Desserts

DIY Creamy Almond and Coconut Freezer Fudge

October 5, 2015 By Milen Gala

Think about it…. Creamy, smooth, decadent fudge is only 6 ingredients, a mixing bowl, and a freezer away.

I’ve been an almond and coconut friend for as long as I can remember. My obsession started with Coconut Macaroons, then digressed to Almond Joy Bars, made a right turn at Almond and Coconut KIND Bars, and has finally arrived back to home base – good old Homemade Almond and Coconut Fudge.

Plus, I knew I can figure out a way to make these with all natural and super healthy ingredients, refined-sugar free, completely raw, and loaded up with my favorite toppings. Not to mention they are dairy, gluten, and soy free…. and last for months (if I can stop my friends from stealing them!)

Verdict: So good. So easy. At this point I’m basically operating a almond and coconut freezer fudge factory out of my kitchen…

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Bittersweet and White Chocolate Halloween Bark

October 16, 2014 By Milen Gala

Last Friday we had no school. It’s parent teacher conference week and the kids and I had a whole day to do nothing but goof off and have some down time. No classes, no extra curricular activities, no homework, no stress… And after a day of playing in the park, swimming at the club, eating sandwiches and french fries at the pool and making Halloween cards for the teachers we decided we needed to end the day with a little homemade goodness…

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Cardamom-Scented Apple Cherry Galette

September 13, 2013 By Milen Gala

Sometimes, we’re just in the mood for a rustic, warm and satisfying dessert. As the summer nights come to an end and the evenings give way to the cool air of Fall, it takes a little something special to warm our insides. This cardamom-scented galette sublimely satisfies our senses as we prepare for the chilly weather ahead. We enjoyed it last night, topped with some vanilla ice cream, sitting on the deck watching the sailboats and the sunset.

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My Favorite Homemade Granola

May 23, 2013 By Milen Gala

Admittedly, I have been holding off on posting this recipe for some time now, first wanting to legitimize my site and display my culinary chops before subjecting myself to the inevitable onslaught of snickers and comments that this post is likely to inspire. So, yes, the cliche of a granola recipe from a Seattle-based food blog is not lost on me.

And while since moving to Seattle, I have started recycling, composting, eating only local, organic, non-GMO produce, fallen in love with kale, become vegan, reduced my glycemic index by switching to agave, discarded toxin-riddled commercial peanut butter in favor of raw sunflower butter, purchased an almond milk bag, and gained “awareness” of my carbon footprint (while wearing high heeled designer shoes, does that still count?), I can still safely say that this granola recipe will transcend regional biases. It is just that good! One bite and you will be looking for that Patagonia fleece and the tie dye t-shirt you wore back in the 80s.

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Dark Chocolate Coconut Almond Truffles

May 7, 2013 By Milen Gala

We all know there is something about chocolate, something within chocolate, that is beyond touch, taste, and tantalizing sensation… the pure essence of which is truly indescribable, inexpressible, ineffable…

But do we also know that chocolate is considered a “superfood”? Yes… I’ve been reading and researching about eating whole and raw foods and the associated health benefits, and have come to the conclusion that chocolate not only tastes good but that it is truly good for you. Cacao is the essential, and main, ingredient in chocolate… and cacao, my friends, contains the highest concentration of antioxidants of any food in the world. These antioxidants include pholyphenols, catechins, and epicatechins. By weight, raw cacao has more antioxidants than red wine, pomegranate, acai, and blueberries combined. Cacao also supports the heart, increases brain power, relaxes muscles, helps build strong bones, and oxygenates the blood. It’s no wonder when eating chocolate we feel immortal, as though we can conquer enemies, lead battalions, and entice lovers…

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Vegan Raspberry Layer Cake

March 2, 2013 By Milen Gala

Building on the success of the vegan brownie, we’re trying to push the limits of vegan baking. In general, cooking is more forgiving and amenable to ad lib, on the fly changes, whims and substitutions, whereas baking is chemistry. A little change here or there and you have a new state of matter (neither solid nor liquid) or a dry, crumbly desiccant, able to extract whatever moisture you may have in your mouth. So our eggless or vegan baking has required a fair amount of research, experimentation, trial and error and on occasion, the trash can. Ultimately, dessert needs to satisfy that inner craving for something sweet, moist, creamy, fruity or chocolatey. AND, it needs to be well worth the caloric load. This cake (after significant R&D) delivers on all fronts, while also being wholesome, good for your health, your conscience and the planet. Ok, may be that’s a bit much, but it is really good cake!

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Brownies that will leave you incredulous…

December 9, 2012 By Milen Gala

Invariably, if you stop by our house, anytime, you will probably find a batch of brownies on the kitchen counter. Usually a Ghirardelli boxed mix with some nuts thrown in…So, when I decided to try and go vegan this was the one thing that I had a very hard time giving up. Hence, began the quest for the ultimate vegan brownie. The recipe before you is the result of a rigorous testing process. Before this one, at least half a dozen different vegan brownie recipes were trialled and each of them was disappointing in some way. Some were too dry, some tasted too doughy, some turned out more cake-like then brownie-like. The most difficult part was finding that perfect balance of chewy, gooey, and fudgy, while still holding true to the texture of a “real” brownie, the kind you grew up with….

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Pear, Apple and Cranberry Crisp

November 13, 2012 By Milen Gala

Nothing heralds the start of the holiday season like the scent of cinnamon in the air. Crisps, pies, tarts, brown betty’s, and gallettes all provide the perfect medium by which to feature this most comforting and soulful of spices. Our winter desserts always seem to involve cinnamon, its faithful running mate, nutmeg and some combination of apples, pears, cranberries and sometimes pumpkin.

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Chocolate Banana Marble Bread

October 23, 2012 By Milen Gala

Simaya and I were in the kitchen today and on the counter were 3 very ripe bananas…..ok, so this happens at our house (and I’m sure yours) all the time. Usually if we have the energy we get out the mixer and make banana bread. Today we decided to try something different. Browsing through the internet we came across a chocolate banana marble loaf recipe. Since Simi (Simaya’s nickname) usually does not like nuts and LOVES chocolate we decided to give it a go. Boy, was it a good decision…….

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