Category Archives: recipes

Berry Bliss

Wow.  I have a new favorite dessert.  Seriously, I’d be happy to forgo cake for the rest of my life if I could eat this on a regular basis.

Actually, from now on I will be eating this on a regular basis. 🙂

Simple. Nutritious. Delicious.

Berry Tart

Makes 4 tarts

Crust

  • 1/2 cup rolled oats
  • 8 dates
  • 1 tablespoon water

Chop dates coarsely.  Process chopped dates and oats in a food processor until crumbly.  Add water and process until sticky.

Chocolate Filling

  • 2 tablespoons unrefined virgin coconut oil (place jar in hot water to liquify if solid)
  • 1 tablespoon cocoa
  • 1 teaspoon bee pollen (optional)
  • stevia or honey to taste (I used 1 packet of Truvia)

 

Mix cocoa, sweetener, and bee pollen (if using) together.

If using bee pollen just know that it will keep its shape, this is not a problem.  If using honey, melt in microwave or on the stove before adding.

Divide dough into 4 equal size balls.  Line 4 muffin cups with papers.  Press dough into bottom of each paper, making an indent in the center and building up a little ridge around the edges to form a crust.  Spoon 1 teaspoon of chocolate into each crust.  Top with berries/fruit of choice.

Place tarts in fridge for at least 30 minutes to allow chocolate to harden.

Eat more berries while you wait.

I used Wine Berries for these tarts because I just happened to have two big bowls of them in my fridge.

Yesterday Tate and I went into the woods and came out with a haul of berries, scratched legs, stained fingers, and antioxidant-happy tummies.  I’ve already frozen a few pints, eaten them in overnight oats, and the stash is still flush!  Love berry season.

Tarts.  When the chocolate is firm, remove from paper and serve.

These tarts are soft and doughy with a nice crunchy contrast from the berry seeds.  They are sweet from the dates, rich from the coconut oil, and fresh from the berries.  In other words, everything I want out of dessert!

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Say Cheese!

Or make cheese!

A few weeks ago I became enamored with the idea of making my own mozzarella.  I’ve read recipe after recipe but have yet to buy the rennet and find the right time.  It’s not all that complicated (so they say) but is a little time intensive.  I will make mozzarella soon but I decided to start with something quick and simple, a beginner cheese if you will.

This cheese is super simple, quick, and tasty.

I heated a half-gallon of milk to 180*, added two tablespoons of white distilled vinegar (I tasted no residual vinegar flavor when all was said and done), turned off the heat, and stirred up the curds and whey.

Man, someone should have told Ms. Muffit to strain that sh** into cheese!

I poured the mix through a clean cloth napkin lined strained, reserving the whey for another use.

Once the curds were well strained, I was left with a ball of ricotta-like cheese weighing just over half a pound.   The cheese ball went into a bowl and mixed with salt, smoked paprika, and fresh ground black pepper.

[My dear husband was supposed to be shooting pictures of this part but when I looked at the shots they were all of my smiling face and not cheese-centric.   I guess I should be clearer with my directions and pleased that he found me a more worthy subject than the dairy. 🙂 )

The cheese was delicious on tostadas Wednesday night

And on my Egg In The Basket breakfast this morning

Man, this was a good breakfast.  Tate and I stopped by Matt+Kath‘s new Great Harvest bakery at the end of our run yesterday and snagged a loaf of Honey Whole Wheat from their very first batch of bread.  The slightly sweet, doughy bread was an awesome contrast to the smokey cheese and egg.

I don’t this this cheese will become a kitchen staple but I will be making it again.  It will be fun to play with fresh herbs and different flavor combos.

I’m off to go order some rennet and get my mozzarella on!

Have you ever made cheese?

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Filed under cooking, food, goals, recipes