Monday, December 24, 2012

Raw Vegan Christmas Candy

Celebrate your Raw Vegan Christmas with these Delicious Raw Vegan Christmas Candies


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Featuring delicious Caramels, Coconut Fondant, Chocolate covered Caramel, Chocolate covered Coconut fondant, pecan log, Caramel covered Coconut Fondant and Chocolate covered dried cherries!!
These delectable candies are made with whole foods and have a delicious, rich flavor without being over powered by excess sugar like most traditional Christmas candies.  If you want to celebrate a healthier Christmas holiday but still want to indulge in delicious candies these Raw Vegan Candies will certainly satisfy your craving!

I have been snacking on these candies throughout the holidays and they are so satisfying and delicious!  In fact, I made a vegan coconut fondant with organic powdered sugar, earth balance and coconut and could hardly eat it because it was so sugary, this coconut fondant however has a perfect flavor without the sugar sickness!

I have been without an oven now for about a month and it will not be fixed in time for Christmas so I have been trying to celebrate with non-baked confections and meals.  So far it has been okay but I don't think my kids are going to ever want to eat rice or pasta again!  Well, that may not be entirely true, but I never thought my daughter would ever get sick of pasta, she LOVES it!

She has been complaining that she doesn't want to eat pasta anymore, she is actually sick of it.  It has been quite a challenge and in fact, most of our dinners have been quite boring.  Steamed veggies and rice or  quesadillas with my cheese sauce and a salad simply because I haven't wanted to make anything else with rice or pasta or try to create yet another stove-top meal.

I know you can make curry and soups but my kids can't stand spice so curry isn't a good option and you can get sick of soup too :-)

Anyway, these delicious candies have made the Christmas holiday a bit brighter without my FAVORITE thing of the year......Christmas Cookies!




Raw Vegan Caramel Recipe



Raw Vegan Candy Chocolate




.

How to make all the Raw Vegan Candies


Raw Vegan Chocolate covered caramels

Roll a small piece of caramel into a little ball, then flatten out a piece of chocolate in a 2 1/2 inch round and wrap it around the caramel.  Roll in your hands to make a uniform ball and then press a pecan half in the center if desired and then chill or leave out overnight to set.

Raw Vegan Pecan Log

Roll out a good size piece of the coconut fondant into a log, set aside.  Take a piece of the caramel and flatten it out in a rectangle shape that will easily wrap around your coconut fondant log.  Wrap the caramel around the coconut fondant and then roll in chopped pecans.

Caramels

Just roll into a ball and then slightly flatten and top with a pecan half

Chocolate covered dried cherries

You can either just wrap the cherries alone, or roll 3 cherries in a ball with some coconut fondant and then cover with chocolate whatever you prefer.

I take 3 dried, unsweetened cherries and wrap them with chocolate or roll them in a ball with the coconut fondant and then wrap them with the chocolate.

You can be creative, add your favorite nuts to the coconut fondant or make Raw Vegan Chocolate Turtles by making a design with 3 pecan halves, press a ball of caramel on top of them and then wrap it with the chocolate.

Have fun making a HUGE variety of raw vegan candies with these recipes!!

Friday, December 21, 2012

Vegan Chocolate Cherry Fudge Recipe

Vegan Chocolate Coconut Cherry Fudge Recipe



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Dark, rich and creamy fudge filled with dried cherries and coconut.  This is not your mama's fudge recipe!  I've never enjoyed fudge because it was sickeningly sweet, even for a kid who LOVED chocolate and dessert, fudge was, well.........disgusting!   I cannot understand who could stomach regular fudge, honestly it is so sugary you can't even taste the chocolate it induces and immediate sugar induced illness beyond all the sugar and candy of halloween in one bite!  

I decided to scrap the whole idea of trying to mimic traditional fudge and make my own delicious recipe without all that sugar!  I'm not saying this doesn't have some sugar but it is NOTHING compared to traditional fudge.   To me this fudge is actually enjoyable it has a delicious, rich chocolate flavor without being overpowered but milk or sugar.

I am still without an oven and so my holiday cookie recipe creation marathon had to be put on hold and it looks like now it'll have to wait until next year :-(

I did 'bake' some cookies in a skillet on the stove top just because I was craving cookies so bad I couldn't stand it....they turned out okay but nothing like a beautiful, crisp baked cookie.

I've been busy in the kitchen creating chocolate candies and raw desserts to keep up with my holiday recipe creation.  I just LOVE creating recipes during Christmas, even more than any other time of the year.  I hope you enjoy these two fudge recipes.



Tuesday, December 11, 2012

Ranch Chex Mix Recipe

Ranch Chex Mix Recipe


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What would the holidays be without Chex mix?  I have created this delicious, very flavorful cheesy ranch style chex mix.  This was a HUGE hit with my family, the kids couldn't stop eating it.  This recipe is definitely a kid friendly snack recipe.

You can change this recipe in a myriad of ways to suit your own taste

If you want to make this whole grain you can use wheat chex or another plain whole wheat cereal
You can use nuts and seeds
whole grain pretzels
whole wheat pita bread toasted
use your imagination..........


This post will be short and sweet because I just posted yesterday updating you on the christmas countdown recipes and why I am struggling with the cookie recipes......

Today, I'm just going to post this popular recipe for all your holiday parties or just for a fun snack all year round!

Ranch Chex Mix





Monday, December 10, 2012

Healthy Nutella Recipe and the Exploding Oven


My Exploding Oven......

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As soon as I decide to do a Holiday recipe creation marathon what happens??????  My oven begins having small explosions!!!

I decided to stop using it after we started smelling gas in the LIVING room while it was heating up for my holiday baking and the next thing we knew......BOOM!!

We had an oven repairman come today and he confirmed to me that the oven WAS in fact having small explosions, it WAS dangerous and I should NOT use the oven until it could be fixed!!  :-(

The parts are being ordered to fix the oven but who knows when they will come in and when the oven will be fixed so my holiday recipe creation will be on hold......I am sad :-(  I was really enjoying all the recipe creation lately!

Anway, maybe in a week or so I will be back to baking Christmas cookies and creating Christmas eve dinner recipes or New Years creations but for now it will be fudge and other stovetop confections.

It is not ALL bad news because I have created a healthy version of Nutella!!

Healthy, Vegan Nutella Recipe


Have I ever mentioned my lack of photography skills?  Well, if not this picture will certainly expose the truth.

Anyway, this is a rich, decadent Nutella style recipe featuring dates as the primary sweetener, NO dairy, NO refined sugars, and NO refined palm oil as the original recipe is loaded with!!!

You can make this like a chunky peanut butter style spread or you can process it until it is beautifully spreadable and smooth!  

My mother-in-law try as she might often feeds my kiddos things I don't necessarily approve of while they are at her house and Nutella is one of those things.  If it is chocolate my kids don't ask questions......they just eat it.

They came home RAVING about the nutella at Grammy's house and wanted me to buy them some.....they were pretty sad when I told them I would not buy it because it was extremely unhealthy, but I would create a recipe for them that they could enjoy that was not loaded with WHITE SUGAR!

They were pleasantly surprised with this little recipe I came up with and said that it satisfied their craving for Nutella.....SCORE!!!

I'm thinking of coming up with some Gluten Free, Vegan Frosted Animal Cookies.......

Would anyone be interested in that recipe......as soon as my oven is fixed????





Thursday, December 6, 2012

Vegan Apfelpfannkuchen or Hot Apple Cakes

Vegan Apfelpfannkuchen or Hot Apple Cakes


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Delicious, fluffy, hot pancakes layered with a delicious, sugar free apple pie filling!  This is breakfast heaven, without a sugar high!
My kids absolutely loved this breakfast, it was really fun to create and even more fun to eat.  You layer it and then slice it like a layered cake and serve.  Once served it didn't turn out quite as beautiful, but really......who needs food to be beautiful, it just needs to taste good!

I have been so busy creating Christmas recipes lately, it has been a lot of fun.  I am posting the most popular recipes and unfortunately, some recipes don't get enough 'Likes' to get posted.  I figured hey, why post ALL my recipes for free especially if they aren't popular so I decided to only post the ones that were the most popular.  

You can Like The Peaceful Kitchen on Facebook and join the fun  Click Here

A little EXPLODING Drama in the Kitchen!!!

Just what a cook does NOT want happening.......the oven being out of commission!!

We have a gas oven, in the beginning I was really enjoying it and started to get over my fear of using GAS for cooking.

I realized my FEAR of Gas ovens was NOT unfounded!!!

All the sudden my wonderful gas oven stopped heating up as quickly, in fact it was taking 15 minutes to get to 350.  I didn't think much of it until one day after the oven had been on for about 8-10 minutes and was STILL at 120 degrees I heard an Explosion!!!

As the days went on, when I would turn the oven on after several minutes the smell of gas would get stronger and stronger and then BAM it would explode. The last time I used the thing the explosion SHOOK the kitchen and scared my whole family!!!

I looked it up online and found out that this IS dangerous and it said DO NOT use the oven until it has been fixed.  Oh Joy, here I am in the middle of my Christmas cooking marathon and my oven is out of commission!!!  

We have been having sauteed veggies, stir fry, pasta.....anything I can cook on the stove....waiting for the oven to get fixed.   So I won't be creating any baked recipes anytime soon.  I am also reconsidering my idea that I like gas ovens better than electric....... these things are scary!!

Thursday, November 29, 2012

Vegan Gluten Free Christmas Cookie Recipes

 Vegan & Gluten Free
Christmas Cookies

Gluten Free Chocolate Crinkle Cookies
Gluten Free Dark Gingerbread Cookies
Gluten Free Almond Vanilla Bon Bon Cookies

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I have been busy in the kitchen creating a wide variety of Holiday recipes from Thanksgiving dishes, Breakfasts for a crowd and of course Christmas cookies!  These cookies turned out wonderfully and my family truly enjoyed all of them.   These cookies were all extremely popular when I posted the pictures on facebook and people were begging for the recipes and so I am posting them here on the blog.
I was actually SHOCKED when my husband called the Almond Vanilla Bon Bon cookies:
Chocolate Heaven and said he'd rather eat these than chocolate chip cookies any day!

To a normal person that may not seem like a big deal, but my husband is a Chocolate Chip Cookie Monster through and through!  Nobody messes with his chocolate chip cookies, they have been his favorite dessert for most of the 20 years of I have known him other than maybe a few chocolate cheesecakes that have really won him over so I was very happy with the result of these little cookies!!

I have to admit that I struggle with my addiction to sugar, I know I need to quit eating the stuff and I've come a long way using more brown rice syrup, stevia and natural sweeteners but even still, too much is too much.  However, over the holidays I just enjoy baking and have a wonderful time creating in the kitchen and I just have absolutely no desire to give up on enjoying some of my Christmas candies and cookies!

My kids had so much fun decorating the little gingerbread bears we made!!!
 Hubby was on my Naughty list that night though!

I was busy mixing up this wonderful batch of rich, dark gingerbread and asked him to pick up a few things from the store....including a gingerbread man cookie cutter!   So what happens, 10 minutes later when he gets to the store......He Forgets!  Seriously?  Here I am with this beautiful gingerbread cookie dough and no cookie cutter!

We had to improvise......hearts and cupids....nope......leaves and acorns......not gonna work!!

I do have candy canes and an angel, however the angel has such tiny sections that the cookie dough always tears and they look terrible!  So we finally settled on the teddy bear!  They were little cookies but they were yummy and very cute!

What can I say about chocolate crinkle cookies, they are just YUMMY!  They are my daughters favorite so she was thrilled the night I made them.  I made a small recipe though so there weren't many to go around.  Since I have been making desserts every night I figured I needed to make SMALL batches so nobody end up on a binging frenzy and ends up with a tummy ache!


*** I cannot find the gingerbread recipe!!!   If you want the recipe I will post it as soon as I find it, just post in the comments below to let me know if you want it.  Thanks.

Gingerbread Cookie Recipe Found!!!


This little cookies are very DARK and RICH gingerbread, the flavor is NOT light so be aware of that.  If you want you can reduce the spices if you like more bland gingerbread.  My kids LOVED these and they have sensitive palates.



Gingerbread Cookies
Delicious!  Dark and rich



Almond Vanilla Bon Bon Cookie




Options:

You can add almond extract 
Make orange cookies with 1 tsp. orange zest and 1/2 tsp. orange extract
Make Cherry vanilla add 2/3 c. chopped dried cherries, 1 tsp. cherry extract and make a red cherry icing





Friday, November 23, 2012

Tex-Mex Tempeh Sausage and Hashbrown Bake

Excellent Holiday Brunch Recipe to feed a crowd!


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Rich and creamy Tex-Mex inspired brunch recipe featuring frozen hashbrowns, tempeh sausage, veggies and a delicious nacho cheese to top it all off.  

If you will be having a large gathering of family and friends to feed on a busy morning this brunch recipe is quick, easy and cheap!

I created this recipe the day before Thanksgiving, I was just in the recipe creating, cooking mood and I made this. My kids had it for lunch.....and dinner!  My family really enjoyed this and the kids didn't even complain about eating it twice in one day.

The day before Thanksgiving is always a very busy day for me, I generally cook an entire Thanksgiving meal for either just my little family or when we do Thanksgiving on my side of the family I do the cooking for them all.  Don't get me wrong I love doing it and I REALLY love watching everyone enjoy the food I have lovingly prepared for them.

This year people were RAVING over my food not knowing it was the vegan food!!

I really enjoyed having people ask "Who made this?"  and I even had a couple ask for recipes!  

That made my day!

I am posting the recipe because it was very popular on the Facebook page.  




Tuesday, November 20, 2012

Pumpkin Spice Snack Bar Recipe

Pumpkin Spice Snack Bars

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Festive holiday snack bar featuring brown rice crisps to give it a little crunch along with the festive pumpkin and spices to give it that holiday flair!  These little bars are sure to please those little ones waiting for Thanksgiving dinner.  
A healthy alternative to typical granola bars, protein bars etc....

I am posting this recipe because it was quite popular on

If you want to vote for your favorite Holiday recipes Like The Peaceful Kitchen and watch for the latest recipe creations!


I guess you could say I have been in recipe creation mode and several of the recipes have been popular on facebook and so I have decided to continue posting my creations here for my fans, but only the most popular ones.

These little bars were a hit with my kids, I made them so my  hubby would have something healthy to snack on at work rather than resorting to vending machine junk food!  I keep telling him if he doesn't quit eating that garbage he will pay for it, and inevitably the migraines, back pain, lack of endurance etc..... end up plaguing him but he never learns.

My kids keep begging to have another pumpkin spice bar so obviously they love them.  These bars are not overly sweet, brown rice syrup is actually 1/3 less sweet than any other sweetener, I didn't create these to be dessert, they are supposed to be a fun snack so don't expect stomach sickening sweetness from these bars, although they have plenty in my opinion.

Enjoy!



Thursday, November 15, 2012

Gluten Free Vegan Cream Puff VS. Raw Almond Vanilla Cookies


Gluten Free Vegan Pate Choux
Gluten Free Vegan Cream Puffs
Gluten Free Vegan Eclairs





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After years of culinary disasters I finally created a light, airy, crispy Gluten Free Vegan Cream Puff / Eclair
This gluten free vegan pate choux dough was creamy, rich and perfect.  I piped it on the pan and it looked as perfect as any pate choux should!  After MANY failed attempts to make a lovely vegan and gluten free pate choux I was very worried as I slipped these babies in the oven.

Would they rise properly?
Would they taste good?
Would they hold together?

I pressed the timer and kept coming back over and over checking on my gluten free vegan cream puffs and eclairs.  I am SO happy with how they turned out, they are AMAZING!!!

My non-gluten free hubby called them Delightful!!!

I was just thrilled with the result and I made a beautiful VEGAN Pastry Cream to fill them.  Pastry cream can be tricky and I have often seen recipes that include silken tofu but I wanted to make it without that crutch!  Don't get me wrong, I like my tofu, but I really wanted to create a very traditional vegan pastry cream.

WOWZERS, this pastry cream is yummy!  Yes, you could find me and the fam gobbling this up by the spoonful!!

By the time I finished with the vegan gluten free pate choux, then successfully created the gluten free eclairs and cream puffs and vegan pastry cream I was too lazy to try and create a vegan chocolate icing to top them, so the cream puffs got melted chocolate chips on top, it wasn't pretty but it was Oh So Good!


Why are you not posting the recipe for the vegan gluten free pate choux, eclairs, cream puffs?

Okay, remember the deal?

During the Holiday recipe creation marathon ONLY the recipes that have enough likes and comments on facebook get posted.

Unfortunately this recipe did not receive enough likes or comments and therefore will be saved for Bodymade or my Gluten Free Baking E-book!!!

You just get to look at how pretty they are........

If you want to join in on the fun so you can get your favorite recipes Click Here   
to like the peaceful kitchen and see all the AMAZING Holiday recipe creations and pick your favorite ones!!


VS.

Raw Almond Vanilla Star Cookies


I must admit I was quite surprised at the winner, but the raw almond vanilla star cookies had more interest than the cream puffs and so this recipe is the one I will be posting.

Don't get me wrong these cookies are really good!!  They are lightly crispy on the outside and still a little chewy on the inside.  They would be excellent paired with some hot chocolate or frosted.
I frosted them with a berry frosting colored with a little beet and they were adorable and delicious.

My kids love these and they are healthy enough that the kids can have them as a snack anytime!


Tuesday, November 13, 2012

Chickpea Cutlets over roasted bell pepper wild rice and Roasted Garlic Alfredo Cream Sauce

Gluten Free Seitan-style Chickpea Cutlets Served with Roasted bell pepper wild rice and Roasted Garlic Alfredo Cream Sauce



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Savory thyme infused wild rice with roasted red bell pepper and sauteed onion and mushrooms topped with crispy delicious gluten free seitan-style chickpea cutlets and a rich and creamy roasted garlic Alfredo cream  sauce.

I am sure you are wondering why I am posting another recipe......I'm supposed to be on a sabbatical from blogging for an undetermined amount of time......  Well, I am posting this recipe due to popular demand and in honor of sharing a delicious recipe that would be the perfect feature dish for a Peaceful Thanksgiving!

Holiday Recipe Creation Marathon

I decided to do a holiday recipe creation marathon, going through all my 'Traditional' recipe books like Betty Crocker and other holiday recipe books and creating Vegan versions of the holiday favorites featured in these recipe books.  I have been posting pictures of my creations on my facebook fan page

You can follow the marathon by liking The Peaceful Kitchen on Facebook....Click Here

As I have been posting my recipe creations they have been getting a lot of attention and people have been asking for the recipes.  I agreed that if there was enough interest in each recipe I would post it on my blog and this recipe got quite a bit of attention so I am posting it.

Here are some other recipes I've created over the last few days.....

This is the most AMAZING dessert, both my Mother and my Sister in Law called this HEAVENLY after one single bite!

It is a Gluten free dessert featuring a cookie bottom, an oil free homemade caramel center and a brownie top.  This is FAR beyond comfort food, this is just decadent rich indulgence at its best!
 This is a picture of the cookie/brownie caramel bars in the pan.  Ooooo the ooey gooey, fudgy caramel goodness!

Yep, they are gluten free but you'd never know it, and that delicious, rich caramel without oil......Oh yeah!
Okay, for a little healthy lunch before your holiday indulgence.

Sweet Miso Dressing

This was finger linking good, you could drink this stuff!  It has NO oil, NO nuts and is 100% delicious!  Turn your boring salad into Sweet delight!
Christmas Morning Cran-Berry French Toast

You cannot beat this for breakfast, it fills the kitchen with the most amazing Christmas smells.

The french toast is spiked with holiday spices and the cran-berry sauce is made with mixed berries and cranberries and has no refined sweeteners and also has a special holiday spice blend!

Blueberry Pomegranate Sparkler

If you are looking for a delicious alcohol-free, sugar free bubbly for your holiday parties, this is the drink for you!

I tested this on my hubby, kids, brother and his wife, and my parents.  

This drink caused my parents to fight like children!!!!  

Yep, it's that good.  You should have seen my parents literally FIGHTING over the glass when I served it to them.    This has NO added sugars of any kind, no honey, agave, maple syrup  NOTHING!!
You will not believe how delicious it is and how sparkly and bubbly it is.

NO it is not water kefir or fermented, although water kefir is also good.






Friday, November 9, 2012

Gluten Free Parkerhouse Dinner Roll Recipe

Gluten Free Parker House Dinner Roll Recipe

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Warm, soft, delicious gluten free parker house roll recipe.  My daughter called these absolutely delightful and they certainly were.  I had to quickly share a photo of these delicious gluten free rolls.    I believe these soft gluten free rolls will be the recipe that graces our Thanksgiving dinner table this year.

I used a couple of tricks to get a delicious soft texture out of these rolls and it worked beautifully.  I used my proprietary gluten free flour blend that works beautifully with yeasted breads.  

Tonight I created a delicious carrot ginger soup with quinoa along with these delicious rolls and it was quite a hit with my family.  They usually like quite traditional flavors but they all heartily gobbled up their soup and rolls.  I really liked the change from the norm and the ginger in the soup was the perfect warming compliment to a very cold, snowy evening!

Here is a little glimpse at the carrot ginger soup, the quinoa adds a really fun texture to the soup and really boosts the nutrition as well!  The soup features steamed carrots, cannelini beans, green onion, ginger, garlic, a hint of lime and other spices and it is just divine!


Some day I may begin sharing my recipes again and I may blog regularly, as for now it is just fun to post pictures of what I have been up to lately.  These recipes will be available in my nutrition classes and in the android app. I just like to give some teasers on the blog........

Monday, November 5, 2012

Potato tempeh sausage soup, Peanut Butter Apple Crisp and lentil salad



Latest Creations......

Potato Tempeh Sausage Soup


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My latest creation, comfort food for a cold fall evening, filled with homemade tempeh sausage, red potatoes, and kale in a very warming homemade broth. Mmmmmm!


I am still creating delicious recipes, all of which will be available on the Simple Chef Android app.  The app is now available and ready for download!  I'm so excited!  We've had great reviews so far. 

We finished up the last Bodymade nutrition class on Saturday, the class turned out wonderful.  I served my simple, yet delicious nacho bake along with some freshly squeezed and warmed wassail.  The food was a hit and the information in the class was amazing and very well received.  

I've had an excellent rest from my blogging, however, I must admit I miss creating recipes and posting them.  I may post a few recipes from time to time and I can't help but continue to update my readers on my success with Bodymade as I begin a new career.

I am in the process of formulating a new product that is made exclusively from whole foods as an amazing supplement!  I can't wait until we finish the formulation and production aspects and I will announce it here when it is available.  Thank you for all of your support and love!


Peanut Butter Apple Crisp

When I told my husband about this dessert he thought I had absolutely lost my mind, peanut butter in an apple dessert?  YES!  and no it is not weird!

I asked, haven't you ever heard of apples and  peanut butter as a snack!

He said yes, but I've never heard of it in a dessert.

Well, he ate his words when he tasted this scrumptious dessert!

This turned out so yummy!  I made a homemade, very low fat crispy pie crust made with peanut butter, then topped that with sliced apples, cinnamon, splash of lemon juice, nutmeg and then topped it all off with a delicious oat peanut butter crisp and baked until the apples were soft and tender and the topping had a beautiful brown crispy texture.  

This is certainly a diversion from our usual chocolate chip cookies but it was really good.  Although I must confess that I actually added some chocolate chips on top and let them melt before I ate my slice!

This recipe will be coming in the paid 'Dessert' section of the app! 

I can't post the recipe but just wanted to tempt you :-)

Lentil Salad


This is more like what I eat everyday, something simple, healthy and easy yet....delicious!  
I generally top this salad with a zesty oil-free Italian dressing like the one in my Zesty For Life Salad Dressings E-book available in the store......or some other amazing oil-free dressing from my collection of recipes!

You can always make salad amazing if you have a great dressing!


Friday, October 26, 2012

Gluten free seitan style cutlets and creamy orange rise n' shine porridge




Creamy Orange Millet Rise n' Shine Porridge

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Delicious, creamy millet flavored with orange, banana, vanilla and a hint of cinnamon!  This is the perfect hearty breakfast for a cold fall or winter morning.  It will brighten that cold morning with the sunny citrus orange flavor but will fill your tummy and keep you warm on those cold mornings.  

I found an amazing way to overcome the somewhat gritty undesirable texture of millet and this breakfast was so creamy and delicious.  My kids cleaned their bowls and they usually don't like porridge style breakfast, they like pancakes, muffins and other baked goods.


I couldn't resist posting a couple of my recent recipes!  I know, I know I said my blog would be retired and in a sense it is......no more recipes will be available but if you want to keep up with what I am creating you can always check back for the pics.


My recipes will now only be available through: 
BODYMADE 
www.bodymadepro.com  


The new android app is the only place to get my latest recipes.


Gluten Free Seitan Style Cutlets


Oh, my these little cutlets are DELICIOUS!  They will be served on Thanksgiving as part of my Peaceful Thanksgiving menu!

It is extremely difficult to get a gluten free style seitan to work out well but these were delicious.  My husband said they certainly made his top ten list!  They held together very well, had a great texture and tasted delicious with a dollop of creamy gravy!!

I served them with delicious quinoa pilaf for a delicious, complete meal!


I went through a short period of chef block where I just could not come up with recipes but it seems it is over and I am back in the kitchen creating.  It has been fun to create without stress as well as to take time off from creating when I'm just not feeling it.

Monday, October 15, 2012

A video of past recipes




If you would like to continue to follow my work......
My recipes and I can now be found @

I hope to see you there!   
I thought it would be fun to post a video that detailed some of my favorite recipes that I've created over the years.    I am still creating recipes and actually enjoying it.   My kids love whatever I make and that really makes it SO much more enjoyable!

The recipes I create from here on out will be created for Bodymade and the recipes won't be available however I may from time to time post updates and pictures so you might want to get my Brand New Android App:  Simple Chef

It should be in the android store next week!!  I'm so excited!

I taught a nutrition class on Saturday for Bodymade and it was fantastic!!  

I am now officially the Director of Nutrition & Research for Bodymade

I am excited to begin this new adventure and I have enjoyed teaching nutrition on a more personal level.  

Friday, October 5, 2012

The Peaceful Kitchen Retiring



If you would like to continue to follow my work......
My recipes and I can now be found @

I hope to see you there!   

My very candid goodbye letter to my blog

I have been contemplating whether to continue my blog or to stop blogging for a long time.  It has been a very difficult decision for me because I really love sharing my recipes.   I've spent many nights talking to my husband about how much I love creating recipes and sharing them with others but at the same time I feel a lot of pressure and stress to create perfect, amazing, recipes and you know, not every recipe turns out to be amazing!  It didn't used to bother me, it just made me more determined, but lately it is just causing me to lose the joy in the process.

I know I have indicated in many posts that I may stop posting recipes and just post health or nutrition information but then I continue creating recipes because I love it so much.   I have wrestled with this for the last six months but I finally realized that it just isn't bringing me the joy it once did.  The stress associated with creating recipes isn't coming from my readers of course, it really is from other sources, but I just feel a lot of stress none the less.  There have been many things that have happened over the last couple of months that have solidified my decision to lay my blog to rest and free myself from recipe creating.

When creating recipes sometimes they turn out truly amazing while other times they turn out to be total disasters!

I've been embarrassed on more than one occasion when cooking for family, friends, or others only to have the recipe not turn out that ONE time I am making it for other people!  This is very difficult for me because I feel so much joy in sharing recipes that people enjoy, but I also feel equal stress, frustration, and anger at myself when it doesn't turn out and people do not enjoy it the way I hoped they would because it didn't turn out right.

I have had my share of successes when it comes to creating recipes, but I have also had  my share of complete failures as well.  It used to be that these ups and downs of the process would just make me want to try that much harder.  My kitchen would literally EXPLODE as I would spend all day making gluten free muffins, bread, or something else until I got it right!   I ended up feeling so over full from testing all these recipes trying to make it just right.......... but the satisfaction of 'getting it right' was so worth it!  I felt such a sense of accomplishment.

I think the stress of always feeling like I have to come out with some amazing, perfect recipe has worn me out over the years.  It can be tough when you have grown up with professional critics, I think I am my own worst critic, but growing up with many critics in my life has caused me to be so cautious about everything I do and the stress has really drained the joy out of creating recipes for me.

I had planned to post nutrition information from my classes and from the latest research

I tested out a few nutrition articles that were filled with the latest research to see how I felt that might work into my blog, but I don't feel that it is the right thing for me.  I enjoy teaching people in a class setting where they can ask questions and we can have a dialog.   The anonymity of the internet unfortunately brings out the worst in people and nutrition is a VERY hot topic that can bring out very strong emotions.

I have been the center of controversy, gossip, and mud flinging since I started my journey to improve my health over eight years ago.  I dealt with all  kinds of name calling, hurtful gossip, teasing, wrongful judgment and very hurtful things from people close to me and I spent many nights crying wondering why people would make such a big deal over my personal choice.  

I used to say to my husband, why do people care so much what is on MY plate?  If I want a big plate of cow manure what difference does that make to them?   After 8 years of dealing with social gatherings where I tried to ever so quietly eat my food in the corner so as to not cause any uproar only to have my dinner plate become the subject of discussion, ridicule, and bullying I just feel that I don't want to put myself out in the controversial arena of nutrition.  The truth is out there but food is SO emotional, political, financial etc..... it is worse than talking politics or religion!  Honestly it is.

I've experienced enough bullying, ridicule, and anger from the people that surround me and therefore I just don't feel up to dealing with it increased exponentially by the anonymity of the internet.


I would like to thank those who have enjoyed my recipes and who have been kind and gracious supporters

Thank you to those of you who have helped me, supported me, and enjoyed my recipes I truly appreciate your love and support!  I know there are a few of you who have followed my blog and who have enjoyed my recipes.  I will leave the blog up and the recipes will be available to those who have enjoyed them.  

Time to retire my blog and find some inner peace and joy in a new endeavor

I have begun working with a new company and have been asked to teach for them and I am excited about this new opportunity that I have to share with others in a more fulfilling way.  I may post some invitations on my blog to hear me speak or attend one of my cooking classes so there may be a few posts here and there but in general my blog will be officially retired.................................. 

It is hard for me to let go, but at the same time it feels strangely liberating as well.....