Chocolate-Raspberry Crepes

Enjoyed chocolate-raspberry crepes for breakfast this weekend!

The crepe recipe is from The China Study Cookbook by LeAnne Campbell.  They were so quick and easy to make.  I'm looking forward to trying some other fillings, although I have a traditionalist in the house who wants me to make them with just some fresh lemon juice and a dusting of sugar.

The chocolate is Chocolate Hummus from Jenny Sugar, of POPSUGAR Fitness.  This is one of my favorite recipes.  It makes a great filling, dip, and frosting for cakes/cupcakes.  It can also be made with black beans instead of chick peas.  If you don't have almonds, but have almond butter, just use 2 tbsp almond butter instead.

In The News

Milk does a body good? Maybe not always, Harvard doc argues - Dr. David Ludwig, Harvard Pediatrician

The Toxic Truth about Sugar -  Dr. Robert Lustig, UC San Francisco Pediatric Endocrinologist

Now, great advice on How to Break a Sugar Addiction.  I can tell you that once you break it, you really do lose your "sweet tooth".  I can't eat sugary foods nearly at the same rate as I used to.  One cookie or treat and I'm done.  If I cave and eat a second, I regret it.  I actually don't feel as well afterwards.  If you're not sure what foods have sugar added to them, the author of this site has a list here.  You may be surprised.

Good luck!  If we can break the chocolate chip cookie dough/brownie cravings, you can too!

Crazy Cake Revised

Back in April my sister issued a challenge - remake Crazy Cake, one of our favorite desserts from childhood, but healthier.  Here it is!  I was actually surprised by how easy it was.  It's a little gooey on the bottom, but in a oh-so-yummy chocolatey way.  Enjoy!

Crazy Cake Revised
1 1/2 cups whole wheat pastry flour
1 cup sugar
3 Tbsp cocoa
1 tsp baking soda
1 cup cold water
1/2 tsp salt
6 Tbsp unsweetened applesauce
1 Tbsp vinegar
1 tsp vanilla

Mix flour, sugar, cocoa, baking soda, and salt into an ungreased 8x8 pan.  Make 3 holes in dry ingredients and put in each hole the applesauce, vinegar, and vanilla.  Pour over this the water.  Mix with fork but do not beat.  Bake 25 to 35 minutes in a 350 degree oven.  Let the cake cool and serve it dusted with powdered sugar.

A Challenge!

My sister has just challenged me to remake this recipe:

Crazy Cake

It doesn't have any meat, eggs, or dairy, but it does have oil and a lot of sugar (it is a dessert).  I'll let you all know what we come up with.  What a sister I have, asking me to test a cake recipe!  You don't think she's trying to sabotage my whole-foods, plant-based weight loss do you?

Crazy Cake

Merry Christmas!!!!!
This may seem a few days late, but I was reminded yesterday that it is still Christmas.  Christmas Day may be past, but we are in the 12 days of Christmas and should still be celebrating.  On that note, here is one of my favorite cake recipes from childhood.  My mom would occassionally make this when we would have company or go to someone else's house for dinner.  We called it Crazy Cake, but it is listed as "Wacky" Chocolate Cake in the church cookbook.
Crazy Cake
1 1/2 cups flour
1 cup sugar
3 Tbsp cocoa
1 tsp baking soda
1 cup cold water
1/2 tsp salt
6 Tbsp salad oil
1 Tbsp vinegar
1 tsp vanilla
Sift flour, sugar, cocoa, baking soda, and salt into an ungreased pan.  Make 3 holes in dry ingredients and put in each hole the oil, vinegar, and vanilla.  Pour over this the water.  Mix with fork but do not beat.  Bake 25 to 35 minutes in a 350 degree oven.
The recipe lists an 8 or 9 inch square pan or a loaf pan.  I last made it in a 10 inch round oven-proof skillet and a friend of mine has doubled the recipe and made it in an 9x13 inch pan.  I let the cake cool and serve it dusted with powdered sugar.