Treat yourself to some Goop Pops!

Okay I know, I know, it’s just one day and it is a holiday that kids look forward to all year long. I don’t mean to be the gringe of Halloween but there is definitely a way around this holiday and there are things that you can do to “manipulate” and even avoid the sugar surge that will overwhelm your kids tonight.

You may have all your plans in place this year, but maybe I can convince you otherwise. At the very least take some notes and put one of these in place next October!

1. Host your own Halloween party – invite all your kids friends over in costume, make some treats of your own cakes, cookies and put out bowls of “healthy” candy. This way, at least your kids will be sucking on fruit juice as oppose to high fructose corn syrup. Try these natural options for candy: Pure Fun, Yummy Earth, or Surf Sweets. These are all divine and decadent choices and no one will even notice the difference!

2. Have a Halloween cooking class - invite both your kids friends and parents over and make and create some delectable and delicious treats together. Your kids won’t even notice what’s going on outside. Make these gooey chocolate pudding pops! (see below) or make some pea-licious muffins with green pea flour for a green goblin look to your muffins without food colouring! Or let me host a class for you!

3. Reverse trick or treat! Find out what this brilliant concept is all about created by my friend and  eco + business strategist Lisa Borden. Your kids will get the best of both worlds!

4. Take your kids to a youth shelter or rehab center where kids who don’t get the chance to experience Halloween reside. Bring them some homemade muffins or cookies.  This may show your kids that not everyone celebrates Halloween – and maybe they will learn a valuable lesson.

5. If you truly don’t think any of these points are valid and you are still going to trick or treat tonight. Go for it, but what I suggest is that when you return home with your “reusable” bag full of candy pick 5 things that your child absolutely wants to have and give away or dump the rest.

But the absolute best thing you can do for yourself and you family tonight is make these!

 

Cacao Coconut Goop Pops

2 cups *coconut custard (recipe below)
1/4 cup Navitas Naturals cacao powder
1/4 cup maple syrup
1 tsp vanilla bean powder

1. Blend coconut custard, cacao, maple syrup and vanilla in high speed blender for 2 minutes. Then pour evenly into ONYX stainless steel Popsicle tray (an incredible kitchen gadget, no plastic, no mess)

2. Place into freezer for 2-4 hours.

3. Place under running water for 30 seconds, twist and pull your goop pop out!

4. Lick and enjoy!

Sprinkle with cacao nibs, coconut, goji berries

Coconut Custard

3 ½ cups coconut milk
2 tablespoons agar flakes
½ cup maple syrup
1 tablespoon kuzu
½ cup water
2 tablespoons maple crystals/sugar

1. Bring coconut milk and agar to a boil in heavy saucepan. Simmer, covered for about 5 minutes
or until the agar is completely dissolved.
2. Add maple syrup and stir until well mixed
3. Dissolve kuzu in water until there are no lumps. Add coconut milk mixture and simmer until
thickened.
4. Oil a large glass dish and sprinkle with maple crystals if desired.
5. Pour coconut milk mixture into dish and refrigerate for 30+ min and serve.

Best Halloween Ever!

What do you think…are you going to try one of these options this year or next?

Or make these divine cacao pops?

What’s your favourite thing to make on halloween?

What can you do to make your Halloween fun and healthy this year?

Tweet : I am going to make @marniwasserman cacao goop pops – they look delicious! #cacao #treat #halloween

Muskoka Cooking Fun – Get on the right path at Wellpath!

I am honoured to be part of the Wellpath Team.  They are a thriving and successful wellness clinic that is based here in Toronto. Their philosophy is rooted in holistic health with naturopathic medicine being at the very core. With prevention as the key and driving force, they are also all about lifestyle. Which of course includes, exercise, nutrition and everyday activity! I met with Richard porter back in February, and there was a plan to open up a location in Northern Ontario in Port Carling. He was immediately keen to ask me to re create my delicious classes in this new facility. I was more than excited to take this on. Who wouldn’t want the opportunity to go up north (especially when you don’t have a cottage!) and teach about eating local, fresh and organic foods? So if I love teaching these classes, then people must love attending them! Which they do. So far we have had two successful classes. The first one was our launch – where we focused on summer fresh recipes. Things that local cottagers and dwellers of Port Carling could easily make throughout the summer. We had a combination of delicious and fresh dishes like collards wraps, wild rice, white bean dip, sauteed garden greens and of course my yummy chocolate avocado pudding recipe for dessert!

Rolling up Zesty Mango Collard Wraps!

Prepping the Citrus Wild Rice

Then in last week’s class our theme was garden fresh Italian. which is always a favourite. Lots of yummy garden greens – from my garden, fresh herbs and other local produce. It was a hit! We made a yummy spelt goat cheese pizza, pesto pasta with white beans, a vegetable tomato sauce and raspberry sorbet for dessert.

Spelt Pizza Crust in the Making!

Raw Raspberry Sorbet with Cacao and Mint

Both classes were a success and I am looking forward to the other ones that are planned for the rest of the summer. New dates for the fall and winter will be posted shortly. We will be taking the fun back here in Toronto as well. Hope you can make it out! If you are interested in participating – please contact the Wellpath Clinic Directly!

Me, Richard and Chelsey!

Cooking With Stella!

I am having another CONTEST! For those of you that live in Toronto – there is a screening of a film called Cooking With Stella coming up in March and I need to get rid of these tickets fast!

Click on Image to view the trailer.

“A warmhearted social satire about a Canadian diplomat (Lisa Ray) and her chef husband Michael (Don McKellar) who are posted to New Delhi. Upon arrival they inherit a household of Indian servants headed by the charming, totally inspiring — and wily — cook Stella (Seema Biswas). When Stella agrees to become Michael`s cooking guru, to teach him traditional Indian dishes, little does he know that she`s cooking up a scheme of her own.”

The screening is on Thursday March 11th at 7 pm.

I have 7 tickets for two to go and see the film. If you are available and interested please let me know!

The first 7 to respond will be the lucky winners!

Please leave a fun comment of why you want to go and your email address so that I can contact you easily!

Also if you are not currently following me on Twitter – start now!

And become a Fan of Delicious Knowledge while you are at it!

And if you have a blog – mention this blog and this contest and film!

Have fun – and good luck!

Thank You Mongrel Media for bringing this film to theaters!