Chocolate Muffins -- good for school, good for vegans, gluten free, sugar free, nut free ...

One of our favourites from last year now goes vegan. Simple, beautiful, fantastic, perfect. I sprinkled a little coconut sugar on top before I baked. It wasn't cheating. It was just inspiration. They are amazing either way. Amazing. Don't let the fact that they contain five different kinds of seeds and pack a tremendous nutritional punch derail you. They are super delicious, melt in your mouth, delicate, delectable, and will keep you going. 

ingredients:

1/4 cup extra virgin coconut oil (organic and unrefined)

1/2 cup coconut sugar
1/2 cup date sugar

2 cups hot water

1 tbsp vanilla extract
1 tbsp apple cider vinegar

1 cup raw cacao

1 tbsp ground vanilla bean

1 tsp sea salt
1/2 tsp stevia powder

4 tsp egg replacer + 1 cup water

1 cup shredded coconut -- ground fine
1/2 cup hemp hemp hearts, ground

4 tbsp ground chia seeds
1/4 cup ground flax

1/2 cup ground pumpkin seeds
1/2 cup ground sunflower seeds

2 tbsp coconut flour
1/2 tsp baking soda

directions:

1. combine the coconut oil, and hot water. Let sit for 10 minutes. 

2. add the cacao, vanilla, salt, stevia, hemp seeds, shredded coconut, and mix

3. add the egg replacer mixture

4. stir in the ground chia seeds, ground flax seeds, ground sunflower seeds, ground pumpkin seeds, followed finally by the coconut flour. Then add the baking soda

5. scoop into prepare muffin cups and bake at 345 for 60 minutes

makes 24 amazing muffins. Amazing.

School Muffins -- Chocolate Muffins -- gluten free, sugar free, grain free, moist and delicious

Today some friends came over for a cooking lesson. Lessons included how to make wholesome lunchbox eats, such as these muffins, which -- nut free as they are -- can be eaten with impunity at school. Additionally, they are delicious, wholesome, packed full of amazing goodness, and will keep your little cutie pie going for ages.

ingredients:

1/4 cup extra virgin coconut oil (organic and unrefined)

1/2 cup coconut sugar

2 cups hot water

1 tbsp vanilla extract

1/2 cup raw cacao

1 tbsp ground vanilla bean

1 tsp sea salt
1/4  tsp stevia powder
1 tbsp carob

1/2 tsp baking soda

4 eggs

1 cup shredded coconut -- ground
1/2 cup hemp seeds

4 tbsp ground chia seeds
1/4 cup ground flax

1/2 cup ground pumpkin seeds
 1/2 cup ground sunflower seeds

directions:

1. combine the dates, coconut oil, and hot water. Let sit for 10 minutes. Then, puree with an immersion blender. 

2. add the cacao, vanilla, salt, stevia, hemp seeds, shredded coconut, and carob powder and blend again

3. add the baking soda and blend

4. add the eggs and blend

4. stir in the ground chia seeds, ground flax seeds, and ground pumpkin seeds

5. scoop into prepare muffin cups and bake at 345 for 45 minutes

Chocolate School Muffins -- pumpkin seeds and hemp seeds perform virtuously

Chocolate School Muffins -- this time with pumpkin seeds only. We're usually interested in things that are chocolatey here. These are no exception. My son devoured one when he came home from school today.

ingredients:

1/4 cup extra virgin coconut oil (organic and unrefined)

1 cup pitted honey dates

2 cups hot water

1 tbsp vanilla extract

1/2 cup raw cacao

1 tbsp ground vanilla bean

1 tsp sea salt
1/8 tsp stevia powder
1 tbsp carob

1/2 tsp baking soda

4 eggs

1 cup shredded coconut -- ground
1/2 cup hemp seeds

4 tbsp ground chia seeds
1/4 cup ground flax

1/2  cup ground pumpkin seeds

directions:

1. combine the dates, coconut oil, and hot water. Let sit for 10 minutes. Then, puree with an immersion blender. 

2. add the cacao, vanilla, salt, stevia, hemp seeds, shredded coconut, and carob powder and blend again

3. add the baking soda and blend

4. add the eggs and blend

4. stir in the ground chia seeds, ground flax seeds, and ground pumpkin seeds

5. scoop into prepare muffin cups and bake at 345 for 40 minutes

Gluten free pizza

1/2 cup + 2 tbsp water
2 tbsp ground flax
2 tbsp ground chia seeds
1/2 tsp sea salt
1/2 tbsp oregano
1/4 tsp baking soda
1 cup almond flour
2 tbsp coconut flour


1. combine the ingredients
2. roll dough flat then roll edges up a little wee bit
3. top as desired
4. bake at 345 for 45 minutes
5. cool slightly (but just slightly), then serve

Which made a really terrific gluten free pizza crust. Yum!

Chocolate School Muffins -- a sugar free, gluten free, nut free, grain free delicacy

I continue with making lunch box fare for my 4 year old. I keep coming back to a variation on the chocolate muffin because of his enduring a reliable passion for chocolate. These muffins are not really sweet, because the large amount of raw cacao is bitter enough to counteract even the datey-est of dates. However, the taste is very pleasant and satisfying, and they provide a solid belly-filler around which to build a lunch box. I got one of those little quad boxes for LZ, and will put steamed broccoli in one (tried baby tomatoes, carrots, celery etc, but he just wants broccoli), cubes of cheese in one, and some grapes or macaroons or energy bars in the fourth. It gives good variety, good nutrition, and plenty of energy to keep a small human going all day. I also send a separate snack box with a few energy bars in case he needs it, but he touches that rarely. Well, I recommend these to anyone who wants a nut-free, gluten free, wholesome meal for breakfast or lunch. If there are any seeds you don't like, it's easy enough to substitute. Hate pumpkin? Use sunflower! Hate sesame? Use extra hemp hearts. It's all good.

ingredients:

1/4 cup extra virgin coconut oil (organic and unrefined)

1 cup pitted honey dates

2 cups hot water

1 tbsp apple cider vinegar

4 eggs

1/2 cup raw cacao

1 tbsp ground vanilla bean

1tsp ceylon cinnamon

1 tsp sea salt

4 tbsp ground chia seeds

1 cup ground pumpkin seeds (or 1 cup of ground sunflower seeds, or some combination of the two)

1/2 cup hemp seeds 

1/2 cup ground flax

1/4 cup ground black sesame seeds

1 cup shredded coconut -- ground

1/2 tsp baking soda

directions:

1. combine the dates, coconut oil, and hot water. Let sit for 10 minutes. Then, puree with an immersion blender. Alternately, you can use a food processor, or a regular blender.

2. add the cacao, vanilla, salt, ground chia seeds, ground pumpkin seeds (or sunflower seeds), hemp seeds, ground flax, ground seseame seeds and blend again

3. add the baking soda and blend

4. add the eggs and blend

4. stir in the ground shredded coconut

5. scoop into prepare muffin cups and bake at 345 for 40 minutes

Chocolate Peppermint!!! Energy bars dance mix

If you are a fan of peppermint chocolate, you might love these not wisely but too well. As do I.  Good news? There ain't nothing in there you shouldn't be eating! raw, gluten free, vegan, sugar free, grain free, etc!

ingredients:

1/2 cup raw sunflower seeds

1/2 cup raw hemp hearts

1/4 cup ground sesame seeds -- black

1 cup raw cacao powder

1 tbsp ground vanilla bean

1 tsp ceylon cinnamon

3/4 tsp sea salt

1/2 tsp stevia powder

1/4 cup ground flax seed

1 cup shredded coconut

1 1/2  tsp peppermint extract

1 cup pitted honey dates

1/2 cup coconut butter

1/2 cup coconut oil

directions:

1. combine the first set of ingredients (up to not including the dates) and process until fully powdered

2. add the orange extract and pitted honey dates (check for pits) and pulse until completely chopped

3. add the coconut butter and pulse until combined

4. add the coconut oil and pulse until combined

5. press into a silicone pan (I use 2 square ones), and score into pieces

6. chill or freeze until set

7. break along score marks and store in airtight containers in the fridge

Sweet Potato school muffins -- nut free, gluten free, sugar free, yummy

In the interest of variety, I've come up with yet another perky little lunch  muffin. Try it. It's great.

ingredients:

2 cups water
1/4 cup extra virgin coconut oil
1 tbsp lemon juice

4 eggs

1 tsp sea salt
1 tbsp ceylon cinnamon
1 tsp ground ginger
1 tsp korintje cinnamon
1 tsp saigon cinnamon
1 tbsp ground vanilla bean

1 cup shredded coconut, ground
1/2 cup ground flax meal
1/4 cup ground chia
1/2 cup ground sunflower seeds
1/2 tsp baking soda

1/4 cup coconut flour

2 cups shredded sweet potato
1 cup organic raisins

directions:

preheat the oven to 345

1. combine  coconut oil and warm water

2. add the lemon juice, sea salt, vanilla, cinnamon, and ginger

3. stir in the  chia seeds, flax meal, shredded coconut, sunflower seeds, baking soda, and coconut flour
4. add the eggs and mix well

5. stir in the shredded sweet potato and raisins, and mix thoroughly

5. scoop the batter into prepare muffin cups

6. bake at 345 for 50 minutes

More Chocolate Cookies for School -- nut free, grain free, gluten free, sugar free ... Yahoo!!!

I like to pack a variety of stuff in my son's lunch for school -- broccoli, spinach, carrots, cubes of cheese, a couple of these healthy cookies, a muffin -- to keep him fuelled all day, and also give him stuff he'll enjoy. These are actually a reasonable snack as well as a tasty little treat. They are a big hit with our friend the cookie monster up the street. His mom might even have added a little peppermint flavour to them for that traditional delicious chocolate mint cookie sensation. Gotta try that myself!!!

ingredients:

1/4 cup extra virgin coconut oil (organic and unrefined)

1 cup pitted honey dates

1/4 cup water

2 eggs

1/2 cup raw cacao

1 tbsp ground vanilla bean

1/2 tsp sea salt

1 cup shredded coconut, ground

1/4 cup ground flax

1/4 cup black sesame seeds, ground

1/4 cup white sesame seeds, ground

1/2 cup ground raw sunflower seeds

1/4 cup ground chia seeds

1/2 tsp baking soda

1 cup finely ground pumpkin seeds

directions:

1. combine the hot water and dates, then puree with an immersion blender. Add the coconut oil and puree again. Finally, add the eggs, and process with the immersion blender until smooth. 

2. stir in the raw cacao, vanilla bean, and sea salt. If you are nuts like me, you can add a little black pepper. This is a good time to stir in the baking soda.

3. I put all the pumpkin seeds, shredded coconut, and sunflower seeds into a food processor to grind it up. I ground the chia seeds, flax seeds, and sesame seeds in a coffee grinder, and stirred them all into the date, egg, and cacao mixture.

4. when all the ingredients are fully incorporated, chill the dough thoroughly

5. roll small spoonfuls and place onto lined baking sheets

6. flatten with a wet fork and bake at 345 for 16 minutes

7. cool on a wire rack

8. store in an airtight container when cool

makes 4 dozen 

These cookies will keep well for a couple weeks in the fridge

Ginger Bread People -- School Cookies -- gluten free, nut free, grain free etc

My son wanted to make gingerbread people. He also wanted to be able to bring one to school for a snack. So, here goes!!! He sometimes helped by stuffing his face with raw pumpkin seeds, but mostly he's great at adding and stirring ingredients. These cookies are nice and spicy, and my son had a lot of fun choosing the shapes and cutting them out. The chilled dough is a little firm, so unfortunately I had to do the rolling. Such is the way of gluten free dough ...  But he had a great time. Can you tell?

ingredients:

1/2 cup extra virgin coconut oil -- unrefined
1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
2 eggs

1/2 tsp sea salt
black pepper
2 tbsp ginger
1 tbsp ground vanilla bean
1 tbsp ceylon cinnamon
2 tbsp carob powder

1 cup coconut sugar
1/2 cup ground flax
1/4 cup ground chia
1/4 cup ground black sesame
1/2 cup ground pumpkin seeds
1/2 tsp baking soda

1/2 cup coconut flour


directions:

before baking, preheat the oven to 345

1. combine the ingredients and chill the dough
2. roll out the dough in batches between 2 sheets of parchment
3. cut out as desired
4. bake on lined baking sheets for 14 minutes at 345
5. enjoy!

Crepes? Pancakes? Thin, gluten-free, and yummy. Sound good?

To go with my magical concoction of sautéed sweet potato, white kidney beans, tomatoes, onion, garlic, and spinach -- yummy!! -- I made these crepes. They are gluten free, and grain free, and really good for you, full of protein etc. Next time? I shall attempt vegan ...

The use of ground chia made the batter a little thicker, so they are less crepe and more pancake. but they still serve the purpose and are awwwwwweeeeeeessssssssssooooooooome.

ingredients:

4 eggs

1 cup water

1/4 cup flax meal

2 tbsp ground sesame seeds

2 tbsp ground chia

pinch sea salt

black pepper

1 cup almond flour

directions:

1. combine the above ingredients

2. cook in a cast iron pan 1/4 cup at a time, turning after 1-2 minute

makes 10 pancakes

A Giant Dinner pancake -- gluten free, vegan, grain free

We enjoy breakfast for dinner around here. Today it was a giant 'pancake' in the truest sense of the word. I baked this the way I bake socca -- on a large square cast-iron skillet -- and cut it into squares.  We kept it simple for an easy week-night dinner, and just sided it with some yummy broccoli. It could also easily go nut free, if the ground cashews are subbed by hemp hearts or some other yummy alternative.

ingredients:

2 cups water
2 tbsp coconut oil

1/2 tsp sea salt
1/4 cup ground chia seeds
1/4 cup ground cashews
1/2 cup flax meal
1/2 cup sesame meal
1/2 cup shredded coconut, ground up


1. combine the above, and pour onto a cast iron skillet
2. bake at 345 for 50-60 minutes
3. cut into pieces and serve drizzled with maple syrup, if desired


Delicious with or without maple syrup and or butter. And or apple sauce.

Savoury Lunch Muffins -- a gluten free, grain free, sandwich maker

In a search for something to reduce systemic inflammatory reaction, we've decided to try going grain free for a few weeks to see if that helps.  Alas we are traditionalists, and we favour sandwiches for lunch. These are perfect for cheese, tomato, and spinach sandwiches. The batter is too fragile to bake as a loaf -- would make far too fragile slices to have good functionality in that form, but as muffin shapes, they are great, and make cute little sandwiches.

ingredients:

2 cups warm water
1/4 cup extra virgin coconut oil (organic and unrefined)
1 tbsp apple cider vinegar

1 tsp sea salt
black pepper
pinch chili powder
1 tsp marjoram

1/4 cup ground chia
1/2 cup flax meal
1/4 cup coarsely ground sunflower seeds
1/4 cup coarsely ground pumpkin seeds
1/4 cup hemp hearts (shelled hemp seeds)
1/4 cup ground sesame seeds
1 cup shredded coconut, ground a little

4 eggs

1/2 tsp baking soda
2 cups almond flour




directions:

1. combine the ingredients in the order listed
2. scoop into 24 prepared muffin cups
3. bake at 345 for 35 minutes
4. let cool partially before removing from cups, then fully cool on a rack
5. store in an airtight container


makes 24 little lunch buns

Kamut Flour Bread

1 1/2 cups warm water (bath temp is about right)
1 tbsp unpasteurized honey
1 tbsp bread yeast

1/2 cup raw pumpkin seeds
1/2 cup raw sunflower seeds
1/2 cup shredded coconut
1/4 cup ground flax seeds
1/4 cup chia seeds
1/2 cup quinoa flakes

2 tsp sea salt
a little black pepper

3 1/2 cups whole ground, finely ground kamut flour (+)

4 tbsp apple cider vinegar


directions:
1. combine the warm water, honey, and yeast in a cup or a bowl and let sit
2. put the rest of the ingredients in a bowl
3. mix in the water and yeast concoction
4. add enough flour to make a smooth dough and knead until your arms get really tired
(or you can just use your mixer)
5. shape into a loaf and let rise for hours
6. bake at 345 for 45 minutes

Delicious seeds! freezer cookies

The cool thing about freezer cookies -- other than their temperature of course -- is how simple they are and how convenient they are. The beauty of these is that you can make up the dough, roll it into log shapes, and leave those in the freezer well wrapped until you need them. Then you just have to slice 'em and bake up. Presto!!

Plus they taste really good.

ingredients:

1 cup pitted honey dates

1 cup sunflower seeds

1 cup pumpkin seeds

1 cup shredded coconut

1/4 cup ground chia seeds

1/4 cup ground sesame seeds

1/2 cup ground flax seeds

1 cup pitted honey dates

2 eggs

1/4 cup extra virgin coconut oil

1/2 tsp baking soda

1 tsp sea salt

1 tbsp ground vanilla bean

1 tsp ceylon cinnamon

black pepper

directions:

1. in a food processor, combine the pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, ground chia, ground sesame, ground flax, and shredded coconut, as well as the baking soda, sea salt, ground vanilla bean, ceylon cinnamon, and black pepper. Process until finely ground.

2. move the ground seeds into a bowl

3. Put the pitted honey dates in the food processor, and pulse until finely ground

4. add the coconut oil and eggs, and pulse to fully mix

5. add the wet ingredients to the bowl of ground seeds, and mix thoroughly.

6. roll the dough into two long logs on parchment paper, and shape carefully. Logs should be appropriate cookie diameter.

7. put the dough in the freezer until you need it

8. when frozen, remove from freezer, cut into disks, and bake on a lined baking sheet at 345 for 12-14 minutes

9. store in an airtight container when fully cool.

More Magic Muffins -- super yummy gluten free, sugar free goodies

I've been enjoying making muffins from ground up seeds. Today I decided to make muffins from ground up almonds too. I kept the date and sesame and lotsa vanilla. Yummy and breakfast friendly.

ingredients:

1/4 cup extra virgin coconut oil

2 cups water

1 tbsp apple cider vinegar

1 cup shredded coconut

1/2 cup flax meal

1/4 cup chia seeds

1/4 cup ground sesame seeds

1 tsp sea salt

1 tbsp ground vanilla bean

2 cups raw almonds

1 cup pitted honey dates

1/2 tsp baking soda

4 eggs

directions:

preheat the oven to 345

1. in a food processor, process the almonds to a fine grind

2. add the dates and process again

3. mix in the ground vanilla, sea salt, flax meal, ground chia seeds, ground sesame seeds, and baking soda

4. in a bowl, pour hot water over coconut oil to melt

5. add the apple cider vinegar

6. put the ground nut and date mixture into the hot water mixture and mix well

7. add the eggs, and mix well

8. scoop into 24 prepared muffin cups and bake at 345 for 35 minutes

Date Energy Bars

One of my favourite recipes is the one for chocolate energy bars. And it's not just my fave. When I share it, people are convinced they are eating something really bad for them. Decadent. However, I'm in the mood for something that is not chocolate right now, so I'm thinking of an energy bar that doesn't use cacao.  I'm thinking pumpkin seeds and dates, shredded coconut and hemp, flax meal, and ground chia. If this sounds like it's up your alley, you may be as crazy as me. Anyway, here goes.

ingredients:

1 cup pitted honey dates

1 cup raw pumpkin seeds
1 cup shredded coconut

1/2 cup flax meal
1/2 cup hemp protein flour

1/2  tsp sea salt
2 tsp ground vanilla bean

1/4 cup ground chia seeds
1/4 cup ground sesame seeds


1/2 cup coconut butter
1/2 cup coconut oil


directions:

in a food processor

1. puree the pumpkin seeds and shredded coconut, then add the dates and pulse until pureed and combined
2. add the flax meal, hemp protein powder, ground chia seeds, ground sesame seeds, sea salt, and ground vanilla bean
3. when everything is combined, add the coconut butter and coconut oil and pulse to combine
4. press the mixture into silicone baking dishes, and score into pieces
5. chill in fridge or freezer until set.
6. when fully set, break into pieces and store in an airtight container in the fridge


A softer, more gentle energy bar with a mellow flavour. Somehow they remind me of white chocolate. I don't know why. Go figure.

Toasted Seed Cookies

Seeds, bless their seedy little hearts, get a lot of flavour boost from gentle toasting. All you raw foodists out there may be scandalized by my flagrant use of toasting, but then again I'm sure you're not lurking around my blog since my only raw recipes are salads and the highly addictive chocolate power bars, but that's another matter.

Now, all you coconut haters must know there is very little coconutty about these cookies despite their toasted coconut content. The flavour is ... well, reminiscent of Dad's Oatmeal cookies. I was a kid in the seventies and I still remember trying to eat one in the wading pool in our backyard only to find they melted when they got wet ...

Anyway, here are some fabulous seed cookies that are 100% nut free. They are also gluten free, dairy free, and cane sugar free. They are sweetened with coconut sugar, which is nice and low on the glycemic index. I like 'em! They are an excellent cookie to go with tea.

Now, these cookies require 2 steps really. Because you have to toast the seeds then grind 'em up. You have to, or else the cookies will taste like raw seeds instead of toasted seeds, and won't be half as yummy. Trust me!

ingredients:

1/2 cup pumpkin seeds

1 cup sunflower seeds

1 cup shredded coconut

2 tbsp extra virgin coconut oil

1/2 cup cooconut sugar

2 eggs

1/4 cup flax meal

1/4 cup hemp seeds

1/2 tsp sea salt

1 tsp ground vanilla

1 tbsp cinnamon

1/4 tsp baking soda

directions:

1. toast the sunflower and pumpkin seeds for 30 minutes at 300 C.

2. toast the shredded coconut for 15 or 20 minutes at 300 C.

3. grind up the pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, and coconut in a food processor or fancy blender. Mortar and pestle?

4. preheat the oven to 345

5. combine the coconut oil (melted), coconut sugar, and eggs

6. mix in the sea salt, vanilla, and cinnamon

7. add the flax meal and hemp seeds

8. add the baking soda

9. mix in the toasted seeds and toasted coconut

10. put spoonfuls on a lined baking sheet, and flatten with a wet fork

11. bake for 16 minutes

Makes 2 dozen or so depending on size. Store in an airtight container.