Month: January 2016

Strawberry Cream Chocolates (just like See’s!)

Posted on by theserialbakist

These are completely homemade, refined sugar free, raw, vegan and paleo!

STRAWBERRY CREAM FILLING:

  • 2 tablespoons coconut butter (can be found in the peanut butter aisle at any health food store)
  • 2 tablespoons raw honey (the creamy spun kind)
  • 2 tablespoons maple syrup
  • 2 tablespoons coconut oil (room temperature, not liquid)
  • 3 soft pitted dates
  • 3 strawberries
  • 1/4 teaspoon vanilla powder (ground vanilla bean – also found at any health food store)

Blitz all ingredients in a food processor until the strawberries are completely broken down. You may need to scrape down the sides of your food processor to makes sure all ingredients are incorporated. Store in refrigerator for at least 30 minutes – the longer they are refrigerated, the easier to handle.

CHOCOLATE:

  • 1/2 cup vegan/refined sugar free chocolate cacao chips (the higher the percentage of cacao, the better)
  • 2 tablespoons raw honey

Melt the chocolate chips in the microwave in 30 second intervals until melted, or in a stovetop double broiler. Once melted, add in the honey and stir until incorporated.

(If you are following a fully raw diet – you can also mix 1/2 cup of melted coconut oil with 2 tablespoons of cacao powder and 2 tablespoons of honey and stir)

Fill a candy/silicone mold with the chocolate mixture (only fill each HALFWAY).

Take the strawberry cream mixture out of the refrigerator, roll dime sized amounts into balls. Drop a ball into each half-filled mold. Continue filling each mold with chocolate until level with the top of the mold. Refrigerate for approx 2 hours or until solidified.

Drizzle with chocolate and refrigerate again until hardened – this step is optional.

Enjoy!

 

Hearty Vegan Winter Stew

Posted on by theserialbakist

Quick, easy, hearty and filling stew, very little prep and done in one hour! Dinner tonight??

The whole baby tomatoes and fingerling potatoes makes this stew hearty and delish!

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 white onion, diced
  • 4 cloves of garlic, diced
  • 1 parsnip, peeled and sliced
  • 2 carrots, peeled and sliced – I used 2 purple heirloom carrots for this
  • 2 cups of fingerling potatoes, whole with ends cut off
  • 2 cups butternut squash, cubed
  • 1/2 cup baby heirloom or cherry tomatoes
  • 2 boxes (4 cups) of vegetable stock – I used 1 regular and 1 low sodium
  • 1 teaspoon salt – I always use pink Himalayan salt
  • 2 dashes of turmeric
  • 2 dashes of cayenne
  • 2 dashes of smoked paprika
  • 2 dashes dried parsley
  • 4 strips vegan bacon – I use Morningstar (optional)

Heat the olive oil on low to medium heat, add onion. Stir for 3-5 minutes until the onions become translucent and start to brown.

Add in the garlic. Stir for 1 minute, making sure not to let the garlic burn – first ever cooking lesson I learned from my dad!

Add in the parsnip, carrots, potatoes and squash. Stir for 5 minutes.

Add in tomatoes. Stir for 1 minute.

Add in the vegetable stock, and spices. Bring to a boil and stir. Lower to low/medium heat and let simmer (no cover) for 30 minutes. Occasionally stir.

After 30 minutes, test a potato and make sure they are soft. Lower heat to low and let sit for 10 more minutes.

I add veggie bacon to the top of this stew, but this step is optional – Morningstar bacon strips are my favorite by far! Spray a pan on high heat with a bit of coconut oil (Trader Joe’s makes a great coconut spray!), grill the bacon on high for 5 minutes on each side. Chop and add to the top of the stew.

Serve hot and enjoy!

**serves 4, lasts for up to one week in the fridge.