Peanut Butter Cup Fudge

     I just love my Lily's Chocolate so much, it really cures my cravings...and for that I'm immensely grateful.  They posted a recipe that really got my wheels spinning and I had to try it out, with only a few minor changes.  These 18 decadent servings literally melt in your mouth.  Each piece is only 166 calories, 11.6g carbs, 6.1g fiber, 4.2g sugar alcohol, 1.3g net carbs, 3.4g protein and 14.1g fat.  This is one to go on the must try list, super fast, super easy, super delish!  Can I hear an amen for stevia sweetened Chocolate...!?  :)

Ingredients for 18 servings~
1 cup Heavy Whipping Cream (sub with Coconut Cream for Vegan)
9oz bag Lily's Dark Stevia Sweetened Chocolate Chips
1/2 cup Peanut Butter
6 Lily's Peanut Butter Cups (this is one 3.2oz bag), chopped

     Bring Cream to low simmer, remove from heat and stir in Chocolate til melted, then stir in Seed Butter or Peanut Butter til smooth and fully incorporated, pour into parchment lined 9X5 loaf pan, sprinkle top with chopped Peanut Butter Cups, press slightly into mixture, chill in fridge til set, approximately 2-3 hours.  Slice into 18 equal pieces.  Enjoy  :)

Vegan Roasted Cauliflower Root Stew

     Do you try to do a few meatless meals a week?  If not, try.  This is a tasty favorite in my family, and perfect for large gatherings.  Another beauty is this is super for cold or warm weather fare.  This is a hearty vegan dish that will excite your taste buds,  fill your belly and thrill your soul.  :)

Ingredients for one large pot~
1 large head Cauliflower, cut in florets
2 Tablespoons Olive Oil
Dash Everything Bagel Seasoning (sub with Salt, Pepper, Garlic Powder)
1 large Onion, diced
1 Tablespoon chopped Garlic (more if desired)
Dash Cayenne
1 pound baby Carrots, sliced
1 small piece Ginger, peeled and diced
4 cups Vegetable Broth (more if desired for thinner soup)
2 diced Potatoes
2 diced Sweet Potatoes
1 can petite diced Tomatoes
1 can Tomato Sauce
1 Tablespoon Tumeric
1 Tablespoon Chili Powder
1 Tablespoon Cinnamon
2 cans drained Garbanzo Beans
1 can full fat Coconut Cream

     Add chopped Cauliflower to foil lined cookie sheet, drizzle a Tablespoon Oil over top, rub around til fully incorporated.  Season with Bagel Seasoning, or as desired.  Roast at 450 for 20 minutes.  Meanwhile, add remaining Oil to stock pot, along with Onion, Garlic, dash of Cayenne til lightly golden.  Add diced Carrots and Ginger, cook til Onions are deep golden.  Add remaining ingredients to pot except for Beans and Coconut Cream, simmer 40 minutes, stirring often.  Add extra Broth if necessary or desired for thinner soup.  Finally stir in Cauliflower, Beans and Coconut Cream til well combined and heated thru.  Garnish with sliced Green Onions if desired. Enjoy  :)

Salted Maple Rosemary Almonds

     Don't you just love the sweet and salty combo!?  Try this recipe on for size and see if it doesn't just fit the bill.  This is perfect for gift giving at the holidays, or just having around for snacking.  Super simple to make, and exceptionally fast to put together.  The other beauty of this recipe is that there are no extra calories added to these extra rich treats!

Ingredients~
2 cups Almonds
1/4 cup Lakanto Maple Syrup ~use code Paige20 for discount at checkout
Dash Rosemary
Dash Cayenne Pepper
Dash Salt

     Add Almonds to parchment lined cookie sheet, bake at 350 for 10 minutes, stir half way thru.  Remove, drizzle with Syrup, and sprinkle with desired amount of Rosemary, Pepper and Salt, stir together and return to oven for 15 more minutes, stirring every 5 minutes, making sure not to burn.  If it starts to burn, remove immediately.  Enjoy  :)

   

Broccoli Bacon Chicken Salad

     Three cheers for a good salad.  My Broccoli Bacon Chicken Salad might even get four!!!  Four cheers for four servings, and each 3 cup serving is only 468 calories, 21g carbs, 8.3g fiber, 12.7g net carbs (8.7 if you omit the Apple), 43g protein, and 24g fat.  Serve this straight up or on a bed of mixed Greens.  Have your friends over and enjoy every bite with gusto...or save it all for yourself just like me...  :)

Four 3 cup servings~
3/4 pound finely diced cooked Chicken Breast
10 slices diced cooked Bacon
1.5 pounds steamed diced Broccoli
1 medium diced Fuji Apple
1 1/3 cup shredded Cheddar Cheese (sub with favorite)
7oz 5% Greek Fage Yogurt
1 Tablespoon Apple Cider Vinegar
2 Tablespoons Lakanto Monk Fruit~use code Paige20 for discount at checkout
Everything Bagel Seasoning, or Salt and Pepper

     Toss Chicken, Bacon, Broccoli, Apple and Cheese in large mixing bowl til well incorporated.  In small mixing bowl mix Yogurt, Vinegar, and Monk Fruit and pour over Salad til fully coated.  Season with Everything Bagel Seasoning, or Salt and Pepper as desired.  Enjoy  :)

Cream of Sweet Potato Soup

      So yeah, it's a little different, ...but who’s counting.  Cream of Sweet Potato Soup is a meatless offering  for lunch or dinner.  Amazingly rich and decadent, it hits all the high notes.  There are many variables on these ingredients, so it was hard to get an exact measure on macros.  But here is a general idea that comes pretty close.  Each of the 16 cups are approximately 135 calories, 11g carbs, 2.6g fiber, 8.4g net carbs, 5g protein and 9g fat.  Since this makes such a generous pot, invite your friends and make a party of it.😊

Ingredients for 16 cups~
1 pound Baby Carrots (or one pound sliced Carrots)
3 large Sweet Potatoes
2~14oz packages Firm Tofu, crumbled
6 cups Chicken Broth
2 chopped Zucchini
1 chopped Onion
Heaping Tablespoon chopped Garlic
Salt, to taste
Pepper, to taste
Cayenne Pepper, to taste
- - - - - - - - - - - -
13.6oz can Coconut Milk

     Bring first set of ingredients to boil in large heavy pot for 10 minutes, cover and reduce to simmer for 30 minutes, remove and cool slightly.  Stir in Coconut Milk.  Either use an immersion blender, or pour by batches in your blender and whip til smooth and soup like consistency.  Garnish as desired, I sprinkled mine with sliced Green Onions.  Enjoy  :)

Five Seed Chocolate Chips

     Here's a big shout out to Beyond the Equator for their Five Seed Butter.  Whether you are Keto, Vegan, Low Carb, Vegetarian or just Intermittent Fasting, this all natural sugar free seed spread will fit nicely into your lifestyle.  In fact, you should be proud to declare you are a seed eater~Chia, Flax, Pumpkin, Sunflower and Hemp!  Each of these 40 cookies are only 87 calories, 6.4g carbs, 1.7g fiber, 3.2g sugar alcohol, 1.5g net carbs, 3.4g protein and 7.2g fat.  The next time you want to feel all the feels, and draw closer to Mother Earth, check out Beyond the Equator at www.beyondtheequator.com...where you don't feel like a nut...  ;)

Ingredients for 40 cookies~
Beyond the Equator 14oz jar of Five Seed Butter (I used the no added Sugar, but choose your favorite)
2 Extra Large Eggs
1/2 cup Lakanto Golden Monk Fruit ~use code Paige20 for discount at checkout (sub with Classic if preferred)
3/4 cup Lily's stevia sweetened Milk Chocolate Chips (sub with dark or semi-sweet if preferred)

     Add all ingredients to a bowl and mix til well incorporated.  Drop by Tablespoons onto silpat lined cookie sheet.  Bake at 350 for 10 minutes.  Enjoy  :)