Both Syfy and I have issues with dairy and try to avoid it as much as possible these days (with the exception of really good cheese and yogurt!). I use non-dairy options instead when making all of our classic favorites! One of first things that I searched out to learn how to make, was whipped cream. I grew up in a household that believes that no hot cocoa and no pumpkin pie should ever go without at least a dollop (or more….) of whipped cream! This is law in our house and so the thought of getting rid of all of our dairy had daunted me, when I realized that also meant my beloved whipped cream. Don't be sad! There is a fantastic and super simple alternative that tastes just as great! Take it from this whipped-creamaholic that this coconut milk whipped cream is SUPER good and doesn't taste like coconut to me, at all. Continue reading
Category: Desserts
Healthy Homemade Marshmallows - Gluten/Corn/Dairy/Egg Free, GAPS Friendly
Marshmallows are by far one of my favorite childhood sweets. My mother has a weakness for hot cocoa and would buy every kind she walked by when we went to the grocery store. We ALWAYS had hot cocoa and marshmallows throughout every winter of my childhood. My mom had a certain love for marshmallows in her hot cocoa and I always agreed, hot cocoa should not be served without them. Continue reading
The Healing Benefits of Healthy Homemade Jello (With a vegan alternative too!)
This last week my son, Silas, came down with a stomach virus. When I got a stomach virus as a kid, I always remember my mom breaking out the boxes of Jell-O with fruit, some Campbell's chicken noodle soup, and ginger ale. Those staples always helped me to feel better and I wanted to pass that tradition down, but in a much healthier manner. It's not my mom's fault, we just didn't know these things at that time. Continue reading
Homemade Apple Strawberry Gummy Fruit Snacks That Are Good For You
Hippy New Year! With another year behind us and a whole year of guest posting under my belt, I am really starting to feel like this place here is my second home! Thanks so much for reading all of my guest posts over here throughout 2013! I figured that my first post of the new year should be about something healthy and delicious. What is more fun than healthy and delicious homemade gummy fruit snacks?
With my efforts to get more nutrients into Syfy's diet, I have decided to try my hand at making different yummy kids foods with a healthy twist. Lately, Syfy has been super picky about putting anything green into his mouth. He has become so picky that if it's outside his already known loved foods (i.e. meat, cheese, and fruit), then he most likely won't eat it. I am not even sure how this happened. I made all of his baby food as a baby and he LOVED everything that I would give him. As soon as he turned 3 (and now this year at 4), I started learning that there will be a dance to every single meal. This dance consists of trying to keep him at the table AND getting him to eat something off of his plate for any of the meals for the day.
These gummy fruit snacks were created out of necessity. I have started trying things like smoothies with hidden veggies and hemp protein powder, and yummy tasting snacks such as these Strawberry Apple Gummy Fruit Snacks.
Gelatin is a healthy source of collagen
Most people these days are not getting as much gelatin as our ancestors used to because we no longer eat all of the parts of the animals. The type of protein that is provided by gelatin is full of amino acids that are REALLY great for your hair, skin, and nails; not to mention digestive health. The collagen that is readily available in gelatin (I prefer grass fed gelatin) can also be found in bone broths as well, but I prefer sweet treats when given the choice!
Homemade Apple Strawberry Gummy Fruit Snacks
INGREDIENTS
- 1 cup fresh apple juice (or some other such freshly made juice)
- 1/2 cup strawberries, pureed (or other fruit puree, even applesauce or pureed frozen berries)
- 1/4 cup raw unfiltered honey/maple syrup (I like to use maple syrup because it does not change the flavor as much as honey can)
- 1/4 cup grass fed gelatin
- fun silicon molds (I like the Gummy Bears, Dinosaurs, Hearts, and Stars)
DIRECTIONS
- Combine the apple juice and strawberry puree in a small saucepan and heat over low heat. When the mixture has reached a WARM (but not boiling) state, whisk in honey until melted.
- When the honey/maple is melted, whisk in the gelatin until it is dissolved completely.
- Pour into molds and refrigerate for 1 hour.
- Enjoy! These will keep in your fridge for 2 weeks! They are more the consistency of gummy snacks and are able to go in baggies in your kid's lunches!
Hippy Mother’s Day With Vegan Strawberry Orange Cinnamon Rolls
We all know how much I love coming up with crazy awesome vegan sweets and treats. I can't help myself, when I get a craving for something…I have to create it! I decided for this upcoming Mother's Day, I wanted one of my favorites, but revamped for spring. Cinnamon rolls! These aren't just ordinary cinnamon rolls though, they are orange strawberry cinnamon rolls, and they are GOOD!! Continue reading
Vegan Applesauce Spice Cupcakes With Maple Cinnamon Icing
I have a love for apples in deserts. There is no other fruit out there (except maybe coconut) that I find myself wanting in my pies, cakes, and cobblers (also my peanut butter!). Applesauce spice cake is especially good to me because it's so moist, it's like eating a decadent pound cake…without all the pounds! Using apple cider vinegar in this recipe helps bring out even more of the apple flavor, but make sure that it is unfiltered and organic! Continue reading
Vegan Pink Lemonade Champagne Cupcakes
When I asked my friend Chelsea's boyfriend what sort of things she was into, for the cupcakes, his only response was “pink”. I thought to myself, “That is such a guy response,” but I needed more. I wanted some kind of theme or flavor pallet to follow, so I checked out her Pinterest in hopes of finding inspiration. Lo and behold, there were all kinds of cute pink lemonade alcoholic beverages that sparked my interest and gave me this amazing idea! Who would have thought Pinterest would be so helpful? Continue reading
Happy Birthday With Vegan Vanilla Birthday Cake and Vanilla Buttercream Icing
It was my baby's 3rd birthday yesterday! I can't believe how time flies when you're in love and having a blast! When I was a child, my mother loved to handmake a themed cake for us every year for our birthday. I loved this tradition as a child, and enjoyed getting to pick out my birthday theme. I would marvel at how my mom would turn a cake into something magical, and I vowed to carry that tradition on, with my own son. This year, he asked for a cars cake, and I didn't let him down! Continue reading
Vegan Pumpkin Spice Cupcakes with Vanilla Bean Buttercream Frosting and a Cinnamon Date Caramel Drizzle on Top
I can not speak enough words to tell you how delicious, moist, and absolutely delightful these cupcakes were. I keep going back for more…but it's ok because it's my birthday! Well, not today but they are FROM my birthday, so that should count for something. I brought these cupcakes over to my parents house today so that my Dad and I could have a mini co-op birthday cupcake moment (his birthday is on the 17th) and he ate two of these cupcakes in nearly two bites! I have never seen him eat cupcakes that way before Continue reading
Cantaloupe Sorbet The Easy Way
I have a lot of things to write about, but the first post is going to be about something to keep us all cool during these long hot summer days (and nights!!!), cantaloupe sorbet. Sorbet is one of my favorite iced treats because what it lacks in milk, it makes up for in dynamic palate shaking flavors. I have always felt that milk can take away from the effectiveness of an iced treat when the temperature is above 100.
Continue reading