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very berry parfait

July 3, 2011 By Cindy Sexton 1 Comment

Nothing says summer like fresh berries.  Very berry parfait, a.k.a. berries smothered in coconut butter! So scrumptious…the raspberries are by far my fav.  This is a super simple treat.  Easy, ready in a flash and serves well as a yummy addition to any family bbq, potluck party or picnic on the beach. 

Most people love having somethin’ a little sweet after eating their dins.  Can be oh so delightful!  I myself have never been much of a “sweet tooth girl” as you know, whereas salty goods were more my vice.  However, if that sweet craving comes a calling, there are many ways to feel satisfied, without having to dive into baked goods that are ladened with processed sugar and gluten.  Works well for me, as I am not much of a baker either.  Very berry parfait is a perfect alternative. 

I think fruit salad or mixed berries are often overlooked because of their simplicity.  I love the bright colours and the intense flavours.  That is one of the reasons I decided to include this as one of my posts.  The beauty of this option is that you can tailor it to your preference based on your tastes and also what is in season at the time.  This dish is also super versatile – it can be enjoyed as a snack, dessert or as a side for breakfast in the morning.  If you have children…they will love ‘building” their own”too!  You could get totally creative and turn it into a fun little sundae kinda station/bar.  Put all kinds of different toppings into little dishes…and let them go wild!

What are ya waiting for?  Grab a massive bowl/platter, tons of fresh berries (or other fruit), a colander, cutting board and knife (if needed) – and you are good to go!  As an added bonus- try topping with warm-melted coconut or cashew butter for some extra flavour.  You could experiment here with any type of nut butter really.  YUM!  In the past, I have made a similar version and topped it with roasted walnuts for that extra crunch.  I am also a huge fan of garnishing with some freshly chopped mint, dark chocolate shavings and shredded coconut as well.  You can even squeeze a little lemon or lime juice on the berries if you wish.  Play around and make some magic happen in the kitchen!

Ingredients:

  • various fresh berries or other fruit of choice (raspberries, blueberries, strawberries and blackberries)
  • coconut butter – melted
  • chopped nuts and/or other desired toppings (optional)
  • freshly chopped mint – to garnish (optional)

Prep:

  • wash berries thoroughly in a colander
  • mix together is a large bowl or place on a platter
  • scoop out individual serving into a “parfait” type glass (extra fun and fancy!)
  • drizzle with warm coconut butter
  • top with chopped nuts and/or fresh mint
  • enjoy!

Note:  to melt the coconut butter place the glass jar in a saucepan filled 3/4 full with water.  Heat on stove-top on medium heat, stirring thoroughly until it turns into a thick liquid. 

Filed Under: Breakfasts, Desserts, Snacks Tagged With: berries, coconut

mango.berry & avocado.cuc salsa

June 18, 2011 By Cindy Sexton 1 Comment

Fresh. Sweet. Crunchy. Summery. Fully loaded with flavour.  There are many words to describe this little number that I could go on forever.  It turned out so amazing, because it has several wonderful ingredients that compliment one another so nicely. 

The inspiration for this recipe really came from the simple fact that every time I walk into our local veggie/fruit market, the pile of ripe mangoes are right in the doorway, staring directly at me, totally screamin’ pick me.  It’s really funny, because I think each time I stroll through that doorway, I actually do stop…give one of ‘em a squeeze, but end up setting them back down and continue on my merry way into the shop.  Reason being…I LOVE mango…but to be honest I don’t eat loads of fruit, so this salsa is a real treat.

So good in fact, that you can eat it on it’s own.  That’s what ‘the duster’ did!  It could also serve well as a yummy condiment to pretty much anything.  We are absolute guacamole fans, so we plop that on just about everything we make on a daily basis.  The beauty of this salsa is that it offers a nice change from our usual.  A perfect match for grilled fish, pork or on eggs (like I had this morning)!  Why not even throw some on top of a bed of greens and grilled chicken and call it a day?!?  The options here are really endless.  Do you have a bbq to attend this weekend?  Are you hosting Father’s day brunch?  Family gathering?  Regardless…give it a go!!!

P.S.  The strawberries were a last minute addition to this recipe, but I just couldn’t resist because they are local now (Ontario grown) and super scrumptious.

Makes a large serving.

Ingredients

  • 2-3 ripe mangoes – cubed
  • 1/2 pint of fresh strawberries – cubed
  • 4 mini cucumbers – cubed
  • 3-4 ripe avocados – cubed
  • 1/3 large red onion – finely diced
  • 1 orange pepper – cubed
  • 3 garlic cloves – crushed
  • 1 lemon – juice freshly squeezed (can add in some zest if you wish as well)
  • 1 lime – juice freshly squeezed
  • 1 small navel orange – juice freshly squeezed (optional)
  • lots of fresh cilantro – chopped
  • sea salt and ground pepper – to taste
  • fresh ginger – grated (optional)
  • splash of olive oil

Prep

  • take all ingredients from the list that need cubed and chop them into fairly small bits.
  • put them in a medium sized bowl and mix together.
  • next, add in the garlic, grated ginger, freshly squeezed lemon/lime and orange juice and a splash of olive oil.
  • lastly, add in lots of freshly chopped cilantro and sprinkle with sea salt and ground pepper.
  • stir all ingredients together and allow to cool in fridge before serving.
  • enjoy!

Note: I made this salsa yesterday…and then let the flavours meld together in the fridge overnight!  It is even tastier the next day!!!

Filed Under: Condiments, Desserts, Salads, Sides, Snacks Tagged With: avocado, berries, salsa

chocolate and coconut covered bacon

December 19, 2010 By Cindy Sexton 11 Comments

Oh soooo good!   ”Chocolate and coconut covered bacon?”, you may ask. Yep you got it!  It may seem bizarre at first, but it is actually a really amazing combo!  If you are a fan of  ‘sweet and salty’, then this dessert is a must try for you.  In the past couple weeks I have tried two different versions of this recipe, one topped with shredded coconut and the other with crushed macadamia nuts, while both drizzled with coconut butter.  Super easy peasy to make and will be a guaranteed hit at your upcoming holiday parties.  A rich treat that is immensely satisfying.  Go ahead…choc it up!

Ingredients:

Prep:

  • cook bacon in frying pan on medium to high heat, until crispy (I had to do this in a couple batches)
  • remove from heat and plate to cool for a few minutes
  • in the meantime, melt dark chocolate in a double boiler (avoid burning the chocolate) – stirring frequently
  • when completely melted, take a pair of thongs and fully immerse the slice of bacon in the chocolate sauce
  • when coated, place on a baking pan lined with parchment paper
  • sprinkle with shredded coconut and place in the fridge to cool for 10-15 minutes
  • while it is solidifying in the fridge, melt some coconut butter (manna), by placing the jar in boiling water
  • once melted, take a few tbsp and spoon it into a Ziploc bag
  • take the chocolate covered bacon out of the fridge, snip a tiny hole in the corner of the Ziploc bag and drizzle lightly with coconut butter
  • place back into the fridge and let cool once again (doesn’t take long to solidify)
  • when ready remove bacon strips from parchment paper and plate
  • enjoy!

There was a little bit of dark chocolate left over, so I decided to take a pint of fresh blueberries and toss them in the pot.  From there, I stirred them around, making sure they were all covered with the sauce and then placed them on some parchment paper.  I followed the same process by sprinkling and drizzling them with the shredded coconut and the butter.  Threw them in the freezer to harden…and voila…another simple, yet fabulous dessert!

* see paleo in a nutshell section

Filed Under: Desserts, Snacks Tagged With: bacon, chocolate, coconut

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