Paleo Salted Caramel Mocha

I've been enjoying making a healthier versions of "coffee house" drinks.  I'm loving this Peppermint Mocha.  I also wanted to create a salted caramel option.  I  wanted to be able to achieve this by not needing to make a caramel sauce first.  Here's what I came up with.

Paleo Salted Caramel Mocha
1/2 cup vanilla almond milk
1/2 cup coconut milk
1/2 cup strong brewed coffee
1 Tbsp good quality cacao powder
1 1/2 Tbsp coconut nectar
2 Tbsp salted butter (I use Kerrygold grass-fed)
6 drops vanilla creme stevia
Himalayan pink salt

Combine all ingredients except the salt in a high speed blender or Vitamix until foamy.  Transfer to a small pot and heat thoroughly.  Pour into 2 mugs.  Grind a bit of Himalayan pink salt on top.  Enjoy!

Hot Cocoa with Peppermint Marshmallow Cookies

With requests for egg nog so often, I seem to have an abundance of egg whites.  I decided to use some to make the marshmallow cookies in this recipe.  They were easy to make and have great flavor.  Mine were more of a toasted color due to my lack of low temperature on my oven.  Anyone whose seen my kitchen will understand.  This cocoa recipe is rich and chocolately, but not overly sweet.  We added a few drops of stevia. 

Peppermint Mocha

I feel very tempted and lured in by the coffee house drinks.  I usually suffer from a sugar overload induced headache when I indulge.  So, I have been working on a paleo version of some of my favorites.  Here is my peppermint mocha recipe:

1/2 cup coconut milk
1/2 cup vanilla almond milk
1/2 cup strong brewed organic coffee
2 Tbsp good quality cacao powder (I use Dagoba brand)
2 Tbsp honey
1/4 tsp peppermint extract
6 drops vanilla creme stevia
pinch of salt

Place all ingredients in a blender or Vitamix and process until foamy.  Transfer to a small pot and heat thoroughly. Pour into 2 large mugs and enjoy with someone special. 

This is my oldest kiddo after school.  Such a warm, comforting drink to sip on while telling Mom about your day!

Paleo Egg Nog

When it began snowing yesterday, we began thinking of all things "winter."  My girls are always excited to see egg nog hit the shelves this time of year.  Since these cartons are full of dairy and additives, I began to search for a homemade version we can enjoy and digest.  This recipe from The Paleo Parents had lots of good reviews.  I started out with their basic raw version.

2 cups full fat coconut milk (I used homemade)
2 cups almond milk (I used homemade)
4 egg yolks
1/2 cup maple syrup
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1 tsp ground nutmeg
1 tsp vanilla extract (since I used plain almond milk)
1/8 tsp ground allspice

Blend well in a blender, chill & serve with ground cinnamon or nutmeg on top. 

I felt it needed rum flavor to make it more egg nog like, so I added:

1/2 tsp rum extract (I'm sure real rum would be great, but this was made for children.)
1/8 tsp sea salt

We loved it with these additions! 

Raspberry Iced Tea

We had a work day at our house.  My husband asked our kiddos to bring us something cold to drink.  This is what they came up with.  It was so refreshing, creative & beautiful!
 

Celestial Seasonings Cool Brew Raspberry Iced Black Tea
Stevia
Raspberries (they used frozen)
Fresh Mint Leaves

Breakfast Power Smoothie

Well, I threw caution to the wind today and ate this smoothie for lunch.  Anyway, it was super fast to put together and easy to drink.  Yummy & made a good lunch on the go!  I did not add the stevia since the protein powder I was using was vanilla flavored and sweetened with stevia.  I use Thorne VegaLite protein powder. 

Frappuccino

I have seen several recipes for iced coffee or mocha frappuccinos lately.  I typically like my coffee hot and black, or with a dash of cinnamon and a Tbsp of coconut oil.  But, with the hot weather, I keep thinking one of those sweet and creamy Fivebuck's coffee drinks over ice sounds delish!  Many of the recipes are complicated or call for ingredients that I don't use.  I really don't like to have things around that I only use for 1 recipe, so this is what I've come up with.  It made enough for a friend and I as we were heading out to do some party shopping for some special kiddos in our lives.  We both enjoyed sipping on these and chatting. 

1.5 cups cold coffee
3/4 cup full fat coconut milk (I used my homemade)
1 Tbsp coconut nectar (I think honey would work, but I like the carmely flavor of this product)
10 drops English toffee stevia

Blend all together and serve over ice.
 

Ginger Mango Green Smoothie

Today I made the same smoothie as this day.  Only this time I used fresh kale from our garden.  Kale and mango pair well together. 

Matcha Green Tea Latte

I recently was introduced to Matcha green tea, and I love it!  It is a tea powder that can be mixed in about any liquid or added to smoothies.  Why use Matcha green tea?  It's alkalizing, energizing, detoxifying and rejuvenating.  Don't you feel healthier already?  Here's my favorite way to drink it.

Ginger Matcha Green Tea Smoothie:
1 chunk fresh ginger
1 1/2 cup coconut milk
2 tsp matcha green tea
6 drops English toffee stevia

Blend and serve over ice.

All the ingredients ready for the Vitamix.

 
The finished product ready to be poured over ice tomorrow.
 

Ginger, Mango, Strawberry Green Smoothie

Basically the same as yesterday's smoothie recipe, but this time with strawberries.  I cut back on the flax too.  I didn't really measure, but this is close.

GinMangBerry Smoothie:
1 cup frozen mango chunks
2 handfuls fresh spinach
5 frozen strawberries
1 chunk fresh ginger root (probably about 1 tsp)
1 tsp
5 drops stevia
1 cup coconut milk

Blend together until smooth.

Ginger Mango Green Smoothie

Earlier this week I was talking to a friend that mentioned drinking a mango kale smoothie.  I have been wanting to make one ever since.  I purchased a bag of frozen organic mango recently and have been wanting to use it in something.  This is what I came up with this afternoon, since I do not have any kale on hand.

Ginger Mango Green Smoothie
1 cup frozen mango chunks
2 handfuls fresh spinach
1 chunk fresh ginger root (probably about 1 tsp)
1 Tbsp ground flax seed (you can taste it, so cut back a little if you don't like flax, or omit)
5 drops stevia
1 cup coconut milk

Blend together until smooth.
   

***I have now made this with kale and it is delicious too!***

Iced Chai Tea Latte

I am loving this warmer weather!  I decided to try using the last of the chai tea concentrate I had in the fridge to make an iced latte.  This worked well.

Iced Chai Tea Latte
1 cup chai tea concentrate
1 cup coconut milk
1 cup ice
6 drops vanilla stevia

Place all ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth.

Grilled Steak Salad & Chai Tea Latte

You know what is great about paleo things?  They are typically filling and nutritious.  I had some greens that needed to be eaten today, but due to the weather, I was in the mood for a hot lunch.  So, I dutifully ate up some leftover steak, avocados, cucumbers, carrots and pecans on greens.  But, I added a hot chai tea latte to my lunch!  With all the coconut and almond milk this was very satisfying.  Have you read my post about chai tea concentrate?
 

Chai Tea Concentrate

Yesterday I made this chai tea concentrate.  I used Newman's Own organic black tea.  I omitted fennel seed, since I didn't have any & used 1/2 tsp of ground cardamom since I didn't have the pods.  Otherwise, I followed this recipe.  This morning I picked a friend up early to go garden seed shopping (it's that time of year, yeah!)  I decided to heat one of these up for each of us.  I made hers with whole milk and mine with half coconut/half almond milk.  It was yummy, but I wished mine was a bit sweeter, so I added about 6 drops of vanilla stevia to both our canisters.  Such a yummy treat to sip on while dreaming about all we can grow this summer.  I have lots of mix left, so I will definitely be using this as the temperature drops next week.


****Here's something I came up with to make an iced version****
 Iced Chai Tea Latte
1 cup chai tea concentrate
1 cup coconut milk
1 cup ice
6 drops vanilla stevia
 

How to Make Almond Milk

You only need 2 ingredients to make almond milk.  Why would you want to make your own instead of buying it?  The reasons are the same as I stated in my how to make coconut milk post.
  
You need just 2 ingredients:  
3 cups of filtered water
1 cup raw almonds

 
Place in Vitamix (I do not know if this will work in other blender.  My guess is it will, but it will need more time) and gradually increase power to 10, then run on high for a minute.


  
Run liquid through a nut-milk bag or I use a paint strainer.  Be sure to squeeze out as much liquid as possible.




Store in glass jars in the fridge.

Then discard pulp or make it into unblanched almond flour.

To make flour:
Dry out pulp.  I put mine in the toaster oven for about 1/2 hour at 250 degrees. 



After pulp is completely dry, place in blender or coffee grinder.  I think this flat blade fro my Magic Bullet grinds the finest flour.


Store in the freezer and use next time you want to make something have the "whole grain" look. 

Iced Vanilla Bean Latte

I had someone come over this afternoon.  I decided to make this quick treat using leftover coffee.  I used this recipe as a base for my latte.  I'm sure this would be great, but I was wanting more on an icee texture. 


 

 This is exactly how I did mine:
1 cup cold leftover coffee
1/4 cup coconut milk
1 1/2 tsp maple syrup
1 vanilla bean (insides scraped out, discard bean)
1/8 tsp cinnamon
about 2 cups ice

Throw everything in the blender and combine.  Serve immediately.

Smoothie

Lunch on the go again today!  Chia pudding, carrots & walnuts.  Having a smoothie to get me through till supper.


 

This one has:
Vanilla almond milk
Spinach
Flax
Frozen mixed berries
1/2 frozen banana

How to Make Coconut Milk

I do not live in an area where fresh coconut is available, so this is how I make my own coconut milk.  Why would someone choose to make their own as opposed to buying it in the cans?
1.  You are sensitive to or prefer to avoid the additives in canned coconut milk such as guar gum or xantham gum.
2.  You are concerned about BPA in canned products for you or your children.
3.  It is not available where you live.
4.  You use so much of it, you would like to reduce cost.
5.  You bought a Vitamix and now need to justify why you NEEDED it!

Step 1:  Measure 2 cups filtered water and 1 cup dry, unsweetened coconut.  Heat water if you are not using a Vitamix.


 

Step 2:  Turn it on and let it go for several minutes.  I like to feel the sides of the container for when it is warm.

 

Step 3:  Strain milk.  You can purchase a "nut milk bag," but I use a paint strainer I purchased at a hardware store for about $3.  

 

Step 4:  Squeeze all the moisture you can out of the pulp.


 

Step 5:  Discard pulp or move onto step 6. 
Step 6:  Spread pulp out onto a baking sheet.  Place in a 250 degree oven (I use my toaster oven) for about 20 minutes.  Watch it so it doesn't brown too much.  You only want it slightly toasted.  Make sure it is completely dehydrated.  Sometimes I let it sit on the counter for 24 hours.

  

Step 7:   Grind into coconut flour.  I use the flat blade with my Magic Bullet.  




Step 8:  Store in an airtight container in the freezer until ready to use.

  
I love doing this with the coconut I buy in bulk.  There is absolutely no waste and the milk and flour are delicious!  ***I have had trouble using this flour in some recipes.  I use it for things that do not need to be so exact like pancakes and coatings for meat.  I would not recommend for cakes, pastries, or new recipes.***

Smoothie & Oven Omelet

Here's what I put in my smoothie this morning:
2 cups vanilla almond milk (unsweetened)
2 handfuls fresh spinach
1.5 cups frozen organic strawberries
1 cup frozen organic blackberries
1 frozen banana
2 Tbsp ground flax



 

 I also made an oven omelet.  This was a great recipe.  I used dehydrated chives this time.





 
This was yummy!  

Blueberry Chai Smoothie

Breakfast today needed to be portable.  Smoothie time!  Here's the link http://paleomg.com/blueberry-chai-granola-smoothies/.  
You can exchange the almond milk for coconut milk.  I do not grind the chia seed before adding since I'm using a Vitamix.  Also, I never add the granola on top.