Chickpea Deserts

Desserts do not need to be complicated. Little bit of this, little bit of that, pot in the refrigerator or bake, and that is that.

    

Chocolate Chickpea Mousse

Service 6

2 cup (480 ml) organic chickpeas juice (Save the beans.)

10 ounces (260 g) dark 80% chocolate

1 tsp (5 ml) organic vanilla extract

 1 Tbs (15 ml) organic maple syrup

optimal: whip cream

1. Whip the chickpea juice into a thick peaks.

2. Fold in melt chocolate, maple syrup, and vanilla extract.

3. Pour into small cups or a bowl.

4.  Chill.

5. Server with or without whip cream.

Chickpea Chocolate Cookies

Preheat the oven to 350ºF/175ºC

chickpeas from the first recipe

1/2 cup (65 g) organic peanut or almond butter

1 Tbs. (15 ml) each: vanilla extract and maple syrup 

1/2 tsp (2,5 g) baking soda 

1/2 tsp (2,5 g) cinnamon

2/3 cups (85 g) chocolate chips

1. Blend all the ingredients except the chips, if you do not want them in the dough, or add a few chocolate chips on top of each cookie before baking.

2. Scoop the dough balls, flatten, and add to the baking sheet lined with parchment paper.

3. Bake for about 15  minutes until done.

4. Cool before serving.

Read More

Homemade Ice Cream

If you look at the store brands of ice cream, you might want to make your own. Plus, you can experiment with the ingredients by mixing two or more berried, melons, or tropical fruits together. Think of some of the strange ice creameries, and how they become so popular.

~Use organic ingredients if possible.~

optional fold in before freezing:

1. chocolate chips 

2. pieces of pecans

3. toasted walnuts

 

Berry Ice Cream

Makes 3 1/2 cups (455 g)

1 cup (130 g) Greek yogurt or a dairy-free plain yogurt

2 cups (260 g) frozen berries (eg. blueberries, cranberries, raspberries, blackberries, Oregon marionberries aka "Cabernet of blackberries", or elderberries) 

2 Tbs. (30 g) honey

2 tsp. (10 ml) vanilla extract

1/2 cup (120 ml) milk (If using a plant-base, dairy-free, milk, it will add that flavor.)

1. Place all the ingredients in a blender.

2. Pour into a glass container.

3. Freeze for 4 hours.

Tropical Fruit Ice Cream

Makes 3 cups (390 g)

2 cups (260 g) fruit cut into cubes and freeze (eg. pineapple, mango, papaya, coconut, banana, passion fruit, peaches, avocado, or guava)

1/2 cup (120 ml) coconut milk

1 cup (130 g) Greek yogurt or a dairy-free plain yogurt

2 Tbs. (30 g) honey

2 tsp. (10 ml) vanilla extract

1. Place all the ingredients in a blender.

2. Pour into a glass container.

3. Freeze for 4 hours.

Melon Ice Cream

Makes about 5 cups (650 g)

2 1/2 cups (600 g) melon cut into chunks and freeze (eg. watermelon, cantaloupe, honeydew, casaba)

1 cup (130 g) sugar

1 1/2 cups (300 g) coconut cream, heavy cream, or dairy-free milk

1 tsp. (5 ml) lemon juice

1. Whisk the cream/milk and sugar.

2. In a blender, add the melon and lemon juice.

3. Stir in the cream mixture.

4. Place in a glass container.

5. Freeze for  4 hours.

Strawberry Ice Cream

Makes 3 cups (390 g)

2 cups (260 g) chopped strawberries 

1 cup (120 ml) coconut milk

1 Tbs. (15 ml) maple syrup

1. After blending all the ingredients in a blender, freeze 1-2 hours.

2. Let it set for 10 minutes at room temperature before serving.

Read More

A Cheesecake Dip à la Berries

Always buy organic berries! Now, let's made a dip for the special gathering of friends and family.

Serves 8

~Use organic as much a possible.~

1/2 cup (65 g) each: strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, raspberries (and from Oregon, marionberries)

2 Tbs. (30 g) sugar

2 Tbs. (30 ml) orange juice

zest of 1 orange

8 ounces (225 g) (dairy-free) soft cream cheese or yogurt

1/2 cup (120 ml) (dairy-free) sour cream

1 tsp. (5 ml) vanilia extract

2 Tbs. (30 g) honey

1 tsp. (5 g) cinnamon

(gluten-free) crackers

garnish: mint

1. Toss the berries in a bowl with orange juice and zest.

2. Use a mixer to blend the creams, vanilla, honey, and cinnamon.

3. Spread on a plater.

4. Topped with the berries.

5. Garnish with the mint.

6. Serve with the crackers.

Read More

Waffle #3: Waffle-Chocolate!

Waffles can be found from Brussels to Hong Kong across the ocean to America and come in a more variety of ways: hotdog waffles (Hawai'i), syrup filled Strtoopwafel (Germany), with tapioca flour (Indonesia), coconut milk (Vietnam), peanut butter (Hong Kong), Spanish wine....Chocolate waffles first appeared in Germany.

Jump back in history to the ancient Greeks who made cooked flat cakes, called οβελίος /obelios/ "arrow", between hot metal plates. They used the same mixture of flour, water or milk, and eggs as most waffles are made today. 

Makes 6 Schokoladenwaffeln (German)

Preheat the waffle maker

1 1/2 cups (195 g) (gluten-free) flour

3 Tbs. (45 g) organic sugar

1 Tbs. (15 g) baking powder

1/2 tsp. (2,5 g) Himalayan salt

1/4 cup (30 g) organic cocoa powder

2 organic eggs

1 1/2 cups (36 ml) (dairy-free) milk

4 Tbs. (60 ml) melted, (dairy-free) organic butter

1 tsp. (5 ml) vanilla extract

1 cup (130 g) (dairy-free) chocolate chips

toppings:

• (dairy-free) whipped cream
• chocolate syrup
• organic tahini
• organic fruit(s)
• organic jams
• etc.

eins 1. Combine the flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, and cocoa in a bowl.

zwei 2. Make a well in the middle and set aside.

drie 3. Separate the egg yolks from the whites.

vier 4. Beat the egg whites with a mixer until fluffy.

fünf 5. In another bowl mix the egg yolks, milk, butter and vanilla extract.

sechs 6. Fold in the egg whites, leaving it lumpy.

sieben 7. Add the egg mixture into the well of the dry ingredients and mix with a rubber spatular. Leave it lumpy.

acht 8. Add the chocolate chips. 

neun 9. Spray the waffle maker with olive oil cooking spray.

zehn 10. Ladle the batter into the waffle maker.

elf 11. Cook until crisp.

zwölf 12. Serve hot with any of the toppings.

Read More

Homemade Granola

Checking the ingredients of granola, I find that I can make my own, with healthier ingredients.

Another name for granola is muesli.

Makes about 7 cups (910 g)

Preheat the oven to 275F (135C)

Use organic ingredients.

1/4 cup (30 g) each: maple syrup and honey 

2 egg whites (Use the egg yolks in another dish.)

1/3 cup (80 ml) olive oil

1 tsp. (5 ml) vanilla extract

1 tsp (5 g) cinnamon

1/2 tsp. (2,5 g) grated orange zest

4 cups (520 g) old-fashioned rolled oats

2 cups (260 g) mixed chopped dried fruits, seeds, nuts, and/or raisins

1. Mix the honey, maple syrup, egg whites, oil, vanilla, cinnamon, and orange zest in a bowl. 

2. Put a half a cup (65 g) of the mixture into a smaller bowl.

3. Mix the oats into the larger bowl.

3. Add the dried fruit into the smaller bowl.

4. Spray a baking sheet with olive oil or line with parchment paper.

5. Spoon in the mixture from the larger bowl.

6. Bake for 30 minutes.

7. Add the dried fruit mixture. Stir.

8. Bake 15 minutes, then stir the mixture again.

9. Bake 15 minutes more or until golden brown on top. 

10. Let it cool on a wire rack.

11. Store in a jar.

12. Serve for breakfast with (dairy-free) milk or yogurt, or as dessert with yogurt, or on top of ice cream, or...

Read More

Three Types of Pecan Pies

Pecan pie sells for about $6 or some online for as much as $60! Then, too, you can make it with about all the ingredients in the pantry. Pies can be baked beforehand, must be cooled, and can also be frozen.

"Food is history.

Taste history!"

-Patricia Brady

(historian and author)

Old Fashion Southern Pecan Pie

8 servings

Preheat the oven to 350F (175C)

3 organic eggs

3/4 cup (95 g) granulated organic sugar 

1 cup (140 g) light corn syrup

2 Tbs. (15 g) (dairy-free) organic butter, at room temperature

1 Tbs. (15 g) (gluten-free) flour

1 tsp. (5 ml) vanilla extract

1 cup (130 g) organic chopped organic pecans (optional: toasted for more flavor)

1 (gluten-free) pie crust

1. Place the pie crest in an ungreased pie pan.

2. Whist the eggs, then whist in the sugar.

3. Stir in the syrup and butter.

4. Mi in the flour and the vanilla.

5. Fold in the pecans.

6. Pour into the pie shell.

7. Cover the edges of the pie with aluminum foil about halfway through cooking.

8. Bake for about 55 minutes, until the knife inserted comes out clean.

9. Cool completely before serving.

OPTIONAL:

Chocolate Pecan Pie

Use 3/4 cup (95 g) of pecans

1/2 cup (65 g) of semi-sweet chocolate chips

Quick and Easy Pecan Pie

2 pies

Preheat the oven to 425F (220C)

1 cup (200 g) organic granulated sugar

3 Tbs. (38 g) light brown organic sugar

1/2 tsp. (3 g) Himalayan salt

1 cup (140 g) light corn syrup

3/4 tsp. (3,25 mg) vanilla extract

1/3 cup (75,70 g) (diary-free) softened butter

3 organic eggs

1 1/2 cups (150 g) organi chopped pecans or eave whole

2 (gluten-free) pie crust

1. Place the pie crests in an ungreased pie pans.

2. Mix together the sugar, brown sugar, salt, corn syrup, and butter.

3. Mix in the eggs and vanilla.

4. Save some pecans, and add the rest to the mixture.

5. Pour into the unbaked pie shells.

6. Add the extra pecans on top. 

7. Bake for 10 minutes at 425F/220C.

8. Reduce to 350F/175C and cook about 40 more minutes.

9. About half way through, tent aluminum foil over the top of the pie.

10. Jiggle them a little to see if they are done. If not, cook 5-10 minutes more.

11. Let them cool completely, about an hour or refrigerate for 1-3 days.

Freezing the Pies

• They must be completely cook.
• Cover with plastic wrap and aluminum foil
• Freeze up to 3 months.
• Thaw completely in the refrigerator before serving.

Read More

Pancakes with Berries

Sunday breakfast is always special around our house. Each week, we try to make something different. Waffles seem to be the #1 choice. Pancakes, not really. But these are large and fun to have for dessert!

Pannkoogid marjadega (Estonian)

Makes 6 pancakes

Make the day before or early morning.

A. Pancake / Pannkook:

1 cup (130 g) (gluten-free) flour

2 Tbs. (30 g) organic sugar

2 organic eggs

1 cup (dairy-free) organic milk

1/2 tsp. (2,5 ml)  pure, all-natural vanilla extract

(If Estonian sounds like Finnish, it is because they are both a Finno-Ugric languages.)

üks 1. Sift the flour and sugar. Make a well in the middle.

kaks 2. Drop the egg yolks, milk, and vanilla into the well. Beat until the batter is thin.

 (a) Save the egg whites.

kolm 3. Cover with a cloth, place in a cool place overnight. Or make it in the morning to be used that evening.

B. Berries / Marjad: 

organic berries of choice, rinsed and drained

2 Tbs. (30 ml) water

1 Tbs. (15 g) cornstarch (British: cornflour)

1/2 cup (60 g) oranic sugar 

neli 4. Add the berries, water, and sugar in a saucepan. 

viis 5. Cook over medium-high heat. Stir until it turns into a sauce.

kuus 6. Bring to boil and stir in the cornstarch. 

seitse 7. Reduce the heat, cook about 8 minutes. Stir until thickened.

kaheksa 8. Remove and pour into a bowl to cool.

C. Pancakes / Pannkoogid: 

üheksa 9. Beat the egg whites. 

kümme 10. Fold into the battle.

üksteist 11. Use a buttered crêpe pan or frying pan over medium-hot heat.

kaksteist 12. Remove and pour in 1/2 a cup (120 ml) of the batter. Spread evenly.

kolmteist 13. Cook about 3 minutes on each side. 

neliteist 14. Serve with the bowl of the berry sauce.

Read More