious cookie recipe for you! These beauties were something that I decided to do at the last minute and I was surprised and delighted when they came out well! These cookies are definitely not as healthy as some of my other recipes have been. However, I think that sometimes a treat is a treat and should be enjoyed for what it is (unless of course you have allergies). These cookies may be sweet, but they are also rich with dark chocolate flavor. If you use a high quality cocoa powder, you will be baking wonderful antioxidants into your cookies! Those are good for you, right? ;) The chocolate chips and marshmallows really make these cookies what they are supposed to mimic: a comforting cup of hot cocoa. I used Dandies brand marshmallows, which are wonderful. They also recently updated their packaging and I think it looks amazing! If you are looking for another great vegan marshmallow, try Sweet & Sara. Those are also delicious and a little bit more gourmet since they offer more flavors. If you're gonna go out of your way to get a vegan marshmallow, you might as well go all out, right? ^_^ I'm sorry if I'm pushy in this post. I just really love these cookies and I want you to try them. Now.
Hot Cocoa CookiesYield: approx 35 cookies Free of: Gluten, Soy*, Nuts *make sure to use soy-free chocolate, non-dairy milk, and marshmallows Preheat oven 350 F. Ingredients
I was trying to figure out what type of quick bread to make for the holidays this year. I always gravitate towards the same flavors like carrot, chocolate or date. However, I decided to mix it up this year with a quick bread that I actually haven't made in quite a long time. It's really familiar this time of year, though. You got it. Gingerbread! Also, this is the second recipe in a row to have the word "crunch" in it. How fun! =P I haven't made my own gingerbread in a long time, and it's a shame. I love molasses and ginger together. There's a great depth of flavor that molasses brings to the table that I don't indulge in very often. What a shame, right? In addition to being rich and dark in flavor, molasses has wonderful and unparalleled health benefits that not other sweetener can offer. Just take a look at the Wikipedia page for molasses. There are a variety of important minerals that molasses supplies. These are especially important for vegans, since minerals and vitamins are spread out among all types of plant foods. We have to be a little more mindful in choosing our food in order to supply our bodies with proper nutrients. I find it kind of fun. It gives me a reason to pay more attention to what I'm eating and what ingredients I'm using! With molasses supplying iron, magnesium and calcium, it's a bit of a superfood! I decided to let the molasses be the star of my gingerbread, so I did not add any refined sugars. I added some maple syrup for a boost of sweetness and maple flavor, but nothing more! If you feel as though you'd like this bread to be more sweet, try added in some coconut or brown sugar to maintain a warm depth of flavor. We all know that indulgence his high around this time of year, don't we? ;) My goal with recipe writing these days is to come up with treats that will appeal as something special and festive while also providing health benefits. I like to think that everything I cook or bake has something to offer my body. This recipe shows just that but also feeds my heart with joy and comfort! ^_^ I hope it does the same for you! <3 Maple Pecan Crunch Gingerbread
Instructions
Oven 350 F.
Well, it's that time in December where I go baking crazy (as if I wasn't already!). I'm beginning the cookie and cake bonanza with these delicious little oatmeal cookies. They're made from a recipe that I have veganized and made gluten-free from my favorite Better Homes and Gardens cookbook. It yields a delicate cake-like cookie that is also full of texture! I threw both rolled oats and granola into these cookies to make them a little crunchy while also being melt=in-your-mouth soft. You can mix up the spices (or omit) that you throw into the batter if you wish. I used ginger and nutmeg to give them a bit of a bright flavor that most oatmeal cookies do not have. Usually, an oatmeal raisin cookie, while delicious, remains stuck in the cinnamon flavor profile. I love ginger because of its bright and refreshing taste. I paired it with the sweet tartness of dried cranberries (I also love their jewel red color!). What a great surprise for anyone who goes in for a cookie, right? These cookies are easy to whip up and do not require rolling. If you need something to give quickly as a gift, bring to a party, or just need to satisfy your cookie craving, these are the best! I attempted to make mine a little more healthful by subbing sugar for low-GI coconut sugar and added in some buckwheat flour, which is full of protein. You're gonna need your strength to get through all the hustle and bustle of the next few weeks. Let these little cookies help you out. ;) Ginger Oatmeal Crunch CookiesYield: about 24 cookies (approx. 1 Tb batter each) Free of: Gluten, Soy*, Refined Sugar *depending on non-dairy milk choice Adapted from: Better Homes and Gardens Ingredients
Instructions
Oven 375 F.
Today's post was originally supposed to be a cookie recipe. Although, since I've been a little cookie-happy lately, I decided to mix it up and make my cookie into a doughnut. It's been awhile since I made doughnuts. I love baked cake doughnuts. Don't get me wrong, I love (and eat) my fair share of fried yeast and cake doughnuts and I absolutely love it. However, I love to bake (if you couldn't tell!). Baking doughnuts gives them a toasty quality that I secretly miss when I eat a fried doughnut. The two ways of making doughnuts yield such vastly different eating experiences. What I wanted today was a doughnut that really wants to be a cookie, but can't quite figure it out. I think I succeeded. =P These doughnuts are faintly pumpkin flavored but I did not put pumpkin pie spice in the batter. I wanted the granola that I sprinkled on top of the doughnuts to be the focus, and it most certainly is! Biting into one is a wonderful experience of soft and crunchy textures working together to delight you. Did I sell them? ;) Hearty Granola DoughnutsYield: about 5 doughnuts (I used a Wilton pan)
Free of: Gluten, Soy*, Refined Sugar* *Depends on non-dairy milk and optional powdered sugar garnish Adapted from: Sweet Freedom Bakery's Cinnamon Sugar Doughnut Recipe Ingredients
Garnish
Instructions Oven 350 F.
This post is also a no bake cookie! Well, actually, this treat is more like a fudge or no bake doughnut hole in texture. It's got a ton of delicious chocolate chip cookie flavor inside AND out, though! That's right. It's a chocolate chip cookie dough fudge bite covered in a chocolate chip cookie coating. What more could you want? It's also kinda healthy, too. Holiday win. I thought of this recipe when I thought to myself, "A chocolate chip cookie dough ball would be fantastic right now." There is the whole process of making cookie dough that I didn't want to partake in at the moment, however. Instead, I decided to bite the bullet and do it. But, I made my life easier and just threw everything in the food processor. What a great idea! These cookie dough fudge balls come together pretty quickly, so feel free to double or triple the recipe to feed more friends. These travel well, too. They're oil-free, low in sugar, and gluten-free too! I used chickpea flour in them to boost the protein content and to give them a nice toasty color. If you don't like the chickpea flavor the flour imparts, just swap out a different flour! Whichever you prefer, really. Also, feel free to use any chocolate chip you like. I use dairy-free chocolate, but there are varieties out there that are soy-free if you need. I'm on a roll with these no bake cookie recipes! I promise I'll give you some baked ones, too...it's rare that I don't bake during this time of year, but it's nice to switch it up! ^_^ Double Chocolate Chip Cookie FudgeYield: about 7 bites, depending on the size Free from: Gluten, Oil* Ingredients Fudge
Instructions
This recipe is all about instant gratification! Well, almost instant! These clusters of deliciousness are quicker and easier than most of the recipes on my blog, so I consider that as instant as I can get. If you forget to make something to take to a holiday function, to a work party, to a friend's birthday, to your own birthday, or any other occasion that warrants snacking, these are the treats for you Don't worry, I've got your back. What I love about these snack clusters are their slight sweetness and their vague identity. They have cereal in them, so they could be breakfast. There are also pretzels and popcorn, so that = snack, right? Fruit and peanut butter is a classic lunch combination. Chocolate and vanilla together is a classic dessert combo. So, you've really got all your meals covered for the day with this recipe (minus dinner, but who has time for that?)! All joking aside, though, these snack clusters are a delicious and slightly healthy way to indulge around the holidays. This is a wonderful recipe to share, give as gifts, or munch on while you do festive activities inside or out! Change up your dry ingredients for fun times. As I was making these, I started to have a spiritual awakening thinking about all the fun things I could dredge in the peanut butter base. Here's a short list of what I thought of in those 5 minutes:
I hope I've inspired you to run with your wildest cluster-making dreams! There are more holiday-themed recipes on the way, so stick around! ;) Gluten-Free Reindeer TreatsYield: Approx. 20 clusters Free from: Gluten Adapted from: Macrobiotic Rice Crispy Treats from The Hip Chick's Guide to Macrobiotics by Jessica Porter Ingredients
Instructions
I've spent many a Thanksgiving wondering what to bake for a savory side to soak up excess mushroom gravy. I always make something different every year. I usually rotate between biscuits, cornbread, rolls, or mini croissants. This year I decided to make a bit of it all (well, maybe not including the croissant part! ^_^'). These muffins that I made are more like a biscuit-muffin hybrid with a little bit of scone mixed in... That makes sense, right? They are savory with a buttery sweetness and a slight yet not over=powdering olive oil flavor. I added butternut squash for a light sweetness to round out the flavors. I also threw some dried and fresh sage into the batter for a festive herbaceous aroma. I rarely cook with sage so these were such a treat! Serve them piping hot from the oven! They only take 15 minutes to cook and they would probably do wonderfully slathered in a savory jam or vegan butter. Go wild and enjoy your muffin-biscuit-scones...Bisconfits? I don't know. Butternut & Sage Olive Oil MuffinsYield: 24 muffins Free from: Soy, Gluten, Refined Sugar
Instructions
Preheat the oven to 400 F.
t This recipe is a doozy! I've attempted to recreate the most NOT VEGAN recipe I've ever eaten! This casserole/dip/frittata/breakfast bake/brunch thing (I honestly don't know what to call it!) is a recipe from my great Aunt. I remember my mom asking for this recipe after Christmas day brunch at her house. I was young...too young to have even thought about being a vegetarian at the time. The recipe is titled "Texas Fudge". It's literally everything that isn't vegan all mashed into a baking dish and baked until bubbly. It's absolutely artery-clogging but I remember it being sinfully delicious. It's not something I would ever be able to stomach now. The thought of meat and cheese together alone grosses me out let alone adding eggs into the mix. I thought, though, what about a vegan version? Scrambled tofu is one of my favorite things on this earth. Why not?! This version of Texas Fudge is much healthier. It's not the healthiest thing for a vegan to eat, but it's not bad, relatively speaking. It's high in protein, low in fat and is all homemade. The only thing in this recipe I didn't make was the vegan cheese. Although, if you'd like to substitute the vegan cheese for your own homemade vegan cheese or cheese sauce, I'm sure it would be delicious! I also added in some onion and spinach to give the dish flavor, color and nutrition! Feel free, again, to substitute the veggies or add more! I bet this would be amazing with a ton of vegetables added in. The combinations are endless. Use this recipe as a base for whatever you're feeling! This is a great brunch dish for a get together with family and friends. You can serve it any way you want to. It's great with crackers, toast, on a plate, in ramekins, whatever you fancy! Enjoy and don't feel bad! ^_^ Vegan Texas Fudge
Instructions Tempeh
Tofu Scramble
Tofu Filling
Assembly
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I'm Jess!This is my very first food blog! I post revised conventional recipes of foods that I hold near and dear to my heart. My cooking here is all gluten-free and cruelty-free, but full of flavor and comfort. Archives
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