Low Sugar | Zest For Cooking

Maple Pecan Ice Cream

September 28, 2017 by pamflo

This is a creamy, luscious custard-style ice cream sweetened with maple syrup in place of white sugar. An easy stove-top custard is made first with heavy cream, milk, maple syrup and egg yolks, and then chilled before churning in your ice cream maker. The toasted maple pecans add an abundance of flavor so that you don’t even miss the sugar. With no stabilizers or preservatives to mask the flavors, there is really no substitute for homemade ice cream. Plan ahead […]

Categories: Dessert, Ice Cream, Low Sugar, Nuts • Tags: Boil, Churn, Toast

Strawberry-Rhubarb Polenta Crisp

August 3, 2017 by pamflo

Strawberries are an iconic summer treat – sweet, juicy and a little tart. Freshly picked strawberries can easily be transformed into a bubbly, fragrant and beautiful dessert. This crisp is a perfect way to get your fill of the strawberry season, with thinly sliced rhubarb stalks added to provide some extra tartness. A lightly sweetened crumbly topping made with quick cooking cornmeal called polenta, adds a nice crispy texture to each bite. I find the best way to enjoy this […]

Categories: Dessert, Fruit, Low Sugar • Tags: Bake

Ricotta Chocolate Mousse

April 27, 2017 by pamflo

Craving something light and tasty, try this creamy ricotta chocolate mousse. Reminiscent of the filling from a cannoli, it’s chocolatey but not too sweet. This is a very simple and easy recipe. With so few ingredients, they need to be top quality. When purchasing chocolate for cooking and baking, look for bars with about 60 percent cocoa solids. It’s so good you’ll want to eat this mousse right out of the mixing bowl, but it can be chilled before serving. […]

Categories: Dessert, Gluten Free, Low Sugar • Tags: No Cooking

Coconut Banana Pancakes

March 30, 2017 by pamflo

I had the good fortune to spend time in Puerto Rico, enjoying the beautiful sites, the warm weather and delicious food. On foot, we roamed a local neighborhood in search of a casual cafe with their own homegrown produce. The Las Vistas Cafe is an open-aired patio which is part of the proprietor’s home, with breathtaking views of the ocean. Gladys, the owner, greeted us with the warmth of a grandmother, as she did with all her guests. The first […]

Categories: Breakfast Ideas, Dairy Free, Gluten Free, Low Sugar, Snack • Tags: Griddle

Olive Oil and Orange Cake

March 2, 2017 by pamflo

I’m unapologetically a cookbook collector, but I also spend plenty of time reading foodie magazines, and surfing the net for recipes too. The one consistent part of my on-line recipe use, is that I read the comments that accompany a recipe. This is how I know what changes to consider, whether an oven temperature needs tweaking, substitutions, or general appeal of a recipe. For example, when a few comments consistently say to reduce the amount of sugar as it did with this recipe, […]

Categories: Cakes, Dessert, Gluten Free, Low Sugar • Tags: Bake

Oatmeal Soufflé

November 10, 2016 by pamflo

In the coming months, many people will host out-of-town visitors. This is an easy, healthy breakfast idea and a crowd pleaser that can be started ahead of time. The whipped egg whites folded into the oatmeal adds protein, as well as a light and airy texture to what would be an average breakfast. Almond or coconut milk works well as a non-dairy milk substitute. I sweetened the oatmeal with coconut sugar, an unrefined brown sugar but maple syrup or honey are […]

Categories: Appetizer, Breakfast Ideas, Eggs, Gluten Free, Low Sugar, Rice/Grains • Tags: Bake, Whip

Wine-Poached Pears

October 20, 2016 by pamflo

Red-wine poached pears are beautiful, sweet, tart, spicy and juicy. You couldn’t ask for a more perfect fall dessert! Poaching is a simple way to prepare and serve pears. Both Bosc and Comice pears are perfect for cooking and baking, because they hold their shape well. Unable to find ripe pears of either variety I used Bartlett pears with success, so use any kind of pear you can find. Make sure to rotate the pears every 10 minutes while they’re simmering, so […]

Categories: Dessert, Gluten Free, Low Sugar • Tags: Poach

Chia Seed Pudding

October 13, 2016 by pamflo

Chia seeds have been in the spotlight as a popular superfood. These small seeds pack a big nutrient punch. They’re gluten free, a great source of protein, fiber and omega-3 fatty acids. Dry chia seeds can be added to smoothies, oatmeal or yogurt for an easy breakfast. With a little unsweetened cocoa powder, these little seeds could be a quick and healthy dessert. I like the way they swell and thicken when immersed in liquid. This chia pudding requires no cooking and is […]

Categories: Breakfast Ideas, Dairy Free, Dessert, Gluten Free, Low Sugar, Pudding, Seeds • Tags: No Cooking

Fresh Cherry Granita

July 28, 2016 by pamflo

This photo was taken at the bustling Pike Place Market in Seattle, where these yellow-skinned Mt. Rainier cherries are bright and fresh. Although both Bing and Rainier varieties are in season now, Rainier cherries aren’t always easy to find on the east coast, Bing cherries are perfect for this recipe. Beautifully deep red, tart and juicy, cherries are filled with antioxidants which can help reduce inflammation. Cherries naturally contain melatonin that can be a sleep aid. This hot steamy northeast […]

Categories: Appetizer, Dairy Free, Dessert, Gluten Free, Low Sugar, Snack • Tags: Freeze

Almond Joy Smoothie

March 10, 2016 by pamflo

“Sometimes you feel like a nut, sometimes you don’t. Almond Joy’s got nuts, Mounds don’t”! That’s the Hershey’s jingle from the 1970’s. The Almond Joy candy bar, an American classic, is a fantastic combination of almonds, coconut and chocolate. This smoothie recipe is a fusion of these flavors in a delicious and healthy beverage. 12 ounces coconut milk (I use the unsweetened, full-fat Native Forest brand) Option: The serving size of this full-fat coconut milk is 1/3 cup (about 3-4 ounces). Feel free […]

Categories: Beverages, Breakfast Ideas, Dairy Free, Gluten Free, Low Sugar, Lunch Ideas, Smoothies/Shakes, Vegetarian • Tags: Dairy Free, Gluten Free, Low Sugar, Whiz

Chocolate Bark

December 22, 2015 by pamflo

In preparation for the holidays, I thought I would re-post chocolate bark, a decadent holiday gift idea. It’s a fun and festive recipe, delicious and easy to make. Most professional chocolate is “tempered”, which requires it to be brought to a certain temperature. This ensures a shiny finish, and a longer shelf life. This process takes time and a bit of skill. This bark recipe doesn’t require tempering and is so addicting that it will get eaten before it’s chopped! Un-tempered chocolate […]

Categories: Bars, Chocolate/Candy, Dairy Free, Dessert, Fruit, Low Sugar, Nuts, Snack • Tags: Dairy Free, Melt, Sprinkle, Stir

Pistachio Lemon Zest Cookies

December 3, 2015 by pamflo

This weekend, the Boston Globe magazine featured an article about pastry chef, Joanne Chang and her Flour Bakery empire. She’s a force to be reckoned with, in the pastry world. I had the opportunity to meet her years ago when she was a chef instructor at my culinary program, and I’ve been a huge fan ever since. She recently published her third cookbook, a low sugar baking book. I made the absolutely delectable Lemon-Polenta Pistachio cookies. The recipe calls for only […]

Categories: Cookies/Brownies, Dessert, Low Sugar, Nuts, Snack • Tags: Bake

Pumpkin Spice and Apple Muffins

November 5, 2015 by pamflo

The countdown to Thanksgiving has begun! The buzz usually begins when the November cooking magazine issue arrives, usually with a big, gleaming turkey on the cover. Spontaneously, I took a Thanksgiving IQ quiz in one of the magazines and learned that I’m hardly a master, even after 14 years of hosting. I didn’t know that pumpkin pie is America’s favorite pie! Talking about pumpkins, these pumpkin apple muffins make a great snack and actually have no white sugar, but are sweetened with maple syrup instead. […]

Categories: Appetizer, Breakfast Ideas, Fruit, Low Sugar, Muffins, Snack • Tags: Bake

Zest For Cooking

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Category Archives: Low Sugar