I got a Vita-Mix Blender for Christmas (EEEEEEEP!).
Tonight I made my first blend… it was delicious, so I decided to share!
1 C unsweetened almond milk
1 1/2 C frozen blueberries
1 tsp honey
1 frozen banana
Put all ingredients in the Vita-Mix and blend on HIGH for 30 seconds, or until 4 “mounds” form.
Note: This recipe definitely requires a high-powered blender. A regular ol’ blender just won’t do the job.
After our amazing pre-Thanksgiving Family Feast on Sunday afternoon, we found some extra room in our stomachs for some dessert. It was tough, but we managed.
First on the dessert menu was a delicious peach custard. My step-cousin, Jason, made it. Very tasty! I need to get that recipe!
Second on the dessert menu was Pumpkin Pie with homemade whipped cream. I made the pie using the crust recipe from Paleo Comfort Foods, and then this pumpkin pie recipe from Everyday Paleo.
This was the perfect way to end a wonderful Thanksgiving gathering. Both desserts were amazing, and it was nice to enjoy the day without feeling disgusting because of too much sugar, or guilty because of too many empty calories. I love Paleo!
Happy Thanksgiving!
I have been making alot of Paleo desserts lately… probably too many! Maybe it’s because I’m so eager to try every single recipe from my new cookbook, Paleo Comfort Foods. So far they have all been delicious, and this one definitely goes in the “AMAZING!” category, though I would also categorize it as a “cheat dessert,” because it does contain butter and dark chocolate chips (and I could not find any that did not contain some added sugar).
Decadent Chocolate Cake with a Kick is rich and moist. It is made mostly of eggs, butter, and dark chocolate chips, but it also contains coconut flour, a little vanilla, and a few other ingredients. The “kick” in the recipe comes from a little cayenne pepper and chipotle powder. I did not have chipotle powder, but I was brave and tried the cayenne pepper. I have to admit, I wish I had left that part out. It was a little too much of a “kick” for me! When you take a bite, you’re amazed at the truly decadent richness of the chocolate, but then when you reach the after-taste, you think “wow- that is spicy!” In my opinion, chocolate cake and spices do not mix well, but that’s just me. This recipe will definitely be made again… without the “kick.”
“Dessert” is a broad term at our house. It is usually just a word to describe the snack we eat after dinner, or before going to bed. What we used to consider desserts (cakes, pies, ice cream, cookies, etc.), are not really part of our diet anymore. Sure, there are some delicious Paleo cake and cookie recipes, but even those are special treats. Our goal is to eat as little sugar (even natural sugars) and carbs as we can, yet still enjoy life to the fullest! Our Whole30 challenged us to break several bad eating habits, and we are really thrilled with the results!
One of the things I love about Paleo desserts is that they do not make you feel disgusting after you’ve eaten them. For example, tonight we had a special “treat dessert.” It was “Feelin’ Peachy,” from Sarah Fragoso’s amazing cookbook Everyday Paleo. The idea is to slice peaches in half, spoon a delicious filling (almonds, raisins, apricots, cinnamon, etc. from the food processor) on top, and then bake in the oven. It was absolutely amazing- almost decadent, yet I do not feel as though I’ve just voided all the healthy eating I’ve done all week. Score!
Here are a few of our favorite Paleo “desserts:”
1. Dark Chocolate. Not a whole bar of dark chocolate… just a few squares. Enjoy with a cup of steaming coffee (with full-fat coconut milk for cream, and a sprinkle of cinnamon, of course!).
2. Smoothies. We have smoothies several days of the week. Our smoothies usually consist of different combinations of the same ingredients. In breakfast smoothies, we may combine berries, coconut milk, spinach (you can’t taste it!), almond butter, and cinnamon. For a dessert smoothie, we may combine peaches, coconut milk, cinnamon, and ice. We have found a ton of delicious smoothie combinations that I will share in a later post.
3. “Peaches and Cream.” You can do this with almost any fresh fruit, but peaches are our go-to fruit right now, since they are in season. Cut a peach into bite-size chunks and place in a shallow bowl. Pour 1/3 can of full-fat coconut milk on top. Sprinkle some cinnamon, and stir to combine. It is even more delicious than it sounds.
4. Frappes. Combine one cup of chilled, strong coffee with one frozen banana, 1 tsp. of cinnamon, and 1/2 cup of full-fat coconut milk. This makes a delicious, frosty, coffee-flavored treat.
5. Tazo Wild Sweet Orange Tea. Have you tried it? If not, you are totally missing out! Add a drizzle of honey if you need a little more satisfaction for your sweet tooth.
6. Cool Berry Tart. This recipe is the closest thing I’ve had to the old-fashioned berry cobbler. It is amazing.
7. Chocolate Cake!!! This is a very special treat…
We also love to try random recipes from amazing Paleo cookbooks. I have already mentioned Sarah Fragoso’s Everyday Paleo. Today I also received my pre-ordered copy of the BRAND NEW Paleo Comfort Foods. It is a beautiful, very thorough cookbook with all Paleo-approved ingredients. I am in love. Some of the dessert recipes include banana nut bread (yes, you did read that correctly!), poached pears, tarts, cobblers, crisps, puddings, lemon squares, and more! I cannot wait to give some of these a try!
