November 16, 2024

Chocolate and Raspberries Are Perfect Pair for Dessert

Chocolate Raspberry Tart Flavor-wise, dark chocolate and raspberries play beautifully together. And good news! Both are excellent sources of antioxidants. This recipe is NOT from any of my cookbooks, but I thought it looked so delicious I tweaked it a bit for you. You can have your chocolate, especially if you focus on a high cocoa content and pair it with some high fiber, nutrient-dense berries. Benefits Chocolate bars with over 70 percent cocoa are rich in flavonoids, which are potent antioxidants found in cocoa. Raspberries are also rich in flavonoids and antioxidant vitamins such as vitamin C. So, as […]
November 5, 2024

Prune and Walnut Bars Are an Age-Defying Dessert

Prune and Walnut Bars Prunes and walnuts are both exceedingly high in antioxidant power. Both are listed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture on the ORAC (oxygen radical absorbance capacity) scale with over 10,000 units. Eating a ¼-cup serving of prunes, or about four prunes, provide you with 12% of the daily value for fiber, 32% of the daily value for vitamin K and 9% of the daily value for potassium. A hundred grams of prunes (about ½ cup) provides at least 9% of your daily needs for the B vitamins, niacin, riboflavin and vitamin B-6.  Walnuts have heart-healthy omega-3 […]
October 23, 2024

Persimmon Cookies Are a Perfect Seasonal Treat

California Persimmon Cookies SERVES 12 This recipe comes from our FoodTrients friend Lisa. It was her grandmother’s recipe and a family favorite. She uses persimmons grown in sunny California. Persimmons were brought there from Asia in the 1800s and can be found in many suburban California backyards. Fuyu persimmons work best in this recipe because they’re softer than Hachiya persimmons. Be sure to use very ripe ones so they’re soft enough and have lost their astringency. BENEFITS: Persimmons contain carotenoids, which may help inhibit cancer and tumor growth, reduce the risk of heart disease, and support immune function. The resveratrol […]
September 10, 2024

Strawberry Almond Cake Is GF and Delicious

Strawberry Almond Cake This almond cake recipe works well with gluten-free flour. I prefer the taste and texture of Cup4Cup flour. I also use monk fruit sweetener, which works beautifully as a sugar substitute. I recommend buying a brand that has been blended with erythritol so that you can replace it 1:1 with white sugar, like Lakanto, which makes both a classic variety and a Golden variety that substitutes for brown sugar. It’s available on Amazon, in Walmart, or in health-food stores. This cake is delicious even without the whipped-cream topping. Benefits: Monk fruit sweetener is made from the juice […]
July 14, 2024

Acai Sorbet Is a Purple Powerhouse of a Dessert

Açaí Sorbet Açaí berries are deep-purple powerhouses, super-rich in antioxidants and anthocyanins. Both properties are great for keeping your body young and healthy. This beautiful frozen confection is very easy to make. Servings 2-4 Ingredients  1 egg white 3 Tbs. sugar 2 cups açaí juice Procedure Using a stand or hand-held mixer, whip the egg white and sugar until soft peaks form, about 5 minutes. Fold in the açaí juice. Transfer the mixture to an ice cream machine. Follow ice cream machine freezing instructions until the sorbet achieves the texture of soft-serve ice cream, about 30 minutes. You can also freeze […]
July 2, 2024

Ya! It’s Time for Swedish Chocolate Chip Cake

It’s a brownie! It’s a cookie! It’s a cake! Yes! It’s all of these in one delicious recipe. My friend Barbara got this recipe from her Swedish grandmother and it’s one of the dessert recipes featured in my latest cookbook, Anti-Aging Dishes from Around the World. This simple cake should not be overmixed, or it will lose its tender crumb. The dark chocolate chips add a wonderful counterpoint to the rich batter; you can substitute carob chips if you like. I toss the chips in flour first to keep them from sinking to the bottom of the cake. This cake […]
May 8, 2024

Blue Zone Flan Is Dairy-Free & Delicious

Blue Zone Ripple Flan with Berries Ripple is a non-dairy, nut-free milk made from pea protein. It’s popular here in California and in the Blue Zone of Loma Linda. It’s available in some markets and on Amazon. With a little creativity, it can be used to make a non-dairy flan. I’ve used dark agave syrup in place of the caramel for a more natural and less processed ingredient. Benefits Ripple non-dairy milk has half the sugar of cow’s milk but more calcium because it is fortified. It also contains protein for muscle and bone health, and omega-3 fatty acids for […]
April 9, 2024

Brazil Nut Tarts Are Detoxing and Delicious

Brazil Nut Tarts These tarts, with their hint of lime and rich texture, take Brazil nuts to a new level. Brazil nuts are full of detoxifying selenium and protein, as well as hearty-healthy omega-3s, which help to keep your skin elastic and hydrated and help to reduce swelling and redness. I like to make several small tarts from this recipe, but you can make large tarts if you prefer. SERVES 4-8 Ingredients 2 (9-in.) whole-wheat pie crusts 1 can (12 oz.) fat-free evaporated milk 2 Tbs. tapioca flour diluted in 4 Tbsp. water 2 beaten large eggs 2 Tbs. coconut […]