Tag Archives: coconut oil

Make your own almond butter!

Make your own Almond Butter!

I am so excited by my latest discovery – How to make Almond Butter!

Our house is a peanut free zone therefore, NO Peanut Butter!  I love peanut butter so to compensate for its loss I have tried every type of nut butter I can find. My favorite is almond butter, but even that can be disappointing!

I don’t know how many times I have opened a new jar of almond butter only to find it was beginning to go rancid.  The use by date says it should be good, but the flavor says something else.

So good bye commercially prepared almond butter!  These days I am making my own!

Make your own almond butter!
Make your own almond butter!

To prepare the almond butter, I use my newest love – the NUTRiBULLET! I love how easy it is to use and clean.
Oh yeah – it makes great smoothies too, but that is for another post!

The almonds I purchase are from Blue Diamond!  They are peanut-free and so far these are the only peanut free nuts I have found!  Thank you Blue Diamond!

Almond Butter Recipe
1/2 cup almonds (I use Blue Diamonds Whole Natural Almonds – they are raw!)
3/4 tsp coconut oil
1/2 tsp honey
Dash of salt

Make your own almond butter!
Make your own almond butter!

Let’s get started!

Grease a frying pan with a small amount of coconut oil and warm over medium heat.  Toss in the almonds and stir gently until the almonds become fragrant and begin to toast!

Make your own almond butter!
Make your own almond butter!

Remove the almonds from the pan and cool until just warm.

If your almonds cool completely, warm them in the pan again.  Warm almonds is the key to making almond butter quickly.  You do not want to burn out your blending device so make sure the almonds are warm.  Also, be sure that the blending appliance you use is powerful enough to grind almonds!

Make your own almond butter!
Make your own almond butter!

I toss my warm almonds into my NUTRiBULLET!  After blending for 10-20 seconds, I shake the bullet so all the almond pieces drop down to the blade area and blend again for 15-20 seconds.  After 5-6 blending cycles, I end up with almond butter.

As you can see in the above photo, the paste appears a bit dry.  The butter can be used as is, but to improve the flavor and add smoothness, add the coconut oil, honey and a little salt!

Make your own almond butter!
Make your own almond butter!

Blend again and it will result in a smooth and delicious almond butter!  Store the almond butter in the refrigerator!

Notice that I only prepare 1/2 cup of almond butter at a time.  Why?  Because I am a pig and there is always the fear that I will eat all of it in one sitting! – Don’t laugh – it has happened! For me,  it is best to keep it at 1/2 cup!

The other reason to prepare small amounts – Nuts will go rancid  faster after heating and grinding.  Small amounts alleviate the fear of this delicious butter going rancid before you have time to gobble it up!

Make your own almond butter!
Make your own almond butter!

Enjoy!

 

Peanut Butter Popcorn!

Peanut Butter Popcorn!
Peanut Butter Popcorn!

I love popcorn, but popcorn drenched in a peanut butter glaze and drizzled with chocolate creates such a decadent, crunchy snack that you should be prepared to make a second batch! The peanut butter glaze is very simple to prepare and uses just two ingredients.  For those who want a healthier option, I have included that as well.  Both recipes are delicious!

Because we have a peanut butter allergy in our household, I have used almond butter instead of peanut butter.  Luckily, this recipe will work with any kind of nut butter!

What do you need?
12 cups of Popcorn
1/4 cup Peanut Butter or Almond Butter
1/4 cup White Chocolate
4 oz  Chocolate ( milk or dark) for drizzling

 

Peanut Butter Popcorn!
The makings of a peanut butter glaze!

Into a small microwavable bowl, mix the peanut butter and white chocolate.  Microwave 30-60 seconds or until the peanut butter is warm.  Remove from the microwave and stir until the white chocolate has melted and the two ingredients are combined.

Peanut Butter Popcorn!

After spreading out your popcorn in a shallow pan, drizzle with the peanut butter glaze!

You can toss the popcorn gently with a spoon to help distribute the glaze!

Peanut Butter Popcorn!
Peanut Butter Popcorn!

Melt 4 oz of the chocolate of your choice and drizzle it over the peanut butter glazed popcorn.

Allow the glaze and chocolate to cool and enjoy!

Peanut Butter Popcorn!
Peanut Butter Popcorn!

Now for the Healthier Peanut Butter Popcorn Recipe!

This healthier recipe is just as tasty as the first, but it does not set up as well.  If you are hoping to keep your peanut butter popcorn around for a day or two, I would suggest using the first option. If you are like me and the popcorn disappears in less than 30 minutes, then this is a great option for you!

Place 1/4 cup of peanut butter and 2 tablespoons of coconut oil in a small microwaveable bowl.  Heat for 30-60 seconds. Remove from the microwave and mix together until the coconut oil has melted and the two are combined.  If you would like to sweeten the glaze, add up to 2 tablespoons of powdered sugar.  Drizzle your peanut butter glaze over the popcorn and finish it off with a chocolate drizzle.  Allow your popcorn to cool and enjoy!

I linked up to iheartnaptime!
I linked up to iheartnaptime!

Coconut Oil…Coconut Oil…I Love Coconut Oil!

Coconut Oil…Coconut Oil…I Love Coconut Oil!
Why? Because it turns out that coconut oil is good for you.  Who knew?
If you don’t believe me, check out what Doctor Oz has to say about the
benefits of coconut oil!

For my use, I slather it on my skin, use it in lots of recipes and occasionally swish it in my mouth!  If you have been reading my latest posts, you know I am a fan of coconut oil.

I use it to make popcorn, most baked goods, granola and even to smooth out chocolate.  For those of you worried it will have a strong flavor, it actually does not.  It smells great and the small amount of coconut flavor is very pleasant.

 

Popcorn
Popcorn

Popcorn:  I make popcorn the way Alton Brown suggests – Check out his Perfect Popcorn Recipe!  He uses peanut oil, which I am sure is wonderful, but because we have a peanut allergy in the family, we treat anything associated with peanuts like the plague.  We substitute coconut oil and it works fabulously!

 

Pancakes
Pancakes

Baking:  For baking, it is so easy to use.  Melt the coconut oil and use it wherever oil is indicated.  I use it in my recipes for muffins, pancakes, waffles, cupcakes, granola….

Moisturizer:  I slather it on as a moisturizer because it is great for my skin. I use it every night because I hate putting chemicals on my face!  Also, I use organic; no need to absorb any extra toxins.  We have plenty of those in our environment already.   You will find it is a bit greasy, so you need to give it time to absorb, but oh my skin is so soft!

Oil Pulling:  Lastly, I swish it in my mouth – it’s called Oil Pulling and my sister introduced this to me years ago.  Here is a link on Oil Pulling that will explain it better than I can! Historically, oil pulling was performed using sesame or sunflower oil, but because of coconut oil’s anti-microbial properties (I know – can this stuff get any better!) it can also be used.  The swishing is supposed to happen for 20 minutes and honestly, I struggle with performing it for that long.  Pulling is said to have many health benefits, one of which is whitening your teeth – with no toxins – gotta love it!