-
Vanilla Bean Macadamia Cashew Keto Butter {Whole30, Paleo}
This Macadamia Cashew Keto Butter takes homemade nut butters to a whole new level. It’s so tasty, it’s rich, super creamy and a nice change from the same ‘ol pantry staples almond butter or peanut butter. Ready in under 10 minutes, this nut butter doesn’t contain any sweeteners, it’s vegan, paleo, keto and Whole30-friendly plus it’s super versatile.
By now you know my feelings about healthy fats and what a vital role they play in my every day and you also probably know about my love of homemade nut butters. ONE OF THE GREATEST THINGS EVER CREATED! (Sorry am I yelling?) To put it lightly. I love just a spoonful of straight-up almond butter, cashew butter and every now and again the ol’ classic – creamy peanut butter (one of my personal favorites). But give me smidge of any nut butter on a square of the darkest-ever dark chocolate and SWOON CITY.
I love making nut butter at home and getting creative with the various flavors and blends, cinnamon and pumpkin spices, vanilla bean, you name it. But after I created this Vanilla Bean Macadamia Cashew Keto Butter concoction, I am not sure I will ever make another homemade nut butter again, I am OBSESSED.
-
Dark Chocolate Matcha Coconut Butter Keto Cups {paleo, low-carb, gluten-free, vegan}
These super simple Dark Chocolate Matcha Coconut Butter Keto Cups are a tasty snack or the perfect bite-sized dessert. The addition of antioxidant-rich matcha and the healthy fats practically make this treat a health food! My favorite part, for as fancy as they appear, they are ready in little to no time at all. Besides being low carb and keto, they are also paleo, gluten-free and vegan, too!
After the excitement of the Dark Chocolate Raspberry Coconut Butter Keto Cups and so many of you made them and fell in love, too so my mind has been totally swirling with other variations. So here we are, this weekend is St Patrick’s Day. A holiday I could literally give two solid poops about. Butttt, in a sea of artificially colored green foods, green beer, green bagels, soda breads, beer soaked meats and the like, I offer to you a simple, fun, natural and tasty way to get in some green. And hiiiii matcha is a superfood, friends!! (Are we sick of that word, yet?)
Antioxidant rich matcha tea, can help fight free radicals in the body and promote long-term health. Matcha being the whole leaf, ground, also contains 137 times the amount of free radical-fighting antioxidants as any other green teas. WOOT WOOT! So basically you can have your chocolate, get in some healthy fats and become a cancer-fighting super hero all in a couple of bites. (OK, that may not be super accurate marketing, but I like the generalization)
-
Dark Chocolate Raspberry Coconut Butter Keto Cups {paleo, low-carb, gluten-free, vegan}
These 5-ingredient Dark Chocolate Raspberry Coconut Butter Keto Cups are a tasty snack or the perfect bite-sized dessert. My favorite part, for as fancy as they appear, they are ready in no time at all. Besides being low carb and keto are also paleo, gluten-free and vegan, too!
You guys know I am not much of a sweets person. It’s just not really my thing. It’s rare I am dreaming up new and clever ways to recreate treats to be more healthful, because for me, as long as I have a bar of super dark chocolate in the fridge, freezer and/or pantry (what can I say, I like my chocolate at different temps for different reasons) – I am a happy lady.
I’ve especially found since I’ve been eating keto for the last year +, my taste for sweets has basically diminished completely. But my love for chocolate will never waiver. Read the rest of this entry »
-
Apple Bites with Pumpkin Spice Coconut Butter {Paleo-friendly}
Sometimes it’s the un-recipes, the simple, uncomplicated eats that are the most coveted around here. With fall being a hustling and bustling time, I know we all struggle to slow down, to hit pause even and enjoy the best of the season, but it’s so important. Fall will be over before we know it and we will be in the thick of the holidays. I don’t want to rush it. I want to enjoy every bit(e) of it.
While I have no issues with embracing pumpkin-everything this time of year, I also find that apples don’t get nearly enough of the autumnal love! Probably my most favorite of all the fruits, apples are impeccable this time of year and a source of so many great nutrients, including vitamins A & C and various minerals including lots of potassium, and a solid showing of calcium, magnesium and phosphorous. They are high in fiber and apple pectin has detoxifying qualities, making it used often in cleansing formulas. Apples are a sweet mini-multivitamin of sorts, bringing a little bit of everything. I always recommend apples that are organic and unsprayed, as most conventional apples are heavily sprayed with pesticides.
-
How-to Make Coconut Butter
This is a super easy tutorial this week you guys, literally One Step. One ingredient.
How-to Make Coconut Butter.
What is Coconut Butter?
Coconut butter is basically just ground up coconut meat that has been processed until it is smooth and creamy. The same idea as nuts being used to make nut butter. Though it isn’t quite as creamy as a store bought creamy peanut butter and the texture can vary.
What is the Difference Between Coconut Butter and Coconut Oil or Coconut Cream?
Coconut butter includes the meat of the coconut and coconut oil does not. Coconut oil is used more as typical oil is, when cooking or baking, where coconut butter is more of a spread or dip, it could also be used in baking as nut butters would be.
Additionally, coconut butter is different from coconut cream which contains water. Coconut cream involves cooking down as much as 4 parts coconut to 1 part water, then straining out the coconut. Coconut cream is also what is found at the top of a can of full fat coconut milk. Coconut cream contains less water then coconut milk but coconut butter contains no water at all and there is no straining involved, the meat is left in.
How-to Make Coconut Butter:
Start with a quality brand of unsweetened organic shredded dehydrated coconut. Unsweetened coconut flakes will also work. Not fresh, not low fat, not sweetened, not toasted. Just regular ‘ol unsweetened flaked or shredded coconut. Use somewhere between 2 cups and 4 cups of shredded coconut, depending on the size of your food processor or high speed processor blender. 4 cups of shredded coconut will make about 1 cup of coconut butter. I find in my 14-cup food processor, that using 3 or 4 cups of coconut works much better than just 2 cups.
