Deliciously Simple Pear Crumble

Dessert. That's the first word to leave the vocabulary when you decide to "watch what you eat". Dessert doesn't have to be laden with sugars, fats and complete unhealthiness to make it taste good. We don't keep sugars or "dessert-type" ingredients on hand. In a pinch I whipped this together, not sure how the family would respond. Everyone loved it ... and even the kiddos were asking for seconds!

Deliciously Simple Pear Crumble

Ingredients

• 1/4 cup old fashioned oats
• 3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/8 teaspoon stevia powder 
• dash of salt
• 1/8 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 2 tablespoons coconut oil
• 2 very large pears, diced (approximately 3-4 cups)

Preparation

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. 

Add the oats, cinnamon, stevia and salt to a small bowl. Mix well to combine. Add the vanilla extract and mix again. Add the coconut oil, mixing as you go, until the mixture is crumb-like. Spread the pears evenly in an 8x8 baking dish. Gently stir the oats into the pear mixture. Bake for 20-30 minutes. Allow to cool before serving.

Makes 4 servings.

Try this recipe with some different fruits -- apples, peaches, berries, etc.!

Vegan Peach Cobbler

Vegan Peach Cobbler

Ingredients

• Filling
• 8 peaches, sliced and pit removed
• 1/2 teaspoon unflavored liquid stevia
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1 tablespoon water
• Topping
• 1 cup old fashioned oats
• 2 tablespoons arrowroot powder or cornstarch
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice
• 2 1/2 tablespoons coconut oil
• 1 tablespoon stevia powder
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 tablespoon pure maple syrup

Preparation

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray an 8x8 baking pan with non-stick spray. Combine all filling ingredients in a bowl and mix well. Evenly spread in the bottom of the baking pan.In a separate bowl, combine all crust ingredients except the maple syrup. Mix well until it  reaches a crumbly consistency. Crumble the topping mix onto the filling mix in the baking pan. Cover with foil and bake for about 40 minutes. Uncover and drizzle the maple syrup over the top. Continue baking for another 20 minutes. Remove from the oven and let cool before serving.

Makes 8 servings.

Creamy Broccoli Soup

Creamy Broccoli Soup

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 pounds broccoli florets
• 1/2 large onion, chopped
• 3 cloves garlic, chopped
• 4 cups chicken broth
• 1 can coconut milk
• salt and pepper, to taste

Preparation:

Add a pat of coconut oil to a soup pot. When the coconut oil melts, add the onion and the garlic and sauté until the onion is translucent (about 5 minutes). Add the chicken broth and bring to a boil. Add the broccoli. Cover and reduce heat to medium-low and cook 10 minutes.

Next you'll puree the soup by either 1) using an immersion blender in the soup pot; or 2) CAREFULLY placing the soup into a blender. Puree ingredients to desired consistency. (We used our Vita-Mix.)

Return soup to the pot and add in the can of coconut milk. Simmer on low for 10 minutes.

Options:
-- For a chunkier soup, keep some of the cooked broccoli florets in the pot while you puree the rest of the soup then mix together back into the pot.
-- For some heartiness, add some chopped chicken or you can top with cheese.

Enjoy!