bites Archives -

Fudgey Brownie Bites [Only 3 Healthy Whole Food Ingredients-Paleo-Vegan]

on June 18, 2017June 29, 2021 By Kelley 4 Comments

These dense chocolatey bite-sized Fudgey Brownie Bites and the perfect option to curb your sweet tooth. Made with ONLY 3 whole food ingredients with no added sugar, they have a healthy dose of protein for a late afternoon pick-me-up or breakfast if you so wish! The only take 5 minutes to make, bake them or chill them (your choice) then indulge to your heart’s content! Paleo, Vegan, and Gluten Free.

If you regularly visit my site that you must already know about my love affair with chocolate. Deep dark chocolatey goodness is one of my biggest weaknesses, or strengths, I guess it depends upon how you look at it 🙂

Sometimes I’m in the mood for chocolate ice cream, other times I can’t resists a good old chocolate chip cookie, but then there is those days where I am craving the most chocolatey indulgence I can find.

Something dense.

Fudgey.

Gooey.

Melt-in-your-mouth chocolate goodness….

That is the exact moment I get out my food processor to whip these babies up!

Everyone needs a little sweet chocolate pick me up from time to time, and these bite-sized goodies are the ultimate no-guilt treat!

I have had so many changes in the last few months, some good, and some extremely difficult and challenging. I realize that there is so many things out of my control, and the only thing I can control is my perspective and attitude. I’ve had to let go and accept situations for what they are. Life happens and the only thing that is consistent is change.

I have taken more time recently to live in the present, or try to, and enjoy all the details. Take note of more that is going on around me and really absorb it, and let it marinate.

The warm summer breeze grazing my cheek and the twinkling sunlight that found its way through the leaves of an oak tree while I practiced yoga outside.

A smile from a toddler-toting mom, relaying an unspoken understanding of the amazingness and challenges of motherhood that we share.

The sweet melody of song birds, sharing their music during my morning meditation.

And the joy of baking and making something to feed my soul. Yes, something chocolate.

Chocolate is comforting, familiar, and centering. It bring me into the present moment. The sweet smell wafting in the air, the smooth texture, and rich taste all beckon to me to be here and now. I hope these brownie bites will do the same for you!

Sometimes food can help heal the soul, its true.

Fudgey Brownie Bites (3 Ingredients – Healthy – Paleo – Vegan)

6 dates (soaked in very hot water for several minutes, pits removed)
1/2 cup almond butter or sunbutter
3 tablespoons cocoa

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (you can also chill the bites and eat them raw).
Process the dates in a food processor until smooth. Add a tiny bit of water or coconut oil only is you need to.
Add the almond butter and cocoa and process until mixed.
Grease a mini cupcake tin and add about 1 heaping tablespoon to each tin compartment.
Bake at 325 degrees F for 10-12 minutes and then allow to cool fully. Or you may skip the baking and just chill for about 1 hour for an even fudgier experience!
Optional Frosting: Combine 1/3 cup chocolate chips (such as Enjoy Life brand) with 1/4 cup of coconut cream in a sauce pan over low heat. Stir until melted, then chill until set. Whip with a hand blender until fluffy.

Dessert

American

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Candied Bacon Cheeseburger Bites

on September 6, 2016March 11, 2021 By Kelley 1 Comment

These cute and super tasty Candied Bacon Cheeseburger Bites are the ultimate appetizer for your next party! The amazing flavor combination of sweet, salty, and savory will tantalize your tastebuds and leave you wanting more! They will surely be the hit of the party and don’t plan on any leftovers. 🙂

I love things in small packages. I love tiny homes. I love tiny terrariums. I love tiny animals. And I love tiny, bite-sized foods!

If you have frequented my blog you may have noticed I have an obsession with my mini cupcake pan. I use it for EVERYTHING, well almost everything. Mini bite-sized brownies, mini Chocolate Chip Cookie Energy Bites, mini cupcakes, mini muffins, mini popovers, mini egg breakfast bites, and mini meatballs! You can make almost anything mini.

And when I say I like my food mini, that just means I can eat more, right!? You just feel better eating something mini-fied! haha.

So these succulent and savory cheeseburger bites are the new favorite around my home. Cricket adores these little meatballs, and my hubby is always asking for more. Between him and Cricket, there often aren’t any left over for me!

In true Kelley and Cricket fashion, I make sure these indulgent bites are heathly! I use grass-fed beef from Trader Joes, grass-fed cheddar (which you can omit if your dairy-free/paleo), and grass-fed bacon. For more information on WHY I am so obsessed with grass-fed produce click HERE.

The candied bacon is literally the bomb. Be sure to make extra to snack on otherwise you may not end up with enough to top you Cheeseburger Bites! It truly is that addictive.

I like to stuff my meatballs with a cube of cheddar. This takes a bit of extra time, and often time some of the cheese oozes out while these babies are in the oven, but that actually is a good thing! You get a lovely crispy cheese crust on the outside, and melty cheese on the inside for the ultimate texture experience!

If you prefer you can just top the meatballs with grated cheese once they come out of the oven, and the heat from the recently baked balls with melt it just right! Are your mouths watering yet!?

Finally top each cutie with a generously-sized slab of candied bacon, stick a tooth pick in it and you are good to go! Enjoy 🙂

Candied Bacon Cheeseburger Bites

1 lb grass-fed ground beef
1 pasture-raised egg
2 teaspoon mustard
2 teaspoons ketchup (or tomato paste)
1 teaspoon worcestershire sauce (or coconut aminos)
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1 block of grass-fed cheddar cut into 1/2″ cubes (omit if dairy-free/paleo)
5 strip of grass-fed bacon (or more if you want extra for snacking!)

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
Prepare the candied bacon following this recipe: Crackling’ Bacon and make extra for snacking if you want!
Mix the ground beef, egg, mustard, ketchup, worcestershire sauce, garlic powder, salt and pepper in a bowl.
Form a 1-1.5″meatball and make an impression with your finger and insert a cheese cube, then roll the ball in your hand to over the cheese, forming a nice round ball. Repeat with remaining meat mixture.
Place each meatball into a mini cupcake tin compartment. You should make about 18 meatballs.
Bake at 350 degrees for 25 minutes.
Remove and let cool.
Meanwhile, after your bacon has cooled cut each strip into 1″ pieces.
Place your meatballs on a serving platter, top each one with a piece of bacon and secure with toothpicks.

Smoked Salmon & Creme Fraise on Yuca Crisps {Grain-Free, Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free and Paleo}

on December 29, 2015April 2, 2021 By Kelley

These snackable smokey salmon appetizer bites are topped with tangy creme fraise, capers and lemon zest and sit atop a crispy yuca chip.

I love my appetizers and I love to snack. I like to try many things. I’m that kinda girl who orders a plate based on what everyone else at the table is ordering because I just can’t commit to one dish! Yes, I realize this is an annoying trait to my loved ones, but my passion for food and flavors gets the best of me! Sorry to all that have been at the other end of my fork popping up on their plate to have a taste 😉

Appetizers are also one of my favorite aspects of a great party, after friends and family that is (and a nice glass of wine too!). I love to sample the plethora of various bite-sized creations of all different flavors and textures.

Smoked salmon has always been one of my favorite foods, and better yet, it’s healthy and packed with omega-3’s. I even often feed Cricket salmon for the same health reasons- it’s a great anti-inflammatory and promotes good cardiovascular health. Good nutrition from foods like salmon keep this pup looking young and limber so she can chase the squirrels around the yard!

Caption: “SQUIRREL?? WHERE!?”

Today’s creation was made possible by some lovely smoked salmon we received as a Christmas gift. I was happy to eat it straight up, but I was inspired by one of my dad’s favorite appetizers that his girlfriend often makes. They are quite amazing and here is my grain-free, gluten-free version!

Smoked Salmon Bites w/ Creme Fraise on Crisps {Grain-Free, Gluten-Free and Paleo}

These snack-able smokey salmon appetizer bites are topped with tangy creme fraise, capers and lemon zest and sit atop a crispy yuca chip.

1 package of smoked salmon (lox)
1 yuca (peeled, and cut into 3″ sections)
2 tablespoons of capers
1 lemon (1 teaspoon of juice and 1 tablespoon of zest)
1/3 cup soaked raw cashews (soak for at least 2 hours, then drain)
1/4 cup water
1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
1/4 and 1/2 teaspoon celtic sea or Himalayan salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
olive oil or avocado oil spray

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
Place the peeled and sectioned yuca into a large pot and cover with water.
Bring to a boil and cook until fork tender, then remove from heat and drain.
Place the yuca in a large bowl and mash with a fork until fairly smooth, remove any fibrous parts that aren’t able to be mashed.
Spray a cookie sheet with olive oil or avocado oil.
Form 2″ patties with your hands, making them fairly thin, and spread them onto the cookie sheet.
Sprinkle the yucca patties with salt and pepper and place them in the oven.
Bake for about 10-15 minutes, until golden, then flip and bake an additional 5-10 minutes until both sides are golden brown and the patties are crisp, then remove from the oven.
Place the soaked cashews into a high speed blender along with the water, 1 teaspoon of apple cider vinegar, and 1 teaspoon of lemon juice and 1/4 teaspoon salt.
Blend on high until creamy and smooth (stop blender and scrape down sides as needed).
Let the creme fraise chill in the fridge for 10 minutes to thicken.
To arrange the bites place a chunk of smoked salmon (folded over) on a yucca crisp.
Next place a heaping teaspoon of creme fraise on top of the salmon, and sprinkle with a few capers and lemon zest.
Serve immediately, enjoy!