Fresh Fig Newton (Gluten Free/ Dairy Free)

Totally had a craving for fig newtons and fresh figs were on sale so I thought why not make a big fresh one...

Ingredients:
Filling:

• 1 basket figs
• 1/4 cup water
• 1/8 tsp nutmeg (or cinnamon or both)

Crust: 

• 2 cups Fresh Coconut Flour  (Grind in coffee grinder or Magic Bullet approx. 2 1/2 cups of raw/ fresh coconut flakes)
• 2 eggs (pastured or organic)
• 1 1/2 tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp- 1 1/2 tsp vanilla powder/ vanilla extract (bakers choice)
• 1/4 tsp salt

Gather ingredients for crust & filling, mixing bowl and baking dish.  Wash figs in strainer, cut off ends and slice in half.

   

Add to pot: sliced figs, 1/4 cup water & nutmeg. Simmer on med-high for about 2 minutes, then turn down to medium 5 minutes more.  It should easily fall apart like photo below when you stir, except for the skin.  Add mixture to blender (or Magic Bullet) and puree until smooth, add to baking dish.

 Grind coconut flakes into flour, YUM! It tastes better than buttered flour only it has a hint of coconut &   good fat too! Add to mixing bowl with remaining crust ingredients, I use my hands to incorporate, 'cause it's fun. Perhaps its adds a little extra love as well! ;o)

 Bake at 350 for 10 minutes or until crust is golden brown. (I almost left it in too long, yikes!)

On-the-go Gourmet

Okay, been ridiculously busy lately and haven't set aside time to blog... I have been so busy in fact that I started eating out again (which took a minute but I've made peace with it) and have found creative and delicious solutions to nourish and enjoy on the go! Most places (cafés and/or restaurants) carry something that you can enjoy and not think twice about.  If you're not sure ask or find a way to make peace with it and know you're doing the best you can.
The local café I go to for wireless has a yogurt and granola bowl I order sometimes this AM I wasn't feeling it. So I brought left over (homemade) cranberry-cacao sauce, had some granola in my lunch bag from the day before in a re-purposed jar (The granola I like is produced by Thoughtful Food- I think that's what they're called. It was the "seriously seedy" kind,may need to purchase online www.thoughtfulfood.net.) and ordered a bowl of yogurt with an orange. No funny looks or snarks but he did ask if I wanted the fruit and yogurt bowl with granola instead. "not today".  I took a seat (away from the counter ;o) and doctored up my AM treat...

Cranberry Cacao sauce- just in time for Thanksgiving!

• 1 pint cranberries simmered in a 1/4 inch of water until they all burst and when stirred make a beautiful sauce. 
• Remove from heat, stir in 1-2 tsp of agave, (or your favorite sweetener, I prefer liquid ones like agave or brown rice syrup, my body seems to process them better. Every body is different so you decide what's best for you)
• grate 1-2 tsp of 100% cacao. (Dagoba sells a bar that you can just grate right into dishes, challenging to find so if you do and it's something you'll use TOTALLY worth the $6 and the impulse buy.  My sister in law found one and bought it for me, so awesome!)
• I did garnish it with a TINY bit of smoked sea salt.

Cran-Orange fruit and yogurt Parfait

To layer the "parfait"

• 1 order of plain yogurt (organic- if available) and fresh fruit (I chose bananas for the potassium)
• Stir in fiber of choice with yogurt (dried coconut, ground flax seed, etc. I used ground flax with inulin- by Spectrum Organics)
• garnish/decorate sides of bowl of yogurt with orange wedges
• spoon in cranberry sauce
• drizzle a little flax oil (mine was almost out so I brought it with me and used it up)
• 1-2 tsp of good quality granola (low sugar) and Gluten Free if you care

Admire a job well done and enjoy!