No Excuses

Sorry,  I know, I know.  It just has to be done. 

Healthy Pie? yes!

No bake, No Sugar, No Flour.... 

Chocolate Peanut Butter Pie

I have revamped, and tested out a peanut butter and chocolate pie with rave reviews!  There are no refined sugars or flour.  And guess what is has veggies in it too!  
 (just trust me, will ya?)

 It's full of protein, calcium and healthy nuts.  A wonderful creamy treat you can feel good about.  Give it a try!! 

1 Cup Walnuts (preservative free....NOT Diamond Brand)

2 C organic skim milk (or organic no sugar added almond or coconut milk)

1/4 C (NON genetically modified! )  corn starch

1/3 C pure maple syrup

1/4 sea salt (fine)

1 large organic free range Egg

1 large organic free range Egg white

1 T pure vanilla extract

1/2 cup organic baby food squash, sweet potato, pumpkin or white bean puree (just trust me on this!!)

1/2 C organic natural creamy peanut butter

 (the less oily kind is better)

1 T pure honey

1T organic dark chocolate unsweetened cocoa powder

chopped nuts or shaved dark chocolate for garnish (optional)

In a food processor or with a hand chopper, chop your almonds to a mealy consistency and line your pie pan to create a crusty no carb no bake no sugar base.  (Nuts are a good source of Omega and healthy oils we need for metabolism and good moods!)

In a medium saucepan on the stove over medium heat, whisk together the milk product, cornstarch, maple syrup, salt, baby food puree of your choice, (you are adding nutrients, fiber and protein that will only add nutrition...trust me! I used a pureed white bean and sweet potato mix),  egg, egg white and vanilla.  Allow the mixture to begin to thicken like pudding, whisking occasionally to avoid lumps.  Turn off from heat when boil bubbles begin to form and mixture thickens and is about the consistency of a pudding mix.

While saucepan mix is heating, In a separate bowl, measure out your 1/2 cup of peanut butter, soften in microwave for 30 seconds and add honey, stir well.  When stove mixture has thickened, then pour half of the warm saucepan mixture over peanut butter and honey and combine until smooth.  Set aside.  

Move quickly so this doesn’t begin to harden yet. 

Add the tablespoon of cocoa powder to the saucepan of remaining warm mixture and mix that well.  

Pour the first layer of chocolate mix onto your crushed walnuts in pie pan.  Then pour over the warm peanut butter mixture on top of the chocolate layer.  MMM smell that!  

Add your garnish on top if desired.  Cover with plastic wrap and chill for about 4 hrs or overnight.

Ushering In a New Era.

Revamp: refurbish, recondition, rehabilitate, overhaul, make over; upgrade,

 refit, re-equip; remodel, refashion, redesign,

 restyle, give something a facelift, rehab.

My life has been revamped.  Here over the last few years, I have lost 50 lbs, had two back surgeries, taken to a more holistic lifestyle, opened up my life with with yoga and exercise and organic and whole food eating.  Really, I am passionate about it all and feel better than ever. 

I needed to come up with some ways to incorporate my own essence of being a party planner, a confection maker and generally living out the passions of my life in celebration and design with all life's little details.  Here now, I am going to try and marry all these parts of me and usher in this new era.  I want to try to revamp recipes, change and make substitutions for unhealthy packaged, processed foods, bleached out flours and sugars and replace party and confection choices to continue to celebrate family, friends, gatherings and holidays with all the flair I love!

So follow with me here on my blog as I start to try out some new products and recipes and new healthier ways to bring it all together.  I am excited about all the new possibilities and sharing them with you.  

Today I start with my first attempt at redoing my sugar cookie recipe.  I switched out bleached white flour for a try at the whole grain gluten free flour, chose a less refined organic sugar and tried out a  healthy vegan buttery spread.  Still as I am working on some ideas for healthier frostings,  I chose to add a bit of organic dark chocolate to finish off.  Really there are so many ways I am going to try and stream line this recipe for different diet needs and am looking for organic and healthier ways to add color and flair.  But just enjoy some inspiration to begin starting the process of revamping some of your party and confections choices.  Below are the cookies I make for Valentine's Day and used some pretty packaging to dress them up.  Oh there's so much more to come.....so stick with me!  It's gonna be a journey!