O.K., I confess, I was that lazy-ass mom who kept sending Rice Krispie Treats to the bake sales at my kids' school. Yep, every single bake sale. And, you know what? They were the first items to sell out every time because, let's face it, who doesn't like Rice Krispie Treats?
So, in that same vein...no, not the Rice Krispie vein, sorry, they are SO not Paleo...here are some really simple, but oh so good Paleo holiday gifts you can whip up in just a few minutes.
Last year, I made these nut butters for friends and family, and everyone adored them. In fact, when I was sending them to my brother in California, our friendly post office guy, Mike, asked me what was in the package. "Homemade nut butters," I replied. "Oh, yum!" he said. So, this year, I'm making some for Mike, too!
So, in that same vein...no, not the Rice Krispie vein, sorry, they are SO not Paleo...here are some really simple, but oh so good Paleo holiday gifts you can whip up in just a few minutes.
Last year, I made these nut butters for friends and family, and everyone adored them. In fact, when I was sending them to my brother in California, our friendly post office guy, Mike, asked me what was in the package. "Homemade nut butters," I replied. "Oh, yum!" he said. So, this year, I'm making some for Mike, too!
Pecash Butter
This recipe is from Julie and Charles Mayfield's book, Paleo Comfort Foods, and reprinted here with the kind permission of the authors. It's wicked simple, 2 ingredients and a food processor. When nut butter is done, spoon into canning jars, cover and tie a ribbon around each jar. Voilà ...A deliciously easy holiday gift!
Ingredients
3 cups raw cashews
2 cups raw pecan halves or pieces
1. Pour the nuts into the bowl of a food processor and turn on (don't worry, this will be really noisy at first)
2. Allow the processor to run for 8 to 10 minutes or until you have a smooth, creamy butter. You can stop the motor and scrape nut fragments down after about 5 minutes, if you like, then turn it back on until finished.
(P.S. If you are looking for another delicious gift that's just slightly more labor-intensive than the one above, bake the Morning Glory Muffins from Paleo Comfort Foods. I've gifted these, as well, and baked an extra batch for me. They are completely fabulous and healthy, too! Definitely add the teaspoon of grated orange zest suggested under "Variations". You can also find this recipe on the Mayfields' blog, www.paleocomfortfoods.com.)
So, the above recipe is a yummy everyday treat. If you are craving something nutty and sweet, you'll also want to try the cookie dough nut butters from Amy Lyons at Fragrant Vanilla Cake (www.fragrantvanilla.com). This is not a Paleo blog, but a raw vegan site with some of the most gorgeous cakes I have ever seen. Amy has recipes for 10 different nut butters. After you've tried the following two, you'll probably want to visit her site for the other eight.
3 cups raw cashews
2 cups raw pecan halves or pieces
1. Pour the nuts into the bowl of a food processor and turn on (don't worry, this will be really noisy at first)
2. Allow the processor to run for 8 to 10 minutes or until you have a smooth, creamy butter. You can stop the motor and scrape nut fragments down after about 5 minutes, if you like, then turn it back on until finished.
(P.S. If you are looking for another delicious gift that's just slightly more labor-intensive than the one above, bake the Morning Glory Muffins from Paleo Comfort Foods. I've gifted these, as well, and baked an extra batch for me. They are completely fabulous and healthy, too! Definitely add the teaspoon of grated orange zest suggested under "Variations". You can also find this recipe on the Mayfields' blog, www.paleocomfortfoods.com.)
So, the above recipe is a yummy everyday treat. If you are craving something nutty and sweet, you'll also want to try the cookie dough nut butters from Amy Lyons at Fragrant Vanilla Cake (www.fragrantvanilla.com). This is not a Paleo blog, but a raw vegan site with some of the most gorgeous cakes I have ever seen. Amy has recipes for 10 different nut butters. After you've tried the following two, you'll probably want to visit her site for the other eight.
Raw Sugar Cookie Dough Nut Butter
Ingredients
1 1/4 cups raw macadamia nuts ( or you can use all cashews to economize)
2 cups raw cashews
3/4 cup dried, shredded unsweetened coconut
3/4 cup coconut sugar
1/4 tsp sea salt
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 tsp almond extract
1. Combine nuts and coconut in food processor and blend until smooth
2. Add the rest of the ingredients and process until smooth
1 1/4 cups raw macadamia nuts ( or you can use all cashews to economize)
2 cups raw cashews
3/4 cup dried, shredded unsweetened coconut
3/4 cup coconut sugar
1/4 tsp sea salt
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 tsp almond extract
1. Combine nuts and coconut in food processor and blend until smooth
2. Add the rest of the ingredients and process until smooth
Gingerbread Nut Butter
Ingredients
2 cups raw cashews
1 1/4 cups raw pecans
3/4 cup dried, shredded unsweetened coconut
3/4 cup coconut sugar
1/4 tsp sea salt
1 tsp vanilla
1 TBS powdered ginger
2 tsp ground cinnamon
1 tsp ground cardamom
1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
1. Combine nuts and coconut in food processor and blend until smooth
2. Add the rest of the ingredients and process until smooth
And if you are attending holiday parties, the Spiced Pecans from Elana Amsterdam's website, www.elanaspantry.com are a divine inspiration. Just be careful you don't eat them all before you get to the party...they are sooooo good! The site is a great resource for all things Paleo.
2 cups raw cashews
1 1/4 cups raw pecans
3/4 cup dried, shredded unsweetened coconut
3/4 cup coconut sugar
1/4 tsp sea salt
1 tsp vanilla
1 TBS powdered ginger
2 tsp ground cinnamon
1 tsp ground cardamom
1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
1. Combine nuts and coconut in food processor and blend until smooth
2. Add the rest of the ingredients and process until smooth
And if you are attending holiday parties, the Spiced Pecans from Elana Amsterdam's website, www.elanaspantry.com are a divine inspiration. Just be careful you don't eat them all before you get to the party...they are sooooo good! The site is a great resource for all things Paleo.
Spiced Pecans
Ingredients
2 cups raw pecans
1 egg white
2 TBS honey
2 tsp chili powder
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp sea salt
1/8 to 1/4 tsp cayenne
1. In large bowl, whisk egg white, then whisk in honey
2. Toss pecans into egg white mixture and stir so pecans are evenly coated
3. Add spices and mix
4. With slotted spoon, transfer to parchment paper-lined baking sheet
5. Bake at 300 degrees for 25 minutes or until pecans are browned and coating is dry
6. Cool for 20 minutes
These will keep for several days in an air-tight jar.
2 cups raw pecans
1 egg white
2 TBS honey
2 tsp chili powder
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp sea salt
1/8 to 1/4 tsp cayenne
1. In large bowl, whisk egg white, then whisk in honey
2. Toss pecans into egg white mixture and stir so pecans are evenly coated
3. Add spices and mix
4. With slotted spoon, transfer to parchment paper-lined baking sheet
5. Bake at 300 degrees for 25 minutes or until pecans are browned and coating is dry
6. Cool for 20 minutes
These will keep for several days in an air-tight jar.
I requested permission from the original authors of all of the above recipes, and all of my requests were graciously granted, along with words of encouragement for this blogger newbie. I am really heartened by the generosity of the food blogging community, and I can't say enough about how their books and websites eased my transition into Paleo.
Whatever, whenever, and however you are celebrating, I wish you a joyous, peaceful and healthy holiday.
Whatever, whenever, and however you are celebrating, I wish you a joyous, peaceful and healthy holiday.
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