COCONUT BUTTER - Tips and Ideas

I am Excstatic that I have finally figured this out! I've seen it all over the web, and was dying to try it. I've tried to make it with so many failed attempts, but finally figured it out!

All you need is a big bag of unsweetened coconut and a vitamix! 

THAT'S IT!

And you have a creamy, sugar free dream!

You can spread this on waffles, pancakes, or muffins, add to a smoothie to get a 'pina colada' result, blend with fresh pineapple and make frozen popsicles,  spread on graham crackers and sprinkle with mini choco chips for a treat, make a sugar free fudge (see below), place in freezer conatiners and make a frozen treat that's delightful (see below), or mix with Date Honey for an amazing fruit dip!
SO MANY OPTIONS!

Here are my no fail tips:

1) You have to have a vitamix, I haven't been able to make it work with my processor :( But some have been able to run it for 10 minutes and make it work. I just haven't been able to.

2) You must FILL your vitamix to the top!! I know its a bummer to have a large batch, but this is the only way to make it work. It also lasts forever in your cupboard and can be melted to spread again.
3) The unsweetened coconut chunks, instead of shredded coconut, works better!!

4) Don't let it get too hot, Let it run for about a minute or two, then stop and let it cool down, and do another 1-2 minutes. It should end up creamy. If it still doesn't get creamy, add another cup of coconut.

5) Use the damper the whole time while it runs to keep things going through.

6) Don't let your vitamix overheat, if its just not happening, you may need more coconut.

7) I just use unsweetened shredded coconut, you can a little bit of the sweetened stuff if you want.

Coconut Butter Bites:

Mint Chocolate Chip-

Mix about 1/2 C of Coconut Butter with about 1/8 tsp of Peppermint extract, 

place in freezer molds (or ice cube trays)

and sprinkle with cacao nibs or mini chocolate chips. Freeze until firm.

Cinnamon Raisin-

Mix about 1/2 C Coconut Butter with about 1/2 tsp of cinnamon and chopped raisins.

Place in molds and freeze until firm.

Cinnamon Vanilla-

Mix 1/2 cup of coconut butter with roughly 1/2 tsp cinnamon and 1/4 tsp vanilla.

Place in molds and freeze until firm! YUM

For more fun ideas visit CCK

I also made a variation of CCK's Sugar Free Chocolate Fudge:

Salted Chocolate Sugar Free Fudge

Ingredients:

4 Tbl Coconut Butter

2-3 Tbl Creamy Peanut Butter (all natural)

2 Tbl Cocoa Powder

1 tsp Vanilla

pinch salt

1/2 VERY RIPE Banana

You may need about 1/4 cup of Almond milk for a creamy consistency

If you want to add some stevia, feel free.

Pour into parchment lined plate or ice cube trays. Sprinkle with Kosher Salt and Dark Chocolate chips if desired. (or melt it and drizzle it on top!)

(I would have used mini chips if I wasn't all out!)
Take out of freezer and slice into pieces.
Store in fridge for a soft fudge, or freezer for a harder fudge.

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Coconut Almond Fluffy Oatmeal - Sugar Free!

Nice, Fresh, and Simple Tasting. 

Perfect for a summer day or sunday morning!

Scored high points with everyone in the family!

2 C Old Fashion Oatmeal (GF if need be)

3 C Water

1/2 tsp Salt

Bring to boil, reduce heat until all water is absorbed (about 4 minutes)

Add:

1 C Water

1 C 1% Milk or Almond Milk

1 Tbl Ground Flaxseed

1/2 C Powdered Coconut (throw Unsweetened Shredded coconut in blender)

1/8 tsp Coconut Extract or Flavoring

1/4 tsp Almond Extract

1 tsp Stevia (or 1 TBL of Honey)

Simmer for about 10-12 minutes, stirring while it thickens. It should get very fluffy and thick. Turn off heat and cover with lid. To increase the fluffiness. :) Or just serve immediately!

Top With Unsweetened Coconut chunks and Slivered Almonds

ENJOY!!

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Zuchinni Tots and Banana Oat Pancakes

Want something EXTRA special for Mothers Day? 

This is PERFECT! 

Rich in flavor and light on the waistline. :)

(This would also be a GREAT 'Breakfast for Dinner')

Banana Oat Pancakes 


Ingredients:

1 1/2 C Soymilk (or any milk)

3/4 C White Whole wheat Flour (or GF - Buckwheat/Oat flour)

2 tsp Baking Powder

1/2 tsp Baking Soda

1/2 tsp Kosher Salt

1/4 C Flaxseed Meal

3/4 C Uncooked Rolled Oats

1/4 C Cranberries

2 Tbl Sunflower Seeds

1/2 Banana

Blend all ingredients in blender, just until combined. If you have time to let batter sit 5-10 minutes, its a little better.

Zucchini Tots


Ingredients:

1 Large Zucchini, shredded

2 Eggs

1/2 Yellow Onion, diced

1/2 C Whole wheat Flour (or GF if you like - I used millet flour)

Large Handful of Cilantro Chopped

1/4 tsp Kosher Salt

1/2 tsp Garlic Powder

1 Tbl Italian Seasoning

1 Tbl Nutritional yeast (optional)

Combine in Bowl. Place in greased mini muffin tins and top with part skim mozzarella cheese or no cheese at all. 

Bake at 400 for about 15-18 minutes.  

Serve with fresh salsa for dipping!

ENJOY!

Happy Mothers Day

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Chewy Lemon Curd Cookies

I loved these cookies - the texture was GREAT! 

I loved the chewiness of it. 

The tart lemon was a perfect compliment!

Extremely Low Fat and Low Sugar - A guilt free treat!

Adapted from HERE

NOTE: Make the curd ahead of time (recipe below)! It has to sit for two hours.

Cookies:

2 C Spelt Flour or White Whole Wheat Flour

1 C Finely Ground Almonds, or pre-bought almond flour, or leftover pulp from almond milk

1/4 tsp Salt

1/4 C Pure Maple Syrup Or Honey (melt the honey a little to make it really soft)

1/2 C Unsweetened Applesauce

1) Mix all ingredients together. Flatten a heaping tablespoon on cookie sheet and press thumb in middle. Fill with about 2 tsp or more of lemon curd. Bake at 350 for 15 minutes. Let cool COMPLETELY before eating.

-Mine tasted better after setting in the fridge for a bit! Yum!!

Curd:

1 C Fresh Lemon Juice (or bottled if you're really desperate)

2 T Lemon Zest

1 tsp Stevia

1/2 C Xylitol

1/4 tsp Salt

2 Tbl Coconut

3-4 Tbl Corn Starch dissolved in 3 Tbl Water

2 T Earth Balance Spread (or butter if you dare :))

 Combine first 5 ingredients in small saucepan over medium heat.  When sugar is well dissolved add everything else but the butter.  Cook for quite awhile, stirring constantly, until hit starts to thicken and bubbles a lot. Add the Earth Balance and continue to cook and stir until it's thick like pudding. Remove from heat and let cool. (Mine still needed a little thickening and I added UltraGel)
Let sit in fridge atleast 2 hours.

ENJOY!

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Lucky Green Food!

Have fun tomorrow with some great "green" options!

Green Eggs! (the Healthy Way!)

Shown here with yummy (gluten free!) Sunflower Millet Bread

1 Handful of Spinach

1 or 2 Light Laughing Cow Cheese Wedges

1/4 C milk of choice

Blend in food processor or blended until smooth. 

In a separate bowl mix:

 4 eggs (I prefer free range organic), the spinach mixture, 1 tsp Italian Seasoning, 

and salt and pepper to taste. 

Scramble over med- high heat.

Parmesan or cheddar cheese for garnish. (optional)

Lemon Broccoli Pesto

Large Head of Broccoli and Stems roughly chopped 

(or two small heads) (reserve some for topping pasta)

1 C Sunflower Seeds (soaked for an hour if possible)

1/4 C Pine Nuts

Large Handful of Fresh Parsley or Basil

1/2 Lemon, Juice and Zest

1 Large Clove Garlic

Small Handful of Parmesan Cheese (optional - put how much you want!)

1-2 tsp Sea Salt (to taste)

Put all ingredients in food processor, and blend until combined.

While in processor, drizzle in 2 Tbl Milk, 1 Tbl Olive Oil, and about 1/4 C water. Watch it closely until you get the consistency you want.

Mix with Whole Wheat Pasta and top with Some Broccoli And optional Parmesan Cheese and/or Pine Nuts.

I mixed my pesto with Zunchinni Noodles, made with a sprilalizer. YUM!

Diary Free Mint Chocolate Chip Ice cream!

2 Frozen Bananas (make sure to slice before freezing)

3/4 C Coconut Milk or Almond Milk (frozen in ice cube trays)

1/4 tsp Mint Exctract

Couple Drops of Green Food Coloring

handful cacao nibs

2 Dates - soaked for 1/2 hour

1/8 tsp stevia or Agave or Honey - whatever sweetener you prefer

1/4 C Dark Chocolate/Mint Chips - or just chocolate chips

Put Bananas and milk cubes in microwave for about 30 seconds. Puree in processor until smooth consistency. Add the rest of ingredients and puree until smooth. Sprinkle with some mini chocolate chips or sprinkles if you like. :)

HAPPY ST. PATTY'S DAY!

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Red Velvet "green" Smoothie

If you want to change up your green smoothie in the morning, here is a fun and EXTREMELY healthy change!

Beets are a super food! 

They have Folic Acid, Iron for blood building, and 

powerful cleansing powers that can help clean the liver. 

Click HERE for more info.

1 Beet and The Greens, rinsed well

2 C Spinach

1 C Water

2-4 Pitted Dates

1/8 tsp Stevia or 1-2 Tbl Honey or Agave (whatever you want)

2 Tbl Cocoa Powder

1 1/2 C Frozen Sliced Banana

1 Tbl Chia Seed

1 Ripe Pear

Pour all ingredients into Vitamix or blender and Blend until smooth. 

Add ice if you want a better consistency.

Enjoy!

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Overnight Banana Bread Oatmeal

Nothing like waking up to a yummy PrEpArEd Meal for breakfast!!

Enter...the crock pot!

1 C Steel Cut Oats (for gluten free use gluten free oats)

3 Cups of So Delicious Coconut Milk

1 C water or PURE apple juice (I just use water :))

1 Banana Diced

1 Banana Mashed

1 1/2 tsp Cinnamon

1/4 tsp Salt

1 Cinnamon Stick

1-2 Tbl of Brown Sugar or Sucunat or a little Stevia Powder

2 Tbl of Unsweetened Shredded Coconut

1/2-1 Cup of Raisins

Garnish:
Chopped pecans, bananas, and raisins. And if you like a little bit of Pure Maple Syrup

Put all ingredients in Crock Pot (may want to use a liner for easier clean up) and cook on low 4-5 hours. My crock pot cooks VERY fast! If you have an older version you may be able to do 6-8 hours on low.

ENJOY!

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Butternut Squash Macaroni

I've definitely found a new favorite! 

I'm always making new non-diary cheese sauces trying to find the best option. 

This one is different, it has a slight sweet taste from butternut squash, but its so yummy! 

And its so good for you!! 

Butternut Squash has potassium and vitamin B6. With only 1

cup serving you get your recommended dose of Vitamin C! Its good for your heart as well!

Click HERE To read more

Click HERE for the recipe. (Its at the bottom of the page)

I added Broccoli to it!

ENJOY!

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'Cheesy' Broccoli Baked Potato

Cheese - thats not really- :)

Everyone loves this stuff!

I have a lot of combinations and different kinds of 'cheese,' but this one is called our Nacho Cheese!

Dairy Free!

Use it to dip chips, on Taco Salad, Nacho's, or put on top of broccoli and potato boats!

The easiest Dinner EVER!

1/2 C Raw Cashews (if you can soak for 1/2 hour thats great! but not necessary)

1/4 C Nutritional Yeast (Health Food Store - gives it the cheesy taste - and good or you!)

1/4 C Water

1/3 C White Beans (drained and rinsed)

1/4 C Salsa

1 Tbl Taco Seasoning

1/2 tsp Garlic Powder

1/2 tsp Kosher Salt

sprinkle of red pepper flakes (totally optional)

1/4 C Cottage Cheese (totally optional - but it adds an awesome creaminess!)

Combine all ingredients in a blender. Blend until Smooth. Eat at room temp or heat up a little.

ENJOY!

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Cashew Cream - Non-Dairy Dessert Topping!

I have been DYING to try a Cashew Creme. 

It is VERY popular in the vegan world, but don't let that scare you! 

Be brave and try something new that is dairy free (making it less saturated fat and easier to digest) 

It was so good, with the perfect amount of sweetness.

We topped our bread pudding with it (and of course I didn't get a pic! ARGH!) 

My kids ate it this morning sprinkled with cinnamon as a fruit dip! YUM!

I have only begun the experimenting! I am sure there are so many fun variations - so stay tuned! :)

This simple delight is topped with Buckwheat Crispies. My new Fav as well!

More to come on those!!

1 C Cashews

3-4 Pitted Dates

1 tsp Vanilla

1 tsp Sugar or honey (totally optional)

1) Soak the cashews and dates either overnight or at least 20 minutes in water. (Just barely cover)

2) Drain half of the water off of the cashews and place in blender. Place dates in blender with their soaking water. Add vanilla and blend for 2-3 minutes. It gets thicker the more you blend. If you place in fridge for a couple hours it thickens even more! Stir in sugar or honey if you would like it a little sweeter. Or try to just enjoy sprinkled with Cinnamon! 

ENJOY!

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