DARK CHOCOLATE AVOCADO FROSTING

This Dark Chocolate Avocado Frosting recipe is so easy! It’s made with just a few simple ingredients:

• 2 med/large ripe avocados (2 ½ small avocados), peeled and pitted
• ½ cup unsweetened dark cocoa powder
• ½ cup maple syrup
• 2 tbsp. coconut oil (melted coconut oil will give you a silkier texture, but un-melted works okay too; also, other oils will be fine if, like me, you don’t like coconut)
• ½ tsp. vanilla extract
• 1 tsp. ground cinnamon (optional)

1. Add avocado to a food processor fitted with an S blade and blend until smooth.
2. Add remaining ingredients and blend again until smooth. You may need to stop and scrape the sides with a spatula a couple of times. (Add the maple syrup on top of the cocoa powder to keep the dust down.)
3. Use immediately or store in fridge until ready to use. Frosting should be okay in the fridge for a couple of days.

And voilà! You have a decadently dark and creamy frosting with just the right level of sweetness. You’d never guess it’s made with avocado!

Recipe makes about 2 cups of frosting. Adapted from Coffee and Quinoa. If you liked the measuring spoons, here’s the link to them!

Now you just need to find a delicious cake to use this frosting with! How about this one? Want to see a pic?

If you make this, let me know how it is! When I made chocolate mousse from avocados recently, no one was the wiser and the dessert was absolutely delicious. I totally want to make cupcakes now!

Alkaline Water

Ingredients

• 1-2 cups water (room temp or hot water are both fine based on preference)
• 1 lemon, juiced and sliced
• 1 tsp. apple cider vinegar (the brand I use)
• 1 tsp. aloe vera juice (the brand I use)
• 1 tsp. honey is optional for sweetener and antibacterial properties (omit if on sugar-free detox; be sure you use raw honey)
• optional – toss in some herbs like mint or basil for digestion or inflammation support

What makes this drink so special?

1. Lemon

Lemons have astringent qualities and are alkalizing, even though before you consume them they’re acidic. Consuming lemons and other Vitamin C rich foods assist with iron absorption which means more sustainable energy, because if your iron stores are low, you’re sure to feel fatigued. Lemons can also stimulate the liver, promoting detox and a clearer complexion. Unless you suffer from heartburn or another GI issue, drinking lemon water daily can be extremely rewarding!

2. Apple Cider Vinegar

Apple cider vinegar is an age old remedy for literally dozens of health issues. Just check out this post on the same site I found this infused water recipe: 35 Awesome Ways to Use Apple Cider Vinegar for more ideas. “ACV” is often used to combat acid reflux caused by an underproduction of stomach acid, but that’s not all. It’s commonly consumed because it’s rich in enzymes and helps to balance the bacteria in the gut.

3. Aloe Vera

Most of us know aloe vera for its healing properties when applied to the skin, usually to treat a cut or a burn. However, aloe vera can also be consumed internally and while its flavor alone isn’t the main attraction, it’s palatable and easily disguised among other flavors. Aloe vera is often used to treat gut issues, and some research has been done to discover whether or not aloe vera can be used to treat concerns like colitis and diabetes.

4. Honey

Honey has been a sacred food for as far back as we can go. It’s been used as food and medicine for thousands of years, and today is still touted for its antibacterial, anti fungal properties – and is the most common reference and rebuttal to Michael Pollan’s Quote “Don’t Eat Anything that Doesn’t Rot”. Why? Because honey doesn’t rot, and almost everyone will agree that it’s a naturally perfect medicine. While honey is high in sugar and should be consumed very mindfully, medicinally it’s really quite good for fighting infection.

5. Mint & Basil

Fresh wild and culinary herbs are a wonderful addition to any diet! Mint is a well-known remedy for digestive issues and easing nausea, though it doesn’t hurt knowing mint also contains minerals and anti-inflammatory compounds as well. Basil is also anti-inflammatory and flavorful added to food and beverages with a healthy twist.

Whether it’s through dinnerware and on-the-go products that feature children’s favorite characters or tableware and kitchen prep products that represent the latest global fashion statements, Zak gives people the mealtime products that fit their appetites. Zak Designs makes everyday meals a little more special by creating safe, innovative and fashionable products that add a touch of color and an element of fun to tables around the world.

What a pretty thing to use for your infused water!

Do you drink infused water? Let me know the recipe and how you like it!

My family loves pesto. But there aren’t many different recipes. When I came across this one, which uses rosemary, rather than basil, I knew I had to try it. I wasn’t sorry.

Rosemary Pesto

Anyone with a chronic illness needs to practice clean eating habits. This is a fruit salad that hits just about every good thing – vitamins, minerals, and more.

Ingredients

• 1 lb fresh strawberries, diced
• 1 lb fresh pineapple, diced
• 12 oz fresh blueberries
• 12 oz red grapes, diced into halves
• 4 kiwis, peeled and diced
• 1 (15 oz) can mandarin oranges in juice, drained well and sliced into halves
• 2 ripe bananas, diced*

• 1/4 cup honey
• 2 tsp lime zest (zest of 2 medium limes)
• 1 Tbsp fresh lime juice

Directions

• Add all fruit to a large mixing bowl. In a small mixing bowl, whisk together they honey, lime zest and lime juice. Pour over fruit just before serving and toss to evenly coat (as it sits for a few minutes the juices will gather at the bottom, so toss again before plating).
• *The bananas aren’t pictured. I decided to add them later on because I love the sweet flavor they add.

Recipe Source: Cooking Classy

This looks so good, I may have to go out to the store tonight…

Have you made this? Tell me how you liked it in the comments!

Almond Crackers

Recipe from AllRecipes.com: http://allrecipes.com/recipe/236763/almond-you-must-be-nuts-crackers

From the author of the recipe: “These crackers have a great nutty flavor. The recipe was adapted for non-gluten, low-carb ketogenic, or paleo diets. Just add some homemade guacamole or salmon cream cheese and enjoy a visit to heaven!”

Ingredients

• 1 cup almond flour
• 2 tablespoons finely chopped walnuts
• 1 1/2 teaspoons flax seed meal

• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 2 tablespoons water
• 1 1/2 teaspoons olive oil

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. Mix almond flour, walnuts, flax seed meal, and salt together in a bowl until well combined. Add water and olive oil; mix until dough is moist and holds together.
3. Turn dough onto prepared baking sheet. Place a second piece of parchment over dough. Roll dough, using a rolling pin, into a 1/16-inch thick rectangle. Remove top piece of parchment paper and cut sides of dough to make an even rectangle. Add excess dough to corners or 1 end of rectangle and re-roll to uniform thickness.
4. Cut dough into 1-inch squares using a pizza cutter, keeping dough still attached.
5. Bake in the preheated oven until outside edges of dough are browned, about 15 minutes. Cool crackers on the baking sheet; break into squares.