5 Minute Homemade Hot Chocolate {instant pot, dairy free, paleo}

I thoroughly enjoy my Instant Pot.  I'm not one of those that use my IP every day, but I use it a couple times a week.  I still think it was a great purchase; especially b/c of how it cooks eggs perfectly. 

I absolutely adore Hot Chocolate.  It is one of my favorite drinks, and it always brings fond memories or hot cocoa at my Grandpa's Ranch.  We always had Swiss Miss up there, and it wasn't until a couple of years ago I realized I could, and probably should, make my own.  Well, Hot Chocolate in the Instant Pot makes the job incredibly fast, easy, and oh so delicious.  

This recipe can easily be adjusted for a dairy free diet.  It can also work for vegans and paleo diets as well.  I've enjoyed this drink paleo style, but I actually prefer the milk version.  

However, no matter which version you make this 5 Minute Homemade Hot Chocolate it is fast and delicious.  Enjoy! 

5 Minute Instant Pot Hot Chocolate
Recipe: Alohamora adapted from Paleo Cooking
Active Time: 2 minutes
Inactive Time: 5 minutes
Servings: 3 cups

Ingredients: 
3 c. milk (dairy, almond, coconut, etc.) 
1 Tbsp cocoa powder
2 Tbsp sugar (granulated or coconut palm)
2 Tbsp maple syrup

Optional Toppings: cinnamon, nutmeg, whipped cream (heavy or coconut whipped cream), marshmallows

Directions: 

1. Combine the 4 ingredients in an Instant Pot stainless steel bowl. 
2. Stir to combine everything and secure the Instant Pot's lid, and secure the valve into the "sealed" position.  
3. Set the Instant Pot to Manual and change the time to 5 minutes. 
4. When the time is down, quick release the valve and open it when able. 
5. Either stir to combine everything, or place an immersion blender in the pot to blend the ingredients together. 
6. Serve the hot chocolate drink warm, or keep the warming button on.
7. Top the mugs with any desired toppings. 
8. Store leftovers in a sealed jar in the refrigerator for 3-5 days.
9. Enjoy! 

Happy Delicious and Quick Homemade Hot Cocoa Eating! 

Egg Roll in a Bowl {low carb, paleo, whole30, gluten free}

I've recently been trying to have low-carb dinners since I started to use The Transform App for nutrition and workouts lately.   It's been a handy program that lays out carb cycling, and I think the workouts are great as well.  Now, I do pay for the app; I'm not sponsored by them.  Just sharing what I'm using.  

I tell you about the app, b/c I've been needing more low-carb dinners in my repertoire, and that's where the Egg Roll in a Bowl comes into play.  

We all, husband kids and myself, are big fans of this recipe.  Enjoy! 

Egg Roll in a Bowl
Recipe: Alohamora adapted from PeaceLoveandLowCarb 
Active Time: 25 minutes
Inactive Time: 5 minutes
Servings: 4-6

Ingredients: 
1 Tbsp olive oil or avocado oil
3 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 c. onion, diced
1 lb ground pork
1/2 tsp ground ginger
dash of salt/pepper
1/2 Tbsp Sriracha
1 (16oz) bag coleslaw
1 c. shredded carrots
3 Tbsp soy sauce or coconut aminos*
1 Tbsp rice vinegar
Toppings: green onions, sesame seed, Sriracha

*make sure gluten free, if needed

Directions: 

1. In a large skillet heat oil over medium heat. 
2. Add garlic and onion to the pan and saute until onions are translucent. 
3. Add the pork, ginger, salt, pepper, and Sriracha to the pan.  Saute everything until the pork is cooked through. 
4. Add the coleslaw, carrots, soy sauce, and rice vinegar to the pan and saute it until the coleslaw is tender.  
5. Before serving add any toppings you desire. 
6. Enjoy! 
7. Store leftovers in a sealed container in the refrigerator. 

Happy Healthy Low Carb Eating! 

Do you have any Low-Carb healthy dinner recipes you love?  Please share.  I'm always looking for more options. 

Lemon Custard {instant pot, paleo, gluten free, dairy free, dessert}

Happy Harry Potter Week!  

So far you've received recipes for:  

• Instant Pot Fudge Cake
• Naked Harry Potter Chocolate Birthday Cake- 6 inch and gluten free

After a brief HP birthday cake recipe yesterday, I'm back to my muggle version of magic.  Magic with an Instant Pot.  Today, you get an Instant Pot recipe, and a paleo version at that.  Though, I'm giving you a break with the lemon and hooking you up with a cold, tart, and so very yummy dessert recipe.   

This Lemon Custard may be paleo aka dairy free and gluten free, yet it is delicious.  I love that this custard takes me 5 minutes to mix and only 10 minutes in the pressure cooker.  I love that the best compliment to custard is fresh fruit; I love that I don't feel heavy and gross after eating this healthier dessert.

Basically, I'm a big fan of this Instant Pot Paleo Lemon Custard, and you should most definitely make this deliciousness to taste it for yourself.   

If you don't have an Instant Pot, what are you waiting for? 

About a month ago, my good friend Emma took me to an international market here in Arizona.  She is Chinese, and wanted to show me some of the fun Chinese items that could be found in that store.  We got Mochi balls, a plethora of snacks for our family road trip, purple yams, coconut milk, and this canned coconut cream.  I had never seen coconut cream before, but I also have never looked for it.  I picked it up b/c I figured there'd be more than a few things I could make with it.  

I'm so glad I picked it up, b/c I came across this recipe soon after and immediately knew what I would make Lemon Custard with it.  The whole family loved the custard and agreed it was the perfect dessert to make with it.

What's your favorite thing to make with coconut milk or coconut cream? 

Instant Pot Paleo Lemon Custard
Recipe: Alohamora slightly adapted from Paleo Cooking with your Instant Pot
Active Time: 5 minutes
Inactive Time: 10 minutes + chill time
Servings: 3 to 4 servings

Ingredients: 
1 c. coconut cream
3 egg yolks
2 Tbsp lemon juice
1/3 c. honey or 100% maple syrup
1 tsp vanilla
1 c. water
fruit of your choice for topping. 

Directions: 

1. Add the coconut cream, egg yolks, lemon juice, honey/maple syrup, and vanilla to a small/medium bowl or a blender.  I use an immersion blender briefly to get the mixture free of lumps, but a quick moving whisk will do the same. 
2. Divide the mixture between 3 small ramekins or glass/ceramic bowls that can all fit in your instant pot. 
3. Pour the cup of water into the bottom of your Instant Pot/Pressure Cooker and place the 3 bowls of custard mixture into the pot. 
4. Secure the lid, close the pressure valve, and set the pot to manual, high pressure and 10 minutes. 
5. Once the cooking is complete quick release the valve, aka move the pressure valve towards you and it will let all of the pressure out.  
6. When safe, remove the custards from the pot and place the ramekins/bowls to the refrigerator for at least an hour to chill.  
7. Serve the custard cold and garnish them with a fruit of your choice and some lemon zest if you are feeling especially fancy. 
8. Enjoy!  
9. Store leftovers in a sealed container in the refrigerator.  

Happy Harry Potter Lemon Custard Eating! 

If you are wondering the Harry Potter connection to custard, it is most accurately connected to the Chamber of Secrets.  Though, you do read about custard creams in the Goblet of Fire.  However, those custard creams is in reference to an Oreo like cookie sandwich with cream in the middle. 

In the 2nd book, after Harry and Ron had rescued Ginny, they were enjoying trifle when Hagrid came in after being in Azkaban.  Trifle is usually layers of custard and fruit with cake and biscuit.  However, I wanted a more simple and gluten free recipe.  Hence the paleo custard version without cake and biscuit.  Cookies are where it's at for me.  

  

Enjoy!  So yummy! 

Honey Balsamic Pork Chops {instant pot/pressure cooker, gluten free}

These are the best pork chops. Period.  

My husband claims cooking pork chops in the Instant Pot/Pressure Cooker is the only way to cook them.  After he tasted these pork chops the first time he fell in love.  After he tasted these Honey Balsamic Pork Chops the second time he declared them the best pork chops b/c they are not dry, full of flavor, and so easy to make even with frozen meat.  

These pork chops are perfect.  Do you know what isn't perfect though? Dropping your phone in the toilet b/c you had forgotten it was in your pocket.  Ugh, it is so not cool.  The phone is currently sitting in rice; I'm hoping the phone will survive.

My phone debacle may be anything but easy, but your dinner situation can be a cinch with this recipe, an instant pot, and some pork chops.  Enjoy! 

Instant Pot Honey Balsamic Pork Chops
Recipe: Alohamora slightly adapted from Predominatly Paleo
Active Time: 6 minutes
Inactive Time: 20 minutes
Servings: 4 

Ingredients: 
4 pork chops, boneless (frozen or thawed)
salt/pepper
2 Tbsp avocado oil/olive oil
1/2 onion, thinly sliced
1/2 c. honey
1/2 c. balsamic vinegar
1 Tbsp garlic, minced
1 tsp parsley, dried

Directions: 

1. Sprinkle your uncooked pork chops with a dash of salt and pepper.  I like to keep the pork chops in a Ziploc, add the salt and pepper, and then seal the bag to spread it around. 
2. Add the oil to the Instant Pot, and set the pressure cooker to saute.  
3. Saute the onions for a minute. 
4. Add the pork chops and sear the sides of the four pork chops with the onions still in the pot. 
5. Set your IP (Instant Pot) to Manual High Pressure and 15 minutes. 
6. Add the remaining four ingredients to the top of the pork chops and seal the pressure cooker. 
7. Be sure to close the pressure valve.
8. Allow the pressure cooker/IP to reach pressure and cook for 15 minutes.
9. After the time is up leave the IP/pressure cooker to naturally release, aka don't touch it, for 5 minutes. 
10. After a 5 minute Natural ReleaseQuick release the IP/pressure cooker, remove the lid, and serve the pork chops topped with onion slices and accompanied by any desired side dishes.  These roasted veggies are our favorite.
11. Store leftovers in the refrigerator. 
12. Enjoy!

Happy Deliciously Easy Honey Balsamic Pork Chops eating! 

  

20 Minute Chocolate Ice Cream {Healthy} {Vegan} {Paleo}

Oh man, it has been a week for me.  Last Thursday night I was in a high speed car accident on the freeway and then the other two cars involved in the accident drove away. Not cool!  There was a trip to the ER and a totaled car, but I am luckily and grateful to be walking.  

I also just got back from a family vacation.  We went to Coronado Island, and this is one of my very favorite beaches and towns ever.  If I could afford to live there I would; if I could afford to stay at Hotel Del I would.  There are a lot of "ifs" when it comes to Coronado, but there are some things that aren't even questioned.  

Coronado Island has the best family beach I've been to in California.  Another without a doubt Coronado is the Moo Time Creamery.  The Moo Time Creamery has the absolute best ice cream; I'm not even a huge coconut fan, but I fell in love with the coconut ice cream here the first time I came.  I have since had several different flavors, and I've loved all of them.  The peanut butter ice cream from this trip was amazing!.  If you go to Coronado Island you must stop for a treat at Moo Time Creamery, and if you are really living the dream you'll go there more than once.  They have two locations on the island. 

My kiddos had been requesting a beach trip for months now.  We planned a trip to Coronado and of course planned an ice cream stop as well.  My kiddos have now been introduced the best of Coronado Island; it'll be hard to live up to this family vacation from here on out.  

While on vacation we had really great burgers at Cali O' Burger and the most amazing Veggie Bowl I've ever had (b/c I crave veggies on vacation, and you know that if you follow me on Instagram @alohamoraopenabook) at Kitchen in the Desert Cafe in 29 Palms. 

If you are ever on your way to Joshua Tree National Park you must stop at this restaurant for the most amazing and flavorful food.  It may be in a sketchy location, the back of a Mobil gas station/liquor store, but the food is worth it all.  I also hear the smoothies are amazing as well. 

I crave vegetables when on vacation b/c I never get enough, and when I come home from vacation I always crave healthy food and clean eating.  However, it's a holiday weekend with friends and families gathering.

Memorial weekend is usually a time to remember the sacrifices others have made as well as spend time with loved ones.  When I lived in Denver I always ran the Bolder Boulder, one of my favorite 10k races, on Memorial Day.  Now in AZ I spend time with family and usually cook out on the grill.  Both make for a great day.  

Since we just got home from vacation I'll make sure we are grilling vegetables along with the meat, but I'll also make sure we have a treat.  I always need a treat.

This Healthy Chocolate Ice Cream can be made in 20 minutes and is Vegan and Paleo Friendly.  Basically, it is a diet friendly dessert that you will be absolutely amazed with how delicious it tastes.  This ice cream is rich and chocolaty goodness with no processed sugar or dairy.  This ice cream is one of my favorite treats; I've even been known to bring it to girl's night... and they all loved it as well. 

You should include this quick and easy dessert to your weekend... even if the ingredients sound a bit bizarre. 

Healthy Chocolate Ice Cream in 20 Minutes
Recipe: Alohamora slightly adapted Perry's Plate
Active Time: 20 minutes
Inactive Time: 0
Servings: About 3 1/2 cups

Ingredients: 
2/3 c. almond milk
1/3 c. cocoa powder
4 medjool dates, pitted
1/2 avocado
1/4 c. honey
1 tray ice cubes (approximately 3 1/2 cups)

Directions: 

1. Place everything, but the ice, in a blender (I love my Blendtec) in the order listed and blend until smooth.  Add more honey according to your taste, but I felt 1/4 c. was plenty. 
2. Add the tray, or 3 1/2 cups, of ice and blend until smooth and combined. 
3. Serve right away or freeze in an airtight container and serve within an hour or 2 hours max.  B/c of the avocados I have not trusted to leave this ice cream overnight in my freezer, but I did have a friend who kept it overnight in an airtight container and she said it was delicious still. 
4. Personally, I don't believe in storing it overnight, but I do believe in being gluttonous with this healthy ice cream dessert.  I promise you won't feel guilty, but instead you will feel happy.  

Happy 20 Minute Healthy Chocolate Ice Cream eating!