Gluten free, Dairy free brownies

I just threw this together, and they turned out pretty good.  If the husband likes them, they must be ok.  They are very moist and chocolatey.

Ingredients:

2 cups brown rice flour

2 teaspoon xanthan gum

4 Tablespoons coconut oil

4 tablespoons cocoa powder

1 cup powdered sugar

2Teaspoons vanilla

1/4 cup coconut milk

1 1/2 cup chocolate soy milk

1 cup sugar

1 bag enjoy life mini semi sweet chocolate chips

Sift all of the dry ingredients together.  Cut in the Coconut Oil, and then add the coconut milk and soy milk, and vanilla.  You can use whatever milk you choose.  I use soy, rice, or coconut due to allergies.  Bake at 350 for 40 minutes.  

Enjoy!!

Best Chocolate Frosting EVER!

Ingredients:

6 tbsp cocoa powder

1/4 cup melted butter

2 cups powdered or confectioners sugar

1/4 cup milk

1/2 tsp vanilla

Mix cocoa powder and melted butter.  Then stir in sugar, milk and vanilla.  Stir until smooth.  Then frost cakes, brownies, cookies, what ever you want.  You won't be disappointed.

Graduation/Wedding Mints

Ingredients:

1 - 2 lb. bag of powdered sugar

1 - 8 oz pkg. cream cheese at room temperature

2 tsp. cream de menthe extract

Food coloring

1 cup granulated sugar

Directions:

Let cream cheese set out until it reaches room temperature.  Fork together cream cheese and bag of powdered sugar until it forms a thick but smooth paste.  Add extract and food coloring then mix well with mixer.  Put the granulated sugar in a bowl .  This sugar will be used to fill in your candy mold, then to roll your mint in after removed from candy mold.  Dip your candy mold into the sugar bowl, place a small ball of mint mixture into candy mold.  Press firmly and fill mold completely.  Pop the mint out of the mold and drop in sugar bowl, completely covering in sugar.  Repeat until mint mix is gone.  Refrigerate until ready to use, or freeze.

Energy Bites

These are sugar free, dairy free, and gluten free energy bites...They have a rich chocolaty flavor.  One little bite goes a long ways.  For those of you who cant have all that bad stuff, these are a great substitute.

Ingredients:

4 oz. Cacao melted

1/4 cup creamy peanut butter

3 Tbsp Honey

1/4 cup flax seed

1/4 chunk paraffin wax 

Directions:

In a small sauce pan, melt cacao and paraffin wax.  Once melted add peanut butter, honey and flax seed.  Stir until completely melted and blended.  Line a pie pan or small 9 x 9 pan with wax paper.  Use a small rubber spatula and spread mix onto the wax paper.  Chill in refrigerator.  Once hardened, you can use a knife to cut up in small pieces, or do like I did and just break it up in small pieces.  Store in refrigerator in an air tight container.

Cherry Berry Smoothie

Ingredients:

1/2 Cup Frozen Black Cherries

1/2 cup frozen Blackberries

1/4 Cup Coconut Milk

1 Cup Almond Milk

1 Cup Kale

1 whole Banana

1 Cup Water

Directions:

Throw everything in the blender and blend well.  This recipe makes 2 smoothies.

Chocolate/Peanut Butter Smoothie

Oh my....this was DELICIOUS!!!!  Full of protein also.  I drank it and forgot to take a picture.  I'll try to remember to take one next time.

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups Silk Original Unsweetened Almond Milk

1 Tbsp. Peanut Butter

2 Tbsp. Hersheys Unsweetened Cocoa

1 banana

Directions:

Blend in blender until thick and frothy.  Enjoy!!

I have to say, so far this smoothie is my favorite!!  If you throw some ice in there it tastes like chocolate ice cream.

Chocolate Hazelnut Smoothie

I should have taken a picture before I drank almost all of it.  This smoothie is thick and creamy.  You will feel full after drinking this smoothie. 

Ingredients:

1 Cup Unsweetened Original Silk Almond Milk

1 Tbsp Chocolate Flavored Hazelnut spread-Nutella

3 Tbsp Cocoa baking powder

1 whole banana

Directions: 

Place all ingredients into blender and blend until creamy and completely mixed.

Enjoy!!

Aunt Tracy's Homemade Granola

She wanted me to make sure I let you all know that you should use a cast iron skillet for best results.

Ingredients:

1 Cup Oats

1 egg

1/4 tsp cardamom 

1/4 tsp cinnamon 

1/4 tsp turmeric 

1/4 tsp ginger 

1 tbsp Ghee or Coconut oil

Directions:

Melt 1 tbsp ghee or coconut oil in your skillet. Mix all of the ingredients with your oats.  Add to the melted coconut oil or ghee.  Swirl it around in your skillet and toast for 10 minutes.  Take out and break up your oats and toast for 10 minutes more in oven at 425.

Sugar Cookies

Ingredients:

• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 3/4 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 egg, beaten
• 1 tablespoon milk
• Powdered sugar, for rolling out dough

Directions

Sift together flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside. Place butter and sugar in large bowl and beat until blended well. Add egg and milk and beat to combine. Put mixer on low speed, gradually add flour, and beat until mixture pulls away from the side of the bowl. Divide the dough in half, wrap in waxed paper, and refrigerate for 2 hours.

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.

Sprinkle surface where you will roll out dough with powdered sugar. Remove 1 wrapped pack of dough from refrigerator at a time, sprinkle rolling pin with powdered sugar, and roll out dough to 1/4-inch thick. Move the dough around and check underneath frequently to make sure it is not sticking. If dough has warmed during rolling, place cold cookie sheet on top for 10 minutes to chill. Cut into desired shape, place at least 1-inch apart on greased baking sheet, parchment, or silicone baking mat, and bake for 7 to 9 minutes or until cookies are just beginning to turn brown around the edges, rotating cookie sheet halfway through baking time. Let sit on baking sheet for 2 minutes after removal from oven and then move to complete cooling on wire rack. Serve as is or ice as desired. Store in airtight container for up to 1 week.

Chocolate Smoothie

So, I have the munchies and a craving for ice cream.  Unfortunately, my body doesn't tolerate the dairy, so I made the next best thing.  A chocolate smoothie.  Its sugar free and fat free and really good.

Ingredients:

2 frozen ripened bananas, peeled and sliced

1 cup frozen spinach

6 frozen strawberries

4 heaping tbsp Hershey cocoa unsweetened

1 cup ice

1 cup water

Directions: 

 Put all of the ingredients in your blender and blend until smooth.  Enjoy!!

Nutritious Delicious Smoothie

Ingredients:

• 1 whole ripened banana
• frozen strawberries 5-6
• 1 cup kale
• 1 scoop of your favorite protein mix OR 1/2 cup vanilla yogurt
• 1 1/2 Cup water
• 1 cup Ice

Directions:

Cut up bananas, and put everything in your blender.  Blend well until everything is mixed well and ice is crushed.

Enjoy!!

Chocolate Peppermint Popcorn

I make this with all the left over chocolate bark and candy canes.  What else are you gonna do with them?  Its an easy, yummy snack.  A lot cheaper than buying it already made too!

Ingredients:

• Popcorn
• Chocolate Almond Bark
• Candy Canes

Directions:  Crush about 12 candy canes in a food processor, blender, or by hand in a plastic bag.  Set aside.  Next melt your left over chocolate bark in a double broiler.  I usually use 2-3 squares.  While its melting pop your popcorn.  After popcorn has cooled a little put it in a container with a lid that will seal.  Add your crushed candy canes to your melted chocolate.  Pour mixture over your popcorn and shake well.

Pour popcorn onto a large sheet of wax paper to let the chocolate set.  When finished keep it stored in your sealed container.  Delicious!!

Chocolate Chip Cookies

1/2 cup sugar

1/3 cup brown sugar

1/2 c. butter (soft)

1/2 c. pnut butter

1/2 tsp vanilla

1 egg

Combine in bowl and mix well.

In seperate bowl combine:

1 c. flour

1/2 c. oatmeal

1 tsp baking soda

1/4 tsp salt

mix well, then add dry mixture to wet mixture.  Add 1 bag choclate chips.  Bake at 350 for 10-12 min.

cool and enjoy!