Tag Archives: vegitarian

Pumpkin Hummus

As always I continue to look for fun new ways to use pumpkin. I was trying to come up with something fun for a brunch and I figured a pumpkin spread would work great. With an idea of hummus in my mind this is what I created.

Ingredients:

1 1/2 Cups Pumpkin
1 Can Chickpeas
2 Tbs Peanut Butter
2 Tbs Almond Milk
1/2 Vanilla Extract
Pinch of Salt
2 tsp Pumpkin Spice
2 Tbs Brown Sugar
1 Tbs Splenda

Start by blending chickpeas, almond milk and peanut butter in a food processor until smooth. Nest add all remaining ingredients. Once its well blended place in a clean bowl and store in fridge until you read to serve but for at least 30 min.

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Drunken Cranberry Sauce

There is something about tart cranberries as a side dish with any meal that always seems like a great match. From breakfast to dinner its always a great match. I loved the canned version as a kid but my grown up homemade version is a crowd please that takes not effort.

2 Lb Cranberries

2 Cups Sugar (or 1 1/2 Cups Sugar and 1/2 Cup Splenda)

1 Cups Red Wine

Zest and Juice of One Large Orange

1 Cup Apple Sauce

1 Oz Port

Place cranberries, sugar, orange juice, zest and wine in a small pot. Cook on medium heat and stir continuously. The sauce will quickly combine and berries will start to pop. Its important not to cook longer then 15 minutes in order to save some of the pectin to keep the sauce firm. 15 minutes is plenty of time for the cranberries to cook down and for everything to combine. Remove from heat and allow to cool in fridge. Once cool add apple sauce and port.

Enjoy

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Gnocchi Re-do

Spending so much time in Italian kitchens making gnocchi has become second nature. With so much leftover mashed potatoes in the fridge I decided to do something fun with it. You will rarely find gluten free potato gnocchi, they normally make cheese gnocchi gluten free but this recipe works great.

Ingredients –

2 Cups Cold Leftover Mashed Potatoes (Check out my recipe for Fluffy Mashed Potatoes)

1/2 Cup Rice Flour with an additional 1/4 Cup for rolling out

1/2 Cup Chest Nut Flour

1 tsp fresh ground nutmeg

1 tsp salt

1 tsp pepper

1 Tbsp Fresh Chopped Parsley

1 Egg

Mix everything together saving the flour for last. Work with about 1/6 of the dough at a time. Take about a handful and place it on a well floured cutting board. Roll dough out into long strips about 1 inch thick and about one foot long. Use a sharp knife and cut the strip into pieces a little less then an inch. Place the pieces in boiling water. Once they start to float give them an addition 3-4 minutes to cook. They will plump up and look very soft but they harden as they cool. Cook all the gnocchi in a few batches. If you have to many in the pot they will bump into each other and not cook correctly. Strain each batch in a calender and allow to cook on a large cookie sheet. I continue roll out and cut the gnocchi as I cook them. Once all the gnocchi are done I place them in a large deep pan over medium heat. Give them a little toss to re-heat and add any sauce you would like. This time I used pesto but red sauce or even some butter, capers and cheese would be great.

Enjoy

 

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Guilt Free Chai Tea

As soon as the trees change colors and the air starts to become crisp I think pumpkin and spice. Nothing better then the powder chai tea latte that they sell at every coffee house and cafe in town. But most of the mix they use are high calorie and surprisingly gluten free. This recipe makes a ton of the powder and in a small jar would make great birthday gifts. At 30 calories a serving and fat free I promise you want tell the difference.

Ingredients:

1 Cups Splenda

1/4 Cup Pumpkin Spice

1 1/2 Cup Instant Tea (Lipton make a great powder version)

1 1/2 Cups Powder Fat Free Milk

1 1/2 Fat Free Sugar Free French Vanilla Coffee Mate

Pint Salt and Pepper

Place it all in the a food processor and mix really well. It takes a bit to mix well but you will end up with a fine powder. Pour into an airlock container.

To serve: Place 3 Tbs ( 1/8 cup) in an 8oz mug of hot water, stir and enjoy.

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UNREAL and UNJUNKED Candy

As the guilt free foodie cutie I think it is my job to expose some of my great product finds. I normally am not one that will pick up a candy bar or anything you would find on the check out line but when I heard about this stuff I was impressed.

Imagine your favorite candy made with real sugar, no corn syrup, no artificial preservatives, really milk, extra protein and fiber with no hydrogenated oil or fats. Your not dreaming, this stuff is real. They are making some great products that can hold up against the well known unhealthy competitor. The peanut butter cups with the true old fashion filling we all remember. Chocolate sugar coated candies similar to M&M’s that are perfectly sweet and crunchy, great solution to the munchies. Best of all a Chocolate Peanut Bar just like a Snicker Bar but at only 200 calories and 5 grams of protein it will get your hunger under control in minutes and not leave you feeling guilty.

Are UNREAL™ products gluten-free?

Our candy is made with all gluten-free ingredients, but produced in facilities that handle gluten.

The best part is you can find this product at the same location and price level as the competition. Find it at CVS, Walgreens, Kroger, Target, Rite Aid and many more places.

For more info check it out at:

http://www.getunreal.com

http://www.facebook.com/unreal

@getunreal #getunreal