Pumpkin Peanut Butter Pie with a Vanilla Honey Graham Gluten Free Crust

It’s Thanksgiving long weekend here in Canada and I’m about to get my bake on! And of course, get cooking too! Truth is, I don’t truly need a reason to bake something special. Baking is a creative outlet for me, and if you’ve been following me over on Instagram @holisticwellnessfoodie – then I’m sure you’ve seen many of my baking creations. 

The thing is, pumpkin pie is not really a favourite of mine. I love baking with pumpkin and you can find many pumpkin dessert recipes on my site, like these Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins, or my Spice Pumpkin Loaf.

But, pumpkin pie – not my thing. So this year, I had the intention of making a pumpkin pie because well, everyone else in my family loves it, but I wasn’t too excited about it. And then I was going to make a peanut butter pie and thought to myself… “why not just combine the two together? Brilliant!”

And so, my Pumpkin Peanut Butter Pie recipe was born. It’s also damn easy to make and no-bake too.

A few other recipes I’ll be cooking up this weekend include:

My Brussel Sprout Walnut Salad with Bacon (this recipe is in my NEW book, which I will release details about VERY soon!)

Keto Stuffing (I’m using Thornbury Keto bread – and this will be a first. So we’ll see how it turns out)

Pumpkin Marshmallow Almond Butter Rice Krispie Squares (this is also a first and not something I would typically make. I came across pumpkin marshmallows at Natures Emporium and had the urge to try them)

We’re also making my Roasted Turkey Thighs with Fresh Sage and Melted Butter – another recipe you’ll find in my book. This is G’s favourite and to be quite honest, it’s much easier to cook than a turkey.

It’s potluck style, so friends and family are filling in the gaps elsewhere. 

Whatever you get up to this weekend, Thanksgiving or not (for my US friends), I do hope you’ll find the time to do the things you love most, eat some delicious food and bake up my deeelicious Pumpkin Peanut Butter Pie. Be sure to tag me over on Instagram @holisticwellnessfoodie and let me know how you like it!

P.S. If you’re looking for more delicious and easy recipes, come join me inside my Healthy Hormones Recipe Club! Are you confused with all the information out there about how to balance your hormones, lose weight + support your immunity? Can’t keep up with all the different diets; Paleo, Keto, Intermittent Fasting, or which one is even right for you Get a monthly meal plan + shopping list + recipes that will help you to support your body, balance your hormones, detoxify and shed some inches in the process! Each month has a different theme (click here to read what I’ll be sharing over the next few months!) This Recipe Club is available for a super affordable price, so you can easily say YES to putting yourself first, without breaking the bank. Delicious food & zero deprivation, I promise! 

*As a note – I do suggest you add parchment paper to your pie dish. I didn’t, so I couldn’t remove the pie from the dish and had to snap photos of it with the dish. Or, use a springform pan. 

Peanut Butter Pumpkin Pie
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Prep Time
15 min
Cook Time
2 hr
Total Time
2 hr 15 min
Prep Time
15 min
Cook Time
2 hr
Total Time
2 hr 15 min
Ingredients
  1. VANILLA GRAHAM COOKIE CRUST
  2. 2 boxes Enjoy Life Vanilla Honey Graham Cookies (you'll need roughly 25 cookies)
  3. 1/4 cup melted butter or coconut oil
  4. PEANUT BUTTER PUMPKIN FILLING
  5. 3/4 - 1 cup creamy peanut butter (if you prefer more of a peanut butter taste, go with 1 cup)
  6. 3/4 - 1 cup organic pumpkin puree (again, your preference here on how much you'd like to use)
  7. 1/2 cup full fat coconut cream (from the can)
  8. 2 tablespoons monk fruit (or coconut sugar)
  9. 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
  10. 1 teaspoon cinnamon
  11. 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
  1. In a food processor, pulse the cookies until they are ground into a flour like consistency.
  2. With food processor running, slowly pour in melted butter.
  3. Pulse a few times until all is combined, then pour crust into a parchment lined pie dish (roughly 9-inch in size). Using your fingers, press the crust into the dish and slightly up the sides.
  4. *Keep some of the crust in the food processor. This will combine with the filing and add a nice crunch. Also, keep some aside to sprinkle on top of pie or use any leftover cookies and crumble over pie.
  5. Place crust in the freezer to set and begin making the filling.
  6. Add all filling ingredients to the food processor and blend until smooth and well combined.
  7. Pour on top of crust, sprinkle with shredded coconut and cookie crumbs and place in the freezer to set for 2 hours.
  8. To serve, leave pie out on counter for 30 minutes to come to room temp. Garnish with a dollop of coconut whip and serve!
Notes
  1. Leftovers can be stored in the fridge for up to a week or covered, in the freezer for up to 2 months
Holistic Wellness https://holisticwellness.ca/
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Mint Chocolate Chip Smoothie

MINT + CHOCOLATE = my favorite combo ever ? As a kid I loved mint chocolate chip ice cream and I still do, but I opt for dairy free versions now, like @coconutbliss. But enter the smoothie – the perfect way to get my fix. Plus, this smoothie has the right combo of P+F+F – Protein, Fat and Fiber – three essentials to balancing your blood sugar and keeping you energized.

I feel like talking about blood sugar just isn’t sexy, but it’s often THE most important part to address when it comes to hormones. If you’re dealing with PCOS, PMS, infertility, menopause, stress – all of these are impacted by your blood sugar. Not to mention, if your exhausted, craving sugar and carbs (or eat sugar and carbs alittttle more often than you’d like), there’s a good chance your blood sugar is out of whack.

It really is any easy fix, but as with anything, you’ll have to commit to change and follow through in order to see change. And the best part, in as little as 3 days you can start to feel a shift with your blood sugar. I’ve had diabetics who have normalized their blood sugar just after 3 days. We’ve managed to get their numbers into a normal range – a range they haven’t seen in YEARS! In fact, you can read about one of my diabetic testimonials here and how Elide got off all her meds. 

Ok… but now onto this Mint Chocolate Chip Smoothie. It feels like you’re having dessert for breakfast, but I’ve actually loaded up this recipe with some KEY ingredients that support your hormones, such as avocados, spinach – hello magnesium and healthy fat, plus a healthy scoop of protein to balance your blood sugar. I don’t often use a full banana in my smoothie, but felt it was needed with this recipe. And the key is to balance out that sweetness with protein and fat. 

I should mention that the protein powder I love using is Design for Health Pure Paleo Protein. I always keep vanilla and chocolate on hand. It’s definitely not a cheap protein as it is a grass fed beef isolate (no, it doesn’t taste like beef), but it’s so forth, creamy and perfectly sweet. It also contains 70% collagen, so it’s a two-in-one supplement, which I love! You can order off our site here and save 15% off ALL supplements with coupon code – SAVE15

Here’s the recipe! Enjoy 🙂 

Mint Chocolate Chip Smoothie

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Keyword: dairy free, gluten free, grain free, green smoothies, healthy fats, highfatlowcarb, holisticwellness, low sugar, mint chocolate chip smoothie, paleo smoothies, pff, protein, fat and fiber
Servings: 1
Author: Samantha Gladish

Ingredients

  • 1 small frozen banana
  • 1 1/2 cups unsweetened coconut milk
  • 1 cup fresh spinach
  • 1/4 of a small/medium sized avocado
  • 10-20 fresh mint leaves OR 1 drop peppermint essential oil
  • 1 scoop vanilla or chocolate protein powder or collagen peptides chocolate could change the color of your smoothie but who cares - it’ll still be delish!
  • 1/2 cup crushed ice or more if you like it thicker
  • 1 tablespoon cacao nibs or @enjoylifefoods chocolate chips

Instructions

  • Place banana, milk, spinach, avocado, mint, protein powder, and ice in a blender.
  • Process until smooth. Add in cacao nibs/chocolate chips and briefly pulse. Serve garnished with additional cacao nibs or chocolate chips and enjoy!
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Thai Red Curry Chicken (Paleo, Grain Free, Dairy Free, Soy Free, Egg Free, Nut Free)

What is it about the fall that makes me wanna eat all the curry bowls ??  They’re just so aromatic and warming and cozy. I’m just gonna say it – comfort food, right? This time of year, I want all the ‘stick to your ribs’ dishes. 
 
As we approach fall/winter, we naturally start to crave heavier foods like stews, pureed soups and hearty bowls. We eat less light, raw and cold dishes because our body craves warmth. It’s called, ‘eating with the seasons’ and it’s exactly what we’re meant to do. 
 
Of course, there’s more to it than that. Eating with the seasons often means eating what is in season and that usually means eating what is local to you. That has many benefits. It benefits the environment because your food isn’t traveling as far to get to you. It requires less resources and transportation. It benefits you because the food you’re eating is more nutritious. It wasn’t picked prematurely and sitting on a transport truck for days losing vital nutrients. It also supports your local economy. 
 
A small example of this, here in Canada, would be that right now apples and squash are back in season and berries are not. For us, we meal plan around what’s in season. That includes plenty of butternut squash dishes and snacking on local apples. I’m not buying fresh berries this time of year, instead, I choose frozen berries – they’re more cost effective and more nutritious than the fresh. Do you eat with the seasons? Share with us in the comments below! 
 
Fun fact about me, I was in my mid twenties when I first tried curry!! Fast forward to today and it’s a staple in our home. I had a very limited palate back then. I was really resistant to trying new foods which is crazy because the first bite of curry I had, I was hooked! Now, I’m a total foodie. I love trying new dishes. Curry is one of those things that people either love or hate. Are you a curry lover as well? 
 
This dish is delicious served over cauliflower rice. You can check out this recipe here for Cauliflower Fried Rice, or simply just sauté the cauliflower rice in some coconut oil for this dish. I suggest you make extra to have on hand for other dishes. Nothing beats making one dish but prepping for 2 or 3 meals at the same time.

The other night, I was craving a curry chicken dish and found it really difficult to find one free of grains and legumes (right now, I’m really thriving on a paleo-friendly diet). So I decided to create my own! This recipe is paleo-friendly, gluten-free, grain-free, dairy-free and soy-free – without compromising on BIG, BOLD flavours. And it’s really easy to make, in fact, it’s a one pan meal and who doesn’t love that? 
 
ENJOY and Happy Cooking 🙂
Thai Red Curry Chicken
Serves 4
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Prep Time
10 min
Cook Time
20 min
Total Time
30 min
Prep Time
10 min
Cook Time
20 min
Total Time
30 min
Ingredients
  1. 1 pound organic chicken breasts, sliced
  2. 1.5 Tbsp coconut oil
  3. 1 onion, diced
  4. 2 tsp ginger, grated
  5. 4 cloves garlic, minced
  6. 2 Tbsp red curry paste (I used Thai Kitchen brand)
  7. 1 red bell pepper, diced
  8. 1 orange bell pepper, diced
  9. 1 can full-fat coconut milk
  10. 1 Tbsp arrowroot starch
  11. 2 Tbsp tamari sauce
  12. 1 Tbsp fresh lime juice
  13. 1/2 Tbsp maple syrup
  14. sea salt & fresh black pepper
  15. 1 cauliflower, processed into rice
  16. hot sauce to taste
  17. handful basil leaves, torn
  18. fresh chopped cilantro & sliced thai chilli for garnish
Instructions
  1. Sear chicken over medium heat in coconut oil. Remove & set aside once done.
  2. In the same pan, sauté onions, ginger, garlic and curry paste for about 5 minutes.
  3. Add peppers and sauté for another 5 minutes.
  4. Add 1/2 the coconut milk to the pan.
  5. Mix the remainder of the coconut milk with arrowroot starch. Add it to the pan with tamari, lime juice, maple syrup and a pinch or two of sea salt and pepper.
  6. Bring everything to a boil, then reduce to a simmer until mixture thickens and vegetables are cooked.
  7. In the meantime, cut cauliflower into florets, add to food processor and pulse until it looks like rice. {you can either serve the curry over raw cauliflower rice or gently sauté it in a pan with a touch of coconut oil}.
  8. Taste curry carefully for seasoning and adjust accordingly.
  9. Serve curry over cauliflower rice with hot sauce, torn basil leaves and garnish with cilantro and thai chilli.
Notes
  1. *Omit peppers if avoiding nightshades and swap for chopped carrots
Holistic Wellness https://holisticwellness.ca/
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Cacao Coconut Almond Butter Cups (Keto, High Fat & Sugar Free)

I’ve been obsessed with making fat bombs. Mainly because I love spending time recipe creating, but also because I want to be able to enjoy something sweet every now and again without a boat load of sugar. 

Enter these fat bombs. 

They are high fat and sugar free. Now of course, you can always add in more sweetness if you like as cacao can be slightly bitter, but I much prefer them without the sweetness and the extra guilt. 

Not to mention the insane cravings that start to follow once you consume too much sugar. Ever notice that? You go sugar free or low carb for a while and then – BAM – one bite of a sweet cake or cookie or piece of bread and your cravings come back full force?

It’s normal. Sugar triggers pleasure receptors in your brain, which cause you to want more and more and more. 

This is why I like to keep my sugar intake very low and my fat intake high. It keeps my sugar cravings at bay, it helps to balance my blood sugar, it keeps my brain fuelled and it provides me with lots of energy. Plus, fat is incredibly important for hormonal health. 

Fats are structural components of some of the most important substances in the body, including prostaglandins, which are hormone-like substances that regulate many of the body’s functions.

You need fats because they regulate the production of sex hormones, which can often be the reason why some teenage girls and women in general can experience amenorrhea (no period). 

So if you’ve been hesitant about including fats in your diet, don’t be. Just be sure to choose the right kinds, such as: coconut oil, ghee, grass fed butter, animal fats (ideally from organic, grass fed, pasture raised animals), olive oil, avocado oil and avocado. 

I hope you enjoy these yummy fat bombs as much as we do. We keep a bunch in the freezer all the time for a quick grab and go snack or treat. I originally made these for my trip out to Banff. I wanted to have something healthy and high fat to fuel me while on the plane. 

Originally, I made these without the almond butter and they were great, though a little more on the bitter side. As a note – the almond butter does mean they will melt quicker, so just an FYI if you do plan on traveling with them.

I also used my new silicon molds which I’m obsessed with. They are amazing for baking as nothing sticks to them, plus they are reusable.

You can click here to get them on amazon. I also got the mini silicon baking molds. These were great for my Chocolate Cherry Fat Bombs

I highly recommend them for all your baking necessities 🙂 Enjoy and happy baking!

 

Cacao Coconut Almond Butter Cups (Keto, High Fat & Sugar Free)
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Ingredients
  1. 3 tbsp raw cacao powder
  2. 3/4 cup cacao butter, cut into small chunks
  3. 2 tbsp coconut oil or ghee (I like the vanilla ghee from Lee's Ghee)
  4. 3 heaping tbsp almond butter (crunchy or smooth)
  5. 1/4 tsp vanilla extract
  6. Pinch of sea salt
  7. 2 tbsp lakanto or swerve, optional (you can add more or less depending on the amount of sweetness you prefer. Liquid stevia would work well too).
  8. 1/2 cup coconut chips, roughly chopped or broken into small pieces (chopped nuts would work well too)
Instructions
  1. Line a large muffin pan with silicon liners.
  2. Over a double boiler, melt cacao butter and coconut oil or ghee together.
  3. As they start to melt, add in almond butter and cacao, gently stirring everything together.
  4. Add in vanilla extract, sea salt and sweetener of choice.
  5. Once melted, remove from heat and stir in coconut chips.
  6. Pour into silicon muffin molds. I filled mine just over 1/4 of the way. I didn't want them to thick.
  7. Place in the freezer for 1 hour to set. Then remove from freezer when ready to eat. If using the silicon molds, they pop right out of them with ease!
Holistic Wellness https://holisticwellness.ca/
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Underground Wellness Podcast

Less than a year ago, I contacted Sean Croxton of Underground Wellness via Facebook and told him how much I loved his podcast. I remember it was a hot August day and I was thinking how exciting it would be to be a guest expert on his show one day. Well…that day came, and it came faster than I ever would have expected!

Underground Wellness is one of THE biggest health podcasts and I am extremely grateful to Sean for inviting me on his show and for really helping me to finish my eBooks and get my message out to the world!

My eBooks, The Qualitarian Life and The Qualitarian Cookbook can be purchased here – SHOP NOW. From food to nutrition, exercise, sleep, sex, and detox, I cover all areas of your life and help you to overhaul your health and your body in just 21 days! Read more about these eBooks HERE.

In case you missed the podcast, you can listen in on it here – The Qualitarian Life with Samantha Gladish or click to listen below.

You’ll learn:

* How to “brush away” cellulite while boosting muscle tone at the same time
* How the plaque in your arteries may be coming from your teeth
* The “non-toxic but problematic” ingredient lurking in your toothpaste
* My top household cleaning swaps for a toxin free home!

The feedback from the podcast has been incredible and so many people have purchased my books and are starting to live The Qualitarian Life.

Hope you enjoy the show!

Find Additional Health Podcasts with Sean Croxton on BlogTalkRadio
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