Never Miss a Post Again!

New Email Sign Up! 

Be sure to submit your email address to get an email when I post a recipe or tip or blog post!

Go over to the right hand column and subscribe! 

I used to have this feature but it was disabled by Blogger (the host of this blog). I added a new option. Sign up today!!

(I promise to never use your email address, or share it. In fact, I am not even sure how to see what email address you enter :) )

Moving to Social Media App Bluesky

 Hello!

Please note that I am moving to Bluesky for social media starting January 20, 2025.

Thank you so very much for following me there. I appreciate you so very much. 

I am deleting my Facebook page on Feb 1st, and my Instagram on Jan 20th.

Please join me if you can on Bluesky.

You can search THECLEVERSPOON (all 3 words) to find me, and here is my official name: @thecleverspoon.bsky.social

Bluesky is a social media app you can download from the app store. It is easy to sign up. 

I completely understand if you do not want another social media. Thank you for following me on Meta apps. 

I am deleting the Meta apps due to them becoming less user friendly as time goes on. They do not push my content to followers unless I pay to boost and since I do this all for free, I cannot pay. I have felt for quite some time that I am wasting my engery posting on social media when no one sees it or engages in it. 

This blog will remain and I will continue to post new stuff when I have it. 

Thank you

Carolyn

TCS

Almond Cream Cheese- Phase 3 (V)

Make this ahead of time and keep in the fridge- will last about 3-4 days. Use on pancakes, toast, crackers. Or you can add fresh herbs to make a dip for veggie crudite. Swap oil for olive oil and add garlic when blending for savory dip.

Almond Cream Cheese
Phase 3
1/4 cup is a healthy far serving

2 cups blanched peeled almonds
1/4 cup grapeseed oil
1 1/2 tsp sea salt
1/2 cup lemon juice
1/4 to 1/3 cup spring water

Soak the almonds overnight in spring water that covers the almonds by 1-2 inches.

Drain the almonds and rinse under cold water

Add to blender or food processor along with oil, salt, lemon juice. Blend, adding water 2 tablespoons at a time to get to the consistency you want. Scrape down sides as needed.Taste and add more lemon juice or salt if needed.
Pour into a container with a tight lid. Cover and place in fridge overnight for best flavor. It will firm up a bit when chilled. 

If you want a firmer cheese that crumbles, place into a oiled baking dish and bake at 300F for 30 minutes. Cool then chill overnight. 

Almond Flour Shortbread Cookies- Phase 3

Almond Flour Shortbread Cookies
Phase 3
Makes 6 standard servings of healthy fat


1 cup blanched almond flour 
2.5 T xylitol or stevia/monk fruit equivalent
2 T virgin coconut oil, melted
1 T water
1/8 tsp fine sea salt

1/4 tsp alcohol free vanilla or almond extract OR 1/2 tsp lemon/orange/lime zest

Preheat oven to 350F. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
In a bowl, combine all of the ingredients, and stir to combine well.
Shape dough into twelve 1-inch (2.5 cm) balls. Space the cookie balls 2 inches apart on prepared baking sheet. Flatten to about 1/2 inch thickness with a fork or bottom of a glass.

Bake in the preheated oven for 10 to 12 minutes until golden. Cookies will seem soft while they are hot but will firm up as they cool.
Remove from oven and cool on the baking sheet for 10 minutes. 

Transfer to a wire cooling rack and allow to cool completely

Store in the fridge

2 cookies are a standard serving of healthy fat in p3

Stuffed Bell Peppers - Phases 1 & 3 (can be made vegan)

Stuffed Bell Peppers
Phases 1 & 3
Makes 4 standard servings of protein and a serving of grain each

If your peppers are large enough, you can cut the top off, core and stand them up in your baking dish. They will need to be big enough to hold 1 cups of rice, plus the protein and veggies in the filling. Dice up the tops, and add to the onion and carrots to cook. 

For Phase 3 breakfast or dinner, use quinoa and use half the amount. Top with compliant vegan cheese, if you want, for a healthy fat. 

For another variation, use half homemade sausage and half ground beef

1 lb lean ground beef or turkey or ground chicken OR 2 cups cooked black beans
Sea salt
4 large red, yellow, or orange bell peppers, cut in half from the stem to the bottom and cored
1 medium yellow onion, finely chopped
1/2 cup shredded carrot
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 1/2 tsp Italian seasoning (more if you like)

1/8 tsp red pepper flakes (optional)
1/4 cup nutritional yeast
1 tsp black pepper
1 tsp sea salt
1 cup tomato sauce
1 cup finely diced tomatoes, canned or fresh
4 cups cooked brown rice or quinoa

Preheat oven to 425F

Line a 9x13-inch baking dish with parchment (8x8 pan if you are not cutting the peppers). Place the peppers, cut side up, in the baking dish. Sprinkle with sea salt and some black pepper, if you like. Roast the peppers for about 10 minutes, until slightly browned and starting to get tender-crisp. A bit of liquid will accumulate in the bottom of the peppers; that's okay

Cook onion and carrot in a non stick skillet, adding a splash of water and pinch of salt, until onions are  transluscent. Add the garlic and cook 1 minute more; do not brown. Add the protein you are using, spices, and a healthy pinch of salt and black pepper. Increase the heat to medium high. Cook, breaking the meat up, until the meat is browned and almost cooked through, 4 to 5 minutes. If using black beans, just stir to mix in spices and warm the beans. Add the tomato sauce, diced tomatoes, and nutritional yeast and bring to a simmer. Cook, uncovered, until the meat is cooked through, 2 to 3 minutes. Add the cooked rice. Remove the skillet from the heat. Taste the filling and adjust any seasoning.

Spoon the filling evenly into the peppers. Roast for 10 to 15 minutes, until the filling is hot and the peppers are the softness you want.

Serving is 2 halves or 1 whole pepper. Add more veggies on the side.