Dairy-Free Ice Cream Cake with Chocolate and Blueberries

Last weekend was the Queen's Birthday holiday weekend.  We have a tradition in our house which started when my daughter was quite small.  We were invited to go to a friend's house in the afternoon one Queen's Birthday holiday so I thought I'd buy a cake to take over for afternoon tea.  Being the Queen's Birthday holiday I grabbed some candles and we called it the Queen's birthday cake and had my daughter blow out the candles on behalf of the Queen.  The tradition was born . . . and every year since then we have had birthday cake for the Queen and my daughter has blown out the candles on behalf of Her Majesty!

This year I decided the Queen would have a different sort of cake - a dairy-free ice cream cake with chocolate and blueberries.  The recipe comes from theearthearthdiet.com.  I reduced the quantities to one third of the original recipe and used a 20cm (8") pie dish.  I also changed the recipe a little because I didn't have a couple of the ingredients.  My version went like this ...

Easy Slow Cooked Beef

This recipe comes from the Delicious Obsessions blog.  They call it the "Easiest (and most delicious) Crock Pot Beef Ever".  I tend to agree.  The hardest part of this recipe is peeling and chopping all the garlic!

Slow cooking not only makes meat very tender, it also makes it easier to digest.  I am learning that looking after your digestive system is one of the best things to do for good health.

BBQ Sauce

This is an easy homemade BBQ sauce.  The base recipe comes from mywholefoodlife.com but of course I have adapted it a little!  I reduced the quantities to ensure that I use it all while it's fresh and substituted Worcestershire sauce with coconut aminos, a soy sauce alternative made from coconut sap available from health food stores.

Simple Salad Dressing

Make your own salad dressing and avoid preservatives and additives. This is a really easy salad dressing to make.  Into a small jar place 1 teaspoon of Dijon mustard per serving required.  Pour in extra virgin olive oil to desired quantity and add a splash of apple cider vinegar* to taste. Replace lid and shake well. Pour over your salad and enjoy!

*read about the benefits of apple cider vinegar:

http://www.mindbodygreen.com/0-3598/7-Reasons-to-Love-Apple-Cider-Vinegar.html

http://bodyecology.com/articles/apple_cider_vinegar.php#http://bodyecology.com/articles/apple_cider_vinegar.php#

 http://health.howstuffworks.com/wellness/food-nutrition/facts/the-health-benefits-of-vinegar3.htm

~ take every opportunity to put the good stuff in ~

 

This blog is about me, what I'm doing, what's working for me, and what's not. It includes my experiences and opinions. It is for general information only and is in no way intended to replace the advice of a health care professional.



Carrot Stringer

I'm a big fan of kitchen gadgets that make my life easier.  Here's a handy gadget for making carrot strings.

Let's face it, munching on carrot sticks can get a little tedious.  A carrot stringer is an easy way to incorporate carrot in your salads, adding appeal with colour and keeping it light, and it's easier and far less messy than grating.

This carrot stringer was given to me as a gift a few years ago.   I believe it came from House but I'm sure you'd be able to find one at any good kitchen store.

~ take every opportunity to put the good stuff in ~

 

This blog is about me, what I'm doing, what's working for me, and what's not. It includes my experiences and opinions. It is for general information only and is in no way intended to replace the advice of a health care professional.