These gluten & grain free Rum Balls are the perfect way to get the party started during the holidays! Chocolate and rum come together in this recipe to make a rich and soul warming treat! Enjoy this healthy spin on rums balls any time of the year–not just the holidays.
My love for rum balls dates back to my little Jen days. My Nonna (a.k.a. Ma) use to make them for the family around Christmas time. Not sure who inspired her to make rum balls since they’re not a traditional Italian recipe, BUT I’m glad she did because they were delish!
Since my craving for rum balls is still strong, I decided to put a healthy spin on this popular treat which can be enjoyed any time of the year–not just the holidays.
Most traditional rum ball recipes are packed with low-quality and inflammatory ingredients like vanilla waffers, confectioners’ sugar and corn syrup.
Instead of using vanilla waffers, I use a combo of almond flour and shredded coconut, which creates a great gluten free base. I also kicked nasty corn syrup and confectioners’ sugar out and replaced them with a natural and pure sweetener, maple syrup.
The combination of coconut, rum and chocolate makes this a delicious treat you’ll crave all year round. Give this easy, no-bake recipe a try!
For a alcohol free and kid friendly version, omit rum and increase maple syrup to 1/2 cup.
These gluten & grain free Rum Balls are the perfect way to get the party started during the holidays! Chocolate and rum come together in this recipe to make a rich and soul warming treat! Enjoy this healthy spin on rums balls any time of the year--not just the holidays.
Shrimp Pad Thai is absolutely delicious and will soon be one of your favourite weekly dishes! This recipe combines shrimp with spaghetti squash noodles, vegetables for texture and flavor, and is coated with the most delicious creamy lime almond butter sauce! It’s gluten & grain free, paleo and low-carb.
Quick fact about me … I had a BIG crush on Pad Thai during my university days–and since I lived in Toronto at that time, I always gravitated towards Thai restaurants when I ate out. To this date, there’s just something about the combo of spices and flavours in Thai cuisine that I find magical!
Unfortunately, when I changed my diet to better serve my body, Pad Thai was one of the dishes I had to give up (teardrop).
Luckily, I eventually realized that I didn’t really need to give up my favourite dishes in order to feel good, I just needed to get creative and modify them. Ergo, I created this flavourful paleo version of Pad Thai that I could easily make whenever a craving hits–and let me tell you, I’ve made this recipe way more times than I can count!
Typical take-out Pad Thai can be loaded with lots of unwanted ingredients – crappy oils, sugar, MSG, and lots of sodium. However, this healthy Shrimp Pad Thai is made with shrimp, eggs, veggies, and uses spaghetti squash noodles instead of rice noodles to keep it lower carb & paleo.
Check out this delicious Shrimp Pad Thai with simple and clean ingredients. It’s one of my favourite recipes to date!
Want more healthy Asian recipes? You’re going to love these …
Shrimp Pad Thai is absolutely delicious and will soon be one of your favourite weekly dishes! This recipe combines shrimp with spaghetti squash noodles, vegetables for texture and flavor, and is coated with the most delicious creamy lime almond butter sauce! It's gluten & grain free, paleo and low-carb.
2tbsp.pine nuts or crushed almonds, lightly toasted
Instructions
Cut spaghetti squash lengthwise and remove seeds. Bake at 400 for 30-40 min. Fork should pierce skin easily when squash is cooked. Use a fork to scrape out the strands of squash. Set aside. (I suggest preparing the other ingredients as the squash cooks).
Finely chop carrots and green onion by hand or in a food processor. Set aside.
Using a large pan over medium heat, sauté garlic and ginger in 1 tbsp. avocado oil until fragrant. Add carrots, onion and enoki mushrooms and continue to cook until carrots are tender. Season with salt.
Create a space in the middle of the pan, add eggs and scramble with fork. Mix in with vegetables and let cook for 1-2 minutes.
In a small bowl, combine all sauce ingredients until smooth and creamy.
Turn heat to low, add cooked spaghetti squash and sauce into pan and mix all ingredients together until sauce coats everything.
Add in cooked shrimp (see instructions below) and gently combine all ingredients until warm.
Plate the Pad Thai and garnish with nuts and cilantro.
Shrimp: (can be cooked at the same time as Pad Thai)
In a separate pan, cook shrimp in 1 tbsp avocado oil over medium heat. Season with salt and black pepper. Turn shrimp halfway through cooking.
Once shrimp are cooked, set aside until ready to add to the other pan.
Notes
*You can easily replace shrimp with chicken if you'd like. Just cut 1lb of chicken breasts or thighs (boneless, skinless) into bite-sized pieces and cook as you would the shrimp.
Grain Free Oatmeal is the perfect way to start your day! It’s made with wholesome ingredients like nuts, eggs, banana & spices, making it low-carb, keto & paleo. This breakfast dish will leaving you feeling satisfied and energized!
If you’re looking for a warm and comforting breakfast with whole food ingredients, I highly recommend this grain free oatmeal (a.k.a. “NOatmeal).
It’s packed with healthy fats from raw nuts and contains whole eggs which gives your body the protein and fuel it needs to conquer the day! This nutrient-dense “NOatmeal” will leave you feeling satisfied and fueled for hours.
A great recipe for those following a paleo, low-carb or keto lifestyle.
The BF and I usually save “NOatmeal” for the weekend since it takes a bit of time to prepare. BUT if you want to incorporate it into your work week, make a batch ahead of time and store it in an air-tight container in the fridge. I suggest eating it within 4 days.
Grain Free Oatmeal is the perfect way to start your day! It's made with wholesome ingredients like nuts, eggs, banana & spices, making it low-carb, keto & paleo. This breakfast dish will leaving you feeling satisfied and energized!
Mint Chocolate Balls are the perfect healthy treat! The rich flavour of chocolate combined with refreshing peppermint, makes these balls irresistible! These decadent bites are free of gluten, grains, dairy & refined sugar + paleo, plant-based & raw. They’re easy to make and even easier to pop!!
DID YOU KNOW? Peppermint may relieve digestive symptoms, such as gas, bloating and indigestion.
A review of nine studies in 926 people with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) treated with peppermint oil for at least two weeks concluded that peppermint provided significantly better symptom relief than a placebo.
In one study in 72 people with IBS, peppermint oil capsules reduced IBS symptoms by 40% after four weeks, compared to only 24.3% with a placebo.
Additionally, in a review of 14 clinical trials in nearly 2,000 children, peppermint reduced the frequency, length and severity of abdominal pain.
Pair these yummy bites with my Peppermint Mocha–it’s a match made in heaven!
Mint Chocolate Balls
Mint Chocolate Balls are the perfect healthy treat! The rich flavour of chocolate combined with refreshing peppermint, makes these balls irresistible! These decadent bites are free of gluten, grains, dairy & refined sugar + paleo, plant-based & raw. They're easy to make and even easier to pop!!
5-8dropspeppermint essential oil (food-grade), or 1/2-1 tsp peppermint extract (start with less and add more if needed)
1/8tsp.sea salt
2tbspcoconut flakes, for coating
Instructions
Soak dates in water for 30-minutes and drain.
Add nuts and coconut flakes into food processor and process into a fine crumble.
Add dates, cocoa powder, peppermint oil/extract and sea salt into the food processor and continue to process until ingredients start to stick together. If mixture is too dry, add a teaspoon of water at a time until mixture becomes sticky when you press it together.
Scoop out mixture with a small spoon and roll into balls.
Spread remaining coconut flakes on a plate and roll balls into the flakes to coat.
Store in an air-tight container in the fridge.
Notes
Pair these yummy bites with my Peppermint Mocha--it's a match made in heaven!
This dairy free Peppermint Mocha is the perfect way to enjoy your coffee during the winter! The rich flavours of coffee and chocolate come together with creamy nut milk and refreshing peppermint to create a comforting and delicious beverage.
Have you ever wondered what the difference is between cacao and cocoa powder?
Cocoa powder is actually made similarly to cacao, except cocoa is heated at a higher temperature during processing.
Less processed cacao (to which less heat has been applied) — such as raw cacao — tends to contain more antioxidants.
In addition, cacao powder generally contains more fiber and nutrients including selenium, magnesium, chromium and manganese than cocoa powder.
Though raw cacao is well-known for being healthier than cocoa, cocoa powder is still healthy for you. When purchasing cocoa at the grocery store, it’s important to buy plain cocoa powder, without artificial flavors and added ingredients. Be on the lookout for regular cocoa powder or dutch-processed, which is dark cocoa powder.
If you buy raw cacao powder, remember that some of its antioxidants will be destroyed by heat. Consider using cacao powder in smoothies and no-bake desserts/snacks. Cocoa powder is ideal where heat is involved.
This dairy free Peppermint Mocha is the perfect way to enjoy your coffee during the holidays! The rich flavours of coffee and chocolate come together with creamy nut milk to create a warm, comforting and delicious beverage.
This Orange Chicken is made with crispy fried chicken covered in a flavourful orange sauce! It’s free of gluten, soy & sugar making it a healthy alternative to traditional Chinese take-out, yet still comforting and delicious! This recipe is paleo friendly and can also be modified for an AIP diet. Serve over cauliflower “rice” or with steamed veggies.
DID YOU KNOW? Arrowroot powder is a starchy substance that’s extracted from the root of a tropical plant known as Maranta arundinacea – and is frequently used in gluten-free, paleo cooking.
Sometimes arrowroot powder is referred to as arrowroot flour or arrowroot starch, but they’re all the same thing – a white, powdery starch that’s naturally gluten & grain-free, plant-based and paleo-friendly.
Because arrowroot is not a grain, many people (especially those with IBS or digestive issues) find that arrowroot powder is easier to digest and therefore does not cause symptoms like gas, bloating, etc. It also contains more fiber than potatoes and other starches, which helps promote healthy bowel function.
Arrowroot powder works great as a thickener and can easily replace cornstarch. It’s also great for frying, roasting and baking since it can add crisp and crunch to your food.
Unlike cornstarch, arrowroot powder is extracted in simpler, more traditional methods, without the use of high heat or harsh chemicals.
When making Asian dishes (like my Orange Chicken), I coat my chicken in arrowroot powder and then fry in heat stable avocado oil. This creates a crispy coating on the chicken that absorbs sauce and tastes delicious!
This Orange Chicken is made with crispy fried chicken covered in a flavourful orange sauce! It's free of gluten, soy & sugar making it a healthy alternative to traditional Chinese take-out, yet still comforting and delicious! This recipe is paleo friendly and can also be modified for an AIP diet. Serve over cauliflower "rice" or with steamed veggies.
2lbs.boneless skinless chicken thighs, cut into bite-size chunks
1/4cuparrowroot starch/flour
Avocado oil
Sea salt & pepper, to taste
Orange Sauce:
2/3cuphot water
4medjool dates, pitted
⅓cuporange juice, shop for best quality or use fresh squeezed
3tbspcoconut aminos
2tbspapple cider vinegar or rice vinegar
1/2tspground ginger
1/2tspgarlic powder
1/2tspred pepper flakes, omit for AIP version
1tsparrowroot starch/flour + 1 tbsp water
Zest of 1 orange
Garnish:
1/2orange, chunked
1green onion, finely chopped
Instructions
Chicken:
Cover the bottom of a large frying pan with avocado oil and heat until it begins to sizzle.
While oil is heating, combine arrowroot flour, sea salt and pepper in a shallow bowl and mix. Add chicken chunks and coat. Remove the chicken, shaking off extra flour and add to hot oil. You may need to do this in batches if your frying pan is not big enough.
Cook each batch for about 10 minutes, turning mid-way through, until all sides are golden. Set chicken aside.
Orange Sauce:
Place dates and hot water in a food processor or high speed blender and let soak for 10-15-minutes, then process/blend until a smooth date paste forms.
In a medium saucepan over medium heat, add the orange juice, date paste, vinegar, coconut aminos, ginger, garlic, and red pepper flakes. Whisk and let come to a boil, then lower the heat to simmer.
In a small bowl, whisk 1 tsp of arrowroot with 1 tbsp of water to form a paste. Add this to the orange sauce and whisk well. Raise the heat back to medium until sauce thickens/reduces. Remove from heat and stir in the orange zest.
Toss the chicken with the orange sauce (reheat if necessary), garnish with green onion & orange chunks & serve with your choice of side.
My mission is to help women heal their gut, lose weight and feel great through simple and delicious smoothies, whole food nutrition & healthy lifestyle habits.
