Vegan Hazelnut Cocoa Spread---AKA Homemade Nutella

Nestled in the mountains doing yoga! It was a great day!

I just got back from Massachusetts last weekend from visiting Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health in Stockbridge Massachusetts. The place is amazing!! I can't say that enough. If you are someone who loves to be educated about your body, food, or nutrition, relax nestled in the mountains, have yoga classes accessible to you all day long, than this place is the perfect place for you to treat your mind, body, and soul.

Kripalu is also known for its renowned all natural meals that serve an abundant variety of tasty nutritious foods. Their food kitchen is served buffet style with so many food choices. I just kept eating when I wasn't even hungry because I had to try everything. It's not everyday I have a food set up like that to nosh from; so I took full advantage of it.

I came home with a couple of their cookbooks and am so excited that I can bring a of piece of their kitchen to my table.

I am starting off by sharing one of their quick and simple spread recipes because I am a Nut Butter NUT! But don't worry, I have a couple more tasty recipes that I can't wait to share that don't include nuts, bananas, or cocoa powder which are three staples in my house.

Morning Sun Rise on 3rd Day







Vegan Hazelnut Cocoa Spread

Ingredients:

1/2 Cup Hazelnuts- (grind whole hazelnuts in food processor until finely ground)
   A 1/2 cup of Hazelnuts will grind into a 1/2 cup of hazelnut meal

1/4 Cup Cocoa Powder
2 Tbls Maple Syrup or Agave Nectar
3 Tbls Almond Milk or Soy Milk
 Original Nutella uses Skim Milk
Pinch of Salt--Optional


Combine all the ingredients in a food processor. Blend until creamy, scraping down sides of bowel if necessary.

This makes for a great fruit dip, sandwich, or topped on rice cakes. This also pairs well with a banana!!!

Decadent Banana

This is the Perfect Energy Snack. All the ingredients provide fuel for your body. So whether you've just got done with a great work out or are needing an afternoon pick me up, this snack will get you replenished.
This snack has three ingredients and all three roar FUEL- ENERGY- POWER!

Decadent Banana

Ingredients:
1 Unpeeled Slightly Browned Banana
1 Tbls Raisins or Chopped Dates
1 Tbls Chopped Nuts-your choice

Prepare:

1. Bake
Slice banana down the center but only cut half way through banana
Carefully pry open the banana and push raisins in the center
Close the banana and place on a baking sheet
Bake for 10-12 minutes at 375 Degrees
Let the banana cool for a couple of minutes
Peel back and top with nuts.

2. Grill
Slice banana down the center but only cut half way through banana
Carefully pry open the banana and push raisins in the center
Wrap the banana in aluminum foil
Place on grill at medium to high heat for about 5 minutes
Let the banana cool for a couple of minutes
Peel back and top with nuts.


Additional toppers:

Sprinkle Toasted Carob, Cocoa, Cacao, or Dark Chocolate Chips on top
Add a dollop of Greek Yogurt or Peanut Butter
Sunflower, Pumpkin Seeds, or Granola for some crunch


Happy Snacking!
~K

Quinoa Cabbage Rolls

When my sister and I were younger, our mother would make cabbage rolls stuffed with ground beef. To tell you the truth I hated cabbage rolls. Years later I love cabbage! I've tried not to make every recipe with cabbage, if I did this blog wouldn't be interesting.

Quinoa Cabbage Rolls

1 head of green cabbage
2 Cups cooked quinoa
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
2 Tablespoon olive oil
1 medium onion, finely chopped
2 medium carrots, finely chopped
2 cloves of garlic
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon dried thyme
1 teaspoon dried rosemary
2 teaspoon Italian rosemary
1 teaspoon oregano
2 Cups tomato sauce

___________________________________________________________________________________
Core the end of the cabbage, keeping the leaves together. Steam leaves to soften for 7 - 10 minutes, you can bring to boil steam a few minutes and then turn the heat off.

While the cabbage is steaming, saute the onion, carrot, and in olive oil until just soft. Add salt, pepper, arrowroot starch and herbs / seasoning. Saute 30 seconds and remove from heat. Mince the garlic and set aside. Place the walnuts on a baking sheet and toast on low until just browned 3 - 5 minutes. In a mixing bowl combine cooked quinoa, sauted vegetables, minced garlic, toasted walnuts and 1/2 - 3/4 cup of tomato or pasta sauce. Mix well.

Carefully remove the cabbage from the pot and cool to touch. Very gently pull each leaf away from the head. Place a spoonful of filling on the leaf, fold the sided over the filling and roll. You should end up with an egg-roll looking pocket. Place each roll into a large glass baking dish.

Once the dish is full, slowly pour the remaining tomato or pasta sauce over the rolls. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Bake for 30 minutes.

~Enjoy D

Winter Tasting Party Recipes

Our Winter Yummy Tasting Party

THE HOSTS

We threw a tasting party again and it was so much fun. Dana was in town from Chicago still from her winter break, so we decided it was a good time to throw a party.
So after scrambling around my kitchen and making sure everything was perfect, we succeeded in a very lovely party.
We let all of our guest sample our cold weather recipes and we even made homemade ice creams in some very amusing flavors. These will be coming very soon. So don't miss out if you are an ice cream lover!!

THE FOODS

Jalapeño Cauliflower Poppers

Another great cauliflower recipe!

If you like jalapeno's then this a must try for you.

I am very excited about this recipe because I finally got my boss to eat something I brought for lunch and he fell in love with it and demanded the recipe!

I also served this recipe at our Winter Tasting Party and it was one of the top favorites!


Jalapeño Cauliflower Poppers


Ingredients:

1 Head Cauliflower
2 TBLS Extra Virgin Olive Oil
2 Whole Jalapeno's
3 Tbls Parmesan Cheese or Nutritional Yeast
2 Tbls Water
Salt and Pepper

Directions:

Preheat oven to 450 Degrees

1. Core Cauliflower and cut into small florets and place in a large bowl.

2. In a food processor add Jalapeño's, Olive Oil, 2 Tbls of Parmesan Cheese/Nutritional Yeast, Water, Salt, and Pepper. Blend to a smooth consistency.

3. Pour the sauce over the cauliflower and toss to evenly coat.

4. Lay out on a baking sheet and roast for 15 minutes-
Shake the baking sheet or carefully stir the florettes and roast for an additional 12 minutes

5. Sprinkle with remaining cheese
Let the cauliflower cool a minute before placing in a dish so it will not get mushy

This recipe is a great snack paired with a bean dip.

~K

Spinach and Zucchini Soup

This winter I have to admit I haven't found myself making much soup. Maybe it's been the mild       weather the Midwest has had. Now that the weather is becoming more winter like. I tried a recipe off 101 Cookbooks.

Spinach and Zucchini Soup Recipe 


3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
2 cloves garlic, chopped
2 medium onions, roughly chopped
big pinch of salt
2 1/2 cups potatoes (2 medium) cut into 1/2-inch cubes
2 1/2 cups zucchini (2 medium), loosely chopped
4 cups vegetable stock
4 cups fresh spinach leaves, loosely packed
1 cup cilantro, loosely chopped
one lemon
_________________________________________________________________________________

In a large, thick-bottomed pot over medium-high heat, add the olive oil. When the oil is hot (but not smoking) add the garlic and onions and saute for a few minutes along with pinch of salt - just until they soften up a bit. Stir in the potatoes and zucchini. Add the stock. Bring to a simmer and cook until potatoes are soft throughout, roughly 10-15 minutes.
Stir in the spinach, and wait for it to wilt, just ten seconds or so. Now stir in the cilantro. Puree with a hand blender until smooth. Whisk in a big squeeze of lemon juice. Now taste, and add more salt if needed. Finish with a drizzle of olive oil and serve.

Serves about 6.


~Enjoy D

Mud Pie Dip

Another Peanut Butter Recipe! What can I say... I love peanut butter! And given the fact that it is so good for you.....why not?

Mud Pie Dip

2 1/2 Tbls Peanut Butter
8 oz Plain Non Fat Greek Yogurt
1/2 Tbls Dark Chocolate Cocoa Powder
1/2 Tbls Maple Syrup or 1 Packet of Stevia
1/2 tsp Vanilla Extract

2nd Option: Use Chocolate Peanut Butter and omit the and Cocoa Powder. Add 1/4 tsp of maple syrup

Mix all the ingredients together and serve with fresh fruit like banana's or strawberries!

Pan-Roasted Cauliflower with Raisins

This recipe is simple, but the cooking time takes awhile. All the flavors combine very well. I love cauliflower because it's great throughout all seasons along with kale. Now get to cooking!:)

Pan-Roasted Cauliflower with Raisins

2 Tablespoon Raisins
2 Tablespoon Olive Oil
1 head of cauliflower, cut into florets
1 teaspoon honey
2 cups diced tomatoes
Pinch of crushed red pepper
Dash of Salt and Pepper
1 garlic clove, finely chopped
1 Tablespoon chopped parsley
1 juice of lemon

Pre-Heat Oven 350F. In small bowl cover raisins with water. Soften for 10 minutes. Drain
Meanwhile, in a oven proof skillet heat olive oil. Add cauliflower florets and honey and cook on moderately low heat for 10 minutes. Raise heat to moderate when the cauliflower florets have soften for an extra 5 minutes. Stir in chopped tomatoes and crushed red pepper, salt and pepper. Cook until tomatoes have soften.
Add the raisins to the cauliflower along with 1/4 cup water and chopped garlic. Transfer oven proof skillet to oven for 30 minutes. Stir in parsley and lemon juice. Serve the cauliflower warm.

10 More Ways with Oatmeal....Mock Oatmeal Recipes

I am having so much fun making different flavors of oatmeals. I am on a roll!

Here is another list of some  recipes I have conjured up. I call these my mock oatmeals and I have to say they are all very good.

Most of my oatmeal recipes don't have measurements. I have done this so you can add as much as your heart desires. You can add more or less of an ingredient depending on how hungry you are. If you are just unsure as to how much to use, start with a teaspoon of the spices and syrups, tablespoon of nuts, and 1/2 cup of the fruits and then work up from there. Enjoy my friends! ~K

Chocolate Amaretto Strawberries

Amaretto- 1/2 to 1 tsp (don't want to start the morning with too much!!)

Cocoa

Strawberries

Milk

Cook Amaretto and Strawberries with oatmeal

Mix in cocoa

Pour in Milk

Pecan Pie

Pecans

Maple Syrup

Butter

Stir in Maple Syrup and Butter to Oatmeal

Top with chopped Pecans

Pumpkin Pie

Pumpkin Puree

Pumpkin Pie Spice 

Stevia

Optional--Peanut Butter

Stir in Pumpkin and Spices to oatmeal

If adding peanut butter--try heating peanut butter in microwave for 10 -15 seconds till warm and soft and pour over pumpkin pie

Vanilla Latte'

Instant Coffee

Vanilla Extract

Stevia

Milk

Vanilla Yogurt or Whipped Cream--Optional

Stir in instant coffee and vanilla extract to oatmeal

Pour milk over oatmeal

Optional topping--Vanilla Yogurt or Whipped Cream

Fruit Cake

Any Dried Fruits: Dates, Raisins, Prunes, Apricots, Cherries, Cranberries

Butter

Rum Extract or Brandy

Walnuts

Cinnamon

Nutmeg

Milk

Cook dried fruits, butter, rum, cinnamon, nutmeg with oatmeal.

Stir in Walnuts and top with milk

Rum Cake

Rum Extract

Butter

Vanilla

Stevia

Milk

Cook all the ingredients with oatmeal.

Top with milk

Blueberry Muffin

Butter

Blueberries

Vanilla Extract

Stevia

Cook all ingredients with oatmeal.

Top with milk

Cinnamon Raisin Bread

Cinnamon

Raisins

Vanilla

Maple Syrup/Stevia

Milk

Stir in cinnamon, raisins, vanilla, syrup/stevia to oatmeal.

Top with Milk

Gingerbread Oatmeal

Butter

Molasses

Cinnamon

Ginger

Cloves

Milk

Stir all ingredients into oatmeal

Top with Milk

Sugar Cookie

Stevia

Butter

Vanilla Extract

Milk

Cook Stevia, Butter, and Vanilla in oatmeal

Top with Milk

Chocolate Cake

Milk

Cocoa Powder

Stevia

Substitute the water for milk when cooking the oatmeal

Stir in cocoa powder and stevia and cook oatmeal

Homemade Vanilla Extract

Once you make homemade vanilla extract you will never go back to buying high priced store bought vanilla. It is so easy to make and very inexpensive.


Ingredients:

1 Pint Vodka
3-4 Vanilla Beans
A clear bottle to store vanilla or use the Vodka bottle

Directions:

Slice your vanilla beans down the center and scrape out the seeds.
Add the seeds and beans to vodka.
Screw cap on the bottle tight and shake well.
Shake the bottle every day for a week and then once a week for 3 weeks.

The vanilla will take 30 days to cure.
After 30 days strain and use.

You can add more vodka to the beans 2x before the beans begin to loose their potency.

Vanilla is a great way to add flavor to many recipes.

Try
~Adding to Plain Yogurt, Oatmeal, Smoothies, or Warm Plain Milk
~Great in almost any baked good recipe


Enjoy!

Hot Peanut Butter and Banana 2 Ways

This is one of my favorite super simple things to make. It puts a nice twist on a boring peanut butter sandwich.

It makes a perfect lunch or if you need to nosh quickly, it whips up in minutes! This happens to me a lot and if I don't eat fast I will pick at everything in the refrigerator, resulting in a lot of extra calories. This is why my life consists of quick and easy meals!

Peanut Butter and Banana Panini

Ingredients:
2 Tbls Peanut Butter
1 Banana-sliced long ways
2 Slices Whole Grain Bread
1 Tbls Butter

Prepare as you would a grilled cheese sandwich
Butter on the outside
Peanut Butter on both the inside slices
Banana's in the middle

                                                                                    Lay the sandwich in a hot griddle or panini press
                                                                                    Grill to your brown liking

Peanut Butter and Banana Wrap

Ingredients:
2 Tbls Peanut Butter
1 Whole Banana
1 Whole Wheat Tortilla

Directions:
Spread peanut butter on tortilla
Lay whole banana down center
Wrap and lay in a buttered griddle or panini press
Grill to your brown liking

Serve with some carrots and hummus and you have a quick and easy meal that is sure to fill you up!


~K

Lentil Burgers

 

Lentil Burger Recipe

1 Tablespoon olive oil

2 Cups cooked lentils 

2 Tablespoon ground flax seed 

1/2 teaspoon water

1/2 teaspoon cilantro 

1/2 teaspoon cumin

Dash salt and pepper

Warm olive oil over medium-high heat in a skillet. Mash lentils in a big bowl. In a small bowl mix ground flax seed with water (this is a substitute for egg). Add flax seed mixture, cilantro cumin, and salt and pepper to lentils. Form into patties and add to headed skillet. Cook 7 minutes on each side.

Serving 4-5 patties

(Note: I found cooked lentils at Trader Joe's) 

Enjoy

~D