Carob "Magic Shell"

Greetings Fellow Healthy Buddies!

Jen asked me to contribute to the blog and so HERE I AM and here it comes!

Little background on me:

My name's Christina

I've been slowly (but surely) changing the way I eat (working my way to 100% plant based)

and I enjoy seeing what yummy delish-is-nuss I can create for my 

little family of 6!

Last summer I came across the holy grail of Summer treats!

FROZEN BANANAS ON A STICK!

WHAAAAA???

Who woulda thunk?  But they are truly divine.

This summer I wanted to step it up a bit! 

I am a HUGE fan of chocolate.

HUGE fan....

Did I mention....I'm a fan???

Well, chocolate is not very kind to my tummy, so a 

perfect alternative is CAROB!!

I have been eating carob all my life.  For EVERY birthday (and I DO mean EVERY) I have had a carob cake.  It's the texas sheet cake recipe, only made with carob!  Love it!   I already know and love carob so I though I'd experiment with making carob covered frozen bananas!  I tried it and it was LOVE at first bite!

Here's the simple recipe!

1/4 c coconut oil

1/4 c powered sugar

(I am going to be experimenting more with honey/agave to see if the results are satisfactory!)

1/4 c carob powder

1/2 tsp vanilla

Combine the coconut oil, powdered sugar and carob in a small saucepan over low/med heat.

Stir until coconut oil is all melted and the carob and powdered sugar is dissolved.  Remove from heat and stir in the vanilla.  Take a FROZEN banana and dip down in the sauce.  Work quickly as it will start to set up fast!  Once set up, put back in the freezer for about 15 - 20 minutes.  

If you can wait, if not, just eat right then!  The banana will be slightly soft due to the heat of the sauce. If you're like me, I just couldn't wait, and the banana was inhaled in a matter of 4 big bites!  Boy was is GOOD!!!  You can be creative and roll in some chopped nuts before it sets up completely.  I loved it with just the carob though!  

We've got ALL summer to fix (and EAT) these bad boys and I can hardly wait!

YUMMMMMM!!!!

Tastes Like Fall Applesauce!

I have 2 huge bushels of apples that I got for a STEAL!  They are red delicious apples and super juicy.  We've been eating them like candy 'round here.  After a month of apples, they are beginning to go soft and so we decided to make a yummy treat...APPLESAUCE!  I'm sure most applesauce recipes are alike but here is the recipe I came up with.  We made our Pumpkin Waffles and even tried a new waffle recipe the other day, Carrot Cake Waffles and put this yummy applesauce on top.  It was so delish! Enjoy!

Tastes Like Fall Applesauce

12-15 red delicious apples, cored and peeled

1 heaping teaspoon cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon allspice

1/4 cup lemon juice

1 cup water

Combine all ingredients in a medium saucepan.  Over medium heat, bring to a boil, cover and turn to low until apples are soft, maybe 20 minutes.  Blend.

I store my applesauce in quart jars in my fridge...should stay fresh for a couple of weeks at least!

Cherry Apricot Salad

 I'm so grateful to hear of your compliments about this new blog of ours!  I love any feedback you have to give.  I appreciate all the questions I'm receiving about what we are doing.  I know that eating more plant based seems like such an overwhelming thing, but it is so simple and I endeavor to show that here.  I was in the store today and picked up some cherries, because they are so amazingly delicious and I'm going to enjoy the fact that they are in season right now.  I walked around the fruit (instead of the candy isle) and saw apricots.  They weren't particularly cheap, but I picked up half a dozen to have for a treat.  As I pulled them out at home, I thought, how cool would it be to combine these two fruits and come up with a yummy dressing for them.  So I did!  This was such a yummy treat after lunch today.  I hope you like this recipe!

Cherry Apricot Salad

7 cherries, halved and pitted

5-6 apricots, halved and halved again

1 Tablespoon lime juice

1 teaspoon walnut oil 

(I buy mine at Smiths)

2 teaspoons honey

In a small bowl combine the fruit.  Drizzle the honey over the fruit.  In a small cup combine the walnut oil and lime juice and mix well with a fork.  Pour over the fruit and honey.  Serves one.