I’ve always been a pie girl. To me there’s nothing quite like the combo of warm baked fruit and a light and crumbly crust for those comfy cozy fall-time feels. But for many, this classic comfort dessert seems a bit too daunting with all the steps. Well my friends, may I introduce to you the galette…
Read moreWalnut Date Muffins with Orange Zest
I just love the combination of dates, walnuts and orange. I use them in salads, side dishes, and even to add a little life to my mains like chicken or halibut. Because of this apparent affinity to these ingredients, I often have all three taking up space in my rather modestly sized fridge. Another thing I often having lingering around and overflowing out of my cupboards and refrigerator drawers is a plethora of alternative fours...
Read moreApple Cranberry Chutney
I’m a big fan of flavour, and one of the best ways to infuse some pizazz into your foods is with a dip, dressing, or sauce. Chutney is one of my favourite sauces. Calming to spice, uplifting to savoury, there’s nothing this sweet and tangy taster can’t do! And there are endless directions you can go in in terms of making it your own. Many people think of mango when it comes to chutney, but as long as you have some sort of fruity base and vinegary buddy, you’re on your way to chutney-ville...
Read moreTurkey Meatballs with Apple, Cranberries, and Walnuts
I've always wondered why we reserve the killer combo of cranberry and turkey for Thanksgiving and Christmas. Aside from the occasional turkey sandwich, most people are limited in their exposure to this nutritious and delicious bird. Famously known for its abundance of tryptophan - an amino acid that has been time and time again linked to improved cognitive function, muscle and tissue growth an repair, enhanced sleeps, and of course it's positive effects on mood balance (it's basically nature's anti-anxiety "drug") - turkey is packed with protein and is incredibly satiating. Plus it's rather easy to find in free-range form...
Read moreGrain-Free Carrot Cake with Dairy-Free “Cream Cheese” Icing
As I write this, it’s both Easter and Passover. During Passover, Jewish people avoid foods that naturally “leaven” such as grains and legumes. And then there’s the association of Easter and springtime with rabbits and carrots. Plus a family member who can’t eat eggs and dairy, and then my own personal goal to avoid refined products in my cooking such as white sugar, while keeping it minimally blood sugar disruptive and as clean and natural as possible...
Read morePumpkin Pie Smoothie
Here’s a fun and delicious way to take your favourite fall-time dessert and make it into a nourishing smoothie! By using actual pumpkin puree and all those amazing pumpkin pie spices (cinnamon, nutmeg, clove, ground ginger), you not only get a seasonal sub for your usual blended go-to, but you’re also pumping your body with all sorts of extra nutrients we don’t normally see in the usual green-centric sort of mixes. My favourite part of this smoothie is all the immune boosting benefits of the ingredients, which I think we all can agree are very welcome at this time of year...
Read moreStone Fruit and Berry Crumble
Crumbles aren't inherently bad for you. Take away the refined sugar, and the unnecessarily high-carb often overly-processed topping (ie. refined flour and refined oats), and you’ve got yourself a pretty stellar treat! It’s a great way to use up whatever seasonal fruits you have lying around, and if you’re adding in healthful fats like nuts, seeds, coconut oil, and even that coconut-y cream-y dollop on top, the blood sugar spiking risk of the sweeter ingredients will be significantly diminished.
Read morePaleo Apple Cinnamon Pudding Cake
As I mentioned in the Chewy Chocolate Chunk Walnut Cookie post, I am a strong believer that there are no such things as failed desserts, just opportunities for a new pudding recipe! Enter Exhibit A: the apple cinnamon pudding cake. It was supposed to just be a normal apple cake, but I added a tad too much tahini, liked what happened, then remade the recipe with some warming spices for a delightful fall treat!
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