Recipes

Crazy Easy Almond Butter

As a family we made the switch to Almond Butter a while ago but I had treated the delicious and nutritious treat like it is pure gold.  Honestly, I would sneak it when the kids were not watching because I didn’t want to have to share the teeny tiny amount that we had that cost us a week’s salary to purchase.  Ok so I know I am being dramatic but I really did secretly eat the stuff because I didn’t want to share.

My favorite almond butter was always the fresh ground we would get at Whole Paycheck, ahum I mean Whole Foods.  You could seriously taste the freshness and for that reason we paid $7/lb for the buttery gold.  I don’t know if I got sick of giving up other foods so I could afford to feed my almond butter habit or if I finally decided to not be so stubborn and share my almond butter with the kids.  Either way I knew if that little machine at Whole Foods was all that was in between me and almond butter I surely could manage to find a way to make it at home.  Enter my awesome KitchenAid Food Processor!

Now if you put Almond Butter on the delicious pedestal like I do you are going to have a Homer Simpson “Doh” moment when I show you how simple it is to make at home.

First gather either raw or roasted almonds, I prefer to buy raw then roast them a few hours prior to making my almond butter. Just pop 2 cups raw almonds into an oven at 300 for 10 minutes.  Let them cool down before you start making magic happen

2 Cups Fresh Roasted Almonds
2 Cups Fresh Roasted Almonds

Next you need a heavy-duty food processor or blender.  I prefer my food processor because it is easy to use, has a powerful motor that has yet to overheat, and get’s the job done in less than 10 minutes.

The magical KitchenAid food processor
The magical KitchenAid food processor

Add you almonds with your sharpest blade and turn on.  It will be loud at first, but that only lasts a few moments as the almonds start to break down.

Ear Plugs might be required
Ear Plugs might be required
Watch the magic
Watch the magic

As the almonds start to break down they will start to stick to the sides.  Just scrape it down every minute or so and keep pressing on…

Scrape down the sides
Scrape down the sides
Keep Going....
Keep Going….

The oils in the almonds will start to be released as the friction heats up the almonds and they are broken down.  It will start to ball up into a dough, don’t stop yet!  Break it down and keep going….

Keep Going....
Keep Going….

At about 8 minutes of processing you get a smooth and creamy Almond Butter to rival that from Whole Foods magic machine2015-03-05 12.11.35

Place in a small container and store in your fridge or pantry for a week or two, if it lasts that long.

2015-03-05 12.15.42

You can now enjoy delicious and nutrition buttery Almond gold at home.  Add it to greek yogurt, your smoothies, top apple slices, or eat it straight of the spoon if you want.   I have found the best place to get almonds is Costco, online, or Winco.  Enjoy!!

Recipes

Frozen yogurt freezer bites- Perfect Summer treat!!


As the temperatures start to heat up outside check out these amazingly simple and super yummy sweet treats that are a great alternative to trips to the ice cream truck.

These strawberry-banana flavored frozen yogurt cupcakes are a perfect sweet treat and less than 100 calories each!Frozen Yogurt Bites

Total Time: 4 hrs. 20 min.
Prep Time: 10 min.
Cooking Time: None
Yield: 12 servings, 1 cupcake each

 

 

 

Ingredients:
3½ cups nonfat plain Greek yogurt
2 Tbsp. raw honey
6 medium strawberries, pureed
½ medium ripe banana, pureed
36 dark chocolate morsels (about 2 Tbsp.)

Preparation:
1. Place 12 silicone baking cups on a baking sheet. Set aside.
2. Combine yogurt and honey in a medium bowl; mix well.
3. Place 3 Tbsp. yogurt mixture in each baking cup.
4. Top evenly with strawberries, banana, and 2 additional Tbsp. yogurt mixture.
5. Top each cupcake with 3 morsels.
6. Freeze for 4 hours, or until firm.
7. Remove from freezer 10 minutes before serving.

Tip: You can make this recipe using silicone baking cups, a silicone muffin pan, or a regular muffin pan. When using the regular muffin pan, to remove cupcakes, dip the bottom of the pan in hot water for 20 seconds.