One Minute Mug Cake - Win

I have a problem, and it's name is chocolate. Sometimes I get the craving for something chocolate, but don't want to spend an hour baking. You know what I mean?
I've tried a few mug cakes with varying success. Some are super dry, some barely cook, and some require a portion of an egg and I don't like wasting egg if I can. This recipe is the best I've found so far, especially since it includes another of my top favourite foods, peanut butter. mmm....warm cake with a gooey peanut butter filing. Toss a few chocolate chips in there...Heaven. 

This mug cake takes a few minutes to whip up, and only one minute to cook as it states. My husband (not the biggest PB fan like I am) has tried other versions like adding strawberry jam in the centre instead and really enjoys the results. There is no egg in this recipe as well.

The cake comes out perfectly moist, not undercooked or dry at all. And only includes ingredients that most people have stashed in their pantry, so no last minute shopping. I followed the instructions and baked it for one minute in my microwave. This recipe is perfect for those late night chocolate cravings, but also helps keep your portions in check.
You could even bake it in some cute ramekins and serve it up for guests, or do as the original posted suggested and pop the cake out onto a plate. Personally, I just eat it right out of the mug with a huge glass of milk.

Perfection.

Primal Fudge - Win!

Looking to deal with your chocolate fix? How about healthy fudge? 15 minutes to chocolately heaven? HECK YES!
This recipe is quick, easy and super tasty! It's vegetarian too! Original recipe from here.
This recipe involves coconut oil which is my new favourite thing. I've been using it as a hair mask and on my skin (love it but a heavy scent), and now with cooking in place of oil or butter. It's a lovely alternative and doesn't always leave a coconut taste. If you have never used coconut oil before it is solid at room temperature but it melts even in your hands. I kept a small jar in my bathroom for hair masks and it was constantly liquid in the summer months from the increased temperature (no AC in my neck of the woods). You can use a microwave to melt your oil, but some people believe it ruins the health benefits so do so carefully. Again, you won't need much heat to melt your coconut oil. 


Primal Fudge

Ingredients
1/2 cup Coconut Oil
1/2 cup high quality cocoa powder
1/2 cup smooth almond butter
1/4 cup honey or maple syrup (I used honey)
1/2 tsp vanilla




Melt coconut oil. Blend ingredients (Original recipe says to use blender or food processor, but a spoon/whisk worked just fine for me). 




Pour mixture into lined muffin tins, filling about half full. Chill in fridge for 30 minutes or in the freezer for 10. When firm - remove from tin.



















These are FANTASTIC. They store well in the fridge or freezer and are great for a quick chocolate fix. They get fairly melty once out of the fridge, so eat them quick!

Enjoy!!

Chocolate Avocado Mousse - Chocolaty Win

I am currently eating the fruits of my labour as I post this. So good I could not wait to share!

Sorry for the hiatus - we are going through a major life overhaul. Both the Hubby and I have/are starting new jobs and Munchkin just dropped his nap. So Life has been a little nuts over here. I plan to catch up fairly soon!

So on to the Chocolate Goodness or as I will now call it "Holy Crap this is Avocado??" Mousse.

I am forever in search of a desert that will satisfy my sweet craving but not killing my slowly shrinking waist line. I actually came across this recipe here when searching for ways to get more vegetables into the Munchkin. 

Now I must say I am NOT an Avocado person. I'm not a huge fan of it, I never buy it, and the only time I have it in my house is when my California born-and-raised Mother-in-Law is in town cause she puts Avocado on everything. Apparently its a California thing. But I'm sure I'd be disowned if Munchkin never tasted an Avocado.

This recipe does NOT taste like Avocado. YAY!

CHOCOLATE ACOVADO MOUSSE

with revisions

4 ripe avocados (3 were used)

1 cup agave syrup (replaced with 3/4 cup honey)

1 cup unsweetened coco powder (3/4 cups were used)

1 TBSP Vanilla Extract

Remove flesh from avocados and cut into chunks. Place all ingredients into stand up mixer or food processor (my blender worked fine) and blend until light and smooth. Chill, then serve.

This is the WHOLE RECIPE in one large bowl. Booyah!

Chill?? Haha yah right. I dare anyone who's been craving chocolate to take one lick of this out of the blender and wait for it to be chilled. 

This is a definite win recipe.

You get healthy fats from the avocado, not a whole tone of sugar but an excellent way to keep those chocolate cravings satisfied.

This recipe even with the reduction made a HUGE portion. And it's very rich - the bowl I've portioned out for myself is sitting right now cause it's almost too much. Almost ;)

It's thick but light, chocolatey, rich and down right amazing. And really does not taste like Avocado at all.

SOOO GOOOOOD!

Peanut Butter Fro-yo

In my never-ending search for the answer to 'how to get an ice cream fix without ice cream' I came across this at one of my favourite clean eating websites and figured I'd give it ago. My bananas are ear-marked for tomorrows banana bread so the Banana Ice Cream wasn't an option.

So here it is
1 serving Greek Yogurt (I used 3/4 cup of fat free Greek yogurt)
1 tbsp unsweetened coco powder
1 tbsp natural peanut butter (I used regular cause my boys HATE natural :( 
Stevia to taste (I used about 1/8 a tsp)

Combine ingredients so you get a mousse-like consistency in a freezer safe bowl.
Place lid on bowl and place in freezer for about 30min
When time is up let it thaw slightly then enjoy!

I'm kind of 50/50 on this one. I LOVE Greek yogurt, but this was still a little too yogurty for my sweet tooth craving. And I'm still getting used to the taste of Stevia since it (and other sugars) is not used regularly in my house. The consistency was really yummy. I'd probably up the PB and coco next time and see how that goes, or just use less yogurt.

So not a total win, but I'm hopeful.
I'll post tweaks as I go!

Banana 'Ice Cream' - Win!

I love food. 
There, I said it. I'll try just about anything. I love cooking and baking and most of all eating. And I also love ice cream. However ice cream every night is not so great for my waist line (Thanks Munchkin!). I love something cold and sweet after supper and this Pinterest winner has been my saviour! 
I'm typing out the directions myself instead of copying since the original will make this an incredibly long post...but I digress

DIRECTIONS
1) Start with 2 ripe bananas. Slice them up to about 1/2 " slices and put them on a cookie sheet (this is key - don't blend whole frozen bananas). Place bananas in freezer for a couple hours or over night.

Is there a point to this picture? You all know what a chopped banana on a cookie sheet looks like...right?

2) Place frozen sliced bananas in blender. You can also use a food processor, but I don't have one so blender it is! And blend those suckers! 

Bananas a la blender

The 'gritty' phase

3) As you blend the bananas will first go chunky, then gritty (like breadcrumbs). You might have to stop and push it down a few times. I find it helps if you actually try to push the banana around the blades - it blend faster.

Then suddenly as you blend it'll go smooth like a ice-creamy-custard texture. Stop blending!

STOP!

4) You may now either

• a) CONSUME!
• b) freeze for another day (haha yah right - but it does turn into more 'ice cream texture instead of soft serve)
• c) add peanut butter (about 2 tbsp) and quickly blend to combine
• d) add coco powder (about 2 tsp) and quickly blend to combine OR
• e) add a combination of the later two suggestions (say what?)

PB and Coco ready to go!

I'm a fan of the PB, chocolate and banana combo. It's seriously awesome. This 'ice cream' is light and satisfying. It makes about 1 to 1 1/2 cups in total depending on your bananas. Obviously you can easily double this recipe.

Banana/Peanut Butter/Chocolatey goodness

Bonus points to the recipe? Clean. Vegetarian / Vegan. And damned delish. 

Link to original recipe blog is here

Happy Blending!