Chocolate Molten Lava Cake

December 28th, 2011 | Posted by Milana in Dessert | Vegan - (0 Comments)

  I don’t know how long I’ve been wanting to use Nutella in my baking, it was hard to make a decision and I have finally found the ideal match! After trying to modify the original recipe I admit I was hesitant thinking the end result would be complete failure and to my surprise it was great success after all!  This is a divine dessert for a dinner party! Your guests will think you spent hours making these but it actually takes no longer than 15 min+ baking time. The original recipe was about 500 calories per serving and thanx to my modifications I can now proudly say each serving is 364 calories Isn’t that amazing!?!? But regardless this is still a rare indulgence due to it’s high fat and cholesterol content!  Hope you guys enjoy making these as much I do and I would love to read your feedback!……. I got the original recipe from a great blog www.ireallylikefood.com

INGREDIENTS:

4 oz Enjoy Life semi sweet or dark chocolate chips

3 Tbsp vegan butter or shortening

1/4 cup avocado oil

2 Large Eggs, room temperature

1/3 cup evaporated cane or coconut sugar

1/4 cup cake flour

4 Tbsp Dairy Free Nicciolata

cooking spray for ramekins

DIRECTIONS:

  1. Melt chocolate, oil and butter in microwave, in thirty second intervals and stirring in between until it is completely melted and mixed.
  2. In a medium mixing bowl, whisk the eggs, and sugar until light and fluffy.
  3. Add chocolate mixture gradually into the eggs. Add flour and mix until incorporated.
  4. Grease 6 cupcake/muffin molds with cooking spray. Fill each about 3/4 full with batter. Then put 2 teaspoons of nicciolata in the middle of each.
  5. Bake in a pre-heated oven at 350 degrees F for about 10-12 minutes. The cake should be cooked on the sides but still gooey in the center.
  6. Remove cakes carefully and turn upside down onto plate. You may need to use a knife gently along the sides of the muffin molds. Serve while warm. Garnish with powdered sugar and berries! Enjoy!
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Rating: 5.0/5 (4 votes cast)

Signature Apple Blueberry Pie

December 27th, 2011 | Posted by Milana in Dessert | Thanksgiving - (0 Comments)

This apple blueberry pie recipe has been traditionally in our family for about 20 years now! This is originally my Moms recipe which was passed down to my sisters and I. Eventually , we will be passing it down to our children.

I make my moms bottom crust as written below. However, I make a vegan top crust which I use for decor. Ingredients listed below.

*Ingredients:

CRUST:

1 cup white whole wheat flour

1 cup unbleached all purpose flour

1 tsp baking powder

1/4 cup + 2 Tbsp Sugar (I use organic evaporated cane)

1/2 cup avocado oil

2 eggs beaten

1 tsp pure vanilla extract

PIE FILLING:

4 Granny Smith Apples (peeled, cored, and and cut into sticks)

1 Can Blueberry Pie Filling (make sure its without High Fructose Corn Syrup)

1/4 cup sugar

2 tsp cornstarch (or arrowroot)

VEGAN TOP CRUST (for decoration & cut-outs):

1-1/4 cup unbleached all purpose flour

1/4 tsp salt

1-3/4 tsp sugar

1/4 cup solid coconut oil

3-5 Tbsp ice water

DIRECTIONS:

For bottom crust, combine all ingredients, shape into a ball and divide into 2 unequal parts . One of which is 1/3 smaller than the other. Use the larger part of dough and gently press onto a 9″ or 9.5″ round pyrex or ceramic pie dish going up 1-1/2 to 2″ of the border.

Filling: Combine all the filling ingredients and pour on top of the pie crust and evenly smooth the top with a spoon as much as possible.

Use the 1/3 part of the remaining dough to crumble all over the top or follow vegan top crust recipe to make decorations.

For Vegan Top Crust:

In a food processor, add flour, salt and sugar and pulse until combined. Add coconut oil and process until no chunks remain. Add 2 Tbsp of ice water and process until the dough comes together. Add another Tbsp if needed. At no point should the dough be sticky. Wrap in plastic and refrigerate for 20 min. Roll dough out on floured surface and decorate to your liking whether it’s to make a nice lattice, cut-outs or just a regular old fashioned crimp crust. Brush with egg wash.

Bake for 60 min at 350F. Makes about 10-12 slices.

*** original vegan pie crust recipe adapted from Food with feeling.

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Rating: 5.0/5 (4 votes cast)

Luxurious Peach Cobbler

December 27th, 2011 | Posted by Milana in Dessert | Thanksgiving - (0 Comments)

Who doesn’t like warm, gooey, comforting peach cobbler with a creamy scoop of vanilla ice cream on a cold winter day without feeling guilty about it later!? I can assure you that my healthier version delivers the same texture as well as taste without packing on the whopping calories like the traditional version.

I tweaked the original recipe that was found on allrecipes.com. Happy Baking!

INGREDIENTS:

  • 1/4 cup coconut sugar
  • 1 tablespoon organic cornstarch or arrowroot powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 4 cups fresh peaches – peeled, pitted and sliced (you may use frozen as well)
  • 1 teaspoon lemon juice
  • 1/2 cup unbleached all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 cup whole wheat pastry flour or white whole wheat
  • 1/2 tablespoon evaporated cane sugar
  • 1- 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 2 tablespoons cold unsalted butter or vegan butter/shortening
  • 1 Tbsp avocado Oil
  • 1/2 cup Unsweetened Original Ripple Milk or any milk on hand
  • 1 Tbps chopped walnuts (optional)
  • 6 Ramekins
  • 6 scoops vanilla ice cream 

DIRECTIONS:

  1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
  2. To Make Peach Filling: In a large saucepan combine 1/4 cup sugar, cornstarch, and cinnamon. Stir in peaches and lemon juice, tossing until peaches are evenly coated.
  3. Cook filling over medium heat, stirring constantly until mixture thickens and boils. Boil 1 minute. Pour mixture into each ramekin. Keep mixture hot in oven while you make topping.
  4. To Make Topping: In a medium bowl combine flour, 1/2 tablespoon sugar, baking powder, and salt. Mix thoroughly, then cut in butter with pastry cutter until mixture looks like fine crumbs add oil combine with a fork until texture is like coarse sand. Add milk and stir until mixture is evenly moistened.
  5. Remove peach filling from oven and drop dough onto peaches in 6 equal-size spoonfuls. Press walnuts onto dough
  6. Return cobbler to oven and bake 25 to 30 minutes or until topping is golden brown. Cool for 10 Min then top them off with the ice cream and DIG IN!!!
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Rating: 5.0/5 (4 votes cast)

Whole Wheat Buttermilk Pancakes

December 26th, 2011 | Posted by Milana in Breakfast/Brunch - (0 Comments)

Hey Everyone!!! I hope you all enjoyed the holidays! I certainly did ….I woke up this morning in the mood to whip something yummy up for breakfast and sure enough I had the ingredients on hand to make these fluffy buttermilk pancakes.

Ingredients:

1/2 cup whole wheat pastry flour or white whole wheat flour

1/2 cup unbleached all purpose flour

1 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp baking soda

1/4 tsp salt

1-1/2 Tbsp Honey or maple syrup

1 Large Egg lightly beaten

1-1/2 cups unsweetened Original Ripple Milk mixed with 1.5 Tbsp white vinegar (leave for 5 minutes to coagulate)

2 Tbsp Avocado Oil

Cooking Spray for griddle

9 Tbsp All Fruit Raspberry Preserve

Directions:

  1. Heat griddle to 375 degrees. Whisk together flours, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a mixing bowl. Add egg, honey, milk/ vinegar mixture, and 2 tablespoons oil; whisk to combine. Batter should have small to medium lumps.
  2. Test griddle by sprinkling a few drops of water on it. If water bounces and spatters off griddle, it is hot enough. Grease with cooking spray.
  3. Using a 2-ounce scoop or 1/4 cup, pour pancake batter. When pancakes have bubbles on top and are slightly dry around edges, about 2 1/2 minutes, flip over. Cook until golden on bottom, about 1 minute.
  4. Repeat with remaining batter, keeping finished pancakes on a heatproof plate in oven. Serve warm.
  5. For Raspberry sauce, heat the jam in a small saucepan until warmed through. Drizzle about 3-4 tsp over each pancake serving.
*Makes 14 Fluffy Pancakes (2 per serving + 2-3 tsp of sauce)

**Original recipe was found on marthastewart.com

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Rating: 5.0/5 (4 votes cast)

Happy Holidays Everyone!!! …..I made these festive cupcakes for a friends annual Christmas party and it was a HUGE success!!!I used white chocolate peppermint  bark and green sugar as an additional garnish. I got the original devil’s food recipe on foodnetwork.com by the one and only Ellie Krieger! Let me know what you guys think. All your comments and reviews are appreciated!

Yields: 8 cupcakes…..to make more you may simply double recipe. 

For cupcakes:

Paper cupcake liners

1/2 cup white whole wheat flour

1/2 cup cake flour

1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

3/4 teaspoon baking soda

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup vegan sour cream

1/4 cup Trader Joe’s Cultured plain Cashew Beverage 

2 tablespoons Vegan Shortening

1/4 cup avocado oil

1/2 cup dark brown sugar

2 Large Eggs, room temperature

Peppermint Frosting:

6 oz. Vegan Cream Cheese at room temperature

8 Tbsp. Unsalted Vegan shortening at room temperature

3 cups Powdered sugar

1 tsp pure peppermint extract

1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract

1 Tbsp Ripple Half & Half in Vanilla

Directions:

Place rack in center of oven and preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Place a cupcake liner into each section of cupcake tins. Whisk together flours, cocoa, baking soda and salt in a medium bowl and set aside. Combine sour cream and buttermilk in a small bowl and set aside.

Combine shortening, oil, and brown sugar in the bowl of a stand mixer and mix on high speed, scraping down sides of bowl, until sugar has dissolved and mixture is light in color, about 1 minute. Add eggs and beat an additional 1 minute. Add 1/3 of flour-cocoa mixture, then 1/3 sour cream buttermilk mixture, mixing well after each addition. Repeat with remaining dry and wet ingredients. Distribute batter evenly among 8 cupcake tins. Bake for 15 to 17 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into cupcake comes out clean. Let cupcakes cool slightly, transfer to wire racks and cool completely, 10 to 15 minutes.

For Frosting:

Place shortening in a large mixing bowl and blend slightly. Add cream cheese and blend until combined, about 30 seconds. Add confectioners sugar one cup at a time and blend on low speed until combined. Increase the speed to medium and beat until it begins to get fluffy. Add the vanilla and peppermint extract and beat again until completely incorporated. Finally add the 1 Tbsp of half & half and combine.

**To create a swirl effect. Take a large piping bag and make 2 vertical parallel lines with your gel food coloring on the inside of the bag and then carefully fill with the frosting. Squeeze a little bit of the frosting onto your finger until u see the red and white stripes. Now you are ready to frost your cupcakes!

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Rating: 5.0/5 (5 votes cast)

Quote Of The Day

December 15th, 2011 | Posted by Milana in Uncategorized - (0 Comments)

 “To love is to risk not being loved in return. To hope is to risk pain. To try is to risk failure, but risk must be taken because the greatest hazard in life is to risk nothing.”

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Rating: 5.0/5 (2 votes cast)

Silky Double Chocolate Pie

December 15th, 2011 | Posted by Milana in Dessert - (0 Comments)

This smooth and silky pie will satisfy anyone’s sweet, chocolaty craving!! This is one of my favorite recipes by Chef and Registered Dietitian, Ellie Krieger, who has her own show on the cooking channel called HEALTHY APPETITES. I’ve made this pie in the summer since it’s served cold. But I just made it a few days ago and it goes very well with a hot cup of tea or coffee.

Ingredients:

  • 14 graham cracker squares (7 full sheets)
  • 2 tablespoons butter, melted
  • 1 tablespoon water
  • 1 tablespoon unflavored gelatin or agar agar
  • 1/3 cup boiling water
  • 2/3 cup cane or coconut sugar, plus 1/2 teaspoon
  • 1/3 cup cocoa unsweetened
  • 1/4 cup cornstarch or arrowroot powder
  • 1/8 teaspoon salt
  • 3 cups Unsweetened Original Ripple milk
  • 2 ounces bittersweet chocolate, chopped
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • Can of coconut whipped cream

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Spray a 9-inch pie plate with cooking spray.  In a food processor, process the graham crackers until finely ground. Add butter and water and process until the crumbs clump together. Press the crumb mixture into bottom of pie plate and about 1-inch up the sides. Bake for 10 minutes, then let cool.

In the meantime, make the pudding. Put the gelatin in a small bowl, add the boiling water and stir until dissolved. Set aside.

In a medium saucepan, mix the 2/3 cup of sugar, cocoa, cornstarch and salt. Gradually add half of the milk, whisking until smooth. Whisk in the rest of the milk. Turn the heat on to medium and cook, whisking constantly, until the mixture thickens and comes to a boil, about 10 minutes. Remove from the heat. Add the chocolate and stir until melted. Stir in the vanilla and reserved gelatin. Pour the mixture into the pie crust and let set for 3 hours in the refrigerator.

Garnish the pie with the whipped cream.

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Rating: 5.0/5 (5 votes cast)

I made these delicious cupcakes for my sisters Sweet 16! She loved them!!! These are the most luxurious, low calorie red velvet cupcakes I have ever tasted!!! You guys must give these a try! I got this recipe off of skinnytaste.com Let me know how you guys like them! 🙂

Servings: 24 Serving

Size: 1 cupcake with frosting

  • 1-1/2 cups cake flour
  • 1 cup white whole wheat flour
  • 1 cup cane or coconut sugar
  • 1 tbsp unsweetened dutch-process cocoa
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 1 tsp white vinegar
  • 1/2 cup unsweetened apple sauce
  • 1/4 cup butter, softened
  • 1 egg
  • 2 egg whites
  • 2 tsp vanilla
  • 1-1/3 cup buttermilk or Trader Joe’s Cultured Cashew Milk
  • 1 tbsp red food coloring

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350. Line cupcake tins with liners. In a large mixing bowl, stir together flours, salt, cocoa, and baking powder. In another large bowl beat sugar, applesauce and butter. Beat in eggs and vanilla. In a separate bowl mix baking soda and vinegar. Add half of the dry ingredients into the egg mixture, mix well. Add buttermilk, red food coloring and mix well. Add the remaining dry ingredients and fold in vinegar and baking soda. Pour in prepared cupcake liners 3/4 of the way. Bake 20-25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean. Cool, then frost with low fat cream cheese frosting.

Cream Cheese Frosting:

  • 8 oz Cream Cheese
  • 1 cup powdered sugar
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract

Beat together cream cheese, powdered sugar and vanilla until smooth.

 

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Rating: 5.0/5 (5 votes cast)