Peanut Butter Crepes with Cinnamon Cream Cheese Filling (Grain-free) SRC

Posted in Breakfast, Dessert, Gluten Free, Refined Sugar Free, Sides and Snacks, Vegetarian by naturalnoshing

When it comes to food ruts, breakfast is the meal that poses the most difficulty for me. My go-to option is a smoothie but switching things up a bit is always welcome. I am a sucker for pancakes, waffles, crepes, biscuits and bread in general so if I find a good (and easy) way to get my fix, I’m all over it! My quick Quinoa Buckwheat Skillet Bread is a great example, but a girl can’t live off this bread alone 🙂 I’ve had crepes on my mind since a new creperie opened up in town and I can’t seem the shake the craving.

I was stoked when I came across these Peanut Butter Crepes with Cinnamon Cream Cheese Filling when browsing through Tara’s Multicultural Table blog after receiving this month’s for our Secret Recipe Club reveal! Tara’s site is full of recipes from around the world, and her recipe index is a breeze for search through, especially if you are looking for specific ethnic cuisine. Tara’s Brazilian Cheese Bread Waffles had me drooling, along with Armenian Tahini Bread and her Samoan Sweet Coconut Buns…can you tell I had carbs on the brain? 😉

Peanut butter crepes

Though oodles of her recipes were enticing, when Tara mentioned these crepes were naturally gluten-free and flour-less, I was sold. My crepe craving was satisfied! These are definitely best served warm, I had right off the pan and preferred it to the room temperature version I had after snapping photos 🙂 Since these are grain-free, don’t expect the same exact texture from a traditional crepe, but they deliciously filling, sweet and packed with cinnamon-flavor.

I made two different versions, one for me with my limited food list and another batch basically as written with the sugar swapped out for a lower glycemic sweetener. For “my batch”, I used sunflower seed butter for in lieu of the peanut butter, stevia for the sugar in both the crepe and filling and made a coconut cream cheese (recipe link in the notes section). I received rave reviews for the peanut butter version and I loved my allergen-friendly crepes! I served mine with some chopped cherries and apples and a tiny drizzle of maple syrup…they are sweet enough to be a dessert in my book!

Peanut butter version on the left, Sunflower seed butter version on the right

Peanut Butter Crepes with Cinnamon Cream Cheese Filling (adapted from Tara’s Multicultural Table)
Grain-free, Gluten-free, Nightshade-free, Soy-free, Paleo-friendly option, Sugar Free & Dairy-free Options, Vegetarian, Nut-free Option

Ingredients

For the Crepes:
1 egg
6 egg whites
1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract
1 1/4 Tbsp granulated sweetener or a pinch of stevia to taste
2 Tbsp creamy all natural peanut butter (almond butter or sunflower seed butter for Paleo and/or nut-free)

For the Cinnamon Cream Cheese Filling:
4 ounces cream cheese* (see notes below for allergen-friendly alternatives) softened
1 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
1/4 tsp pure vanilla extract
1 1/2 Tbsp granulated sweetener or a pinch of stevia

Options for serving
Drizzle of maple syrup, agave nectar, honey or coconut nectar
sprinkle of ground cinnamon
coconut whipped cream
chopped apples, cherries, sliced bananas or berries
chocolate chips or cacao nibs

Directions

1. To make the crepes, whisk the egg and egg whites in a medium to large bowl until foamy. Whisk in the vanilla extract, sweetener, and peanut butter.

2. To make the filling, mix together the filling ingredients in a small/medium bowl and set aside.

3. Grease a large skillet with coconut oil (butter/ghee or your favorite oil can be used) and heat over medium heat. Once thoroughly heated, evenly swirl about 1/4 cup crepe batter in the pan. Cook about 1-2 minutes, until small bubbles appear and crepe sets. Flip with a large spatula and cook another minute, until golden.

4. Remove crepe from pan to add filling while still warm and roll up. Serve immediately with maple syrup and a sprinkle of cinnamon.

Sunflower seed butter crepes

Notes:
1. *Cream Cheese alternatives: Try this cashew cream cheese for a vegan, soy and dairy-free option or this coconut cream cheese for a vegan, paleo and nut-free version.
2. If you are vegan, I don’t have a good egg-free option for you unfortunately but the filling is delicious if you use a dairy-free option and can be slathered on toast, pancakes etc
3. If you like chocolate and peanut butter, these would be awesome if you reduced the amount of cinnamon and added some chocolate chips and banana added to the filling.

For other recipes from this week’s reveal, click the link below!

23Jul2015

(Almost) Instant Mint Berry Carob Bark

Posted in Dessert, Gluten Free, Refined Sugar Free, Sides and Snacks, Vegan, Vegetarian by naturalnoshing

Do you need a quick sweet fix? I don’t know about you, but I can always use a little treat. How about a healthier treat that satisfies, tastes amazing and you can whip up in 5 minutes? Add the fact that this (almost) instant bark requires minimal ingredients and doesn’t require any baking.

mint berry carob bark1

Mint + Chocolate = a perfect pairing in my mind (Mint Chip Ice Cream anyone)? Add berries to this combo and it’s a definite winner! These recipe is crazy easy, and it’s been stand-by in my freezer for the past couple weeks. Yes, it’s caffeine-free, sugar-free, dairy-free, soy-free, nut-free and TASTY! I even fooled my dad into thinking it was sugar-laden, and he’s a hard one to convince 🙂

With all the fresh mint at farmer’s markets and in the stores, I’ve been throwing some into smoothies and bases for ice creams, tossing into chopped fruit and adding to salads for refreshing summer dishes. Next time (probably tonight) I am going to try using finely minced fresh mint in this treat!

(Almost) Instant Mint Berry Carob Bark (adapted from my Make-it-your-own Chocolate Bark)
Grain-free, Gluten-free, Vegan, Dairy-free, Refined Sugar-free, AIP & Paleo Friendly, Candida-Friendly Option, Soy-free, Nut-free, Egg-free

Ingredients
2 1/2 Tbsp softened coconut oil (I used unrefined extra virgin)
3 Tbsp carob powder (or cacao/cocoa powder but won’t be caffeine free)*
pinch of stevia or 1 Tbsp honey, agave or maple syrup or to taste
1/8 tsp pure peppermint oil/extract
1/4 tsp pure vanilla extract, optional
pinch of sea salt, optional (but SO good)
1/3 cup frozen mixed berries, chopped into small pieces (I leave blueberries whole), I use the organic antioxidant mix from Costco

Directions

1. Line a small plate or dish with parchment paper and set aside.
2. In a small bowl, mix the melted coconut oil, carob (or cacao), stevia/sweetener, salt and extracts. Stir well until smooth and well combined. Taste and adjust if you want it sweeter.
3. Spoon the mixture onto the parchment paper into two rounds.
4. Sprinkle the frozen fruit over the mixture and watch it start to freeze. Set it freezer for an additional few minutes to harden and enjoy!

Serves 2 or 1 large, generous portion 🙂
Store leftovers in freezer, the frozen fruit will get mushy in the fridge otherwise.

*Carob has a natural sweetness whereas raw cacao or cocoa powder is naturally a bit more bitter so you might need to add more sweetener/stevia to taste for a sweeter bark.

mint berry carob bark 1

23May2015

No-Tomato Ketchup (Nightshade-Free)

Posted in Gluten Free, Healthy Tips, Refined Sugar Free, Sides and Snacks, Vegan, Vegetarian by naturalnoshing

Tomato-free ketchup…is that a thing? YES! It looks like the real thing with a deep red hue and a tangy yet sweet taste. I’ve been eliminating nightshades amongst a few others food groups from my diet as recommended from my naturopath to see if some of my digestive issues and aches and pains subside. As things progress, I’ll be sharing a bit about my journey but for now you might be seeing some alternative recipes.

I love how that forces me to think outside the box…experiment a little, and switch up my routine. I’d be fibbing if I said it comes with great ease for my type-A, routine-driven, planner personality but it’s a great lesson (once again) in flexibility. Plus, if something isn’t working or feels “off”, then change is a must, and just the nudge I needed 🙂

If you aren’t familiar with the nightshade family, Jane’s Healthy Kitchen has an easy-to-understand yet comprehensive post…. click here for more information. To give you a short rundown, nightshades are part of the Solanaceae family and consist of foods such as tomatoes, white potatoes, bell peppers, hot peppers, eggplant, tomatillos as well as goji berries, ashwagandha, paprika, and even tobacco.

While I am avoid nightshades, I am looking for alternatives and substitutes in the meantime, and I thought I’d experiment with No-tomato Ketchup to start…after all, it is America’s favorite condiment…or has Sriracha replaced that? 🙂

No-Tomato, Nightshade-free Ketchup (adapted from He Won’t Know It’s Paleo)

Gluten-free, Grain-free, Soy-free, AIP and Paleo-friendly, Vegan, Nut-free, Dairy-free, Refined Sugar-free, Nightshade-free

Ingredients

1 cup carrots, peeled and diced
2/3 cup red beet (can use golden but won’t have red ketchup color), peeled and diced
1/2 cup yellow onion, diced
2/3 cup water
1/2 cup apple cider vinegar
1/2 cup honey, agave or date syrup for vegan
1 tsp sea salt
1/4 tsp garlic powder
1/4 tsp onion powder
1/8 tsp clove
1/8 tsp allspice

Directions

Add beets, carrots and onion to a medium saucepan, cover with water and bring to a boil. Cook for 10-15 minutes or until tender.
While vegetables are boiling, add remaining ingredients (2/3 cup water through spices) to blender (high speed like a Vitamix is recommended for silky smooth texture). Strain and add vegetables to blender when they are through cooking.
Carefully blend on high until liquefied.
Return blended mixture to sauce pan and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low and simmer for 30 minutes until desired consistency is achieved.

Use a dipping sauce for sweet potato fries, as a base for a tomato-free BBQ sauce, slathered on meatloaf, a sandwich or a burger!

25Jan2015

Cranberry Cha-Cha-Chia Muffins (grain-free)

Posted in Breads, Breakfast, Gluten Free, Refined Sugar Free, Sides and Snacks by naturalnoshing

Happy, HAPPY New Year to you all! I hope the holidays were lovely and that 2015 is off to a super scrumptious start for each and every one of you. I’ve been pretty incognito during the “go-go-go” of the holidays this year, so I am now playing catch-up 🙂 Serious catch-up.

I’ve cooked more new meals and dishes in the last two months than I have in the past year…I must have caught a bit of a cooking bug in the kitchen, and I’ll ride that as long as I can. Trying new ingredients, taste-testing and experimentation have all been so fun…and sharing food with people who you care about just makes it that much better!

While I’ve actually been doing cooking than baking lately, I can’t deny my cravings for homemade goodies and sweets….add that to the fact I had half a bag of cranberries waiting to be used up and these muffins were born…or baked. cranberry chia muffins1

Sweet yet tart, light yet filling, these cranberry chia muffins are not only grain-free and refined-sugar free, but they are high in fiber, nut-free and dairy-free. I ate them for breakfast, a snack slathered with melted coconut oil and for a light dessert (when I wasn’t craving chocolate) after dinner. You can make a batch and freeze some if you’d like. Mmmmm muffins….

Cranberry Cha-Cha-Chia Muffins
Grain-free, Gluten-free, Refined Sugar-free, Dairy-free, Nut-free

Ingredients

1/2 cup coconut flour
1/4 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp Himalayan pink sea salt
2 eggs, whisked (room temperature)
1 egg white, whisked (room temperature)
1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract
1/4 cup honey (or you could probably substitute coconut nectar, maple syrup or other liquid sweetener for a different taste)
1/2 cup non-dairy milk, at room temperature (I used unsweetened vanilla almond milk)
2 Tbsp coconut oil (melted butter or other neutral oil could be substituted if you prefer)
2 Tbsp chia seeds
2/3 cup fresh or frozen cranberries, rough chopped

Optional: feel free to add shredded coconut and/or your favorite chopped nuts for a different texture and a flavor variety.

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350F. Line muffin pan with liners or grease well and set aside OR use silicone muffin cups and lightly grease.
2. In a small mixing bowl, whisk together coconut flour, baking soda and sea salt.
3. In a medium mixing bowl, combine eggs through coconut oil and whisk until well combined.
4. Add wet ingredients to the dry mixture and stir well until batter is smooth and thickens slightly (coconut flour is really absorbent, causing the batter to thicken as it sits). Stir in cranberries and chia seeds and
5. Spoon batter into prepared muffin liners or muffin cups (mine made 10 muffins, depending on the size of your pan or liners). Bake for 22-25 minutes or until lightly browned and cooked through. Remove from oven and let cool, then enjoy!

I stored the muffins in the refrigerator, but these also freeze well.

Makes about 9-11 muffins, depending on your pan or cups; my silicone cups

cranberry chia muffin bite