With January comes a need for more fun and interesting things to do. Have fun with these recipes as they are simple and quick, but will brighten any January day. And the best news is, you can still keep all your resolutions! These recipes are healthy and low glycemic, compared to their traditional counterparts.
CHUNKY APPLE CAKE RECIPE
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour 9x9x2-inch pan.
Mix together:
2 cups organic flour (use any kind, including gluten-free, if needed – 1/2 cup Amaranth flour and 1-1/2 cup Quinoa flour works well if you don’t do well with the bean and potato flours)
2 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. organic cinnamon
Organic spices -1/2 tsp. each Allspice and nutmeg, 1/4 tsp each cloves and Celtic or Himalayan sea salt
Blend 1/2 cup (one stick) softened or melted organic butter (or 1/2 cup organic ghee (clarified butter), or organic, hand-pressed coconut oil for dairy-free)
1/2 cup organic maple syrup (or for sugar-free diets, use 1/2 tsp. organic Stevia leaf and 1/2 cup organic raisin paste (Raisin Paste: You can keep this in fridge for weeks. Place 1 cup raisins in jar with 1-1/2 cups water, or less, for more concentrated sweet. Soak raisins overnight or longer in refrigerator. Blend in blender to make paste.)
I tsp. organic vanilla extract
2 organic eggs (or egg substitute for vegans)
Mix flour into butter/oil mixture and mix well (200 strokes or 2 minutes with mixer).
Blend in:
2 cups chopped organic apples
Up to one 1 cup raisins or dates and/or nuts.
Bake 50 minutes or until done. Cool with cover on pan to keep cake moist when using whole grain flour. Serve plain or Cream Cheese Frosting (below).
CREAM CHEESE FROSTING
Blend together:
8 oz. softened organic cream cheese
I tsp. organic vanilla extract
Organic maple syrup to taste, with Stevia Leaf sweetener to augment, if you choose to use less maple syrup.
LOW-CARB PANCAKES
Blend in blender:
One cup cottage cheese or for dairyfree -soaked, germinated cashews (see below)
6 eggs
6 Thsps. Amaranth flour
1/2 salt
I tsp. baking powder
I tsp. vanilla
1/2 stick butter, melted (or coconut oil)
I tbsp. lemon peel (If mix is too liquid, add soaked cashews to firm up)
Dairy-free version: Use 1 cup soaked cashews in place of cottage cheese. Use 1/4 cup coconut oil in place of butter.
Vegan version: Replace eggs with protein powder, soaked almonds dried and made into almond meal, plus a small amount of water and xanthiurn gum (or other egg-replacer). Use organic ghee or virgin coconut oil to fry pancakes in. Smaller works better for these.
Top with pure organic maple syrup (or for low-glycemic choice, Banana-Orange Sauce below). Serves 4-6 people.
BANANA-ORANGE SAUCE
Melt in medium saucepan:
1/4 cup Organic Ghee (clarified butter)
Cut up, add to hot Ghee, sauté for about one minute:
Six Organic Bananas
1/2 cup Organic Raisins
Add:
1 cup or more Purified Water (to your liking of sweetness and thickness of sauce)
1 tsp. organic vanilla extract
1/2 tsp. Organic Orange Extract (or Grated Peel of one Organic Orange)
1/2 tsp. Celtic or Himalayan sea salt, Stevia or organic maple syrup to taste (use your own sweetness meter!)
Simmer for five minutes.
