a vegan dessert

recipe adapted from Oh She Glows

Chilled Double Chocolate Torte

Crust ingredients:

1 cup + 6 tbsp whole grain spelt flour

1/4 cup + 2 tbsp cocoa powder

1/2 tsp baking powder

 1/2 cup sugar + 1/3 cup stevia

1 tbsp flour

1 tsp kosher salt

4 tbsp + 2 tsp canola oil

1/2 cup almond milk

3 tbsp pure agave syrup

Filling:

2 cups avocado flesh (approx 4 medium avocados), pitted and scooped out

1/3 cup almond milk (revised amount)
2/3 cup pure maple syrup
1 tbsp smooth peanut butter
1 tbsp flour
1/4 tsp kosher salt
1 tsp pure vanilla extract
1 cup + 2 tbsp chocolate chips, melted
1/4 cup cocoa powder, sifted

Directions: Preheat oven to 375F. In a large bowl, sift together the dry crust ingredients (spelt, cocoa powder, baking powder, arrowroot powder, sugar and salt). In a medium bowl, whisk the wet crust ingredients (oil, maple syrup, milk). Add wet to dry and stir well.

In a 10 inch springform cake pan, scoop on the crust batter and spread out with a wet spoon or wet hands. The batter will be very sticky so you will have to keep wetting your spoon/hands. Spread out as evenly as possible and bake for 25 minutes at 375F.

Meanwhile, prepare the filling by placing all filling ingredients (except chocolate chips) into food processor. Process until smooth.

Once the crust is done baking, remove from oven to slightly cool off for about 5-10 mins. Now melt your chocolate chips in a small bowl and place melted chocolate into food processor mixture. Process until smooth. Scoop this filling into cake pan on top of crust. Smooth out as much as possible and then place in the freezer for 1.5-2 hours to firm up.

Remove from freezer and allow to sit on the counter for about 10-15 minutes before serving chilled. Serves 10-12. Place leftover torte in the freezer wrapped and placed in a seal container. I’m not sure how long it lasts in the freezer, but I would guess 1-3 weeks if sealed properly.

I highlighted the things I changed, substituting arrowroot powder for flour, sugar for stevia, maple syrup for agave. All together it turned out pretty well.

This was my first actual attempt at making an all vegan dessert. My diet is also pretty restrictive on the amount of sugar I can have so I probably broke a few rules, but the amount of sugar in this recipe is pretty low, especially depending on the amount you eat. This torte is rich and best served almost frozen. I love cooking and baking when I have had a stressful day and this was just perfect for that. The avocado works wonderful here, creating a creamy filling that is both delicious and good for you. Believe me, I will be looking for and trying out more of these kinds of recipes soon. Can't wait to share! 
Much love to you all! 

randoms, catchphrase, and a big red shirt

 it has been a busy past few days for me but in a relaxing sort of way. the extra long weekend was good to me and i got to spend some sweet quality country girl time with andy. i am pretty much country girl all the time but it was even better to be able to do fun outside things with my man. we got to do some target practice, feed some cows, and just spend time together. i posted tons of pics to instagram so i won't bore you with them all again. if you arent following me, go do so now @saramontanasays.

shirt (gifted): Go Fish// jeans: Target// boots: Old Navy

i am still learning about my new camera. give me a few weeks and i will be taking better photos and hopefully posing better too. i still feel super awkward.

we also spent NYE with lots of our friends at a lake house and played tons of catchphrase and jenga. boy am i addicted to catchphrase. i got to ring in the new year with lots of fun peeps and can't wait to see what 2013 has in store for me. i am looking to make changes in my etsy shop and here on this blog. ready to expand my name and put more effort into getting it all out there. 

i made sure to eat plenty of blackeyed peas and greens yesterday so i am looking for luck and money in the new year. 

how did you spend your NYE? what are your resolutions? come back tomorrow for a list of mine! 

Linking up with The Pleated Poppy

a picky tree picker

i spent pretty much all weekend with Andy, which was nice because i won't see him all week long. we got to do lots of Christmas's things and got a lot accomplished too. Saturday morning i worked like usual, the day was so pretty that i decided  to go on a quick run. running isn't my favorite of things but i do enjoy it most days and i was happy to have the time to do so. 

after my run, i got cleaned up and went to meet Andy so that we could go Christmas tree shopping. None of these trees were for us, but it was still fun to pick and find out yet another thing about my bf. he is picky. look at the form in the below photos. he took much more time than me to pick the "perfect" tree. but he did it. and needless to say, two people are going to be very happy with their trees this year.

we spent the remainder of the afternoon and evening decorating said trees and ended the night watch Duck Dynasty. yes, we have jumped on board with the beards. they are freakin hilarious. you should jump on board too.

Sunday was started with Sunday school and then we had a Sunday school Christmas party afterwards. there was quite the fussing over the white elephant gifting. (all the boys wanted the academy gift cards). we had a lot of fun and ate some good food too. after the party, we went back to my house and put together our homemade Christmas gifts. i am so excited about some of the items we are giving, and knowing that i wont break my budget by doing so (a more detailed post to come). 

all in all it was a great weekend, a short weekend, but a great weekend.

don't forget to enter the giveaway going on over here.

you could win a new blog design!! 

it's my first ever, so be dolls and enter!

BULLDAWGS, POT-BELLIED PIGS, AND NO PHONE

Just a little weekend in pictures for ya.

Friday night was spent with all things FALL. These things included pumpkin wheat beer, pumpkin carvings, and candy apples. We even had chili dogs for dinner. That giant pot of Crockpot Chili sure lasted the whole week. (look out for the recipe tomorrow)

Saturday morning, like all mornings I had to work, but was treated to a yummy brisket sandwich by a co-worker. The afternoon was spent resting and catching up with some sewing projects. I finally finished a Christmas order. That night we went to the Liberty Truck and Tractor pull, where I assisted Andy in selling t-shirts(only one). I also got to meet a pet pot-bellied pig on a leash named SaraBeth. She was hilarious and her owner even more so.

 PLUS THE GEORGIA BULLDAWGS KICKED SOME GATOR TAIL THIS WEEKEND!!

Sunday had no pictures, but after Sunday school we went with a bunch of friends for a late Birthday celebration for Andy. The boys rode go-carts all afternoon, while the girls played arcade games. I also spent almost an entire day without my phone because I left it at Andy's. I have to say, it was pretty nice. I hate that we all get so wrapped up in technology sometimes and it just makes perfect sense to take a day away from it.

What did you do this weekend? 

Is everyone ok from Sandy?? Thoughts and prayers with everyone in her path.

linking up with

HighFives...

I am giving HIGH FIVES for the following:

organized fabric, thank goodness I found this ugly shelf, it doesn't even matter how ugly it is, as long as it keeps my guest room fabric clutter free

we started the tradition of crockpot Wednesday this week, so excited its finally cool enough to make some soups and stews. This works out great so that food will be ready the minute we walk in from AWANA.

I stole this quote from someone off Pinterest, and absolutely love it.

I have on my happy shoes today, determined to have a wonderful Friday

This will be me tomorrow night, surrounded by best friends, watching Chipper play one of his last regular season games, and I couldn't be more excited!!