Saturday, June 22, 2013

Chocolate Chip Cookie Sandwich



Chocolate Chip Cookies

babycakes, NYC



Ingredients:
1 cup coconut oil
6 Tbsp Homemade applesauce 
(or unsweetened store-bought applesauce)
1 tsp salt
2 Tbsp pure vanilla extract
1 1/4 cups evaporated cane juice
2 cups Bob's red mill gluten-free all purpose baking flour
1/4 cup flax meal
1 tsp baking soda
1 1/2 tsp xanthan gum
1 cup vegan chocolate ships

Directions:
Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.

In medium bowl, mix together the oil, applesauce, salt, vanilla, and evaporated can juice.  In another medium bowl, whisk together the flour, flax meal, baking soda, and xanthan gum.  Using a rubber spatula, carefully add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture and stir until a grainy dough is formed.  Gently fold in the chocolate chips just until they are evenly distributed throughout the dough.

Scoop the dough onto the prepared baking sheets, spacing the portions 1 inch apart.  Gently press each with the heel of your hand to help them spread.  Bake the cookies on the center rack for 15 minutes, rotating the sheets 180 degrees after 9 minutes.  The finished cookies will be crisp on the edges and soft in the center.

Let the cookies stand on the sheets for 10 minutes, then transfer them to a wire rack and cool completely before covering.  Store the cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days.



Vanilla Frosting

Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups unsweetened soy milk
3/4 cup dry soy milk powder
1 Tbsp coconut flour
1/4 cup agave nectar
1 Tbsp pure vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups coconut oil
2 Tbsp fresh lemon juice

Directions:
In a blender combine the soy milk, soy powder, coconut flour, agave nectar, and vanilla. Blend the ingredients for 2 minutes.  With the machine running, slowly add the oil and lemon juice, alternating between the two until both are fully incorporated.  Pour the mixture into an airtight container and refrigerate for 6 hours or for up to 1 month.



Tuesday, May 7, 2013

5k Wrap


Ingredients:

1 Apple
1/4 cup Granola
1 tsp Honey
1 tbsp Jam (of you choice)
1 tbsp Peanut Butter
1 Whole grain wrap


Directions:

Spread the peanut butter and jam on the wrap.  Sprinkle some granola and some chopped apple before drizzling honey on top.  Wrap and enjoy!  


This is a great on the go snack or for a picnic in the park.

Sunday, April 21, 2013

Polenta and Candied Walnuts

Candied Walnuts


Ingredients:

1/2 cup sugar
1 1/2 cup raw walnut
1/8 tsp coarse salt

Directions:

Preheat over to 350 degrees.  Use middle rack in the over.  Lay walnuts out on a baking sheet in a single layer.  Bake for 5 minutes.  Be careful not to burn. Remove from over and let cool in a pan on a rack.

Pour sugar into a medium saucepan with a thick bottom.  Have walnuts nearby, ready to quickly add to the pan at the right time.  Cook sugar on a medium heat, stirring with a wooden spoon as soon as the sugar begins to melt.  Keep stirring until all the sugar has melted and the color is a medium amber.  As soon as sugar is melted and the color is a medium amber, add the walnuts to the pan, quickly stirring and coating each piece with the sugar mixture.

As soon as the walnuts are coated with the sugar mixture, spread them out on a rimmed baking sheet.  Use two forks to separate the walnuts from each other, working very quickly.  SPrinkle the nuts with the salt.  Let cool completely.



Polenta


Ingredients:

Candied Walnuts
Dried Cranberries
Tbsp Honey
Polenta (I bought the prepackaged polenta from Trader Joe's)

Directions:

Follow the instructions on the package for the polenta.  Once that is cooked place a serving size into a bowl.  Sprinkle the candied walnuts and the dried cranberries on top.  Last drizzle a tbsp of honey over the top. Enjoy!




Thursday, April 18, 2013

Super Detox Juice


There are a ton of detox juice recipes, but this is one of my favorites.

Recipe:

1 1/4 C Pineapple Juice
1/4 Lemon Juice
Handful Spinach
1/4 t fresh grated ginger

Blend together and enjoy!

Saturday, April 13, 2013

Nutella Cupcake

I decided to make my friend, Kirsten, nutella cupcakes for her birthday. I haven't made these in a while and I thought that they would be a nice birthday treat.

Nutella Cupcake

Ingredients:

Your favorite vanilla cupcake recipe (I like to use Bob's Red Mill Vanilla Cake Mix) + Nutella

Directions:

- Follow the directions for your vanilla cupcakes


First, whisk together 3 large eggs for about 30 seconds.  Next add the mixture from the package.  Then mix in a 1/2 cup vegetable oil and 1/2 cup of water.  Once everything is mixed thoroughly add to your cupcake tin.


Now the fun part.  Heat the nutella in a microwave safe bowl until soft.  Place a Tbsp. on top of the cupcakes, and swirl into the cake mix. Last, place in the oven.  Bob's Red Mill Vanilla Cake Mix cooks at 325 degrees for about 20 to 22 minutes.

Enjoy!




Sunday, March 31, 2013

Easter Brunch


Since I am spending Easter away from the family this year I decided to cook brunch for my neighbor and good friend Bridget.  In return she helped me document the experience!

Brunch Menu:

- Freshly juiced watermelon
- Eggs in a nest with veggie sausage patties
- Dessert, carrots!?!?

If you happen to have a juicer I recommend juicing a watermelon.  It's extremely refreshing.  Plus it's a really pretty pink!

Eggs in a nest


Ingredients:
Hash Browns
Eggs



Directions:

Spray cupcake tray with cooking spray before placing the hash browns.  Follow directions of the hash browns (varies based on brand you prefer).  When the hash browns are just about done start making your scrambled eggs.  About 6 eggs was perfect for one tray of nests.  A tip to make scrambled eggs nice and fluffy.  Just add a tiny bit of water and cook on the low heat.  It takes a little bit longer, but tastes so much better. Once the eggs are cooked just scope into your hash brown nests and there you go.  Eggs in a nest!



Dessert Carrots



Ingredients:

Strawberries
White baking chocolate
Red and yellow food coloring

Directions:

All you need to do is melt the white chocolate baking bars over the stove, on low heat, until liquified.  Be careful not to over cook! Add a tiny bit of red and a little bit of yellow food coloring until it is the color you are looking for.  Mix and dip in the strawberries.  Place the strawberries on a drying rack to let the chocolate harden before eating.  Enjoy!




Thursday, March 28, 2013

Georgia Peach








Grilled Peaches with Honey and Yogurt


Ingredients:
4 medium ripe peaches
1/2 cup honey flavored fat free greek yogurt
4 tbsp honey
cinnamon

Directions:
Cut peaches in half and remove pits. 
Place peaches cut side down on grill.  Grill on low or indirect heat until soft, about 2-4 minutes.
Combined yogurt and cinnamon in a bowl.
Next pour 1 tbsp yogurt over each peach.  
Finally drizzle with honey and enjoy!

Tuesday, February 19, 2013

Babycakes NYC: Vegan Bakery


I have an extremely large sweet tooth, and Babycakes is my ultimate weakness.  I have an allergy to most diary, which makes it really hard to eat all of my favorite treats.  Honestly, most of the time I tend to cheat, but here I don't need to.  These are by far my favorite treats, vegan or not.  They are delicious and you don't feel gross after eating them. It's a win win!

Mint Bownie Cupcake & Chocolate Chip Banana Bread


Chocolate Crumb Cake and Vanilla Donut
Me and my Bestie!

Special gift from Claire Coffee while filming the Lifetime Movie Holly's Holiday.  She is so sweet and I wish her the best of luck in her career.  She deserves it!
Delicious!

Also, if you enjoy baking they have some great cook books to check out, and you should also follow their blog!