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Foodie Friday: Minute Mug Cake Recipe (Grain-free, Gluten-free, Refined Sugar-free)

Posted on July 17, 2015 by Beeyoutiful Toni 3 comments

Sometimes I just need a little sweet treat, something that doesn’t require a lot of time in the kitchen or firing up the oven in the middle of the summer swelter.

Using a single serving recipe like this one means it’s simple to make, cleanup is minimal, and perhaps best of all, there’s not an entire cake lingering for days and tempting me to over-indulge!

This mug cake recipe is easy enough for a child to make, ready in mere minutes, and made of nourishing ingredients that don’t make me feel guilty or sick afterward. It’s gluten-free, grain-free, and contains no refined sugar, making it suitable for many diets, including paleo.

Minute Mug Cake Recipe

Choose a LARGE microwave-safe mug (or even a glass 2-cup measuring cup) and add:

1 Tbs butter

Melt in microwave for about 30 seconds. Swirl melted butter to coat the sides of the mug.

Add to mug:

1 Tbs honey
1/4 tsp vanilla
1 drop liquid stevia extract
1 egg

This is why you should use a LARGE mug!

Stir wet ingredients with a fork until egg is thoroughly beaten.

Then add to mug:

1 Tbs coconut flour
1 Tbs almond flour
1 Tbs cocoa powder
pinch cinnamon
pinch salt (if using unsalted butter)
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
up to 3 Tbs milk or water

Stir well to incorporate fully for a smooth cake batter texture.

Microwave on full power for 90 seconds. (Depending on its power, your microwave may take a bit more or less time to bake your mug cake.) The cake will puff up and then settle down as it cools.

Eat your cake straight from the mug while it’s warm, or invert on a plate. If you want to make this simple treat even more decadent, top with fresh berries (or a fruit sauce), nut butter, whipped cream or ice cream (in the winter, maybe even snow cream!).

This recipe is open to many variations; I’ve used carob powder instead of cocoa, coconut oil instead of butter, and maple syrup or rice syrup instead of honey. You could add a sprinkle of chocolate chips on top of the batter, or stir in some sliced almonds for a little crunch. Try it out and let me know how you personalize this recipe to suit your own tastes!

Foodie Friday: Kid-Approved Frozen Treats (Four Wholesome Summer Popsicle Recipes!)

Posted on June 26, 2015 by Beeyoutiful Mary One comment

It is almost officially summer in these beautiful rolling hills of Tennessee, and it is hot and humid. Pretty much all my kids and I want to do is eat popsicles and sit in the pool!

As a family, we avoid food dyes, artificial flavorings and sweeteners, and other potentially toxic food additives. If you have checked the ingredient lists of most frozen treats these days, you’ll discover that you almost cannot avoid extra chemicals.

Instead of purchasing additive-laden frozen treats, we started making our own. It’s very easy, I have direct control over the quality of ingredients, and I have the added benefit of tailoring them to meet our specific nutritional needs.

Here are a few of the yummy and refreshing popsicle recipes that we love; try them for yourself and let us know which is your favorite!

Strawberry Lemonade Popsicles
(Makes one tray of 6 popsicles)

8 ounces of strong Lemon Balm Tea, brewed and cooled
1/4 cup fresh or frozen strawberries
Juice of 1 lemon
Drops of Liquid Stevia to taste

Blend all ingredients together and pour into mold. Freeze for at least 6-8 hours until firm.

Watermelon Mint Popsicles
(Makes 6-10 Popsicles)

2 Tbs Fresh Peppermint Leaves, steeped in 1/4 cup freshly boiled water and then cooled
3 cups Watermelon
Juice of 1 Lime
3 Tbs Honey
Optional: add a handful of blueberries and additional fresh mint leaves

Blend together and then pour into popsicle molds. Freeze until solid and enjoy.

Raspberry Peach Pops
(Makes 12 popsicles)

1/2 cup Raspberries
1 cup Peaches
8 ounces Red Raspberry Leaf Tea, brewed and cooled
Optional: sweeten with honey or stevia if desired.

Blend together, pour into molds. Freeze until solid, and enjoy.

Chocolate Coconut Pops
(Makes 6 popsicles)

1/2 can (about a cup) of Full-fat Coconut Milk
3 Tbs Raw Cacao
3 Tbs Maple Syrup (adjust to taste)
2 tsp Shredded Coconut
1 tsp Vanilla
1 tsp of Grassfed Gelatin Powder
Optional: add mini chocolate chips into the mix for a bit more fun!

Mix gelatin powder into a small amount of warm water and let dissolve. Then mix all ingredients together and pour into molds. Freeze until solid. Enjoy!

Foodie Friday: Sweet Treat Snack Ball Recipes

Posted on April 17, 2015 by Beeyoutiful Mary Leave a comment

Just in time for your weekend, here are two nutrient-dense sweet treats loaded with healthy fats to fuel your body and mind! These two healthy snack recipes are a hit with kids and adults alike, and easy to make as a quick dessert for drop-in guests.

If you choose allergen-free chocolate chips, the Almond Snack Balls can be gluten free and grain free, appropriate for paleo diets.

Almond Snack Balls

1½ cups almond butter
½ cup Organic Raw Cacao Powder
¼ cup raw honey or maple syrup
½ cup chocolate chips
¼ tsp sea salt
½ cup Organic Raw Unsweetened Shredded Coconut

Mix together first 5 ingredients. Use a spoon or small scoop to mold mixture into small balls. Roll balls in shredded coconut, then chill to set. Store in airtight container. Makes about 24 balls.

Coconut Snack Balls

½ cup Organic Raw Cacao Powder
1½ cups Organic Raw Unsweetened Shredded Coconut
1½ cups Organic Rolled Oats
¾ cup coconut oil (use solid unmelted oil at room temperature)
½ to ¾ cup raw honey or maple syrup, to desired sweetness

Combine dry ingredients and mix well. Add coconut oil and honey, and stir to combine. Use a spoon or small scoop to mold into small balls. Place in a dish and freeze for minimum 30 minutes. These are best when kept chilled.Store in airtight container. Makes about 24 balls.

Your friends are certain to ask you for these recipes, so be sure to pin them for easy access later!

Snow Day Magic With Just 4 Ingredients

Posted on March 5, 2015 by Beeyoutiful Mary Leave a comment

Just when we thought winter had all but disappeared, she raised her cold head once again. Instead of coming in like a lion, our March has come in like a polar bear and we awoke to a fresh blanket of snow this morning. It is the powdery fine stuff, so the kids weren’t having as much fun without snowballs or sledding. I decided to put the snow to work entertaining them another way and made a quick batch of Snow Cream. Whether you prefer vanilla or chocolate, we know you will enjoy these two treats! (No snow? Use shaved ice!)