What is the difference between a Smoothie and Ice Cream?

• Ice Cream has a lot of sugar and fat. Smoothies have fresh ingredients which are good for you. Take a cup of frozen strawberries and combined it with just enough milk to make the blender go,
• 
• then you have a frozen concotion similar to ice cream. Too much liquid makes it a smoothie. Add a banana, ricotta or plain greek yogurt for more creaminess. Adding a sprig of mint tastes like Peppermint Ice Cream. You may have to use some date paste if it is too tart for your taste.

Sugarless Flourless Brownies



• This recipe requires 14oz of beans, but I soaked 2 pounds overnight as I wanted to freeze the excess.
  Directions here
  
  
14 oz. Black Beans
(but using the soaked beans is way better>
2 eggs, large
1/2 cup applesauce, unsweetened
15 small or 10-12 dates, pitted
2 tbsp brewed coffee (optional)
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 cup cacao powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 cups dried bananas that I dried myself to be chewy. Not those brittle dried bananas at the store.
1 kitchen tablespoon of Lakanto Monkfruit sweetner which is 1/2 Monkfruit/Erythriol


1/2 Monkfruit/Erythriol does the best in baking, in my tests.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line 8 x 8 square baking dish with parchment paper and spray it with cooking spray. [This is doable in the Vitamixer - but if you're doubling the recipe the Food Processor is the way to go.] In a blender or food processor add ingredients in the following order: eggs, applesauce, black beans, cacao powder, coffee, vanilla, baking soda, salt and dates; then process until smooth. Add 1/4 cup banana chips and stir to mix. Pour batter into baking dish, top with 1/4 cup banana chips and bake for 30 minutes. Remove from the oven and let brownies cool for 5 minutes. Transfer to a cooling rack and let cool completely before slicing. Cut into 16 squares.


Nutrition Info - click to open & close


I don't know where they got 4% of Sodium
Recipe Nutrition Calculator


Notes

I doubled the recipe and I wish I had used the food processor, instead of the Vitamixer (tall and narrow).
The quantities above are not a doubled recipe.
These brownies do not create any sugar cravings in me. I can have just one.

Sugarless Carrot Cake



• This isn't richy - rich like regular carrot cake - but it does leave you light!
6 Egg whites | 1 Cup Monkfruit/Erthriol
1 1/2 teaspoon mapeline extract | 1 Cup unsweetened applesauce
1 Cup milk
1 1/2 Teaspoon vanilla extract
1 Teaspoon ground nutmeg | 2 Tablespoons ground cinnamon | 2 Teaspoons baking soda | 2 1/2 Teaspoons baking powder
1 tsp salt
1/2 cup oil - melted coconut or canola
3 1/3 Cups whole wheat flour
2 Cups grated carrots
1/4 Cup chopped pecans, toast for 8 min
1/2 Cup raisins [add another 1/2 cup if you love raisens]
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.



1. Brown sugar substitute

Thoroughly mix 1 Cup Monkfruit/Erythritol and 1 tsp of Mapeline extract.
Just use 1 Cup Monkfruit/Erythritol if you don't have Mapeline.



2. Crack some eggs

Separate eggs, putting the whites into a large bowl. Whip.
Whip in sugar substitute, applesauce, milk, 1/2 cup oil and vanilla.



3. Mix in flour

Stir in 3 1/3 cups, flour 1 tsp ground nutmeg, 2 tbsp cinnamon, 2 tsp baking powder, and 3 tsp baking soda.


4. Cut Carrots
Approx 2 large carrots make 2 cups. Carrots are sweet - put in 1/2 cup more if you like it sweet.
b) Chop some pecans and put them in preheating oven for 7 minutes - don't forget!
c) Stir in raisins.

5. Grease 9 x 13 pan
Spray the parchment paper with non-stick spray on both sides.
Insert in pan. Put Batter in pan.

Cook for 40 min at 350
Rotate cake half way through. Your oven may differ on the time it takes. Cook until knife comes out clean. I flipped the cake upside down before icing.

6. No Sugar Cream Cheese Frosting
1 package Cream Cheese - room temperature
2 tablespoons melted butter
1/2 cup Monkfruit/Erythritol
1 1/2 tsp Glycerin based Vanilla
1/4 cup Corn Starch
Mix well in the mixer.

More on No Sugar Cream Cheese Frosting
Too warm
Problem: Best to get the cream cheese out one hour ahead of time, as the frosting will be runny if it's too warm.

Too cold
Problem: Are there little chunks in the frosting?
Put the whole thing in the microwave for 45 seconds.
Too runny
Usually powdered sugar is used, so I put in some corn starch. Corn Starch does not affect flavor. I put this in the fridge for a half hour and that thickened it up.
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Decorative Carrots from Frosting
1. Piping frosting has to be thick and stiff. Add 1 tbsp of corn starch until it is very thick.
2. Food Coloring: Add a dash of gel green & orange Food Coloring in separate bowls.
You can use Freezer quality baggies if you don't have a pastry bag.
If you don't have tips, watch this cute video on how to cut the tips of the baggies for different effect.
Ann Reardon baking hacks

(If you have Frosting Tips, you probably know how to do this.)
1. Cut off the tip of the pastry bag and place the Round #12 frosting tip inside.
2. Hold the bag at a 90 degree angle.
3. Position right above cake top. With much pressure, draw the top of the carrot and then lessen pressure to get a tapered look.
4. When reaching the end of the carrot, release all pressure and pull tip back without lifting off surface.
5. Use multi-opening Tip 352 will make the leaves. Just practice - it is easy with the tip.

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This is a cute video on a carrot cake and I liked his clever brass rail in his kitchen. It is not a sugar-free recipe.
Preppy Kitchen