Baking

May

07

Healthy #Organic, Gluten-Free Chocolate Cupcakes!

Baking / Excitement / Family / Food / Natural / Natural Products / Organic / Recipes  Posted by / 13 comments

Healthy.

Yes, you read that right.

Chocolate deliciousness that is healthy for you. I made these cupcakes with the hopes of having a favorite dessert that is packed with nutrition and that my daughters would enjoy. One that isn’t full of empty calories, sugar, high fructose corn syrup and who knows what else!

This recipe is made with absolutely NO flour, NO sugar and NO dairy!

It also packs a nutritious punch of iron, protein and tastes really great! Your kids won’t know the difference, mine didn’t!

Now, you may wonder how this is achievable, well–hold onto your hats folks because the main ingredient is BLACK BEANS! 

Before you automatically turn away from this, like I always tell my darling husband, “Don’t knock it til you try it,” and he always agrees.

He rocks.

I do have to say that these cupcakes are moist but, are more dense than flour cakes. Not so fluffy but, still so chocolate-y!

You ready to try them out?

 

Things You Will Need:

  • 2 cups of cooked unsalted Black Beans
  • 1 TSP Aluminum-Free Baking Soda
  • 1/2 TSP of Baking Powder
  • 1 TBSP Organic Pure Vanilla Extract
  • 1/2 cup of Unsweetened Cocoa Powder
  • 5 organic eggs
  • 2 TBSP of organic honey
  • 1/4 of Stevia
  • 6 TBSP of organic unsalted butter
  • Cupcake liners

 

 

 

Directions:

 

 

Step 1: Blend Those Beans!

Drain beans and add to a blender, add 3 organic eggs, 1 TSP of organic vanilla extract and Stevia. Blend until there is absolutely no lumps. Add the bean mixture to a large mixing bowl and then mix in 1/2 cup of unsweetened cocoa powder, aluminum free baking soda and baking powder. Mix until smooth.

 Step 2: Mix in the Creaminess!

Take the organic unsalted butter and the 2 TBSP of honey (I used creamed honey but, you can use any kind) and begin mashing or whisking until smooth. For best results, soften butter slightly then combine with honey. In a separate bowl whisk the remaining 2 eggs and add both butter and egg mixture to the large mixing bowl with your “batter”. You should end up with a delicious smelling chocolate batter.

Step 3: Scoop That Chocolate Love In!

With a spoon, begin to scoop in batter into the cupcake cups. Normally I pour the batter in but, this batter is much thicker than most regular batters. Fill them generously but, be sure to leave a bit of space since it does rise slightly. Bake for roughly 13-15 minutes at 350 degrees. Time may vary depending on oven. Pole with a toothpick to check.

Step 4: Let Cool. Sit Overnight.

Set cupcakes aside and let cool. After, cover with a plastic top or plastic container and let them sit over night. I find this works wonders and makes them taste less beany, it also makes them a lot more moist.

Piping comes tomorrow!

Organic Chocolate Frosting:

Things you will need:

  • 1 TSP of Organic Vanilla Extract
  • 1/2 cup of Organic Almond Milk or Soy Milk or Coconut Milk
  • 3 TBSP of Stevia
  • 1/2 cup of unsweetened cocoa
  • 7 TBSP of unsalted butter
  • Your favorite piping tip and bag

Directions:

Soften butter, add TSP of organic vanilla extract and whisk until smooth. Add cocoa and Almond Milk  gradually while mixing. That way it is always smooth and not clumpy. Add Stevia and mix until smooth. You may not use all of the milk until you’ve reached your desired consistency. I prefer to keep my frosting on the thicker side that way I can pipe with it much easier.

Pipe to your hearts content!

I chose a very simple technique but, go all out if you’d like!

Tah-dah!

 

 

How did my most honest critics like my cupcakes?

 

 

They LOVED them!

This is just her beginning.

She didn’t even know the difference, at first she sort of noticed and then just went in on it. My oldest daughter said, “OMG Mom, these are DELICIOUS.” And because I’m such a great mom, I didn’t tell them that they were made out of beans.

That’s Project V in full effect y’all!

Thanks for stopping by and let me know how it goes if you do decide to try this recipe!

Til then, cheers m’deres!

 

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Feb

27

Organic & Natural Strawberry Delight Recipe. #CBias

#CBias / Baking / Canadians / Family / Natural / Natural Products / Organic / Recipes  Posted by / 12 comments

We were on a mission.

This past weekend Hubby, the girls, my Pops and I set off to Walmart.

I had the #EqualCanada opportunity to shop for Equal, a sugar alternative and what better time to get a sweetener than when I owed my sister dessert?

We went to the sweetener aisle and searched high and low for the yellow canister of Equal, which is supposed to be on Rollback for $7.97.

To no avail.

Alas, we attempted to search for it at the Pharmacy and no luck either, just as we were putting the blue jar of Equal into our cart, we decided to take a stroll and lo and behold, a few aisles down we found it!

Visit me over on Google+ to see our whole adventure, here!

We had a delicious lunch and then finished it off with a nice, refreshing dessert. A healthy one at that.

I was inspired by Equal’s Lemon Blueberry Mousse and I changed it up a little. I used natural and organic products and of course the Equal. As many of you know, I use another sugar alternative but, my sister prefers the Equal.

Things You Will Need:

Organic & Natural Strawberry Delight Mousse:

  • 8-10 organic strawberries.
  • 1/4 cup of Heavy Organic Cream.
  • 1/3 cup of Equal.
  • 1 cup of natural Vanilla Greek Yogurt.
  • 1/2 cup of whipped topping (optional)
  • Mixing bowl.
  • Hand blender.
  • Dessert cups.
Note: This recipe is almost entirely natural and organic but, not 100%.

Instructions:

 

Step 1: Get Ready!

Measure your ingredients, what was awesome about Equal was the canister was the accessibility and the ease of easily scooping and measuring what I needed. You will need 1/3 cup of Equal.

Did you know that you can cut about 38% of calories by using Equal as a sugar substitute in all your recipes?

Step 2: Pick your strawberries!

After you’ve gathered your ingredients to perfect measure, pick out the strawberries you will use for your garnishes!

I decided to use the strawberries to decorate the Vanilla Strawberry Delight Mousse, you can get creative with them.

Step 3: Mix It Up!

This is where most of the work is done, you mix the natural Vanilla Greek Yogurt into a bowl, add 1/3 cup of Equal and 1/4 cup of heavy organic cream.

Using a hand blender, mix all the ingredients together until you reach desired fluffiness. I thoroughly mixed it and left it creamy.

I let it sit while I moved on to the next step.

Step 4: Cut the strawberries!

You can cut the strawberries thin so you can fold them into the mixture or you can cut them into dices. This is the option I opted for and I chose to layer them instead. I diced them finely and into small little cubes. Which is especially easier for little ones to chew.

Step 5: Fold them in or Layer them!

Choose your favorite dessert cups, add a dollop of the Strawberry Vanilla Delight mixture, add a layer of strawberries and repeat.

Step 6: Top it off & Enjoy!

I used the Heavy Organic Cream to make my whipped topping. You simply take a 1 cup of the organic cream, add your desired sweetener and mix with a hand blender until fluffy. I used a piping bag and tip to adorn the top of the dessert cups and added my strawberry garnishes.

I think she likes it!

Oh and my sister wants me to make it again next week!

Oh My!

It was so easy, quick and both my Hubby and eldest helped me make it!

Well, having a delicious dessert doesn’t have to threaten your waistline, this is a great recipe for all my Fit & Firm buddies and anyone who wants a creamy, fresh dessert!

For more Equal recipes visit them on Facebook, here. And on to see what’s new, send them a quick message on Twitter, here.

Enjoy folks, til next time.

Cheers m’deres!

Disclaimer: “This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias. #CBias All thoughts expressed in this post are solely my own and have not been influenced in any way. Thanks for reading!
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Jan

26

Fit & Firm Friday: Measuring Up.

Baking / Bloghop / Fit and Firm Friday / Food / Inspiration / Weight Loss  Posted by / 15 comments

Hello Fit & Firm Buddies!

So, I had another good week this week and saw another drop of 2 pounds.

I see a bit of a difference and in all honesty, the first thing you lose is water. Regardless, I’m glad that the number is going down!

While stepping on the scale, I noticed that I haven’t been measuring my progress with inch loss. This week, I’m going to take my first measurements and see how many inches I lose.

Measuring inches is so important to me because I am not really watching the number on the scale, more so I want to focus on how my clothes fit and how many inches I lose. I tend to gain muscle very quickly so that can play tricks on me on the scale.

I have a wedding gown to get into, that’s what I remind myself all the time!

Short term goal.

Long term goal is to continue to live a healthier life. 

But, to be quite honest, once you get the icky stuff out of your system, it’s much easier to get back to eating healthy. Cravings subside and you can stick to it. Sure, there are days when I crave something sweet but, there are plenty of healthy ways to satisfy that craving.

I also have to report that I’m slowly navigating my life with less to no Diet Pepsi. Today, I only had one and had water with 2 of my 3 meals and snacks!

*GASP*

This delicious recipe helped this week, I made in about half an hour. My Hanover’s Organic Trail Bars that had just the right amount of sweetness, tons of fiber, anti-oxidants and lots of potassium.

Check it out!

I hope you all have had a great week! If you had a rough week, just keep in mind that tomorrow is a new day and you can start fresh!

Don’t give up!

What better time then to start then now?



Grab Our Button!

Also, make sure to visit Sober Julie on Monday to report or share your progress or motivation for Motivated Mondays!

Til then, cheers m’deres!

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Jan

25

Snyder’s of Hanover’s #Organic Trail Bars: Recipe

Baking / Product Reviews / Recipes / Recommendation / Tips  Posted by / 24 comments

So, as many of you know, healthy options and natural whole foods are a must around these parts.

Especially for my girls.

I often go the extra mile to make snacks or treats or meals at home, that way I know what is going into the food that they are eating. Foregoing the easy way may seem like a huge feat but, with a bit of planning and just a little extra time–you can bet that you will be giving your kids exactly what makes you comfortable.

You can even treat yourself too!

If you are a huge pretzel fan (which I am), you have definitely heard of Snyder’s of Hanover Pretzels. They are a delicious snack that is low-calorie if you are trying to watch your intake and want a snack that definitely tantalizes your taste buds. Well, Snyder’s asked me to share a recipe with you guys and if you know me, I’m a chocolate and peanut butter gastronome!

This is my alternative to traditional boxed granola bars, they are packed with fiber, protein, good fat, potassium and antioxidants. Now the version I made are almost organic because the Kroger’s I went to was out of the Whole Wheat & Oat Sticks. But, this is the type that I suggest for this recipe if you are looking for an organic version. If not, any Hanover’s pretzels are delish!

By the way, head on over to check out all their products. They have plenty to choose from and if you’re not close to the border like me, you can get them in Canada, United Kingdom, France–pretty much all over the globe!

Hanover Dark Chocolate PB Banana Trail Bars:

 

Things you will need:

  • 2 cups of toasted Organic rolled oats
  • 1/2 cup of split Hanover Organic Whole Wheat & Oat Pretzel Sticks
  • 1/4 cup of pure, organic dark chocolate chips
  • 1 cup of Natural peanut butter
  • Pure organic vanilla extract. (3 drops)
  • 2 packets of Stevia (optional)
  • 4 ripe organic bananas
  • Nuts (optional)
  • Dried fruit (optional)

Instructions:

Pre-heat your oven to 350 degrees. Measure 2 cups of your favorite organic rolled oats and spread the oats evenly onto a baking pan/sheet.  Roast them for about 10 minutes or until lightly browned. This is also a great time to roast your peanuts if you are adding them to your recipe.

Step 2:

Take your organic bananas, cut the ends off and begin to mash with a fork. Mash until you reach your desired consistency. Add the mashed bananas to pot and turn on the low heat setting.

Step 3:

Measure 1 cup of your favorite organic or natural peanut butter and add it to the mashed banana mix in the pot. Slowly fold the mixture and keep it at low heat until completed melted.

Step 4:

This is where you add the couple of drops of the pure organic vanilla and the 2 packets of Stevia (natural herb sweetener) to your banana, peanut butter mixture. Keep folding until it is smooth and be sure to be watchful while doing this step since it can burn quite easily.

Take off the heat and cool for a few minutes.

Use a large mixing bowl, add the oats into the mixture and fold until they are completely covered and almost like a dough.

Step 5:

Take your Snyder’s of Hanover pretzel sticks and measure about 1/2 a cup or depending on how salty you want your bars and split them into pieces. That way they are still bite size and will pack a powerful, delicious punch to your bars!

Step 6:

Fold in your Snyder’s of Hanover pretzel sticks into the mixture until evenly distributed. Keep folding the mixture until oats and pretzels are completely covered.

Step 7:

This is where you add the dark chocolate chips, dried fruit or peanuts. Fold them into the mixture until they are evenly distributed throughout the dough-like mixture.

Step 8:

Once you’ve folded the mixture completely, place the oat bar mix onto a greased pan or you can use parchment paper if you prefer. Place it evenly and use a spatula to square it out. Press it down to your desired thickness and place in the oven for about 25 minutes or until lightly golden brown. The oven should be at 350 degrees.

And there you have it folks, enjoy!

Be sure to let your trail bars cool before you cut them. Use a serrated knife or a pizza cutter to cut them into the shape you’d like. I chose for a chunkier and bigger piece for a serving. You can always cut them thinner and longer as well. Throw them in your favorite glass or BPA-free container and you will also be litter-free!

Cooking Info:

Prep Time: 15 mins.

Cook Time: 25-30 mins.

Calories: Approx. 195 calories for the thicker, wider version pictured above.

Portions: 1 starch, 1 fat and 1 snack.

What is your favorite pretzel recipe?

The possibilities are endless, you can make appetizers and desserts and much more! I wanna hear all your snacks and apps you make using pretzels!

Let me know!

P.S.- These make for a perfect snack for your #FitNFirm week ladies! :)

Til then cheers m’deres!

 

 

 

 

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Nov

19

#ClearAmerican Apple-Peach Caramel Explosion Cupcakes!

#CBias / Baking / Food / Natural / Recipes / Suggestions  Posted by / 12 comments

Are you feeling daring?

Ever wanted to try something new and exciting?

Well, I sure did.

Since my American neighbors will be celebrating Thanksgiving next week and I’ve much to be thankful for–I thought it the perfect opportunity or should I say–shoppertunity to come up with a Thanksgiving inspired cupcake recipe that will tantalize your taste buds!

I decided to make the recipe ALMOST organic and add in an explosive (not literally but, it’s delish) ingredient that you may not expect and replace the milk in my recipe. This lowers the calories, makes it light and moist and adds a punch of flavor that will send you over the edge.

If you haven’t guessed yet, it’s Clear American Water and in this case it’s Golden Peach!

 

I headed over to Walmart in Michigan to do some shopping with my family, I was looking for some alternatives to make a cupcake recipe lighter and less calorie dense and I had the opportunity to scope out Clear American Water for #CBias. It was so easy to find too and stood out among the rest because of it’s size and vibrant colors.

Now, for 68 cents you can’t go wrong, especially since I was planning to substitute it for the milk in my recipe. The bottle is fairly large and you really do get bang for your buck. For my frugal peeps, this is a great buy.

If you aren’t sure what Clear American Water is, it’s carbonated flavored water that has 0 calories, Caffeine Free and Sugar Free. It’s also Kosher and Sodium free and “Naturally” flavored.

You can “like” them on Facebook, here . As well as follow them on Twitter, here –for more information.

We don’t often buy flavored water in our household but, I rather buy it than give Gabs pop (or soda like my American friends say) on a regular basis. Milk and water are a staple in their diets so, in our house, Clear American is  a nice, occasional and refreshing treat! Hubby bought a Black Cherry and my eldest bought an extra Golden Peach and my youngest, Mimi, skipped it!

So are you ready for the recipe?

My Apple Caramel-Peach Explosion Cupcakes!

Cream Cheese Frosting Ingredients:
  • 8 oz organic cream cheese
  • 4 TBSP of organic butter (melted)
  • 4 cups of organic powdered sugar
  • 1 TBSP of organic pure vanilla extract
Caramel Drizzle:
  • 1/2 cup of chewy caramel candies
  • 1 TBSP of organic butter/margarine
Directions:
Add the melted butter and cream cheese into a mixing bowl. With a blender begin to blend and slowly add the powdered sugar, blend until it is creamy and to the texture that you prefer. Make sure you use it immediately, if not–wrap it up and place it in the fridge. For the Caramel Drizzle, microwave the candies and margarine for about 1 minute on medium heat. Stir until smooth and place aside, if it hardens place in the oven for another 30 seconds.

What You Will Need:

  • 1 1/4 cups of organic flour
  • 1 TBSP of baking powder
  • 1 TBSP of organic cinnamon
  • 3 organic egg whites
  • 3/4 cups of Clear American Water in Golden Peach
  • 1/2 cup of organic brown sugar
  • 1/2 cups of chewy caramel candies
  • light margarine or butter (organic optional)
  • organic apples

Directions:

Wash and peel about 2 of your favorite type of apples. Once peeled, cut them into quarters and then cut those quarters in half. I chose organic Gala Apples because I love how crispy and juicy they are. Some prefer to use a more tart apple in their recipes but, I like naturally sweet so I opt for this variety.

Get a measuring cup and measure about 1/2 cup of Clear American Water in Golden Peach. Add it to a cooking pot and add 2 TBSP of organic butter or margarine. Add the 1 TBSP of cinnamon and stir until it is melted. Once it is simmering, add the apple slices and switch your oven to low heat, cover and let simmer until apples are soft.

Add a TSP of organic brown sugar and stir into the Clear American-Golden Peach infused apple mix, shut off heat and cover. Once cooled, drain apples and collect the Golden Peach-infused mix into a measuring cup. Do NOT throw it out. Set apples aside to cool.

Once you’ve collected the Clear American Golden-Peach infused mix from the pot, add more Clear American water to make about 1/2 cup of mix, if needed. This is replacing the milk in the recipe and cutting calories too!

If you haven’t already, mix the dry ingredients in a mixing bowl. The flour, baking powder, cinnamon and brown sugar. This is where you add the 3 egg whites and the Clear American Peach-infused mix and vanilla extract, blend until creamy.

Go back to the cooked apples you have set aside and dice them to your preferred size. Pick out your most Thanksgiving inspired baking cups and get ready to POUR!

Once you’ve evenly poured the batter into the baking cups, go back to the caramel you have set aside and spoon the caramel on top of the cupcakes. Place baking tray in the center of the middle tray in your oven for about 15 minutes. The time may vary depending on your oven, so until golden brown. Test if they are ready by poking them with a tooth pick. If it comes out clean, they are ready!

Top with your cream cheese frosting and decorate them with your favorite treats. I chose fall colored sprinkles for a very simple decor. I also left some cupcakes without frosting for a less sweet option.

Last Step: Enjoy!

Now, what’s Thanksgiving without a bit of sharing. My folks are having a small get together at their house tomorrow and they will be having these very cupcakes for their after dinner coffee and dessert. My kids loved the light flavor and my Hubby said that these are the best he’s tried so far. He much prefers the fruity cupcakes while I love my chocolate.

So, how’s that for daring?

You can substitute your eggs and milk with Clear American water in almost ANY baking recipe and they have so many flavors to choose from. From Key Lime, Black Cherry, Raspberry and even Pineapple Coconut. The possibilities are endless and if you are already having a treat, why not make it a bit lighter?

How do you make your recipes light?

I wanna know and before I go, Happy Thanksgiving to my American friends! Wishing you all the best!

Til then, cheers m’deres!

Disclosure: This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias, which is a vendor for Cott Beverages Inc., the manufacturer of Clear American® brand beverages. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this post are solely my own and have not in any way been influenced.
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