Wednesday, July 4, 2012

We're changing our blog! + New Sweetener on the Block + Chocolate Cake Muffins

Hi everyone! You may have noticed that we haven't been posting as often, part of that is because our camera literally broke (but we have a back up cammy! Not as good quality, but good for now.)

So we have been putting this off for a while, but thought we just need to come out and say it.

We are no longer vegan. This is a choice we have made for ourselves. We find that we feel the best on a high(er) protein, low sugar/carb diet and even though it IS possible to get enough protein on a vegan diet. Most of that protein is also coming from high carb sources such as beans and legumes.

Too much carbs!

But this doesn't mean that all of our recipes are going to have animal products in them. We will still be posting vegan recipes because we love creating with boundaries...weird I know. But you can expect to see some eggs, yogurt, and other animal products in our recipes too. We also plan on labelling all of the vegan recipes so that it makes it easier to navigate.

We aren't saying this is the "right" diet. It's just the one that works for us. It's totally possible to thrive on a vegan diet, it depends on many factors such as your cultural background, activity level and the quality of food you are consuming.


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So now that that's out of the way. Phew! We made the most AMAZING chocolate cake muffins. You will seriously die. They are so good.

There's a new sweetener on the block, you may have heard of xylitol, a 0 glycemic sugar alcohol that causes absolutely no sugar highs, and you may have also heard of erythritol, another sugar alcohol found naturally in certain fruits and vegetables. But have you heard of Lakanto? It's erythritol combined with Lo Han Guo extract that can be used to make amazingly golden brown and delicious bakes! Saraya sent us some of their product to experiment with, Saraya is the only distributor so far in Canada that sells Lakanto online. Check out their website here.

Saraya Lakanto


I googled "baking with erythritol" and found that most people ended up with grittiness in their baked goods. So, we decided to grind it up in a spice grinder to make a fine powder and use it that way.

Lakanto on top of being zero glycemic is supposed to digest easier than xylitol, and it tastes so good, like a golden brown sugar caramel taste. Although there IS a cooling after taste that is trademark with all sugar alcohols, although you don't notice it as much in this recipe.

These muffins are super high in protein, low fat and taste like chocolate cake, I mean really, I'll take chocolate cake for breakfast any day.




cakey cross section

2 small bananas, mashed
1/2 cup applesauce
4 small scoops protein powder
4 tbsp coconut flour
4 eggs
4 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 cup lakanto, ground into a fine powder
4 tbsp carob powder
4 tbsp cocoa
Pinch of salt
2 tbsp coconut oil

Combine mashed bananas, applesauce, and eggs together. In a separate bowl combine lakanto, carob, cocoa, coconut flour, protein powder and salt. Mix dry into wet and stir until well combined. Then add in coconut oil and last but not least the baking soda and baking powder (we find by adding these two last it gives the muffins less time to deflate while mixing, you wanna keep em fluffy!)  Bake for 30 minutes at 350F. Makes 12 muffins.

Enjoy for breakfast, dessert or snack.

41 comments:

  1. All I can say is...good for you! I know how hard it is to "come out" as a non-vegan after having been known as one for so long. But in the end, you have to do what works for you. Those who truly respect you will continue to do so regardless of your dietary choice. Looking forward to a new chapter of your blog!

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    1. thank you so much! we appreciate every ounce of your support :)

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  2. Good on ya girls - Finding a diet that suits YOU is such an individual challenge - what works for one person may make another feel terrible! Looking forward to your new creations :)

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    1. yes! it is quite a challenge, we're getting more and more used to listening to our body's needs. thank you so much for the support :)

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  3. I'm excited for what you girls will post now! You're so creative, and I love perusing your unique recipes. I about had a heart attack today when I couldn't find your blog, but obviously you were just updating things. These muffins look amazing! The fact that they taste like chocolate cake makes me want to run to the kitchen and immediately make them!

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    1. awww you're so sweet, thanks so much! :) We also checked out the Banana Bites on your blog, they look awesome!

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  4. I was writing down the recipe, and the directions say baking soda, but there's no amount in the ingredients...

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  5. I'm sorry you guys made the decision to no longer be vegan. As a person who follow Dr. McDougall's style of eating, I personally think carbohydrates are actually the most important nutrient in our body. I do not fear sugar (fructose and all) and love eating high-glycemic foods like rice and potatoes. When you minimize fat, there is no need to worry about blood sugar issues. Protein makes our bodies acidic, and fat just makes me sluggish. In fact, I'd say my ratio of carbohydrates to fat and protein is around 80/10/10.
    Well, I guess you guys feel best otherwise. I wish you good luck in your upcoming journey.

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    1. Are you kidding? Carbs are actually not a required nutrient in the body at all. I'd suggest taking a science course.

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  6. Good luck to you! I have never been vegan, but I too feel that to many carbs don't do any good to me. Can't wait to see your new recipes. Will you change your blog name too now?

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    1. Thank Anja, yes we've changed it to Sketch-Free Eating (just pulled vegan out of the title)

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  7. Good for you in coming out about your new diet! I can't imagine how tough that would be but you girls are amazing and finding a diet that works for YOU is so important!

    I'm still planted in the vegan camp, but I can't wait to see all your new adventures with food, plus get inspiration :) That new sweetener sounds so cool! I just recently started using erythritol in baking and I'm really loving it, so I have to keep my eyes out for this one!

    Hope you ladies had a lovely Canada Day!

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  8. Lovely site and news. Glad to know that I am not the only one with similar reasons for changing my vegan diet. I totally want to try this sugar. I have been limiting my sugar intake and have been reading about erythritol but I was not quite sure. as always continue you're mArvelous recipes!

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  9. I've been using stevia recently, but I have seen a lot of recipes that call for erythritol and am not quite sure about it.. so this new sweetener is something that I should look into.
    Good luck with your new diet - I hope you benefit from it! We're all rooting for you!

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    1. we are hard core stevia fans but erythritol allows for more even baking we find, Lakanto is majority erythritol but it tastes more like brown sugar, not the minty cool taste of just plain erythritol. Thanks for the support too :).

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  10. I was vegan for five years and last summer switched to high fat/protein, low carb/sugar. I feel so much better on it and am glad that you're finding a diet that works better for you. You have the best dessert recipes for when I feel like cheating within some healthy parameters. I have sent my nutritionist some of your recipes too.

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  11. This makes me sad but I hope it works out for you and you do not shun the vegan community. I see it too often. Good luck to you!

    http://haymarket8.blogspot.com

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    1. oh geez no, we love vegans! And from trying out the vegan diet we've learned so much about nutrition and the importance of veggies! we would never leave our veggies behind.

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  12. Lovely! I'm no longer vegan (haven't been for about 2 year now) and follow about the same diet as you do, and I haven't felt better. I found out I was gluten/grain intolerant and am sensitive to too many carbs (candida overgrowth like crazy!) I'm excited to see what you'll bring to the table, and glad you have found a path that suits you.

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    1. thank you, we can't wait to get started on some low-carb recipes :)

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  13. Good for you girls. I share the same views as you, in that it's best to follow what your individual body needs rather than sticking strictly to what boundaries society has placed upon the food we eat and the labels we give. All the best xx

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  14. So glad you two find a diet that works :) yay we are so happy!!! We have been doing much better ever since we added in eggs and other animal sources back into our diet!
    and we have loving our erythritol in things and have always wanted to try Lakanto, now this just wants us to try it even more! looks great

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  15. looks like we both have decided to start eating higher protein, lower carbs too! i started eating a vegetarian diet since february and my blog has become more clean food eats focused. yay! looking forward to your posts!

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    1. yes junia! we are excited to get on this high protein, low carb train! We'll be perusing your blog for recipe ideas :)

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  16. Hey ladies, I just wanted to say that I applaud your courage and conviction to do what is right for YOU. I am vegan but I wouldn't dream of telling/shaming anyone else into eating this way. I do it for my health. If I didn't feel healthy, I'd change my diet, too. And this is your blog, you can blog about whatever you want to blog about! I don't understand the way some people "turn on" others who stop eating a vegan diet. That's not cool!

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  17. I think it's wonderful you're both listening to your bodies-something that everyone should do! I'm wondering if you can use a mixture of stevia and xylitol in this recipe in replace of the lakanto?

    Thanks!

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  18. Also, when you say "4 small scoops of protein powder," how much do you really mean? 4 TBS? 1/2 cup?
    Thanks again!

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    1. Thank you! And what do you think about using a mixture of stevia and xylitol? I want to try these out (they look delicious!) but don't know where to find Lakanto...am hoping stevia/xylitol will work!

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    2. That should be fine! :) we've never baked with xylitol, but have heard lots of people use it.

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  19. Yum! What a delicious recipe. I love seeing coconut flour used in recipes because I have a container of it just looming in the back of my cupboard just waiting to be used!

    I eat vegan 98% of the time, but find myself feeling as though I'm gaining weight due to the carb load. 2% of the time I will add in salmon or tuna, so I understand what you feel like.

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  20. Congrats on finding what works best for you...or experimenting to find that out! Even as a vegetarian with a few more options, I agree about the high carb proteins. Right now, eggs are definitely a big part of my diet. Who knows if I'll eat meat again, but right now this is what's working best, so I just go with it. Wishing you two the best of luck. :)

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  21. I do better with more protein as well, lots of fruit and raw vegetables, and make my own protein bars with buckwheat, quinoa (seeds not grains) and coconut flour (again, not a grain). I eat salmon for the great fats, eat SAVI seeds for the omega 3s and coconut oil sometimes too. It works well. I always feel so crappy after eating actual breads and grains.

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  22. What can I use to sub for lakanto? I can eat stevia drops, but no other sweetener except fruit.

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  23. Please keep in mind that erythritol is poisonous to dogs. Be careful if you have pets.

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  24. I'm glad to hear about your switch. It's SO important to do what's best for your body :) We are all so biochemically different, and it often takes a lot of experimenting to find just the right balance. I too was vegan for a while, and realized it wasn't right for me either. I must admit though I still enjoy going to vegan restaurants :) and after I go I always feel like I need a steak after. haha!

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  25. 3 Studies SHOW How Coconut Oil Kills Waist Fat.

    This means that you actually get rid of fat by eating coconut fat (including coconut milk, coconut cream and coconut oil).

    These 3 studies from major medical magazines are sure to turn the conventional nutrition world upside down!

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