sugar-free
Strawberry Lemonade Popsicles
With all of my favorite fruits in season and the sunny San Diego weather to inspire me, I’ve decided to make some incredible Popsicles for you to make and enjoy!
Now, my 3 1/2 year old nephew loves sweets (what young child doesn’t?!), but he’s learned that at Auntie Laura’s house, they’re always allowed! His favorite dessert to see in my freezer…Popsicles! So in making these recipes, I really wanted to make sure they were child-friendly as well.
For the perfect icy summer treat, I made three flavors – Peaches and Cream, Blackberry Melon, and my nephew’s personal favorite, Strawberry Lemonade! He loved that flavor so much, he has yet to try the other two. (I had my husband and twin try the other two… Just to make sure they were up to par!)
If you can imagine a 3 year old raving about a completely natural, refined sugar-free Popsicle, and letting me know he was going to bring these to his friends… well, that’s music to my ears. 🙂
To know that I can make this little guy just as happy with out giving him something that will send him on a sugar high or have any negative side effects is priceless! Now you and you family can enjoy this delicious summer time treat too!
Ingredients
- 2 cups strawberries (hulled)
- 1 lemon (juiced)
- 1 tbsp date paste
- 1 cup strawberries (sliced)
Servings: popsicles
Instructions
- Place all ingredients (except for sliced strawberries) in blender and blend until smooth. Divide the sliced strawberries into popsicle molds. Pour popsicle filling into molds. Freeze for 2-4 hours.
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Chocolate Truffles
Easy No Bake Nectarine Cobbler
This may not be a big shocker, but I really like fruit. Like if I had to pick one food group to eat for the rest of my life, fruit would be it!! I love everything about fruit — its natural sweetness, its juiciness… I mean, what’s not to love?! Now if I had to pick a favorite fruit, that’d be a bit harder…
Anyways, about two weeks ago, I finally had time to go to a local produce store in San Diego that I had been meaning to go to for months now. It’s called Specialty Produce and I’d heard amazing things about it. They supply the produce to local restaurants in San Diego and even better, they only sell food from California, meaning this produce is crazy fresh!
When I arrived, I wasn’t exactly sure what to expect as it is not your typical grocery store. It is this massive warehouse, nothing very special to look at, but what it lacks in appearance, it makes up for in quality! My first goal — go directly to the cooler. Why? Well, because I saw that they promoted purple raspberries, and there was no way I was going to leave this place without trying one! But, when I got there, I saw sooo much more!
If you were to ask my husband about this trip, he’d say I was like a little kid in a candy store! There was so much fruit, and some that I had never even seen before! Lucky for me, the nicest guy working there clearly saw I was excited, possibly even overwhelmed honestly, and came to the rescue. He started off my fruit exploration experience by asking what I enjoy the most, and then took it one step further and asked if I preferred tart versus sweet fruit. Because I couldn’t narrow it down, he let me sample all the different varieties of fruits (who knew there were so many differing flavors?!), but I was unaware he was saving the best for last! We starting off with fruits a little more tart, like the purple raspberries and bush berries, then moved onto fruits a little sweeter, such as the blueberries, strawberries and peaches. But that last fruit… white nectarines. I mean, I love nectarines, but on my list of favorite fruits, it’s just average. Until he sliced me a piece. Now, if you can imagine fireworks going off in your mouth from a pure sweet bliss, that is exactly what was happening to me! I knew right then and there I was going to buy a ton of these bad boys and whip up a special dessert!
And there you have it — the White Nectarine Cobbler. Now it is time to go enjoy my new favorite dessert, before my husband finishes it all! 🙂
I LOVE this time of the year! The sun is shining, the birds are chirping and stone fruits are finally in season! This is the perfect time of year to enjoy peaches, nectarines, plum, apricots and cherries. My favorite part of this season is making an already amazing fruit even better by jazzing it up with other whole and healthy ingredients. This week I was inspired to to make a white nectarine cobbler!
| Servings | Prep Time |
| 6 servings | 10 minutes |
| Passive Time |
| 3 hours let set in fridge |
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I LOVE this time of the year! The sun is shining, the birds are chirping and stone fruits are finally in season! This is the perfect time of year to enjoy peaches, nectarines, plum, apricots and cherries. My favorite part of this season is making an already amazing fruit even better by jazzing it up with other whole and healthy ingredients. This week I was inspired to to make a white nectarine cobbler!
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Ingredients
Fruit Base
- 6 white nectarines peeled
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 tsp coconut oil refined
- 1 tsp lemon juiced
Servings: servings
Instructions
Fruit Base
- Peel ripe nectarines and cut into slices. Sprinkle with vanilla lemon juice, coconut oil and cinnamon. Gently mix by hand and place in to 8x8 pan.
Crumble
- Place pecans, dates, salt and cinnamon into food processor and blend for 1 minutes. Sprinkle over Fruit Filling.
Recipe Notes
To find the perfect nectarine:
1. Look for a medium-sized fruit. Gigantic nectarines will be a little grainy or mealy, and the really small ones tend to be tart and generally picked before fully ripening.
2. Look for a soft, sweet-smelling fruit. Buy them when they are still somewhat firm (not rock hard), but almost a little soft to the touch. This will ensure that they will be ready in one to two days if left out on your counter. Now, you may look a little silly, but smell your fruit! It should have a light, sweet fragrance.
3. Ask some in produce or at the farmer’s market to try a sample. Not only will it guarantee you a great batch, but the people working may teach you even more tricks to ensuring a great fruit every time!
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2016 Food Trend: Naturally Healthy Snacking
2016 is the Year of Snacks! Snacks are everywhere you turn, and more and more companies are getting in the mix responding to the pressure for healthier options. The good news is most companies are making an honest attempt to become more health conscious. The problem is that it’s only an attempt. The food industry is listening, and understands that consumers need healthy and convenient snack choices for busy lifestyles. But it takes a lot more than a “gluten-free” or “certified organic” label to make something actually healthy.
Unfortunately, there are a lot of “health food” companies that spend way too much time following trends and fads — not the science. Because of this, it can get really hard to navigate the snack aisle and choose what is actually healthy versus what a company is just marketing as healthy. To make this easier to understand, I am going to share with you the companies that are doing it right!
What does it take to be on this list of Naturally Healthy snacks?
- No Fake Ingredients (i.e., unnatural flavoring, dyes, preservatives, etc.)
- No Added Refined Sugar (i.e., white sugar, fruit juice, organic sugar cane, maple syrup, agave, honey, etc.)
- Naturally Gluten-Free
- Naturally Dairy-Free
Cookies/Crisps: NUD – Spirulina Banana Crisps
Don’t let the green color fool you! These are delicious little squares. Best part? They are only made with natural ingredients and sweetened with dates and bananas, instead of the typical refined sugars! I recently met Julia Kirouac, founder of NUD, and I have to tell you the only thing sweeter than these crisps is her personality and her mission to help people stay healthy. The world needs more people and products like this!
Crackers: Mary’s Gone Crackers – Chia & Hemp
I came across these crackers a few years ago when I was looking for an appetizer to bring a party. Not only is this brand still around and kicking, they are also making new, delicious flavors. These crunchy crackers go great with hummus or guacamole.
Guacamole: Good Foods Guacamole
Chips and guac are a guilty pleasure of mine! But when I cut refined sugar out of my diet, I was floored by the companies that added sugar to these products. After a few months of looking, I came across the Good Foods Guac. The combo of this guac and the Mary’s Gone Crackers is incredible — it has the perfect crunch and rich full flavors that you need from a “chip & guacamole” craving.
Frozen Popsicles/Treats: Froozer
Hands down, Froozer is the winner of the frozen treats category! This is one of the greatest products coming out in the spring of 2016. This is what happens when a company with integrity and passion for health make a popsicle. There is absolutely nothing added to this product. When you read the label, you will find you are simply eating pureed fruit… no fruit juice added! This is the healthy option replacement to those sugar packed frozen yogurt sticks.
Dried Fruit: HomeGrown Organics-Freeze Dried Fruit
Let me start off by saying that this product has not officially hit the market yet. I’m giving you an exclusive sneak peak at an amazing product hitting the shelves later in 2016, and OMG! I have never had freeze-dried fruit this good. The fruit tastes like it was dried at its peak of freshness. The best part is that NOTHING has been added! It’s just nature at its finest! This snack is perfect when enjoyed right out of the bag or added to a homemade trail mix.
Coffee Blend Drink: Project Juice – Get Up & Go Go
This coffee drink is a delicious option for a morning or afternoon pick-me-up. This blend of fresh, cold-pressed coffee and sprouted almonds is sweetened naturally with dates so you don’t have to feel bad about this treat.
Now that you know about the healthier options, go out there and try some! By purchasing foods that actually promote health and wellness, you will create a demand for more selection on the market. Let’s continue to educate ourselves and demand more Naturally Healthy options.
*I am not sponsored or paid by any of these companies. This article was written purely to help people find healthy alternatives to their favorite foods. -Laura
Espresso Truffles
Just the thought of espresso and chocolate puts a smile on my face! Now that I have merged them both into a truffle…watch out world! It is the perfect treat to complement a cup of coffee for breakfast or to satisfy your sweet tooth at the end of a long day!
Ingredients
TRUFFLE BASE
- 1 cup hazelnuts
- 1 tsp organic ground coffee
- 1 cup cacao powder
- 1/8 tsp cinnamon
- 12 medjool dates
- 3 tbsp cold brew coffee
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 medium avocado ripe
CHOCOLATE
- 1/4 cup refined coconut oil melted
- 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
- 3 tbsp yacon syrup
- 1/4 cup cacao powder
Servings: truffles
Instructions
TRUFFLE DIRECTIONS
- Process all dry ingredients together until flour-like in consistency in the food processor. Add pitted dates and process until the mixture is an even, crumbly consistency. Add the remaining ingredients and process until the dough turns into ball. Roll the dough into 1 inch balls, place on plate and put into the refrigerator while making the chocolate coating.
CHOCOLATE DIRECTIONS
- Mix all wet ingredients together in a small mixing bowl. Add cacao powder and whisk until well blended. Dip truffles base into the chocolate with a fork and place onto cookie sheet lined with parchment paper. Place in the refrigerator for 10 minutes, serve and enjoy. Extras can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.
Recipe Notes
Helpful Hint: I used to top these delicious balls of yumminess with a whole coffee bean, but I found people were trying to eat them. I now garnish the truffles with ground coffee and then sprinkle coffee beans on the plate for presentation.
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New Ingredient Alert: Yacon Syrup (What It Is + How To Use It)
Have you heard of yacon syrup yet? Well, let me get you up to speed.
Yacon syrup gained quite a bit of notoriety a few years back when it was featured on the Dr. Oz Show. Dr. Oz discussed the benefits and its possible link to weight loss. Although I was very excited to hear about this, I don’t take everything I see on TV at face value!
So, I continued to educate myself about the health benefits and found some interesting information. There’s evidence that proves consumption of yacon is linked to weight loss, but most studies have been done on rats. So, although it looks really promising, let’s stick with the facts.
Here are the basics:
- It’s an extract from the root of the yacon plant grown in South America.
- It looks similar to a sweet potato in its whole form but looks and tastes similar to molasses in its liquid form.
- It’s high in antioxidants, prebiotics, and fructooligosaccharides (FOS), which is a dietary fiber that keeps you feeling fuller longer, assists with digestion, and is low glycemic.
Let’s go back to my favorite part of this superfood — the taste. Yacon syrup can be used as a sugar substitute to help keep your body healthy and your taste buds happy. That is right, Yacon Syrup is a Low Glycemic Sugar Substitute!
It tastes amazing as the sweetener in fresh chocolate sauce (see my low-glycemic recipe below) or in other homemade treats.
Chocolate Sauce
Ingredients
- ¼ cup refined coconut oil
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- 3 tablespoons yacon syrup
- ¼ cup cacao powder
Preparation
Mix all wet ingredients together in a small mixing bowl. Add cacao powder and whisk until well-blended. Use on anything that requires chocolaty goodness!
Yacon syrup: beneficial effects on obesity and insulin resistance in humans,” Universidad Nacional de Tucumán, Argentina, 2009).
Clin Nutr. 2009 Apr;28(2):182-7. doi: 10.1016/j.clnu.2009.01.013. Epub 2009 Feb 28.
*The post originally appeared on MiindBodyGreen February 13, 2016
Chocolate Fudge
I can’t believe it’s that time of the year again! This time last year, I made it my personal mission to create the first NATURALLY HEALTHY DESSERT COOKBOOK! As I reflect on all the great gifts and achievements of 2015, I wonder what other amazing opportunities await in 2016. At least, the book is officially done and 2016 will be my year to share it with the world!
Now, without further ado, I bring you my latest recipe! Drum roll, please…Chocolate Fudge! This Chocolate Fudge recipe is the healthiest version of fudge you will ever find. It’s the perfect holiday treat to enjoy and share with friends and family!
Happy Holidays,
Laura Marquis
Ingredients
- 1/3 cup hazelnuts
- 1/2 cup cacao powder
- 1/4 cup refined coconut oil melted
- 3/4 cup date paste
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup chopped walnuts (optional)
Servings: pieces
Instructions
- Process all the dry ingredients together until they form a flour-like consistency in the food processor. Add the remaining ingredients and process until the mixture is even and smooth in consistency. Add chopped walnuts, if desired. Place into 4x4 inch pan lined with parchment paper. Freeze for 2 hours. Cut into small square pieces, serve and enjoy.
Recipe Notes
Helpful Hint
I cut these while still frozen to create perfectly square bites. Extras can be stored in the refrigerator for up to one week or the freezer for up to one month.
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