How to Prepare a Gluten and Sugar Free Dessert Using Pumpkins?

 

Click HERE to Get These Super Healthy Sweet Treats & Dessert Recipes

Pumpkins Pay Big Health Dividends

Pumpkins are oftentimes associated with the fall season, but this stand-out super-food is an excellent ingredient to use year round in both savory and sweet dishes.

The beautiful orange unique globe shaped squash is low in calories with only 83 calories per cup and provides us with an abundance of disease-fighting nutrients including potassium, magnesium, pantothenic acid, vitamins C (17% of your daily requirement in just one cup) and E and a wealth of fiber. This helps to keep us to feeling full and satisfied.

Foods with an abundance of carotenoids have been linked to a long list of disease-fighting, health promoting activities and pumpkins are one of those and likely the reason that pumpkins rank high on the super-foods list.

Containing one of the richest supplies of bio-available carotenoids known just ½ cup serving pumpkin supplies you with more than two times the daily dietary requirement of alpha-carotene and 100% of the daily recommended intake of beta-carotene (a pro-vitamin that converts to vitamin A) in the body.

Carotenoids are yellow or deep orange-red colored, fat soluble compounds found in a variety of plants. Scientists have identified about 600 carotenoids

In fact, studies show that women with the highest concentrations of carotenes in their diets had the lowest risk of breast cancer. Carotenoids have also been shown to decrease the risk of cataracts, macular degeneration and lower rates of heart disease.

This super nutrient food has even proven effective against anxiety and depressed moods. It helps ensure a healthy mood and a good night’s sleep.

Pumpkins contains less sugar and starch than all the other starchy veggies. They are extremely versatile and play successful roles in both sweet and savory dishes.

They can be supportive players or they can assume the starring role. They add color, texture, and flavor to any dish.

You can find them canned, fresh or frozen. Like other super foods, to gain the most from their amazing health benefits its best to enjoy them as close to their original whole form as possible.

And, don’t forget to take advantage of the super health benefits of roasted or raw dried pumpkins seeds!

If you are ready to take your high calories desserts and turn them into “life giving” desserts you’ll love “50 Desserts with Hidden Veggies. ” In it you will discover no bake, Paleo friendly, no sugar, gluten free healthy sweet treat and dessert recipes…

Isn’t it time you began introducing much ignored nutrient-dense veggies into all your dishes…including your desserts? Why not make every bite you take count!

Here’s a great gluten and sugar free dessert and treat recipe to try:

PUMPKIN BITES 

Base

• 1 cup almonds

• 1 cup dates, soaked for 30 minutes then drained

• ¼ cup coconut oil, warmed until melted

• 1 tablespoon cocoa or cacao powder

• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Place almonds into a food processor and process until broken down and crumbly. Add dates, cocoa powder, coconut oil and vanilla essence and process until well combined. Press this mixture evenly onto the bottom of the pan or dish.

Topping

• 1½ cups cashews

• ½ cup pumpkin puree or raw pumpkin blended until smooth in a high speed blender

• 2 tablespoons honey

• 1 teaspoon pumpkin spice

Place cashews into food processor and process until broken down and crumbly.

Add pumpkin puree, honey and spices and process until mixture is smooth and creamy.

Pour over the base spreading it evenly.

Place in freezer for a couple of hours to firm up.

Cut into squares before serving.

Watch this video to get some more gluten and sugar free dessert recipes – Gluten-Free, Sugar-Free Vegan Brownies

Author Bio:

Carolyn Hansen is the author of The Blended Bites Healthy Snack and Dessert Recipe Collection. This is a one-stop resource for delicious, healthy, guilt-free snacks that you can eat every day. And even better, EVERY ONE of these recipes are RAW healthy snack foods that taste as good as their fattening counterparts.

You can NOW satisfy your snack urge without any negative impact on your weight loss and fitness goals, and without sweating over a hot stove. These easy-to-prepare snacks contain no sugar, no flour or butter and are paleo friendly.

So, if you want to get your hands on recipes for desserts and snacks that you will not need to feel guilty about eating the next time you have a craving for something delicious, be sure to check out Carolyn Hansen’s books at Blended Bites, where she will show you how to take control of your blender and churn out mouth-watering desserts and snacks that will have the kids in your neighborhood lined up around the block for a sample.

How to Prepare a Smoothie Bowl Dessert to Boost Your Energy and Health?

 

Click HERE to Get These Super Healthy Sweet Treats & Dessert Recipes

Super Smoothie Bowl

Love ice-cream and frozen yogurt but not the results of eating them?

You have new choices…

Whip up a Smoothie Bowl

Smoothie bowls are fast becoming the “go to” and perfect replacement for ice-cream or frozen yogurt.

Just like ice-cream, smoothie bowls are creamy and cold and thick enough to eat with a spoon. But, there’s a huge difference between ice-cream and smoothie bowls…nutrition.

Smoothie bowls offer the bonus of nutrient-rich vegetables, fruits and super foods.

They are perfect for a quick healthy breakfast when you just don’t have time to stop and sit or for anytime you are on the go and need lots of energy but don’t have time to fuzz with multiple meals.

Smoothie bowls take the “smoothie” to new level of health by way of leafy greens, quality protein, healthy fats and good carbs (from vegetables), creamy avocado, tropical fruits, oats, seeds, coconut products and nuts.

Benefits you receive from Smoothie Bowls:

• Jumpstarts your energy with a huge boost so you automatically want to get moving and become more active.

• Reduces hunger and helps eliminate hunger pangs which in turn helps you stick to healthy eating.

• Improves health due to all the nutrients being absorbed.

• Detoxes your system from processed dead foods

• Saves valuable time in prep and eating healthy

• Helps with weight-loss by filling you up so you avoid junk food cravings.

• Great way to get the young ones eating veggies they may not like by themselves.

All you need to make these nutrient dense delicious and healthy ice-cream alternatives is a good strong blender and 4-5 minutes to whip it up.

A basic Thick Smoothie Bowl contains approximately 400-500 calories…which for most people is an entire meal’s worth. But the good thing is you control what goes into those 4 or 500 calories. You can even reduce the calories by switching out ingredients or add more if you are looking for something more filling.

Since Smoothie Bowls are extra thick they are eaten in a bowl and not a glass like traditional smoothies. This adds another level of fun as you can add they have lots of surface area to add some fun favorite ingredients to such as fruits, nuts, homemade granolas and other fun healthy toppings.

Here’s the basic formula for making Smoothie Bowls:

1. Liquid – water/milk/juice

• Greens – spinach, Kale or Swiss chard are perfect choices or Green powders

• Fillers – oats, coconut

• Seeds or nuts –any unsalted seeds or nuts

• Fruits – any fruits will work but frozen is best or you can opt for fruit powder

• Protein – any good quality protein powder

For a complete meal smoothie use:

Greens + Healthy fats + Carbohydrates + Protein.

Add optional superfoods:

Greens and other vegetables: Kale, spinach, Swiss chard, romaine, celery, mustard greens, dandelion greens, cucumber, wheatgrass, herbs such as mint, cilantro, parsley and basil etc.

Fruit: bananas, apples, pears, kiwi, pineapple, peaches, mango, raspberries, blueberries, papaya, lemons, ines, grapefruit, orange, blood orange, figs, dates, plum acai etc.

Proteins: plant-based protein powders, brown rice, pea, Sunwarrior, Vega, Whey protein powder (grass fed is best), hemp seeds, Chia seeds or nut butters.

Healthy Fats: Chia seeds, avocados, coconut oil, nut butters, hemp seeds, nuts/seeds

Sweetener if needed: dates, raisins, maple syrup, coconut or Palm sugar, stevia, honey

Superfoods (optional): bee pollen, maca powder, lucuma, cocoa nibs, Spirulina, chlorella, cinnamon, cayenne, young coconut meat, unsweetened shredded coconut, coconut water, avocado, Chia seeds, hemp seeds, matcha green tea powder, nut milks, sprouted buckwheat groats, raw gluten free oats etc.

Add all your favorite ingredients to your high-speed blender, blend everything together, transfer to a bowl and add your favorite toppings. If you want it thicker, add more ice to thick (or use less liquid), if you prefer it slightly thinner in consistency then add more liquid to thin.

Watch this video  for more smoothie bowl recipes to boost your energy and health – 6 Smoothie Bowl Recipes | Delicious + Healthy Breakfast & Dessert | Naturally Jo

The important thing is that you just do it! Your body and your family will thank you for it.

For more delicious veggie based dessert and treat recipes visit: “Blended Bites” …you’ll be surprised what you can do with veggies.

Author Bio:

Carolyn Hansen is the author of The Blended Bites Healthy Snack and Dessert Recipe Collection. This is a one-stop resource for delicious, healthy, guilt-free snacks that you can eat every day. And even better, EVERY ONE of these recipes are RAW healthy snack foods that taste as good as their fattening counterparts.

You can NOW satisfy your snack urge without any negative impact on your weight loss and fitness goals, and without sweating over a hot stove. These easy-to-prepare snacks contain no sugar, no flour or butter and are paleo friendly.

So, if you want to get your hands on recipes for desserts and snacks that you will not need to feel guilty about eating the next time you have a craving for something delicious, be sure to check out Carolyn Hansen’s books at Blended Bites, where she will show you how to take control of your blender and churn out mouth-watering desserts and snacks that will have the kids in your neighborhood lined up around the block for a sample.