Friday Favourites: Healthy Makeover Inspiration

I have had baking on the brain.

The past few weeks have been very busy and I haven't been able to spend much time in the kitchen.  As I was surfing the net this week, the only sites I found myself visiting were the ones that pertained to delicious desserts.

Source

Lime Daiquiri Cupcakes with Whipped Strawberry Frosting

There are times for healthy makeovers and there are times for pure indulgence.  Today, it is time for the latter.

These cupcakes are one of the deadliest things to come out of my oven.

Healthy Makeover: Strawberry Lemonade Bars

Oh, how I missed baking.  I am back and with a healthy makeover, no less. :)

I actually came across these bars while searching for a recipe to use up the copious amounts for strawberries I have in my freezer.

They are very similar to the lemon bars I made, but this time I wanted to try to make them everything free (i.e. egg free, dairy free, gluten free, vegan.)

So, what did I change?

• Reduced the sugar by approx. 75% and replaced with maple syrup
• Eliminated the eggs and replaced with flax
• Eliminated the butter, replaced with margarine and reduced by approx. 50%
• Eliminated the all-purpose flour and replaced with oat flour

They turned out rather well considering this was a first attempt.  These bars are not overly sweet and very tangy from the strawberry/lemon juice combo.  They didn't quite gel together as much as they would by using eggs, but overall I am happy with the results.

Next time I may try increasing the amount of filling by about a third so the bars are a bit thicker.

Recipe Repeat: Rosemary Almond Crisps

Some thing are worth repeating.

A day at the spa, an inspirational quote, watching old Hollywood musicals, and this recipe.

These crisps are addictive and perfectly portable.  Bring them to a party or eat them all yourself (I won't tell). 

Friday Favourites: Cupcake Recipes

I had mentioned last week that it has been far to long since I have experimented in the kitchen with cake decorating and cupcake making. 

Life is about balance and as much as I enjoy giving recipes a healthy touch, sometimes I just want something decedent.  Guilt free.

I never did get to bake last weekend, but I am going to make up for it over the next few days and have been scouring the blog world for inspiration.  It didn't disappoint.

Here are a few favourites that have made it straight to the top of my "to make" list.

Healthy Makeover: Lemon Cream Cheese Pound Cake

I love pound cake.  From its dense, spongy goodness to its lovely sweetness. This is why I don't make it very often.

Until now.

I posted on Facebook how I was itching to give it a makeover and that is exactly what I did over the weekend.  I even used stevia.

I am excited to say that I have finally found the right sugar/stevia balance.  The sweetness is perfect. The texture is too, the smell divine, the taste... not quite there.

There is something missing and I can't quite put my finger on it.  I think it needs to be flavoured a little more strongly.  I have a few ideas that I am going to share at the end of the post.

Recipe Repeat: Gingerbread Cake with Cream Cheese Icing

I miss my camera.  There, I said it.

I really didn't realize how much I rely on my camera since I started blogging regularly.  Photography has always been something I have been interested it and I have really missed practicing and honing my skills. 

Perhaps Santa will bring me one this year. ;)

But, I digress. 

I am planning on a big bake-a-thon this weekend to try out some new holiday recipes I have encountered on a few of my favourite blogs and will be sharing them with you next week.  In the meantime, I hope you enjoy this recipe from blogs past.

I am afraid that the picture does not do it justice.  This was the most fantastic gingerbread cake I have ever tasted and I hope you try it out for yourself!

Gingerbread Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting (Makes 20 slices)

1 1/4 cups white flour

1 cup whole wheat flour

1/4 cup wheat bran

2 tsp cinnamon

2 tsp ginger

1 tsp cloves

1 tsp baking powder

1 cup low fat butter milk*
1/2 cup applesauce

1 cup molasses

2 flax eggs

Preheat oven to 350 degrees and lightly grease a 9x13 pan,

Combine flour, bran, cinnamon, ginger, cloves and baking powder.  In a separate bowl, mix milk, applesauce and molasses until smooth.  Add flax eggs.

Add dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and mix until incorporated.

Pour batter into greased pan and bake for 20-25 minutes.  Allow to cool and top with icing.

Cream Cheese Icing

1/2 cup powdered sugar

1/2 cup butter

1/2 cup light cream cheese

Nutritional Information (Approx)

181 calories

7 g fat

28 g carbs

2 g protein

1 g fibre

*No buttermilk, no problem!  Add 1 tbsp of vinegar to 1 cup of skim milk and allow to sit for 5 minutes.
  
Which camera do you recommend and why?  Any recipes you have for the holidays that are worth repeating?

Stay Healthy, 

Tracy

Recipe Repeat: Raw Coconut Date Squares

I couldn't be happier to see the sun today. It instantly put a smile on my face. :)  Do you know what might put a smile on your face?  These date squares!

They are raw, vegan, gluten-free, super easy to make and worth definitely repeating.  Perfectly portable and absolutely yummy, these would make a great addition to any party table.

Dates not only satisfy your sweet tooth, they offer some health benefits too!

• High in soluble fibre
• High in B vitamins
• Easy to digest

The recipe yields a very small batch but could easily be doubled.  Give them a whirl and let me know what you think!


Raw Coconut Date Squares (Vegan, Gluten-Free, Makes 16 Squares)


 

Recipe Repeat: Apple-Berry Crumble

Happy Thanksgiving to my American friends!

I really wanted to dazzle you with a new recipe today.  However, the screen on my camera is broken and I really think that recipes need pictures to do them justice.

So I will put the new recipe in my back pocket and take this opportunity to share with you another one of my favourite recipes from blog posts' past.

If you are celebrating the holiday today, I think this apple-berry crumble would be a perfect addition to your dinner table.  It's delicious, loaded with fibre and super easy to make.

Recipe Repeat: Peanut Butter Balls

I don't have a fabulous new recipe makeover today.

However, following in the footsteps of my friend Lindsay @ Cotter Crunch, I decided to post a recipe that is worth repeating.

I have gotten more comments and feedback about these balls than any other recipe.  They are a fantastic snack, low in fat and have some protein to boot.  They also happen to be vegan.

I hope you enjoy them as much as I did.  (I think it is time for me to make them again. ;)

I'd like to think that my photography skills have improved :)

Crispy Peanut Butter Balls (Makes 30)

1/2 cup natural peanut butter
1/4 cup maple syrup
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 cup oat flour
1/4 cup wheat bran
1/2 cup rice cereal
1/4 cup ground flax
1/4 cup unsweetened coconut
1/4 cup vegan chocolate chips

Line a large cookie sheet with wax paper.

Mix peanut butter, maple syrup and vanilla in a microwave safe bowl.  Heat for 45-60 seconds.  At the same time, combine oat flour, wheat bran, cereal, flax, coconut and chocolate chips.

Remove peanut butter mixture and stir.  If it has not liquefied, heat for another 10-20 seconds.

Pour into dry ingredients and mix with a fork until incorporated.  Take about a heaping tablespoon of the mixture and squeeze in your hand to form into a ball.

Place balls on the cookie sheet and freeze for 15-20 minutes.  Store in the fridge.

Nutritional Information (Approx.)
59 calories
3.5 g fat
5.6 g carbs
2 g protein
1 g fibre

Do you have any recipe in your roster that you love?


Stay Healthy,
Tracy

Homemade Butterfinger Bites

Sadly enough, we didn't have any Halloween candy at my house.

We live in an apartment and don't get trick-or-treaters, so I decided it was in my best interest (and that of my waist line), not to get any candy.

However, I did make one exception.

I saw this recipe for homemade butterfinger bars from Averie, I knew I had to recreate it.

Healthy Makeover: Double Chocolate Chip Cookies

I finally did it!  After a few failed attempts, I had a successful recipe makeover. 

Here are the changes I made:

• Replaced the butter with olive oil and reduced it by half
• Replaced the sugar with honey and reduced it by a quarter
• Used whole wheat flour and oats instead of white flour
• Increased the amount of cocoa
• Reduced the amount of chocolate chips by three quarters

I am not usually a huge chocolate cookie/cake fan, but I really liked these.  The result was a cakey cookie that was not to sweet and very chocolatey.   I think they would be perfect to have with a chocolate peppermint latte, but that is just my preference :)

How to Make the Perfect Icing

Or frosting, as my American friends call it. :)

If you have been following me, you know that I recently signed up for a cake decorating class.  It is something I have been wanting to do for some time and I am so glad that I finally did it.

I am also very proud of my very first cake!

Chocolate Peppermint Latte (Not Pumpkin Spice)

Fall is finally upon us and I have to say, I love it.  It is the time of year for warm days and cool nights.  Perfect.

It is also the time of year when many blogs start to fill up with recipes that include all things pumpkin.  Pumpkin pie, pumpkin muffins, pumpkin cookies and pumpkin lattes.

Recipe Makeover: Sour Cream Coffee Cake

I heart coffee cake.

Jenna @ Eat, Live Run posted the most scrumptious looking recipe and I knew I had to try to make a lightened up version.

Recipe Makeover: Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Brownies

I really had a craving from some brownies over the weekend.  I have madeover brownies before, but I was looking for something different.

I stumbled across a new recipe and truth be told, they are pretty madeover on their own.  Low in fat and under 100 calories per serving so I was ready to make them just the way they were and share them with you.

Recipe Makeover: Peach-Mango Cake Squares with Stevia

One of the things I mentioned in yesterday's post to help you find your inner joy is cooking.

For me, it is baking specifically.

There is just something about it that I find very relaxing and therapeutic.  Especially when I am trying to give some of my favourite desserts a healthy twist.

I decided it was time for me to try my hand at baking with stevia, although I have to admit that I have never been stevia's biggest fan.

I had always found it to be quite bitter and I didn't really like it's licorice taste.  However, lately I have found that in very small quantities (like in a smoothie) it is almost undetectable and adds that bit of sweetness I am looking for.

So with stevia in hand, I tackled this Mango Cake recipe from Food.com.  Here are some of the changes I made:

Recipe Makeover: Oatmeal Butterscotch Bars

It has been a few weeks since I was able to give any recipes a "Tracy twist" and I was so happy to get back in the kitchen again.

Remember those butterscotch chips I told you about?  Well, I finally found a home for them!

My 3 Favourite Sweet Blogs

Most of you know that I have a major sweet tooth.  Cakes,  cookies, squares, I heart them all.

Perhaps this is why most of my recipes (and makeovers) are dessert based.  I love baking and most importantly, I love eating.

It should be no surprise that I also love blogs about sinfully delicious treats.  There are many fantastic bloggers out there who focus on the sweet stuff, but I have narrowed it down to these three fabulous ladies.

Chocolate Malt Cupcakes with Malted Buttercream Icing

Remember last week when I was in the mood for something in between healthy and decedent and I baked up those lovely Gluten Free Carrot Cupcakes?

Well, this past weekend was all about the extreme....extreme indulgence. For another child's birthday, no less.

My nephew, Bradley.