Gluten free Lemon Dessert Cups

Last week I picked up a box of delicious Glutino lemon wafer cookies with the idea that I could use them as a base for a new fresh and light summer dessert recipe!

I decided that I didn’t want to go with a pie or bar recipe (since I’ve been going kind of bar crazy lately!) and it was then that I remembered “Dirt Dessert”, one of my favorites as a kid!

There was a cool creamy layer, then a delicious chocolate Oreo layer, I decided I could make a similar version, but with a lemony twist!

I was preparing this delicious dessert for a girlfriends birthday dinner, so I decided these individual mason jars would be an adorable way to present the light and refreshing treat!

I topped them with fresh mint and raspberries for a little POC (pop of color)!  The result was an adorable, delicious, simple, light and refreshing gluten free dessert!

Ingredients

• 1 (7.1 oz) box of glutino gluten free lemon wafers
• 8 oz cream cheese
• 8 oz cool whip
• 3 lemons

Begin by adding the lemon wafers to a food processor.

Blend into a fine crumb mixture.

Next, whip together the cream cheese and cool whip.

Then add the zest and juice of two lemons.

Cream together then begin preparing the jars.

Place a large spoonful of the creamy filling in the bottom of a ½ pint jar, then add a layer of the lemon wafer crumbs.

Add another layer of creamy filling, then top with another layer of lemon wafer crumbs.

Zest the third lemon on top of the jars and serve.

Add fresh fruit or mint if you prefer!

♣ Vegetarian Option: This recipe is vegetarian.

♦ Gluten Free Option: This recipe is gluten free.

Gluten Free Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Bars

A few years back I was part of a co-ed softball team… so I never actually held a bat or caught a ball, but I did cheer on the team and make fresh baked goods for every game!

And lets be real, having a cheering section and fresh baked goods is an essential part of an adult co-ed softball league so you might just say I held the more important role on the team

These bars were the absolute favorite of everything I made for them!  They were requested on the regular by the team!

I hadn’t thought about them, much less made them, in years but after making my Frozen Strawberry Cheesecake Bars last week, they came into my mind and I knew I had to whip some up!

This time around I used my delicious Gluten Free Premium Gold Flour to make these babies gluten-free!  They were just as scrumptious as I remembered with no gluten in site!

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup butter
• 1 cup peanut butter
• 3 eggs
• 1 tbsp vanilla
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1 cup Premium Gold Gluten Free Flour
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 12 oz chocolate chips (divided)

Begin by creaming together the butter and peanut butter.

Next add the eggs, vanilla and sugars.

Beat well then add the flour and salt.

Mix until combined well and creamy, then hand mix in 1 cup of chocolate chips.

Pour the batter into an 8 x 11 baking dish.

Bake at 350° for 25 minutes. Remove from the oven and top with the additional chocolate chips.

Wait 5 minutes for the chocolate to melt, then spread it across the top of the bars.

Allow to cool for 15 minutes.

Slice into squares and dig in!

These bars and so simple to make and great for taking to summer cookouts and parties!  Make this gluten free version of the bars to make sure that everyone attending the party can enjoy the delicious treats

♣ Vegetarian Option: This recipe is vegetarian.

♦ Gluten Free Option: This recipe is gluten free.

Paleo: Everything You Need To Know

A few months ago, a friend of mine started dating a guy who swore by his Paleo lifestyle. Initially, we could not understand why anyone would choose to follow such a strict diet. Many questions arose even one as simple, and stupid, as “does he actually hunt and gather his food?” While this question may seem ridiculous, the hunter-gatherer methodology of our ancestors largely builds what the Paleo diet is all about. I have not tried the Paleo diet yet and do not in any way claim to be an expert. However, when I have attempted to look up what the Paleo diet consists of, I have found a bunch of different viewpoints, making it confusing and difficult for one to start their own Paleo venture. I’m going to simplify what Paleo is, why one should consider the diet, and how to get started. Consider this your go to guide for all the Paleo basics.

For more Paleo information and great Paleo recipes for the grill, check out our very own Whitney Bond on the San Diego 6 Morning News Show!

What is “Paleo”?

The Paleolithic (Paleo) diet craze, often called the caveman diet, began as early as the 1960’s shunning products of the agricultural revolution and the creation of the highly processed foods that exist today. The basic premises of the Paleo diet are simple, eat as if you were roaming the earth more than 10,000 years ago before junk food and heavy pasta meals existed.

What can I eat?

Foods allowed on the Paleo diet all mimic what would have existed in the Paleolithic period. This includes grass-fed meats, fish, seafood, fresh fruit and vegetables, eggs, nuts and seeds, and healthful oils (olive, walnut, flaxseed, macadamia, avocado, coconut). Any type of food that was produced as a result of the agricultural revolution technically cannot be included. This includes grains, legumes, potatoes, refined sugar, dairy, salt, processed foods, refined vegetable oils, and alcohol. If it could not be hunted or gathered by our cavemen ancestors, don’t eat it! Sound too difficult? The leading specialist of this natural diet, Dr. Loren Cordain, offers three “levels” of Paleo in his book The Paleo Diet. These levels enable dieters to slowly transition to full Paleo or stop at whichever point works for them.

Why would I want to be Paleo?

The claims of the Paleo diet all surround themselves with the idea that you’ll live a healthier, fitter life. Paleo research claims it is the only nutritional approach that works with our genetics and ultimately prevents, and can often remedy, the ills and diseases caused by modern day food production. Through their research, Paleo enthusiasts blame refined foods, trans fat, and sugars as the root of many degenerative diseases including obesity, cancer, diabetes, heart disease, Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, depression, and infertility. In terms of weight loss, the Paleo diet is much more about maintaining a healthy lifestyle rather than shedding pounds, but by ditching processed foods, many do lose weight as a result. This diet plan does not cater to vegetarians, although it can be modified. It is naturally gluten-free, satisfying another degree of healthy eating.

Is Paleo really the healthiest way to eat?

Critics of the Paleo lifestyle emphasize that humans have evolved to be able to eat modern day food. The wild game that existed during the Paleolithic period is not the same as the meats available today, and the sustainability of Paleo is currently not as realistic as it needs to be. Critics claim nearly every fruit, vegetable, and animal is drastically different from those that our cavemen predecessors consumed. Furthermore, our cavemen ancestors ate the way they did out of necessity, not out of want. There is little research on the actual proven benefits of the Paleo diet. These reasons aren’t necessarily an end all for Paleo, the diet is all about how you feel on it and responding to what your body tells you.

Interested in exploring what it means to be Paleo? Check out our most popular Little Leopard Book Paleo recipes including our Chipotle Lime Chicken Fajita Skewers, Grilled Pineapple Tomatillo Guacamole, and Caribbean Mango Avocado Ahi Lettuce Wraps or visit our Paleo page to explore more options!

Metabolism Boosting Breakfast Smoothie

When the booking producer over at the San Diego 6 Morning News Show asked me to come on this week to talk about juicing and smoothies, I couldn’t wait to share some of the drinks I’ve been mixing up over in the LLB kitchen every morning!

While I’ll be juicing up some of my favorites like the Green Detox Juice and Antioxidant Immunity Juice, I also wanted to throw in a new drink made with my favorite smoothie booster, the beaming superfood blend!

This 100% natural, organic blend increases stamina, boosts energy, balances hormones and enhances mood. I don’t know about you all, but with long work hours and busy days, I could use all of the above!

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup strawberries
• 1/2 cup blueberries
• 1 banana
• 6 oz greek yogurt
• 1 cup coconut water
• 1 tbsp honey
• 1 tsp fresh ginger
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon
• 1 tbsp beaming Superfood Smoothie Blend
• 1 tbsp Premium Gold Ground Flax Seed

Begin by adding the strawberries, blueberries and banana to a blender.

Next add the greek yogurt, coconut water, honey, ginger, cinnamon, superfood smoothie blend and flaxseed.

Blend well.

Chill and serve.

This smoothie not only helps speed up your metabolism, it also reduces nausea and aids in digestion.

Don’t forget to tune in later this morning – June 6th – at 7:50 AM to San Diego Channel 6 Morning News where I’ll be whipping up this smoothie and more!

Lean and Green Superfood Smoothie

This smoothie was inspired by my first trip to bBar Superfood Vitality Bar in Del Mar!

I tried the Sexy Mayan and Lisa’s Daily Lean & Green and was immediately addicted to the lean-ness and green-ness of Lisa’s smoothie!

After meeting with bBar’s social media guru Dustin Towery, he sent me home with a bag of bBar’s Beaming Organic Superfood Protein Blend with Greens so that I could re-create their amazing smoothie in the Little Leopard Book kitchen!

And that I did!

Ingredients (makes two 16 oz smoothies)

• 1 avocado
• 1 banana
• 1 cup almond milk
• 1 cup coconut water
• 1 cup spinach
• 1 tbsp beaming superfood protein
• 1 tbsp Premium Gold Ground Flax Seed
• 1 tsp honey
• 1/4 tsp cinnamon

Begin by adding the avocado and banana to a blender.  Next add the almond milk, coconut water and spinach, then add the protein and flax seed.

Top it off with the honey and cinnamon.

Blend well.

Chill then serve.

This energy packed smoothie is loaded with vitamins, nutrients and protein!

Grab a bag of beaming’s soy-free, dairy-free, gluten-free protein packed powder and make your own Lean Green Superfood Smoothie at home!