Simply Sugar & Gluten-Free » Holiday

Healthy 6-Ingredient Chocolate Truffles for Attune Foods

Amy — Wed, 20 Feb 2013 14:00:53 +0000

Healthy and truffles don’t sound like they should go in the same sentence, do they? When I think of truffles, my mind conjures up images of decadent, melt-away chocolately centers with an exterior crunch that is just enough to give some interesting textural contrast. But I most certainly don’t think healthy.

I decided to change that.

Not the decadent, melt-in-your-mouth chocolate part. I wanted to be able to serve them to friends and have them love every bite. But why not make them healthier so you can enjoy your chocolate without worrying about the calories hanging around your thighs?

I also wanted them to be dairy-free. That’s the newest food issue in our household. For some reason, my body stopped tolerating milk products after Nate was born. I’m still in mourning and desperately hope something changes, if I must be completely honest. But that’s a whole different conversation.

To make these truffles healthy, I needed the perfect vehicle. I thought about using cocoa butter to make a dairy-free chocolate but it proved to be more complicated than I wanted to undertake. I decided on beans. Black beans in particular.

Don’t stop reading just yet…some of my most delicious chocolate recipes use beans as a base.

Are you ready to make the most incredible truffles? Hop on over to Attune Foods’ blog and get my recipe.

Note: I am a Brand Ambassador for Attune Foods. This post is sponsored by Attune. Truth be told, I loved their products before I started working with them. Their gluten-free, refined sugar-free, GMO-free cornflakes got me through the first several months of my pregnancy when I could rarely stomach anything else. So, you can rest assured that I am sharing my honest opinion of their products.

Let’s make truffles!

Walnut and Fig Tart with a Three-Ingredient No-Bake Crust for Attune Foods

Amy — Wed, 21 Nov 2012 14:00:37 +0000

I know this gluten-free pie crust recipe is just under the wire but I really think you’ll like it. It’s easy to make, it’s crunchy, and it tastes great. It’s a no-fuss solution for your holiday pies.

The flavor of the figs is allowed to shine in this dressed-up Fig Newton-ish filling.

And, if you’re like me you’ll slice off a piece and eat it for breakfast. I know, maybe I shouldn’t admit that. But when you read the recipe, you’ll see that it’s packed with healthy ingredients. It’s better than a donut any day!

So, you can make your pie, please your holiday guests and have breakfast too.

Ready to make this tart? Get the recipe at the Attune Foods blog!

Let’s make pie crust!

Five Immune Boosting Foods to Add to Your Holiday Meal

Amy — Mon, 19 Nov 2012 14:00:40 +0000

Yes! You can add immune boosting foods and still have an off-the-charts delicious holiday meal. Being healthy for the holidays is a must! And, you might be surprised how many of these foods already grace your holiday table.

Beans: The humble bean is full of soluble fiber, which has been shown to help mice recover from illness twice as fast as compared to those mice who ate a fiber blend. Legumes are also a rich source of vitamin B6, which helps create white blood cells – the infection fighters.
Recipes to Try: Black Bean Brownies, White Bean Gratin, Black Bean Sweet Potato Enchiladas, and make sure to check out this free ebook by Carol Fenster, Pulses and the Gluten-Free Diet (This is a Canadian ebook and they call beans pulses.)
Flax Seed Oil: Make a dressing out of this nutty oil and drizzle it on your salad! This is another food that helps support white blood cells and also helps the body not over-react to infection. Because flax seed oil can be bitter, make sure to use it with another oil.
Recipes to Try: Lemon Vinaigrette or Almost Raw Liquid Gold Salad Dressing
Cinnamon: This antiviral, anti-fungal, antibacterial immune booster is the perfect addition to your holiday desserts, hot chocolate, and Egg Nog. Make sure to add some to your daily green smoothie, too.
Recipes to Try: Gingerbread Cupcakes, Egg Nog, Pumpkin Pie Smoothie, and Gingerbread Cookie Dough Protein Bars
Oats: A simple food that contains beta-glucan, which helps fight disease. It’s a soluble fiber which has antioxidant and antimicrobrial properties. Since the body doesn’t make beta-glucan it’s important to get it from food. Make sure your oats are certified gluten-free.
Recipes to Try: Thanksgiving Meatless Loaf, Cinnamon Oat Snowdrops, Cinnamon Vanilla Granola, or Blueberry Crumble
Sweet Potatoes: Packed with beta-cartoene, which is converted to Vitamin A, sweet potatoes help keep your skin healthy. Since your skin is the largest organ in your body and covers nearly every inch of our body, it’s the first place to ward off germs. Other orange foods, like pumpkin and some winter squash, are great additions to your holiday meal too.
Recipes to Try: Sweet Potato and Kale Hash, Sweet Potato Quinoa Cookies, or Curried Acorn Squash, Sweet Potato, & Apple Soup

How do you use food to give your health a boost?

Sources:

AARP, Eating Well, Dr. Sears, Everyday Health, Organic Gardening, Prevention, LiveStrong.com, Life Extension, Glamour, Health Guidance

Gluten-Free Thanksgiving Favorites

Janel — Fri, 16 Nov 2012 14:00:45 +0000

Thanksgiving is almost here!It seems like it sneaked up on me this year.

We’re having our traditional holiday feast of roast turkey, orange-glazed ham, mashed potatoes, gravy, cornbread dressing, salad, some kind of veggie (probably brussels sprouts), homemade ice cream, and a couple of pies. This year it’s going to be dairy-free too.

If you’re still planning your menu, you might want to try one of these gluten-free recipes that are sure to be a hit at your Thanksgiving Feast next week:

You might also want to check out my Ingredient Substitution List so you can make all of the recipes at your Thanksgiving table work for anyone with allergies or intolerances.

Need healthy baking tips for the holidays? Get them here.

What’s on your menu? Have any questions about holiday cooking?

Christmas Cookie Round-Up

Amy — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 14:54:35 +0000

I thought I’d share some of my favorite Christmas cookies recipes just in case you’re still looking for something to bring to dinner this weekend. Or, maybe you’re like me and just like to bake cookies. If you’ve got kids at home, you might want to start the tradition of baking cookies for Santa on Christmas Eve.

A plate of homemade Christmas cookies says ‘love’ in a big way.

May you all have a very Merry Christmas and a Happy Hanukkah filled with love, joy, and a plate full of delicious gluten-free food.

And enjoy your Christmas cookies…I always do.

Much love,

Amy

Some Of My Favorite Gluten-Free Christmas Cookies….