White Girl Rosca De Reyes

Organic Rosca De Reyes

Rosca De Reyes is a sweet latin bread that is traditionally served on Dia De Reyes (Kings Day). The bread is usually contains a plastic baby to represent the Baby Jesus that the 3 Kings came to bring gifts to. Finding this baby inside of your slice of bread is a fun way to bring this Christmas miracle to life and usually means that you are stuck with making the tamales for the next family function. 

Enjoy!

Ingredients:

• 1 packet (1/4 oz.) Active Dry 
• 1/4 Cup Warm Water
• 1/4 Cup Organic Evaporated Cane Juice *Divided in recipe*
• 6 Tbsp. Organic (grass-fed) Butter *Divided in recipe*
• 1/4 Cup Organic Whole Milk *Divided in recipe*
• 3 Cups plus 1 Tbsp Organic Whole Wheat Pastry Flour (Or Gluten Free Flour to Substitute) *Divided in recipe*
• 1/4 Tsp Natural Sea Salt
• 3 Organic Eggs *Divided in recipe*
• 1/2 Cup Organic Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips (Optional)
• 6 oz. Organic Cream Cheese
• 3/4 Cup Organic Powdered Sugar
• 1/3 Cup Chopped Almonds or Walnuts
• Dried Mixed Fruit (Cherries & Mangos Show in Picture)
• Plastic Baby Jesus (optional)

Instructions

1. Step 1: Mix Yeast, warm water (not too hot or it will kill the yeast) & 1 Tsp. Evaporated Cane Juice in small mixing bowl. Set aside. 
2. Place 4 Tbsp Butter in a large mixing bowl. Warm up 1/4 cup milk and add it to the butter. Mix until butter is completely melted. Add 1-1/2 Cups Pastry Flour, remaining amount of Evaporated Cane Juice, Sea Salt, 2 Eggs, and Yeast Mixture; Beat on low speed until blended. Gradually beat in 1-1/2 cup of remaining Pastry Flour until mixture forms soft dough. 
3. Step 2: Knead dough on a lightly floured surface for 5 minutes. Let rest for 10 minutes and then roll the dough out into a rectangular shape. Using a pizza slicer, cut dough vertically into 3 long strips. Place a line of chocolate chips down the center of each strip and a Plastic baby (optional), then fold dough over and press edges to seal them inside. Take the 3 chocolate filled strips of dough and braid them together. Once braided, stick the opposite ends together to form a ring. Place on parchment covered baking sheet and cover with plastic wrap. Let rise for 2 hours or until doubled in size.  
4. Step 3: While your dough is rising, mix remaining butter, pastry flour, 6 oz cream cheese, powdered sugar, and nuts until well blended. Divide into 5 pieces and form into 1 inch logs. Wrap in plastic and place in refrigerator until ready to use. 
5. Heat oven to 350 Degrees. Beat remaining egg, brush over top of the dough. Top the dough with cream cheese nut logs and dried fruit. Press on gently to secure. 
6. Bake 30-35 minutes or until golden brown. Cool 10 minutes. Enjoy! 

Feliz Dia De Reyes!

Chewy Organic Pumpkin Granola Bars with Chocolate Drizzle

Gluten Free, Dairy Free, and Vegan!

There are plenty of tasty reasons to move that pumpkin from the porch to the pantry, but this recipe might be at the top of the list. This quick and easy granola bar will have your home smelling delicious and your tummy feeling satisfied in no time. 

Did you know?

A cup of cooked, mashed pumpkin contains more than 200 percent of your recommended daily intake of vitamin A, which aids vision, particularly in dim light, according to the National Institutes of Health. 

Pumpkins are also rich in carotenoids, the compounds that give the gourd their bright orange color, including beta-carotene, which the body converts into a form of vitamin A. The antioxidant beta-carotene may play a role in cancer prevention, according to the National Cancer Institute. The same free-radical-neutralizing powers of the carotenoids in pumpkin that may keep cancer cells at bay can also help keep the skin wrinkle-free, Health magazine reported. 

Pumpkin is an often-overlooked source of fiber, but with three grams per one-cup serving and only 49 calories, it can keep you feeling full for longer on fewer calories. A fiber-rich diet seems to help people eat less, and thereby shed pounds.

Chewy Organic Pumpkin Granola Bars with Chocolate Drizzle

Yield: 10-12 granola bars                    Cook Time: 30-35 minutes

Ingredients:

• 3 1/4 Cups Organic Rolled Oats
• 1/2 Tsp Pumpkin Pie Spice
• 1/2 Tsp Cinnamon
• 1/4 Tsp Nutmeg
• 1/4 Tsp Cloves
• 1/2 Tsp Sea Salt
• 3/4 Cup Organic Coconut Sugar
• 1/2 Cup Organic Pumpkin Puree
• 1/4 Cup Organic Coconut Oil (Unrefined)
• 1/4 Cup Local Raw Honey
• 1 Tsp Pure Vanilla Extract

Chocolate Drizzle:

• 1/4 Cup Organic Coconut Oil (Unrefined) Melted
• 1/4 Cup Organic Cacao (Unsweetened)
• Organic Maple Syrup *to taste*

Garnish with Organic Unsweetened Shredded Coconut

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray an 8 by 8 baking pan with cooking spray (I prefer Coconut oil spray from Trader Joe's) and set aside.
2. Mix oats, spices, and sea salt together in a large bowl. set aside.
3. In a medium bowl, whisk coconut sugar, pumpkin, coconut oil (melted), honey, and vanilla extract together. Pour over oats mixture and stir well until oats are moist. 
4. Evenly press the oat mixture into the prepared pan. Bake for 30-35 minutes until golden brown. Let cool before cutting. 
5. Once bars have cooled, use a sharp knife to cut into rectangles. Drizzle each bar with chocolate sauce and dust with shredded coconut. Let set until chocolate is firm. Serve and enjoy!