Mom On The Glow: November 2016

Tuesday, November 22, 2016

Raw Cookie Dough Caramel Bar

This is one of those desserts that is NOT disappointing despite being made of super clean ingredients that your body can actually recognize AND use as a source of fuel. It's perfect for that afternoon snack with a little black coffee....yummmm. 
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtGOoKmipRU0kchnT75nEmCjcCnsqbIYvGsSiJ7vIqXx4yeEcKdwMO1RRA2KHEzQHg7JaIxhXI-KsjuSt3U4rYH-qXxB7SrTiCAm7vvl0xluqGi5MkkcA9nyEHo0s-Q8PXp4lmhxp1iVy0/s1600/rawcookiedough4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtGOoKmipRU0kchnT75nEmCjcCnsqbIYvGsSiJ7vIqXx4yeEcKdwMO1RRA2KHEzQHg7JaIxhXI-KsjuSt3U4rYH-qXxB7SrTiCAm7vvl0xluqGi5MkkcA9nyEHo0s-Q8PXp4lmhxp1iVy0/s320/rawcookiedough4.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
 
 
It's also really versatile. You can make this entirely paleo or vegan, but you can also play around with the flavors. 
 
Raw Cookie Dough Layer: 
1 cup coconut flour (sub oat flour if you are not grain free) 
1 cup cashews 
1/2 tsp salt 
1/3 cup coconut oil (melted) 
1/3 cup maple syrup (sub honey if you are not vegan) 
 
Place the above ingredients into food processor and process until smooth and sticky. Then add one of the following flavor combos and pulse until incorporated: 
Options -  
-for lemon cookie dough, add the zest of one lemon and 2 TBSP lemon juice 
-for chocolate chip cookie dough - add 1/2 cup dark chocolate chips 
-for pecan butterscotch - add 1/2 cup chopped pecans and 1/2 cup butterscotch chips 
 
Transfer into seran lined loaf tin and place in the freezer while you make the rest. 
 
Caramel Layer: 
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilr60avr_UAlLteGqLNpKQDOXwohyphenhyphenmHyXG9imwKIkwj1lFB72PVTqiMMrPNE1-VAJJKw08tT1UK5fbWaoniqdoTCINDX0MLkaNy8iIrud6jIWA74S73JmQDLrdq9xVbh6GGq8Fe8gZ3XEl/s1600/RawCookieDough.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilr60avr_UAlLteGqLNpKQDOXwohyphenhyphenmHyXG9imwKIkwj1lFB72PVTqiMMrPNE1-VAJJKw08tT1UK5fbWaoniqdoTCINDX0MLkaNy8iIrud6jIWA74S73JmQDLrdq9xVbh6GGq8Fe8gZ3XEl/s320/RawCookieDough.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
 
1.5 cups dates (if they are really dry soak in hot water for 15 min. then drain) 
2 Tbsp melted coconut oil 
1/3 cup almond butter (sub tahini or sunflower butter) 
1 tsp vanilla 
1/2 tsp salt 
3 Tbsp water 
 
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidKUqpHNcec2z1LXTFdp3ysfluDOeSoB6d4eVP_rD5D9XoT-6nzP7fADz8MyRDD9OwznEdVStLVc8Agjj8bqvNEF5JkunT8jLmH3E6i67ECmlDDhrJ2QZA6IkXEEa6walGvu_Dh02l_F3q/s1600/rawcookiedough3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidKUqpHNcec2z1LXTFdp3ysfluDOeSoB6d4eVP_rD5D9XoT-6nzP7fADz8MyRDD9OwznEdVStLVc8Agjj8bqvNEF5JkunT8jLmH3E6i67ECmlDDhrJ2QZA6IkXEEa6walGvu_Dh02l_F3q/s320/rawcookiedough3.jpg" width="180" /></a>Place the above ingredients into food processor. Pulse several minutes until smooth and creamy. You may need to add extra water if it's too thick. Place ontop of cookie dough layer. Place back in the freezer. 
 
Chocolate layer: 
1/4 cup coconut oil OR cocoa butter 
1/4 cup raw cocoa powder 
1 Tbsp almond milk (or milk alternative) 
1 tsp vanilla 
2 Tbsp maple syrup or honey 
 
Melt the above ingredients over medium heat in sauce pan. Once melted let cool slightly then pour over caramel layer. Place back in freezer until set (20 min.) Top with Maldon Sea Salt flakes. You can keep this bar in the freezer and slice off a piece when needed OR keep in the fridge. Enjoy! 
 
 
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxXxepRynyS_5CO2Fu25ZnzDFMATkW8956z6SfvvVJmbUyQRgeyA-HqYV8ka0gl_FG8arsbjo81V-1UiH4ivdFq8wU5vqrBAeCccy5fja-CzB6HPJN4r4orcVqiaISMeZRy7j6-2qtRajU/s1600/20161109_150410_1479838714370.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxXxepRynyS_5CO2Fu25ZnzDFMATkW8956z6SfvvVJmbUyQRgeyA-HqYV8ka0gl_FG8arsbjo81V-1UiH4ivdFq8wU5vqrBAeCccy5fja-CzB6HPJN4r4orcVqiaISMeZRy7j6-2qtRajU/s320/20161109_150410_1479838714370.jpg" width="180" /></a></div>

Raw Cookie Dough Caramel Bar

This is one of those desserts that is NOT disappointing despite being made of super clean ingredients that your body can actually recognize ...

Tuesday, November 15, 2016

Intermittent Fasting - a Naturopathic Guide

<div class="MsoNormal">
Ok, First of all I am SO excited to announce that my guide to Intermittent Fasting is FINALLY ready to reveal! It has been months in the making (and over a year of testing). I wanted to make sure I had it just right, but most of all I wanted to be sure it FELT right in my own body. I use myself as a guinea pig for most of the things I recommend to patients, but this became more than a 'test' for me - it actually turned into a way of life, which made it even more important for me to share it in a way that made sense to you all. I don't talk too much about it with people, because the term Intermittent Fasting just sounds so cliche, or intimidating, or just like a fad 'diet' term or something. But it's more. SO much more. It has brought ease to my life, but has also transformed my body (my energy, my performance and my composition). I honestly feel it's slowed the aging process. It's improved my skin. It's improved my immune system. Ok so how did this all come to be? Here is how it happened.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
 </div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIfiDM2ATJHIxEkZOA0azX49ocOLOcRQVgH39uCsdPzdsErGCUrLaIyugf3t3km9uO6JKMn3hD98QTnYe2WRUd2CeEvbc90igpoo1ERYJNjIUxSMqzV__UdfyczhWSoLkGNTsRQl7Fl7c4/s1600/IF.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIfiDM2ATJHIxEkZOA0azX49ocOLOcRQVgH39uCsdPzdsErGCUrLaIyugf3t3km9uO6JKMn3hD98QTnYe2WRUd2CeEvbc90igpoo1ERYJNjIUxSMqzV__UdfyczhWSoLkGNTsRQl7Fl7c4/s320/IF.jpg" width="232" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://momsontheglow.blogspot.ca/p/a-naturopathic-doctors-guide-to.html" target="_blank">BUY NOW</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
About a year
ago while putting together a nutrition presentation I came across research and
MANY articles about the benefits of Intermittent Fasting (IF). I had heard the
term years prior but was never really interested in anything that had to do
with ‘fasting’ (for myself OR my patients) and had never given it much thought.
Over the years as my knowledge and passion for all things nutrition grew, I was
ready to learn more about how fasting could be incorporated into my own life
and to see if it would make any difference to my own routine and lifestyle. I
read as much as I could find on the topic, and figured I was ready to try it on
myself. </div>

<div class="MsoNormal">
To make a
long story short, my experience with intermittent fasting was life changing in
its simplicity. It was liberating on many levels. I found myself with more time
in the mornings, my emotional attachment to food changed as my cravings for
REAL food increased, and my desire for junk lessened (oh don't get me wrong, there is still pizza and ice cream in my life, but I look forward to jumping back into my lifestyle the following day). </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
 </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
My fear of hunger
diminished (I used to think I was going into starvation mode, and that somehow my body was shutting down). My appreciation for the digestive and healing process in the body
increased as my recovery time improved after pushing my limits physically (I trained for my first triathlon this past year, and engaged in long workouts I never thought possible). My
workouts yielded greater results as my body became more efficient. My energy
improved, and my blood sugar levels stabilized. One of my biggest concerns was
‘would I lose precious muscle mass’? The answer is ‘no’. I was able to keep my
muscle mass AND burn extra fat while following an IF lifestyle. And the
improved mental clarity and focus was an added bonus!</div>

<div class="MsoNormal">
 </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
My
particular interest in Intermittent Fasting was using a method called the 16:8 method,
which I’ll explain in this manual. As a Naturopathic Doctor, it makes the most
sense to me in terms of how the average person can include IF into their
lifestyle AND it is probably the easiest to do for most people. I also looked at
how we’ve evolved as humans, and now have food available to us 24 hrs. a day if
we want it, whereas our Paleolithic counterparts had to hunt and gather, and
spent MANY hours each day fasting. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
 </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Although there are several IF articles
available online, I found that very few explained the intricacies of IF and
specifically how IF is different for WOMEN and men AND how IF should be done
differently for specific health conditions. The majority of the articles on IF are
written by individuals in the Paleo community as a basic guide or ‘how to’ on
IF, but there was a lot of missing information as far as I was concerned.  I hope to touch on these issues in this
manual, and I hope to set you up for success and NOT frustration with this
added guidance and trouble shooting. If this sounds like something you'd like to know more about, <a href="http://momsontheglow.blogspot.ca/p/a-naturopathic-doctors-guide-to.html">my guide can be purchased as an e-book</a> and emailed to you in a PDF format. I hope that it gets you trying IF - perhaps it's something that you too will enjoy!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
 </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
 </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://momsontheglow.blogspot.ca/p/a-naturopathic-doctors-guide-to.html" target="_blank">CLICK HERE TO BUY 'A NATUROPATHIC DOCTOR'S GUIDE TO INTERMITTENT FASTING' </a></div>

Intermittent Fasting - a Naturopathic Guide

Ok, First of all I am SO excited to announce that my guide to Intermittent Fasting is FINALLY ready to reveal! It has been months in th...

Tuesday, November 8, 2016

Congee - a miracle soup! (Instant Pot Recipe)

I remember back when I was studying Traditional Chinese Medicine at the Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine, learning about how different cultures use food to cure different 'imbalances' in the body (what a crazy concept to those of us in North America 
right??). In the Chinese culture they use things like 'Change of Seasons Soup' to support the body during the change of seasons. They add herbs like astragalus, eleutherococcus and ginger into chicken soup to help keep the body from getting sick. My mind was blown - I remember fumbling my way through china town, asking different vendors if they had 'change of seasons soup'...they thought I was crazy. Turns out it's kind of like asking for 'curry' powder in an Indian market - everyone has their own family recipe. I did come home with a selection of dried up barks and berries, and proceeded to make my first batch, which was surprisingly tasty. 
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsIQrS3ypO9P56wjADBfkd9tMFgPtNkOJZKYzIT8BeuueOv7Q60oqrWL-PYi-1e02QyIleJNSyKkDkWkpVcmumZN8krN0qAmVikR2AECaXpKeDafB7OhBis_1KDAdK5b74PyeD1FUaEiWS/s1600/20161102_145437_1478611761064.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsIQrS3ypO9P56wjADBfkd9tMFgPtNkOJZKYzIT8BeuueOv7Q60oqrWL-PYi-1e02QyIleJNSyKkDkWkpVcmumZN8krN0qAmVikR2AECaXpKeDafB7OhBis_1KDAdK5b74PyeD1FUaEiWS/s640/20161102_145437_1478611761064.jpg" width="360" /></a> 
I also learned about Congee. In fact congee came up A LOT. Turns out it helps everything from digestive upset, diarrhea, weak digestion and as a general prevention for good health. It is commonly served in Chinese households, like us North Americans eat Mac'n Cheese (ok, I know YOU know better than that, but I'm making a point).  
 
Congee is basically a rice porridge, but the magic happens when it is cooked for long period of time, sometimes overnight. The rice completely falls apart, making a thick and slippery soup. From a naturopath's perspective, the rice then releases 'gamma-oryzanol'. Gamma-oryzanol has been shown in studies (mainly in Japan) to ease heartburn, heal ulcers, treat gastritis, and act on the digestive control centers in the brain (thus used as a digestive support and balancer). Pretty cool right? I love using it in my practise for patients with colitis, unspecified gastrointestinal symptoms (IBS), diarrhea, flu, stomach bugs and heart burn. 
 
Congee is a beautifully simple and versatile soup. There are literally hundreds of variations, all with unique healing properties depending what kind of meat, vegetables, seasonings or beans you may add. Back when my husband (then boyfriend) live in Toronto, we frequently enjoyed going for lunch to the local Congee Restaurant - yes, the ENTIRE menu was congee...just different flavors - Chicken, Pork, Beef, Seafood, Vegetable etc. DELICIOUS! 
 
Chicken Congee 
 
Place the following ingredients, in this order into the Instant Pot (if you don't have one, just use a regular pot and do it stove-top - don't worry about the order, just put it all together into the pot). 
 
-1.5 cups long grain Jasmine Rice 
-a few dried shiitake mushrooms (this is optional for flavor) 
-1 strip of wakame (or kombu) 
-1 inch of ginger sliced 
-2 garlic cloves crushed 
-6-8 chicken pieces (dark meat works best - thighs, drumsticks etc) 
-1 carton of chicken broth (optional - can use water) 
-5 cups water 
-sprinkle of sea salt (you will later adjust saltiness with your toppings, so don't use too much) 
 
Set Instant Pot to 25 min. OR bring to a boil in regular pot, turn heat down, and let simmer at least 2 hours (although it gets better the longer you do it).  
 
When serving, top with the following OPTIONAL toppings: 
-bean sprouts 
-green onion 
-sesame oil 
-hoisin sauce 
-sriracha hot sauce 
-peanuts 
-hard boiled eggs 
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdBvfx3-hSmBGitAF0wwi5zw9y55pO1lrp1vX3cLhDCbleHRrstOMcuoO6-wyKmZf3H8vV-mereONfgU2V214EH9Fj22_pr_C06D0Ik2twt-OxCLKQfPRY3Fse0pitj5YxrWYuSE0-1sME/s1600/congee2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdBvfx3-hSmBGitAF0wwi5zw9y55pO1lrp1vX3cLhDCbleHRrstOMcuoO6-wyKmZf3H8vV-mereONfgU2V214EH9Fj22_pr_C06D0Ik2twt-OxCLKQfPRY3Fse0pitj5YxrWYuSE0-1sME/s640/congee2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>

Congee - a miracle soup! (Instant Pot Recipe)

I remember back when I was studying Traditional Chinese Medicine at the Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine, learning about how differ...

Monday, November 7, 2016

Raw Caramel Bites - Vegan & Paleo

Ok so I can't take credit for this recipe AT ALL other than I varied the ingredients based on what I had in the pantry, and I used a combo of like 5 different recipes and just made up my own, but the concept of raw caramel from date puree isn't a new one, nor is the nut/date crust.  
 
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYezQx97nHQXoG-1zsZJt7vt7ZUxAsybNOR0_nvN_VTSOBeO8vtvwvlkry0aKH1GXflu0TKtbVBWNpfGiSP1xsCaz2DBdQSz7N6BneHIQozVU_qjNxGkbFJ8K9I6_gmBq08iJpa6CP-enM/s1600/caramelbites3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYezQx97nHQXoG-1zsZJt7vt7ZUxAsybNOR0_nvN_VTSOBeO8vtvwvlkry0aKH1GXflu0TKtbVBWNpfGiSP1xsCaz2DBdQSz7N6BneHIQozVU_qjNxGkbFJ8K9I6_gmBq08iJpa6CP-enM/s320/caramelbites3.jpg" width="180" /></a></div>
 
So it all started when my neighbour Karla dropped off a 'raw caramel slice' at my house, and I devoured it all by myself (although i'm pretty sure i was supposed to cut it into at least THREE pieces, because it was REALLY rich, lol). So I asked Karla for the recipe, but it turns out I was out of almonds (so I used walnuts), and didn't have tahini (so I used almond butter). But ok, whatever, I still made it and this is my spin on it I guess! I hope you like it, but if you don't have these items in your pantry, just substitute like I did:) 
 
 
<div style="text-align: center;">
Raw Caramel Bites</div>
 
Crust: 
-1 cup nuts (walnuts, pecans or almonds) 
 
 
-1 cup dates (soaked if they are really hard) 
-1 Tbsp coconut oil 
-pinch of salt 
 
Blend the above ingredients in a food processor until only small pieces of nut are visible and it sticks together. Press into a seran-lined loaf pan if your are doing 'slices', or into a mini-muffin tin for 'bites'. The seran wrap is important to get the finished product out! Put into the freezer until you are ready for the next layer 
 
 
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3GVTcZI3v5dnL4lGH2gtxcT1VbVoWtDbMcbqqNnDULrngGWTd_4PBpiGnyva8fxw-Jwq8yp2JIAigwsIl4LTd-CWf7wyMXMqbvP0du-Csk4m1i60zjBj5hVQebhPBN4-nmzgCYNL8Wh9Z/s1600/rawcaramel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3GVTcZI3v5dnL4lGH2gtxcT1VbVoWtDbMcbqqNnDULrngGWTd_4PBpiGnyva8fxw-Jwq8yp2JIAigwsIl4LTd-CWf7wyMXMqbvP0du-Csk4m1i60zjBj5hVQebhPBN4-nmzgCYNL8Wh9Z/s320/rawcaramel.jpg" width="180" /></a> 
Caramel Layer 
-1 cup dates (soaked) 
-1/2 cup almond butter (or nut butter of sunflower butter, or tahini) 
-1/4 cup coconut oil 
-1/4-1/2 cup maple syrup (depending how sweet you like it) 
-pinch of salt 
-water - depends on your final consistency. Add 2-4 TBSP to make it slightly gooey - you can see from my pic that it's pretty thick. 
 
Blend the above ingredients until you reach the consistency of caramel (see picture). Spread this on the first layer - the colder the first layer is the easier it will be to spread this layer on top without disturbing it. I wet my hands and pressed it down - it does NOT flow. Place back in the freezer 
 
Chocolate Layer 
-1/4 cup raw cacoa powder 
-1/4 cup coconut oil or cocoa butter 
-2 Tbsp maple syrup 
 
Melt the above ingredients on a low heat until melted. Whisk together. Pour over caramel layer. Place back in the freezer and WAIT! It will harden within 20 min or so. You can pull it out of the pan/muffin molds and slice or enjoy. 
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1Xen-HhB65NBg8vm7qq6L7OXWXo23b9l_-KF_qgdQ1B7l0-diC-54WDUkVnwcDeoky1nh0CVtAG2SufMqveuf702zyGl5_H71cYlES-SxYBeFsS21lQ7A5jXIiapOFJy2M9QgplpQn32p/s1600/caramelbites.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1Xen-HhB65NBg8vm7qq6L7OXWXo23b9l_-KF_qgdQ1B7l0-diC-54WDUkVnwcDeoky1nh0CVtAG2SufMqveuf702zyGl5_H71cYlES-SxYBeFsS21lQ7A5jXIiapOFJy2M9QgplpQn32p/s320/caramelbites.jpg" width="180" /></a></div>

Raw Caramel Bites - Vegan & Paleo

Ok so I can't take credit for this recipe AT ALL other than I varied the ingredients based on what I had in the pantry, and I used a com...

About Me

Blog Archive

Tuesday, November 22, 2016

Raw Cookie Dough Caramel Bar

Tuesday, November 15, 2016

Intermittent Fasting - a Naturopathic Guide

Tuesday, November 8, 2016

Congee - a miracle soup! (Instant Pot Recipe)

Monday, November 7, 2016

Raw Caramel Bites - Vegan & Paleo

Email Signup

Popular Posts

Categories

Mom On The Glow

Category

Contact Form