Actually I made you 9!

I’m such a good friend

You see, not only did I make you 9 whole brownies but, I made you 9 of what could possibly be the most decadent, rich, deliciously indulgent, seriously chocolaty, super fudgy brownies you’ve ever tasted!

And, not only are these arguably the most decadent, rich, deliciously indulgent, seriously chocolaty, super fudgy brownies you’ve ever tasted but they also happen to be secretly healthy and oh so easy to make!

Simply throw your ingredients into your trusty ol’ food process or blender, pour, bake, devour!

Although, as delicious as they are fresh from the oven, to fully experience the ultimate fudge factor I strongly suggest you eat them chilled . . .

seriously, life changing!

Made with no refined flours or sugars using just a handful of ingredients that I bet you have on hand already and they deliver a sneaky serve of veg which totally makes them acceptable to eat for breakfast (or dinner) , right?! Asking for a friend

I should warn you, these brownies are not for the faint of heart, they truly are a dark chocolate lovers dream!

They are decadent, rich, dark and delicious, subtly sweet, incredibly indulgent, super fudgy and I mean SUPER FUDGY, and seriously, intensely chocolaty – as a good brownie should be!

The natural sweetness of the sweet potato and the hint of subtly sweet, nuttiness from the tahini marries so perfectly with the richness of the cacao – they really do taste all kinds of incredible!

And, somehow, they seem to get better, richer and even more fudgy as the days go on!

They really are magic!

Honestly, I’m having a hard time finding the words to do these brownies the justice they deserve – I just can’t get over how fudgy and rich they are!!! – so I think I’ll stop trying and let them speak for themselves . . .

Plus, the sooner I stop talking (or typing) the sooner we can start eating  . . .

And, I mean really . . . do I need to say anymore?!

Fudge factor on point!

All natural, quick and easy, decadent, rich, deliciously indulgent, subtly sweet, secretly healthy, seriously chocolaty, super fudgy sweet potato brownies . . .

Gluten Free Dairy freeNUT FREE Grain free Refined sugar free Paleo Keto & Vegan friendly

Stop what you’re doing, this needs to happen NOW!!

Sorry for yelling but these BROWNIES!!!!!

Make them. Eat them. Love, love lurrrrrvvvveeeee them!

Super Fudgy, Flourless, Dark Chocolate Sweet Potato Brownies
{Nut Free – Gluten Free – Dairy Free – Refined Sugar Free – Vegan – Keto – Paleo Friendly}

Makes 9 tiny but mighty, decadent, rich, deliciously indulgent, seriously chocolaty, super fudgey, secretly healthy, chocolate brownies.

Ingredients –

1 cup mashed sweet potato – I used 1 medium – keto friends feel free to sub 1/2 sweet potato/1/2  avocado

1/2 cup tahini

1 egg – vegan friends sub a flax/chia egg or your fave egg replacer

1/4 cup cacao*

1 Tablespoon of vanilla extract

3-4 Tablespoons of plant based sweetener of choice –  I use Nuiva – you can sub monk fruit  monk fruit sweetener or 1/4-1/2 cup of coconut sugar

1 teaspoon of instant espresso – optional this really helps enhance the richness of the chocolate

2 Tablespoons of filtered water

1/2 teaspoon sea salt

2-4 Tablespoons of your fave dark chocolate chopped – optional (but not really )

Optional add in’s;
2-4 scoops of  Vital proteins unflavored collagen peptides – Optional for gut healing goodness – vegan friends omit

2 teaspoons of maca – for hormone balance

* I’ve also made these VERY successfully using 1/4 cup of Perfect Keto Choc MCT oil powder in place of the cacao

Method –

1 – Pre-heat oven to 175’C/350’F

2 – Grease a small square baking dish  with coconut oil/ghee or baking/parchment paper and set aside.

3 – Place all ingredients apart from chocolate , if using,  into your food processor or blender and process until smooth, creamy & well combined. If your batter is a little thick, add a splash or two of almond milk (or milk of choice) 1 Tbsp at a time to reach a smoother consistency.

4 – Pour into your prepared baking dish  and bake for 12-15 minutes until the edges are set and a toothpick has just a few moist crumbs attached when inserted into the centre.

DO NOT OVER BAKE!!!

5 –  Cool – slice – devour!

For best results allow to cool completely before serving. I prefer mine chilled.

Enjoy xo

__________________________________________

Question of the day –

What’s your favorite treat?

Feel free to share recipes, or links to your fave recipes in the comments below or on the Facebook page and please for the love of all that is good in this world when you do make your brownies (or any of the recipes you find on this blog of mine) go ahead and snap a pic and share it either on the Facebook page, or tag me on twitter or Instagram. Sharing is caring remember.

Do it, do it You know you want to

__________________________________________

The post Super Fudgy , Flourless Dark Chocolate Sweet Potato Brownies {Nut Free – Gluten Free – Dairy Free – Refined Sugar Free – Vegan – Keto – Paleo Friendly} first appeared on Better with Cake.

It’s that time again, time for another round of fit Friday fun can you believe it?!

Yes, it really is Friday again already! And, not only is it Friday but, it’s the last Friday in July!

Um, how?!

Anyways, today I’m sharing a short, sharp total body workout that you can do anywhere, anytime in just 20 minutes, with or without equipment, totally your call.

Nothing complicated, basic movements done with good form for a short but effective total body workout that will leave you feeling strong, energized and ready to take on the rest of your day.

So, here’s what we are going to do –

A descending ladder workout which simply means we will start by completing 10 reps of each exercise  (count reps per leg/side for lunges, mountain climbers & twists ) and continue to decrease reps, each round, until we get down to 1 , make sense?

We will do ;

Squats
Push Press
Curtsy Lunges
Push Ups
Mountain Climbers
Russian Twists

Now, I’m not allocating any specific rest breaks in today’s workout, the aim is to move from one exercise to the next with minimal/no rest in between  but, that does not mean you don’t take any rest.

I want you to listen to that beautiful body of yours and anytime you feel like you need to take a break to catch your breath and grab a little drink then by all means please do so, and take all the time you need. However, if possible try to wait until you get to the bottom of each round to do so but, do what you gotta do, OK?!

If you feel like you need to stop, grab a drink and catch your breath, by all means do so, take all the time you need,  then get straight back into it , deal?

For those of you who are just getting started or may not have access to a gym of any kind of weights you can absolutely do with workout without any added weight and let me tell you, you will be feeling it.

Just because you’re “only” using your body-weight as resistance doesn’t not make this an easy workout. Your heart will be pumping and those quads, glutes, hamstrings, biceps, shoulders, abs – you name it,  will be burning by the final round! And, you will definitely be feeling the effects of it tomorrow I assure you (and I mean that in the best possible way).

For our fully functioning/more advanced lifters who might be looking to make things a little more challenging – grab yourself a weapon of choice – a set of dumbbells, a barbell, kettlebells, your EmPack, some resistance bands or any combination you like. Make sure you choose something appropriate for your strength but, don’t be afraid to challenge yourself.

But, remember, we want quality not quantity, always! Never compromise your form, ever! If your form starts to fail your done, got it?

Take your time, concentrate, focus and breathe through each and every exercise. You are strong, you are amazing, you have big energy! You’ve totally got this!

And because nothing makes a workout challenge more fun than getting a buddy to join you. Why not grab your BFF or a family member or your fave workmate and have them join you, power in numbers baby!

Don’t forget to come back and let me know how you did once you’re done. Either leave me a message in the comments below, or you can give me a shout on the Facebook page or tag me (@EmSwanston) on Twitter , or Instagram (@emsswanston) . I mean it, I wanna hear how you did!

Ok enough chit chat time to work –

20 Minute
“Down for the Count”
Total Body Workout

As always make sure you are nice an warm before you start your workout – Run on the spot, do jumping jacks, jump rope, dance around your living room, anything to get you warm then it’s time to get serious.

Finish with a nice little cool down and stretch, maybe take a walk or something anything to help bring your heart rate down. Finish with a few of your fave stretches. Please don’t skip the stretch people, its like dessert for the body.

Now onto our smoothie recipe . . .

How does a nice tall, light fresh, subtly sweet, deliciously nourishing, golden spiced mango lassi sound?

Not only does this gloriously glowing smoothie taste like paradise in a cup but, it also happens to be quite the nutritional powerhouse!

It’s rich in antioxidants, a natural anti-inflammatory, it’s great for digestion, great for heart health, will help stabilize blood sugar, lower your risk of diabetes, improve brain function and boost your immunity! 

How is it possible that one pretty little cup can pack such a serious nutritional punch and be all kinds of delicious?!

I honestly have no idea how it’s possible I just know that it is!

Close your eyes, take a sip and experience the magic for yourself.

Oh and I should probably mention that not only does our delicious, nutritious, tropical inspired super smoothie taste like an absolute dream but, it also happens to be vegan, dairy free, sugar free, banana free (!!!) keto and paleo friendly – so much to love I tell you

It really is simply divine, the perfect way to treat yo’ self on this fabulous Friday.

Golden Spiced Mango Lassi
{Vegan. Gluten Free, Sugar Free, Banana Free, Keto & Paleo Friendly}
Makes 1 nice tall, light, fresh, subtly sweet, perfectly spiced creamy, dreamy, deliciously, nourishing, magical, mellowed out, mango lassi

Ingredients –

1/4 cup coconut or Greek style Yogurt

3/4 cup coconut milk / unsweetened vanilla almond milk (or milk of choice)

3/4 cup diced, mango – I used frozen

1 Tablespoon of cashew or almond butter

1/2 teaspoon of vanilla (or 2-4 drops of vanilla cream stevia – I like to use Sweet Leaf Stevia )

1/2 teaspoon of ground turmeric

1/4 teaspoon of ground ginger

1/4 teaspoon of cardamom

A pinch of pink salt

1 pinch of ground black pepper – this is important as the chemical compound in the black pepper is what helps and enables the body to absorb all of those important nutrients in the turmeric! You can’t taste the pepper, promise.

1 teaspoon of maca – optional for hormone balance

1-2 scoops of Vital proteins unflavored collagen peptides optional for an extra boost of protein and gut healing goodness

1/4-1/2  cup of ice – more or less to desired consistency

Method –

1 – Place all smoothie ingredients into your and process until smooth, creamy and well combined.

2 – Pour into a chilled glass or mason jar then top with coconut flakes and spices if desired.

NOTE – You could also add in a scoop of protein powder (vanilla or unflavoured would work best in this recipe ) for an extra boost of protein if you’re into that kinda thing – do what you feel baby

Enjoy xoxo

Don’t forget to give me a shout out when you’re done – hit me up in the comments below via the Facebook page on Twitter or on Instagram

Now go,

and have yourself a killer day xoxo

_________________________________________

Question of the day –

What’s your favorite/go to quickie workout when you really want to get a good sweat on but your pressed for time??

Feel free to share tips, tricks and/or links to your fave workouts in the comments below or on the Facebook page and please for the love of all that is good in this world when you do make this smoothie (or any of the recipes you find on this blog of mine) go ahead and snap a pic and share it either on the Facebook page, or tag me on twitter or Instagram. Sharing is caring remember.

Do it, do it You know you want to

__________________________________________

The post 20 Minute “Down for the count” Total Body Workout & A Golden Spiced Mango Lassi first appeared on Better with Cake.

What a whirlwind these last few weeks have been!

With our super exciting, very much needed, last minute/spontaneous family vaycay underway, so much has happened in such a short period of time my head is seriously spinning!

We have traveled – flown, driven, walked – so far (SO FAR!!!)  in such a short period of time, done, seen and eaten so much and have just been having THE best time but my head . . . won’t stop spinning!

I have hardly slept, thank you jet lag, and I barely know what time zone I’m in but what I do know is that before I left I whipped up the most amazing creamy, dreamy, golden goddess dressing and you need it in your life, asap!

Coconut (or Greek style yogurt) is infused with a sprinkling of garlic, touch of turmeric, a hint of ginger and a cheeky pinch of salt and pepper. Then we add a zesty squeeze of lemon juice to help lighten things up and cut through the richness of that creamy, aromatic base and um . . .

You guys . . .

This dressing?!

It’s deliciously creamy, seriously, dreamy and packed with so much flavor that it may just knock your socks right off!

It’s great on salads, it’s great on burgers, it would be amazing drizzled over these roasted carrots,  or these garlic roasted Brussels sprouts or even these crisp and crunchy baby taters too but it’s also great simply slathered onto some fresh cut veggies (carrots, mushrooms and snap peas are my fave) but cucumber, broccoli, capsicum/peppers are all good too – you name it, it just works!

And you guys, this dressing – could not be any easier to make!

It’s all natural made with just a handful of ingredients that I bet you have on hand already , it comes together in one bowl, in less than 2 minutes with no fancy blenders or specialist equipment required!

One bowl, one spoon and you’re golden! (Like what I did there. Sorry, couldn’t help myself. Lame joke is lame I know, I could go back and delete it but, I’m not going to . . .  I blame the sleep deprivation.   )

Oh dear . . . anyways, moving on . . . where was I?!

Golden Goddess dressing, right  . . .

It comes together in one bowl, in less than 2 minutes and also happens to be vegan, gluten free, dairy free, keto, paleo friendly and 100% whole 30 complaint so everybody wins!

You guys, this dressing . . . it’s insanely deliciously, I’m talking seriously addicting, and something you are going to want to slather, drizzle and eat on allllll of the things!!

I mean would you just look at it?!

Hello dreamy, right?!

All natural, quick and easy, light,fresh, creamy, dreamy, anti-inflammatory, gloriously golden, dairy free dressing . . .

5 ingredients, 2 minutes in the making . . .

The only thing that’s left to decide is how will you eat yours?!

Make it. Eat it. Love, love, love it!

Creamy, 2 minute Golden Goddess Dressing
{Vegan, Gluten Free, Keto & Paleo Friendly}

Makes approx 1 cup of all natural, quick and easy, creamy, dreamy, garlic infused, gloriously golden dressing

Ingredients –

1 cup coconut or Greek style yogurt

1 teaspoon garlic powder

1/4 teaspoon turmeric

1 pinch of ground ginger

1 teaspoon of freshly squeeze lemon juice (approx 1/3 of a medium sized lemon)

1 teaspoon of salt

1/4 teaspoon of freshly ground black pepper

Optional add ins;

2 scoops of Vital proteins unflavored collagen peptides

1 teaspoon of Meadow and Marrow Bone Broth Concentrate – for an extra boost of protein and gut healing goodness

1 Tablespoon of MCT oil – brain boosting energy

Method –

1 – Place all ingredients into a small bowl and stir until well combined.

2 – Taste and adjust seasonings to taste. Also, if you prefer a thinner consistency add a touch of coconut or almond milk (or milk of choice) a teaspoon at a time to reach desired consistency.

3 – Drizzle over your favorite salad, roasted veg, carrot and zucchini fritters or use it to simply dip fresh cut veggie sticks for a seriously flavorful snack.

4 – Store in an air-tight container in the fridge and should keep well for up to 7 days but I doubt it will last that long, mine never does

Enjoy xo

_________________________________________

Question of the day –

Are you a fellow creamy, dreamy condiment lover? What’s your favorite way to eat it? Drizzled on salads or roasted veg, as a dip for allll of the things?!

Feel free to share recipes, or links to your fave recipes in the comments below or on the Facebook page and please for the love of all that is good in this world when you do make your creamy, dreamy garlic and dill dressing (or any of the recipes you find on this blog of mine) go ahead and snap a pic and share it either on the Facebook page, or tag me on twitter or Instagram. Sharing is caring remember.

Do it, do it You know you want to

__________________________________________

The post Creamy, 2 Minute Golden Goddess Dressing {Vegan, Gluten Free, Keto & Paleo Friendly} first appeared on Better with Cake.

I am so sorry for skipping out on your these last few weeks, I won’t bore you with the details but, boy-O-boy things have been a little cray, cray up in here!

For reals!

It seems that no matter how organized I think I am, how much I plan, or how hard I try, something always seem to come up to throw a spanner in the works!

Tell me that I’m not the only one who has days/weeks/months like this?!

It’s been one thing after another . . . “oi with the poodles already!” (please tell me you get my Gilmore Girls reference?!)

Anyway, it’s times like these that I am extremely thankful for recipes like this . . .

5 minute, 3 ingredient curry chicken lettuce cups.

You guys . . . these deliciously simple, seriously flavorful, pretty little lettuce cups have literally saved my life these last few weeks!

3 ingredients, 5 minutes in the making – erry-body got time for that!

But let me tell you, these simple little lettuce cups are packed with so much flavor that your taste buds, tummy and anyone you share them with, will be all kinds of happy.

I’m talking major dorky happy dancing will be happening all over the dining room – or kitchen in my case, which is exactly what happened here the first time I made these.

What, doesn’t everyone get this excited about food?!

Admit it, you know you do – that’s one of the reasons I love you so much 

Speaking of love . . .

These curry chicken lettuce cups . . .

Quick and easy to prepare made with just a handful of ingredients that I bet you have on hand already.

They are naturally gluten free, dairy free, keto and paleo friendly as well as being 100% whole 30 compliant but, most importantly, they are delicious, nutritious and something the while family will just adore!

Serve them simply as they are ( and if you wanted to go ahead and add a couple of slices of crispy bacon to the mix I wouldn’t be mad about it – seriously, let’s do that because, BACON!!!!!)

Or, you could eat it with some of your favorite crackers, plantain or tortilla chips, roll it up in a tortilla, serve it on toast or as a sandwich for a quick and easy yet seriously satisfying, super simple lunch.

Or, you could enjoy it with some perfectly roasted pumpkin or crisp and crunchy roasted baby potatoes and garlic roasted Brussels sprouts and have yourself an absolutely amazing dinner.

However you choose to eat it you really can’t go wrong!

All natural, quick and easy, light, fresh, crisp and crunchy, creamy, dreamy, perfectly spiced curry chicken lettuce cups . . . .

Make them. Eat them. Love, love, love them.

5 Minute, 3 Ingredient Curry Chicken Lettuce Cups

{Low Carb – Gluten Free – Dairy Free – Keto & Paleo Friendly}

Makes  2 – 4 all natural, quick and easy, light, fresh, creamy, dreamy, crispy, crunchy, seriously flavorful lettuce cups. (1-2 servings)

Ingredients –

1 cup of cooked chicken – chopped or shredded

For the dressing –

2 Tablespoons of mayo – Homemade or store bought will work –  ( I use Primal Kitchen Foods – {Paleo} Avocado Oil Mayo) ** – could sub coconut or Greek style yogurt

1 teaspoon of your fave curry/Indian spice mix

A squeeze of lime juice (about 1/2 teaspoon)

Salt and pepper to taste

For serving –

Baby coz or butter lettuce leaves, washed and dried

1/2 an avocado, sliced

1-2 Tablespoons of pomegranate arils – fresh or freeze dried
*You could sub dried cranberries, cherries or even red grapes would work here too

Coriander (cilantro)

Method –

1 – Place all of the dressing ingredients into a small bowl or glass jar and stir to combine.

The dressing is quite thick so feel free to add a splash of water (or milk of choice) about 1/2 tsp at a time, to reach desired consistency.  I usually take 1/2-2/3 of the dressing and stir it into the chicken before thinning out the rest to drizzle over the top;

1 – This helps the salad mix hold together nicely in my lettuce cup and,

2 – No one likes a watery salad!!

Then I thin it out whats leftover to drizzle over the top, because I love me a good drizzle!

2 – Place your cooked chicken into a small bowl, add 1/2-2/3 of the dressing and stir to combine.

3 – To serve – Place a few slices of avocado into your prepared lettuce cups, top with your creamy, dreamy, chicken salad, sprinkle with fresh coriander, pomegranate arils and drizzle over the last of that dreamy dressing!

Enjoy xo

** I order my Primal Kitchen mayo online from iHerb.com – the prices are amazing, shipping is super fast, the customer service is top notch!

You can use my code NHN329 to get an extra 5% off

_________________________________________

Question of the day –

What’s your current quick and easy lunch time obsession?

Feel free to share recipes, or links recipes in the comments below or on the Facebook page and please for the love of all that is good in this world when you do make your creamy, dreamy, curry chicken lettuce cups cups (or any of the recipes you find on this blog of mine) go ahead and snap a pic and share it either on the Facebook page, or tag me on twitter or Instagram. Sharing is caring remember.

Do it, do it You know you want to

__________________________________________

The post 5 Minute, 3 Ingredient, Curry Chicken Lettuce Cups {Low Carb – Gluten Free – Dairy Free – Keto & Paleo Friendly} first appeared on Better with Cake.

Alright party people, it’s that time again, time for another round of Fit Friday Fun, are you ready?!

Today I’m sharing one short, sharp lower body workout that you can get in and get done in around 20 minutes , what do you say, are you up for the challenge?

You guys know how how much I love, love, love my lower body workouts, The lower body is where your powerhouse muscles are (I’m looking at you quads, glutes and hamstrings) which means you get a serious bang for your workout butt, I mean buck

So, here’s what we are going to do –

5 exercises – Box Jumps – Deadlifts – Step Ups – Reverse Lunges – Squats

We will aim to do 8-10 reps of each exercise (count reps per leg for step ups and lunges) then repeat the entire sequence through for a total of 3 rounds, resting for 1-2 minutes between rounds. Make sense?

5 exercises
8-10 reps each
x 3 rounds
Boomshakalocka, done

Nothing complicated, basic movements done with good form for a short but effective lower body workout.

Grab yourself a weapon of choice – a set of dumbbells, a barbell, kettlebells, some resistance bands, your trusty ol’ EmPack or any combination you like. Make sure you choose something appropriate for your strength and feel free to add/remove weight as needed along the way but, don’t be afraid to challenge yourself.

The final reps should be tough!

Although, we want quality not quantity, always! Never compromise your form, ever! If your form starts to fail your done, got it?

Take your time, concentrate, focus and breathe through each and every exercise. You are strong, you are amazing, you have big energy! You’ve totally got this!

And because nothing makes a workout challenge more fun than getting a buddy to join you. Why not grab your BFF or a family member or your fave workmate and have them join you, power in numbers baby!

Don’t forget to come back and let me know how you did once you’re done. Either leave me a message in the comments below, or you can give me a shout on the Facebook page or tag me (@EmSwanston) on Twitter , or Instagram (@emsswanston) . I mean it, I wanna hear how you did!

Ok enough chit chat time to work –

30 Minute Lower Body Workout

As always make sure you are nice an warm before you start your workout – Run on the spot, do jumping jacks, jump rope, dance around your living room, anything to get you warm then it’s time to get serious.

Finish with a nice little cool down and stretch, maybe take a walk or something anything to help bring your heart rate down. Finish with a few of your fave stretches. Please don’t skip the stretch people, its like dessert for the body.

Now onto our bonus smoothie recipe . . .

How does a nice tall, light, fresh, creamy, dreamy, subtly sweet, vibrant, delicious cranberry and pomegranate smoothie sound?

It’s light, fresh,creamy, dreamy, subtly sweet, delicious, nutritious – an absolute taste sensation.

And would you just look at that colour?!

It really is simply divine, the perfect way to treat yo’ self while you refuel and re-energize that beautiful body of yours on this fabulous Friday.

Oh and I should probably mention that not only does our vibrant, delicious, pretty pink, powerhouse of a smoothie taste like an absolute dream but, it also happens to be vegan, dairy free and paleo friendly – so much to love I tell you

Cranberry Pomegranate Smoothie
{Vegan, Dairy Free & Paleo Friendly}
Makes 1 all natural, light, fresh, creamy, dreamy, subtly sweet, vibrant, delicious, seriosuly nutritious super smoothie.

Ingredients –

1/3 cup coconut or Greek style yogurt

2/3 cup unsweetened vanilla almond milk (or milk of choice)

1/2 an overripe banana (preferably pre-frozen)

1/3 cup of frozen cranberries

3 Tablespoons of Pomegranate arils

1 teaspoon of vanilla (or 4-6 drops of vanilla cream stevia – I like to use Sweet Leaf Stevia )

1 teaspoon of Chia seeds

1 Tablespoon of coconut oil – optional but recommended

1/4-1/2  cup of ice – more or less to desired consistency

Optional but recommended for serving –

Coconut flakes

Chia Seeds

Fresh or freeze dried pomegranate arils

Method –

1 – Place all smoothie ingredients into your and process until smooth, creamy and well combined.

2 – Pour into a chilled glass or mason jar then top with coconut flakes, chia seeds and pomegranate if desired.

You could also add in a scoop of protein powder (vanilla or unflavored would work best in this recipe – I like to use The Healthy Chef – WPI) and some great lakes gelatin or vital proteins collagen peptides (use the code to get NHN329 to get 10% off ) for an extra boost of protein if you’re into that kinda thing – do what you feel baby

Enjoy xoxo

Don’t forget to give me a shout out when you’re done – hit me up in the comments below via the Facebook page on Twitter or on Instagram

Now go;

and have yourself a killer day xoxo

_________________________________________

The post A {NEW} 30 Minute Lower Body Workout + A Creamy, Cranberry Pomegranate Smoothie first appeared on Better with Cake.

If you’re looking for some deliciously simple, secretly healthy, homemade treats to make for your dear ol’ Dad this Father’s day weekend (or even just for your fine self because, yum! #treatyoself )  then look no further my friend.

I’ve put together a list of 20 of my most popular, healthy, homemade treats, an array of goodies to cater for all tastes, that are super simple to put together (so little hands can get involved) and would make a wonderful gift that I’m sure the special men in your life would thoroughly enjoy, I know mine do

1 – Salted Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Fudge Bites

2 – Lemon Berry Bliss Bites

3 – Salted Maple Pecan Almond Butter

4 – Apple and Cranberry {Grain Free} Granola

5 – Sweet and Spicy Savory Snack Mix

6 – Chocolate Orange Bliss Bites

7 – Chocolate Tahini Fudge Bites

8 – Chocolate Coated Roasted Almonds

9 – Healthy, No-Bake Lamington {Chocolate & Coconut} Bliss Bites

10 – Black Forest Granola

11 – Dark Chocolate Strawberry Coconut Butter Cups

12 – Quick and Easy Candied Walnuts

13 – 3 Ingredients Dark Chocolate Hazelnut Almond Butter Cups

14 – Chocolate Peanut Butter Fudge Power Bites

15 – Summer Berry Snack Mix

16 – Caramel Chai Spiced Bliss Bites

17 – Deliciously Simple, Healthy, Homemade Chocolate Coated, Salted Caramels

18 – DIY – Dark Chocolate Roasted Almond Bark

19 – Dark Chocolate Cranberry Fruit and Nut Clusters

20 – Dark Chocolate Double Stuffed Dates

So much deliciousness where to begin?

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Please for the love of all that is good in this world when you do make your deliciously simple, secretly healthy, homemade treats (or any of the recipes you find on this blog of mine) go ahead and snap a pic and share it either on the Facebook page, or tag me on twitter or Instagram. Sharing is caring remember.

Do it, do it You know you want to

__________________________________________

The post 20 Deliciously Simple, Secretly Healthy Homemade Treats for Father’s Day first appeared on Better with Cake.

Rockin’ Moroccan roasted carrots with spicy tahini and lime dressing !!!!

Insert alllllll the heart eyed emojis here →

Sweet, tender baby carrots are tossed in an earthy, aromatic Moroccan spice mix then oven roasted until crisp, crunchy and caramelized to perfection before being drizzled with a light, fresh, creamy, dreamy, deliciously nutty, slightly spicy tahini and lime dressing then sprinkled with pretty little pomegranate arils!!!!!

So much deliciousness I can hardly stand it!

You guys know how much I love my roasted veg (see here,  here and here ) but , these rockin’ Moroccan roasted carrots may have taken my obsession to a whole new next level!

They are sweet, spicy, crisp and crunchy and packed with so much flavor flave that your pretty little head may just explode!

Whoever said vegetables had to be boring and tasteless?!

Not this gal that’s for sure!

Eat them simply as they are, served on a pile of salad greens with a couple of soft boiled eggs for a delicious twist on breakfast or a fun way to spice up your meat-free Monday, or for a heartier, more traditional meal serve them along side your protein of choice.

However you choose to do it you really can’t go wrong!

All natural, quick and easy, soft, tender, crisp, crunchy, sweet and spicy, seriously flavorful, rockin’ Moroccan roasted carrots with the creamiest, dreamiest, tahini and lime dressing . . .

I literally can’t even . . .

Just do it already!

Make them. Eat them. Love, love, love them.

Rockin’ Moroccan Roasted Carrots with

Spicy Tahini and Lime Dressing

Ingredients –

1 bunch of “Dutch” baby carrots, halved

1-2 teaspoons of coconut oil, melted and cooled (you just want enough to give your carrots a very light coating) – my fave is this cold pressed coconut oil by Loving Earth

1-2 Tablespoons of Moroccan Seasoning – Homemade or Store bought – If I’m not using my own healthy, homemade Moroccan spice mix I like to use the Rockin’ Moroccan Medley by The Spice Trading Company

Salt and and freshly ground black pepper to taste

For Serving –

1-2 Tablespoons of Spicy Tahini and Lime Dressing

1-2 Tablespoons of pomegranate arils – fresh or freeze dried

1-2 Tablespoons of fresh coriander (cilantro)

Method –

1 – Preheat your oven to 175’C/350’F

2 – Line a baking tray with baking/parchment paper and set aside.

3 – Place your sliced carrots into a bowl, or directly onto your baking tray then drizzle with coconut oil, season with Moroccan seasoning and an extra pinch of salt and pepper if desired, and toss to coat.

4 – Place your carrots onto your prepared baking sheet, make sure your carrots are  evenly spaced on your baking sheet, you want to make sure they have some room to breathe, this is important, it ensures our carrots get nice crispy (not sad and soggy) edges!!!

5 – Roast for 20-25 minutes until the flesh is soft and tender and the edges are nice and crisp.

6 – Once your carrots are crisp and caramelized, transfer to a serving plate, drizzle with some of your spicy tahini and lime dressing, scatter over your pretty little pomegranate arils, sprinkle with coriander (cilantro) and finish with a cheeky squeeze of lime.

7 – Enjoy as a side with your protein of choice, or with build an epic salad with a couple of soft boiled eggs, some garlic roasted Brussels sprouts, some perfectly roasted baby potatoes, some sliced avocado and a mountain of baby salad greens.

Enjoy xo

_________________________________________

Question of the day –

Are you a fellow roasted veg lover?! Whats you’re favorite way to prepare it? And of course how do you like to eat it?! Tell me . . . details please

Feel free to share recipes, or links to your fave recipes in the comments below or on the Facebook page and please for the love of all that is good in this world when you do make your Moroccan spiced carrots (or any of the recipes you find on this blog of mine) go ahead and snap a pic and share it either on the Facebook page, or tag me on twitter or Instagram. Sharing is caring remember.

Do it, do it You know you want to

The post Rockin’ Moroccan Roasted Carrots with Spicy Tahini and Lime Dressing first appeared on Better with Cake.

So I’m going to keep things super short for you today because I have literally been trying to write this post for 3 days now.

Oh how I wish I was kidding.

Sadly, I am not.

It seems I have gone and got myself a major case of writers block

I’ve been standing here, staring at my laptop for hours on end, on and off for 3 whole days ( ← yes, really) trying to come up with something fun, witty or interesting to tell you.

A funny anecdote or cool story but . . . I got nothin’

Why is this so hard for me?!

I have no trouble at all coming up with recipe ideas.

I literally have lists, upon lists, upon lists, upon, lists, upon lists of all kinds of delicious things I want to make and share with you, my sweet invisible internet BFF, but when it comes time to sit (or stand in my case) and write something fun to go with the recipe . . . I find it really hard.

Like really, REALLY hard!

But, you know what’s not hard . . .

Making this spicy tahini and lime dressing . . .

And, um, you guys . . . this dressing  . . . is life.

Creamy, dreamy deliciously nutty tahini , combined with sprinkling of garlic powder, a pinch of red pepper flakes and cheeky squeeze of light fresh zesty lime is absolute perfection!

1 bowl – 1 spoon – 5 ingredients and 2 minutes in the making  and you my friend have yourself one epic little flavor-bomb!

No fancy whisks or electronic equipment required!!!

And talk about tantalize those taste buds baby!

I seriously can’t stop eating it on alllll of the things!

And you know what?! I’m not even a little bit sorry about it.

It’s just so good!

It’s such a quick and easy, deliciously simple way to spice things up add a tonne of flavor to just about anything!

It’s great on salads, it’s great on burgers, it’s incredible on a creamy, dreamy,  avocado too (like this – best snack ever!!!)  it would go very nicely drizzled over some roasted pumpkin or crispy taters and oh how good it would be slathered onto these quick and easy carrot and zucchini fritters too!! (Seriously, let’s do that, asap!)

You could totally use it hollandaise style and serve it with eggs, a nice juicy steak some grilled chicken, salmon or protein of choice – yum!

But, it’s also all kinds of amazing simply served alongside some fresh cut veggies, carrots and snap peas are my all time fave but cucumber, broccoli, capsicum/peppers are good to – you name it, it just works!

Seriously, so good!

And you know what makes it even better?!

The fact that it comes together in less than 2 minutes using just a handful of ingredients that I bet you have on hand already and, it also happens to be vegan, gluten free, dairy free and paleo friendly.

Deliciously winning on so many levels!

FYI – This dressing is intentionally made to be on the thicker side because;

1 – Ain’t nobody got time for watery dressings, am I right?!

2 – That way I can use it as a spread and dip as well as a dressing.

So versatile and delicious I tell you, I can not wait for you to try because one taste and I know you be as in love with it as I am.

I mean would you just look at how deliciously luscious and creamy it is?!

All natural, quick and easy, light, fresh, creamy, dreamy, garlic infused, spicy, tahini and lime dressing . . .

Make it. Eat it. Love, love love it.

Spicy Tahini and Lime Dressing
{Gluten Free, Dairy Free, Keto & Paleo Friendly}

Makes approx 3/4-1 cup of light, fresh, creamy dreamy, deliciously nutty, zip, zingy, spicy tahini and lime dressing

Ingredients –

1/2 cup of tahini

2 teaspoons of garlic powder

2 teaspoons of freshly squeezed lime juice (about 1/2 a small lime)

A pinch of red pepper flakes

Salt and pepper to taste

4-6 Tablespoons of water – more or less to reach desired consistency.

Method –

1 – Place all ingredients into a bowl or glass jar and stir (or shake) to combine.

This dressing is on the thicker side which is just the way I like it. That way I can use it as a spread as well as a dressing.  Feel free to add some a little extra water (1 tsp at a time) to reach desired consistency.

2 – Taste and adjust seasonings accordingly. Also, if you prefer a thinner consistency add a touch of water (or you could try using coconut or almond milk if you prefer) 1 teaspoon at a time to reach desired consistency.

3 – Drizzle over your favorite salad, roasted veg, carrot and zucchini fritters or use it to simply dip fresh cut veggie sticks for a seriously flavorful snack.

4 – Store in an air-tight container in the fridge and should keep well for up to 7 days but I doubt it will last that long, mine never does

Enjoy xo

_________________________________________

Question of the day –

What’s your current quick and easy way to spice things up in the kitchen?

Feel free to share recipes, or links recipes in the comments below or on the Facebook page and please for the love of all that is good in this world when you do make your spicy tahini and lime dressing (or any of the recipes you find on this blog of mine) go ahead and snap a pic and share it either on the Facebook page, or tag me on twitter or Instagram. Sharing is caring remember.

Do it, do it You know you want to

__________________________________________

The post Spicy Tahini and Lime Dressing {Gluten Free, Dairy Free, Keto & Paleo Friendly} first appeared on Better with Cake.

You guys . . .

These spicy tuna, tahini and lime salad lettuce cups are so quick and easy to prepare but they are so insanely delicious, packed with so much flavor that your pretty little head may just explode!

You guys know how much I love a good lettuce wrap (see  here , here, here and here ) and these bad boys are my latest obsession.

One taste and I know you will be as in love with them as I am!

Especially that light, fresh, creamy, dreamy, garlic infused, tahini and lime dressing . . . oh my word!

The combination of that deliciously creamy, slightly nutty tahini combined with a pinch of garlic, a sprinkling of red pepper flakes and light. freshy, zesty squeeze of lime is absolute perfection!

I seriously want to take a bath in that dressing.

Ok maybe not, especially considering that there are red pepper flakes are involved . . . but I think you get the point!

It’s seriously good!

So good in fact, you might want to go ahead make yourself a double – triple – quadruple batch because if you’re anything like me (which I’m pretty sure you are seeings as we are food and fitness lovin’, invisible internet BFF’s and all)  you are going to want to eat it on allllll of the things! #cantstop #notsorry

It’s such a quick and easy way to add a tonne of flavor to a delicious, nutritious, 5 minute meal!

Serve them simply as they are or, for a heartier meal you cold roll it into a tortilla,  load them on to a slice or two of your favorite bread, or a couple of crackers for a quick and easy yet seriously satisfying, flavor packed lunch.

Or you could even serve them along with some light and fluffy cauliflower rice (or regular rice or quinoa if you prefer) and garlic roasted Brussels sprouts and have yourself an absolutely amazing dinner.

I personally adore them served straight up as they are, in all their unadorned, simplistic (slightly messy) glory. I love the contrast in texture and the cool, crisp freshness that those crunchy little lettuce leaves bring to the table – but play around, do what you feel just promise me you’ll make them sooner rather than later.

However you choose to eat them you really can’t go wrong!

There’s just so much much to love I tell you!

And oh how I do dearly love thee, let me count the ways . . .

1 – Our spicy tuna, tahini and lime lettuce wraps are super quick and easy to prepare, made with just a handful of ingredients that I bet you have on hand already.

2 – They are packed with protein and heart healthy fats which means that not only are they all kinds of delicious but, these pretty little lettuce cups are guaranteed to keep you feeling full and satisfied for hours on end.

3 – They also happen to be naturally gluten free, dairy free, nut free, low carb, keto and paleo friendly as well as 100% Whole30 compliant but, most importantly . . .

4 – They are insanely and I mean I N S A N E L Y delicious, seriously nutritious and something the whole family will absolutely adore!

10 ingredients, 5 minutes in the making = Deliciously winning on so many levels!

Honestly, I don’t know what else to tell you . . . please just do yourself a favor and go make them already!

All natural, quick and easy, light, fresh, sweet and spicy, creamy, dreamy, vibrant, delicious, seriously nutritious, spicy, tuna, tahini and lime salad lettuce cups . . .

Taste the rainbow baby!

Make them. Eat them. Love, love, love them.

Spicy Tuna, Tahini & Lime Salad Lettuce Cups
{Low Carb – Gluten Free – Keto & Paleo Friendly}

Makes (1 serving) of 2 – 3 all natural, quick and easy, light, fresh, seriously flavorful, sweet and spicy lettuce cups.

Ingredients –

For the salad –

1 large (or 2 small) cans of tuna – drained

6 baby tomatoes, quartered.

1/2 a small carrot, grated

1/4 cup red cabbage, finely shredded

For the dressing –

2 Tablespoons of tahini

1/2-1 teaspoon of garlic powder

A squeeze of lime juice (about 1/2 teaspoon)

A pinch of red pepper flakes

Salt and pepper to taste

For serving –

Baby coz or butter lettuce leaves, washed and dried

1/4-1/2 an avocado, sliced

1 small red chili, sliced

Red pepper (chili) flakes

Coriander (cilantro)

Method –

1 – Place all of the dressing ingredients into a small bowl or glass jar and stir to combine.

The dressing is quite thick so feel free to add a splash of water (about 1/2 tsp at a time) to reach desired consistency.  I usually take 1 Tablespoon of the dressing and stir it into the tuna salad mix before thinning it out. 1 – this helps the salad mix hold together nicely in my lettuce cup  and 2 – no one likes a watery tuna salad!!) then I thin it out to drizzle over the top.

FYI – you will have a little extra dressing, especially if you don’t do the extra drizzle when serving (but please do the drizzle!).

2 – Place your tuna along with 3/4 of your carrot, cabbage and tomatoes into a small and stir to combine.

3 -Add about a Tablespoon of your tahini and lime dressing into your tuna salad mix and stir to combine.

4 – To serve – Place a few slices of avocado into your prepared lettuce cups, top with your super tasty tuna salad, add the rest of your carrot, cabbage and tomato them sprinkle with fresh coriander, extra chili (or chili flakes) and drizzle over a little more of that divine tahini and lime dressing!

Enjoy xo

_________________________________________

Question of the day –

What’s your current quick and easy lunch time obsession?

Feel free to share recipes, or links recipes in the comments below or on the Facebook page and please for the love of all that is good in this world when you do make your spicy tuna, tahini and lime salad lettuce cups cups (or any of the recipes you find on this blog of mine) go ahead and snap a pic and share it either on the Facebook page, or tag me on twitter or Instagram. Sharing is caring remember.

Do it, do it You know you want to

__________________________________________

The post Spicy Tuna, Tahini and Lime Salad Lettuce Cups {Low Carb – Gluten Free – Keto & Paleo Friendly} first appeared on Better with Cake.

1 – Hello chocolate,

need I say more?!

2 – Making my own chocolate fudge is something I’ve been wanting to do for a long, long, loooonnnngggg time but, for some reason I built it up in my mind to be this be complicated ordeal that required specialist equipment (think Bunsen burners, thermometers, protective eye equipment and lab coats) but you guys . . . I could not have been more wrong!

Making your own chocolate fudge is so ridiculously easy, I’m kicking myself for not trying it sooner.

Honestly, the hardest part about making this fudge is having the patience to wait for it to set! That in itself just takes 10-15 minutes if you pop it in the freezer but still, #thestruggleisreal

Trust me, as far as recipes go, it doesn’t get much easier than this!

Just 5 ingredients – cacao butter, cacao, tahini, vanilla, a pinch of salt and sprinkling of instant espresso which which is totally optional (but highly recommended). I find adding a touch of espresso really helps to elevate, enhance and intensify the richness of the chocolate

5 minutes in the making –  melt, stir, set, eat!

Yes, it really is that easy!

No reason to be scared or intimidated in the slightest, you can (and should!!) totally do this! 

Now, I should warn you . . . this deliciously simple, secretly healthy dark chocolate fudge that we’re making today is not for the faint of heart, it’s decadent and rich, deliciously indulgent and seriously, and I mean
S E R I O U S L Y, intensely chocolaty.

A dark chocolate lovers dream!

For those of you who prefer your chocolate on the sweeter side feel free to bump up the amount of vanilla you use, or you could go ahead and add in a drizzle of maple syrup or honey if you prefer – the trick is to taste as you go and customize as needed.

That’s another thing I love about making your own homemade treats – not only is it a lot better for you ( our fudge is made with no refined flours, sugars, weird fillers or unpronounceable ingredients)  and it’s 100% customizable.

Don’t like tahini  you crazy thing use in sunbutter (sunflower seed butter) instead?! Or, feel free to go ahead and sub in your fave nut butter – I bet almond, cashew or macadamia butter would work really well here in place of the tahini but keep in mind it would no longer be nut free and, it would also alter the flavor. I have no doubt it would still be absolutely delicious, just different is all. (I personally love that subtle, sweet nuttiness that tahini leaves lingering on your palate) but play around, have some fun and make it just the way you like it!

And, not only is our dark chocolate fudge much healthier and totally customizable but, I think our healthy, homemade fudge tastes a million times better than just about anything you’d buy from the store.

One taste and I think you’ll agree.

Just in case you need a little more convincing . . . this deliciously simple, dark chocolate fudge we’re making is not only seriously yummy but, it’s also packed with nutritional value!

Our dreamy dark chocolate tahini fudge bites are rich in antioxidants, heart healthy fats and  packed with essential vitamins and minerals.

They also happen to be nut free, dairy free, sugar free, gluten free, vegan, keto and paleo, friendly.

Deliciously winning on so many levels

And did I mention the yum . . .

So fudgey, so decadent, so rich, so indulgent, so chocolaty, so simple to throw together, so don’t know what else I need to tell you . . .

All natural, quick and easy, deliciously simple, secretly healthy, decadent, rich, raw dark chocolate tahini fudge bites . . .

Make them. Eat them. Love, love, love them.

 

Dark Chocolate Tahini Fudge Bites
{Dairy Free – Sugar Free – Gluten Free –
Vegan – Keto & Paleo}

Makes approx 16 deliciously indulgent, decadent and rich, seriously chocolaty, tiny but mighty, dark chocolate tahini fudge bites.

Ingredients –

1/4 cup cacao butter

1/4 cup cacao

1/4 cup tahini

2 teaspoons of vanilla extract (or 10-12 drops of vanilla cream stevia – I like to use Sweet Leaf Stevia )

1/4 teaspoon instant espresso – optional but recommended

1-2 scoops of Vital proteins unflavored collagen peptides – optional for an extra boost of protein and gut healing goodness

1 pinch of salt + extra for serving

Method –

1 – Place cacao butter into a medium size bowl and melt by your preferred method. I like to do mine on the stove top, double boiler style, by placing the bowl on top of saucepan filled with just a few inches of water.

2 – Once your cacao butter has melted, add remaining ingredients and stir until smooth and well combined.

3 – Pour (or spoon) your melted fudge mixture into a chocolate mould tray (or you could just place some paper cupcake cases on to a baking sheet, or use a mini muffin tray instead)

4 – Place into the fridge or freezer to set.

5 – Once set, sprinkle with a little sea salt and voila’

Enjoy xo

Note – These beauties are best stored in the fridge (or freezer) as they tend to soften in warmer temperatures

__________________________________________

Question of the day –

Are you a fellow fudge lover? What’s your favorite flava flave?

Feel free to share recipes, or links to your fave recipes in the comments below or on the Facebook page and please for the love of all that is good in this world when you do make your decadent and rich, dark chocolate tahini fudge bites (or any of the recipes you find on this blog of mine) go ahead and snap a pic and share it either on the Facebook page, or tag me on twitter or Instagram. Sharing is caring remember.

Do it, do it You know you want to

__________________________________________

The post Dark Chocolate Tahini Fudge Bites {Dairy Free – Sugar Free – Gluten Free – Vegan – Keto – Paleo} first appeared on Better with Cake.