The Nourishing Gourmet

Nourishing. Satisfying. Gourmet.

Snacks

41 Refreshing and Sweet Recipes for a Healthy Summer

by 1 Comment

These easy and healthy refreshing snacks and desserts will keep you (and your kids) going all summer long! Made with real food, and dairy free, gluten free and paleo friendly, too. -- The Nourishing Gourmet

Glorious summer days are upon us! And with those hot days, our meals are transforming into lighter meals. I’m reaching a lot more often for my blender to make smoothies for us all, and ice cream sounds just about right on a hot afternoon.

With me pulling out various recipes from my recipe index, I thought I’d compile some of my favorite summery and sweet recipes here so that you all can find them easily too!

There is surprisingly little need to stock up on sugar-y ice cream, dye-filled popsicles, and other typical store bought treats with these easy homemade treats on hand! But you will notice, that just for fun, I’ve linked to some fun add on products that you can buy for special treats (like gluten-free ice cream cones!). I’ve used affiliate links when possible.

frozen grapes 1

1- Frozen Grapes: Before I get to the recipe links, I have one very simple “recipe” to suggest for summer. Frozen grapes. These are so delicious and freezing them changes them in surprising ways. Try it on the next hot day. You won’t be sorry.

Refreshing Smoothies

2. Creamy Raspberry Vanilla Smoothie: The vanilla and kombucha in combination with coconut milk really make this recipe splendid. Plus, it’s lower carb and banana-free, for those who don’t want a high in carb recipe.

3. Healthy Shamrock Shake: Very fun, very green, and sweet with dots of dark chocolate and plenty of mint flavor. Yum!

4. Orange Mango Smoothie: Still one of my favorite combos – orange and mango.

chocolate-hazelnut-smoothie

5. Chocolate Hazelnut Smoothie: Protein-rich, creamy, and makes me think of Nutella. Need I say more?

Fun and Healthy Popsicles

Keep in mind that any favorite smoothie recipe can also be used to make popsicles! I have been using these silicone popsicle molds recently and they are a lot of fun, as well as these star popsicle molds . But I’m thinking of getting these mini popsicles for my toddler to enjoy!

These 5 healthy and delicious recipes for ice pops and popsicles are so simple and easy to make! They are all dairy-free, paleo and vegan-friendly, and kids love them. ---- The Nourishing Gourmet

6-10. Five Healthy Popsicle Recipes (shown above): Get Chocolate Peanut Butter, Mango Green Monster, Strawberry Cream, Carrot Apple and Pina Colada recipes here! All of them sweetened naturally, and dairy-free.

11. Creamy Tropical Popsicle: Banana, mango, and coconut make a delicious popsicle.

12. Strawberry Creamsicle: Super creamy and naturally sweet, we love this beautiful popsicle!

Gelatin Treats

I loved it when my mom made me Jello back in the 80s when I was little. Now I make gelatin based desserts for my kids without the higher sugar amounts and the artificial dyes. One good brand of gelatin to try is this one.

Tart Cherry Fruit Snacks - Great for the kids, lunch boxes, and summer camp. ---- The Nourishing Gourmet

13. Tart Cherry Fruit Snacks: Take five minutes and 3 ingredients, and make this fun and much healthier treat for your kids (or yourself!). Tart cherry juice is also supposed to help you sleep well at night, so there are added benefits, too.

14. Fruit Juice Gelatin: “Jello” without the dyes and sugar!

15. Tangy Orange Lemonade Gelatin: So refreshing and flavorful too.

16. Fluffy Homemade Marshmallows: With some gelatin and honey you can make super fun homemade marshmallows. How fun is that?

17. Kombucha Jello: Light on the tummy, and very flavorful and bright.

Dairy Free Ice Cream

We just got our ice cream maker out of storage and I’m thrilled to have it back! Ice cream is delicious all on it’s own, but very occasionally I buy my kids these gluten-free ice cream cones and dye-free sprinkles for a special ice cream treat. Yum! I buy them locally, but the brand I buy has a set that they sell on Amazon which looks very fun, it has gluten-free cones, sprinkles, and edible ice cream bowls!

Chocolate-Banana-Ice-Cream

18. Simple Banana Ice Cream: No ice cream maker needed, just frozen bananas and a couple of other ingredients!

19. 3 Ingredient Pineapple Whip: Same idea as the chocolate banana ice cream, but this one uses frozen pineapple for one of my favorite Disneyland lookalike recipes.

20-31. 12 Amazing Coconut Milk Ice Cream Recipes: Everything from vanilla, to Double Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough, to Mint Chocolate Chip, these dairy-free ice cream recipes are the bomb!

Whipped Cream

You’ll, everything improves with a dollop of whipped cream on top. Dip whole strawberries in them, top your ice cream with it, or top iced homemade coffee shop style drinks with them. For those who tolerate cream, here are a couple of recipes (and for those who don’t check out the following coconut cream ones!)

32. Strawberry Whipped Cream: Strawberries and cream belong together.

chocolatewhippedcream

33. Chocolate Whipped Cream: My husband grew up having this with angel food cake for his birthday. I also love it with fresh strawberries.

34. Maple Whipped Cream: Classic flavor with sweet notes of maple.

Coconut Milk Whipped Creamy (Dairy-Free, with ISI Dispenser)

35. Maple Coconut Whipped Cream: Sweet with notes of maple, this dairy-free whipped “cream” is a treat!

Chocolate Coconut Milk Whipped Cream is a rich and delicious treat! (Dairy-free and Paleo-friendly!)

36. Chocolate Coconut Whipped Cream: Same as above but enriched with cocoa powder. Because cocoa makes everything better.

37. Stevia Coconut Whipped Cream: 

Fauxccinos

These blended coffee styled drinks are yummy, refreshing, dairy-free friendly, and save you a trip to the local coffee shop too.

Vanilla Bean Fauxccino-www.thenourishinggourmet.com

38. Vanilla Bean Crème Fauxccino: Ultra creamy and sweet.

39. Salted Caramel Mocha Fauxcchino: Need I say more?

40. Chai Fauxccino: When you don’t want yours hot, drink it ice-y cold!

Freezer pie

chocolatebananapie

41. Banana Coconut Freezer Pie: This fancy looking dessert is very easy to make and is sweetened only with bananas! It uses coconut milk for a creamy dessert that is dairy-free, and has a grain-free nut crust. Yum!

Enjoy!

Some links may be affiliate links. I may earn a small commission on items purchased through my links. 

Roasted Sweet Potato Rounds (AIP-Friendly)

by 7 Comments

Roasted Sweet Potato Rounds - These only take fifteen minutes to make, and are a delicious way to enjoy sweet potatoes (look at the variety of sweet potatoes you can choose from! They are beautiful!) -- The NourishingGourmet .comI know this is a very simple recipe, yet it’s one that I use almost every single day right now. Sweet potatoes are thinly sliced, gently salted, and then covered with a light layer of fat. Roasting them for about fifteen minutes makes them crunchy on the edge and tender in the middle. I love them! Roasting mellows them, gives them a great texture, and I think brings out the nutty flavor in specific sweet potato varieties.

You can use them as a chip substitute and serve with my Paleo 7 Layer Mexican Dip, pile them high with braised meat and toppings, or enjoy as a simple snack. I like these because I can easily tire of the very moist and mushy texture that some sweet potatoes have when cooked. I am ALL about texture, and roasting the slices instead of the whole potato gives a better texture in my opinion.

But have you ever noticed the wide variety of sweet potatoes? I’ve enjoyed several of them in the past, but now that I am on the AIP (Autoimmune Protocol) diet, where sweet potatoes are one of the few higher carbohydrates on the diet, I’ve learned to enjoy the range of sweet potatoes available. So far, my favorites have been purple sweet potatoes and Japanese sweet potatoes – both of which are lightly sweet, with a more nutty flavor.

You can use all of one variety, but I love mixing different types. For this batch, I took one sweet potato of every single variety available at my local store. Isn’t it pretty?

The following recipe is so simple, it’s really just a “method” or easy technique, so I’ve not included very specific amounts.

You can also add minced garlic, herbs, or spices too!

Roasted Sweet Potato Rounds - These only take fifteen minutes to make, and are a delicious way to enjoy sweet potatoes (look at the variety of sweet potatoes you can choose from! They are beautiful!) -- The NourishingGourmet .com

Roasted Sweet Potato Circles

Ingredients:

  • Sweet Potatoes (any variety), scrubbed clean
  • Fat of choice (melted coconut oil, bacon grease, avocado oil, etc.)
  • Salt

Directions:
1. Preheat the oven to 425 F. Cover a baking sheet with parchment paper.

2, Cut off the very end of the sweet potatoes, and then thinly slice. For a more chip like texture, go very thin. I enjoy about ¼ inch thick.

3. Drizzle the fat of choice over the slices of sweet potatoes, and lightly sprinkle with salt. Turn the slices over, and gently mix so that the fat evenly coats both sides of the sweet potato slices.

4. Place in the oven, and roast for 10-15 minutes, or until the middle of the sweet potato slices are tender, and the edges are just starting to brown (how it takes to cook depends on how thinly you sliced your sweet potato).Remove from oven, and remove with spatula from pan. Enjoy!

Roasted Sweet Potato Rounds
 
 
Ingredients
  • Sweet Potatoes (any variety), scrubbed clean
  • Fat of choice (melted coconut oil, bacon grease, avocado oil, etc.)
  • Salt
Instructions
  1. Preheat the oven to 425 F. Cover a baking sheet with parchment paper.
  2. , Cut off the very end of the sweet potatoes, and then thinly slice. For a more chip like texture, go very thin. I enjoy about ¼ inch thick.
  3. Drizzle the fat of choice over the slices of sweet potatoes, and lightly sprinkle with salt. Turn the slices over, and gently mix so that the fat evenly coats both sides of the sweet potato slices.
  4. Place in the oven, and roast for 10-15 minutes, or until the middle of the sweet potato slices are tender, and the edges are just starting to brown (how it takes to cook depends on how thinly you sliced your sweet potato).Remove from oven, and remove with spatula from pan. Enjoy!

 

Gluten-free Dough Cakes (Inspired by The Secret Garden)

by Leave a Comment

This family-pleasing flat bread will bring the smell of a Victorian cottage to your kitchen!

By Andrea Fabry of It Takes Time

You, like Dickon, will love these Dough Cakes. A gluten-free dough is gently patted into discs and enriched with butter and sweetener. Fifteen minutes later these lovely lightly sweetened cakes emerge from the oven ready for tea time.

These Victorian-era Dough Cakes are based on the book The Secret Garden, by Francis Hodgson Burnett. Dough cakes are made from old fashioned cottage loaves, a favorite of English “cottagers”.

The Secret Garden is one of my favorite children’s book. It’s filled with references to natural health, extolling the benefits of fresh air, clean water, and wholesome food.

In Chapter eight, Martha, Mary Lennox’s  good-natured maid, and companion, offers a glimpse into the life of a poor, loving family.

Martha recounts her recent visit to her home and tells Mary about the delicious Dough Cakes she and her mother prepared for each of the 12 children.

“I had’em all pipin’ hot when they came in from playin’ on the’ moor. An’ th’ cottage all smelt o’nice, clean hot bakin’ an’ there was a good fire, an’ they just shouted for joy. Our Dickon he said our cottage was good enough for a king.”

Text from The Secret Garden

What is a Dough Cake?

Dough Cakes rely on bread dough taken from cottage loaf dough, a rustic Victorian bread made in the bottom of a brick oven.

Amy Cotler, the author of The Secret Garden Cookbook, describes Dough Cakes this way:

“Stotty cake or oven bottom cakes were often made for a quick meal. Pieces were pulled off the bread dough; they were flattened and baked quickly at the bottom of the oven for 20 minutes, then split and buttered for served with bacon. As there was plenty of bread dough on hand, cottagers baked small pieces and filled them with brown sugar for a special treat. ”

This recipe can be adapted to suit any preference. Add some sweetener and cinnamon to the dough for even more flavor!

Resources:

(Amazon links affiliate)

Other Recipes Inspired by Books

 Dough-Cakes

Ingredients

  • 1.5 cups of your favorite bread dough. (Since we’re grain-free I rely on my Gluten-free Sourdough Quinoa Bread which uses kombucha as a starter. Find the recipe here.)
  • 2 teaspoons butter or ghee.
  • 4 teaspoons sweetener of choice. (We use Monk Fruit sweetener)

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

2. Divide dough into four portions.

3. With your hands, pat each portion into a flat disk and place on parchment lined baking sheet.

4. Use a spoon or your thumb to make a slight indentation in the center of each.

5. Drop 1 teaspoon sweetener into each indentation and top with 1/2 teaspoon of butter.

6. Let rest for 15 minutes

7. Bake the cakes on the lowest oven rack until dough is browned and cooked through. (Approximately 15 minutes.)

Serve warm.

Makes four medium Dough Cakes.

Gluten-free Dough Cakes (Inspired by The Secret Garden)
 
Author:
Serves: 4 medium Dough Cakes
Print
 
Ingredients
  • 1.5 cups of your favorite gluten-free bread dough
  • 2 teaspoons butter or ghee
  • 4 teaspoons sweetener or sweetener alternative
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
  2. Divide dough into four sections.
  3. With your hands, pat each portion into a flat disk and place on parchment lined baking sheet.
  4. Use a spoon or your thumb to make a slight indentation in the center of each.
  5. Drop 1 teaspoon sweetener into each indentation and top with ½ teaspoon of butter.
  6. Let rest for 15 minutes.
  7. Bake the cakes on the lowest oven rack until dough is browned and cooked through.
  8. Serve warm.

 

Garam Masala No Cook Pickled Onions

by Leave a Comment

Easy Garam Masala Quick Pickled Onions (No cook and lovely for DIY gift giving!) - These can be eaten plain, served on sandwiches, or served as part of a liver pate combination platter. -- The Nourishing Gourmet
This five-minute project produces the tangy pickled onions flavored with the warmth of garam masala – a spice mix that uses cinnamon, nutmeg, cumin and a variety of other spices. It’s delightful, and it makes a great DIY gift!

I like to eat them plain, put them on sandwiches (try it with my homemade chicken lunchmeat!), or served with this favorite liver pate recipe. In fact, I first made this recipe to go with this liver pate. This last Thanksgiving, we served it with these onions and fig jam. Sublime. It was gobbled down quickly by all. This is a variation of the pickled onion recipe I have in my cookbook, Ladled: Nourishing Soups for all Seasons.

Now I am making up some to give as gifts! Not all appreciate and adore the Christmas sweet treats generally given – this recipe is a great option for the savory loving friend. Give it with a list of ways to use it, and the recipe, if you please. For gift giving, you could use (affiliate links)  a cute canning jar  or a flip lid jar .

For other Christmas worthy ideas, check out the 12 Days of Christmas series we have going on! So far we have Chai Eggnog, DIY Mint Chocolate Lip Balm, and Sweet and Spicy Candied Nuts.

Garam Masala No Cook Pickled Onions

Ingredients: 

  • 1 large onion, peeled and thinly sliced
  • 1 cup water (filtered)
  • ½ cup raw apple cider vinegar
  • 15 cloves, optional (but they look beautiful)
  • 1 teaspoon garam masala *
  • 1/4 cup coconut sugar
  • 1 ½ teaspoon unrefined salt

Directions:

1. Place the onions in a jar. Mix the rest of the ingredients together until dissolved. Pour over onions. Seal and place in the refrigerator.

2. Serve at earliest three hours later. Will keep several hours, but are best consumed within the first week.

Notes on Recipe: If I am serving these within the first couple of hours of making them, I will up the garam masala a bit. It will get really strong, though, after 24 hours, so the longer you plan on keeping them, the scanter you should be on the garam masala. I tested this with a plain yellow onion, but sweet or red onions would be delicious.

Garam Masala No Cook Pickled Onions
 
 
Ingredients
  • 1 large onion, peeled and thinly sliced
  • 1 cup water (filtered)
  • ½ cup raw apple cider vinegar
  • 15 cloves, optional (but they look beautiful)
  • 1 teaspoon garam masala *
  • ¼ cup coconut sugar
  • 1 ½ teaspoon unrefined salt
Instructions
  1. Place the onions in a jar. Mix the rest of the ingredients together until dissolved. Pour over onions. Seal and place in the refrigerator.
  2. Serve at earliest three hours later. Will keep several hours, but are best consumed within the first week.
Notes
If I am serving these within the first couple of hours of making them, I will up the garam masala a bit. It will get really strong, though, after 24 hours, so the longer you plan on keeping them, the scanter you should be on the garam masala. I tested this with a plain yellow onion, but sweet or red onions would be delicious.