Snacks Candace Dorsey Snacks Candace Dorsey

Cherry Almond Protein Yogurt Cup

Yogurt and cottage cheese cups have become a popular high protein snack trend, and with good reason!

You can:  

  1. Mix in new ingredients without having to dirty another bowl. 

  2. Increase the amount of protein by adding a scoop of collagen or favorite protein powder. 

  3. Crack into a hardened dark chocolate shell with a spoon. Who doesn’t love that!? 

Yogurt and cottage cheese is often marketed as a healthy food; however, added sugar and flavorings can alter their health-promoting properties so choosing the best yogurt or cottage cheese cup is very important. 

 

Yogurt and cottage cheese cups have become a popular high protein snack trend, and with good reason!

You can:  

  1. Mix in new ingredients without having to dirty another bowl. 

  2. Increase the amount of protein by adding a scoop of collagen or favorite protein powder. 

  3. Crack into a hardened dark chocolate shell with a spoon. Who doesn’t love that!? 

Yogurt and cottage cheese is often marketed as a healthy food; however, added sugar and flavorings can alter their health-promoting properties so choosing the best yogurt or cottage cheese cup is very important. 

A great first step in choosing the best yogurt or cottage cheese is simply reading the label. You want to look for a plain style that has few ingredients. They should include milk, the bacterial cultures used to turn milk into yogurt or cottage cheese, and not much else. If you consume plant-based yogurt, the same holds true.

Protein amount is also very important as it relates to this post. Greek yogurt has more protein and fewer carbs, while plant based yogurt tends to have less fat and no lactose. Organic may be richer in certain nutrients, but it’s lower in others. 

Cherry almond protein yogurt cup video will show you how you can make your own protein packed yogurt cup using a plant based yogurt but will show protein amounts for both greek style and cottage cheese cups for reference.

 

If you try this recipe, let us know! Leave a comment, rate it, and don’t forget to tag a photo to #fromtherootsblog on Instagram. We love seeing what you come up with!


Ingredients

  • 1 plain flavored yogurt cup (non-dairy, greek, or cottage cheese)

  • 1 scoop vanilla protein powder*

  • 1 tsp almond extract

  • 1-2 Tbsp dark chocolate chips, melted

  • 1 Tbsp cherry preserve or fresh cherries, mashed

  • 7 raw almonds, chopped

  • Pinch of sea salt flakes

Directions

  1. Mix protein powder, almond extract and cherries into your preferred yogurt cup. 

  2. Top with melted dark chocolate, almonds and a pinch or two of sea salt flakes. 

  3. Freeze for 10 minutes to harden the chocolate, crack into it with a spoon and enjoy!

Notes: *Equip Foods is my go-to for protein powder! Use code: ROOTS for 15% off your first order today!

 
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Dessert Candace Dorsey Dessert Candace Dorsey

Peach Crisp Skillet For One

Peach Crisp Skillet For One - Healthy peach crisp that is easy, gluten-free and no leftovers!

Summertime = peach season, here in Georgia and I am HERE. FOR. IT!

My favorite thing to do is turn on the grill to make my favorite go-to summer salad Grilled Peach and Steak Salad and with the leftover peaches, make this single serve peach crisp skillet!

With that being said, this recipe is flexible as you can cook the peach crisp on the grill or in the oven, up to you!

Individually portioned desserts have been my new favorite - especially during the summer time when I don’t want an entire tray of brownies staring me down, begging to be eaten!

 

Peach Crisp Skillet For One - Healthy peach crisp that is easy, gluten-free and no leftovers!

Summertime = peach season, here in Georgia and I am HERE. FOR. IT! 

My favorite thing to do is turn on the grill to make my favorite go-to summer salad Grilled Peach and Steak Salad and with the leftover peaches, make this single serve peach crisp skillet! 

With that being said, this recipe is flexible as you can cook the peach crisp on the grill or in the oven, up to you! 

Individually portioned desserts have been my new favorite - especially during the summer time when I don’t want an entire tray of brownies staring me down, begging to be eaten! 

If you would like to share this recipe with friends and family, then simply double, triple, etc the recipe ingredients and use a bigger skillet or dish! 

If you try this recipe, let us know! Leave a comment, rate it, and don’t forget to tag a photo to #fromtherootsblog on Instagram. We love seeing what you come up with!


Peach Crisp Skillet For One - Healthy peach crisp that is easy, gluten-free and no leftovers!

Serving: 1 | Prep Time: 10 min | Cook Time: 20 min

Ingredients

  • 1 fresh peach, sliced and peeled (optional)

  • 3 Tbsp gluten free oat flour

  • 1 Tbsp butter or coconut oil

  • 1 Tbsp coconut sugar

  • ¼ tsp baking powder

  • ¼ tsp vanilla

  • ¼ tsp cinnamon

  • 1 Tbsp chopped pecans (optional)

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees

  2. Spray cast iron skillet or small ramekin with cooking spray oil and lay peaches in a spiral. Dust peaches with cinnamon and coconut sugar and set skillet or ramekin aside. 

  3. In a small mixing bowl, combine the rest of the ingredients until fully incorporated and the mixture is crumbly. 

  4. Cover peaches with the crumble topping and bake for 18-24 minutes or until topping is golden brown and juices are bubbling. 

  5. Top with a scoop of ice cream and garnish with chopped pecans (optional) and enjoy!


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Dessert Candace Dorsey Dessert Candace Dorsey

Coconut Milk Panna Cotta

When I was in Italy, panna cotta was one of my favorite desserts! And fortunately enough, my body was able to tolerate the luxurious mixture of whole milk and heavy cream. But when ordering panna cotta from an Italian restaurant in the states, it definitely hits me (and my gut!) differently. Lol

So that is why I have created a healthy spin on the traditional panna cotta, using full fat canned coconut milk. Not only is this dessert dairy free, but it’s also free of refined sugar using pure maple syrup as the sweetener.

 

Coconut Milk Panna Cotta - A healthy spin on a classic Italian dessert that’s dairy-free, refined sugar-free and gluten-free. Accompanied by your choosing of honey citrus compote, strawberry sauce and dark chocolate sauce! 

When I was in Italy, panna cotta was one of my favorite desserts! And fortunately enough, my body was able to tolerate the luxurious mixture of whole milk and heavy cream. But when ordering panna cotta from an Italian restaurant in the states, it definitely hits me (and my gut!) differently. Lol 

So that is why I have created a healthy spin on the traditional panna cotta, using full fat canned coconut milk. Not only is this dessert dairy free, but it’s also free of refined sugar using pure maple syrup as the sweetener. 

Travel nostalgia birthed this recipe but also the idea of using bovine gelatin. Recently, I have switched over to using Perfect Supplements as my main supplement source - taking desiccated liver capsules as my “multi-vitamin” and switching over to their hydrolyzed collagen powder. And now, I have been wanting to experiment using their bovine gelatin. 

To give you the lowdown on this form of gelatin: 

  • Made with 100% beef gelatin (collagen protein)

  • Sourced exclusively from brazilian pasture raised (grass fed) cows

  • The only gelatin to receive perfectly pure certification 

  • And is great for recipes that call for gelatin or a gelling or thickening agent. (i.e. soups, fruit gelatin, gummy treats, custards, marshmallows and more!)

If you want to try it for yourself, here is CANDACE10 for 10% off your first order!

Now, back to Panna Cotta!

A couple tips when making this dish: 

  • Make sure to not boil the coconut milk or the gelatin will lose its setting power

  • The consistency of panna cotta should have a soft jiggly texture. 

  • Panna cotta can be made ahead of time (up to 2 days) and stored in the fridge. 

  • You can easily double the recipe when making for a crowd or dinner party!

  • Instead of vanilla extract, you could use ½ vanilla bean. 

If you try this recipe, let us know! Leave a comment, rate it, and don’t forget to tag a photo to #fromtherootsblog on Instagram. We love seeing what you come up with!


Coconut Milk Panna Cotta - A healthy spin on a classic Italian dessert that’s dairy-free, refined sugar-free and gluten-free. Accompanied by your choosing of honey citrus compote, strawberry sauce and dark chocolate sauce! 

4 servings | Cook time 10 min | Prep Time 20 min

Ingredients

  • 1 can full fat unsweetened coconut milk

  • ⅓ cup pure maple syrup

  • 1 scoop or ¼ oz gelatin

  • 1 tsp vanilla extract

Strawberry sauce

  • 2 cups fresh or frozen strawberries, hulled and sliced

  • 3 Tbsp water

  • 1 Tbsp organic sugar or pure maple syrup

  • Juice of half lemon

Honey citrus compote

  • 1-3 citrus fruits (grapefruit, orange, blood orange)

  • Honey

  • Bee pollen

  • Fresh mint leaves

Directions

  1. Grease 4 small dishes (ie ramekins, bowls, pudding dishes) to pour the panna cotta into. 

  2. In a small saucepan, whisk together half of the coconut milk and gelatin until combined. Set aside for about 5-10 min at room temperature to let the gelatin bloom. 

  3. Place the saucepan over medium heat and add vanilla. Whisk thoroughly until gelatin dissolves. Continue to heat until steam rises (but do not bring to a boil). Turn off the heat. 

  4. Remove from heat and whisk in maple syrup and remaining coconut milk. Pour the mixture equally into each dish, let sit at room temperature before placing them in the fridge for 2-3 hours. 

  5. While the panna cotta is setting, prepare sauce mixture or citrus salad, or both! 

    1. For the strawberry sauce: add sliced strawberries, lemon juice, honey and water to a medium pot. Cook for 7-12 minutes and remove from heat. Blend using an immersion blender, food processor or blender. Strain the sauce into a sieve (to remove strawberry seeds) and transfer sauce to a bowl or jar until ready to use. 

    2. For the citrus salad: slice the citrus fruits, and remove any pith. Cut in smaller pieces if desired. Add a drizzle of honey, bee pollen and mint! 

  6. To serve, you can either serve them directly in the dish or unmold them onto a plate. Top with strawberry sauce, citrus salad, or chocolate sauce and enjoy! 


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Dessert Candace Dorsey Dessert Candace Dorsey

Salted Dark Chocolate Chip Cookie Nice Cream Sandwiches

Hands. Down. My favorite dessert on this blog!

I feel like I always say that but as the stakes get higher, so does the quality of desserts and I’m telling you, this one will be hard to beat!

Honestly, if you just read the tag line and see notes of homemade, soft and chewy, drenched, salted on top of the best dessert words like ice cream, cookie, dark chocolate shell - it’s like my taste buds are crying for joy!

And my taste buds continue to cry as I make this dessert time and time again!

It’s honestly a flawed system because my intentions are to make a big batch, store them in the freezer, so that I can have them longer. But since I know that I have the best dessert ever in my freezer just seconds away from my room, I can’t help but to run straight to the freezer and possibly (cough* eat all of them within days…). Again, as my taste buds scream in delight - sorry, not sorry!

 

Salted Dark Chocolate Chip Cookie Nice Cream Sandwiches - Made with an easy homemade banana ice cream, sandwiched between two soft chewy cookies and half drenched in a salted dark chocolate shell. 

(Dairy-free, gluten-free, refined sugar-free, and grain-free)

Hands. Down. My favorite dessert on this blog! 

I feel like I always say that but as the stakes get higher, so does the quality of desserts and I’m telling you, this one will be hard to beat! 

Honestly, if you just read the tag line and see notes of homemade, soft and chewy, drenched, salted on top of the best dessert words like ice cream, cookie, dark chocolate shell - it’s like my taste buds are crying for joy! 

And my taste buds continue to cry as I make this dessert time and time again! 

It’s honestly a flawed system because my intentions are to make a big batch, store them in the freezer, so that I can have them longer. But since I know that I have the best dessert ever in my freezer just seconds away from my room, I can’t help but to run straight to the freezer and possibly (cough* eat all of them within days…). Again, as my taste buds scream in delight - sorry, not sorry! 

I would like to mention before you dive right into the recipe that this dessert recipe can be taken apart if you find yourself short for time, don’t have the patience to make banana nice cream, or just simply want to make one recipe over the other - completely up to you! Personally, the cookie recipe is hands down my favorite of them all! They really should have their own blog post on their own (make mental note). 

But if you really want to make this recipe and don’t have time, just simply cut corners by purchasing a good quality ice cream vs making homemade nice cream. This is also the right decision if you are allergic to bananas. Enough said.

If you try this recipe, let us know! Leave a comment, pin it, and don’t forget to tag a photo to #fromtherootsblog on Instagram. We love seeing what you come up with!


Salted Dark Chocolate Chip Cookie Nice Cream Sandwiches - Made with an easy homemade banana ice cream, sandwiched between two soft chewy cookies and half drenched in a salted dark chocolate shell. 

(Dairy-free, gluten-free, refined sugar-free, and grain-free)

PREP TIME: 45 MIN | COOK TIME: 15 MIN | SERVINGS: 12 COOKIES

Cookies 

  • 1 egg

  • 1/2 cup cashew or sunflower butter

  • 1/2 cup coconut sugar

  • 1/2 cup dark chocolate chunks

  • 1/2 cup cassava flour

  • 1/4 cup coconut oil

  • 2 Tbsp plant based milk

  • 1 tsp vanilla extract

  • 1/2 tsp baking soda

  • 1/4 tsp sea salt

Nice cream

  • 2 cups frozen banana slices (1 large banana)

  • 2-4 Tbsp milk of choice

  • 1 tsp vanilla extract

  • pinch of sea salt

Salted Dark Chocolate Shell

  • ½ cup dark chocolate chips

  • 1 tbsp coconut oil

  • Smoked (or regular) sea salt flakes

Directions

  1. Prepare the cookie dough by combining the wet ingredients in a medium mixing bowl. Mix in the dry ingredients minus chocolate chips until well combined. Fold in the chocolate chips and set cookie batter in the fridge for at least 30 minutes to firm up. 

  2. While the dough is chilling, prepare the banana nice cream by combining all ingredients into a blender or processor until smooth and creamy. May adjust the liquid portion as you want a "soft serve" texture. Transfer ice cream to a bread pan to freeze. 

  3. Freeze banana nice cream for 1-2 hours so that it hardens enough to scoop like ice cream, but isn't too hard where you can't scoop it. 

  4. When you are ready to make the cookies, preheat the oven to 350 degrees and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. 

  5. Using a cookie scoop, scoop out 1-2 Tbsp of cookie dough and roll into a ball (if 2 Tbsp will make 6 large cookies | 1 Tbsp 12 cookies) 

  6. Bake for 12-15 minutes and let rest for 10 minutes before transferring cookies to a cooling rack. 

  7. Top with smoky flaky sea salt and eat as is or wait oh so patiently so that you can make either ice cream sandwiches or crumble the cookies into the ice cream and make cookie dough ice cream! 

  8. If you want to dip the ice cream sandwiches into chocolate, simply melt 1/2 cup dark chocolate chips with 1 tbsp coconut oil and dip premade sandwiches into the melted chocolate. Set sandwiches on a freezer safe plate and freeze for 5-10 min or longer until ready to eat! Sprinkle additional sea salt flakes on chocolate just before you put them in the freezer!

  9. Eat immediately or store in the freezer in a freezer safe container for up to a month...if you can wait that long! 

Notes

  • If you need a great dark chocolate recommendation, I highly recommend Hu Kitchen! Use code FROMTHEROOTS for 15% your first order!

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Sauces Candace Dorsey Sauces Candace Dorsey

5 Ways To Use Chamoy Sauce

I had to make a separate blog post on this sauce because there are just too many ways to use this crack sauce “aka” chamoy sauce.

 

I had to make a separate blog post on this sauce because there are just too many ways to use this crack sauce “aka” chamoy sauce.

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You can go straight to the mango melon sorbet with chamoy sauce post for the recipe, or you can grab it here:

CHAMOY SAUCE

  • ½ cup fresh lime juice (5-7 limes)

  • 1-3 dried ancho chilies 

  • 1 - 10 oz jar organic apricot jam

  • 1 tsp salt

  • ¼ tsp cayenne pepper

To make the chamoy sauce

  1. Tear the stem off and deseed the ancho chilies. Submerse dried chilies in boiling water for a few minutes until the chilies are soft. 

  2. In a high speed blender, place the soft ancho chilies along with the entire jar of apricot jam, lime juice, salt, cayenne pepper, and a ladle or two of the water that the ancho chilies were in. 

  3. Blend on high speed until extremely smooth. Taste sauce and adjust flavors if need to (i.e. I typically add an additional ½ tsp cayenne pepper because I like it super spicy!) as well as sauce consistency. This should make about 2 cups worth. If you are unsure about the sauce consistency, look at the pictures above for reference. 

  4. Store in a sealed container in the refrigerator for up to 2 months. 

Now that you have the beloved sauce recipe, let’s get into 5 ways to use chamoy sauce!

To get a visual: check out IG reels below!

1| Mango Melon Sorbet

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You can grab the recipe here

2| watermelon slices

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3| Mangonada

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  • 1 cup mango chunks, fresh or frozen

  • 1/2 cup coconut milk, coconut water, or water

  • Juice of 1/2 lime

  • Tajin or chili lime seasoning, for the rim

  • chamoy sauce

  • Tamarind stick, for serving (optional)

Directions

  1. Rim a glass with a lime wedge and tajin seasoning. Squeeze chamoy sauce inside the glass using a swirling motion.

  2. In a blender, add mango, liquid, lime juice, and a handful of ice and blend until smooth and creamy.

  3. Pour the mango smoothie into the prepared glass about halfway, then layer the smoothie with chamoy sauce, repeat with more smoothie picture and top with chamoy sauce, tajin seasoning, fresh mango, and tamarind stick if desired. Enjoy!

You can also use this chili lime smoothie recipe as well!

4| Mango Slices

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5| Fresh watermelon juice / Watermelon margaritas

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