FROZEN BANANA DELIGHT


INGREDIENTS:
4 LARGE RIPE SWEET BANANAS OR 3 TO 4 CUPS SLICED, BANANAS, FROZEN,
½ TO ¾ CUPS. FLUFFY ALMOND BUTTER, FLUFFY CASHEW BUTTER OR FLUFFY PEANUT BUTTER,
1 TEASPOONS NONALCOHOLIC VANILLA EXTRACT

DIRECTIONS:
1. EMPTY FROZEN BANANAS INTO 4 SHALLOW BOWLS. ALLOW TO SOFTEN FOR 10 TO 15 MINUTES.
2. MIX FLUFFY ALMOND BUTTER, FLUFFY CASHEW BUTTER, OR FLUFFY PEANUT BUTTER WITH VANILLA. SPOON SAUCE OVER BANANAS AND SERVE. IF YOU HAVEN’T ADDED COCOA POWDER TO THE SAUCE, YOU CAN SPRINKLE IT OVER YOUR SERVING AND STIR AS YOU EAT, IF DESIRED.

BASIC FRESH FRUIT GEL

INGREDIENTS:
2 TABLESPOONS UNFLAVORED GELATIN
1 CUP APPLE JUICE OR APPLE-APRICOT, APPLE-BERRY OR CHERRY JUICE, DIVIDED
1 SLIGHTLY ROUNDED TABLESPOON ARROWROOT DISSOLVED IN ½ CUP RESERVED JUICE
2 CUPS OF FRESH FRUIT (1 FRUIT OF COMBINATION OF 2 TO 3 VARIETIES): BLUEBERRIES, RASPBERRIES, MULBERRIES, PITTED SWEET CHERRIES, SLICED STRAWBERRIES, MELON BALLS, SEEDLESS RED OR GREEN GRAPES, PITTED PEELED AND SLICED APRICOTS, PEACHES, OR NECTARINES.
1 TEASPOONS NONALCOHOLIC VANILLA EXTRACT, (OPTIONAL)
1 TEASPOONS FINELY GRATED LEMON, LIME, OR ORANGE ZEST (COLORED PART ONLY) (OPTIONAL)
½ CUP COARSELY CHOPPED TOASTED NUTS (OPTIONAL)


DIRECTIONS:
1. SPRINKLE GELATIN OVER 1 CUP COOL OR COLD FILTERED WATER OR JUICE AND SET ASIDE. HEAT 2 ½ CUPS JUICE IN SAUCEPAN OVER MEDIUM HEAT. DISSOLVE ARROWROOT IN ½ CUP. RESERVED JUICE, ADD TO PAN, BRING TO A LOW BOIL, STIR UNTIL ARROWROOT THICKENS AND TURNS CLEAR, ABOUT 3 MINUTES, AND REMOVE FROM HEAT.
2. ADD HOT JUICE TO GELATIN MIXTURE AND STIR TO DISSOLVE. ADD VANILLA AND CITRUS ZEST IF DESIRED.
3. ARRANGE RAW FRUIT IN AN OBLONG PAN OR LARGE BOWL OR DIVDE BETWEEN 8 SMALL BOWLS OR GOBLETS. POUR HOT JUICE OVER FRUIT AND COOL FOR 30 MINUTES, THEN REFRIGERATE UNTIL SET, ABOUT 4 HOURS. ALTERNATIVELY, POUR HOT JUICE INTO AN OBLONG PAN OR BOWL AND CHILL UNTIL THE CONSISTENCY OF UNBEATEN EGG WHITES. STIR IN FRESH FRUIT AND TURN INTO A 4 CUP MOLD AND CHILL UNTIL FIRM.
4. GARNISH WITH NUTS IF DESIRED AND SERVE. REFRIGERATE LEFTOVERS AND USE WITHIN 5 DAYS

MY FAVORITE MACAROONS


INGREDIENTS:
4 EGG WHITES FROM LARGE OR EXTRA LARGE EGGS (1/2 TO 2/3 CUP)
¼ TEASPOONS CREAM OF TARTAR, UNLESS USING COPPER BOWL
1/3 CUP HONEY OR AGAVE NECTAR
¼ TEASPOONS WHITE STEVIA EXTRACT POWDER
1 ½ TEASPOONS NONALCOHOLIC VANILLA EXTRACT OR 1 TEASPOONS PURE VANILLA EXTRACT IN ALCOHOL
1 1/3 CUPS UNSWEETENED, SULFITE-FREE, FINELY SHREDDED COCONUT, ADDITIONAL, ½ CUP ONLY AS NEEDED FOR EXTRA-LARGE EGGS
UNREFINED COCONUT OIL TO GREASE BAKING SHEETS

DIRECTIONS:
1. SEPARATE WHITES FROM YOLKS; TRANSFER PURE WHITES TO AN IMPECCABLY CLEAN 1- TO 1 ½ QUART MEASURING CONTAINER, OR COPPER, GLASS OR STAINLESS STEEL BOWL.
2. PREHEAT OVEN TO 300 DEGREES OR LOWER IF YOUR OVEN RUNS HOT. LINE A LARGE COOKIE SHEET WITH UNBLEACHED PARCHMENT PAPER AND LIGHTLY MIST OR RUB WITH OIL. (OIL BLEACHED PARCHMENT, IF USED)
3. USING AN ELECTRIC BEATER ON HIGH, BEAT ROOM TEMPERATURE WHITES UNTIL FROTHY. ADD CREAM OF TARTAR. BEAT UNTIL STIFF PEAKS FORM WHEN BEATERS ARE LIFTED AWAY. OR REMOVE BEATER AND HOLD BOWL UPSIDE DOWN; IF WHITES ARE BEATEN SUFFICIENTLY, THEY WILL NOT FALL OUT.
4. REDUCE SPEED TO LOW. GRADUALLY ADD HONEY OR AGAVE NECTAR, STEVIA, AND VANILLA. TURN OFF AND FOLD IN COCONUT WITH A WIDE WOODEN SPOON. DON’T PANIC IF WHITES DEFLATE. ADD ADDITIONAL COCONUT, A LITTLE AT A TIME, IF BATTER IS VERY WET FROM USING EXTRA-LARGE EGGS.
5. DROP BATTER BY LEVEL TABLESPOONS ONTO PREPARED BAKING SHEETS CREATING AN OVAL SHAPE. IF DESIRED, USE 2 SPOONS TO MAKE A ROUND SHAPE.
6. BAKE IN CENTER OF OVEN UNTIL SET AND SLIGHTLY BROWN AND EDGES, 18 TO 20 MINUTES. COOL ON BAKING SHEET, AND TRANSFER TO AIRTIGHT CONTAINER. STORE AT ROOM TEMPERATURE FOR UP TO 2 WEEKS, REFRIGERATE FOR UP TO 4 WEEKS, OR FREEZE FOR LONGER STORAGE

DARK CHOCOLATE-DIPPED DATES

INGREDIENTS:
COCONUT OIL OR BUTTER TO OIL DOUBLE BOILER OR BOWL

4 OUNCES UNSWEETENED BAKER’S CHOCOLATE BAR, BROKEN OR CHOPPED INTO PIECES
8 LARGE OR 16 SMALL DATE-COCONUT ROLLS
1 TABLESPOON UNSWEETENED, SULFITE-FREE SHREDDED COCONUT (OPTIONAL)

DIRECTIONS:
1. LIGHTLY OIL A DOUBLE BOILER OR SMALL SAUCEPAN. SET OUT AN 8X10 INCH SHEET OF WAX PAPER OR UNBLEACHED PARCHMENT PAPER.
2. MELT CHOCOLATE IN A DOUBLE BOILER OVER HOT BUT NOT BOILING WATER OR IN A SMALL SAUCEPAN OVER VERY LOW HEAT. STIR PERIODICALLY UNTIL MELTED, THEN REMOVE FROM HEAT.
3. FLATTEN DATE ROLLS TO ½ INCH THICK. ONE AT A TIME, WITH TONGS OR COOKING CHOPSTICKS, DIP DATE ROLLS IN CHOCOLATE, TURNING TO COAT ALL SIDES. TRANSFER TO PAPER. SCRAPE REMAINING CHOCOLATE FROM BOWL AND EVENLY SPOON OVER DATE ROLLS. DUST LIGHTLY WITH COCONUT OR ORANGE ZEST IF DESIRED.
4. ALLOW DATES TO COOL AT ROOM TEMPERATURE OR REFRIGERATE OR FREEZE FOR A FASTER SET.
5. COVER AND REFRIGERATE. CONSUME WITHIN 3 WEEKS FOR BEST RESULTS

LOW-CARB LEMONADE

INGREDIENTS:
4 CUPS FILTERED WATER

1/8 TO ½ TEASPOON STEVIA EXTRACT POWDER OR ¼ TO ½ TEASPOON STEVIA EXTRACT LIQUID

DIRECTIONS:
1. RINSE LEMONS, PRESS AND ROLL ON A CUTTING BOARD TO SOFTEN THE PULP. REMOVE ZEST (COLORED PART ONLY) WITH A MICROPLANE GRATER OR THE SMALLEST HOLES OF A CHEESE GRATER AND SET ASIDE.
2. HALVE AND JUICE LEMONS. IF DESIRED SCRAPE A SPOON ACROSS THE FLESH TO REMOVE PULP. DISCARD SEEDS.
3. COMBINE WATER, LEMON JUICE, PULP, ZEST, AND STEVIA IN A TALL PITCHER OF QUART JAR AND WHISK WELL. TASTE AND ADD 1/16 TO 1/8 TEASPOON ADDITIONAL STEVIA IF A SWEETER TASTE IS DESIRED.
4. SERVE OVER ICE, OR COVER AND CHILL FOR LATER. IF TOO LEMONY, DILUTE WITH ADDITIONAL WATER. REFRIGERATE IN A NON-PLASTIC CONTAINER AND USE WITHIN 1 WEEK.

RED ZINGER PUNCH

INGREDIENTS:
2 CUPS BOILING FILTERED WATER
2 TO 4 CELESTIAL SEASONINGS RED ZINGER TEA BAGS, DEPENDING ON DESIRED STENGTH
2 CUPS COLD FILTERED WATER
¼ TEASPOON STEVIA EXTRACT POWDER OR 8 TO 12 DROPS STEVIA EXTRACT LIQUID, OR TO TASTE

DIRECTIONS:
1. ADD TEA BAGS TO A 1 QUART HEAT PROOF MEASURING CONTAINER WITH A SPOUT OR A HEAT PROOF QUART MASON JAR. ADD BOILING WATER. COVER LOOSELY WITH A LID, PLATE, OR SAUCER. STEEP FOR 10 MINUTES.
2. REMOVE TEA BAGS SQUEEZE AND DISCARD (COMPOST IF POSSIBLE) ADD COLD WATER AND A SMALL AMOUNT OF STEVIA, WHISK TASTE, AND ADJUST WITH A TINY BIT OF ADDITIONAL STEVIA IF NEEDED. POUR TEA INTO JAR OR EMPTY JUICE BOTTLES, COVER AND CHILL
3. SERVE AS IS OR OVER ICE. USE WITHIN WEEKS