Diet, Dessert and Dogs

Newsy Tidbits:

• Are you craving spring the way I am? Check out these 6 spring salad recipes, over at Fitalicious.
• Are you a fan of tahini? (For me, it was an acquired taste). Now I love it–and here’s a whole post comparing types of tahini, with lots of recipes. Thanks to Dreena Burton for the post.
• Get the book for free! My friend Stephanie has written an ebook, Golden Angels, about her experience losing her beloved Golden Retriever Buddy Girl. The book contains 13 essays and 13 accompanying recipes. It’s a great book for anyone who’s lost a loved one, and she’s donating 10% of all sales to the SPCA until May 31st.  And tomorrow, Friday, March 22, she is giving it away for free on amazon.com! Be sure to check it out then.

Do you have a blog linky event or giveaway you’d like me to mention? I also will occasionally mention new courses that bloggers offer their readers. Send me an email with the details to dietdessertdogsATgmailDOTcom and I’ll include three or four each week. Please note that I cannot always accommodate all requests.

PLEASE DO NOT ADD YOUR GIVEAWAYS OR CONTESTS TO THE LINKYS BELOW–THEY ARE FOR RECIPES ONLY.

This Week’s Picks:

This week’s picks all focus on the theme, “sweet stuff”:

Maple Glazed Nuts from Bit of the Good Stuff. A perfectly healthy sweet snack! And nuts contain so many good-for-you fats.

Very Berry Rhubarb Pie from My Munchable Musings. I love rhubarb! Combined with berries, this gives you a perfect level of sweetness in a healthy dessert.

Raw Chilli-Cinnamon-Sea Salt Chocolates from Bite-Sized Thoughts. How incredible do these look? And CHOCOLATE! (need I say more)?

And This Week’s Readers’ Choices:

Readers’ Choice, Savory:

Gluten Free Vegan Whole Grain English Muffins from Tessa the Domestic Diva. If you’ve been missing English Muffins, try these babies from Tessa.

Readers’ Choice, Sweet:

Raw Banana Coconut Cream Pie from The Tasty Alternative. I do miss bananas! If you can have them, this pie sounds spectacular.

Thanks for joining in and sharing all your healthy, sugar-free and vegan recipes. I love seeing what you whip up each week! And I hope you’ll also share on twitter, Facebook and Pinterest, too!

Here’s How to Participate:

The event occurs once a week, starting Thursdays at 8:00 PM my time and running until the following Monday at midnight.

1. Simply link up a vegan recipe you made (and posted about) that contains health-supporting ingredients. This means any good-for-you whole foods, especially those with antioxidant properties or “functional foods” (ie, offering naturally medicinal or health-promoting qualities–such as garlic, coconut oil, all vegetables, fruits, herbs, etc.)–but any fresh, real food is welcome! No-no’s include white flour or sugar, highly processed foods, or animal products. Items like vegan protein powder, grain or bean flours, or coconut milk are fine even though they are technically “processed,” since they either contain a single ingredient, or could technically be made at home. Also, if you render a recipe vegan-friendly by adding a vegan option to your ingredients, your post will be good to go! Definite no-no’s include: cane sugar (evaporated or otherwise), sweeteners ending in -itol, margarines, or faux meat products.
2. This is a recipe event. Your blog post must contain a recipe.
3. You may link up older posts from your archives as long as they contain a link to this post. Please do not link up any posts you have previously shared at an earlier Wellness Weekend event.
4. Please link the post with your recipe, NOT your blog’s home page or another event page. The post must contain a recipe.
5. You may submit up to three recipes, but please follow the guidelines for each one individually. ONLY ONE THUMBNAIL FROM EACH BLOG POST, PLEASE.If your post contains two suitable recipes, link up once and people will still see all your fabulous recipes when they click on the linky.
6. Please mention this event and include a link back to this post so that others can find all the recipes posted!
7. Feel free to use the blog badge, above (or see the left sidebar of this page–if you need the html code, let me know and I’ll send it to you). Many thanks to Adrienne of Whole New Mom for setting up the badge code for me!

PLEASE NOTE: In order to promote your posts and the event, I like to occasionally tweet, mention on Facebook, or pin your blog post(s). On occasion, I will repost your photos in the following week’s Wellness Weekend as well. If you prefer that I NOT use your photos or links, please let me know in the comments below, or send an email to me at dietdessertdogsATgmailDOTcom. Thanks!

I will reluctantly remove any links that don’t comply. I apologize, but I will no longer be able to leave a comment telling you that I’ve removed a non-compliant link. I hate to have to remove links! PLEASE READ THE GUIDELINES BEFORE POSTING!

And now. . . what have you been cooking up lately? Please share!

Never miss a recipe–or a comment from The Girls! Click here to subscribe to Diet, Dessert and Dogs via email. (“We love subscribers, Mum. . . almost as much as we love treats!”).

Note: This post may contain affiliate links. If you purchase a product or service after clicking on the affiliate link, your purchase will help to support this blog via the small compensation I receive.

Hello everyone! Are you tired of winter yet? (Or, if you live in the antipodes, are you tired of summer?–nah, didn’t think so!).

As I count the days until the end of winter, one of the things that always perks me up is checking out your recipes for Wellness Weekend. Thanks, again, for a fabulous array of delectable choices last week!

Newsy Tidbits:

• Whoo hoo! I just found out that my ebook, Good Morning! Breakfasts, is nominated for Best Gluten Free Cookbook over at Triumph Dining’s “The Best of Gluten-Free” Awards. I’d love your vote for the book if you are so inclined! Just head over here and skip to “Stores and Reslources,” where you’ll find the category for cookbooks.
• I’m still working like mad on book edits, but you can find some of my new recipes on VegNews, where they’re featuring three sweet treats, all with a secret ingredient that you’d never expect. See the article here.
• For those of us on a special diet (and methinks that’s the majority these days!), here are Five Easy Ways to Serve Guests on a Special Diet from my friend Amy.
• Win a ticket to Canada’s largest Gluten-Free Expo! Gluten-Free Makeup Gal is giving one away, here. Ends March 16th.
• Bob’s Red Mill is giving away a four-package low-carb flour kit! Win four types of flours. Enter here, until March 19th.
• Another new recipe–one that will help chase away those winter blues–is this very green, very fresh Creamy Broccoli Salad with Garlic Crunch Topper over on the Attune Foods Blog. This is a salad that will remind you of spring even though it’s delicious all year round.

Do you have a blog linky event or giveaway you’d like me to mention? I also will occasionally mention new courses that bloggers offer their readers. Send me an email with the details to dietdessertdogsATgmailDOTcom and I’ll include three or four each week. Please note that I cannot always accommodate all requests.

PLEASE DO NOT ADD YOUR GIVEAWAYS OR CONTESTS TO THE LINKYS BELOW–THEY ARE FOR RECIPES ONLY.

This Week’s Picks:

I can’t wait for spring! As I mentioned this morning, I’ve been dreaming of green lately. So this week’s picks all focus on the theme, “Gimme some Green!”:

Santa Fe Quinoa Stuffed Bell Peppers from Practical-Stewardship. Love the mix of ingredients in the filling!

Roasted Acorn, Beet, and Satsuma Salad with Almond Sesame Dressing from Vegan Richa. Richa recommends baby kale for this salad–sounds perfect to me!

Suran (Yam) and Malabar Spinach Curry from Cooking with Siri. Such a great idea to include spinach in your curry–all in one flavor AND nutrition.

And This Week’s Readers’ Choices:

Readers’ Choice, Savory:

Five-Ingredient Sesame Nut Crackers from Food & Yoga for Life. Easy to make–and sound so good!

Readers’ Choice, Sweet:

Decadent Dark Chocolate Fudge from Healthy Life Lessons. I swooned a little when I read about this fudge. And it’s only got 4 ingredients.

Thanks for joining in and sharing all your healthy, sugar-free and vegan recipes. I love seeing what you whip up each week! And I hope you’ll also share on twitter, Facebook and Pinterest, too!

Here’s How to Participate:

The event occurs once a week, starting Thursdays at 8:00 PM my time and running until the following Monday at midnight.

1. Simply link up a vegan recipe you made (and posted about) that contains health-supporting ingredients. This means any good-for-you whole foods, especially those with antioxidant properties or “functional foods” (ie, offering naturally medicinal or health-promoting qualities–such as garlic, coconut oil, all vegetables, fruits, herbs, etc.)–but any fresh, real food is welcome! No-no’s include white flour or sugar, highly processed foods, or animal products. Items like vegan protein powder, grain or bean flours, or coconut milk are fine even though they are technically “processed,” since they either contain a single ingredient, or could technically be made at home. Also, if you render a recipe vegan-friendly by adding a vegan option to your ingredients, your post will be good to go! Definite no-no’s include: cane sugar (evaporated or otherwise), sweeteners ending in -itol, margarines, or faux meat products.
2. This is a recipe event. Your blog post must contain a recipe.
3. You may link up older posts from your archives as long as they contain a link to this post. Please do not link up any posts you have previously shared at an earlier Wellness Weekend event.
4. Please link the post with your recipe, NOT your blog’s home page or another event page. The post must contain a recipe.
5. You may submit up to three recipes, but please follow the guidelines for each one individually. ONLY ONE THUMBNAIL FROM EACH BLOG POST, PLEASE.If your post contains two suitable recipes, link up once and people will still see all your fabulous recipes when they click on the linky.
6. Please mention this event and include a link back to this post so that others can find all the recipes posted!
7. Feel free to use the blog badge, above (or see the left sidebar of this page–if you need the html code, let me know and I’ll send it to you). Many thanks to Adrienne of Whole New Mom for setting up the badge code for me!

PLEASE NOTE: In order to promote your posts and the event, I like to occasionally tweet, mention on Facebook, or pin your blog post(s). On occasion, I will repost your photos in the following week’s Wellness Weekend as well. If you prefer that I NOT use your photos or links, please let me know in the comments below, or send an email to me at dietdessertdogsATgmailDOTcom. Thanks!

I will reluctantly remove any links that don’t comply. I apologize, but I will no longer be able to leave a comment telling you that I’ve removed a non-compliant link. I hate to have to remove links! PLEASE READ THE GUIDELINES BEFORE POSTING!

And now. . . what have you been cooking up lately? Please share!

Never miss a recipe–or a comment from The Girls! Click here to subscribe to Diet, Dessert and Dogs via email. (“We love subscribers, Mum. . . almost as much as we love treats!”).

Note: This post may contain affiliate links. If you purchase a product or service after clicking on the affiliate link, your purchase will help to support this blog via the small compensation I receive.

What if you could snack on raw cookie dough that was full of protein, lower on the glycemic index, gluten free. . . AND designed specifically as a snack rather than a baked good (though I bet this would bake up just fine–)? There’s also a filling, delicious breakfast tart and perfectly portable nutrient-dense muffins for your lunchbag or backpack.

That’s right: sweet treats. . . from chickpeas.  Yes, seriously!

With frantic book edits going on now, I haven’t created much in my kitchen in the past couple of weeks, but I had to share these sweet treats I created last month for VegNews, each made with chickpeas or chickpea flour.

To see the recipes for raw Oatmeal-Raisin Cookie Dough, Breakfast Socca with Cinnamon-Glazed Apples and Sweet Potato Spread or Applesauce Muffins–all three can be eaten on an anti-candida diet**–head over to VegNews.  And don’t forget to leave a comment and let me know what you think!

** to make the cookie dough ACD-friendly, omit the raisins and replace with unsweetened carob chips or cacao nibs.

Oh, and I couldn’t end this post without mentioning that my Girls have got their moment of fame (well, on a site other than this one, that is!).  Check out Elsie and Chaser as the “cover dogs” on Our Hen House’s “This Animal on This Day” feature today!! (“That’s great, Mum. . . but frankly, we’d rather eat some of that cookie dough!”).

Never miss a recipe–or a comment from The Girls! Click here to subscribe to Diet, Dessert and Dogs via email. (“We love subscribers, Mum. . . almost as much as we love treats!”)

Last Year at this Time:  Butterscotch Walco-Nut Butter (gluten free; ACD  All Stages)

Two Years Ago: Adzuki Spread (gluten free; ACD Stage 2 and beyond)

Three Years Ago: Cheese Filled Olive and Onion Bread (gluten free; ACD Stage 2 and beyond)

Five Years Ago: Cookbook Review: Nava Atlas’s Vegan Express

© Ricki Heller, Diet, Dessert and Dogs

Hi Everyone! Once again, I can hardly believe how quickly the time is flying!

Just a heads up: I may not be around the blog as much as usual over the next three weeks while final book edits are in full swing. Given the number of comments and requests for changes from my editor (let’s just say it looks like she wrote more than I did!), it may be hectic in the DDD household until April. (But did you see the sneak peek at the cookbook photos I posted yesterday?).

But that won’t stop WellnessWeekend! As always, you all rose to the challenge with panache and creativity last week. I loved the Sexy Raw Maca Chocolates, Gluten-Free Pear Spice Cake, Kabocha Chickpea Fries and all your other marvelous recipes! Do keep ‘em coming.

Newsy Tidbits:

• I participated in a fun Q & A called The Next Big Thing, in which I answered questions about my upcoming book, what’s in my fridge, and who I’d like to play me and the HH in a movie of my life. In case you missed it yesterday, check it out here (and see the list of other participating cookbook authors at the bottom of the post).
• There’s still time to make comforting casseroles before winter’s over! This post on Blisstree.com features ten of them. See the Blisstree post here.
• Wondering whether you should still use agave nectar? I examine the pros and cons in my recent post on Fitalicious, here.
• Does intentional eating help control obesity and maintain weight loss? This article by my friend Cheryl Harris examines the topic from a dietician’s perspective, but I found it infinitely useful, too. Read it here.
• And finally, an alternative to hummus! Here’s my recipe for Byesar (fava bean dip) that’s just as delicious–and maybe even easier. See it on The Balanced Platter, here. 

Do you have a blog linky event or giveaway you’d like me to mention? I also will occasionally mention new courses that bloggers offer their readers. Send me an email with the details to dietdessertdogsATgmailDOTcom and I’ll include three or four each week. Please note that I cannot always accommodate all requests.

PLEASE DO NOT ADD YOUR GIVEAWAYS OR CONTESTS TO THE LINKYS BELOW–THEY ARE FOR RECIPES ONLY.

This Week’s Picks:

Here are this week’s picks on the superfood ingredient theme, “recipes with seeds”:

Creamy Vanilla Bean Chia Custard from Triumph of the Lentil. Vanilla + custard = irresistible dessert!

Carrot Hemp Seed Crackers from Cats in the Kitchen. These sounds super-simple and yet so delicious–almost a sweet treat!

Watermelon Curry from Green Gourmet Giraffe. I love how Johanna used this familiar ingredient in such a different way here. Intriguing, indeed!

And This Week’s Readers’ Choices:

Readers’ Choice, Savory:

Five-Ingredient Salad Dressing from Whole New Mom. Gotta love the simplicity of this yummy dressing!

Readers’ Choice, Sweet:

Peanut Butter Swirl Brownies from Sift, Stir, & Savour. You won’t believe what’s in these!

Thanks for joining in and sharing all your healthy, sugar-free and vegan recipes. I love seeing what you whip up each week! And I hope you’ll also share on twitter, Facebook and Pinterest, too!

Here’s How to Participate:

The event occurs once a week, starting Thursdays at 8:00 PM my time and running until the following Monday at midnight.

1. Simply link up a vegan recipe you made (and posted about) that contains health-supporting ingredients. This means any good-for-you whole foods, especially those with antioxidant properties or “functional foods” (ie, offering naturally medicinal or health-promoting qualities–such as garlic, coconut oil, all vegetables, fruits, herbs, etc.)–but any fresh, real food is welcome! No-no’s include white flour or sugar, highly processed foods, or animal products. Items like vegan protein powder, grain or bean flours, or coconut milk are fine even though they are technically “processed,” since they either contain a single ingredient, or could technically be made at home. Also, if you render a recipe vegan-friendly by adding a vegan option to your ingredients, your post will be good to go! Definite no-no’s include: cane sugar (evaporated or otherwise), sweeteners ending in -itol, margarines, or faux meat products.
2. This is a recipe event. Your blog post must contain a recipe.
3. You may link up older posts from your archives as long as they contain a link to this post. Please do not link up any posts you have previously shared at an earlier Wellness Weekend event.
4. Please link the post with your recipe, NOT your blog’s home page or another event page. The post must contain a recipe.
5. You may submit up to three recipes, but please follow the guidelines for each one individually. ONLY ONE THUMBNAIL FROM EACH BLOG POST, PLEASE.If your post contains two suitable recipes, link up once and people will still see all your fabulous recipes when they click on the linky.
6. Please mention this event and include a link back to this post so that others can find all the recipes posted!
7. Feel free to use the blog badge, above (or see the left sidebar of this page–if you need the html code, let me know and I’ll send it to you). Many thanks to Adrienne of Whole New Mom for setting up the badge code for me!

PLEASE NOTE: In order to promote your posts and the event, I like to occasionally tweet, mention on Facebook, or pin your blog post(s). On occasion, I will repost your photos in the following week’s Wellness Weekend as well. If you prefer that I NOT use your photos or links, please let me know in the comments below, or send an email to me at dietdessertdogsATgmailDOTcom. Thanks!

I will reluctantly remove any links that don’t comply. I apologize, but I will no longer be able to leave a comment telling you that I’ve removed a non-compliant link. I hate to have to remove links! PLEASE READ THE GUIDELINES BEFORE POSTING!

And now. . . what have you been cooking up lately? Please share!

Never miss a recipe–or a comment from The Girls! Click here to subscribe to Diet, Dessert and Dogs via email. (“We love subscribers, Mum. . . almost as much as we love treats!”).

Note: This post may contain affiliate links. If you purchase a product or service after clicking on the affiliate link, your purchase will help to support this blog via the small compensation I receive.

Hey Everyone! It’s that time again. . . . Wellness Weekend time! (Wait, does that sound like a beer commercial?!).

Well, no beer in last week’s event (that would not exactly count as a whole food, would it?), but there were 32 amazing creations, all filled with good-for-you ingredients and many suitable for the candida diet! Thanks so much to all of you who participate, and who visit/comment on all the entries, too. What an amazing virtual pot luck we create together each week!

Newsy Tidbits:

• I’m going to be a speaker at the Gluten Free Garage event in April! This is a popup event in Toronto that showcases all things gluten-free! And I’m very excited to know that my friend Maggie Savage is also on the roster! I’ll remind you all again, but if you’re looking to attend, here’s the basic info.
• The March-April issue of Simply Gluten-Free is out! It’s called Spring Fling and contains loads of the latest gluten-free news, information about kids, makeup and travel, and–of course–recipes! Here’s a peek at one of mine, a Savory Crepe with Caramelized Onion, Asparagus and Edamame and Cashew Cream Drizzle that I modeled after one I ate in New York City. Yum!

• My friend JL from JL Goes Vegan is giving away a copy of the new cookbook by Robin Robertson, Nut Butter Universe! That’s right: EVERY recipe contains nut butter!  Check out the details or enter the giveaway here. Until March 4th.
• Recipe Renovator is giving away a copy of The Artful Vegan as well as as well as a $50 gift certificate to Millenium Restaurant in San Francisco! Wish I lived there. . . . Details here. Runs until March 7th.
• Out to Lunch Creations is giving away the ebook Crash Course in Gluten Free Living by Kristin Rugg Dovbniak. The book is a primer for living gluten-free with lots of vegan recipes and info. To enter, go here. Ends March 9th.
• I had a little fun by posting this “teaser” pic on Facebook today of the amazing new snack I’ve been munching (the recipe will be up tomorrow on the blog). Well, I’m loving the guesses from everyone as to what these are made of! Want to add your opinion? “Like” DDD on Facebook and chime in here! (And don’t forget to come back tomorrow for the reveal!).

Do you have a blog linky event or giveaway you’d like me to mention? I also will occasionally mention new courses that bloggers offer their readers. Send me an email with the details to dietdessertdogsATgmailDOTcom and I’ll include three or four each week. Please note that I cannot always accommodate all requests.

PLEASE DO NOT ADD YOUR GIVEAWAYS OR CONTESTS TO THE LINKYS BELOW–THEY ARE FOR RECIPES ONLY.

This Week’s Picks:

Here are this week’s picks on the theme, “the sweet stuff”:

Raw Orange Creamsicle Swirl Cheesecake from Sweet & Healthy Living. I’ve been able to consume oranges again once in a great while–my next one is going to this!.

Oatmeal Raisin Muffins from Veggie V’s Vegan Adventure. Breakfast yum!

Date Paste from Gluten Free SCD and Veggie. I know lots of you use this in your sweet treats–SO versatile!

And This Week’s Readers’ Choices:

Readers’ Choice, Savory:

Bejeweled Brussels Sprouts from glutenfreehappytummy. I’m so glad you all loved this recipe as much as I did! Caralyn has a knack for making gorgeous, colorful veggie dishes–this one is no exception!

Readers’ Choice, Sweet:

Three-Ingredient Vegan Cinnamon Raisin Peanut Butter Cookies from Wayfaring Chocolate. How can you go wrong with “Three Ingredient”? And Peanut Butter? And COOKIES?!

Thanks for joining in and sharing all your healthy, sugar-free and vegan recipes. I love seeing what you whip up each week! And I hope you’ll also share on twitter, Facebook and Pinterest, too!

Here’s How to Participate:

The event occurs once a week, starting Thursdays at 8:00 PM my time and running until the following Monday at midnight.

1. Simply link up a vegan recipe you made (and posted about) that contains health-supporting ingredients. This means any good-for-you whole foods, especially those with antioxidant properties or “functional foods” (ie, offering naturally medicinal or health-promoting qualities–such as garlic, coconut oil, all vegetables, fruits, herbs, etc.)–but any fresh, real food is welcome! No-no’s include white flour or sugar, highly processed foods, or animal products. Items like vegan protein powder, grain or bean flours, or coconut milk are fine even though they are technically “processed,” since they either contain a single ingredient, or could technically be made at home. Also, if you render a recipe vegan-friendly by adding a vegan option to your ingredients, your post will be good to go! Definite no-no’s include: cane sugar (evaporated or otherwise), sweeteners ending in -itol, margarines, or faux meat products.
2. This is a recipe event. Your blog post must contain a recipe.
3. You may link up older posts from your archives as long as they contain a link to this post. Please do not link up any posts you have previously shared at an earlier Wellness Weekend event.
4. Please link the post with your recipe, NOT your blog’s home page or another event page. The post must contain a recipe.
5. You may submit up to three recipes, but please follow the guidelines for each one individually. ONLY ONE THUMBNAIL FROM EACH BLOG POST, PLEASE.If your post contains two suitable recipes, link up once and people will still see all your fabulous recipes when they click on the linky.
6. Please mention this event and include a link back to this post so that others can find all the recipes posted!
7. Feel free to use the blog badge, above (or see the left sidebar of this page–if you need the html code, let me know and I’ll send it to you). Many thanks to Adrienne of Whole New Mom for setting up the badge code for me!

PLEASE NOTE: In order to promote your posts and the event, I like to occasionally tweet, mention on Facebook, or pin your blog post(s). On occasion, I will repost your photos in the following week’s Wellness Weekend as well. If you prefer that I NOT use your photos or links, please let me know in the comments below, or send an email to me at dietdessertdogsATgmailDOTcom. Thanks!

I will reluctantly remove any links that don’t comply. I apologize, but I will no longer be able to leave a comment telling you that I’ve removed a non-compliant link. I hate to have to remove links! PLEASE READ THE GUIDELINES BEFORE POSTING!

And now. . . what have you been cooking up lately? Please share!

Never miss a recipe–or a comment from The Girls! Click here to subscribe to Diet, Dessert and Dogs via email. (“We love subscribers, Mum. . . almost as much as we love treats!”).

Note: This post may contain affiliate links. If you purchase a product or service after clicking on the affiliate link, your purchase will help to support this blog via the small compensation I receive.

Welcome to this week’s Wellness Weekend! I’m always so excited to see the incredible edibles you cook up each week. Last week was filled with creative yumminess, and I’m sure this week will be no different! 

Newsy Tidbits:

• Did you know it was Dr. Seuss’s birthday yesterday? To celebrate, Babble.com posted my Green “Eggs” and Ham recipe! Check it out here (it’s soy-free, too!).
• I love this video from Daily Bites. Three simple steps to kick your sugar cravings! This method sounds incredibly simple, but according to Hallie it really works. (You know what I’ll be doing this weekend. . . .). Check out Hallie’s tips here.
  
• Have you enjoyed raw foods lately? The ongoing Raw Food Thursdays event from Heather at Gluten-Free Cat continues each week! Check out this week’s entries (or link up your own) here.
• Nicole at A Dash of Compassion reviews the Wellness Reboot program and has a special offer for the March reboot, here.
• Go Dairy Free is supporting the GMO OMG project initiative (a new film about GMOs, genetically modified organisms).  If you’re interested in food, you’ve likely heard about the controversy surrounding GMOs. Personally, I’d rather not end up as an involuntary subject in a massive science experiment.  Check out the links and suppor the film if you are opposed to GMOs.

Do you have a blog linky event or giveaway you’d like me to mention? I also will occasionally mention new courses that bloggers offer their readers. Send me an email with the details to dietdessertdogsATgmailDOTcom and I’ll include three or four each week. Please note that I cannot always accommodate all requests.

PLEASE DO NOT ADD YOUR GIVEAWAYS OR CONTESTS TO THE LINKYS BELOW–THEY ARE FOR RECIPES ONLY.

This Week’s Picks:

We’ve got beautiful beans and legumes for you this week! The photos alone will make you drool. So, here are this week’s picks on the theme, “legumes”:

Black-Eyed Pea and Stewed Tomato Salad from Cooking with Siri. I don’t use black-eyed peas enough in my cooking! Here’s a delicious way to incorporate them more.

Rainbow Chickpea Salad from The Rebel Grrrl Kitchen. A colorful composition with chickpeas and lots of veggies!

Cinnamon Spiked Black-Eyed Peas Curry from Lisa’s Kitchen. Yep, black-eyed peas once again, with this spicy dish with an Indian flair.

And This Week’s Readers’ Choices:

Readers’ Choice, Savory:

Sweet Potato Crepes Stuffed with Smoky Millet from Vegan Richa. I had an entire twitter conversation about this yummy dish last week. Totally intriguing!

Readers’ Choice, Sweet:

Raw Black Forest Brownies from Out to Lunch Creations. How can you go wrong with a mix of chocolate and cherries?

Thanks for joining in and sharing all your healthy, sugar-free and vegan recipes. I love seeing what you whip up each week! And I hope you’ll also share on twitter, Facebook and Pinterest, too!

Here’s How to Participate:

The event occurs once a week, starting Thursdays at 8:00 PM my time and running until the following Monday at midnight.

1. Simply link up a vegan recipe you made (and posted about) that contains health-supporting ingredients. This means any good-for-you whole foods, especially those with antioxidant properties or “functional foods” (ie, offering naturally medicinal or health-promoting qualities–such as garlic, coconut oil, all vegetables, fruits, herbs, etc.)–but any fresh, real food is welcome! No-no’s include white flour or sugar, highly processed foods, or animal products. Items like vegan protein powder, grain or bean flours, or coconut milk are fine even though they are technically “processed,” since they either contain a single ingredient, or could technically be made at home. Also, if you render a recipe vegan-friendly by adding a vegan option to your ingredients, your post will be good to go! Definite no-no’s include: cane sugar (evaporated or otherwise), sweeteners ending in -itol, margarines, or faux meat products.
2. This is a recipe event. Your blog post must contain a recipe.
3. You may link up older posts from your archives as long as they contain a link to this post. Please do not link up any posts you have previously shared at an earlier Wellness Weekend event.
4. Please link the post with your recipe, NOT your blog’s home page or another event page. The post must contain a recipe.
5. You may submit up to three recipes, but please follow the guidelines for each one individually. ONLY ONE THUMBNAIL FROM EACH BLOG POST, PLEASE.If your post contains two suitable recipes, link up once and people will still see all your fabulous recipes when they click on the linky.
6. Please mention this event and include a link back to this post so that others can find all the recipes posted!
7. Feel free to use the blog badge, above (or see the left sidebar of this page–if you need the html code, let me know and I’ll send it to you). Many thanks to Adrienne of Whole New Mom for setting up the badge code for me!

PLEASE NOTE: In order to promote your posts and the event, I like to occasionally tweet, mention on Facebook, or pin your blog post(s). On occasion, I will repost your photos in the following week’s Wellness Weekend as well. If you prefer that I NOT use your photos or links, please let me know in the comments below, or send an email to me at dietdessertdogsATgmailDOTcom. Thanks!

I will reluctantly remove any links that don’t comply. I apologize, but I will no longer be able to leave a comment telling you that I’ve removed a non-compliant link. I hate to have to remove links! PLEASE READ THE GUIDELINES BEFORE POSTING!

And now. . . what have you been cooking up lately? Please share!

Never miss a recipe–or a comment from The Girls! Click here to subscribe to Diet, Dessert and Dogs via email. (“We love subscribers, Mum. . . almost as much as we love treats!”).

Note: This post may contain affiliate links. If you purchase a product or service after clicking on the affiliate link, your purchase will help to support this blog via the small compensation I receive.

Happy Wellness Weekend–Valentine’s Day Edition!

Yes, I am a total sucker when it comes to V-Day. Even when I didn’t have someone (human) with whom to share the day, I still celebrated, either by buying myself flowers (amazing how that will perk up your spirits!), or cooking a special meal, or just taking time to appreciate the people and animals I love in my life.  Whether you’re spending a romantic evening with a sweetheart or treating yourself to “me” time, I hope you all are having a wonderful day!

And the recipes from last week’s event were a great starting point for some fabulous Valentine’s Day dinners, to be sure. See below for highlights! But first, some news:

Newsy tidbits:

• If your V-Day celebration is just beginning (or even if it’s not), check out the Black Forest Cookie Dough Truffles I created for Attune Foods today! These no-cook, fudgy and chocolatey treats are a perfect “I love you” indulgence. Start now and you’ll be biting into one in less than 30 minutes. Recipe can be found here.
• Manifest Vegan is giving away a copy of Martha Stewart’s latest, Meatless.  Like all of Martha’s books, this one boasts gorgeous photography and beautiful layout. And many vegan recipes (yay!). Head over to Allyson’s blog to enter--ENDS TODAY!!
• Do you love to cook with herbs? Stephanie from Recipe Renovator is giving away a great-looking Herb Swag Bag with a cookbook, prepared herbs, dried herbs, a microplane grater, reusable bag from Trader Joe’s and more.  Check it out here. Ends February 21st.
• Check out the monthly giveaways on Simply Gluten-Free’s blog! This month includes a KitchenAid stand mixer, Apple iPad mini, magazine subscriptions, acacia wood salad bowls and lots of fabulous gluten-free foods! Details here. Most end February 28th.

Do you have a blog linky event or giveaway you’d like me to mention? I also will occasionally mention new courses that bloggers offer their readers. Send me an email with the details to dietdessertdogsATgmailDOTcom and I’ll include three or four each week. Please note that I cannot always accommodate all requests.

PLEASE DO NOT ADD YOUR GIVEAWAYS OR CONTESTS TO THE LINKYS BELOW–THEY ARE FOR RECIPES ONLY.

This Week’s Picks:

Here are this week’s picks for links on the theme, “light lunches”:

Vegan Zesty Carrot & Sweet Potato Coconut Soup from Fuss Free Flavors. The colors alone would brighten a meal!

Detox Salad with Orange Avocado Dressing from A Harmony Healing. I love the sound of this salad and would enjoy it any time, detox or not!

Carrot, Ginger, and Pumpkin Soup from Mamacook. Another brilliant soup that is perfect for these colder months.

And This Week’s Readers’ Choices:

Readers’ Choice, Savory:

Quinoa Quick Bread from Part-Time Health Nut. Luckily, Marya says you can leave out the yeast in this one–which means I can try it pronto!

Readers’ Choice, Sweet:

Chewy Oatmeal Crunch Bars from Sweetly Raw. Another winner from Heather. How good do these look?!

Thanks for joining in and sharing all your healthy, sugar-free and vegan recipes. I love seeing what you whip up each week! And I hope you’ll also share on twitter, Facebook and Pinterest, too!

Here’s How to Participate:

The event occurs once a week, starting Thursdays at 8:00 PM my time and running until the following Monday at midnight.

1. Simply link up a vegan recipe you made (and posted about) that contains health-supporting ingredients. This means any good-for-you whole foods, especially those with antioxidant properties or “functional foods” (ie, offering naturally medicinal or health-promoting qualities–such as garlic, coconut oil, all vegetables, fruits, herbs, etc.)–but any fresh, real food is welcome! No-no’s include white flour or sugar, highly processed foods, or animal products. Items like vegan protein powder, grain or bean flours, or coconut milk are fine even though they are technically “processed,” since they either contain a single ingredient, or could technically be made at home. Also, if you render a recipe vegan-friendly by adding a vegan option to your ingredients, your post will be good to go! Definite no-no’s include: cane sugar (evaporated or otherwise), sweeteners ending in -itol, margarines, or faux meat products.
2. This is a recipe event. Your blog post must contain a recipe.
3. You may link up older posts from your archives as long as they contain a link to this post. Please do not link up any posts you have previously shared at an earlier Wellness Weekend event.
4. Please link the post with your recipe, NOT your blog’s home page or another event page. The post must contain a recipe.
5. You may submit up to three recipes, but please follow the guidelines for each one individually. ONLY ONE THUMBNAIL FROM EACH BLOG POST, PLEASE.If your post contains two suitable recipes, link up once and people will still see all your fabulous recipes when they click on the linky.
6. Please mention this event and include a link back to this post so that others can find all the recipes posted!
7. Feel free to use the blog badge, above (or see the left sidebar of this page–if you need the html code, let me know and I’ll send it to you). Many thanks to Adrienne of Whole New Mom for setting up the badge code for me!

PLEASE NOTE: In order to promote your posts and the event, I like to occasionally tweet, mention on Facebook, or pin your blog post(s). On occasion, I will repost your photos in the following week’s Wellness Weekend as well. If you prefer that I NOT use your photos or links, please let me know in the comments below, or send an email to me at dietdessertdogsATgmailDOTcom. Thanks!

I will reluctantly remove any links that don’t comply. I apologize, but I will no longer be able to leave a comment telling you that I’ve removed a non-compliant link. I hate to have to remove links! PLEASE READ THE GUIDELINES BEFORE POSTING!

And now. . . what have you been cooking up lately? Please share!

Never miss a recipe–or a comment from The Girls! Click here to subscribe to Diet, Dessert and Dogs via email. (“We love subscribers, Mum. . . almost as much as we love treats!”).

Note: This post may contain affiliate links. If you purchase a product or service after clicking on the affiliate link, your purchase will help to support this blog via the small compensation I receive.

As promised, today’s recipe is number three in this week’s list of sweet Valentine’s Day treats! Be sure to check out the healthy Butterscotch Pudding and Granola-Topped Blueberry Pie Bars, too!

When you think of Valentine’s Day, what’s the first thing that comes to mind? Is it:

A) Flowers? Or perhaps
B) Chocolate? No? Then maybe
C) A sugar-free recipe? Or how about
D) A healthy dessert recipe? If not, is it
E) A cookie dough recipe?

Well, if you guessed “All of the above,” you’d be correct about these Black Forest Cookie Dough Truffles I’m sharing with you all today over at Attune foods (except for the “flowers” part, that is). And, true to form, they’re refined sugar-free and have a lower glycemic index than “regular” desserts, too.

When it comes to Valentine’s Day, I’m a chocolate gal, all the way. And if you serve up chocolate in the form of raw cookie dough—ideally, dipped in even more chocolate—well, then I’m truly in heaven.

To share in the chocolate love, just head over to the Attune Foods blog to see today’s recipe.  Happy Valentine’s Day!

[Seems to be "dessert week" on DDD! Here's another healthy recipe for you today, the second in a trio of "good for you" desserts that can all be served up to those you love for Valentine's Day: the first was Butterscotch Pudding that can improve heart health; and the final installment is coming up on Thursday with a beautiful, decdadent, traditional V-Day treat revamped to be super-quick and healthier. Be sure to come back and check that one out, too!]

I’ve never really understood the expression, “easy as pie.” In the home of my childhood, it was more like “almost-unheard-of-plus-totally frustrating-and-usually-botched-results” as pie.  Although my mom was a superlative baker, the one thing she almost never made (and when she did, it wasn’t very good) was pie. Give her a cookie dough, and she could nail it; a chiffon cake was her speciality; and cheesecake–no problem.  But pie crust somehow eluded her.

As a result, neither one of my sisters nor I excel at pie or pie crust.  In fact, the only pie my mother ever baked was called “Chocolate Dream Pie,” and as I recall, and it consisted of one ready-made storebought crust filled with chocolate cake batter and baked.  In other words, the only pie in her repertoire was actually a cake.

My mom’s sister, Auntie M, on the other hand, a former caterer who excelled in the kitchen well into until her final years-well, she could bake anything.

Like so many pairs of sisters, my mother and aunt were more dissimilar than alike.  Mom was softspoken, with a quiet, murmuring voice and (despite her hefty weight) a delicate frame, with tiny ankles and wrists. Her thin, fine hair was the color of wax beans. Auntie M, in contrast, was taller and broad, with sturdy legs thick as telephone poles. Her height was enhanced by the towering beehive of coarse, mahogany hair; her gravelly voice was both commanding and insistent, paired with an easy laugh and an equally easy tendency to criticize. My mother, the younger, was also “the pretty one,” while Auntie M was more what used to be described as a “Handsome” woman (think Mrs. Doubtfire with dark hair). Tough on the outside, she rarely revealed an inner softness, like a cautious turtle peeking out of its shell only when every possible threat is removed.

At once assertive and strong, Auntie M embodied the concept of pure domesticity, yet without even a whiff of the usual sense in which women are considered domestic.  She was an archetypal feminist, one who encouraged independence, intelligence, strength and self-sufficiency all within the realm of marriage–and I believed she could accomplish anything. I idolized her, and in many ways wanted to be her (well, minus the shapeless legs).

When I was about 16, I spent a couple of weeks living at my aunt's house after she had broken her arm. While ostensibly there to help her keep up with housework, my role as her personal assistant quickly morphed into culinary protégé as well. It was under her tutelage that I first learned about mis en place (though of course she didn't call it that), which I had never encountered before; she also taught me about professional wash-up technique, filling one sink with soapy water, the other with clear and washing the least-dirtied dishes and utensils (such as glasses or cutlery) first, reusing the water for the more grimy pots and pans at the end. I discovered how rotating your baking pans halfway through the cooking time helps to compensate for uneven oven heat, allowing for a smooth, even top to cakes and breads; how sifting flours helps to aerate and separate out impurities like pebbles or bran; and how using an ice cream scoop creates perfectly measured, uniformly sized cookies.

During those two weeks, Auntie M also taught me something I've retained to this day: that there is no age limit on silliness. Along with the baking (and cleaning, and reading, and cleaning, and knitting--and cleaning) I spent many hours beside her in the den, watching Bugs Bunny cartoons. It was a side of her I'd never known existed, and I loved hearing her guttural, spontaneous guffaws as Bugs massaged Elmer Fudd's bald head, directed opera singer Giovanni Jones to sustain his note beyond the bounds of reality, or infuriated Elmer with his trademark quip, "What's Up, Doc?" Even though my role during those two weeks was basically a cross between orderly and scullery maid, that visit remains one of my most cherished memories with my aunt.

The one thing that Auntie M never got round to teaching me, unfortunately, was how to bake a pie (though I have no doubt that, if she had, it would have been stellar).  After years of promising myself that I'd tackle the skill on my own, I suddenly switched to gluten-free baking a few years back, which means that most of my crusts are now "pat-in" versus "roll-out." (Though if you're looking for a good rollable GF pie crust, you must try the one I used in this tortière, which I found on Maggie's blog). As a result, I still have a bit of an irrational aversion to making pie crust (though I did manage to create two fabulous crusts for the upcoming cookbook).

So you can see why I was elated to come across this recipe for Granola Topped Blueberry Pie Bars in Hallie's latest cookbook, Super Healthy Cookies: They're just like pie--without the pie! If you haven't checked out the book yet, I'd highly recommend it: with 50 recipes for healthy cookies from fruity to chocolate to bars to special occasion and more, it also provides a great glossary of ingredients, a resource guide, tips and tricks throughout, and a fantastic appendix of all the recipes listed by different diet type (eg, vegan and egg-free, grain-free, nut-free) plus a list according to taste prefernces (eg, sweet and salty, chocolatey, warm and toasty spices, etc.). All in all, it's full of the healthy, delicious recipes and useful information I've come to expect from Hallie's work!

This recipe is actually not even listed in the "vegan" section, but it was a snap to adapt to my ACD diet.  I used The Vegg (vegan yolk) instead of the egg yolk listed, and subbed coconut nectar for maple syrup (obviously, you could make the recipe exactly as written if it jibes with your own diet).  I also loved the "sweetness scale" next to each recipe (this was a "two spoon" treat, right in the middle of the scale).

These bars came together incredibly easily. In less than 45 minutes, the HH and I had a fruity, crumbly, warm and inviting pie-like dessert.  To make the bars a bit more indulgent for the HH (he does love his creamy desserts), I topped his with a dollop of coconut whipped  cream.  These do, indeed, taste very pie-like and indulgent--and the HH consumed nearly half the pan in only 2 days! You should have no qualms at all serving these bars as Valentine's Day treats; they live up to a special occasion with the bursting-with-berries filling and yet are made with whole, healthy ingredients. They also fall into my very favorite dessert category: those that can be eaten as breakfast!

Despite the ease of preparation, I'd never call them "easy as pie," though. Unless, of course, we're talking about eating them.

I'm linking this recipe to Amy's Slightly Indulgent Tuesday.

Never miss a recipe–or a comment from The Girls! Click here to subscribe to Diet, Dessert and Dogs via email. (“We love subscribers, Mum. . . almost as much as we love treats!”)

Last Year at this Time: "Marry Me" Brownies (gluten free; ACD  3 and beyond)

Two Years Ago: Whoopee Pies (gluten free; ACD  3 and beyond)

Three Years Ago: Love Bites for Valentine's Day (gluten free; ACD All Stages)

Four Years Ago:  Spiked Sweet Potato Truffles or Truffle Cups (gluten free; ACD Maintenance)

Five Years Ago: Down the Donut Hole

© Ricki Heller, Diet, Dessert and Dogs

Hi Everyone–so glad to see you here for another Wellness Weekend! Hard to believe that Valentine’s Day is ONE WEEK from today! Do you do anything to celebrate? The HH and I traditionally go out to dinner. . . this year, I’ve been on a lower-grain diet, so we may have our romantic meal at home. 

Between now and then, I’m going to focus on healthy sweet treats you can serve your sweetie. First up was the Butterscotch Pudding from earlier this week; next up is an amazing dessert from Super Healthy Cookies, which I’ve been enjoying lately.  And please do link up your own V-Day recipes! 

Thanks for continuing to come out and share your incredible healthy, whole foods recipes each week. Last week’s entries were just as mouthwatering as always. I need a full-time chef so s/he can cook all your creations for me!! (Kidding. Sort of.).

Newsy Tidbits:

• DDD is nominated for a “Best Healthy Cooking Blog” in the Homies blog awards (via The Kitchn)! How very cool! And thanks to Hallie for letting me know. If you like DDD and would like to see me included, please head over to the Homies page and vote!
• Do you love coconut oil? I sing its praises over at The Balanced Platter this week–and offer up my favorite healthy fudge recipe (featuring coconut oil, of course!).
• Sharon from Bit of the Good Stuff is giving away some raw chocolates for Valentine’s Day! They look just gorgeous–and she hand-crafts them herself! Best part: it’s international! Anyone can enter. Get to it and enjoy some chocolates for V-Day!
• My friend Dreena has posted an amazing roundup of greens recipes–plus a tutorial on how to use them–on her blog.  Everything you’ve always wanted to know about leafy greens, and more!
• I’m delighted to be an affiliate for a new Holistic Nutrition Lab program offered by Andrea Nakayama, a functional nutritionist who has been changing hundreds of people’s lives for the better with her holistic approach based on science and nutrition. I’ve mentioned before how much I admire Andrea and what she’s doing, and I can recommend her with complete confidence and enthusiasm. If you’re a holistic nutrition professional looking to improve your clients’ lives with better diagnosis and treatment, OR if you’re curious about what holistic nutritoin is all about, check out Andrea’s free seminar–it takes place tomorrow!

Do you have a blog linky event or giveaway you’d like me to mention? I also will occasionally mention new courses that bloggers offer their readers. Send me an email with the details to dietdessertdogsATgmailDOTcom and I’ll include three or four each week. Please note that I cannot always accommodate all requests.

PLEASE DO NOT ADD YOUR GIVEAWAYS OR CONTESTS TO THE LINKYS BELOW–THEY ARE FOR RECIPES ONLY.

This Week’s Picks:

Here are this week’s picks for links on the theme, “salads & sides”:

Szechuan Green Beans & Red Pepper from The Taste Space. Spicy and flavorful–what a great way to enjoy beans!

Crunchy Ginger Orange Salad from Gluten Free Cat. This would make a refreshing change in winter, don’t you think?

Potato Salad (No Mayo!) from Engineering Dinner. Everybody’s favorite gets a makeover!

And This Week’s Readers’ Choices:

Readers’ Choice, Savory:

Whole Grain Sourdough Biscuits from A Life Unprocessed. I lurrrve biscuits. These sound great!

Readers’ Choice, Sweet:

Whole Grain Vegan Gluten-Free Waffles from Gluten & Dairy Free Recipes. Another breakfast goodie from Lisa!

Thanks for joining in and sharing all your healthy, sugar-free and vegan recipes. I love seeing what you whip up each week! And I hope you’ll also share on twitter, Facebook and Pinterest, too!

Here’s How to Participate:

The event occurs once a week, starting Thursdays at 8:00 PM my time and running until the following Monday at midnight.

1. Simply link up a vegan recipe you made (and posted about) that contains health-supporting ingredients. This means any good-for-you whole foods, especially those with antioxidant properties or “functional foods” (ie, offering naturally medicinal or health-promoting qualities–such as garlic, coconut oil, all vegetables, fruits, herbs, etc.)–but any fresh, real food is welcome! No-no’s include white flour or sugar, highly processed foods, or animal products. Items like vegan protein powder, grain or bean flours, or coconut milk are fine even though they are technically “processed,” since they either contain a single ingredient, or could technically be made at home. Also, if you render a recipe vegan-friendly by adding a vegan option to your ingredients, your post will be good to go! Definite no-no’s include: cane sugar (evaporated or otherwise), sweeteners ending in -itol, margarines, or faux meat products.
2. This is a recipe event. Your blog post must contain a recipe.
3. You may link up older posts from your archives as long as they contain a link to this post. Please do not link up any posts you have previously shared at an earlier Wellness Weekend event.
4. Please link the post with your recipe, NOT your blog’s home page or another event page. The post must contain a recipe.
5. You may submit up to three recipes, but please follow the guidelines for each one individually. ONLY ONE THUMBNAIL FROM EACH BLOG POST, PLEASE.If your post contains two suitable recipes, link up once and people will still see all your fabulous recipes when they click on the linky.
6. Please mention this event and include a link back to this post so that others can find all the recipes posted!
7. Feel free to use the blog badge, above (or see the left sidebar of this page–if you need the html code, let me know and I’ll send it to you). Many thanks to Adrienne of Whole New Mom for setting up the badge code for me!

PLEASE NOTE: In order to promote your posts and the event, I like to occasionally tweet, mention on Facebook, or pin your blog post(s). On occasion, I will repost your photos in the following week’s Wellness Weekend as well. If you prefer that I NOT use your photos or links, please let me know in the comments below, or send an email to me at dietdessertdogsATgmailDOTcom. Thanks!

I will reluctantly remove any links that don’t comply. I apologize, but I will no longer be able to leave a comment telling you that I’ve removed a non-compliant link. I hate to have to remove links! PLEASE READ THE GUIDELINES BEFORE POSTING!

And now. . . what have you been cooking up lately? Please share!

Never miss a recipe–or a comment from The Girls! Click here to subscribe to Diet, Dessert and Dogs via email. (“We love subscribers, Mum. . . almost as much as we love treats!”).

Note: This post may contain affiliate links. If you purchase a product or service after clicking on the affiliate link, your purchase will help to support this blog via the small compensation I receive.