PEANUT BUTTER CHOCOLATE DREAM BARS (No Bake)

I made these last night to take with to a party to celebrate my nephew coming home on leave from the army.  I had not intended to make a blog post but they were so good that I decided to.  Very creamy in the middle and very chocolaty.  I threw it together at the time just hoping it would turn out. It was one of those recipes, and it turned out.  Non low-carbers remarked how good it was, so I guess that's the true test, right?  The sweetness - well, I am going from memory on how much sweetener I used so please taste test to make sure it is the sweetness you prefer.  I like things really sweet.  If you don't care for the sweeteners I used you may use whatever you prefer.  I like to mix sweeteners to get a better flavor.

Pyure sweetener is available at Walmart and most grocery stores.  It is a blend of stevia and erythritol and is twice as sweet as sugar.  So if a recipe calls for a cup of sugar you would use 1/2 cup Pyure.  I like it because it is readily available without ordering, and it is cheaper than Swerve or other sweeteners that I have to order, and truthfully, I just prefer the flavor much more than Swerve or some of the other sweeteners.  But everyone has their own preference when it comes to sweeteners so just use your favorite and taste until you get it right.

I use a small amount of xylitol in the crust because it helps to sweeten the chocolate better and bring out the chocolate flavor.  Otherwise it tends to be too bitter for my taste.  However, if you have a dog, xylitol is very poisonous to dogs, so keep that in mind.

                     

Peanut Butter Chocolate Dream Bars (No bake)

Recipe By     :Ginny Larsen
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                        Chocolate Crust
2         cups  almond flour - Honeyville
1/4      cup  cocoa powder
1/4      cup  Pyure -- equal to 1/2 cup sugar
1/8      cup  xylitol sweetener -- (or to taste)
1/3      cup  coconut oil -- melted
                        Peanut Butter filling
1         cup  natural peanut butter -- (unsweetened)
8         ounces  Philadelphia 1/3 less Fat Cream Cheese -- (less carbs than whole milk cream cheese actually)
7 3/4   ounces  Nestle Media Crema (Table Cream) -- (1 can) I get it in the Mexican section of Walmart
1/2      cup  Pyure -- (equal to 1 cup sugar)
2          tablespoons  Vanilla Torani sugar free syrup
1/2       teaspoon  stevia extract (to taste)
                        Chocolate Genache Topping
7 3/4    ounces  Nestle Media Crema (Table Cream)
1          bar  Lily's 55% cocoa dark chocolate bar -- chopped in pieces

Crust: In food processor, add almond flour, cocoa powder, Pyure sweetener, and xylitol.  Process to combine.  Add coconut oil and process until it forms a dough.

Press dough onto bottom of 9 x 13-inch baking pan.  I cover with saran wrap and press down to the sides of pan.

Filling: In mixing bowl, add peanut butter, cream cheese, table cream, Pyure, Torani Vanilla syrup, and stevia extract.  With electric mixer mix together until very smooth and creamy. Pour over crust.

Genache topping:  In saucepan, add table cream and heat to just beginning to come to a boil and remove from heat.  Add chocolate pieces.  Let sit for a minute and then whisk together until smooth and creammy.

Pour over filling and spread to the sides.  Chill in refrigerator 3 hours or more before serving.

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For 16 servings/Per Serving: 353 Calories; 32g Fat (77.1% calories from fat); 9g Protein; 13g Carbohydrate; 5g Dietary Fiber (8g net carbs)

For 24 servings/Per Serving:  235 Calories; 21g Fat (77.1% calories from fat); 6g Protein; 9g Carbohydrate; 4g Dietary Fiber; (5g net carbs)

ROSEMARY HERB BREAD

Ever since I made this banana bread I was so happy with the way it turned out that I wanted to try using this recipe to make a savory bread.  So today I finally did it, because today we finally had cool enough temps in the morning to use my oven! My rosemary bread did not rise quite as high as the banana bread.  I have no idea why.  But I was still quite happy with it, and very happy with the flavor, very bread-like consistency and the heavenly aroma that filled my kitchen.  I have loved rosemary bread ever since my sister took me to a restaurant where they served homemade rosemary bread. As soon as I left there I knew I had to make some!  I think this will be great toasted as well with some cheese on it.  It's great just with a little butter, or for a sandwich.  I hope you'll like it as much as I did.

                                                                             

Rosemary Herb Bread

Recipe By     :Ginny Larsen

Serving Size  : 16   

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4         large  eggs -- separated

1/4      teaspoon  cream of tartar

1         cup  almond flour - such as Honeyville

1         cup  golden flaxseed meal

1         tablespoon  Pyure Sweetener

1/4      cup  whey protein isolate -- I used Isopure -- unflavored

1/4      psyllium husk powder -- OR oat fiber

1         tablespoon  baking powder

1         tablespoon  rosemary

1/4      teaspoon  salt

1/4      cup  Marsala cooking wine 

1/4      avocado oil (OR coconut oil)

1         cup  Ricotta cheese -- (I use whole milk)

Preheat oven to 350F.  Place parchment paper in an 8 x 5-inch loaf pan, so that it goes up the sides and hangs over edges, so that it is easy to remove. Spray with non-stick spray. 

In medium mixing bowl, add egg whites and cream of tartar. Whip with electric mixer until stiff peaks form.  Set aside.

In another mixing bowl, add almond flour, flaxmeal, Pyure Sweetener, whey protein, psyllium powder, baking powder, rosemary and salt. Whisk together.

Add the 4 egg yolks from the separated eggs, Marsala cooking wine,  avocado oil, and Ricotta cheese.  Blend together with electric mixer.  

Fold in egg whites until fully incorporated. 

Pour into prepared loaf pan.  Bake approximately 40 minutes. Then place an aluminum foil tent over loaf and bake for 40 to 45 minutes longer.  Remove from pan by grabbing sides of parchment paper and lifting out onto a wire rack to cool.

Cool completely before cutting. Best cut with an electric knife if you have one.  I slice in the middle first, then slice the half in half again and that in half again until I have 8 slices and then do the same with the other half for 16 slices.  

Copyright:

  "7/8/2017 Ginny Larsen"

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Per Serving: 122 Calories; 9g Fat (64.2% calories from fat); 6g Protein; 5g Carbohydrate; 3g Dietary Fiber; 61mg Cholesterol; 181mg Sodium.  Exchanges: 0 Grain(Starch); 1/2 Lean Meat; 0 Fruit; 1/2 Fat; 0 Other Carbohydrates.

NOTES : 2g net carbs per slice