Cookies, Fruit and Coffee! Oh My Sweetness! #ad

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of In The Raw and SheSpeaks. All opinions are entirely my own.

Oh my sweet goodness! We are living in the good times because of all of the available products, seasonings, and spices we have to enhance the flavors of our foods. We also know that we have to watch our intake of particular foods, one of which is sugar. 

How do you cut back on sugar when baking? How about in your morning cup of tea or coffee? How about on fruit? Sometimes you want a lil' extra sweet treat without the calories of white sugar. For me, I love using Organic Stevia In The Raw® which allows for the little extra sweetness without the calories or guilt. Did you know that Organic Stevia In The Raw® give only 3 calories but provides the sweetening equivalence of two teaspoons of sugar (32 calories!!) Oh my sweet goodness! 

Do you ever sweeten your food with Organic Stevia In The Raw®? If so what do you sweeten? Do you just sweeten your food or do you also use it for others in your home? Every time I've substituted white sugar for Organic Stevia In The Raw® no one has noticed! I love that I can cut back the use of white sugar in the home for this clean, lower calorie, non-GMO, organic, gluten-free product!

One easy peasy way I like to get in a lil' sweet treat is to take fresh fruit like strawberries and blueberries and mix with Greek Yogurt. I then give a 1 packet sprinkle of Organic Stevia In The Raw® to cut the tangy taste of the yogurt and give the mix a small sweet kick! I could eat this every day for breakfast. 

I also love adding in 1 packet to a cup of tea, especially in the evenings when I'm wanting a little sweet treat after dinner. It works every time to cut the craving of a big, high carb/high calorie dessert.

I'm a huge fan of coffee, too! Check out my video of adding Organic Stevia In The Raw® in my work coffee cup! Just 1 packet does the trick!

When it comes to baking goodies, Organic Stevia In The Raw® can be substituted with white sugar. You can go check out their website for the conversion chart to convert existing recipes from sugar to Organic Stevia In The Raw®. I did that below when I made a batch of my old time fav Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies! NO ONE even knew I made the substitution and I've been making these cookies for 20 years!

Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies 

2 c. butter Crisco
2 cups brown sugar
1/2 cup Organic Stevia In The Raw®
2 tsp. vanilla
4 eggs
2 tsp. baking soda
5 c. flour
1/4 tsp. salt
16 oz chocolate chips, your choice

Cream shortening and sugars. Add eggs and vanilla. Stir in flour, soda and salt. Mix in chips. Bake at 350 degrees for 10-12 minutes. Bake longer for a crunchier cookie.  Make 100 cookies.

Kitchen Notes- Use this dough for a skillet cookie. Bake it at 350 degrees for 10-12 minutes.

I challenge you to make the change from white sugar to Organic Stevia In The Raw®! You will be amazed by the no change in taste while enjoying the less calorie option of using less white sugar! 

Follow Organic Stevia In The Raw® on social media to learn more about this product! Here are their links!

• Product 
• Facebook
• Instagram
• Pinterest

Last but surely not least, go enter the SheSpeaks giveaway to win your own Organic Stevia In The Raw®

{Gluten Free Lifestyle} Gluten Free Around the World Giveaway

Do you have to live a gluten free lifestyle? We do not in our home but a lot of our friends do. I'm always amazed at their struggles and stories. If you or someone you know does live a gluten free lifestyle, check out the Gluten Free Around the World review below.

Gluten Free Around the World

Giveaway

The full review of Gluten Free Around the World by author Aviva Kanoff can be found at My Dairy-Free Gluten-Free Life. You can find Author Aviva Kanoff at http://www.avivakanoff.com The photos in this cookbook are so breath-taking that one could get sidetracked looking at the photos instead of the recipes!

The Author,Aviva really makes you feel like you are right there with her as she journeys around to such stunning places and photographs their cultures along with their food! If you cook gluten free, Gluten Free Around the World would be a great addition to your cookbooks or a great gift! And the author is giving away one copy to a lucky reader.

Gluten Free Around the World Giveaway

Giveaway organized by My Dairy-Free Gluten-Free Life

Giveaway open to US only and ends Dec 22, 2014

Enter on Rafflecopter below:

a Rafflecopter giveaway
Disclaimer: Participating blogs did not receive compensation for the published material in this post. No purchase required to enter this giveaway and there is a limit of one entrant per household. Void where prohibited. Odds of winning are determined by the number of valid entries received. Winner will be chosen by Random.org and will be emailed via the email address used to enter the contest. New winner(s) will be chosen if original winner(s) has not responded within 48 hours of email notification. This blog and other participating bloggers are not responsible for shipment of prize(s). Sponsor(s) are responsible for all shipping costs related to prize(s). This giveaway is not administered, sponsored, endorsed by, or associated with Facebook, Twitter, Google, Pinterest or other social media outlet. Disclaimer is posted in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission 10 CFR, Part 255 Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

Gluten Free Mom Certified FREE Cookbook and Why Go Gluten Free?

Someone asked me if gluten free cooking is a fad. I honestly do not think that gluten free cooking is a fad. I do think that sometimes we jump on a certain bandwagon just because everyone else is doing it without really knowing why we would benefit. For people with a true diagnosis of celiac disease or gluten intolerance, removing gluten from their foods will help their symptoms.

What are some of the symptoms seen with people who can't tolerate gluten? They include abdominal pain, gas, constipation, bloating, diarrhea, nausea, weight loss, fatigue and depression. Those symptom fit a lot of other diseases and intolerances so do make sure you get tested to see if you need to go gluten free.

I do have to say that no one in my family has been diagnosed. I do cook gluten free recipes when I see one that I want to try and have several gluten free recipes here on my blog. Why? Why not! I love trying new recipes and sharing them here on my blog. If you have one to share, let me know!

This brings me to a free kindle book that is going on right now from a sweet blogging friend, Tiffany Hinton over at Gluten Free Mom Certified (also the name of her cookbook). She is celebrating her birthday and wanted to offer her tasty cookbook for FREE! This cookbook normally sells for $27.00. Pop over and check out her cookbook and get it on Kindle. If you do not have a Kindle, you can still download it on your computer or phone.

I have yet to go through the cookbook but when I do, I will post a lengthier review and share a recipe. Here is the book description from Amazon:

People who Gluten Free Mom Certified is a tasty way to bring fun back into cooking with favorite meals and desserts free of gluten and dairy. Scrumptious recipes are presented by a super Mom with notes, tasty tips, colorful photographs, and easy to find ingredients. You will learn how to make sweet treats and tasty treats from the kitchen - recreating the foods you grew up eating. If you find pre-made gluten free food to pricey or hard to find and you want to be able to create treats with taste and flavor or if you are looking for a simple alternative and wish you could make something fabulous - this book is for you!

More Gluten Free Recipes

Gluten Free Pizza Recipes

Gluten Free Frozen Tropical Chocolate Smoothie

Gluten Free Chocolate Cake

Gluten Free Baked Carrot Fries

Gluten Free Creamy Fudge Pie

Gluten Free Mixed Nut Pie Crust

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Easy Basic Crustless Pizza Crust and Pizza Recipes

We love pizza of all sizes and shapes. My family prefers thin, hand tossed, thick, Chicago Deep Dish crust and more! Some of us love a lot of sauce, others prefer less. Our choice of toppings vary, too and for the most part we haven't found a pizza we don't like. Including in this love of pizza is a crustless pizza idea I tried out on my family. It is bread crustless but still has a crust to hold up the ingredients. It is more of a fork pizza recipe instead of a hold in your hand pizza. Give it a try!

What are your family favorite toppings? This pizza is so easy, everyone can make their own pizza!

Basic Crustless Pizza Crust (gluten free)

Ingredients

8 oz cream cheese, softened
2 eggs
3/4 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
1 teaspoon garlic powder

Directions

1-Preheat oven 350 degree oven.
2-Mix the above in a bowl.
3-Lightly grease a 9 x 13 baking dish.
4-Press mixture evenly into the dish.
5-Bake 20 minutes or until it turns light golden brown.

Crustless Pizza Recipes - This is an easy recipe to use your favorite toppings.
Once the above crust is done you can add the sauce, toppings & cheese. Substitute any of the below for your own favorites.

Supreme Crustless Pizza

Ingredients

1-2 cups tomato or pizza sauce (depends on how much sauce you like)
1-2 cups mozzarella cheese, shredded
1 cup veggies, chopped (raw or grilled)
1/4 cup jalapeños
1 cup meat (precooked sausage, pepperoni, bacon, etc)
2 teaspoons of any combination of seasonings- Italian seasoning, garlic powder, basil, oregano, black pepper
1/2 cup Parmesan cheese

Directions

1- On the cooked crust, layer on the sauce, veggies, meat, cheeses and spices.
2- Bake in a 350 degree oven until bubbly at approximately 10-15 minutes.
3- Let cool 10 minutes, cut and serve.

Kitchen Notes-
This is such a flexible pizza. Use whatever you want and in any combination. For the crust and extra Parmesan cheese on this pizza we used Mama Francesca Parmesan, Basil & Oregano combination. This was a new product in our Walmart and turned out a winner for the crust and as the seasoning. If you don't have such product, just use regular grated Parmesan Cheese. I didn't use this combo cheese for the Taco Pizza below.

Taco Crustless Pizza

Ingredients

1-2 cups of salsa (depends on how much sauce you want)
1/4 cup tomato or pizza sauce (opt)
1-2 cups taco cheese or cheddar, shredded
1 cup taco meat (we used leftover from taco night)
1/2 cup jalapeños
1/2 cup tomatoes
handful chopped cilantro (opt)

Directions

1- On the cooked crust, layer on the salsa & sauce, meat, cheeses, veggies and cilantro.
2- Bake in a 350 degree oven until bubbly - approx. 10-15 minutes.
3- Let cool 10 minutes, cut and serve.
4- Before serving, you could top with fresh tomatoes, shredded lettuce, sour cream, black olives, etc. We didn't do that but plan to next time.

I'm giving you heads up on this crustless pizza recipe. You will want to make more than you think. I made 2 pizzas for 5 people (boys/men) and it wasn't enough! Because there isn't any crust to fill people up, more is needed. We love this and can't wait to make it again and again and again. 

More Pizza Recipes

• Homemade Honey Pizza Crust
• Potato Pizza Crust
• Mummy Faced Pizza
• BLT Pizza
• Cheesy Bacon Calzone
• Easy Honey BBQ Chicken Pizza
• Easy Spinach Artichoke Pizza
• Scrambled Egg Margherita Pizza

Gluten Free Mixed Nut Pie Crust

If gluten free is the way you cook then you need to try this pie crust. It is easy to make and great for any filling. Gluten free recipes like this one goes perfect with the Gluten Free Creamy Fudge Pie picture below. Click over to get that recipe, too!  

Gluten-Free Mixed-Nut Pie Crust

Use this easy crust with pretty much any filling--prepared pudding, no-bake cheesecake filling, fruit filling, or custard filling (e.g. pumpkin pie)! Don't fret if you only have one kind of nuts on hand; it'll work just fine! Don’t skip the chilling; it helps solidify the oils in the crust so that the crust holds together.

Yield: One 9-inch pie crust

Ingredients

1 1/2 cups *finely ground* nuts (almonds, pecans, walnuts, peanuts. Nuts can be toasted or untoasted.)

1 tablespoon packed brown sugar
Pinch of salt
1/4 cup butter, melted (can sub vegan butter or coconut oil)

Directions

1. In medium bowl, combine finely ground nuts, brown sugar, and salt; mix well. Stir in butter until blended.

2. Press firmly and evenly into bottom and up sides of a 9-inch pie pan. Cover, and chill in the fridge for at least 30 minutes. If you're using the crust for a pie that will remain chilled, like a pudding pie, step 3 is optional! Just fill the pie right after chilling, and return it to the fridge.

For pies that might remain out at room temperature, like an apple pie, you must proceed with step 3, option 1 or 2. 

3. OPTION 1 for softer crust: Freeze pie shell until firm, about 15 minutes. Fill crust with filling; bake pie according to pie recipe. 

OPTION 2 for crunchier crust: Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Put pie pan on a cookie sheet (to prevent over-browning the bottom); bake pie crust for 10 to15 minutes. The edges will turn light golden brown. Cool completely; fill with filling. Bake pie according to pie recipe.

More Gluten Free Recipes

Gluten Free Frozen Tropical Chocolate Smoothie

Gluten Free Chocolate Cake

Gluten Free Baked Carrot Fries

Gluten Free Creamy Fudge Pie

Gluten Free Creamy Fudge Pie

I'm finding that you can enjoy a sweet treat every now and again on a healthier lifestyle journey! I know that I try and avoid sugar as much as possible because it makes me feel horrible if I eat a lot. Today I'm sharing a recipe with you from my sweet friend Donna & Co which is on the healthier side of a sweet treat and is vegan/dairy-free and gluten free!

My little boys were curious about tofu, and, since they'd never had it before, I thought that a fun way to introduce them to it would be one of their favorite things in life: dessert! 

This rich pie is easy, makes taste buds happy, and can easily be vegan and gluten-free! It’s firmer with regular tofu and more like mousse pie with silken tofu. No one will guess the main ingredient! 

Creamy Fudge Pie 

Ingredients

12 to 14 oz firm tofu (regular or silken)*

8 to12 oz chocolate chips (at least 1 1/3 cups & up to generous 1 ½ cups)

3 tablespoons cocoa powder

2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

2 tablespoons milk (dairy or non-dairy) or coffee

1/8 tsp salt

2 to 4 tablespoons agave, honey, or maple syrup

Gluten Free Mixed Nut Pie Crust 

Directions

1-Wrap the tofu in a few layers of paper towels; set on the counter and gently press down to get some of the excess moisture out. 

2-Melt the chocolate (on stove or in microwave)

3-Next, throw everything into a food processor. Blend until totally smooth; you shouldn't be able to see any flecks of tofu. It should look like smooth chocolate pudding! 

4-Pour into a pie crust (or into a lightly greased pie plate, if going crustless). 

5-Refrigerate uncovered for several hours until chilled well and firmed up. 

Kitchen Notes:

1-For the pie crust, I used a gluten-free recipe for a mixed-nut pie crust; you can also use a graham cracker/cookie crumb crust, a regular pastry crust, or just go crustless (works best with regular tofu, not silken).

Vegan, Dairy-Free and Gluten Free Tips & Q & A's

1-What makes this recipe vegan/dairy-free? It is vegan/dairy free if you choose non-dairy milk and non-dairy chocolate chips. (Enjoy Life is a popular brand)

2-What crust is best to make it vegan, dairy free and gluten free? If the nut crust is made with non-dairy butter or coconut oil it fit that category. This particular crust recipe is naturally gluten-free because of what's in it (or not in it), so unless you use graham cracker crust (which can be done with GF crackers) or a pastry crust (again, can be done with GF flour), it's GF by default.

3-There are a lot of recipes like this on the internet. Just tweak them to suite your needs. This recipe was inspired by my little boys wanting to try tofu and a recipe from Chocolate Covered Katie.

4-Tofu Brand suggestion: Mori-Nu (Morinaga) silken-firm and silken-lite is known for its smooth texture and mild taste.

More Gluten Free Recipes

Gluten Free Frozen Tropical Chocolate Smoothie

Gluten Free Chocolate Cake

Gluten Free Baked Carrot Fries

Gluten Free Mixed Nut Pie Crust- check back this afternoon for this recipe which goes perfect with the Gluten Free Creamy Fudge Pie.

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Gluten Free Frozen Tropical Chocolate Smoothie

Even if you have to eat a gluten free diet you can enjoy this smoothie. We love healthy smoothie recipes and this one with the chocolate and coconut milk is really delish! What are your favorite smoothie recipes? Share then in the comments.

Frozen Tropical Chocolate Smoothie

Ingredients

2 scoops Chocolate Whey Nutrimeal

1 banana

1 cup coconut milk

1/2 cup water

1 cup ice

Preparation

Blend all ingredients at high speed until creamy.

Try the Gluten Free Chocolate Cake, too! 

Guest recipe provided by Dr. Nancy Steely. Do you have Celiac Disease or know someone who might? Read more here- May is National Celiac Disease Awareness Month.

Gluten-Free Chocolate Cake

DR. NANCY STEELY’S GLUTEN FREE DESSERT RECIPE:

USANA Gluten-Free Chocolate Cake

Ingredients

1-1/2 cups semisweet chocolate or carob chips

2 cups cooked garbanzo beans (rinse and drain, if using canned)

4 eggs or equivalent egg white substitute

2/3 cup ultra-fine cane sugar or low-glycemic equivalent, such as Stevia for Baking

1/2 tsp baking powder

2 Tbs Chocolate Whey Nutrimeal

1/2 Tbs Fibergy Plus

1 cup sliced fresh strawberries or preferred fruit

(optional) 1 Tbs confectioners’ sugar for dusting

Preparation

1.     Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease a 9-inch cake pan.

2.     Melt the chocolate chips in a double boiler or in the microwave on medium, stirring frequently.

3.     Combine the beans and eggs in a blender or food processor; process until smooth.

4.     In a large bowl, combine bean mash, sugar, baking powder, Nutrimeal and Fibergy Plus; whisk until thoroughly combined.

5.     Stir in the melted chocolate and blend until smooth, scraping down the corners to make sure chocolate is completely mixed. Transfer the batter to the prepared cake pan.

6.     Bake for 35 minutes in the preheated oven or until toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean.

7.     Cool for 10 minutes before inverting onto a serving plate; cover with desired fruit and dust with confectioners’ sugar, if desired, just before serving.

Guest recipe provided by Dr. Nancy Steely. Do you have Celiac Disease or know someone who might? Read more here- May is National Celiac Disease Awareness Month.

Baked Carrot French Fries Gluten Free

Do you love French Fries? Well here is a healthy recipe for french fries using carrots. It is also Gluten Free. Do you have any tasty variation on the typical fried french fry? Share them with me below so that I can check them out!

Baked Carrot French Fries

6 large carrots

2 tablespoons olive oil

½ teaspoon celtic sea salt

1.      Cut each carrot into 2-inch long sections

2.      Cut each section into thin sticks

3.      In a large bowl toss carrot sticks with olive oil and salt

4.      Spread out carrot sticks on a parchment paper baking sheet

5.      Bake at 425° for 18-22 minutes until carrots are browned

Don't these look DELISH? My friend Carrie sent me the photo and recipe and said she has made these several times. The recipe and picture was passed to her so the source is unknown. I'm assuming it is from a Gluten Free Cookbook. If the source is you or someone you know, please, please let me know so that I can give proper credit. These are going on my menu to try. I hope they are as good as sweet potato baked fries.

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8 Weeks of Christmas Link up and Cookbook Giveaway

Welcome to our 8 weeks of Christmas Goodies Link up! Each week we will have a giveaway posted, too! You will get bonus entries for linking up and putting the button on your blog!  Hope you join in! Here are a list of other blogger friends who are hosting giveaways and the link up, too!

My Christmas Goodie is Suzie's Holidaze Fudge. Go check it out! 

Follow my Blogger Friends!

SusieQTpies Scraps of Life (me)

Just Married with Coupons
Real Mom Kitchen

GIVEAWAY

1 copy of 101 Recipes for Gluten-Free Microwave Mug Cakes (Click here for the review and see what is in this cookbook and why you need it! It would make a perfect Christmas Gift)

Mandatory Entry: Follow my blog via GFC. Leave a comment that you are following.

Bonus Entries: 

1) Follow my blogger friends via GFC 5 bonus entries each follow. Once you follow them come back here and tell me who you are following. Leave separate comments!

2) Link up a Christmas Goodie, treat, craft, meal ideas, etc. Get  5 entries for each link up. This is unlimited.

3) Put our 8 Weeks of Christmas Goodies button on your blog. 5 entries. Come back and leave link where I can find it.

4) Tweet the giveaway link up! Unlimited (at least 1 hour between tweets) 

"8 Weeks of Christmas Link up and Giveaways. Enter to win 101 Recipes for Gluten Free MMCakes "

Open to USA/Canaday
Ends November 19th.
I reviewed this in the past. The sponsor is offering another giveaway copy. I was not compensated.