Gluten Free

marcona almond butter

by Kristina Sloggett on September 9, 2011

in Gluten Free,recipes,snacks,Vegan

I don’t know what took me so long. You know I love my marcona almonds. Their flavor is distinct and incomparable.

A Spanish almond roasted in olive oil and salted, Marconas have a smooth texture and amazing flavor. They offer the same nutritional benefit as regular almonds, including cholesterol lowering phytosterols and a good amount of fiber and protein.

and now they make up my favorite nut butter.

marcona almond butter

makes about 1 1/2 cups

2 cups Marcona almonds (reserve 1/4 cup)
1-2 tablespoons olive oil (optional)
pinch sea salt (optional)

In food processor or high powered blender, process 1 3/4 cups almonds until creamy, stopping to scrape sides, about 9-12 minutes total. Add oil as needed (I did not need to). Chop 1/4 cup almonds and mix in for a crunchy nut butter. Store in fridge in sealed container.

Flavor options:
chocolate (add 1/2 cup chopped dark chocolate)
salted maple (add 1/4 cup maple syrup)

Safe to say this is my new favorite nut butter. “Plain” flavor is amazing – salty creamy amazing. The dark chocolate flavor is like a grown up peanut butter cup, and the salted maple is like buttery caramel. I now have three jars in my fridge. I’ve been enjoying marcona butter on celery, on homemade juice pulp crackers, on a spoon…

 

Have you tasted Marcona almonds? What is your favorite nut?

 

{ 109 comments }

Peanut butter and Chocolate. Always a classic combination, even if the recipe isn’t so classic. or even a recipe, really.

I am still reeling over my amazing weekend, and will recap every detail soon. I’m still on a plant-based high with a goofy grin, and there are some people still in Portland for a few more days so I’m spending time with new friends!

I managed to develop quite the sweet tooth as a result of all the amazing food we enjoyed this weekend. In three days. I crave sweets now, wanting dessert after dinner. Breakfast and lunch too, if I’m being honest.

Today I have the honor of guest posting for my friend Eden – whose blog I love for many reasons – she makes me laugh, inspires me to think, and instigates many fun comment conversations. So when she asked me to guest post, I put my thinking laptop on to come up with something fun.

This satisfies that sweet tooth.

The breakfast one.

The theme is “not on my blog” – visit Eden to see what I have to say.

What is your favorite chocolate peanut butter combination?

 

{ 56 comments }

mamma chia giveaway

by Kristina Sloggett on August 11, 2011

in product review

You all know love my chia

If you are a chia fan, you need to try this vitality beverage – Mamma Chia.
I have been loving these for a while, and the lovely people at Mamma Chia are offering three of my readers the chance to taste the greatness!

I first had the raspberry passion and the blackberry hibiscus on our spring road trip – and have been drinking all the flavors recently during our juice fast for the extra protein and fiber.

Not only do the flavors taste amazing, look at these stats:

 2000mg Omega-3
 10g Balanced Fiber
 High Antioxidants
 4g Complete Protein
 Only 110 Calories
 Lightly Sweetened
 Gluten-Free and Vegan

The giveaway is for two VIP (free!) coupons and two $ off coupons for any Mamma Chia Vitality beverage. Find a store with Mamma Chia near you!

THREE winners, four ways to enter – leave a comment for each:

#1) what is your favorite way to eat chia seeds?

#2) which flavor of vitality beverage would you most like to try?

#3) like Mamma Chia on facebook

#4) tweet about this giveaway, including a link to this post. use this if you like –>

enter to win MAMMA CHIA Vitality from @spabettie – THREE winners! –> http://spabettie.com/?p=8158

 

closes next Wednesday – winners will be emailed Thursday!

 

{ 136 comments }

chai + chia protein bites

July 12, 2011

I have been cooking with chia seeds longer than… I have been reading blogs. We stocked them in the dispensary at the clinic, and I started out adding them to salads. I learned what happens when mixed with water – they turn to a gel – and I started using them in smoothies and baking. [...]

Read the full article →

lemon basil fish tacos with jalapeno raita

July 8, 2011

Summer is finally here, we have started the process of opening the pool (finishing this weekend, yay!), and I have another excuse to use both the grill and the jalapeno corer. We love grilled fish around here, and a couple years ago we were doing the cedar plank thing. We had a simple salmon recipe [...]

Read the full article →

peanut butter chocolate cupcakes

June 30, 2011

Last week was Jason’s birthday. I wanted to make cupcakes so they could easily be shared, and who doesn’t love the classic pairing of chocolate and peanut butter? I adapted my brownie recipe into one that is more cake like, but with the chewy dense brownie characteristic. I like that in a cupcake. You know [...]

Read the full article →

mint & chocolate chickpea cookie balls

June 22, 2011

My current obsession? Those garbanzo cookie balls. Yes, still. What has been fun is seeing how many others love them too – how have I never seen these when people have been making them all along? I’m always late to the party. I have brought others along to the party since, though. I’ve also thought [...]

Read the full article →

peanut butter chocolate granola loaf

June 17, 2011

Another new product I recently received from Enjoy Life is their Double Chocolate Crunch Granola. It’s great to snack on by itself, and I also added some to a vanilla banana smoothie – yum! A perfect chocolately crunch with mini chocolate chips, this actually does not contain oats! Free of many common allergies (wheat, dairy, [...]

Read the full article →

mango and onion quinoa salad

June 16, 2011

The weather is warm and the fresh summer flavors are here again! We have already enjoyed this salad a couple times this season, a bright and colorful favorite that is flavorful and filling. My favorite salty marcona almonds with sweet mango and red onion blend perfectly. Each time I make this I am in bliss [...]

Read the full article →