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Showing posts with label unsweetened almond milk. Show all posts
Showing posts with label unsweetened almond milk. Show all posts

Chocolate Waffles Two Ways: Buckwheat w/ Maple Nut Butter Syrup & Whole Wheat w/ Strawberries

Chocolate Waffles Two Ways

Sinfully delicious and oh so healthy! Something came over me and I had an urge for creating a great chocolate waffle for us health nuts, and I did it not one way...but two. These recipes can also double as a pancake mix too.

Let's begin with the buckwheat waffle. Adding buckwheat is a healthy option to pack in some added nutrition to your meal with while adding a nice nutty flavor as well. Buckwheat is also gluten free. To make these pancakes gluten free use GF all purpose flour in place of the WW pastry flour. The chocolate is subtle and the buckwheat comes through creating a nice balance, especially with the nut butter syrup....such a great combination! I think this nut butter would be decadent on non-dairy ice cream or chocolate cake too.

Chocolate Buckwheat Waffles w/ Maple Nut Butter Syrup

 Chocolate Buckwheat Waffles w/ Maple Nut Butter Syrup

Waffles
  • 1 cup whole wheat pastry flour, or flour of choice
  • 1/2 cup buckwheat flour
  • 1/2 cup organic raw cocoa powder
  • 1/3 cup organic pure cane sugar
  • 1 tablespoon baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon mineral salt
  • 2 tablespoons flax seed meal, optional for extra nutrition
  • 1 2/3 cup unsweetened almond milk, or milk of choice
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla, optional
  • 1/4 cup coconut oil warmed, or oil of choice, optional*
  • extra oil for greasing the griddle if needed

Maple Nut Butter Syrup
  • 2 tablespoons nut butter of choice
  • 1 tablespoon pure maple syrup
  • 2 tablespoons water

First mix your nut butter syrup: Combine ingredients in a small bowl mix until smooth. For thinner syrup use more water. This was great without the added syrup too. Makes about one serving. Set aside.

Preheat waffle maker/griddle to manufacturer's instructions. 

In medium size bowl, combine the flours, cocoa, sugar, baking powder, salt and flax meal. Add nut milk, vanilla and warmed oil to dry ingredients, mix until combined. (If using the warmed coconut oil, be sure to warm your milk as well or once the oil and chilled milk combine the coconut oil will harden again creating tiny  hardened oil pieces.)

Pour batter onto waffle iron and cook for three to five minutes. You may or may not need to oil the waffle maker in between batches, I didn't but you may find otherwise. I used the George Forman waffel iron for mine. Makes appr. 6 - 8 waffles depending on size.

Serve with  the nut butter syrup and sliced bananas & enjoy...

*You can make a great waffle without the added oil as well, try both ways to see which you like best. I like both.

• • •

Now onto number two which is a whole wheat waffle with fresh strawberries...so sweet are the strawberries of the season...add some to this chocolate waffle with some pure maple syrup and a little coconut and life is sweet as can be!

Whole Wheat Chocolate Waffles

Whole Wheat Chocolate Waffles

Ingredients
  • 1 1/2 cup whole wheat pastry flour, or flour of choice
  • 1/2 cup organic raw cocoa powder
  • 1/3 cup organic pure cane sugar
  • 1 tablespoon baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon mineral salt
  • 2 tablespoons flax seed meal, optional for extra nutrition
  • 1 2/3 cup unsweetened almond milk, or milk of choice
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla, optional
  • 1/4 cup coconut oil warmed or baking oil of choice, optional...extra oil for greasing the griddle if needed

Directions for waffles same as above...

Serve with pure maple syrup, organic strawberries and a sprinkle of coconut flakes...you could use confectioner's sugar but we are trying to stay away from refined sugars here. ;)

Store any leftovers in the refrigerator or freezer. If freezing, when ready to use let thaw. Toast your waffle and voila...it's waffle time again.

To make these gluten free, use gluten free all purpose flour in place of the whole wheat.


Whatever style you choose...Enjoy ! 

• • •

On a side note, today I received my new book in the mail, The Flavor Bible...can't wait to dig in and see what inspirations come about. I heard about this through a post from 'Rawified'...it was mentioned and peeked my curiosity. I know this is for real chef's, but I think it's a cool book and will come in handy.


Happy everything !

VANILLA DATE SMOOTHIE

VANILLA DATE SMOOTHIE

I never regret going to the gym, but I always regret not going! Case in point, I've been working very hard on a special project I have coming up and sometimes get lost in the passion of it all. It's enough to keep me from going, for which I always end up regretting. I make myself go in these times and always feel amazing when I'm done. The ideas open up and flow through me with ease, I've come up with some amazing ideas. Plus, it gives me time to break away from the intensity of the day. Even though the gym is intense in its own way, it's blood circulating and sweat producing, I find it so relaxing as well...maybe more so when it's over. ;) It really is essential to your overall good health and well-being. I agree to that 100%. Maybe some of you feel the way I do, or maybe you simply dislike it like a few people I know. Either way, I wish everyone the best of health! It's what I was thinking about today, how good it feels and I was so glad I went. Not to mention, coming home to make this vanilla date smoothie. It's a perfect sweet treat for a job well done!

VANILLA DATE SMOOTHIE

Earlier this month, I picked up this big beautiful box of dates from my local Indian farmers market. How could I resist?! These are the extra fancy ones and they are the most tender, soft, sweet and caramely date I've had in long time. Fresh dates are simply the best, they are sweet and ready to be put to good use. As soon as I got home from the market I put together this vanilla date smoothie and loved every sip, especially those little date pieces that are like pieces of heaven to eat. If you've got some dates and frozen bananas on hand, I suggest you treat yourself to something simple and wonderful!

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VANILLA DATE SMOOTHIEVANILLA DATE SMOOTHIE  

VANILLA DATE SMOOTHIE

Ingredients
  • 1 cup unsweetened almond milk 
  • 1 scoop vanilla protein powder, optional
  • 1 large frozen banana
  • 4 - 5 ice cubes or another frozen banana
  • 3 - 4 medjool dates, pitted (soft and fresh is best)
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Combine ingredients in blender and blend until smooth, about two minutes. Add a splash or two of extra almond milk if needed.

You may have visually small pieces of dates within the shake. That's ok, and even with those I had no trouble using my straw without having to clear the bottom of it maybe once or twice....Those little chunks are so caramely and delicious!

Serves one.

Notes:

For the protein powder, I've been using the Garden of Life Raw Fit lately. I love the fact that Garden of Life has a few protein powders that don't contain stevia. I prefer to sweeten my shakes/smoothies with fruits and personally don't care for the stevia after taste. I'm not on a weight management program but do love the high protein amount in this powder. The Raw Fit contains 28 grams of protein, which is half my daily recommended amount. For me, one shake a day is a perfect treat! If using protein powder, you may like to add 1/4 - 1/2 cup more of milk or water.

Enjoy!