XYLITOL - NOT SO SWEET AFTER ALL. . . .

I am not a doctor.  I am not a chef.  I am not a nutritionist.  This blog is not intended to generate money or revenue from product sales of any kind.  I write it because I am interested in developing and sharing healthy recipes that taste good.  It really is that simple. 

I have always been, in the words of my friend, Janelle Bohemier, "iffy" about Xylitol. Today I want to share the latest information I have about Xylitol. . . .and it is not pretty.  

Those of us who follow the guidelines of The Maximized Living Nutrition Plan, or guidelines for healthy eating in general, do so because we want to become, and then remain, healthy!  If you read carefully the research and information from Sarah, The Healthy Home Economist, you will quickly understand that xylitol is more likely than not producing the opposite results.  PLEASE read Sarah's blog, and then follow up with more research of your own.  I am hoping to make non-believers of all of you.  Let's be "iffy" about xylitol together!

PECAN SHORTBREAD COOKIES

I have had this recipe in my notes for so long, I honestly don’t know where I found it.  I did change the preparation instructions, though, to simplify the process, but props to the original writer, whoever you may be. 

Enjoy!

Ingredients:

2 ½ cups blanched almond flour

¼ teaspoon kosher or sea salt

¼ teaspoon aluminum free baking soda

1 cup chopped raw pecans

½ cup organic butter

1/8 teaspoon Now brand or Kal brand stevia

1 tablespoon pure vanilla (no sugar – check the label)

Preparation:

1.       In a stand mixer, or using an electric hand held beater, combine the butter and stevia.  Add the vanilla and mix again until all three ingredients are incorporated.

2.       In a separate bowl, combine all the dry ingredients, including the pecans.

3.      Combine the butter mixture with the dry ingredients.

4.      Using a piece of parchment paper, form the dough into a log, approximately 2 ½ inches in diameter. 

5.      Freeze the log for approximately 1 hour; then unwrap and cut into 1/8 inch slices.

6.      Place the slices on a baking sheet lined with a clean piece of parchment paper.

7.      Bake at 350 degrees until lightly golden, approximately 10 to 15 minutes.

8.      Cool and serve. 

Makes 24 cookies

Green Juice - You Can't Imagine How Great This Tastes!

I don't know how many of you have seen the film, "Fat, Sick, and Nearly Dead."  It is a very inspiring story of an Australian man's journey to heal himself from the inside.  To do this, he traveled across the United States armed with a juicer! Along the way, he met many people who also needed a bit of a food intervention and introduced them to the idea of juicing.  Since I saw the film, I have been incorporating this green juice into my nutrition and I LOVE it!  Here's a link to a recipe for the green juice featured in the film by one of the more inspiring characters, Phil Staples.
Yes, I know it's green.  What you need to know is: IT IS DELICIOUS!
Enjoy.

3 Cheese Zucchini Bites

Zucchini is abundant this time of year. These tiny bites make the perfect "amuse bouche" before dinner,  and they would be wonderful to pass around at a backyard party.  When we tested this recipe, the two of us ate every last one, and would have eaten another batch!

Zucchini is one of the vegetables you really want to buy organic. But if you grow your own and don't use crazy toxic pesticides, feel free to enjoy the bounty of your garden!

Enjoy.


Ingredients:

1 cups zucchini, grated
1 egg
¼ cup raw parmesan cheese, finely grated
¼ cup almond flour
2 shallots, diced
¼ cup grated cheese (I used a raw grated mozza/cheddar blend.)
Salt and Pepper

Preparation:

1. Preheat oven to 400F. Grease 1 or 2 mini muffin tins with coconut oil.

2. Grate the zucchini and then place in a dish towel to squeeze out the excess water. You have probably done something like this if you have used frozen spinach. DO NOT SKIP THIS STEP.

3. In a bowl, combine the egg, onion, cheeses, almond flour, zucchini, salt and pepper.

4. Using a spoon or a mini cookie scoop, fill the muffin cups to the top. Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until the top is browned and set.

Yield 15 - 18 mini muffins

Janelle Bohemier's Caesar Salad Dressing

I have been wanting to post this Caesar Salad Dressing recipe since the very first time I tasted it, at Janelle Bohemier's house on Christmas day, 2010!  I may be slow, but I remember what's important! The recipe is simple, delicious, and can be prepared very quickly with a minimum of ingredients.  By the way, there are no anchovies, for those who care about things like that.
Enjoy.

Ingredients:
1 clove garlic - grated or very finely minced
1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
1 heaping tsp of dijon mustard (check the ingredients - no sugar)
1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese (raw is preferrable - imported Italian is second best)
juice (and I add the zest, too) of 1 lemon
Kosher or sea salt and freshly grated black pepper (optional and to taste)
a few dashes of Worchestershire sauce (also optional - again check for no sugar)

Preparation:
You may blend all ingredients in a high speed blender, as I do.  This results in a dressing that is so creamy, you won't believe there are no eggs or cream in it.
You may also simply shake the ingredients in a jar, as Janelle does.  This is the way I first tasted this dressing, and there is a lot less to clean up.  Equally delicious - you may even prefer it this way.

Last night, I added two tablespoons of organic hemp seeds to this salad, and that was my complete meal.

KEY LIME SQUARES

IT'S A SPRING THING

This recipe could easily fill a small glass pie plate, so it can be presented as Key Lime Pie or as Key Lime Squares.  I made the squares so the portions were a little bigger!

Top with some freshly whipped organic cream.  

Enjoy.

Ingredients:

Crust:

1 1/2 cups almond flour

1/2 cup unsweetened shredded coconut

1/2 teaspoon sea salt

2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

stevia equivalent to 1/2 tablespoon sugar

1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract

Combine all the Crust ingredients and press into an 8" x 8" baking dish. Bake at 350 degrees for 15 minutes. While the crust is baking, assemble the key lime topping mixture:

Key Lime Topping Mixture:

1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil

stevia equivalent to 1/2 cup sugar

3 large eggs

the zest of a lime

1/2 cup freshly squeezed lime juice

Note:  I added two drops of green food coloring, but I would not recommend doing this if you do not have high quality, "no-sugar-or-preservatives-added" food coloring.

Combine all the key lime topping mixture ingredients in a blender.

When crust has baked for 15 minutes, pour the topping mixture over the crust and return the crust and topping mixture to the oven to bake at 350 degrees for another 15 minutes. Remove from the oven.

Let the finished product cool in the baking dish for 30 minutes, and then chill it in the refrigerator until chilled through- about another 30 to 45 minutes. Cut into squares.

Freezer Fudge

OMG! Fudge that tastes like the inside of our Almond Butter Cups. . . .

Enjoy.

Servings: Fills an 8"x8" pan
Preparation Time: 10 minutes + 1 hour chill

• 2 cups raw creamy almond butter (unsalted)
• 1/2 cup coconut oil, softened
•  1/8 teaspoon of Kal Brand or Now Brand stevia concentrated powder - (sweetness To YOUR TASTE!)
• 1 teaspoon kosher or sea salt

Simply mix all the ingredients together in a medium bowl, until smooth and creamy.  I use a stand mixer with a paddle attachment.  

(Tip: It helps if all the ingredients are at room temperature, to keep the coconut oil soft.)

Transfer the mixture to a square baking dish, or container, lined with parchment or wax paper, then smooth with a spatula, and freeze until solid (about an hour). Remove the fudge by lifting the paper out of the pan, then cut into squares and serve immediately.

Due to the nature of coconut oil, this fudge will melt if left at room temperature for long. Store in the freezer for best results.

This recipe is adapted from a tropicaltraditions.com recipe.  Enjoy.

MAXIMIZED REFRESHMENT

Here is a fabulously fresh, simple, and delicious recipe from our friend, Wendy Hord.  What a terrific drink to enjoy all summer long.  Thank you, Wendy.

BREW a teapot of green tea, using 3 teabags to approx. 6 cups of boiling water, let steep for ½ hr., then pour into a large water pitcher. Fill the pitcher up the rest of the way with cold water (approx. 4 more cups). 

ADD ½ or more mixed frozen berries, I used (strawberry, blackberry, raspberry) blend.  Leave it  to steep overnight in the refrigerator for best infused flavor.

STRAIN out berries, and add stevia to taste, stir.

SERVE on the rocks with lemon or berry garnish

Just as yummy as commercial flavoured iced teas…. without the
sugar or aspartame!!

Enjoy.