Kristina | Simple Sweets & Treats

Cilantro Lime Rice

Posted on June 24, 2016 by Kristina

Cilantro lime rice is an essential component of any burrito bowl—it has a wonderfully soft texture and a zesty lime flavor that is enhanced by the bits of chopped cilantro and sprinkled with salt crystals. I tried to make a copycat recipe of Chipotle’s cilantro-lime rice, but it never tasted quite the same until this recipe happened. Even though it’s a pretty simple recipe, the quality of the few ingredients and the amounts of each will make all the difference. It has the perfect balance of flavors and textures; it is super simple!

Fluffy rice is the key to making it delicious, and the key to fluffy rice is cooking it with enough water, but not too much. Also, letting it sit covered for ten minutes after cooking helps it to absorb the moisture to increase its light and fluffy quality. Any rice could work, but white jasmine rice is the best in this recipe. It’s light, fragrant, and a perfect base to absorb all of the flavorful ingredients. Fresh lime and lemon juice and fresh cilantro add a vibrant and flavorful touch. It is a tasty side dish and an essential base to burrito bowls and taco bowls.

Cilantro Lime Rice

2016-06-10 13:42:57

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Ingredients

1 cup white jasmine rice
2 cups water
Juice from 1 lime
1 tbsp. lemon juice
1 tbsp. oil of choice
1/4 cup fresh cilantro leaves, sliced
1/4 tsp. himalayan salt crystals or kosher salt

Instructions

Start by rinsing the rice and boiling the water, then add the rice to the boiling water and cook on low for 10-15 minutes. Once rice has cooked, cover it with a lid and let sit for 10 minutes. Meanwhile, chop the cilantro and prepare the other ingredients and add them all to a bowl. Add the rice to the bowl with the other ingredients and mix everything together. Serve fresh and enjoy!

By Kristina

Simple Sweets & Treats https://simplesweetsandtreats.com/

Mixed Berry Crisp

Posted on June 15, 2016 by Kristina

This mixed berry crisp could not be any easier to make, and it’s crazy delicious. When the berries are warmed, they become softened and extra juicy, and their tart flavor is glazed in a sweet sauce. This tasty berry mixture melds with a golden brown topping that is sweet and buttery with a slightly crumbly texture that melts in your mouth. The combination of tart, sweet, and salty flavors creates a delectable treat that can be quickly whipped up and baked with minimal ingredients. The best part is the fragrance of baked sugar and cinnamon summer berries that is almost as good as it tastes. Fresh or frozen berries, a few nutritious flours, and a blend of sweet and tart make up the simple ingredients that combine to create a simple yet delicious crisp. It’s a dessert that is made without artificial ingredients—just plant-based foods that highlight the flavors of summer.

Mixed Berry Crisp

2016-06-11 12:58:05

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Berry Filling

4 cups thawed frozen or fresh berries
2 tbsp. organic sugar
1 tbsp. maple syrup
1 tbsp. lemon juice
1/4 tsp. cinnamon
sprinkle of salt

Crisp Topping

2 tbsp. melted coconut oil + 1/4 cup maple syrup
1/4 cup organic sugar
1/4 cup GF all-purpose flour
1/2 cup coconut flour (substitutions: quick oats, almond flour)
1/4 tsp. cinnamon
3 tbsp.water

Instructions

Thaw berries if using frozen, and set them in a baking dish. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees and add the rest of the filling ingredients to the baking dish with berries and mix everything together. In a medium-sized mixing bowl, combine the melted coconut oil and maple syrup together, then add the rest of the ingredients and stir until a crumble forms. Add more water if the mixture is too dry. Add crumble mixture on top of the berry mixture and bake for about 25 minutes or until the top is crisp enough.

By Kristina

Simple Sweets & Treats https://simplesweetsandtreats.com/

Quinoa Bowl with Garlic Sauce

Posted on June 8, 2016 by Kristina

Big bowls of goodness are a warming and hearty comfort food, especially when they are big bowls of plant-based goodness that are satisfying and nourishing at the same time. They warm your belly, but also feed your soul. High-protein grains, veggies, healthy fats, and herbs & spices are the key ingredients for creating a delicious bowl of goodness–this quinoa bowl with garlic sauce contains just those ingredients with a variety of flavors.

The fluffy quinoa is cooked with fragrant herbs and tossed with sweet, juicy bites of corn and topped with a creamy garlic sauce. It is a savory bowl of plant-based goodness that is full of fiber, vitamins, and minerals that will leave you feeling energized and satisfied. Simply cook the quinoa and corn, then toss in the corn sauce and herbs & spices. It’s an amazing wholesome and satisfying dish that is just as nutritious as it is delicious.

Kristina

2016-06-06 15:38:10

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Ingredients

1 cup quinoa
2 cups frozen or fresh white corn
2 cups corn sauce: http://simplesweetsandtreats.com/creamy-corn-alfredo-soup/
1 tbsp. oil
1 minced garlic clove
1/2 cup fresh cilantro leaves, sliced
1/4 tsp. pink salt
1/4 tsp. pepper
1/2 tsp. dried parsley
1/2 tsp. dried oregano
1/4 tsp. garlic powder
Juice from 1/2 of a lime

Instructions

Add rinsed quinoa to two cups of boiling water in a medium-sized saucepan. Cook on low for about 15 to 20 minutes. Remove from heat and cover the pan for 10 minutes. Quinoa should be fluffy. Add frozen corn to boiling water and cook on low for 10 minutes, then toss with the quinoa. Heat oil in a skillet and add the minced garlic, then sauté for a few minutes until it softens. Add in the other herbs so that they heat up. Add the quinoa, corn, and corn sauce to the skillet and mix everything together and allow the mixture to warm. Serve with additional herbs and a squeeze of lime juice. Enjoy!

Simple Sweets & Treats https://simplesweetsandtreats.com/

Simple Sweet Potatoes

Posted on May 18, 2016 by Kristina

I jut love simplicity (hence simple sweets ;). Especially when it comes to food, not only are simple foods easier, but there is something so satisfying and delicious about savoring a few, flavorful ingredients. Food doesn’t have to be made complicated–just made with care and quality, whole-food ingredients—and simple meals are perfect, because who has time to make complicated meals anymore? Hungry and tired? Sweet potatoes will save you.

These sweet potatoes are just that–super simple, yet they are sweet, nutritious and easy to make with an amazing texture that is super satisfying and nourishing. Adding a bit of flavor enhancers complement the sweet potatoes wonderfully—the sweet from the potatoes and the maple syrup are balanced by the salty and savory nut butter. It tastes a bit like caramel topping when everything is mixed together! Although, they are quite good without toppings too! Not only are they super tasty, but they contain tons of antioxidants, vitamin A, vitamin C, and loads of minerals—the list goes on and on. They are also anti-inflammatory, help regulate blood sugar, and are healing for the digestive system. There are endless reasons to eat sweet potatoes!

Simply set washed sweet potatoes/yams in the oven and let them slowly bake until they are sweet, soft, and oozing with their own caramel. The amount of time that they cook, and the heat level does the trick– I tried and failed many times to cook them to that delicious soft and caramely stage, but finally found a time and temp that works. The best part is that you can leave them in the oven and forget about them until they’re ready, then just add whatever toppings you like. Maple syrup and nut butter with a little bit of salt crystals are delicious—sweet and salty, yet nutritious.

Simple Sweet Potatoes

2016-05-18 08:25:29

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Ingredients

3-4 medium-sized sweet potatoes or yams
3 tbsp. nut butter of choice such as cashew butter,
sesame seed butter (tahini), and almond butter
3 tbsp. maple syrup
Sprinkle of unrefined salt crystals
optional 1 tsp. lemon juice

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Wash and dry sweet potatoes, then place them on a baking tray lined with parchment paper. Bake for around 90 minutes, for regular size potatoes, 70 minutes for smaller potatoes. After cooking, let them cool for a bit, then drizzle the nut butter and maple syrup. Sprinkle salt to taste and optional lemon juice. Enjoy!

By Kristina

Simple Sweets & Treats https://simplesweetsandtreats.com/

Mixed Berry Muffins (GF, V)

Posted on March 9, 2016 by Kristina

Blueberry muffins are wonderful. They are sweet, fluffy, and decadent with pungent bursts of tart berry flavor from the blueberries folded into a soft, buttery cake-like texture. These mixed berry muffins incorporate vibrant and sweet berries along with delicious flavors and textures.

While most muffins require loads of ingredients such as butter, milk, and eggs, these muffins are made with simple, nutritious ingredients that come together easily and are all tossed into one bowl–this makes for an easy baking method and cleanup. These mixed berry muffins are filled with healthy fats and nutrient-dense berries that create a sweet and buttery flavor. They are incredibly fluffy and moist with a subtle taste of vanilla and a crisp topping from the crunchy sugar crystals. This creates an amazing combination of a crisp top with a fluffy and moist center.

These mixed berry muffins are made with simple, plant-based ingredients. The use of coconut flour adds a rich fluffy texture to the muffin base. Almond flour can be used as a substitute to the coconut flour that also adds nutritious healthy fats and substance. The flavorful berries offer an antioxidant-packed, vitamin C rich nutritious element. Not only are these muffins tasty, but they are a balanced and nutritious snack!

Blueberry Muffins

2016-03-06 19:44:15

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Dry Ingredients

1 & 1/2 cups all-purpose gluten-free flour
1/2 cup coconut flour
1/4 tsp. salt
2 tsp. baking powder

Wet Ingredients

1/2 cup oil
1 cup unrefined sugar
2 tbsp. ground flaxseed + 6 tbsp. water
4 tbsp. applesauce
1 tbsp. vanilla extract
1/2 cup almond milk
1/2 cup water

Add In

2 cups frozen berries
Additional unrefined sugar for topping

Instructions

Preheat oven to 375 degrees and prepare a muffin pan. Add ground flax and water to a cup, mix completely and set aside for 10 minutes. Assemble the wet ingredients into a medium-sized mixing bowl and mix, incorporating all the ingredients. Add cup of flax and water to the ingredients and mix until combined into the other ingredients. Add the dry ingredients on top of the wet, and mix these together until a batter forms. Add frozen berries to the batter and mix until just combined. Add batter to a muffin pan, filling the cups slightly above the line of the pan. Top with additional sugar crystals and bake for around 30 minutes.

By Kristina

Simple Sweets & Treats https://simplesweetsandtreats.com/

Creamy Cheeseless Sauce (nut-free)

Posted on February 26, 2016 by Kristina

Savory, cheesy, and garlicky, this healthy and creamy cheeseless sauce is unbelievably smooth and satisfying. It is super tasty and cheesy, yet it’s made with whole-food ingredients blended together into a delicious sauce. Thanks to flavorful and nutrient-dense veggies and spices, this mix of ingredients transforms into a smooth and flavorful sauce that is perfect over noodles, rice, veggies, or even by itself as a soup.

Fortunately, blended sauces couldn’t be any easier. Simply cook up all your veggies in a pot, season them with herbs and spices of choice, then blend them together into the smoothest and creamiest sauce. There are endless versions and so many combinations of flavors and textures. This sauce uses steamed sweet potato as its base, and herbs like garlic and oregano as flavor enhancers. The thick and hearty texture of the sweet potato is amazing for blending into an incredibly smooth base that can be topped with these savory herbs, which add a deep Italian-herb flavor reminiscent of your favorite cream pastas–without all the heavy dairy products. This nutritious and creamy, cheeseless sauce combines fragrant garlic, turmeric, and oregano with the subtle sweetness and saltiness of the sweet potato for a deeply satisfying sauce. Pour this sauce over noodles or rice for a comforting meal that is both warm and savory.

Creamy Cheeseless Sauce

2016-02-26 11:46:17

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Ingredients

10 oz. package of cubed sweet potato or 1 medium sweet potato, sliced
1 cup hot water*
1/4 tsp. unrefined salt

Herbs & Spices

1/4 tsp. ground turmeric
1/4 tsp. basil
1/4 tsp. oregano
1/4 tsp. mustard powder
1 tbsp. tahini or sesame seeds (you can substitute other seeds for this)
6 shakes or about 1/4 tsp. of black pepper
Optional 1 to 2 tbsp. oil or buttery spread of choice

Instructions

Steam or boil the sweet potato over boiling water until tender, about 15 minutes if using small cubes of potato. Add the cooked sweet potato along with 1 cup of the hot water into a high-speed blender or food processor. Blend the cooked sweet potato, hot water, and salt on low, gradually increasing the speed up to high-speed and blending on high for about 20 seconds. Add the remaining ingredients into the sauce and blend on low or pulse until just incorporated. Serve fresh over cooked noodles. Garnish with additional herbs, salt & pepper.

Notes

*If the amount of water is not enough for the quantity of sweet potato, slowly increase water until the blender can smoothly mix the sweet potato and water together. This depends on the type of blender/processor and amount/size of sweet potato.

By Kristina

Simple Sweets & Treats https://simplesweetsandtreats.com/

One-Bowl Chocolate Pudding

Posted on February 24, 2016 by Kristina

Chocolate pudding just got super simple. No more eggs, gelatin, heavy whipping cream, or beating with a mixer, which always turns into a giant mess anyway. It is time for an eggless, dairy-less and hassle-free pudding that tastes every bit as decadent.

With only two main ingredients, a spoon, and a mixing bowl, you can have a chocolatey, silky pudding in a matter of minutes! This easy chocolate pudding recipe is smooth and rich with a fudge-like taste and a hint of deep maple flavor. It’s so good you’ll want to eat it before you even get to breakfast—I’m speaking from experience. ;)

It’s so simple and delicious. Chocolate pudding doesn’t need all the dairy or egg whites in order to taste amazing—just pure chocolate, sweetness, and lots and lots of hand mixing (food processors can help out a lot with this one)!

One-Bowl Chocolate Pudding

2016-02-23 08:52:06

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Ingredients

3/4 cup cacao powder
4 shakes of pink salt
4 tbsp. organic sugar
4 tbsp. maple syrup
4 tbsp. hot water
Optional chocolate chips

Instructions

Mix only the dry ingredients together, then add the wet ingredients, saving the water for last, into this powder and mix thoroughly until it transforms into a silky pudding-like texture. This mixture can also be made in a food processor for a super quick and smooth transformation. Sprinkle with optional chocolate chips and enjoy!

By Kristina

Simple Sweets & Treats https://simplesweetsandtreats.com/

Dusted-with-Pink Valentine Cookies (GF)

Posted on February 14, 2016 by Kristina

Heart-shaped cookies are essential for Valentine’s Day–but instead of buying processed cookies, now is the chance to make easy heart cookies using just simple, natural ingredients. These dusted-with-pink cookies are a one-bowl recipe that comes together quickly. Buttery and sweet, they are crispy on the edges with a soft center that is topped with a light pink glaze that is made without food coloring or any other chemicals.

These are a natural, whole-food, sweet, and delicious option for cookies that are a perfect Valentine treat to make for a loved one or for yourself! <3

Dusted-with-Pink Valentine Cookies

2016-02-14 07:46:38

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Dry

1 cup coconut flour or almond flour
1/4 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. baking soda

Wet

1/2 cup room temp safflower or melted coconut oil
3 tbsp. maple syrup
1 tbsp. pure vanilla extract
1/2 cup unrefined cane sugar
3/4 cup non-dairy milk

Pink Icing (optional)

2 cups powdered sugar
1 tsp. vanilla extract
Juice of 4 thawed, frozen or fresh red berries
1 to 2 tbsp. almond milk *

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 325 degrees, and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Assemble the dry ingredients in a medium sized mixing bowl. Next add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients then mix until thoroughly combined. Add heaping tablespoon-sized drops of dough onto the baking pan 2 inches away from each other. Bake for 7 to 10 minutes or until the edges are crispy and the center is soft. Remove from oven and let cool for 15 minutes before frosting. Enjoy! <3

Notes

(slowly add liquid until the icing has reached desired consistency)

By Kristina

Simple Sweets & Treats https://simplesweetsandtreats.com/

A Nutritious and Delicious Snack

Posted on February 5, 2016 by Kristina

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This post is dedicated to healthy snacks, particularly one of my favorite snacks that is perfect for an energy boost in between meals. When it comes to healthy snacks, it can be difficult to know what snacks are the best choices, and since we are busy people in an age where there are countless things to do at all times, it’s not always easy to have the right foods on hand at the right times. There are always those days when we are rushing from one thing to the next and hunger always seems to strike at such an inconvenient time. But when you are far from a warm kitchen and a hot meal, what is one to do? Eat a bunch of processed snacks that only make you feel hungrier because of their nutrition-less and empty, air-like quality? This is always a problem since most snacks just don’t have that dense, satisfying quality that we really crave. Also, they don’t supply any energy, and only deplete it, leaving you feeling drained and tired.

While snacks come in so many different varieties, here is one of my favorite go-to snacks that is filling and energy-packed. Dates. These caramel-like, bite-sized treats are a perfect snack for those times when you need a quick remedy for your empty stomach. They really are nature’s candy with a soft texture that melts in your mouth and tastes like a mix between brown sugar and caramel. Not only are they delicious, but they just so happen to be super good for you. :)

First of all, these sweet, caramel-like fruits are full of fiber and antioxidants, and keep you fully satisfied and energized. Packed with calcium, iron, magnesium, potassium, and many other vitamins and minerals, dates have been found to help everything from digestive disorders and anemia to aiding muscle development. This fruit has been prized for its many health benefits for centuries, and it offers a light, energizing quality that makes it a complete and delicious treat. They also supply a nice burst of energy due to their natural sugar content that will power your brain for hours–instead of leading to the all-too-common sugar crash that is cause by processed, sugary snacks.

While there are many varieties of dates, any type of date is a delicious and filling snack that is rich with nutrients and a sweet, caramel-like flavor. Although, when dates are rolled in coconut flakes, they become even better. Date-coconut rolls supply an added boost of nutrition due to the healthy fats and protein from the coconut. They taste like delicious caramel rolls dusted with powered sugar, yet they are simply made from whole, unprocessed fruit. They also couldn’t be easier to make with just 2 ingredients: dates and coconut! Just whip up a bunch of pitted medjool dates in a food processor, then roll them in coconut. Super simple and super satisfying. It’s also easy to order the ingredients online or simply order pre-made date coconut rolls. Check out nuts.com for some of my faves. This online shop is a great resource for finding healthy snacks like fresh dates and coconut. They also have a varietiy of dried fruits and nuts etc., and of course, the best gooey dates! Check out this link for a list of healthy snacks that you can find in their shop.

Crispy Salt & Pepper Potato Wedges

Posted on January 6, 2016 by Kristina

Crispy and buttery on the outside, soft and fluffy on the inside–the equation for a perfect potato wedge. These potato fries are transformed from whole potatoes into buttery and soft fleshed potato wedges with a crisp outer skin infused with seasonings. They are soft on the inside, yet crispy on the outside, and are coated with a buttery-herb mixture that is infused with garlic and seasoned with pepper and pink salt. Just one bite into the savory potato wedges and their herb-infused crispy outside and soft inside will win over your tastebuds! They’re so flavorful that they are even good without ketchup. As a bonus, they are free of dairy, hydrogenated oils, and preservatives–they’re simply made from the potato in its natural form and drizzled with oil and spices as the natural taste of the potatoes is better preserved by being baked in the oven instead of fried.

With a little bit of prep, crispy salt & pepper potato wedges can be created simply and quickly. There is an easy method for turning them into delicious and crispy wedges–all it requires is a little washing, slicing, and coating the potatoes with oil and the seasoning mixture. In order to coat each surface of the crispy potato wedges with savory flavor, it is helpful to whisk the seasonings together into a powder ahead of time in order to easily coat the potatoes for maximum flavor.

Crispy Salt & Pepper Potato Wedges

2016-01-03 09:55:05

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Ingredients

4 pounds of gold potatoes
2 tbsp. oil
1 tbsp. balsamic vinegar

powder

1/4 tsp. unrefined salt
generous sprinkles of cracked pepper or about 1/4 tsp. of fine pepper
1 tsp. parsley
1 tsp. oregano
1 tbsp. organic sugar

Instructions

Wash and slice potatoes into wedges. Place them into a mixing bowl and set aside. Assemble powder ingredients by mixing them in a cup, then preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Coat the potatoes with the oil, vinegar, and the powder then mix everything together. Line the potatoes on two trays with parchment paper, and bake them for 45 minutes or until potatoes are soft on the inside and crispy on the edges. Sprinkle with additional seasonings, S&P, and enjoy!

By Kristina

Simple Sweets & Treats https://simplesweetsandtreats.com/

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