Exploring the History and Charm of Brugge, Belgium -

One of our favorite cruise excursions was in Bruges, Belgium where we engaged in a tour of the medieval history of this charming city. 

Had To Eat Belgium Waffles

This included my husband indulging in Belgium waffles. I could not find gluten-free waffles, so I settled for Belgium chocolate. Chocolatiers were on every street with types of chocolate than I have ever seen. 

Read on to hear and see more about Bruges.

How to Freeze or Store Bananas for Future Recipes

Too many bananas? 

Are they ripening more quickly than you can eat them? 

There are two ways to save those bananas that doesn't involve making banana bread!

Pumpkin Spice Cocoa Smoothie

Pumpkin season is finally here, and I'm enjoying my annual chocolate pumpkin smoothie. 

This cocoa/chocolate pumpkin smoothie might look simple, but it's rich and delicious tasting. Unsweetened cocoa has all the chocolatey flavor of chocolate without the fat and sugar.

I sweeten the smoothie with a ripe banana and it is flavored with pumpkin puree and pumpkin pie spices.

As soon as it starts to feel like fall, everyone starts looking for pumpkin recipes. Truthfully, I have one basic recipe for this delicious smoothie, and I vary the spices and add-ins seasonally. 

So in the fall, I add in pumpkin puree- link to easy recipe (make my own ) and pumpkin pie spices; in the summer I might add frozen blueberries or frozen strawberries to the basic recipe. 

Pumpkin is a vegetable that contains a significant amount of nutrients and is rich in Vitamin A. It's a nice addition to fall recipes.

I love this tasty smoothie, and I think you will too. Drink it for a pick me up that provides excellent nourishment which we all need to avoid burnout and fatigue. Actually, I often drink one for breakfast if I'm in  in a rush. Kids love it too.

I make my smoothie in a blender or in my Nutribullet. 

The recipe is flexible and you can add add a variety of ingredients to it depending on your personal preferences and needs. 

I always include a handful of fresh greens such as baby spinach or baby kale for calcium, alkalinity, and body cleansing.  The slightly 

"green" flavor of the spinach is overpowered by the other ingredients, and I don't detect its taste at all.

I'll share my basic recipe with you first and then add the choices for my seasonal variations.

 

Basic Cocoa Smoothie Recipe Ingredients : 

1 heaping tablespoon unsweetened (link) organic cocoa powder ( I use this one)

1 ripe banana (or a frozen banana if you want a cold smoothie)

1 handful of fresh baby spinach

1 and 1/2 cups of nut milk 

1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon of ground turmeric

1 date (which I soak in the nut milk for 15 minutes if it needs softening)

For a pumpkin smoothie I add: 

1/8 teaspoon of pumpkin pie spice

1/2 cup of pumpkin puree

or go crazy with any of these additions for other seasons

• 1-2  dates for a sweeter taste
• 1 cup of frozen wild blueberries - these are not sweet but contain a host of health antioxidants (Costco or BJ's sell them)
• 1 cup of organic frozen strawberries
• 1 handful of baby kale
• pinch of cardamom 
• drop of rose water 
• 1 heaping tablespoon of PB2 (peanut butter powder) 
• chia seeds (link)- lots of health benefits such as Omega 3 fatty acids- I buy these chia seeds
• flax seeds (link), ground -I use a coffee mill and grind mine fresh each time - also a good source of Omega 3 fatty acids- I buy this one

Directions: 

Blend everything until smooth; I use a blender or NutriBullet

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Sugar Free Chocolate Fudge Sauce

This chocolate fudge sauce is rich and chocolaty. 

It is very easy to make, has no added sugars, and is gluten-free, vegan, oil-free, dairy-free and parve. Yes, you have seen it before.

Fall in Love with These Vegan Gluten-free Pumpkin Oatmeal Cookies

Pumpkin Oatmeal Cookies are all the rage this season. I love that this  tasty treat is healthy and yet low in calories and Weight Watcher points! 

With only 3 ingredients, this basic pumpkin cookie has 1 point per serving of 2 cookies.  (without the chocolate topping).  I use whole oats ( gluten-free oats ), pumpkin puree and or applesauce and pumpkin spice. 

Raspberries and Chocolate Easy Dessert

If you’re anything like me, when you’re trying to eat a little healthier, the hardest part is finding something that actually feels like a treat.

I recently jumped back on Weight Watchers (just trying to lose those stubborn 10 pounds), and I’ve been on the hunt for snacks that don’t feel like a compromise. That’s when I came across this simple raspberry and chocolate dessert—and honestly, it was love at first sight… and definitely at first bite.

I couldn’t wait to try it, and it did not disappoint.

I mean, I already love raspberries on their own. And chocolate? Always. But together? That combination takes things to a whole new level. There’s something about the slight tartness of the raspberries paired with just a touch of rich dark chocolate that feels a little indulgent without actually being indulgent.

And the best part? You still feel like you’re making a good choice.

Raspberries are naturally low in sugar, packed with antioxidants, and have that perfect little hollow center—almost like they were designed to hold a tiny piece of chocolate. Add a few dark chocolate chips, and suddenly you have a dessert that feels special without going overboard. Plus, dark chocolate has its own benefits, including antioxidants and a bit of magnesium, so you can feel just a little less guilty enjoying it.

For me, this is such a better option than reaching for cake, cookies, or those “low-calorie” desserts filled with artificial ingredients. I’d much rather eat real food—something fresh, simple, and satisfying—than anything overly processed and it's naturally gluten-free.

And can we talk about how pretty this is? A bowl of bright red raspberries with little pops of chocolate is just as beautiful as it is delicious.

Another bonus: it takes minutes to put together. You can even make it ahead of time, pop it in the refrigerator, and pull it out whenever you’re ready. If you want to dress it up a bit, a small dollop of whipped cream or even whipped coconut cream works beautifully—but honestly, it doesn’t need much.

I love recipes like this—quick, simple, and so satisfying. Every bite feels like a treat, and it’s one of those desserts that everyone seems to enjoy.

So whether you’re craving something chocolatey, trying to stay on track, or just want an easy, elegant dessert that happens to be vegan and gluten-free, this one is a keeper. Enjoy!

Ingredients: 
1 pint of organic raspberries, lightly sprayed with water and patted dry.
2 Tablespoons of semi sweet (non dairy) dark chocolate chips
( about 32 chips- each serving is 1/2 Tablespoon of chips- 8 chips

Directions: 
Place a chocolate chip inside the cavity of each raspberry. Display on an elegant dish.
Serving size: 8 stuffed raspberries

My Personal Notes:
1. Use only dairy free semi sweet chocolate chips.
 2. Since this recipe has no leaven, it is also perfectly permissible for Passover ( use Kosher for Passover chips)

3. A naturally gluten-free dessert 


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Good food is my passion. I am gluten intolerant, busy. and strive for a healthy balanced lifestyle. It has taken me many years to develop and discover easy healthy recipes that meet gluten free, vegetarian/vegan and real food standards. On my blog I share my journey, my struggles, my discoveries, and my new recipes. I hope you find ideas, resources, and recipes that will be helpful to you. Come Back soon.

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One Mom's journey of living Green and Crunchy