Author Archives: Kristina

Peach Pie Smoothie Bowl

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Peach Pie Smoothie Bowl

Creamy soft serve, juicy sun-sweetened peaches, and crumbly dried mulberries combine with subtle flavors of maple and cinnamon in this delicious smoothie. It is like a sweet and buttery peach pie mixed with soft-serve in a bowl, and it actually happens to be full of nutrients. The main ingredients are sun-ripened fruits because they naturally add the sweetest flavors and creamiest textures as well as loads of vitamins, minerals, and phytonutrients. It tastes delicious and is good for you–the perfect compromise.

Peach Pie Smoothie Bowl
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Ingredients
  1. 4 frozen bananas (frozen when ripe)
  2. 2 fresh ripe bananas
  3. 2 tbsp. maple syrup
  4. dash of cinnamon
  5. 3 ripe peaches, sliced
  6. 1/2 cup dried mulberries
Instructions
  1. Add the bananas to a food processor or high-speed blender and blend on low, scraping down the sides until bananas transform into soft serve. Now add in the rest of the ingredients except for the peaches and mulberries. Blend for a few seconds then pour into a dish and top with sliced peaches and mulberries. Top with additional maple syrup if desired. Enjoy!
Simple Sweets & Treats https://simplesweetsandtreats.com/

Fiesta Taco Bowl

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delicious taco salads are like a fiesta in a bowl. This one contains an exciting mix of colorful ingredients and textures that create an amazing combination of flavors, each complemented by a rich and velvety guacamole (recipe coming soon!) that tastes like a creamy sauce. Each bite is an explosion of flavor and texture. It is savory, spicy, sweet, salty, and tangy. To put it in my mum’s words, this bowl is like a party in the mouth.

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This fiesta taco bowl can have many variations simply by adding additional toppings and changing the ingredients. Add crunchy corn chips, rice and beans; there are endless options. Whatever you do you can’t go wrong–throw a bunch of zesty and creamy ingredients into a bowl and you have a flavorful meal of satisfying and vibrant deliciousness. It couldn’t be easier! Sometimes simple food is the best food.

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Ingredients:
1 head of shredded romaine lettuce
Cilantro Lime Corn Salsa
tortilla chips
optional jarred salsa

Coming Soon Recipes:
Whipped Guacamole
Fresh Tomato Salsa
Cilantro-Lime Rice and Spicy Garlic Beans

Prepare all additional ingredients and chop lettuce. Mix everything together and coat with guacamole. That’s it!

 
Follow Kristina’s board Simple Recipes on Pinterest.

Cilantro-Lime Corn Salsa

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An amazing addition to taco salads that I’ve often overlooked is corn. Corn that is fresh, tender, and accented by light and spicy flavors. This cilantro-lime corn salsa combines sweet and creamy bites of corn with a squeeze of lime juice, diced red onion, and cilantro for zest. After marinating in this mixture, the corn fully absorbs the flavorful ingredients. It is a simple yet delicious topping that adds such a buttery and sweet element to tacos and taco salads that each bite bursts with a fresh and flavorful taste–and it couldn’t be easier to make with just a few fresh summer ingredients.

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Cilantro Lime Corn Salsa
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Ingredients
  1. 4 cups fresh or frozen white corn
  2. Juice of 1 lime
  3. 1/2 cup shredded fresh cilantro or 1/4 cup dried
  4. Diced onion to taste (I used 1 small onion) or 2 to 3 cloves minced garlic
  5. pinch of unrefined salt and black pepper to taste
  6. optional diced jalapeno
Instructions
  1. If using frozen corn, steam or boil it for about ten minutes while prepping the other ingredients. Add the corn to a medium-sized bowl and toss with diced onion, salt & pepper and let cool. Now add the cilantro and lime juice and mix thoroughly. Enjoy with tacos, taco salads, and tortilla chips!
Simple Sweets & Treats https://simplesweetsandtreats.com/

Garlic & Herb Cream Sauce

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If you’ve had pasta with an Italian cream sauce then you understand how delicious a buttery sauce base tastes paired with savory herbs and spices like garlic, oregano, and rosemary. These sauces contain the perfect balance of spiciness from the herbs and richness from the creamy base for a savory flavor and rich texture.

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I was inspired to make a dairy-free version of a garlic & herb cream sauce that is every bit as buttery, garlicky, and creamy. It’s like garlic butter turned pasta sauce that is excellent for drenching over noodles. It’s everything you could want in a sauce!

Unlike most cream sauces though, this sauce is much lighter–not in texture but in the after feeling; it doesn’t linger in your stomach for hours with a feeling of heaviness. Fortunately, it’s every bit as creamy as a traditional cream sauce without the downsides of using regular cream. With this sauce, the digestive system does’t have to spend all of its energy trying to break down animal-based cream products. You will still feel very satisfied and satiated after eating it without being wiped out by a food coma.

Speaking of food comas, this is especially common if you have Celiac disease where ingredients such as wheat and dairy remain in the stomach as it tries to digest the pounds of thick heavy gluten that wipe out energy and take forever to get processed by the body. If this is the case, for my fellow Celiacs and those with gluten allergies you can pair this cream sauce with your favorite gluten free noodles, rice, and even veggies and potatoes or whatever you’d like. There are endless possibilities! It’s the pasta that is both easy and delicious, which is great for serving to anyone who’s gluten-free for a rich and satisfying bowl of warm creamy noodles.

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Garlic Cream Sauce
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Ingredients
  1. 2 garlic cloves, minced
  2. 2 tbsp. earth balance spread or coconut oil
  3. 1/4 tsp. unrefined salt
  4. pepper to taste
  5. 2 cups plain almond, coconut or other unsweetened non-dairy milk
  6. 1/2 cup gluten free flour
  7. optional 1 tsp. each of oregano, parsley, and rosemary
  8. drizzle of olive oil and salt & pepper to taste
Instructions
  1. Start by prepping your ingredients, then melt the earth balance or coconut oil in a pan over low to medium heat. Once spread has melted, add the garlic and sauté about two minutes or until translucent. Add the salt and pepper and optional herbs to this pan and let steam sauté until fragrant. Add the non-dairy milk to this pan and allow it to warm and absorb flavors, then whisk in the flour until there are no lumps. Continue stirring awhile until the mix thickens, about ten minutes. Next, turn off the heat and allow sauce to settle and thicken then drizzle with olive oil and additional salt and pepper.
Simple Sweets & Treats https://simplesweetsandtreats.com/
Follow Kristina’s board Simple Recipes on Pinterest.

Strawberry Peach Pie (GF & Vegan)

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This GF Strawberry Peach Pie has a golden, buttery crust that is topped with sweet summer fruits and a warm caramel-like brown sugar sauce. It is a decadent pie yet it’s super simple to make. The crust itself contains just a few ingredients, and they are plant-based! If you have celiac disease or food allergies, this gluten-free pie will be a special treat since you probably haven’t had pie in way too long. Thankfully it is not just an imitation pie; my fellow taste-testers loved this, and could not believe it was gluten free.
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Thanks to my little helper in the kitchen, Eleanor, it turned out fantastic! She helped bake and write down the recipe while I developed it, which was extremely helpful. Plus it was her idea to add strawberries. Brilliant. Thank you, El! <3

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Strawberry Peach Pie
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Crust
  1. 1 cup GF flour of choice
  2. 1/2 cup earth balance spread or coconut oil
  3. 1/2 tsp. unrefined salt
  4. 1 tbsp. ground flax
  5. 2 tbsp. water
Filling
  1. 1 tbsp. lemon juice
  2. 1 tsp. vanilla extract
  3. 6 ripe peaches, sliced
  4. 10 strawberries, sliced
  5. 1 tbsp. ground cinnamon
  6. 2 tbsp. organic sugar
Brown Sugar Sauce
  1. 1/2 cup organic brown sugar
  2. 2 tbsp. earth balance spread or coconut oil
  3. pinch of unrefined salt
  4. 3 tbsp. organic gluten-free flour
  5. 2 tbsp. organic sugar
Instructions
  1. To make the crust, start by combining flour and flax in a food processor and blend, then add the rest of the crust ingredients. Mold dough into a pie pan and freeze for fifteen minutes. While crust is chilling, assemble the filling by preparing the ingredients and mixing them together in a bowl. Bake the crust for 15 minutes at 350 then layer the filling into the pie crust and make the brown sugar sauce in a small bowl. Top with this sauce and bake an additional 10 to 15 minutes. Let cool then enjoy!
Simple Sweets & Treats https://simplesweetsandtreats.com/

Follow Kristina’s board Simple Recipes on Pinterest.

Blueberry Crumble Cake with Lemon Icing

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Infused with a touch of lemon, this light and fluffy cake contains mini blueberries bursting with sweetness. It is topped with a sweet and buttery crumble mixture and drizzled with lemon icing that melts into the freshly baked layers of blueberry cake.

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This rich and buttery cake also happens to be dairy-free, egg-free, and gluten-free, yet it tastes like the classic blueberry coffee cake.

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Blueberry Lemony Crumble Cake
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Dry
  1. 2 cups gluten free flour mix such as Bob's Red Mill
  2. 1/2 tsp. unrefined salt
  3. 1.5 tsp. baking powder
  4. 1 tbsp. flax seed meal
  5. 1 cup organic sugar
Wet
  1. 1/2 cup room temp coconut oil (or melted just enough to stir)
  2. 1 tbsp. lemon juice
  3. 1 tsp. lemon zest
  4. 1/2 cup coconut milk
  5. 1 tbsp. vanilla extract
  6. 2 cup fresh or frozen blueberries
Crumble Topping
  1. 1/4 cup gf flour
  2. 1/4 cup organic brown sugar
  3. 1/4 cup melted coconut oil
Glaze
  1. 1 cup powdered sugar
  2. 1 tbsp. lemon juice
  3. 4 tbsp. non-dairy milk
Instructions
  1. First, prepare ingredients then whisk together in a medium-sized mixing bowl. Mix together wet ingredients (except blueberries) in a separate bowl. Add wet into dry slowly and mix until a batter consistency forms. Add in the blueberries until just combined. Assemble crumble mixture. Add batter to a square or circular baking pan lined with oiled parchment paper, top with crumble mixture, and bake at 350 degrees for about 45 minutes. Insert a fork and check to make sure it comes out clean without sticky batter on it. Allow to cool for 10 minutes then make lemon glaze and drizzle over the cake. Slice and enjoy!
Simple Sweets & Treats https://simplesweetsandtreats.com/

Follow Kristina’s board Simple Recipes on Pinterest.

Chocolate Fudge Brownies

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Recently I was testing out brownie batters and one of them reminded me so much of the little debbie brownies that I loved as a kid. Of course having celiac disease can put an end to many favorite childhood treats, which is why this new brownie tastes so familiar, yet is made with natural ingredients unlike packaged cakes, cookies, and brownies that contain way too many chemical ingredients. This brownie recipe is a completely nutritious version that is made with whole food ingredients. They are much tastier than the overly processed and factory-made boxed brownies that are often waxy in texture and lacking in freshness. Try these brownies for a tasty treat!

Gluten-Free Chocolate Fudge Brownies
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Ingredients
  1. 1/4 cup cacao or cocoa powder
  2. 3/4 cup organic brown or white sugar
  3. 1/4 tsp. pink salt
  4. 1 tbsp. flax seed flour mixed with 3 tbsp. water
  5. 1/4 tsp. baking soda
  6. 1/2 tbsp. vanilla extract
  7. 1/2 cup applesauce or oil of choice
  8. 3/4 cup almond milk + 1 tbsp. lemon juice
  9. 1 cup GF flour (I used Bob's Red Mill gluten free)
  10. optional chocolate chips
Instructions
  1. First, combine flax and water in a cup and whisk; let sit for ten minutes, then whisk the almond milk with the lemon juice and let sit while preparing the rest of the ingredients. Combine first ingredients except for the flour and chocolate chips; add to a medium sized mixing bowl and mix well. Pour the almond milk and flax mixture into the ingredients and stir well. Lastly, add the flour and mix, then optional chocolate chips. Bake at 350 degrees for around 30 to 40 minutes or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean. Let cool and top with additional chocolate chips and salt.
Simple Sweets & Treats https://simplesweetsandtreats.com/

Follow Kristina’s board Simple Recipes on Pinterest.

Allergen-Free & Healthy Cake Batter Ice cream

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Imagine an ice cream without any gluten, dairy, soy, nuts or any of the most common allergenic foods, yet the ice cream is every bit as sweet and creamy. This cake-batter version is super delicious and it’s actually full of vitamins, minerals, fiber, and phytochemicals that can improve your health and mood. It is an icy, smooth, and sweet treat that is quick and easy to make.

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Allergen-Free Healthy Cake Batter Ice Cream
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Ingredients
  1. 5 frozen speckled ripe bananas + 1 fresh ripe banana (you can omit the fresh ripe banana if not available)
  2. 1/4 cup organic powdered sugar
  3. 1/4 tsp. vanilla extract
  4. a pinch of sea salt
  5. optional maple syrup
  6. optional 1/2 cup almond milk (especially recommended for weaker blenders
Instructions
  1. Add frozen bananas to a high-speed blender or food processor; blend on low and shove bananas into blade until smooth and whipped consistency forms. Add the additional ingredients and blend until thoroughly mixed and creamy. Enjoy this amazing treat!
Simple Sweets & Treats https://simplesweetsandtreats.com/

Follow Kristina’s board Simple Recipes on Pinterest.

Homemade Pineapple Whip Float

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Modeled after the famous Hawaiian treat, this homemade version is creamy, icy, and super sweet; it’s the best refreshing treat to cool you off during the heat of summer.
The first layer is just sweet pineapple juice, which is topped with the creamy pineapple whip. In this recipe, the two layers merge into the sweetest pineapple float that can be made in a matter of minutes!

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Being made with whole food ingredients, (mainly pineapple) it’s super simple to create. This also means it’s free of dairy, refined sugar, processed chemicals, and most harmful ingredients.

The key to this recipe is the quality of the starring ingredient. In order to have the most delicious flavors, look for super sweet and ripe pineapple. If a pineapple has a golden tone to its outside, it is ripe. You can also tell if it is of good quality when it has an overpowering sweet aroma. When fresh pineapples are not an option, frozen pineapples work great! They were great in this particular pineapple whip that I made.

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Homemade Pineapple Whip Float
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Ingredients
  1. 3 cups frozen Pineapple chunks
  2. 1/2 to 1 cup almond milk
  3. Optional 4 tbsp. organic sugar
  4. 3 cups pineapple juice
Instructions
  1. Add pineapple chunks and almond milk to a high-speed blender or food processor and blend on low, scraping down the sides every now and then until thick and smooth mixture forms. Pour pineapple juice into two cups and layer in the pineapple whip. Serve and enjoy!
Simple Sweets & Treats https://simplesweetsandtreats.com/

Follow Kristina’s board Simple Recipes on Pinterest.

Sweet Corn Alfredo Sauce

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I didn’t know it was possible to transform corn into a smooth and luxuriously creamy sauce, but with an efficient blender or food processor and white sweet-corn, it can be done! It amazes me that it can create a thick buttery sauce that is delicious as a pasta sauce, dressing, soup or a dip that goes with so many foods such as noodles, steamed veggies, salads, and chips. Corn adds such a sweet yet salty taste with a thick and creamy texture.
This is an incredibly simple and healthy plant-based recipe that is free of the most common allergens and processed ingredients.

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Sweet Corn Alfredo Sauce
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Ingredients
  1. 4 cups frozen white sweet corn
  2. 1/2 cup hot water or broth
  3. 2 cloves minced garlic
  4. optional 2 tbsp. buttery spread such as earth balance
  5. unrefined salt
  6. pepper
  7. optional basil and parsley
Instructions
  1. Boil or steam frozen corn until tender, about 10 minutes after water boils. While corn cooks, prepare other ingredients. When corn is done, add it along with the water/broth into a high speed blender or food processor and blend on low, then on high until the corn becomes a mixture that is very smooth and creamy. Now add the additional ingredients and blend until just mixed. Serve and enjoy!
Simple Sweets & Treats https://simplesweetsandtreats.com/

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