Kristina | Simple Sweets & Treats

White Alfredo Pizza (V & GF)

Posted on January 2, 2016 by Kristina

This white Alfredo pizza is soft and crispy with a layer of savory garlic Alfredo sauce that is a delicious complement to the juicy bites of corn and sliced onions. The flavorful sauce is so creamy and satisfying that it completely makes up for any lack of cheese or meat. You can use a pre-made regular or GF crust for a quick and simple pizza recipe, but homemade crust is always delicious too. While there are endless topping options for pizza, white alfredo pizza is a refreshing twist on the traditional pizza with red sauce.

White Alfredo Pizza

2016-01-02 08:40:58

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White Sauce

4 cups frozen or fresh white corn
1/2 cup leftover cooking water
1/4 tsp. unrefined salt
3 cloves minced garlic
1 tbsp. butter or oil of choice
1 tbsp. lime or lemon juice
Prepared pizza crust*
Toppings: 1/4 tsp. basil and parsley, 1/2 cup corn, 5 basil leaves, 1/4 cup diced red onion, S & P, and optional sliced artichoke hearts

Instructions

Start by making your pizza crust or baking the prepared crust for 9 minutes. Next, steam or boil corn, then add cooked corn to a blender or food processor with 1/2 cup of cooking water and salt. Blend on low and increase to high until mixture is very smooth. Add the rest of the ingredients and pulse or blend until the ingredients are mixed but not over-blended.
Spread the sauce onto the crust and add the toppings. Bake the pizza for an additional 5 minutes or until the pizza is crispy on the edges and the toppings are warmed. Enjoy!

Notes

*pizza crust cooking times will vary, but cooking it for about 3/4 through the cooking time before adding toppings will help the crust become cook without over-cooking the toppings.

By Kristina

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

Chocolate Peppermint Brownie Cake

Posted on December 25, 2015 by Kristina

Looking for a quick and delicious holiday treat? This iced peppermint brownie cake is the recipe for you! It’s chocolatey, fudge-like, yet crisp on the outside. The dense and rich brownie cake is topped with a layer of melted chocolate and drizzled with cooling, peppermint icing. It is the perfect contrast of flavors with rich and decadent melted chocolate and just a touch of cool mint flavor.

It’s also a great treat for anyone with food allergies, celiac disease etc. as it is gluten-free, dairy-free, and egg-free. How could one pass up the opportunity to make such an easy, delicious, and cruelty free chocolate-peppermint brownie cake? Merry Christmas!

Chocolate Peppermint Brownies

2015-12-25 10:54:28

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Wet

8 tbsp. earth balance buttery spread, melted
1 tbsp. lemon juice or apple cider vinegar
4 tbsp. water or vanilla almond milk

Dry

1 cup GF all purpose flour
1 tsp. salt
1 cup organic sugar
6 tbsp. cocoa powder
1 tsp. baking soda

Melted Chocolate layer

1 cup chocolate chips

Icing

4 cups powdered sugar
2 tbsp. almond milk or enough to make preferred icing consistency
1 tsp. mint extract (or amount to taste)
Sprinkle of unrefined salt

Instructions

Combine 8 TBSP of melted earth balance, sugar, and cocoa powder in a medium-sized mixing bowl until just incorporated. Slowly add the dry ingredients to the bowl and mix until a smooth batter forms. Pour into a round baking pan lined with parchment paper then bake for around 20 minutes at 350 degrees fahrenheit (176 C) Check if it is finished by inserting a toothpick that should come out clean. While brownie cake is baking, assemble the mint frosting ingredients in a small mixing bowl until it it has reached desired mint flavor; set aside. When the brownie cake is finished, remove from the oven and top with chocolate chips. Let the chips melt, then spread to create a chocolate layer. Let cool for 15 minutes then drizzle with the icing. Top with optional crushed peppermint. Enjoy!

By Kristina

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

Golden Apple Crisp

Posted on December 21, 2015 by Kristina

Initially I planned to post this recipe when the trees were brimming with juicy apples during the peak of apple season, but life happens and a giant pile of school work can get in the way of the recipe editing/posting schedule–but better late then never, I bring you a most delicious, golden, crumbly, and sweet apple crisp. In this nutritious yet sweet and buttery apple crisp, layers of juicy apple slices are baked to soft perfection and coated in a warm maple-butter sauce that is topped with a brown sugar and cinnamon crumble. It is sweet, buttery, slightly salty, and warming–perfect for the chilly days of autumn and the bitter days of winter.

The recipe prep only takes a bit of apple slicing and an assembling of the topping ingredients. Bake it in the oven and enjoy the aroma as the kitchen begins to smell like everything wonderful about autumn–maple syrup, cinnamon, baked apples. It tastes as divine as its fragrant, warming aroma, and is a delicious holiday dessert.

Golden Apple Crisp

2015-12-16 19:48:28

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Ingredients

8 peeled and sliced apples
1 TBSP. cinnamon
1 and 1/2 cups of brown sugar
1 cup GF all-purpose flour
1/2 cup coconut oil
1/4 tsp. pink salt
1 TBSP. maple syrup + 1/2 TBSP. lemon juice

Instructions

Slice apples and add to a deep baking dish. Mix the dry ingredients together in a medium-sized mixing bowl and set aside. Melt oil and add the rest of the wet ingredients. Pour the melted mixture into the dry ingredients and mix. Top the sliced apples with this crumble mixture and bake at 375 degrees for 30-35 minutes or until the crumble becomes golden and apples are tender.

By Kristina

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

Fiesta Pepper Corn Soup

Posted on November 11, 2015 by Kristina

Vibrant fresh peppers are folded inside a creamy and savory corn sauce with a hint of buttery garlic flavor in this colorful cream soup that is based off of the creamy corn alfredo soup that was posted earlier. It is smooth and savory with the perfect creamy consistency for incorporating colorful slices of sweet peppers for a pop of flavor and crunch. The crisp peppers along with the alfredo-like soup base creates an amazing combination that is a must try! For a touch of spice, feel free to add some spicy peppers to the mix as well as fresh salsa and cilantro. This vibrant assortment of flavors and textures makes for a zesty and creamy soup.

This fiesta pepper corn soup is abundant with savory, sweet, and rich flavors from the fresh ingredients and provides plenty of vitamins and minerals that aid in nutrient absorption. It’s fast, easy, and tasty while also being a vibrant feast for the senses!

Fiesta Pepper Corn Soup

2015-11-09 20:30:55

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Ingredients

4 cups frozen or fresh white corn
1/2 cup of leftover hot cooking water
1/4 tsp. unrefined salt
1/4 tsp. black pepper
3 cloves minced garlic
1-2 tbsp. butter or oil of choice
1 tbsp. lime or lemon juice
Additional toppings: 1 cup sliced sweet peppers, 1/4 cup shredded fresh cilantro, optional: 1/3 hot pepper,

Instructions

Steam or boil corn until cooked through. Add to blender or food processor along with salt and some cooking water and blend on high until smooth. Add in the rest of the ingredients except for the peppers and blend until mixed through. Add the sliced peppers and a squeeze of lime juice and enjoy!

By Kristina

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

Dill & Chive Potatoes

Posted on November 10, 2015 by Kristina

Roasted potatoes are definitely delicious–especially mini potatoes, which are so creamy and tender. This particular recipe for mini roasted potatoes is based on the traditional Swedish potato recipe that prepares fresh simple potatoes with a sprinkle of fresh herbs such as dill, minced garlic, salt & pepper, and a drizzle oil. This preserves the rich and savory flavor from the fresh potatoes alone. These dill & chive potatoes are roasted along with garlic, chives, and shallots until the potatoes have reached a creamy softness; it’s a simple recipe that requires a bit of prep before and then letting them absorb the spices and roast in the oven until tender. Simply wash and slice the potatoes how you would like and then coat them with seasonings. These are tasty little tubers, especially when dipped in this garlic butter or whipped guacamole.

In addition to being super buttery and delicious, potatoes are high in fiber, protein, iron, magnesium, potassium, and vitamins C and B-6. They’re also a great way to get in trace minerals like zinc, phosphorus, and folate. Basically, potatoes are full of nutritious elements that the body craves. It’s a good thing they are such a satisfying complex carbohydrate. So start eating and growing potatoes! They’re a great source of food that many ancient civilizations have thrived on for years.

Now moving on to the recipe!

Garlic & Chive Potato Fries

2015-07-25 12:51:44

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Ingredients

1.5 LBS potatoes
3 cloves chopped garlic
1/4 cup diced chives
1 tbsp. dried parsley
6 sprigs of fresh dill or 1 tbsp. dried dill
2 tbsp. oil

seasoning

1 tbsp. unrefined sugar
1/4 tsp. unrefined salt
1/4 tsp. black pepper
1/4 tsp. garlic powder

Instructions

Method #1
Wash and chop the potatoes lengthwise then cut the halves until they are strips or wedges. Set the chopped potatoes in a large bowl of ice water to soak for about 30 minutes. Next add the seasoning ingredients to a cup and whisk with a fork. Drain the ice bowl and transfer potatoes to a steamer or pot of boiling water and steam/boil for 10 to 15 minutes. Transfer back to the bowl and add the powder, oil, garlic, and chives. Mix around and add oil to evenly coat the potatoes. Transfer onto a baking tray lined with parchment paper so that potatoes are layered evenly. Bake for 20 minutes (or until crispy) at 375 degrees. Sprinkle with additional salt & pepper and extra herbs and oil.
Method #2
Wash and chop the potatoes lengthwise, then cut the halves. Transfer sliced potatoes to a large bowl. Add the seasonings, oil, garlic, and herbs, then evenly coat the potatoes. Transfer potatoes onto a baking tray lined with parchment paper. Bake in an oven heated to 375 degrees for 30 to 45 minutes or until golden and crispy. Sprinkle with additional salt & pepper and extra herbs and oil.

By Kristina

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

Creamy Corn Alfredo Soup

Posted on November 7, 2015 by Kristina

There is no replacement for a bowl of steaming and comforting soup when the weather starts to cool off–especially soups with a creamy base instead of a liquid broth. The creamy base makes for an extra warming and satisfying bowl of goodness that gets its creaminess from puréed sweet corn, which turned out to be wonderfully smooth and buttery. It is amazing how corn can be transformed into an alfredo-sauce type of consistency with just a spin of the blender or food processor.

This corn alfredo soup also happens to be an extremely easy recipe to make with one main ingredient and a few spices and toppings of choice. There are also several variations of this soup that can be made by adding different ingredients or by using it as a sauce for quinoa, pasta, and rice etc. Stay tuned for future recipes based off of this one. It’s so good you’ll want to incorporate it into every recipe!

Besides being incredibly delicious and easy to make, it is also extremely healthy! Corn in its natural state is a nutritious and complete food that contains vitamins B3 and B6, as well as phosphorous, niacin, pantothenic acid manganese, and phytonutrients. These are vital for digestive and cardiovascular health–corn is an overall great food for maintaining good health. Add in extra medicinal herbs like garlic, ginger, and cilantro and it becomes an even more nutritious and delicious soup.

Creamy Corn Alfredo Soup

2015-09-26 12:41:09

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Ingredients

4 cups frozen or fresh white corn
1/2 cup leftover cooking water
1/4 tsp. unrefined salt
3 cloves minced garlic
1 tbsp. butter or oil of choice
1 tbsp. lime or lemon juice
Optional toppings: extra corn, chives, and chili powder

Instructions

Boil or steam the corn for around ten minutes or until just cooked. Add the corn, hot water, and salt to a food processor or blender and blend on low, then increase the speed up to high until the corn becomes very smooth. Now add the minced garlic to the blender and blend on low. Pour and serve with additional toppings and a dollop of dairy-free butter and a splash of lime juice.

By Kristina

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

Zucchini Spaghetti with Tomato Cream Sauce

Posted on September 8, 2015 by Kristina

A perfect fresh pasta dish for summer, this zucchini spaghetti with tomato cream sauce is gluten-free, and raw vegan yet full of flavor and savory spices & herbs. It is light on digestion and will leave you feeling energetic. Vibrant tomatoes, fresh homegrown herbs, and zucchini make all the difference when it comes to the quality of flavor and texture. This raw spaghetti is so fresh it’s packed with living nutrients and is high in vitamins and minerals, which makes it much more nutritionally dense than regular pastas. You can even incorporate these ingredients into regular noodles for a closer match to a true pasta dish paired with this flavorful, fresh sauce.

Zucchini noodles are way too fun to make and to eat, and are filled with minerals like phosphorus, potassium, magnesium, folate, manganese, and copper–the list of nutrients goes on and on. Some of the main health benefits of zucchini are its anti-cancer, anti-inflammitory, and anti-microbial properties as well as being able to greatly improve bone health. It’s amazing how one long green veggie(or fruit/squash?) can do so much for health. Nature knows how to take care of you. (Also, zucchini squash is a super simple plant to grow in a garden or even on the side of a house!)

In order to actually make these fun noodles, you can slice them with a veggie peeler but the best tools for this job are this and this. It’s a life-changing tool ;)

Spaghetti with Tomato Cream Sauce

2015-08-23 09:43:40

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Ingredients

1 spiralized large zucchini, ends cut off

Sauce

2 cups cherry tomatoes or 2 large tomatoes
1/2 of a lime, juiced
1/2 cup sliced nectarines or mangoes
1 to 2 cloves of minced garlic
3 tbsp. sesame seeds or hemp seeds
6 fresh basil leaves or around 1/4 tsp. dried basil
Optional salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

First, wash and chop zucchini then spiralize it into noodles. Set aside and prepare the sauce ingredients. Chop the tomatoes and add them to a high-speed blender or food processor and blend along with the lime juice and sliced fruit. Blend on medium to high until smooth. Now add the rest of the sauce ingredients into the blender and blend on low until seasonings are just incorporated into the sauce. Pour over noodles and let them absorb the moisture from the sauce. Serve and enjoy!

By Kristina

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

Golden Garlic Butter

Posted on August 12, 2015 by Kristina

This garlic butter is like liquid gold, or melted garlic gold that is flavored with garlic & herbs and seasoned with salt & pepper. These aromatic herbs and mild spices infuse into the softened garlic for an wonderfully fragrant and delicious pot of gold.

It’s so delicious you will want to put it on everything. Slather it, dip it, and drizzle it on bread, pasta, rice, veggies–any excuse to drench everything in garlic butter, right? It’s so delicious yet incredibly simple to make in a matter of minutes with just a few main ingredients plus herbs & spices.

This savory golden garlic butter also happens to be dairy-free; it is simply a blend of plant oils that contain healthy fats such as omega-3 and 6. It’s a delicious cruelty-free and allergen-free substitute to garlic butter!

Golden Garlic Butter

2015-08-05 11:01:15

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Ingredients

4 TBSP. Earth Balance buttery spread or Smart Balance
3 garlic cloves, minced
1/4 tsp. pink Himalayan salt
black pepper to taste
1/4 cup avocado or olive oil
2 tsp. dried parsley
1 tsp. dried oregano
1 tsp. dried basil

Instructions

Start by melting the butter in a pan along with minced garlic and melt over low heat until butter is creamy and garlic is translucent, about three minutes. Take pan off of heat and add herbs, salt, pepper, and additional oil. Let it absorb the flavors and enjoy!

By Kristina

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

For an oil-free version with similar flavors, try Whipped Guacamole for a super creamy and delicious dip, spread, or sauce!

Minty Watermelon Frosty

Posted on August 4, 2015 by Kristina

When it comes to refreshing summer treats, there is nothing quite like biting into a sweet and juicy watermelon. A good quality watermelon’s crisp flesh melts in your mouth with its high water content. This natural, sugary juice hydrates and nourishes the body on a cellular level, thanks to its naturally occuring electrolytes. It also provides vitamin A & C, and is rich in phytonutrients and antioxidants. As for the beautiful red color, watermelon gets its vibrant hue from lycopene–it has even more lycopene than tomatoes! If you’d like to learn more about how incredibly amazing this sweet and hydrating fruit is for your health, check out this informative article on Well-Being Secrets for all things watermelon and to learn about the history and amazing benefits of this stellar summer fruit. It is filled with everything you ever wanted to know about watermelon, and will leave you amazed at all the fantastic benefits of this humble, juicy fruit.

Watermelon is definitely an amazing and hydrating fruit, but to make it even more refreshing, this recipe for a minty watermelon frosty is icy and sweet with a light and cooling mint flavor. It combines some of the most cooling ingredients that are chilled in the freezer to become dusted with ice crystals and then blended to create a frosty smoothie. Drinking this icy and sweet treat is one of the best ways to battle the smothering humidity of summer.

Minty Watermelon Frosty

2015-08-03 09:33:36

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Ingredients

4 cups frozen watermelon
6 mint leaves
2 tbsp. sugar if watermelon is not very sweet
1 tbsp. lemon juice

Instructions

Cut and slice watermelon into cubes and add to a baking sheet covered with parchment paper. Freeze for 1 to 2 hours or until melon is frozen to preference. Once frozen, add chunks to a blender and blend until smooth. Rinse mint leaves and add to the blender along with the rest of the ingredients and pulse for a couple of seconds. Serve and enjoy!

By Kristina

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

Whipped Guacamole

Posted on July 22, 2015 by Kristina

The three secrets to an amazing guacamole are ripeness of the avocados, flavor enhancers, and arm power. Nothing beats good old-fashioned arm power for a super creamy, whipped texture. (You can also use a food processor for this, but mashing avos into cream is half the fun!) This whipped guacamole is so incredibly smooth and creamy. Its buttery consistency adds an amazing texture to the Fiesta Taco Bowl. Anything this guac goes on, it coats it in thick and creamy goodness that takes any meal to a whole new level.

Besides the amazing texture, its flavor is garlicky without being overpowering because the creaminess of the avocado softens the spice. The lemon/lime juice and fine-grain salt work well together to bring out the rich flavor and savory quality of the avocados. I just can’t get enough of this guac and put it on just about everything. You must make this and try it on salads, rice, noodles, veggies, chips — it is the perfect topping for so many foods! It’s a dressing, dip, and sauce all in one!

In order for guacamole to have this whipped consistency, the avocados need to be quite soft, but not rotten or mushy. There is a perfect in- between stage of ripeness when the avocado is at its very best. The ripening stages look a lot like this. ;) It takes awhile to get it right. I’m still learning and I’ve been at it awhile! One tip that helps is to remove the little button on the end of the avo where the stem would’ve been attached. If it’s green, this = unripe, grey or brown = overripe, and yellow should be perfectly ripe!

Whipped Guacamole

2015-07-21 14:27:45

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Ingredients

3 ripe avocados
Juice from 1/2 of a lime
1/4 tsp. granulated unrefined salt
3 garlic cloves, minced
dash of black pepper
optional: diced spicy pepper and 1/4 cup shredded cilantro

Instructions

Halve the avocados and remove each pit, then transfer to a bowl. Add the salt and lime juice and mash with a fork and a spoon. Add the remaining ingredients and mash thoroughly until the guacamole becomes very smooth with no chunks remaining. Enjoy this fantastic whipped guacamole!

By Kristina

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

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