Plum and Blackberry Muesli Crumble with Blackberry Sorbet

Yum Yum Yum!! I saw a great crumble recipe yesterday and decided to try it myself..but then I read the ingredients: 100 ml butter, flour, sugar... and I almost gave up. I wanted to make something similar but fat and sugar free. I had some frozen blackberries, fresh plums and muesli and that's when the idea hit me! This is a really easy recipe and very delicious also! It's great for kids as they'll love the colors, taste and texture. You can use other fruits as well; mango, peaches, nectarines, raspberries..anything! Unfortunately the muesli I had was not plain and it contained dry fruits; I recommend you to use plain muesli.

As you know crumbles go very well with ice cream. First, I wanted to make a lovely, sour grapefruit sorbet but then because of my laziness I changed my mind. I made a blackberry sorbet with the remaining frozen blackberries. It's better to try it with an ice cream with different flavor and color.

So, if you want a quick and healthy crumble dessert, this is just right for you!

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Healthy Whole Grain Cookies with Nuvia Cafe. Perfect Breakfast!

Cookies..oh I love this word..cookies with coffee for breakfast... even better! These cookies are healthy, delicious without being very sweet and go perfectly with coffee in the morning. I like them a lot because you can make a large batch and store them in the fridge. They're the perfect snack. Yummy and very filing too.

Now let me tell you about this new brand of coffee I tried recently. I'm not a huge coffee maniac but still.. I do enjoy a good cup of coffee for once in a while. What I like most about Nuvia Café is its flavor! Being healthier and all it's a plus of course (it contains Ganoderma, African Mango and Pomegranate extracts) but that's not what I like most about it. This Sumatran Arabica Coffee has an amazing strong flavor. It smells delicious also and it has a yummy, thick foam which I love. So, if you usually enjoy strong, flavorful coffee this is just right for you! Check out their website for more info!

Try the recipe below and tell me how it was. What other healthy snacks do you think go well with coffee? I'd love to try other recipes also :)

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Sweet & Healthy Zucchini Fritters with Vanilla Ice-cream and Apricots

Oh my! This is an awesome dessert that my mom made today! Crispy on the outside, soft on the inside, sweet and flavored, hot and served with cold, melty ice-cream and sweet apricots...what more can I say?! Amazing combination!

You definitely have to try this! It's the healthier version because she used only 2 tablespoons of oil. Deep frying is forbidden! I also added two other ways to cook this in order to use less oil and make it even better!

You can use any type of ice-cream and fruits you like. I think vanilla goes best with this but it's your choice. Maybe if you add rum extract instead of vanilla, some chocolate ice-cream on top would be just heavenly!

Try it and let me know if you like this as much as I do!

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Semolina Pudding with Blueberry Jam

This is one of my favorite desserts of all time! It brings up so many childhood memories. My grandma used to make this very often. I used to eat it with homemade strawberry jam and it was absolutely heavenly! This dessert is very easy to make and all you need are four basic ingredients: semolina, milk, vanilla extract and jam.  I didn't add extra sugar because it doesn't need to be any sweeter.  You can eat this with any jam you like, strawberry, blueberry, plums...it goes well with any of them.

Enjoy!

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Dairy and Sugar-Free Tiramisu

Merry Christmas everybody! Sorry for the long delay but I didn't have any internet access. Hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and Santa gave you the most beautiful gifts! 

As you can see my cat Mishkin the Grinch loved the Christmas tree very much. Fortunately this year he didn't attempt to ruin it. For those of you who have cats, did you have any problems with them trying to climb the tree? They're so funny when they do that :)

The New Year's Eve is coming and I am still planning the party menu! I want it to be healthy and delicious, but most of all easy to make! I am not in the mood of spending long hours in the kitchen; I just want to party!

 I will soon post some easy and quick recipes that are traditional here in Romania and are found on every Romanian family's table on New Year's Eve. Until then, I hope you'll like this easy and delicious tiramisu recipe. You can use normal mascarpone cheese of course but I try to be as dairy-free as possible. Also I recommend you to use organic eggs bought from a safe source.

Don't think I forgot about the e-book! No, no! I've been working really hard because I want it to be perfect! I'm not bragging but I think that when I finish it, it will be the best herbal medicine e-book out there! 

Happy Holidays everybody!

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Amazingly Delicious Chocolate Mousse. Heaven in a tea cup!

This is the first time I make chocolate mousse! It's not a recipe like the ones written in cookbooks because I just followed my instincts not some strict rules, but I can assure you it is AMAZING! It is also the first time I eat chocolate mousse and I am absolutely astonished by the texture and flavors. I think this will be the only way I am going to eat chocolate from now on.

It's an easy recipe with just a few steps that anyone can make. I don't know how this recipe can be vegan; if you know some tips to make it vegan please do tell! Anyways, I recommend you to use organic eggs bought from a safe source.

Enjoy!

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Eggnog and Gingerbread Cookies for Christmas, by Ligia's Kitchen

Ligia Pop is the promoter of the raw food diet in Romania, author, raw chef and host of the show  “Ligia’s Kitchen®” which has 21 episodes so far. She is also the founder and organizer of the national “Raw Generation®”  fair and “Romania Goes Raw” movement. Ligia has published three books to date about raw food and an innovative piano method. She is also a piano teacher licensed by the University of Arts "George Enescu", Iasi.

·            “Retete Vegane Fara Foc“  - Raw vegan recipes

·           “Germeni si Vlastari, Surse de Sanatate si Energie” - Sprouts - Health and Energy sources 

·           “Deserturi pentru Parinti si Copii Sanatosi” - Desserts for Healthy Parents and Children

·           “Pasi in Lumea Muzicii” - Steps into the music world

      Ligia Pop's website is what determined me to start my own blog. I learned many interesting things about how to have a healthy lifestyle and what I should or should not eat. I don't have a 100% raw diet but eating raw from time to time is good for everyone. 
      If you love eating healthy desserts and not feeling guilty after you should check her awesome dessert recipes which I personally love, at Ligia's Kitchen !

Chocolate Chip Coconut Muffins

No fun, just work! This is exactly what describes this week for me. I have 3 exams to come, lots of projects to finish, no time for cooking, no time for eating, not even time to breathe! Ok..I'm exaggerating but honestly I have to set the alarm clock just to remind me that I have to eat or drink some water. My hand is glued to the mouse and I'm wired! I sometimes ask myself why I chose this...

On top of all, just to complete the scenery...a "very nice and polite" guy sneezed on me 2 days ago and now I started coughing. Yep..fortunately I'm on Vitamin C, Echinacea, and zinc supplements since the flu season began so the symptoms are mild...the headache is what pisses me off!

Now let's stop with the self pity and talk about these gorgeous muffins above! Oh yum! Since this stressful period began I started to have these huge sweet cravings; it's like my brain needs fuel or something. No raw, healthy desserts or delicious fruits can satisfy my cravings..oh no..I crave for baked warm goodies! So today, right before an awful exam, I decided to indulge myself with the cute ones in the photo above.

Bake + chocolate = Love, right?! You'll definitely love this recipe. I added some coconut flakes to make them taste even better! These are super chocolate chip muffins...I named them Coco-choco Muffins! Ha! I think all that sweetness went straight to my brain :))

I wish I had some healthy flour or make a vegan recipe but you can substitute some of the ingredients and make it healthier. Do you know any egg-free muffin recipes? What types of healthy flours can I use? Looking forward to your comments :)


P.S. Check out this  guessing game on Knapkins! It's fun!

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Finger Lickin' Good Stewed Quince Dessert

Hello everybody! Sorry for the long break but I had a stressful week. I've been really busy with school these days; lots of deadlines and hard projects to finish and no time for cooking. Fortunately mom saved me again! She cooked this wonderful hot dessert this morning and made my day a lot better.

I can't say I'm a huge fan of quinces. I don't like them raw but cooked are absolutely amazing! This is a very easy dessert and the abundance of flavors will amaze you! It is perfect for this season.

Do you know other ways to cook quinces? I'd love to try different hot desserts using this lovely fruit. Looking forward to your comments!

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Upside-Down Vegetarian Apple and Cinnamon Pie

Say hello to Mishkin my cat!  Even he loves this pie and trust me he is very picky when it comes to food. He just couldn't leave it out of sight that tempting it was for him. Isn't he cute? He's not always like this you know, peaceful and quiet...oh no.. he's a trouble-maker but I love him anyway.

I don't usually eat baked goodies because I'm not a huge fan of flour-based desserts but this pie is definitely a must-try! It is just perfect for this season and you'll love how all flavors blend together. Also, you can substitute apples with any other fruit you like; I also tried it with sour cherries and peaches and it's just as great. I will not make a habit from eating baked desserts (I still prefer them raw) but from time to time a lovely, warm dessert like this one is just perfect especially now when it's so cold outside.

So for all you animal lovers out there, here's a lovely apple and cinnamon pie to warm your souls and put a sweet smile on your faces!

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Pumpkin Cake - The ideal dessert for a sunny autumn day

This is the first time I use pumpkin in a dessert and I am absolutely in love with it! I found the recipe on this website and because I had a big slice of pumpkin in the fridge, I decided to try it! I changed a few ingredients and also modified the quantities because I wanted to make a bigger cake.

This is a must-try dessert and it's very easy! Your steam oven will do all the work. If you don't have a steam oven you can bake it or use a steamer.

You'll love the creamy texture with a subtle pumpkin and coconut aroma.

Hope you'll like it. It's delicious and healthy!

P.S. What do you think about that wonderful leaf in the last photo? I found it while strolling in the park. It illustrates autumn perfectly!

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Grated Apple with Honey and Walnuts - Healthy and easy dessert for breakfast

Today I woke up so tired...I immediately realized that I needed a lovely, high in vitamins breakfast to cheer me up.  I saw some apples and I remembered about my childhood dessert: grated apples with honey and biscuits. I didn't have any biscuits so I chose a healthier ingredient: raw walnuts. It was just what I needed! Easy, quick, healthy, sweet, crunchy...yum! 

Try it! It's low in calories, high in vitamins and it's ready in less than 5 minutes!

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Raw Vegan Chocolate Ice Cream Cupcakes

Remember my Raspberry and Blueberry Raw Vegan Cupcakes ? Well, I thought about them yesterday.  I really craved for some delicious cupcakes but in the same time I wanted something refreshing and light.  That’s when the idea hit me and I made these ice cream chocolate cupcakes. I didn’t actually use cocoa or chocolate but instead I used something even healthier, carob powder! 

Try them! It takes less than 10 minutes to make these icy chocolate raw cupcakes.
Question: Do you use carob powder in desserts? How do you use it?

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Hungarian Plum Dumplings - with vegan/sugar free version

First of all let me begin by telling you that this is not my recipe, this wonderful dessert was made by my mom. I tried to make it a bit healthier by substituting some of the ingredients. For example instead of sugar I used honey and sucanat; also I lowered the amount of oil used in the original recipe.

This is a must try! Unfortunately it takes 2 hours to make about 25 dumplings; I don’t have that patience so that’s the main reason why I avoid making cooked desserts. Also I wanted to take a "group" photo with all the lovely dumplings but it was too late, these little sweets disappeared as soon as they were served!

You should definitely try this Hungarian dessert! You’ll love it!


Question: Do you know any healthy and preferably gluten-free dumpling recipes?

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Raw Vegan Chocolate and Raspberry Birthday Cake

Yesterday was my 20th birthday! Yay!..or not?! I'm getting old and it's not a nice feeling. Anyway let's see the bright side. I had a wonderful day and I made my own birthday cake! It was absolutely delicious! And the great thing was that I received an amazing gift from my parents, something I wanted so much...a wonderful Nikon D90 camera! I love it! 

About the recipe..oh..I would love to share with you all this lovely cake! Hope you'll try this recipe and let me know if you liked it. Have a great "chocolately" day! 


Question: What is your favorite ingredient that you love to combine with chocolate?

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Raw Vegan Cranberry Brownie

I love desserts and because I often eat sweets, I prefer them raw. We all know that all sweets are high in calories, but making mostly raw desserts makes me feel good and guilt-free; this way I know I get plenty of vitamins, minerals and other great nutrients and so I ignore the calories.

Another thing I love about raw desserts is that they’re so easy to make! This took me less than 5 minutes, excluding the time required for soaking and freezing.
Question: Do you know other brownie recipes that are healthy and gluten-free?

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Crepe Rolls with Chocolate Cream, Chestnut Puree and Plum Jam

It’s been a while since the last time I had crepe rolls for dessert. Jam filled crepes were my favorite when I was little but as you know they’re a bit fattening so now I rarely eat them. In my opinion there is nothing wrong to indulge yourself with some delicacies once in a while, so yesterday I made these delicious crepes – my healthier version.  

The great thing about it is that you can use any filling you like. I used homemade chocolate cream, chestnut puree and plum jam. All these fillings are very healthy and sugar-free.

Hope you’ll like this recipe.

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Chocoplums

As you probably noticed already, I like easy, quick and healthy desserts. This is one of them. It took me exactly 3 minutes to make these delicious chocoplums. 

I usually eat dark chocolate because it is healthier (don't tell, but sometimes I can't help myself and I eat regular milky chocolate,  fortunately this rarely happens). This recipe was made with dark chocolate (85% cocoa) and it is absolutely delicious. The combination of soft plums with creamy chocolate and crunchy hazelnuts is amazing! I really hope you'll try this dessert. It's quick, easy and most of all, healthy!

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Sour Berries Jam

I really love jams, but since I stopped eating sugar, I don’t make them that often and in large quantities. As you know I usually make jams out of dried fruits because this way I don’t have to add any sugar, honey being enough to keep them conserved for some time.

A few days ago I visited my boyfriend’s parents and of course I returned home with lots of bags filled with fruits and veggies. I had about 2 kg of sour berries and I did not want them to spoil so I decided to make some jam. The recipe below is calculated for 1 kg of sour berries, resulting a 850g jar filled with sourly, cinnamon scented jam.

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Banana and Chocolate Pudding

        Bananas, bananas and again bananas! Don’t blame me because I love this sweet creamy fruit! I always make up some kind of dessert when I have bananas in my kitchen and I almost never eat them just as they are. I had some dark chocolate in the fridge and I thought, “Why not combine it with bananas? Nothing wrong can happen, right?” And so I did. It was amazing! The perfect remedy for my sweet craving.

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