Gluten Free, Raw, Vegan, Vanilla/Blonde Macaroons {Kinda like Hail Merry}

I love, LOVE my chocolate macaroon recipe. We make them often, especially during the summer months. When a  friend asked me to try making the "blonde" {vanilla} version, I couldn't turn her down. I'm really pleased with the way these turned out, but I confess--I prefer the chocolate variety. Probably because I never say no to chocolate.

And to be fair, I've never eaten a Hail Merry Blonde Macaroon. This is simply me taking my chocolate macaroon recipe, and vanilla-izing it.

Finally, wouldn't these be yummy with a bit of chocolate drizzled over the top? Or perhaps with some mini chocolate chips stirred into the mixture, before the macaroons are formed?

You'll Need:
1 {heaping} Cup Shredded Coconut
1/4 Cup Coconut Oil
6 Tbsp. Almond Meal
2 Tbsp. Maple Syrup* {the real stuff!!}
1/2 tsp. Vanilla

To Make:
Add coconut to your food processor, cover, and pulse several times to further break up the coconut.
Add the remaining ingredients, cover, and run the processor again to mix completely. Scrape down the sides if necessary.Working quickly {coconut oil melts very rapidly in your hands!}, roll the mixture into small balls and place in a dish lined with parchment paper. Better yet, use a small scoop to measure equally sized portions, depositing them directly on the dish.Refrigerate immediately, allowing the macaroons to set up, then cover and store in your fridge or freezer.Makes 10-15 macaroons, depending on size.

*I had sweetened coconut on hand, and that is what went into this recipe. You may wish to add a touch more maple syrup or agave to your recipe if you're using unsweetened coconut.

Raw, Vegan, Gluten Free, Soy Free Chocolate Almond "Cheesecake"

Yum!! I am completely enamored with these rich, chocolatey little desserts. They were a Christmas experiment, and I'm so thrilled to share them with you. These little cuties are gluten free, soy free, vegan, free of refined sugar, paleo-friendly, and raw. Whew! Did you catch that??

Use quality ingredients, like real maple syrup and fancy cocoa powder. You'll be glad you did.

You'll Need:
For the Crust
1 C. Almond Meal
1/3 C. Cocoa Powder
3 Tbsp. Maple Syrup
1 tsp. Vanilla
Pinch of Salt

For the Filling
2 C. Raw Cashews {soaked several hours or overnight in fresh water}
1/2 C. Maple Syrup
1/2 C. Water
1/2 C. Cocoa Powder
1/2 C. Coconut Oil
1/3 C. Almond Butter
1/2 tsp. Salt

To Make:
For the Crust
Combine the ingredients in your food processor or by hand, with a fork.
Press the resulting "dough" into the bottom of a pie plate, spring form pan, or individual serving cups, such as half-pint mason jars or custard dishes.
Set aside.

For the Filling
Drain and rinse soaked cashews, and add them to the bowl of your food processor.
Add maple syrup and water, and process for several minutes until very smooth and creamy. Pause to scrape down the sides occasionally.
Add cocoa powder, coconut oil, almond butter, and salt, and process again to thoroughly combine.
Spoon or pipe the mixture over top of your prepared crust, then store in the refrigerator for several hours to cool and set.

Notes:
I have found that I most enjoy this dessert straight from the fridge. It tastes best cold, to me, and is almost too rich when it has warmed up a bit.

I filled eleven half-pint jars with roughly one Tbsp. of the crust mixture per jar, and then divided the filling equally between the jars. The jars wound up being just over 1/2 full, which, to me, is more than satisfying for something so chocolate-laden. For larger portions, you might want to reduce the number of jars you use.



Shared on... Allergy Free Wednesday, Gluten Free Fridays, Wellness Weekends, Raw Foods Thursdays

Quick & Easy Guacamole {gluten and soy free, and vegan}

I am obsessed with avocados. They're just so... perfect! Guacamole is one of my go-to snack foods, because it's so easy to pull together and it's packed with lots of good-for-you veggies.

Guacamole is easy to personalize. If you're not a fan of tomatoes, leave them out! If you love tomatoes, then by all means, add extra. If you prefer hot, spicy dishes, add extra hot sauce. You get the idea.

You'll Need:
2-3 Avocados {depending on their size}
1-2 Medium Tomatoes {diced}
1 Red Onion {finely diced}
1 Lime
Salt
Hot sauce

To Make:
Halve your avocados, remove the pit, and scoop the meat into a mixing bowl.
Cut the lime in half, and squeeze the juice over the avocado.
Using a potato masher, mash the avocado a bit, breaking down the large chunks.
Add tomato and red onion to suit your tastes, then sprinkle with salt and a touch of hot sauce.
Mix the ingredients once more using the potato masher.
Serve with tortilla chips, as a side dish for enchiladas or tacos, or with veggies for dipping.

Summer Salad with Fresh Corn and Tomatoes {gluten, dairy, and soy free}

I pulled this salad together tonight and served it with grilled chicken. It was so yummy, and so fresh! Later this summer, nearly all of the ingredients will be available from our garden, so I can see a whole lot more of this salad in my future.

My measurements are approximate, so don't be anxious to tinker with the recipe a bit. Just pile everything into a bowl until it looks appealing to you!

Ingredients:
1/3 Cup Cider Vinegar
2 Tbsp. Honey {or agave}
Salt &  Pepper
1/8 Cup Chopped, Fresh Basil
1/4 Cup Diced {Red} Bell Pepper
1/3 Cup Diced Red Onion
1/2 Cup Diced Cucumber
1/2 Cup Halved Cherry Tomatoes
1-2 Ears of Corn, {sliced off the cob}

To Make:
Combine cider vinegar, honey, salt, and pepper in a small bowl. Whisk thoroughly, then set aside.
In a medium bowl, mix the chopped vegetables, then top with the cider vinegar mixture and stir to combine immediately before serving.


Shared on... Summer Salad Sundays

Gluten Free, Raw, Vegan Chocolate Macaroons {Hail Merry Copy Cat}

I've known about Hail Merry for a while now, but only recently found their goodies locally. I was hesitant to order online because of the {understandably} high shipping costs and what-not. Don't get me wrong! I love the company and respect them very much. Those shipping charges make sense, given what they're delivering.

Anyway, while I love Hail Merry and their offerings, I knew there had to be a way to keep goodies like these in my fridge on the regular without ruining the budget.

I may be biased, but I think these might be even better than the originals! They're melt-in-your-mouth creamy, come together in a snap, and call for only a few simple ingredients. How can you go wrong?! Give them a try today. I promise you'll be glad you did!

{Pssst! Want to see the vanilla/blonde version of these macaroons?? Click Here.}

You'll Need:
1 {heaping} Cup Shredded Coconut {I used sweetened coconut}
1/4 Cup Coconut Oil
5 Tbsp. Cocoa Powder {use the good stuff! you'll thank yourself later.}
1/8 Cup {that's two Tbsp.} Maple Syrup {again--the real stuff! no Mrs. Butterworth's...}
1/2 tsp. Vanilla

To Make:
Add coconut to your food processor, cover, and pulse several times to further break up the coconut.
Add the remaining ingredients, cover, and run the processor again to mix completely. Scrape down the sides if necessary.
Working quickly {coconut oil melts very rapidly in your hands!}, roll the mixture into small balls and place in a dish lined with parchment paper. Better yet, use a small scoop {like this} to measure equally sized portions, depositing them directly on the dish.
Refrigerate immediately, allowing the macaroons to set up, then cover and store in your fridge or freezer.
Makes 10-15 macaroons, depending on size.

Update: A dear friend of mine made these using unsweetened coconut, and noted that she added a tablespoon of agave to the mixture to achieve the sweetness she wanted. Perfect! Feel free to do the same, but work in small increments to avoid adding too much liquid to the mixture.


This recipe was shared on... Allergy Free Wednesdays, Show off Your Stuff Party, Fight Back Friday, Lifeologia, My Meatless Mondays, Slightly Indulgent Tuesday