Dreamy Eggless Meringue

Aquafaba. Never heard of it?  Me neither..that is, not until recently. Aquafaba is the water found in canned chickpeas (and other canned legumes). Most of us typically open the can and pour the water down the drain. But a couple of years ago, some wise person, seeing that the water's consistency was very similar to that of egg whites, tried whisking the chickpea water, adding some sugar and, voilà, eggless meringue was born!  Yum!

Dreamy Eggless Meringue

Ingredients:

1/2 cup aquafaba (water from canned chickpeas)

Stevia to taste

Pour aquafaba into a dry clean glass or metal bowl and let it stand at room temperature. After about 30 minutes, electrically or manually briskly whisk the aquafaba until it is light and fluffy and forms stiff peaks.  Add Stevia to taste and whisk the mixture again until well blended. 

Lightly sprinkle with ground vanilla and immediately* serve with sliced strawberries or other low glycemic fruit.

Note:  My meringue stayed very fluffy for about 10 minutes and did not refrigerate well.

Very Berry Popsicle

No matter how old I get, from time to time I hanker for childhood favorites like cold fruity popsicles. And with this guilt-free recipe, there's no reason to deny myself.  A quick mix in the blender, a few hours in the freezer, and in no time I'm enjoying a healthy frozen treat with a YUM in every lick. 

Very Berry Popsicle

 

Ingredients:

Makes 6 servings

1 cup of frozen mixed berries (strawberries, black berries, raspberries, blueberries)

¼ cup of coconut water

½ cup of unsweetened coconut vanilla milk

1 teaspoon of vanilla (optional)

Stevia or Xylitol sweetener to taste

Blend frozen berries in a blender until berries are pulverized.  Add coconut water.  Blend.  Add Coconut milk. Blend.  Mix in remaining ingredients until smooth. Pour mixture equally into 6 IKEA Ice Pop Makers (see image below). Freeze for at least 3 hours.  Eat as is or drizzle Couerisma Dark Chocolate Coconut Oil TM  on serving plate.

Creamsicle Alternative*

½ cup of frozen mixed berries (strawberries, black berries, raspberries, blueberries)

½ cup So Delicious Sugar Free FROZEN Coconut Milk (find in stores in ice cream cases)

¾ cup coconut water

1 teaspoon of vanilla (optional)

Stevia or Xylitol sweetener to taste

Blend frozen berries in a blender until berries are pulverized.  Add frozen coconut milk.  Blend well.  Add Coconut water. Blend.  Mix in remaining ingredients until smooth.  Pour mixture equally into 6 IKEA Ice Pop Makers (see image below). Freeze for at least 3 hours.  Eat as is or drizzle Couerisma Dark Chocolate Coconut Oil TM  on serving plate.