Valentine's day is a day to celebrate love, romance and to acknowledge the extra special people in your life. What does Valentine's Day mean to you? Besides your spouse, do you have any extra special people in your life? I sure do, the first person that comes to my mind is my sister Trish, she is extraordinary! She is the most selfless person that I have ever met. Everyone needs a "T" in their life. I really hope you have that one person that is there for you through thick and thin! The three "rocks" in my life are my husband Mark, My sister Trish and my BFF J.A. These three people I trust my life with. I am a lucky gal.

Let's talk about this recipe...So simple, super easy. The only sugar in this recipe is the natural sugar that occur in strawberries. There is absolutely nothing added! If you are watching your caloric intake, 6 ounces of this milkshake has a little under 200 calories, 4 ounces has approximately 140-150 calories. Please remember the quality of nutrition in this beverage is very high so your body is going to use the calories NOT store them.

Strawberries are a super-food! They are an incredible source of vitamin C and manganese. They are loaded with vitamins and fiber. Strawberries have very high levels of antioxidants known as polyphenols, they are sodium free, fat free, cholesterol free and a very low calorie food. They are in the top 20 fruits in antioxidant capacity and are loaded with potassium. If you would like to read the health benefits of coconut milk click here.

Ingredients:

Serves 3-4 people

1 can full-fat Coconut Milk  
2 cups frozen organic strawberries
2 stevia
1/2 cup of crushed ice

Steps:

1) Pour all ingredients in blender.
2) Blend in blender until desired thickness.
3) Serve and enjoy!

• Ingredients

• 2.5 lbs organic skin-less chicken thighs 
• 3 medium to large sweet potatoes, pricked all over
• 3 large parsnips, peeled and halved with the ends discarded
• 1tbsp olive oil
• 2, 6 ounces packages of diced pancetta or 8 slices of diced uncured bacon
• 12-16 ounces of organic chicken broth or stock (low-sodium or regular)
• freshly ground black pepper to taste
• dash of salt
• 1tbsp single cream or 1 tbsp coconut milk (optional)
• diced white onion (1/2 cup-3/4 cup)

I buy the sweet potatoes and parsnips already cubed. It is so much easier and quicker!

Uncured Apple Smoked Bacon from Trader Joe's

Pancetta is an Italian-style bacon. this is what it looks like incase you were not sure.

Steps:

1) Sautee the diced white onion in a pan with 1 tbsp olive oil. Remove onions from pan when cooked through.

2) Sautee diced pancetta or diced bacon in pan on medium heat until crispy.

3) Place chicken thighs in the bottom of the crock pot.

4) Cover chicken thighs with onions and pancetta.

5) Cover onions and pancetta with cubed parsnips and sweet potatoes.

6) Pour chicken stock in crock pot until everything is covered.

7) Add 1 tablespoon coconut milk.

7) Cook on low for 6-8 hours.

8) Eat..Yum!

My Mom's crock-pot still going strong after 30 years! I need to get another one because it is small a little too small for my family's appetite. Lol

I use this organic, free-range chicken broth. One is low-sodium. I prefer to buy in bulk so I always have chicken broth on hand and it is less expensive. This is the crockpot that I just ordered. I cannot wait!

I KNOW what you are thinking..sweet potato ice cream? How gross! NOT AT ALL..I am serious! It is soooo indulgent and delicious. If you eat as clean as I do this recipe is pure heaven! No sugar, what more can you ask for? First of all, you have your medium glycemic carbohydrate (sweet potato), good quality protein (vanilla protein powder) and your healthy fats (coconut oil and pecans). As an athlete, I like to have a good combo of carbs, protein and fat every time I eat. I will admit my snacks are not perfectly combined.  If you are trying to lose weight, I would only eat 1/2 cup of this ice cream per serving. Remember, portion control is key!

Coconut oil has a unique combination of fatty acids that can have a profound effect on your health. It is one of the few foods that can be considered a "super-food." Adding coconut oil to your daily diet can aid in fat loss, better brain function, improve blood cholesterol levels and lower your risk of heart disease. 

Sweet potatoes are high in vitamin b6, iron, vitamin D, vitamin C. Click here for more info on sweet potatoes.

Pecans are the most antioxidant-rich nut around. Pecans deliver more oleic acid than olive oil, contain 90% unsaturated (heart-healthy) fats, are low sodium, cholesterol free, contain essential vitamins and minerals and vitamin E. Other health benefits of pecans are pecans have vitamins A, C, the B-complex, and vitamin K, not to mention calcium, zinc, and potassium. Looks like we should be adding these to our daily diet! 

Try my new recipe, I can guarantee if you like pumpkin pie you will LOVE my sugar free, sweet potato ice cream with toasted pecans and cinnamon.

Ingredients:

1 large sweet potato, baked until soft
1 can full-fat coconut milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
4 tablespoons cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
2 stevia
1/4 cup vanilla protein powder
pinch of sea salt
 1 tbsp raw organic honey (optional, this will add a little natural sugar..tastes better with the honey in it..IMO. If you want to keep it sugar-free then don't add the honey(:
1/2 cup raw pecan pieces
2 tablespoons coconut oil
1/4 teaspoon-1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 tbsp cinnamon
another pinch of sea salt

***strict paleo? then use this protein powder

STEPS:

1. Bake your sweet potato in the oven for 35-40 minutes at 350 degrees (make sure to poke holes in it) or wrap it in foil and put it in your crock-pot for 3 hours on low. Cook until extra soft. Cool completely when finished cooking.

2. Remove skin.

3. In a food processor, place sweet potato, coconut milk. Puree until smooth.

4. Add vanilla protein powder, vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg, pumpkin pie spice, 1 stevia, (honey if you are using it)  and sea salt. Puree until smooth.

5. Place in fridge for 1 hour.

6. Add cooled mixture to your ice cream maker and follow directions.

7. As your ice cream is churning in the ice cream maker, add 2 tbsp coconut oil and 1/4 tsp vanilla extract to a small sauce pan.

8. Add pecan pieces, 1 tbsp cinnamon, 1 stevia and a pinch of sea salt.

9.Roast until you can smell the pecans. Keep turning them so they do not burn. 

10. Once your ice cream is finished and you are ready to eat it top the ice cream with the roasted pecan pieces. 

11. Top with 2 tsp almond butter or 2 tsp sun-butter...optional.

See below picture to get the products that I use for this recipe(:

Products that I use for this recipe..