Sweets for The Sweet!

Let's start our New Year off sweet! I hope that all of our readers had an amazing Christmas/ holiday season and a fabulous new year!

Below, you'll find that this recipe is similar to my Chocolate Coconut Banana Breakfast Quinoa, but I've merged it with gingerbread! Now, I think that this recipe can be used at any time of the year- why not substitute banana or zucchini bread for the gingerbread in the summer? I dreamed this up when I was thinking of a suitable dessert that I can actually eat for Christmas Day dinner at my future mother-in-law's. I just Googled a gingerbread recipe online and substituted the flour for a gluten free blend and used original almond milk. It's actually extremely simple!

I sprinkled crushed candy cane on top of this pudding to keep in the Christmas theme.

Kath's Chocolate Banana Gingerbread Pudding

1 cup gingerbread, fully baked

1/2 cup light coconut milk (I like Thai Kitchen)

1 tbsp. unsweetened cocoa powder

2 tsp. cinnamon powder

1 tbsp. honey 

1 banana, mashed

Bring coconut milk to boil on stovetop. Stir in cocoa powder, cinnamon powder, honey and banana. Whisk ingredients together until mix develops a pudding-like consistency.
Crumble gingerbread over pan (I used a disposable Christmas tree, Dollarama pan). Pour chocolate mix over gingerbread and let cool; about 10 minutes.
Sprinkle crushed candy cane over top of pudding (optional) and cover. Refrigerate until need to serve or serve warm. Either way, it's delicious!

Enjoy!

Breakfast Time!

If you have allergies to dairy and gluten, then you know as well as I that breakfast can be the most challenging meal of the day! Fortunately, Pinterest has some awesome ideas for Coconut Quinoa Pudding and Chocolate Banana Breakfast Quinoa and they both sound absolutely delicious!

I took both ideas and kind of merged them together to create a delicious Chocolate Coconut Banana Breakfast Quinoa!

Gluten and dairy free, as always and the entire recipe is only 5 Weight Watchers points (I made this and could only eat half - so I've chilled it and will eat it tomorrow morning).

(C)FrenchOnionSoupBlogCalgary

Kath's Chocolate Coconut Banana Breakfast Quinoa

1/4 cup quinoa, uncooked

1/2 cup water

1/2 cup light coconut milk (I like Thai Kitchen)

1 tbsp. unsweetened cocoa powder

1 tbsp. honey

1 banana, mashed

Cook quinoa in small stove top. Once all water has evaporated and quinoa has cooked, reduce heat to medium, and add mashed banana and coconut milk and stir. Add cocoa powder and honey and stir again. 

Once everything is thoroughly combined, remove from heat and let sit, covered, for about 5 minutes.

Pour into small bowl and enjoy!

(C)FrenchOnionSoupBlogCalgary

A Pre- Christmas Treat!

Eating well can be difficult this time of year, and avoiding allergen-infested treats and eats can be even harder! So, I've come up with a delicious, gluten and dairy free alternative for when you need a bit of sweet.

Gluten & Dairy Free Peppermint Brownie

1/2 cup peppermint dust (take a candy cane and grate it)

1/2 cup sweet rice flour

1/4 cup coconut flour

1/8 cup gluten free baking powder

1/8 cup potato starch

1/4 cup cocoa powder

1/4 cup oil

1/4 cup water

2 eggs

2 tbsp. honey

Heat oven to 350F. In medium-sized bowl, mix together dry ingredients, saving some of the peppermint dust. 

Stir in oil, water, eggs and honey until a nice paste forms. Pour mixture into well-greased or cooking sprayed cake pan. 

Put into oven and bake for 15 minutes. May need more time depending on oven. You can always use the toothpick trick.

Once brownies are done, cut into sections and sprinkle remaining peppermint dust on top.

Serve warm! Enjoy!

(C)FrenchOnionSoupBlogCalgary

Blend it, Baby!

It's time for another smoothie recipe!

... You're welcome

Gluten & Dairy Free Chocolate Banana Cashew Smoothie

1 banana, frozen

1 cup chocolate almond milk, unsweetened

1/4 cup cashews, finely chopped

1/2 cup ice

Blend until smoothie. May garnish with semi-sweet chocolate chips to serve.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Crazy day today - got an awesome card from Thomas:

The front said: "Sweetheart, I'd like to give you a Big Hug for Valentine's Day!" and its got a bear

But, when you open it, it says: "... And if my hands should happen to slip down and squeeze your butt, think of it as a hug with an exclamation point. XOXO"

When I got home from work, Tom had made dinner and everything - it was awesome!! He's such a great guy... no French Onion Soup for dinner, but he made salmon, salad and rice. Then afterwards we had chocolate covered strawberries I had brought home from work... so perfect!

We had agreed not to do anything too "special" for Valentine's Day since our 2 year anniversary is coming up at the end of February, but it was nice to have a little something for today.

I'm so grateful for him; he's so absolutely amazing!

Last Valentine's Day, we geeked out at The Titanic Exhibit at the old Science Centre here in Calgary and then spent the rest of the day watching Star Wars - it was the best Valentine's Day I've ever had.

Kind of a cool thing for Valentine's Day - use Hershey's Kisses & Hugs to make dipping chocolate for your fruit! Remember that the Hugs & Kisses aren't usually used for this (aka they're not fondue chocolate) so it's best the put in some milk with it and only put it in the microwave for 15 seconds at a time.

Also, another tip - lots of times flower shops will give away bags of rose petals (or other petals) for free (or for a small profit)! If you're not too picky about the appearance of the petals - I mean, if you're scattering them on the bed or in the tub, they're not gonna be perfect anyways ;) - go into your favourite local shop and ask for a bag of their petal scraps or just petals. If they're not specially made, the flower shop may just give them to you!

Happy Love Day!