Kumquat Marmalade

Ciao everyone:)

Have you ever tried a kumquat?

It's a small citrus fruit that is super sweet and super yummy and fun:)

Unlike other citrus fruits, the skin is thin and also a sweet section. (Meaning, it is quite edible).

Like a cherry, you have to bit the whole fruit and then remember to spit out the seeds...but they are not hard to find or deal with:)

As for health benefits, kumquats are an excellent source of vitamins A, C, E, and several B's, and also contain a good amount of calcium, copper, potassium, manganese, iron, selenium, and zinc:)

Try these crazy little fruits alone, in a recipe, orrrrr as....

Kumquat Marmalade

Ingredients:

30 kumquats

1 cup water + 1/4 water (divided)

1 tablespoon agave

3 tablespoons cornstarch

1/3 cup stevia, cup for cup

Directions:
1) Take out the seeds from kumquats and pulse in a food processor until pureed. (The seeds reside in the center of the fruit, arranged extremely similarly to a grapefruit's seeds. Cut across the horizontal center and pull out seeds.) Pour into a medium-large metal bowl.
2) Mix 1 cup water with agave in a saucepan over high heat until simmering.
3) In the meantime, mix together cornstarch with other 1/4 cup water. Stir 2 tablespoons of mixture into bowl with puree. Set aside.
4) Pour rest of mix into simmering water, and stir over high heat for 2 minutes.
5) Mix into puree; stir in stevia.
6) Let mixture sit on counter to cool a little; about 1 hour.
7) Pour mixture back into saucepan and cook until simmering. Take down heat to low and stir occassionally for about 20 minutes.
8) Pour back into bowl. Let sit on counter to cool, about 1 hour. Pour into jar and place in fridge to finish setting, at least 2 hours.
9) Enjoy

Ciao for now!
-TheRedLady-

Vegan Cool Whip

Ciao everyone!!

WOAH.

Like WOOOAH.

Here is what I would like to know.

How is it that the entire country has chosen to ignore the THOUSAND WAYS there are to make EVERY DELICIOUS THING into a HEALTHY VARIETY, and gone with crappy ingredients with crappy side effects?

Hm... Delicious thing with great nutrition benefit and ridiculously good taste
                                                       OR
          Delicious thing with little to no nutrition benefit, often nutrition detriment, though it also has ridiculously good taste (most of the time.. not even always...)

I wonder which is the better choice?? :/

So now that we have established that, let me tell you a story.

Once upon a time, I existed.

And I really, really, really loved cool whip.

But I really, really, really didn't love the ingredients listing....

And I was sad.

UNTIl...

DELICIOUS CREAMY HEALTHY COOL WHIP!

Happy Red Lady. Happy you. Happy cool whip.

The End:)

Wasn't that a lovely story? I think I'll have to remember that one for the grandkids. For now.....GO MAKE THIS RECIPE. Everyone you know will be happy with you. Or just you will know about it, and you and I can have our own cool whip party! Yay for parties:)

Delicious Homemade Cool Whip

Ingredients:

1 can coconut milk (so far I have had great luck with Iberia and Thai Kitchen brands...make sure it's the original/full of healthy fats version!!!)

Stevia cup-for-cup

Pure vanilla extract

Optional: Cocoa powder, cinnamon, instant coffee/espresso

Directions:

1) Open can...do not shake before opening!

2) Scoop out cream on surface of wateriness into a bowl. Place uncovered bowl and can into fridge for at least 1 hour, up to 12.

3) Scoop out any extra cream that has now surfaced on your coconut water. Add to bowl. Pour coconut water into sealable container for later use (in baking, shakes, etc... or just drink it now!) 

4) Beat with electric beaters a minute or two until nice and fluffy. Add stevia, optional ingredients if desired, and a few drops vanilla until desired taste is reached.

4) Enjoy by itself (if you're that crazy), or with berries, or as a frosting on Chocolate Cake:) 

Hint: Check out my post for Chocolate Cake... which happens to have this awesome healthy cool whip on top.. hmm..wonder where that came from....

Ciao for now!

-TheRedLady-

Eggnog

Ciao everyone

Can you believe that it is already December 14th?!? (Unless you take into account the past-midnight thing...in which case I suppose it's the 15th... )

Do you know what that means?? Two significant observations:

This is the day of the premier of THE HOBBIT: AN UNEXPECTED JOURNEY.

1) If you haven't already seen it... Well I know what you should be doing tomorrow!

2) There are only 11 DAYS UNTIL CHRISTMAS :o

Say whaatt???

Yeah, I know. Crazy..

Well, I have another suggestion for you, which is nearly as important as you going to see The Hobbit tomorrow, but not quite..

It's time to make eggnog:)

Yes, I said make, not buy.

Why? Because it is delicious.

And it happens to also be way better for you.

But mostly because it's delicious.

Homemade Eggnog 
(Also, this is a recipe for sweet egg custard if you stop at step 5!)

Makes: 4 servings

Ingredients:

1 1/3 cups non fat milk (1 1/3 cup water + ½ cup instant non fat dry milk)

1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract

Pinch salt

2 eggs

Almost ¼ cup stevia

Almost 1 teaspoon cornstarch

1 cup vanilla almond milk

½ teaspoon cinnamon

Optional: (as garnish for serving) nutmeg

Directions:

1)      Combine 1 cup of milk, vanilla, and salt in a saucepan over medium high heat.

2)      Combine stevia and cornstarch in a medium sized bowl. Whisk in eggs.

3)      When milk is simmering, pour into egg mixture, continually whisking until thoroughly combined. Mix for another 2 minutes.

4)      Pout back into pot on stove and add rest of milk, stirring constantly. Cook for about 3 minutes.

5)      Transfer back to egg-bowl. If your consistency has gone a bit wacky, you can whip with hand held electric beaters for about 2 minutes, to ensure it is fluffy and smooth. Either way, you basically have egg custard at this point, and it is quite delicious if you want to stop here and use this recipe as such. 

6)      Cover with wax paper and refrigerate for 1 hour.

7)      Pour mix into blender with almond milk and cinnamon. Blend until smooth.

8)      Serve immediately or allow to chill for another hour or so for best results.

Ciao for now<3

-The Red Lady-

Sugar Free Powdered Sugar

Ciao Everyone!

Cocoa Powder, Flour, Baking Powder, Stevia, Eggs, Nuts....

Have you already begun your Christmas baking prep list??

I have:)

One thing that is a must on my list is stevia...but did you know that it can also be a replacement for powdered sugar??

Why yes, yes it can:)

It is really an amazing thing!

Partially because of what it is...and partially because it is so easy to make!

(Yes, I tried to make a heart for you :] )

Sugar-Free Powdered Sugar

makes: a bit more than 3/4 cup

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups stevia, bakers bag

almost 1 tablespoon cornstarch

Directions:

1) Blend ingredients together in a small food processor or blender.

2) Have fun with your sugar free powdered sugar:)

Ciao for now!

-The Red Lady-

Nutella

Ciao Everyone!

Confession time.

How many times have you wanted to just take the whole container of Nutella and a spoon and have a party for one...

And  I do mean one because if you're like me, than any self-invited guests would probably be kicked out....quickly...

Maybe you have even done this. And maybe you've decided on a backup list of excuses for why the unhealthiness of Nutella is null and void when it enters into your magical realm...

Or maybe I'm alone on all of those points...

But even that tells me at least one thing about you.

You've never had Nutella.

But hey! It's all good! Because I have a solution to both problems of your high treason and mine of nonesense-ory.....

Homemade, delicious, nutritious, amazing, beautiful, and easy to make NUTELLA<3<3<3<3<3

Yeah, I said homemade. I also said nutritious. And easy;)

(I'm hoping you don't need explanation for the other adjectives listed...or you may also be having serious delusions and actually should probably get to this recipe ASAP... ;] )

NUTELLA:)

(original recipe)

makes: 1 cup

Ingredients:

1 1/4 cups roasted unsalted hazelnuts (note: if already salted, omit salt in recipe)

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/4 cup + 2 tablespoons stevia cup for cup

2 tablespoons natural unsweetened cocoa powder

5-6 tablespoons vanilla almond milk

Directions:

1) Pour hazelnuts into a food processor and pulse/process/grind until completely smooth; they will become a nut butter. (For more details, see my post about how to make peanut butter). DO NOT move to the next step until nuts are totally creamy!

2)  Add rest of ingredients. If you want it thicker, use 5 tablespoons milk; if you like it goopier (like real Nutella), go for 6. 

3) Enjoy the joy:)

Ciao for now!

-The Red Lady-

To whom it may concern:

Here is a simple nutrition facts comparison:

Brand-name Nutella, 2 tablespoons:

Calories: 200        Total Fat: 11g           Total Carbs: 22g

Dietary Fiber: 1g        Sugars: 21g        Protein: 3g

Homemade Nutella, 2 tablespoons: Calories: 134        Total Fat: 11.6g            Total Carbs: 4.5 Dietary Fiber: 1.8g         Sugars: 1g          Protein: 3.3

Hummus:)

Ciao Everyone!

I have a simple post for today, in honor of the simplicity of it's purpose..

Hummus.

A simple yet savory and satisfying delight.

Enjoy!:)

Hummus

(makes about 1 3/4 cups)

Ingredients:

1 (15oz) can chickpeas, drained and rinsed

2 tablespoons dry roasted sunflower seeds*

2-3 cloves fresh garlic

1/2 medium white onion

4 tablespoons water

Optional: anything that sounds good from your spices collection;)

Potentially great, and therefore optional as well: spinach, artichokes, mushrooms, tomato...any other thing that may go nicely in hummus...

Directions:

 1) Add all ingredients into a food processor or strong blender

 2) Blend together until completely combined

 3) Serve with veggie sticks, toasted pita bread, or yummy chips:) (Or if you're crazy like me, then try it with popcorn! Or..even crazier... first, mix the hummus with peanut butter and mustard! :P )

*I used sunflower seeds because that's what we had in the pantry. For a more authentic flavor, use sesame seeds. (Although I have not gotten to yet, and therefore cannot vouch for the results!)

Ciao for now:)

-The Red Lady-

PEANUT BUTTER

Ciao Everyone!!!


I am about to say something that is going that will make your whole brain happier..... you ready??



PEANUT BUTTER.



Yep, that creamy deliciousness that is just a form of gold from the heavens...


Did you know you can make your own?

Yes, and it is sooo simple that it is almost ridiculous!!

First, you find your favorite brand of roasted peanuts (or you roast your own)...

 (By the way, this also works AMAZINGLY with almonds to make creamy and fresh almond butter):

And theeeen, you pour the nuts into a food processor and pulse a few times until it's mostly crumbly. After that, let it keep processing until you have the smooth creamy greatness in your dreams;)

Just kidding about the dream part...

Hopfully :P


Ciao for now!!!

-The Red Lady-

P.S. To whom it may concern (for amount and/or nutrition fact reasons):
As a rough estimate/rule of thumb, one serving of nuts will make about one serving of nut butter, which is to say...

1 oz (about 1/4 cup) nuts = 2 tablespoons (or a little more) nut butter

Plus, it doesn't have the added ingredients such as sugar and other such things, making it healthier.
Either way, I personally think it tastes WAY better homemade:)

Enjoy!!