The First Guest Post: Pineapple Shortbread Bars

Hi everyone, I am hitting the books and trying to pass the last exams of year 11. Can you believe there will only be one more year of school left then? I am SO stoked
Anyway, a couple of months back, I asked for your guest posts during this period and I was lucky enough to get a huge response – thank you all so much!
I promise you will not miss me, in fact, you will groan when I come back, becase I have so many wonderful guestposts lined up for you all! I hope you discover some wonderful new bloggers who tantalise your tastebuds like they do mine! Enjoy mes amis!
Should you need to contact me, I am more than at service through my email: gobakeyourself@yahoo.com.au or just leave a message on my facebook page: Go Bake Yourself

Also a significant note, I lost over 60-70 followers through some freak wordpress issue so please, if you were one of them and you have recently visited again, resubscribe – thank you!
Now I leave you to it…

One last note, thank you all very much for your wonderful comments on my last post – you are so encouraging towards school, and kind and understanding! Overwhelmed my friends, thank you

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Ok so kicking the festivities off, I decided to start with a blogger whose approach to food is very different to mine. We love our desserts, we both loveour food in general but for all my indulgences, she has a healthy recipe which tastes just as if not more delicious!

Talented, creative, a brilliant cook but more than anything, an awesome blogger friend, I would like to introduce you to the workings by Gabby over at her fabulous Vegan, Gluten-Free, healthy blog, The Veggie Nook – if you want it, she’s got it

But why am I piping on a lot of nonsense… she can tell you all about it hereself
Enjoy!

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Hello Go Bake Yourself readers! I’m Gabby and I blog over at The Veggie Nook which is a plant-based, whole foods blog where I talk about, food, nutrition and health and wellness. My main focus is coming up with delicious recipes that promote health in some way. I am a firm believer that healthy living can be fun, easy and tasty and it’s the goal of my blog to show how true this is! While my recipes are healthy they are still decadent and delicious- in fact my favourite things to make are desserts! I also have a ton of healthy breakfast and snack options that taste like dessert. And who doesn’t like that right?

Check out my blog for a little more about me!

Anyway, when Uru sent out a call for guest bloggers I was super excited and jumped at the opportunity! I love her and her blog. She is just so charming! Full of fun and an infectious love for life that you just can’t compare. The chance to get to be a part of that was too good to pass up! Thank you so much Uru!

I have to admit though, right after signing up, I was a little worried. Could I come up with something worthy of her blog? Could I live up to her standards? Would her readers even want to read about me and my recipe?

As you can see though I collected myself and started dreaming up recipes that would tickle your taste buds. I got really excited too- since I only post vegan recipes on my blog, I avoid using honey in my recipes. But I love honey! So this seemed like a good opportunity to put this ingredient to use. It’s approaching fall here in Canada, but I think it should be warming up for all your Australian readers so this tropical-themed recipe should be perfect timing!

Now I always discuss the health stats of my ingredients so bear with me

(**This post – obviously hyperlinks in pictures don’t work )

The bars are also raw meaning there’s lots of living enzymes and nutrients still in the foods meaning digestion and nutrition is enhanced!

Not bad for a dessert eh?

These bars are full of tropical flavours from the pineapple and coconut. The coconut flour, honey and coconut oil combine together to create a shortbread like crust that requires no baking and just melts in your mouth. The dried pineapple and coconut flour are sweet on their own meaning very little sweetener is actually needed! These are best served chilled for a refreshing dessert!

Pineapple Shortbread Bars (Vegan, Gluten-free, Refined Sugar-free, Raw)

Shortbread Crust

• 1 cup coconut flour
• 1/2 cup homemade almond milk (or store-bought)
• 1/4 cup raw honey
• 1/3 cup coconut oil, melted
• 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
• 1/4 tsp sea salt

Pineapple Topping

• 2 cups dried pineapple, soaked overnight
• 3/4 cup pineapple soaking water
• 2 tbsp coconut oil
• 2 tbsp coconut flakes (or more)

1. The night before, soak the 2 cups of dried pineapple in water.
2. The next day, drain them and reserve the soaking water.
3. Set aside while you make the crust.
4. Line a square baking dish with parchment paper or simply grease it. The parchment paper will make them easier to serve though.
   

   See, I didn’t use the parchment paper and look what happened! Crushed bar!

5. Process the coconut flour, almond milk, honey, vanilla and salt in a food processor until combined. Then with the food processor running add the melted coconut oil. (The mixture should have a dough like consistency now. You could also just mix this by hand in a bowl if you want. Press this dough into the bottom of your prepared pan. Make sure you really pack it in there! Refrigerate while you make the filling)
6. Rinse out your food processor if you used it and add the pineapple slices along with the soaking water. You may not need all 3/4 cup so start by adding about 1/2 cup. Process until smooth, adding more water if needed.
7. When smooth add the 2 tbsp coconut oil while the processor is running and process until combined. This will help the filling stay more solid!
8. Pour the filling on top of the shortbread base and smooth the top. Sprinkle the coconut flakes on top. Chill in the fridge for a few hours until set. When ready to eat, cut into bars and serve! Store in the fridge for about a week.

Hope you all enjoy this recipe! Thanks for much for having me here
Please stop by at my blog The Veggie Nook- I’d love to see you there!

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How is that for a stunning start to guest post mania??? Should I say the obvious ‘oh my gosh’ or would you like to?
Gabby, thank you so much for guest postiing, this dessert-gone-breakfast-gone-lunch-goned-dinner looks absolutely fully crazy delish! Could not have asked for anything better or more scrumptious!

Did I, or did I not, say that you would not miss me one bit
For more, simply check out her blog!

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