Cherry Upside Down Cake

Sweet summertime cherries

I love all the local summer fruit here in Ontario. Strawberries, rhubarb, raspberries, blackberries, peaches, pears, plums are some that I enjoy.  Dark, sweet cherries are a treat that I savour freshly eaten or in a dessert.   I find that if I am going to spend the money on fresh cherries, I want them as fresh and as sweet as I can get them.  That means supporting my local farmers in the Ontario greenbelt.

Upside down fruit cake cakes

There are many great ways to enjoy cherries.  You can enjoy them on their own, in fruit salads, and in a variety of desserts.  Here I share with you my version of a delicious vegan, gluten free cherry upside down cake.  You can use fresh or frozen sweet cherries.

Sweet Dark Cherries

So while the cherries abound at the supermarket, take some time today and make this dessert.  You will be happy you did!

Recipe

Vegan Banana Strawberry Soft Serve

Who doesn’t love a delicious, frozen dessert?

Soft-serve ice creams were always a summertime treat in my house growing up.  We’d drive to the ice cream shop after dinner and order some up.  However, now I know that they weren’t all that good for me.  Fast forward a few years.  I still love a soft serve dessert, and one that is healthy.  Summer is a great time to experiment with the bounty of fresh fruit at hand.  This soft serve is very tasty, and much better than the sorbets you pick up at the grocery store.

Frozen Strawberries

Now is the time to enjoy the full flavour of locally grown strawberries.  There is nothing quite like the taste of using fruit that has just been picked.  The natural sugars and juices make any dessert, especially this one, quite the taste adventure.

Frozen Bananas

We always have bananas sitting on our kitchen counter.  Most times a few of them get to the point that they are spotted and very ripe.  Many times, these bananas get used for banana muffins.  But during the summer, we use a lot of them for our soft serve desserts.

I hope you find the time to mix and match some of your favourite fruit in our soft serve recipe.

Recipe

Strawberry Rhubarb Chia Jam

Early backyard harvests

Summertime jam sessions

There is usually an abundance of local fruits and vegetables during the summer months.  Making use of it all while still fresh is usually more of the problem.  A delicious and classic method to use up the strawberries and rhubarb is by making some jam.  But like many of us who have busy lives, making jam the old-fashioned way is usually too time consuming.  Hence, my version here is quick and easy, and a take on the many chia jams that abound.  It is very quick to put together–all done under 20 minutes.

 

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Strawberry Rhubarb Crisp

Summer is finally here

The change in weather isn’t the only thing that ushers in a new season.  The dishes we make also change with the seasons.  Strawberries and rhubarb always highlight the arrival of summer here in Ontario.   As a child, the beginning of June would mean piling into the car on Saturday morning and heading out of the city to pick strawberries.  My mom would then make jars of strawberry jam, strawberry flans and any strawberry dessert.  There is nothing quite like eating a freshly picked strawberry.

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Vegan Gluten Free Pecan Cookies

A few simple ingredients

Nuts are always a great addition to the dessert table.  They can be added to squares or cookies, and boost the nutritional value of any dessert . Pecans are delicious, nutrient-packed powerhouses that make for an ideal ingredient in your favorite recipe. I decided to venture down the much-enjoyed pecan cookie path today.  Continue reading “Vegan Gluten Free Pecan Cookies”

Raw Vegan Date Squares

A classic dessert

Date squares are a classic Canadian dessert.   While this is typically a Fall or winter dessert square, I enjoy making these throughout the year.  And once you cut out all the refined sugars and flours, you have a very good and nutritious square to be enjoyed by all. A nutty crust, gooey dates and a crumb topping.  This is where it’s at. Continue reading “Raw Vegan Date Squares”

Dark Chocolate Cherry Almond Bark

Chocolate makes everything better

A piece of chocolate makes every day better.   I find an easy go-to chocolate recipe is chocolate bark.  Home-made chocolate bark is healthier than store bought chocolate bars.  This recipe keeps well in the freezer .  Good luck keeping the kids and husband out of this chocolate bark.

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