Hello and welcome to my blog

Hello and welcome to my blog. 

My name is Taylor. I am an avid home cook and baker. I've been a vegetarian since 2012 and love to cook delicious meat-free recipes. I am also an avid baker and come from a line of home-trained "pastry chefs." I love to bake sweet treats and have a penchant for healthier offerings made with ancient grains and less-refined sweeteners. I come from a mixed background that includes African-American and Native American. My Pohwatan and Nanticoke heritage has led me on a journey of rediscovering indigenous flavors, which I like to incorporate in my kitchen. In addition to my own background, I thoroughly enjoy trying other cultural dishes and will try my hand at them from time to time. 



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Healthy Double Chocolate Spelt Brownies (Dairy-Free, Refined Sugar Free, Low Acid)

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These delicious double chocolate brownies are made with ancient grain flour, unrefined sweetener, and antioxidant-rich chocolate. This healthy brownie recipe calls for whole-grain spelt flour, an heirloom grain that serves as a lower-gluten and less-acidic alternative to wheat flour.  The spelt has a full-bodied and nutty flavor, which is complemented by the rich notes of dark chocolate. I use coconut sugar, which is an unrefined sweetener made from coconut sap. It offers a taste similar to brown sugar. For an extra-chocolate-y flavor, I opted to use both dark chocolate and cacao powder.  To keep this recipe free of refined sugar, be sure to use a dark chocolate that is made with a natural sweetener. Look for chocolate that replaces white sugar with coconut sugar, date sugar, or stevia. Some great brands to choose from are HU Chocolate, Wild West, Blue Stripes, Lily's, and Spring & Mulberry. Because of the varying ingredients, your choice of chocolate, the final texture of...
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Sweet Without Sugar? My Favorite Natural Sweeteners

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For me, baking is a family tradition. In trying to be healthier, I wondered if there was a way to leave the sugar behind. Conventional baking typically relies on white sugar. While the sweetener is ubiquitous and familiar, it undergoes various processing methods, leaving the final refined product devoid of nutritional value. Fortunately, there are alternative options that have health benefits. Deviating from the default can be quite fun and even adds to the flavor profile of your baked goods. Here are some of my favorite natural sweeteners to use.  Date Syrup Made completely from fruit, date syrup is a thick, sweetener processed from medjool or deglet dates. It has a robust flavor that tastes strongly of dates and caramel. Most date syrups are dark, but there are some "golden" varieties. Despite the fructose, date syrup is high in fiber and minerals. This gives it a lower glycemic index score than that of cane sugar. Its magnesium and phosphorus content also make it favorabl...
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Plant-based Chocolate Cherry Breakfast Smoothie (Healthy, Low-acid)

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Smoothies are a convenient, portable breakfast option and a great way to incorporate fruit into your diet. This chocolate and cherry-flavored beverage is reminiscent of chocolate milk or black forest cake. Unlike a typical dessert, though, this morning smoothie is rich in plant flavonoids, healthy carbohydrates, and fiber. Nut milk makes this recipe dairy-free and perfectly suitable for a plant-based diet. I opt for hazelnut milk for a rich flavor undertone. Date syrup complements the chocolate flavor of cacao, while ripe banana adds a creamy sweetness. I prefer using frozen wild blueberries, which are smaller and earthier than the regular variety.  If you can't find them in the store, regular blueberries will work just fine, but note, they are a bit sweeter. Overall, this recipe, when using organic ingredients, is low-acid. The frozen organic fruit, date syrup, cacao, and the nut milk are all considered alkaline-forming ingredients.  Serves: 1 Ingredients: 1 cup of nut or see...
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