Cooking Your Way to Gorgeous (26 page)

8 ounces cream cheese

6 tablespoons honey

1 cup half-and-half—lactic acid

1 tablespoon vanilla

1/4 cup cold water

1 package of gelatin

Preparation:

1
Blend everything together except the water and gelatin.

2
Prepare the gelatin according to instructions, then add it into the blended mixture, along with a ¼ cup cold water, and blend well.

3
Pour the mixture into the pie shell. Chill until set.

TIP:
Honey is more than a sweetener to squeeze into tea. Fantastic for coating and soothing sore, scratchy throats, honey is also loaded with antioxidants and phytonutrients that make it a potent antimicrobial ingredient used to help ward off bacteria, viruses, and funguses. Using honey to help promote wellness is called apitherapy. Honey is also used to treat seasonal allergies. If you take a teaspoon of local honey daily, when allergy season comes around you will not be hit as hard with red, watery eyes and sneezing, as your body will have developed a greater resistance to the pollen. Say bye-bye to Claritin.

Vanilla Camu Camu Cake

Makes 12 Servings

C
amu camu can do wonders for your vitamin C levels, energy, and skin. Below, you get to maximize the magic in a classic dessert that you can serve the whole family—kids, grannies, postmen, babysitters, and dog walkers included. Everyone deserves a pick-me-up.

Ingredients:

1 cup Truvia Baking Blend

1/2 cup butter

2 eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 teaspoon camu camu extract

1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1-3/4 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 cup milk

Preparation:

1
Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease and flour a 9 x 9-inch pan or line a muffin pan with paper liners.

2
In a medium bowl, cream together the Truvia Baking Blend and butter. Beat in the eggs, one at a time, then stir in the vanilla, followed by the camu camu extract. Combine the flour and baking powder, add them to the creamed mixture, and mix well. Finally, stir in the milk until the batter is smooth. Pour or spoon the batter into the prepared pan or muffin tins.

3
For cake, bake for 30 to 40 minutes in the preheated oven. For cupcakes, bake 20 to 25 minutes. Cake is done when it springs back to the touch.

Borba Frigid

Makes 4 Servings

T
his is one of my favorite light desserts that I invented in my home kitchen. I find that if I gather up ingredients that are in the same taste-bud family, throw in some superfoods and my go-to mix of Truvia Baking Blend, I can produce a new and improved version of something that I’d been eating for years prior that did nothing extra for my skin. Always be open to experimentation, follow your instinct or your favorite nutrition guides, and you may just be pleasantly surprised by what you can dream up.

Ingredients:

8 cups chopped, seeded watermelon—low-calorie superfruit

1-1/2 teaspoons lime juice

1 cup light honey

1/2 teaspoon ground cardamom—source of iron and manganese

1/2 package unflavored gelatin

1/2 cup nonfat plain yogurt

12 mint leaves

Preparation:

1
Place the watermelon and lime juice in a blender and purée.

2
Set a colander over a large bowl and pour the puréed watermelon through, separating the juice from the pulp.

3
Place the juice, honey, cardamom, and gelatin in a large saucepan over medium to high heat for 3 to 4 minutes. Remove from the heat and let cool until it solidifies. Pour into a shallow pan or ice cube tray and freeze to the slush point (about 1¼ hours).

4
Whisk the yogurt into the watermelon slush and then return it to the freezer. Freeze until solid (about 2 hours). Stir every hour to break up the ice crystals.

5
To serve, cut the sherbet into large chunks and purée very briefly in a blender or food processor. Spoon into dessert glasses, garnish with mint leaves, and serve.

Almond-Oat Shortcakes
with Strawberries

Makes 6 Shortcakes

H
ere you get extra nutritional value by mixing oats and almonds into the biscuit dough. Oats provide nutrients, fiber, and beneficial phytochemicals, ensuring a wide range of health benefits, including lower cholesterol. These baby cakes have lots of texture and the almonds are high in monounsaturated fats—the same type of health-promoting fats in olive oil, which have been associated with a reduced risk of heart disease. There are quite a few steps to follow in the preparation of this gorgeous dessert, but the result is well worth it, and you’re a fabulous baker anyway, so it’s no sweat!

Ingredients:

1 cup all-purpose flour

1/2 cup old-fashioned oats

1/3 cup slivered almonds—high nutrition

1/3 cup plus 1 tablespoon Truvia Baking Blend, divided

2 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

6 tablespoons (3/4 stick) chilled unsalted butter, cut into 1/2-inch cubes

1 cup chilled heavy cream, divided, plus more for brushing—lactic acid

1-1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract, divided

4 cups hulled, sliced fresh strawberries—low-cal superfruit

1 tablespoon Grand Marnier or other orange liqueur, optional

Preparation:

1
Preheat the oven to 375°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

2
Pulse the flour, oats, almonds, 1/3 cup of Truvia Baking Blend, baking powder, and salt in a food processor until finely ground.

3
Add the butter; pulse until only pea-size pieces remain. Add 1/2 cup of cream and 1 teaspoon of vanilla; pulse until large moist clumps form. Transfer to a work surface.

4
Knead until the dough comes together. Pat into a 4 x 6-inch rectangle. Halve lengthwise, then crosswise into thirds. Arrange on the prepared baking sheet. Brush with cream; sprinkle with 1/2 tablespoon Truvia Baking Blend.

5
Bake, rotating the sheet halfway through cooking, until golden brown around the edges and a tester inserted into the center comes out clean, about 20 minutes.

6
Set the biscuits on a wire rack, let cool. Note: Biscuits can be made 8 hours ahead, cooled, and stored in an airtight container at room temperature.

7
Combine the strawberries and the Grand Marnier, if using, in a large bowl. Toss to coat. Let the strawberries sit, tossing often, until the juices release.

8
Whisk 1/2 cup of cream, 1/2 tablespoon of Truvia Baking Blend, and 1/2 teaspoon of vanilla in a small bowl until peaks form.

9
Cut warm or room-temp biscuits in half; place the bottom halves on plates. Place whipped cream and strawberries over the bottom halves. Top with the remaining biscuit halves.

Applesauce Cake

Makes 12 Servings

T
his is a quick and easy dessert you will be proud to serve or give, or even eat for breakfast thanks to its health-promoting ingredients such as soy, tofu, raisins, and spices like clove, nutmeg, and cinnamon.

Ingredients:

1-3/4 cups Truvia Baking Blend

1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1 cup sifted soy flour

1-1/2 teaspoons baking soda

1/4 teaspoon baking powder

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon cinnamon—anti-inflammatory

1/2 teaspoon cloves—antiseptic properties

1/2 teaspoon allspice—digestive stimulant

1/2 teaspoon nutmeg—antimicrobial properties

1/2 cup soft silken tofu—reduces cholesterol

2 cups applesauce, chunky style

1/2 cup vegetable oil

1 cup chopped raisins

Preparation:

1
Preheat the oven to 350°F. In a large bowl, mix thoroughly the Truvia Baking Blend, all-purpose flour, soy flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, and spices.

2
In a separate bowl, beat the tofu until creamy; add the applesauce and vegetable oil; mix well. Add the tofu mixture to the dry ingredients and beat until well blended. Fold in the raisins.

3
Pour the batter into a greased and floured 9 x 13-inch cake pan. Bake for 45 to 50 minutes.

Goji Berry-Walnut
Muffin Crunch

Makes 12 to 16 Muffins

G
oji berries have long been regarded as one of the most nutrient-rich superfoods on the planet! They have an outstanding amount of polysaccharides to help build the immune system, as well as a full range of antioxidants that provide greater health, vitality, longevity, energy, and stamina—and they are phenomenal for the skin. I even have a bag of dark chocolate covered goji berries in my car for when I’m stuck in traffic! Eating foods high in antioxidants may slow the aging process by minimizing damage from free radicals that injure cells and damage DNA. Rich in vitamin A, and a good source of vitamin C, these berries additionally possess over 20 trace minerals and vitamins including zinc, iron, phosphorus, riboflavin (B2), vitamin E, and carotenoids, which include beta-carotene. And to put things in perspective on just how powerful the little goji berry is, ounce per ounce it contains more vitamin C than oranges, more beta-carotene than carrots, and more iron than soybeans or spinach. Goji berries are a truly remarkable food, the gold standard for glowing skin and inside-out beauty. Go gojis!

Ingredients:

1/4 cup toasted and coarsely chopped walnuts

3 small carrots, finely peeled

1 small apple, peeled and grated

1-1/3 cups buckwheat flour

1/2 cup Truvia Baking Blend

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

3/4 cup goji berry raisins—superfood

1/2 cup coconut, optional

2 large eggs

1/2 cup canola oil—lowest saturated fat content of any oil commonly consumed

1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract—can help with skin challenges or topical wounds

Preparation:

1
Preheat the oven to 350°F.

2
Line twelve to sixteen muffin cups.

3
Toast the walnuts on a baking sheet for about 8 minutes or until lightly browned. Let cool and then chop coarsely.

4
Peel and finely grate the carrots and apple. Set aside.

5
In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, Truvia Baking Blend, baking soda, baking powder, salt, and ground cinnamon.

6
Stir in the toasted walnuts, goji berries, and coconut, if using.

7
In a separate bowl whisk together the eggs, oil, and vanilla extract. Fold the wet ingredients, along with the grated carrot and apple, into the flour mixture, stirring just until moistened.

8
Evenly divide the batter between the prepared muffin cups and bake on the center rack for 20 to 25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

9
Remove from the oven and let cool on a wire rack. Remove the muffins from the pan after about 10 minutes and cool.

Sweet Goji Yogurt Medley

Makes 4 Servings

S
ome of the elements in this mix may be new to you. At some point in our lives, everything is new once, right? Now is a great time to get familiar with these nutrient-rich ingredients that contribute to improved health and a unique low-calorie beauty-enhancing dessert you can offer friends and family to show them you care. With no added sugar, this is an unconventional dessert, or breakfast, that is unprocessed and pure. Crunch down on goji berries and know you are doing your body a world of good.