maple syrup

Okay, so you just spent approximately $3 on a salad dressing at the grocery store. The problem? It's loaded with way too many unnecessary ingredients. Have you ever read the label on most salad dressings? They put everything from sugar (yes, you heard that right) to Calcium Disodium EDTA in it (to "protect freshness"). No thanks. I'm good. Instead, I like to make my own salad dressings at home. Here are eight DIY salad dressings that are actually healthy for you and require no unnatural sweeteners.

Nothing beats a nice summer BBQ with fresh, seasonal foods and good company. Even when you're not at a BBQ or special occasion, you can still bring in the bounty of summer with these four recipes. All of them incorporate in-season produce. I highly recommend going to the local farmers market and picking up the ingredients for these recipes from there, as it will enhance your dishes greatly.

Vegan chocolate is ridiculously simple to make. In fact, you're going to wish you knew how to make it sooner, instead of spending money on pre-made chocolate. Even if you're not a vegan, you'll appreciate the simplicity of this recipe. Not to mention it tastes great (especially for those who love dark chocolate)! To make matters better, not only is it healthier for you but it's also easier: This is a no bake recipe!

Pumpkin pie is my absolute favorite pie. There’s just something about that smooth, dreamy texture that is so sweetly satisfying. For me, nothing says comfort food like having pumpkin pie for dessert, which is why I had to figure out a way to make this spiced, velvety delight without gluten or animal products.

Did you know that maple trees are not the only trees that provide us with the sap necessary to make syrup? There are several different trees that produce a sap sweet and sticky enough to make delicious syrups and sugars. The sugar maple is one of the most well known and most common trees tapped because it has the highest sugar content –  which is key to a fine syrup.

Anyone who knows me – or any Vermonter for that matter – understands that I am undyingly loyal to maple syrup. It is indeed a cliché treat of the green mountain state, and for good reason. Maple syrup is delicious in too many forms: over pancakes, ice cream, fruit, in oatmeal, coffee, soups, as hard candy, soft candy, cotton candy, milkshake, you name it! But don’t get me wrong; although maple syrup is sweet, especially as candy, it is by no means the worst sweet treat you could savor.

Enjoy this departure from the typically heavy and sugary French Toast! With all natural sweeteners like vanilla extract and bananas, you can satisfy your need for weekend brunch and still feel good about it later. The silken tofu in this recipe helps to add thickness to the batter and a little bit of protein to keep you going. For a delicious treat, top it off with some fresh berries and whipped coconut cream!

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