Is it really better in the buff?

Want to lose weight? Suffering from arthritis, asthma, acne, cancer? Concerned about the welfare of animals? How about people? Local Economy? The Environment? Good, then you're in the right place to make a difference.

Personally, I have a rabid passion for environmental conservation and sustainability, optimum mental, physical, and spiritual health, animal rights, and human rights, so the answer is clear: plant-based, organic foods.

Others out there may simply want to improve their dietary choices to combat chronic illness or to lose weight, or contribute less to environmental degradation, or maybe you just have an emotional attachment to cows. ;) In these cases, you may be satisfied with making minor changes to your grocery list, and so this blog can be a tool for a reformation, rather than a total transformation. Great!

Either way, I am here to assist you and guide you along your journey to a healthier you! This blog has something for everyone, even the die-hard omnivore, because even meat-eaters like the occasional vegetable.

Search This Blog

Sunday, January 22, 2012

Vegan Gluten-Free Coconut Macaroon: A Cookie Worth Crumbling For



The easiest, fastest cookie I've ever made...
...and I already had all of the ingredients in my kitchen!

Not only is this tasty treat simple and speedy, it's almost good for you!

Or...at least it's not all that bad for you!

With minimal ingredients, including omega-3-loaded almonds, coconut, and coconut milk, iron- magnesium- phosphorus- and antioxidant-rich dark chocolate, and no refined sugars or bleached flours, you really can't beat it!

That is, unless you hate coconut, almonds or dark chocolate. (weirdo)




SALTED CHOCOLATE COCONUT MACAROONS – GLUTEN-FREE & VEGAN
Makes 11-12
Adapted from “Flying Apron’s Gluten-Free & Vegan Baking Book”, by Jennifer Katzinger

Ingredients
For the macaroons
  • 1/3 cup brown rice flour
  • 2 cups unsweetened flake coconut
  • 1/2 cup sliced almonds
  • 1/2 cup light coconut milk
  • 1/3 cup raw agave nectar
  • 1 small pinch salt
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
To decorate
  • 3.5 oz dark chocolate*, melted over a double boiler     
 *opt for organic, fair-trade, and shade grown, and make sure the 1st ingredient is CHOCOLATE

Method:
1. Preheat oven to 350°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.*
2. In a large bowl, mix all the macaroon ingredients together – brown rice flour, coconut, almonds, coconut milk, agave, salt and vanilla extract until evenly combined. The mixture will be moist and very slightly sticky.
3. Using one 2 inch diameter ice-cream scoop, scoop out portions of the dough onto the prepared cookie sheet. Ensure that you pack the scoop tightly.
4. Bake in middle of preheated oven for 15 minutes or until just lightly browned. Try not to over bake.*
5. Remove from oven and let cool on the baking sheet.
6. Once cool, drizzle or dip in chocolate and let set. Enjoy!


*The time it took for the oven to preheat was exactly the time it took me to gather and mix my ingredients.
*The time it took for the cookies to bake was exactly the time it took for my chocolate to melt.

PERFECT!


Sprinkle a bit of coarse sea salt on top of the warm chocolate, for a tantalizing twist for your taste buds!


1 comment:

  1. I love coconut macaroons! I will definitely be trying out this recipe!

    ReplyDelete