FOODIES! Ice Cream Alert – A must read!

ICE CREAM ALERT!

You know when you go on Pinterest and you see this amazing creative dessert? You see the instructions are included but when you finish baking you realize it looks nothing like the picture from Pinterest? Happens to me ALL the time! Here’s an example – I want to make healthy ice cream. Since my blog is about healthier options, I found this tasty looking ice cream on Pinterest here. From the image below, you can see how appealing it is – Yum, almond milk, bananas, berries, and cinnamon. Did you take note that there are only 5 INGREDIENTS – yes, 5 INGREDIENTS! This recipe on Pinterest came from berryripe.com since Pinterest usually doesn’t post “how to” or full recipes, you usually have to click around unless Pinterest links a page to the actual website. I personally, just always find it hard to click away when the images on Pinterest look so yummy!

Now that we know we can search Pinterest for yummy pictures and design ideas, let’s take this to another for instance. So now we have the picture perfect image in our heads, we have the recipe from the site they included, and now we have the finished product. We are either satisfied or we are not satisfied. If we are NOT satisfied, we can continue to look on Pinterest for other ideas such as, include a topping that will make the ice cream more appealing, or we can search for cones or bowls to help add flavor. Maybe for this flavor they recommended a waffle cone with dark chocolate. That could make it taste better, right? If we are satisfied, well then, we eat it or give the ice cream to that lucky person! Pinterest is amazing for finding the perfect idea and adding your own twist to it.

What if we purchase ice cream and it feels like cement, or we don’t feel confident on actually making ice cream? There is a community that can help with this! Epicurious.com or the app form, actually has a community, recipes, and expert advice. Yes, EXPERT ADVICE ON FOOD! Epicurious uses real world examples to help YOU, WE, US! In this case, the ice cream you have is equivalent to a rock…come on! We have all been here too. I recall actually having a cut and bruise on my thumb because ice cream was stored in dry ice. Nothing worked! The microwave would melt the first layer, but getting around that was impossible. Thanks to Epicurious we have now step by step help from someone in the industry. This “How To” was created by a pastry chef and explains what to do if your ice cream is as good as cement. Not only, does the pastry chef provide alternatives in case you do not have the equipment, BUT (drum roll please!) the chef shows you what to do if you want to mix the ice cream with crushed fruit, nuts, chocolate, etc. HELLO! All this advice for FREE? Eager to try this, right? If you need an excuse Halloween is right around the corner. What about Halloween themed ice-cream? You know you can go back to Pinterest for ideas!

Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Alex Brannian, Food Styling by Michelle Gatton

More information on ice cream in the links below:

Pinterest
Epicurious
Berryripe

Chocolate Cake with Quinoa? What!

Foodies,

How exciting! We can now eat cake that is loaded with vitamins and protein! Since quinoa is a healthy grain, we can now feel guilt free while eating CAKE! This is a great dessert for kids as well. After all, what kid doesn’t like chocolate cake? Keep in mind that you do not have to use whipping cream. You can use a healthier alternative like coconut cream. If you want your cake even healthier, you can skip the cream and add fruit or powdered sugar. The possibilities are endless!

Ingredients

• 2 cup – Quinoa, cooked
• ¹/₃ cup – almond milk, unsweetened
• 4 large – egg
• ¹/₂ cup – butter, unsalted
• 1 teaspoon – vanilla extract
• 1 cup – sugar
• ¹/₂ cup – cocoa powder, unsweetened
• 2 tablespoon – cocoa powder, unsweetened
• 1 ¹/₂ teaspoon – baking powder
• ¹/₂ teaspoon – baking soda
• ¹/₂ teaspoon – salt
• 1 cup – heavy whipping cream
• 2 tablespoon – powdered sugar

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.  Spray and line a 9-inch nonstick cake pan with a round of parchment paper at the bottom.
2. Melt butter.
3. Put the quinoa, milk, eggs, melted butter, and vanilla into the bowl of a food processor fitted with the metal blade.  Pulse to combine and then process until smooth, this will only take about 30 seconds or so.
4. Add the sugar, 1/2 cup of the cocoa powder, baking powder, soda, and salt to the bowl and pulse to combine well.
5. Turn into the prepared pan and bake for about 40-42 minutes until a toothpick comes out without wet batter sticking to it.  Remember that if your pan has different dimensions, your cooking time will vary.
6. Let the cake cool on a rack for about 15 minutes before turning out of the pan.  Be careful when you flip the cake over as it will be delicate.  I like to place a plate over the pan and then gently flip both over together.
7. When the cake is completely cool, frost.
8. To make the frosting whip the cream until it is starting to thicken, then add the sifted confectioner’s (powdered) sugar and remaining 2 Tbsp of the cocoa powder.  Continue beating until thick and spreadable.  Don’t over beat!

View more on this dessert here!

October 9 is National Dessert Day

OK… I know this is about Healthy recipes. BUT C’MON – Today is National Dessert Day. Let’s try some desserts, but on ONE condition. That we use non-processed ingredients. Let’s try using all organic ingredients and if possible, alternative ingredients like almond milk instead of regular milk. It’s the small things that add up, right?

Happy National Dessert Day! I will be having some organic cheesecake!

Source: October 9 is National Dessert Day

Let’s be basic Foodies – Pumpkin Pie and Fall!

Let’s start with how it is now fall. We all know pumpkin spice is in, so let’s start with a healthy dessert option – pumpkin pie.  What makes this pie healthier you say? This pie consists of 5 ingredients for the filling and 6 ingredients for the crust. Overall, this is pretty good! If you look at the ingredients below, you will see there is nothing processed.  Thanks to sarahfit.com, the recipe and video are now available here!

Healthy Pumpkin Pie Recipe (Makes 8 servings, Prep Time: 15 minutes, Total Time: 50 minutes)
Crust

• Filling
• 1 Teaspoon Pumpkin Pie Spice
• 1 Tablespoon Honey
• 2 Tablespoon Butter (I used Greek Yogurt Butter by Ilios)
• 1 Tablespoons Coconut Oil
• 1/2 cup Quick Cooking Oats
• 4 Graham Cracker Sheets (100% whole wheat preferably)
• 1 cup Pumpkin Puree (canned)
• 3/4 cup of Unsweetened Vanilla Almond Milk
• 2 egg whites
• 1 tablespoon Pumpkin Pie Spice
• 1/4 cup Agave Nectar (can be substituted for Honey, Maple Syrup or Sugar).

Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Combine all crust ingredients in a blender or food processor. Dump into a pie dish and press down firmly into the edges of the pan. Cook in the over for 10 minutes. Let cool completely. Combine all filling ingredients. Blend well until it is a smooth like consistency. Pour into crust. Cook on high at 425 for 5-7 minutes. Turn heat down to 350 for another 20-25 minutes or until filling set. Let cool before you cut and serve. Top with a little whip cream if you like. Makes 8 servings.