Spoonful of Sugar Free

Registered Dietitian

Dessert

Healthy Twisted Pumpkin Roll

By

Another Pumpkin Recipe! Yay!

Don’t you just love pumpkin? One cup of pumpkin has 7 grams fiber, 2650 IU Vitamin A, 564 mg potassium! It also boasts a truckload of antioxidants like Alpha-carotene and Beta-carotene. What a wonderful winter fruit. Yes, science defines seed-carrying pumpkins as fruit. Not vegetables.

As a variation of my savory flourless-free crepe from Heather, I created a Healthy Pumpkin Roll!

Inspired by the back of a can of Libby’s Pumpkin:

Not-Your-Ordinary Pumpkin Roll

~This pumpkin roll can be used as a breakfast or dessert! It would be a perfect breakfast to impress guests during the Holidays. The recipe is flour-free, grain-free, gluten-free, dairy-free, and of course, sugar-free!

Ingredients

Serves 1

  • 2 eggs
  • pinch baking powder
  • 1/4 tsp cinnamon, plus more for garnish
  • 1/2 cup pumpkin puree
  • Optional: chopped nuts

First, lightly grease a pan for the stove. I used a cast-iron skillet. Next, turn the stove on medium heat. Whisk the eggs, baking powder, and cinnamon in a small bowl, and pour the mix into the skillet. Cover and cook for 2-3 minutes or until it is cooked through. There is no need to flip the crepe. Remove the crepe carefully from the burner and place on a plate:

Next, spread the pumpkin on the crepe. If you wish, you can heat up the pumpkin before spreading it. If you wish to add chopped nuts to the pumpkin, add some now.

Then, roll the crepe, and garnish with an extra scoop of pumpkin, cinnamon, and nuts (if using):

Delicious!

Thought-provoking, mind-prodding question of the day:

Have you made plans for Christmas, or Hanukkah, or another holiday you celebrate yet?

I am so excited to visit my aunt and grandparents in Arizona this Christmas. I haven’t seen them in two years, and am very excited to see them! I’m making them all gifts. I would tell you what they were, but I am afraid they might be reading this! Let me keep it a surprise!

Do you like surprises?

My sister is a big surprise person! She will not let anyone tell her what her gift is, and she will not tell anyone what she made/bought them. It is actually quite fun to tease her with this 😉

 

 

A Bitter Christmas…

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I have been hesitant to post all my numerous chocolate recipes because I always eat 100% dark chocolate! The majority of people don’t have a taste for the bitterness of this dark of a chocolate, but I think the bitterness makes it the best! 100% dark chocolate does not have any room for milk or sugar, just chocolate. This makes the flavor intensely dark.

Well, I have finally decided to share a few of my chocolate recipes, even though most people won’t like them. For you sugar eaters out there who can’t handle the bitterness of 100% dark, please feel free to add a few stevia drops or a drizzle of honey to this recipe.

Grain-Free Bitter Chocolate Cake for One

~Like I said above, please feel free to add a drizzle of honey or some liquid stevia drops to the recipe before baking so that it may satisfy your liking of chocolate. This cake is meant to serve one person, but feel free to double, triple or quadruple the recipe. The cake is gluten free, dairy-free, and of course, sugar-free!

Serves 1

Ingredients

  • 1 egg
  • 1/4 cup cocoa powder (I like using Hershey’s Dark cocoa because it has a great, intense flavor)
  • 2 Tablespoons of squash puree, like pumpkin, sweet potato, or butternut squash
  • splash of vanilla extract
  • 1/8 teaspoon baking powder
  • water
  • Optional: 100% dark chocolate bar (I used Baker’s)

Preheat oven to 375*. Mix all of the above ingredients together. Then add a splash of water until it reaches the consistency of a thick pudding. Pour batter into a mini bread pan or a muffin tin (It makes about 4 muffins). If using, chop the 100% dark chocolate bar over the top of the batter. Bake in the oven for about 15-20 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean.

More Ideas: Try adding mint extract to the batter to make a mint chocolate cake. Also, use different topping like nuts to personalize the cake to your liking.

Oooo....yum...the chocolate pieces on top are nice and melty! Also, for those counting calories, the whole cake is only 120 calories. It is one big cake, too! Most people would probably stop eating it halfway through because it is very large.

I made this cake last night while I was watching Tim Allen’s Santa Clause.

LOVE this movie! So heart-warming and fun!

You definitely know it’s Christmas time when ABC starts showing a Christmas-Related movie every night! What’s on tonight while I bake myself another Bitter Chocolate Cake?

The Polar Express. Another great holiday film. I loved the book, too! Have you read it?

 

This recipe is a shout-out to those who asked for more grain-free recipes; those who like bitter chocolate cake more than the sweet kind; those who love bitter chocolate; and of course, all others who enjoy chocolate for their taste and health benefits!

Thought-provoking, mind-prodding question of the day:

  1. Would you like me to post more of my chocolate recipes? I have tons of them ranging from grain-free pancakes, to mousses, to puddings, to breakfast parfaits.
  2. Have you tried 100% dark chocolate yet?? If not, then DO IT! I’m begging you to! Pick up some Baker’s chocolate squares or a Ghiradelli bar in the baking aisle of your grocery store. When you try it, roll it around in your mouth and actually taste it. Don’t go by your first bite. Take another bite and think about chocolate-not the other chocolate-flavored impersonators out there!
  3. Last question-I promise! What do you think of all the holiday movies showing at this time of year? Personally, I love having an upbeat, sometimes corny movie to watch every night. I love all the Christmas films because they put me in such a great mood! There is no way that I could choose a favorite because there are so many good ones out there!

 

Raw Coconut-Iced Bark

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I’m a genius.

One day while making some homemade coconut butter, I had a flash of genius…

“Coconut oil solidifies at cold temperatures. If I mix it with nuts and fruit I can make my own ‘bark.’ “

As soon as I realized this, I did blurt out, “I’m a genius!”

Yes, I am extremely humble.

 

Raw Coconut-Iced Bark

~This bark recipe does not have to be raw. It can be anything you like!

Ingredients

  • Coconut Oil (Raw, unprocessed coconut oil tastes the most coconut-ty. However, you can use a non-raw coconut oil if you do not like the taste of coconut)
  • Filling-Choose any combination listed below, or be creative and add more!
    • Nuts or Seeds (peanuts, almonds, cashews, walnuts, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds)
    • Fruit (dates, raisins, cherries, cranberries, blueberries, goji berries)
    • Extravagant Extras (coconut shavings, cacao nibs, dark chocolate pieces)
    • Grains (The first time I made this I did not add any grains, but if you would like to add puffed rice, puffed millet, or oats, go ahead! The puffed millet tastes great in the bark, and it fills up spaces for those counting calories)
    • Extracts (I have not yet tried adding any extracts, but I think it would taste great! Peppermint extract, vanilla, almond, chocolate, or even orange extract!)

Mix your fillings in a bowl. Then, drizzle coconut oil over the top. Mix this around until the bark’s fillings are evenly coated in oil. The oil will be the binder, so make sure there is enough of it. If you don’t add enough the bark will simply crumble.

Next, lay a piece of wax paper on a baking sheet. Spread the bark mixture across the paper in an even layer. Place the bark in the freezer, and wait for about ten minutes. This should be enough time for the coconut oil to solidify.

In the freezer...

Break pieces off of your bark to enjoy!

I adore this recipe! It is very versatile, and can be made into anything you might crave. I am dying to try a peppermint bark…first I have to buy some peppermint extract!

Thought-provoking, mind-prodding question of the day:

What is one of your favorite holiday traditions?

I love my family’s advent calender. Ours is a big cloth with a Christmas tree on it. Every day we get to reach inside a pocket and pull out an ornament to hang on the tree. Today is the first of December, so I wonder what the first ornament is going to be!

Friends by Recipes Recap

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Well, my Friends by Recipes Challenge has come to a close. I had so much fun making all of your recipes! It was also great to make more friends through a creative way. Below is a recap from my 11 friends I made from 11 different recipes. Click on the pictures to access the recipes.

Anita's Oatmeals: Savory Oats and a Pina Colada
Cindy's "Donut Holes"
Teenage Health Freak's Apple Bars
Eat Move Love's Blueberry Muffins That Take the Cake
Emily Elizabeth's Marathon Mud Pie
Sarah's Zucchini Hummus
April's True Porridge
Katie's Single Lady Pumpkin Muffin, Better-n-Rice Pudding, and Fudge Babies
Lauren's Spicy Sweet Potato Apple Bread
Deb's Adobo-Rubbed Pork Tenderloin

Kiki's Toasted Coconut-Crusted Cheesecake

Thought-provoking, mind-prodding question of the day:

What was your favorite recipe? If you had to make one, which one would you make?

 

#11 Friends By Recipes: Kiki’s Toasted Coconut Crust

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I don’t have an excuse this time for not posting. I didn’t have coconut? I didn’t have cashews? Well, those are true, but I just didn’t feel like posting 🙂 I had a vacation 🙂

Well, this is my last day for my Friends by Recipes Challenge. This post features an idea from a frequent reader, Kiki:

“Hi Alex! I really love the new ideas I learn about on your blog site! I especially love coconut. Could you try to make a coconut crust for your “cheescake”? I think that would be really tasty!”

I have a confession. This commenter is my mom! She has been begging me to do a coconut-crusted cheesecake, so she took her opportunity in the Friends by Recipes Challenge.

First, I mixed 1 egg white with 1/2 cup unsweetened coconut shavings. Then, I pressed the mix into a muffin pan. Finally, I baked it in the oven at 350* for 5 minutes. Then broil until golden. After this, I used THIS RECIPE

The crust after being toasted.

Voila!

If you want a completely raw cheesecake try mixing coconut shavings and coconut oil together, and then freezing it. It should solidify nicely in less than five minutes!

Thanks for the great idea, mom! I love you 3>

Thought-provoking, mind-prodding question of the day:

What are you doing for Thanksgiving? I will be playing in a tennis tournament out of state…Too bad because my favorite holiday is Thanksgiving! You all know how I love to cook! What is your favorite holiday?

Also, I may not be by my computer a lot this week, so I probably won’t be posting for a while again 🙁 Unless someone would like to do a guest post?? Anybody? If you do, email me at spoonfulofsugarfree@gmail.com. Thanks! Have a Happy Turkey Day!

#8 Friends by Recipes: Chocolate Covered Katie

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Welcome to day 8 of my Friends by Recipes Challenge!

Today, I am going to be featuring someone who inspired me to start this blog in the first place, Chocolate Covered Katie!

Katie is such a great girl, and she has the most amazing recipes. All of her recipes are so easy, that I decided to make a few of them. (Just one recipe wouldn’t do her justice!)

First, I tried a recent recipe of hers:

“One lil Pumpkin” Muffin

(covered in chocolate)

  • 1 T canned pumpkin
  • handful chocolate chips
  • pinch pumpkin pie spice
  • 1/4 tsp baking powder
  • 3T flour
  • sweetener of choice
  • heaping 1/16th tsp salt
  • 1 1/2T water, nondairy milk, or oil (such as coconut), or a combination

Procedure: Follow the directions for a Single Lady Cupcake, subbing pumpkin for the applesauce and adding the chips and spice. Also, sub the oil for water or nondairy milk if desired.

The insides....mmmm....

I used cacao nibs for the chocolate chips (I still haven’t found those 100% dark chocolate chips yet, Katie! I’m going to have to look in another Whole Foods), and used 2 drops of stevia to sweeten. I then topped it with another dollop of pumpkin and some cacao nibs.

Yum! Yum! I think these would be great to prepare while making dinner, and just pop them in the oven before you eat dinner. Then, the cupcake will be done by the time you are done eating.

Then I made some Better-n-Rice Pudding

So comforting on a cold morning...

2 cups non-dairy milk
2 servings cooked oatmeal (i.e. start with 80 grams uncooked)
2 tsps cinnamon
2 Tbs vanilla extract
up to 1 cup raisins

Combine all the ingredients and bring to a boil. Then turn down to low heat for about 20 minutes, stirring occasionally, until pudding is the desired consistency.  Cooking the oats twice makes them even fluffier and gives the recipe a real pudding-like taste.

The recipe makes 2-4 servings, depending on how big the eater’s appetite is and whether the pudding is being consumed as a meal or a snack.

And finally, her famous Fudge Babies!

Rolled in Cocoa powder and coconut shavings!

Fudge Babies

Ingredients:

  • 1 c walnuts (120 grams)
  • 1 and 1/3 cups pitted dates (230 grams) (If you want a sweeter result, up the proportion of dates.) (If you’re unsure as to what dates to use, or you want measurements in cups, not grams, see fudge baby FAQ post)
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 3-4 tablespoons cocoa powder, depending on how chocolatey you want the balls to be (I used 4T extra dark)

Directions:

1. Chop/blend all the ingredients, using a food processor, Magic Bullet, etc.  (No need to blend the dates first; I just blend everything all at once.)

2. Roll into cutey-pie little balls.  (Use plastic wrap if you need to.)

 

Thanks for all of this recipe-making fun, Katie!!

Thought-provoking, mind-prodding question of the day:

Have you gone over to this Chocolate-Covered Vegan‘s blog yet? If not, go now!