Maple Romaine Salad

Main Ingredients--------------------------------------------------------------------- 

Romaine lettuce- chopped and washed

Blueberries

Granny smith apple- chopped (can omit this and use strawberries, blackberries, raspeberries)

Feta Cheese- crumbled (can use bleu or gorgonzola cheese isntead)

cinnamon almonds

Maple Dressing---------------------------------------------------------------

1/4t dry mustard

2 T vinegar

1/4 c maple syrup

1 T freshly squeezed lemon Juice (i also love some lemon zest in there)

1/2t salt

pepper

1/2 c oil

optional- you can add a squeeze or two of fake maple syrup or mapeline flavoring, for more flavor.

Cinnamon Almonds--------------------------------------------------------------

1 c sugar

2 t cinnamon

1 and 1/2t vanilla

1/4c water

Combine sugar and cinnamon. Mix Almonds in skillet with cinnamon mixture. Add vanilla and water to pan. Cook on medium high heat, stirring constantly until nuts are coated and no liquid is left. usually about 7-10 minutes.

Cool

Romaine with Fruit and Maple Dressing

 Romaine With Fruit and Maple Dressing (zupa's copycat)

Romaine lettuce, washed and chopped

Blueberries

Granny Smith apple- chopped 

Feta Cheese crumbled

Cinnamon almonds

Maple Dressing-

-1/4t dry mustard

-2T White vinegar

-1/4c pure maple syrup

-1T lemon juice

-1/2t salt

-pepper

-1/2c oil

You can add a squeeze or two of fake maple syrup if you want stronger flavor)

-Omit the apple and use a variety of berries, strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, raspberries/

-Use bleu cheese or gorgonzola crumbles instead of feta

Easy Cinnamon Almonds-

1 c sugar

2 t cinnamon

1and 1/2t vanilla

1/4c water 

Combine sugar and cinnamon. Mix almonds in skillet with cinnamon mixture.

Add vanilla to the water and add to pan.

Partially Dairy Free Lily Fruit dip

 I can of cream of coconut (just the fatty thick part, leave out the liquid part)

Plain yogurt

lemon juice

honey or maple syrup

Websites for more ideas- Dairy Free Menu

Naturally Sweetened Gluten-free Chocolate Cake

Simply Divine Eating

½ c. coconut oil, ghee, pasture-raised butter, or pasture-raised lard
18 medjool dates, pitted and soaked in hot water 15 min.
2 Tbl real maple syrup
2 eggs
½ c. cocoa
2 c. oat flour
1 c. sour milk (or add 1 tsp lemon juice or vinegar to regular milk or coconut milk)
2 tsp baking soda
1 c. warm water
2 tsp vanilla

Instructions:
Preheat oven to 375’.
Measure lard, butter, ghee or coconut oil into large bowl, set aside.
Drain dates and squeeze water from them. Combine dates, syrup and eggs in blender and blend till very smooth.
Add date mixture to lard or butter and mix well.
In separate bowl measure flour and cocoa and set aside.
Measure sour milk and set aside.
Alternately add the flour mixture and the milk to the date mixture. Add ¼ c.- ⅓ c. of the flour to dates and mix well, then add ¼ c. to ⅓ c. of milk to date mixture and mix well. Keep alternating until both milk and flour are incorporated.
Measure baking soda into 1 c. warm water and stir well. Add soda water to cake and beat to combine. Add vanilla to batter and beat.
Grease and flour a 9 x 13 pan and pour batter into pan. Bake at 375’ for 30 min or until toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean. This makes a yummy dense cake that disappeared even without being frosted. 

Add Angie’s Chocolate Frosting recipe and wow them!

6 T coconut oil, butter, or ghee (I use coconut oil)
1/2 cup cocoa
1/4 cup raw honey
1/4 cup nut butter, sunflower seed butter, or tahini
Pinch pink salt
2 t vanilla
½ cup winter squash puree (butternut, pumpkin, etc.)
Instructions:
On the stovetop on low heat, melt together the coconut oil, cocoa, honey, and nut butter.  Remove from heat and stir in the salt, vanilla, and squash puree. Or be lazy (scratch that…efficient) like me and just throw all the raw ingredients together in the food processor.  This recipe makes a fudgy frosting that will set up fairly solid, so I spread it immediately and then let it set.

Vegan Cream Cheese frosting

Detoxinista

• 1 large Hannah sweet potato (white flesh)
• 1/2 cup maple syrup (at room temperature)
• 6 tablespoons coconut oil (melted)
• 2-4 tablespoons water
• 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
• 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
• 1/8 teaspoon salt

Instructions

1. To prepare the sweet potato, peel and cut it into 1-inch chunks. In a pot fitted with a steamer basket, bring 1-inch of water to a boil and steam the potato chunks until fork-tender, about 10-15 minutes. 
2. Transfer the steamed potato chunks into a 1-cup measuring cup and mash them with a fork to tightly pack the cup all the way to the top. (Reserve any remaining sweet potato for a future smoothie or salad topper.)
3. Transfer the mashed sweet potato to a blender, and add in the maple syrup, coconut oil, 2 tablespoons of water, lemon juice, apple cider vinegar, and salt. Blend until silky smooth.
4. If the mixture isn't blending well, add more water 1-2 tablespoons at a time until very smooth. Be careful not to add too much water or the frosting will be too runny. Once smooth, transfer the frosting to an airtight container to store in the fridge. 
5. This frosting will thicken overnight and can be spread over your favorite cakes, bars, or cookies. Be sure to keep the frosting refrigerated for best texture, though it can sit out at room temperature for several hours for serving. It should last up to a week when stored in the fridge.

#2 Overnight French Toast

Epicurious

YIELD- 

Makes 6 servings

INGREDIENTS
For the french toast:                                                                                                                                  1/4 cup (1/2 stick) butter, room temperature
12 3/4-inch-thick French bread slices
6 eggs
1 1/2 cups milk
1/4 cup sugar
2 tablespoons maple syrup
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 teaspoon salt
Powdered sugar
                                                                                                                                                                    For the maple syrup:
2 cups maple syrup
1 cup chopped walnuts, toasted

PREPARATION
To make the french toast:Spread butter over bottom of heavy large baking pan with 1-inch-high sides. Arrange bread slices in pan. Beat eggs, milk, sugar, syrup, vanilla and salt to blend in large bowl. Pour mixture over bread. Turn bread slices to coat. Cover with plastic and refrigerate overnight.
Preheat oven to 400°F. Bake French bread 40 minutes. Transfer cooked toast to plates and sprinkle with powdered sugar. Serve immediately, passing Maple-Walnut Syrup separately.
To prepare maple syrup:
Combine syrup and walnuts in heavy medium saucepan. Bring to simmer. Serve syrup hot. Makes about 3 cups.

This could be doubled and freeze one for a later time in the freezer.

baked pumpkin oatmeal

One lovely Life
I  put in a greased 9x13 pan

For the dry ingredients:

4 cups rolled oats (sometimes called old-fashioned). – Use gluten free as needed!
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp cinnamon, 1/4 tsp nutmeg, 1/4 tsp cardamom

Or 1&1/2t pumpkin pie spice
2 cup toasted pecans or almonds

protein powder optional

For the wet ingredients:

3 cups milk (I use unsweetened almond milk)
2 cups pumpkin or 15oz can
1/2 cup pure maple syrup or brown sugar (plus more, for drizzling)
3 eggs or 2 Tbsp chia seeds + 3 Tbsp water (or 1 egg, if not vegan)
2 tsp vanilla

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

Can serve caramel chips or choco chips

Optional Crumb Topping-

• 1/3 cup brown sugar, packed
• 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
• 4 tbsp unsalted butter, melted
• 2/3 cup plus 1 tbsp all-purpose flour

In a large bowl, whisk together the oats, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cardamom. Add 1/2-3/4 cup of the pecans (and save the rest for sprinkling on top).

In a medium bow, whisk together the wet ingredients–milk, pumpkin, syrup, chia egg/egg, and vanilla. Whisk until well combined.

Stir the wet ingredients into the dry oatmeal mixture. Stir to combine well. Pour into a greased 8×8 (or 2 quart) baking dish. Sprinkle with additional pecans if you like.

Bake at 350 degrees 25-30 minutes, or until the liquid has soaked in, the center is just set, and the edges are starting to turn golden.

Serve with a drizzle of milk and a little syrup if you like.

Oatmeal will keep 5-7 days in the refrigerator. To reheat, simply add a little extra milk and warm in the oven or microwave.

Can serve with whipped up coconut milk on top.

Maple sweet potato chicken

From Molly cash- she said, "This is so simple and really delicious. Every time I make it I wonder why we don’t have it more often."

• 1 lb Chicken Tenders ( I used chicken thighs)
• 1 Yellow Onions, small, cut into strips
• 2 Sweet Potatoes, cut into thin pieces, try cutting them in bigger chunks next time
• 2 Tbsp Olive Oil
• 1/3 cup Pure maple syrup ( I only had brown sugar)
• 1 tsp Salt
• Fresh ground pepper
• 1/2t Garlic powder
• 6 Sprigs Fresh Thyme, or can use dried ( I didn't have)

Preparation Steps
10/25/18- delicious

1. I covered the outside chicken (and stuffed under the skin) with brown sugar, salt, garlic, pepper. Then in a iron pan, I browned each side on the stove top. Not necessary, but I like crispier chicken.
2.  Toss chicken, potatoes and onions in olive oil. Put in 9x13 pan. Sprinkle all other ingredients over the top. Bake at 425 for 45-60 mins.

Peanut Butter Cups

Fit Foodie Finds 
made 12

        I only had granulated sugar and it wasnt good when I added it to the chocolate mixture. It actually made the chocolate grainy and not smooth like a peanut butter cup should be.  I warmed up the choco mixture on the stove b/c coconut oil was solid. So I put the chocolate mixture into the high power blender and it made it more smooth, it worked really well. Next time use powdered sugar or honey or maple syrup. But the granulated sugar still was successful
       Mine weren't even layers and smooth, but oh well, definitely still delicious. Its My first try

INGREDIENTS

BOTTOM LAYER (CHOCOLATE)

• 1/3 cup all-natural peanut butter, creamy*
• 2.5 tablespoons coconut oil, melted
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 3 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
• 2 tablespoons maple syrup

TOP LAYER (PEANUT BUTTER)

• 1/3 cup all natural peanut butter, creamy
• 2 tablespoons coconut oil, melted
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 tablespoons maple syrup
• Himalayan sea salt

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Line a muffin tin with 12 muffin liners. Spray with coconut oil cooking spray and set aside.
2. In a medium bowl, stir all ingredients for the bottom layer (chocolate) together until smooth. Set aside.
3. In another medium bowl, stir all ingredients for the top layer (peanut butter) together until smooth. Set aside.
4. Scoop a heaping 1/2 tablespoon of the chocolate layer into each muffin cup. Repeat until you’ve filled around 12 cups. Then, pick up the entire muffin tin and shake and tap until the layer is set evenly. You should get around 12 cups.
5. Repeat the same thing with the peanut butter layer, plopping around 1/2 tablespoon on top of the chocolate layer. Pick up the entire muffin tin one last time and shake and tap until your cups are even.
6. Finally, sprinkle each cup with some Himalayan sea salt.
7. Place muffin tin in the freezer for 30 minutes or until firm. Enjoy!
8. Store healthy peanut butter cups in the freezer to enjoy for later.

Baked Berry Oatmeal

On Lovely Life

4 cups rolled oats (gluten free, if needed)*
1 tsp baking powder
2 tsp cinnamon (optional)
1/2 tsp salt
2 1/2 cups milk (I use almond milk, but any dairy or non-dairy milk will work)
2/3 cup pure maple syrup ( I did 1/2c sugar)
2 egg (or 2 Tbsp chia seed/flax seed, as directed above)
1/2 tsp vanilla
3 cups frozen mixed berries

You can assemble this the night before in the fridge and bake in the night or wait till the morning to bake and it turns out well.
Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
In a large bowl, mix wet ingredients (milk, syrup, egg, flax, vanilla) and let soak 5 min. In same bowl combine your dry ingredients–oats, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt.

Stir into the dry ingredients and stir to combine. Fold in frozen berries gently.
Pour mixture into a greased 9x13 baking dish.I cooked in a glass pan, that made the mixture cook slower.
Bake at 375 degrees for 25-35 minutes, or until cooked through and just starting to brown on top. I cooked for 35 min and there was still liquid and bubbling and I wanted the top to be brown. I cooked 45-50min.

Serve with favorite toppings! My kids loved whip cream on top.
* You *can* use quick-cooking oats, but I’ve found the texture can sometimes get a bit gluey

I used the Almond cream cheese (instead of whip cream) on top of the baked oatmeal after it came out of the oven