1/2 cup gluten free flour

3/4 cups parmesan cheese, grated

2 tsp fresh rosemerry, finely chopped ( or 1 tbsp dried )

salt and pepper to taste

1 cup pumpkin puree

1/2 cup of chickpeas, mashed

2 eggs, slightly beaten

oil for frying ( I used olive ) but feel free to use whatever oil you like. 

In a medium bowl mix together the flour, parmesan, rosemary, salt and pepper. In a separate bowl mix the pumpkin, chickpeas and eggs. Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and stir until combined.

In a deep frying pan heat a generous amount of oil over medium heat. Once the oil is heated drop 3 or 4 large tbsp of batter into the oil. Gently flatten each tbsp. Cook for 3-5 minutes per side or until nice and crispy golden. Remove from pan and lay on some paper towel to cool for a few minutes. Enjoy.

*note: If the fritters are browning too fast, turn the heat down to med-low

Recipe adapted from Heather Christo

Today is my sister Emma’s 30th birthday. I had hoped to take her out to brunch but she was far too hungover for that. Since I wasn’t able to get her to leave the house I decided to whip her up a little personal sized cake and bring it to her. I hadn’t planned on making a cake so I had to use a recipe that called for ingredients I had on hand. This is what I came up with.

Happy Birthday Auntie Emm!!

cake: 

1 1/2 cups gluten free flour

1/2 cup organic cane sugar

1 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp baking soda

1/4 tsp salt

1/2 cinnamon

1/2 tsp nutmeg

1/2 tsp allspice

1/3 cup pumpkin puree

2 tbsp coconut oil, melted

2/3 tsp vanilla

1/2 cup coconut milk

In a medium bowl sift together the dry ingredients. In a small bowl combine the wet ingredients. Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients. Mix well. Pour the batter into a parchment lined 4 1/2 inch cake pan ( my pan is about 3 inches high and I filled it 2/3 of the way) Bake at 350 for 60 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean when inserted all the way thorough the center. Let sit for 5 minutes. Remove cake from cake pan, place on a cooling rack for about 15 minutes. Once cake has cooled compleatly cut into 3 using a serrated knife.

*note: If you wish to keep this cake vegan, switch out the cream cheese and use your fave vegan icing!

icing:

2 tbsp coco natura, room temp

1/4 cup coconut spread, room temp

1/3 cup cream cheese, room temp

1 1/2 cups icing sugar ( use a bit more if you like thicker icing )

In a stand mixer whip together the coconut spread, cream cheese and coco natura. Add the icing sugar and whip until light and fluffy.

To assemble:

place first piece of cake on a small dish, top with a thick layer of icing. now add the second layer of cake and top with a thick layer of icing. Add the third layer of cake and frost the entire cake! sprinkle with a little unsweetened coconut. Enjoy!

*note: you can make mini muffins with the left over batter. in a greased mini muffin tin, bake for about 25 minutes.

makes about 30 macaroons

2 large egg whites

1/3 cup pure maple syrup or honey

1/2 tsp organic vanilla

1/8 tsp organic almond extract

2 cups organic unsweetened shredded coconut

Preheat oven to 350. In a medium bowl, whisk together the egg whites, maple syrup, vanilla and almond extract. Add the coconut and stir until combined.

Using a tablespoon as a scooper, spoon out the mixture onto a parchment lined tray ( or 2 ) leaving about an inch of space between the macaroons. Bake for 15 minutes or until the bottoms and sides are golden brown and the tops are begining to brown. Once you have removed the macaroons from the oven let rest for a min of 30 minutes before removing from the pan. Enjoy

*note: these would be amazing with a little chocolate drizzled on top!

SQUASH:

1 spaghetti squash

Preheat oven to 375. Prick the spaghetti squash all over with a fork or knife making little holes/slits to allow for the steam to escape while it bakes (this will prevent a not so fun, super messy, squash explosion). Bake in a shallow baking sheet for 1 hour. Once the squash has cooled enough to handle, cut it length wise with a serrated knife. Remove the seeds and fibrous strings from the centre of the squash using a spoon. Once you have removed all the seeds, gently scrape the squash with a fork shredding the pulp into nice spaghetti looking strands. Set aside.

While the squash bakes make the sauce.

SAUCE:

- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 2 cups crimini mushrooms, sliced
- 2 medium onions, chopped
- 2 large cloves of garlic

- 1/4 tsp dried thyme
- 2 bay leaves
- 2 tsp chopped rosemary
- salt and pepper to taste
- 1 cup of organic vegetable broth

- 2 tbsp tomato paste
- 1 280z can organic crushed tomatoes, with their juice
- chunk of good parmesan cheese, for grating

Warm the oil in a large skillet. Add the onion, garlic, thyme, bay leaves and rosemarry. Cook over med-high heat for about 5 minutes, stir often. Add the mushrooms and cook for 5 more minutes. Season with a bit of salt and pepper. Add 1/2 cup vegetable broth and cook until completely reduced, making sure to scrape the pan lifting any bits that may begin to stick. When the pan is dry mash the tomato paste into the mushroom, onion mixture. Add the canned tomatoes and the remaining 1/2 cup of vegetable broth. Turn heat to medium low and simmer for 30 or so minutes.

ADDITIONAL INGREDIENTS FOR THE LASAGNA:

- ricotta cheese
- bag of shredded cheddar and mozzarella or cheese of choice

 

Spread a generous amount of sauce covering the bottom of your roasting dish. Cover with a layer of spaghetti squash followed by another layer of sauce. Spread a layer of ricotta and cover with a layer of shredded cheese. Repeat the process one more time. Top it off with a layer of grated parm. Transfer to the middle rack of the oven and bake for 18-22 minutes. Turn the oven to broil and bake for 3 minutes or until the top begins to brown and bubble. Remove from oven, let sit for a few minutes before serving. Enjoy!

These are perfect as a quick on the go breakfast or snack. Pair them with a handful of berries or warm them up with a little butter or, for a sweet treat, try them with a smear of date paste…soooo good.

1/2 cup plain yogurt

1/4 cup unsweetened apple sauce

1 super ripe banana, mashed

2 pear, mashed

1/2 cup date paste + 1 tbsp water

1 cup gluten free flour

1/2 cup coconut flour

1/2 cup ground oats

2 tsp baking powder

2 tbsp psyllium husk powder

1 tsp baking soda

1 tsp cinnamon

2 carrots, shredded

1 small zucchini, shredded

1/4 cup coconut oil, melted

1 egg, lightly beaten

*date paste- Place about a cup of dates into a mason jar and cover with water. Let soak for a few hours or over night. Empty the dates into a food processor with about a tablespoon of the soaking water. Pulse until you have a beautifully smooth paste.

Preheat oven to 350

In a food processor pulse together the zucchini and carrot until nicely shredded. In a medium bowl mix together the yogurt, applesauce, banana, pear, zucchini, carrots, date paste, coconut oil and egg until combined. In a separate bowl add the flours, oats, baking powder, baking soda, psyllium husk powder and cinnamon; whisk together. Dump the wet ingredients in with the dry ingredients. Using a wooden spoon stir until well combined. Grease an 8 inch square baking pan with a little coconut oil. Evenly spread the batter into the pan and bake for approximately 1 hour/ 1 hour 10 min. To tell if they are done insert a toothpick into the center of the pan, if it comes out clean the squares are done! Enjoy.

*Recipe adapted from Sprouted Kitchen // serves 6

SALAD:

3/4 lb brussel sprouts, halved

3/4 lb cauliflower florets

3 cups kabocha squash, peeled, seeded and cubed into bite sized pieces

2tbsp safflower oil, plus more if needed

1 tbsp white balsamic

3/4-1tsp sea salt

1 tsp fresh ground pepper

1/2 tsp ground nutmeg

few pinches of cayenne

1 cup of cooked white beans such as great northern, cannellini etc, rinsed and drained

1/2 cup of pomegranete seeds

2 cups of arugula

VINAIGRETTE:

1 tbsp horseradish

1 large clove of garlic, peeled and minced

1/2 shallot, minced

1 tsp honey

2 tbsp of white wine vinegar

1/4 cup of safflower oil

sea salt and pepper to taste

handful of fresh chives or parsley

if desired a little goat cheese or parmesan for topping

Preheat oven to 400. In a large bowl toss to coat the brussel sprouts, cauliflower and squash with oil, balsamic, salt, pepper, nutmeg and a few pinches of cayenne. Empty onto a large rimmed baking sheet ( or two if needed ). Roast for 35 minutes until edges are browned.

While the vegetables are roasting make the vinaigrette. In a food processor combine the horseradish, garlic, shallot, honey, white wine vinegar, safflower oil, salt and pepper and herbs. Blend until well combined.

When the Vegetables are removed from the oven add the beans to the hot tray and toss together. Let the vegetables cool for a few minutes then empty to large mixing bowl and add the pom seeds, arugula.Toss.

TO SERVE:

Evenly distribute salad into bowls give each bowl a generous drizzle of dressing and a sprinkle of goat cheese or parm. Enjoy!

*To make this salad a meal I added some wild rice to the mix, delish.

Recipe adapted from Beard+Bonnet

• 1 cup of Bob’s Red Mill gluten free all purpose flour
• 2 tbsp psyllium husk powder
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/2 cup parmesan, grated
• 1 1/4 cups milk, slightly warmed
• 4 large eggs
• 3 tbsp butter melted + a little more for greasing the muffin pan

Preheat the oven to 400. Using butter or cooking spray of choice grease the muffin pan.

In a large bowl whisk together the eggs, milk and butter. In a separate bowl mix together the flour, salt and psyllium. Now pour the flour mixture in with the egg mixture and stir to combine. Once the batter is nice and smooth add the parmesan.

Divide the batter evenly amongst the greased muffin tin. Bake for 25 minutes at 400 then reduce the heat to 350 and bake for an additional 15 minutes or until the popovers are golden brown.

To serve:

I like to make a batch of these and  eat them throughout the week with some soup and a salad. They taste great as is or you can slice them and toss the slices in the oven at 400 for a few minutes until they are nice and toasty, yum!

These are so yummy and so easy. I LOVE them as is or you can add a little meat for the carnivores at the table. I have made them with sausage and the last time I made them I added some fish and they were devoured ( one very hungry man ate about 8 of them ). I had to stop myself at 3 but if it wasn’t for being uncomfortably full I would have kept going and going.

• 2 sweet potatos, washed and cut into bite sized pieces
• 1 large cooking onion, diced
• 1 can black beans, drained and rinsed
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• pickled jalapeno peppers
• corn tortillas
• cilantro
• plain lowfat yogurt
• hot sauce
• *optional: avocado, cheese, chopped red and green peppers, lettuce, salsa

taco seasoning

• 2 tbsp chipotle chili powder
• 1 tsp smoked paprika
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1 tsp onion powder
• 1 tbsp cumin
• 1/2 tsp oregano
• 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp  black pepper

-mix together and store in an air tight container.

Preheat the oven to 400. Wash and cut the potatoes into bite sized pieces. chop the onion. drain and rinse the beans. Dump the potato, onion and beans into a large bowl with a tight fitting lid. Add 3 tbsp of the taco seasoning and 1 tbsp olive oil. put the lid on the bowl and shake, shake, shake until everything is mixed together nicely.

spread the contents of the bowl in a large baking sheet ( or 2 if needed ) and bake for aproximately 35 min, turning half way through. remove from oven and set aside.

warm the tortillas for a couple of min in the oven.

To serve top tortillas with yogurt, black bean and sweet potato mix, jalapano peppers and some fresh cilantro…for those of you that like the heat I like a little drizzle of sriracha hot sauce to finish it off. Enjoy!

• 1 cup uncooked quinoa
• 1 can lentils, green, yellow or red, drained and rinsed
• 2 green onions, white part only, chopped
• 1 cup dried apricots, chopped
• 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
• 1/4 cup safflower oil
• 4 tbsp dijon mustard
• 1 large clove garlic, minced
• pepper to taste
• raw pumpkin seeds to garnish

Cook quinoa according to package. Chop apricots. Chop green onion. Drain and rinse lentils. Mix cooked quinoa, apricots, onions and lentils in a large bowl.

For the dressing

Mince the garlic. Mix together the vinegar and oil together. Add the dijon and whisk until well combined. Now add the garlic and pepper and mix well.

Pour the dressing on the quinoa and mix. To serve top with a small handful of pumpkin seeds. Enjoy!

I have been dreaming of a cherry salad for the past few weeks. I LOVE cherries and the endless amount of delicious recipes to use them in. So often the recipes are for tarts and pies and crumbles and ice creams and popsicles etc etc. This time I thought I would try something different and I’m sooo happy I did. This salad is wonderful. Make it, I promise if you like cherries and you like asparagus, your mouth and tummy will love you for it. Oh and did I mention…it’s super good for you! You’re welcome.

• 1 bunch asparagus, grilled and cut into one inch pieces
• 2 cups cherries. pitted and sliced
• 2 cups quinoa, cooked
• mixed salad greens- as much as you like
• goats cheese
• Roasted almonds or walnuts, optional
• 1/2 lemon
• 4 tbsp olive oil
• 2 tbsp red wine vinegar
• 1 tbsp dijon mustard, more or less depending on how much you like mustard
• salt and pepper to taste

For the salad:

Cook the quinoa according to package directions. Once it has cooked set aside to cool. Wash and pit the cherries. Cut into quarters. Wash the asparagus. Toss with a little olive oil to coat then grill it. I used my square skillet grill from Le Creuset. I love the way asparagus tastes cooked on it. Once the asparagus has cooled, cut into one inch pieces. Toss together the quinoa, cherries and asparagus. Mix with most of the dressing. Mix the remaining dressing with your mixed greens. To serve: place a handful of lettuce on each plate top with quinoa mixture and sprinkle with goats cheese. You can also throw in some roasted almonds or walnuts. Enjoy!

For the dijon vinaigrette:

In a small bowl add the oil. Sprinkle in the salt and whisk together. Add the vinegar, lemon and Dijon, Whisk together. Pepper to taste.