Category: Dessert
White Christmas slice
Deb
We recently discovered dried strawberries. Not the sugar coated, preservative laden things you might have seen in the supermarket, but ones where strawberries are the only ingredients. I found them in Hardy’s Health food shop. They’re so sweet, it’s hard to believe there’s no added sugar. Anyway, I got thinking about how they would be a good substitute for glaced cherries in some Christmas recipes, and had a hazy memory of something called White Chrismas. […]
Protein bars
Deb
Makes 10 logs @ approx 10g protein each, or 20 balls @ approx 5g protein Note that even good quality protein powders are a compromise food. But if you need some thing portable for after your workout and nothing else is convenient, better a bar you’ve made yourself, than most of the ones you can buy. Update (2015): These days we prefer to use collagen hydrolysate as a protein powder, and it works well in […]
Chocolate Spread
Deb
I’m very excited that the stock of our new product – creamed coconut – has arrived today! One of the first things I did was whip up a Nutella type chocolate spread for people to sample, but free of dairy, sugar and even nuts! 250gm (1/2 a 500ml jar) of creamed coconut 125gm coconut oil 2 Tablespoons raw cocoa powder (it doesn’t have to be raw, but raw tastes better) 2 Tablespoons honey (or your favourite sweetener) 2 teaspoons vanilla essence Zizz it all […]
Chocolate & fudge recipes
Deb
Holidays like Easter or Valentines Day can be a challenge for those on restricted diets. Here are some ideas for chocolate replacements. And the links at the bottom have some non food ideas. Most people on gluten or starch free diets will be able to tolerate cocoa butter, as its fully fat. You need to melt it before using in these recipes. The easiest way is to chop it up finely, then put it in a bowl […]
Easter Spicy Buns
Deb
These gluten-free, starch-free buns don’t have the texture of hot cross buns, but they’re still a tasty treat for Easter. They can also be made casein-free. 1 cup ground almonds ½ cup coconut flour ½ tsp baking soda 1 heaped tsp mixed spice ½ cup sultanas, raisins or currants 2-3 tsp grated orange rind 3 eggs 75gm melted butter or coconut oil 2-3 Tbs honey ½ tsp sea salt ½ cup yoghurt OR mashed, cooked pumpkin (prepared […]
How to whip raw cream
Deb
Whipping pasteurised cream is easy, but raw cream doesn’t work the same way. It doesn’t thicken for ages, then it turns straight to butter. (If you want to make butter, see how here.) Nobody is exactly sure why this happens. I’ve heard theories like: “pasteurised cream has carrageen in it” – but in NZ it doesn’t, or “your cream isn’t fatty enough” – but this doesn’t explain it either. Traditional ways of thickening cream are culturing, […]
Chocolate Orange Drizzle Cake
Deb
When I was surfing about looking for sponge-like recipes for my trifle idea (still not tested, by the way) I came across this recipe for a Coconut Flour Orange Cake that reminded me of a cake Mum used to make. It was a Madeira cake that had orange juice drizzled over the top after baking, making it very moist. The topping was Cadbury dairy milk chocolate melted with a little butter. So I got nostalgic all over again, and had to give it a go. […]
Children’s Party
Deb
While we’re talking about parties, I’m reminded of all the great ideas that Hollie from Auckland posted about a few months back. She kindly gave me permission to repost it here: I know the thought of upcoming parties is tough with our kids limited diets… so I thought you might be interested in some of the party food I created for our sons birthday party. All the food was GAPS (stage 6) friendly. The food was a hit […]
Jelly Trifle
Deb
I always think of my grandmother at Christmas, usually when I’m wrapping my presents. When I was at high school, every year I would go down to her house a couple of days before Xmas and sit at her kitchen table doing her wrapping for her. She would go round the house collecting up all the gifts she’d been putting away all year and tell me who each one was for. Things were more leisurely then, and […]
GAPS friendly Boiled Christmas Cake
Deb
Over the years I’ve made various different Xmas cakes recipes, but it all got a lot easier a couple of years ago. I watched Nigella’s Christmas and was inspired to find her recipe for a boiled Xmas cake which looked so easy. The first year, I made a few slight tweaks: Gluten free – ground almonds, rice flour, arrowroot PLUS pectin, xantham or guar gum Unrefined sugar (eg rapadura, shakkar or muscavado) instead of brown […]
Vanilla ice cream
Deb
Most ice cream recipes call for an ice cream maker, but this is ice cream you can make without one. This is a small quantity. If you have a large family, you can double or triple the recipe. If you have an ice cream maker, you can use the same ratios, adjusted for the capacity of your machine. Follow the directions that come with it. 1 cup cream 1 egg yolk 1 tsp vanilla essence […]
Coconut ice cream
Deb
Coconut cream ice cream is a bit more complex to make, and comes out icier rather creamy. I found this recipe at Wilderness Family Naturals It comes from Coconut Lovers Cookbook, by Dr. Bruce Fife, which contains over 180 great healthy recipes using coconut products. If you want to use a 400ml can, use the quantities in [ ]. 2 x 250 ml/1 cup boxes of coconut cream [400ml can] 2 1/2 Tbs natural sugar […]
Chocolate mousse
Deb
This recipe is originally from Lois Daish, writing for the NZ Listener. It’s been a favourite special occasion recipe of mine for several years. Serves 4-6. 120g (4 oz) dark chocolate, preferably 70% cocoa, and sweetened with rapadura, maltitol, xylitol, or other OK sweeteners. (Note that some chocolate is labelled sugar free, but sweetened with Splenda, NutraSweet or other bad sweeteners) 4 eggs Optional – 1-2 Tbs of your favourite liqueur (orange is especially good, […]
Quick & Easy Snow Freeze
Deb
If you prefer a soft serve style ice cream, a fruit flavoured one can be made very quickly, as long as you’ve planned ahead. During the summer, keep a supply of frozen fruit slices or chunks in the freezer, and make a delicious ice cream in your food processor or high power blender at any time. This amount serves 3. It needs to be eaten immediately, so if you want a smaller amount, make a […]
Blueberry Honey sorbet
Deb
4 Tbs honey, preferably unheated 1 ¼ cup blueberries ¼ cup water Juice of ½ lemon Mix together water, lemon juice and honey. Stir till dissolved. Add blueberries and puree. Freeze in a shallow container. Take out and blend 3-4 times, about every ½ – 1 hour. If you have an ice cream maker, adjust the quantities to suit, and follow the manufacturers instructions. Variations: Ice blocks – after the final blend, freeze in blocks […]
Low Carb Marzipan
Deb
Whisk together: 1 egg white 1 tsp almond essence (extract) 2 Tbs softened butter or coconut oil 1 Tbs honey -OR- 1 Tbs maple syrup -OR- 2 Dsp glycerine and pinch stevia extract Add: 200g ground almonds Mix both together to form a paste. If necessary, add a little cold, filtered water to get the texture right. Line a tray with baking paper. Form into balls. Press each ball gently onto the tray, just enough […]
Coconut rough
Deb
4 oz coconut oil 2 Tbs honey 2 Tbs cocoa 1 cup coconut 1 cup ground almonds Melt the coconut oil and honey over a low heat. Stir in the cocoa and whisk till well mixed. Add the coconut and almonds and stir well. Add extra almonds if needed to get to a thicky, fudgy consistency. Press into a lined tin. When set, cut into squares.
Coconut date truffles
Deb
Makes 12 small balls (make them small as they are very rich). 100g (4 oz) creamed coconut (this comes in a block and is very firm) 3 fresh dates Cut the creamed coconut into chunks, then process in a food processor till mealy. Cut the dates into chunks, add and process till mixed together. Roll into small balls and refrigerate till hard. Take out of the fridge again to soften up about 15 mins before […]
Almond Cheese Scones
Deb
Note that this recipe is not strictly a whole food recipe, as the ground almonds haven’t been soaked. Another compromise food for those who can’t eat grains at all. 200g ground almonds (optional: replace 2-3 Tbs with ground flax seeds, or whole sesame seeds) 75g grated tasty cheese (frozen is fine) a sprinkling of Mixed or Italian dried herbs 50g melted butter, or 50ml plain yoghurt or kefir (or olive oil or melted palm oil) […]
Lassi
Deb
Lassi is fresh yogurt blended with warm water. Yogurt is a curd and is said to be hard to digest, creating ama (residues of inefficient digestion), but once it is transformed into lassi it becomes lighter and aids digestion. Thinning yogurt with water and blending it changes the molecular structure so it’s more easily assimilated. It makes a good after meal drink and helps eliminate gas pains. Mango: Blend 1 part yogurt, 2 parts water, […]
Apple Cider
Deb
Adapted from a recipe in Nourishing Traditions, to make a smaller quantity For each 800ml jar: 10-12 organic apples 25ml (5 tsp) whey 5ml (1 tsp) fine sea salt Wash, quarter and core the apples. Do 3 at a time and then juice. Give the juice a quick stir, then strain into a litre-sized measuring jug. Continue until there is about 750ml of juice, excluding the foam on top. Remove as much of the foam […]
Chocolate “crackles”
Deb
Remember the chocolate rice bubbles “crackles” that used to be popular at children’s birthday parties? If you use a mild flavoured nut such as almonds or macadamias, these taste very similar. 225gms (8 oz) coconut oil 4 Tbs honey 4 Tbs cocoa 1 cup dessicated coconut 3 cups crispy nuts, roughly chopped in a food processor Optional: ½ cup sultanas or raisins Melt the coconut oil and honey over a very low heat. Meanwhile, chop […]
Muesli Macaroons
Deb
Some of these bars aren’t very portable. These baked macaroons are not as nutrient dense, but are easier to carry about. (And they use up those leftover egg whites) Preheat oven to 150C (300F) Mix together: *1 ½ cup desiccated coconut ½ cup slivered almonds (or other chopped nuts) ½ cup ground almonds, macadamia meal or other finely ground nuts ½ cup raisins or sultanas or other chopped dried fruit In a separate bowl, partly […]
Gluten-free Carrot cake muffins
Deb
Mix together in a big bowl: 1 cup ground almonds, or ground up crispy almonds or macadamias ¾ cup coconut flour ¼ cup arrowroot (or can use other white GF flours like rice, potato or tapioca) 1 tsp cinnamon 1 tsp mixed spice Beat together in a blender or food processor: 3 eggs 4oz melted coconut oil (or palm oil, or butter) 1 ½ tsp baking soda 1 tsp vanilla essence 4 Tbs rapadura, muscavado […]
Coconut Almond Cookies
Deb
Try these when you feel like Anzac or Krispie biscuits. Makes 18. 1 cup (about 150gm) crispy almonds 1 cup dessicated coconut 2 Tbs arrowroot (for SF, replace with 1 Tbs coconut flour) ½ tsp baking soda ¼ tsp sea salt 1 egg 2 oz melted butter or coconut oil (or a mixture) 1 tsp vanilla essence 6 Tbs maple syrup or rapadura extra arrowroot, if needed Grind the almonds as fine as you can […]