Sugar Free Anniversary Dinner

Today is our 2 month wedding anniversary!  I know … it is only in the beginning that you celebrate events like your 2 month wedding anniversary 

But, I am going for it!

It is hard to believe it has been 2 months already …  then again, it has only been 2 months?  Time is funny like that.

Even though I am participating in the Sugar-Free challenge, I still wanted to make our anniversary special!

However — any meal we enjoy together really is special.  Because our work schedules are completely opposite, I really don’t see him during the week (at least while we are both awake!)  Thank goodness our weekends fall on the same days!

Our menu was:

Burgers  with Pimento and Fresh Cheese Sauce

Potato Cauliflower Bake

Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups

Grain Free, Sugar Free, and Delicious!

Jane’s Grilled Burgers with Pimento Cheese Sauce

Print this recipe!

Burgers:

1 lb lean ground beef (mine was 96% lean)

1 small onion, diced

2 tsp dijon mustard

smoked sea salt and fresh ground pepper

1/4 cup parmesan cheese

Pimento Cheese Sauce:

2 tbsp minced pimentos

1/4 cup fresh cheese (or sour cream)

1/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese

Combine the beef, onion, salt and pepper, and parmesan cheese.  Form into 4 burgers.  Grill to desired doneness.

(Are we the only ones that grill outside in the snow?  Nothing beats a grilled burger!)

Combine the ingredients for the pimento cheese sauce.  Spread over the top of the burgers when they are cooked.

Add any desired toppings.  (Note:  I was going to have bacon — until I realized it has sugar in it!  Gotta check those labels!)

Burgers and Cauliflower Potato Bake.  Yum!

For dessert, I wanted to make something “sweet”.  I mean, it is our 2 month anniversary!  I envisioned a peanut butter chocolate cup, but better!  During the last sugar free challenge, I had made Alex’s Peanut Butter Cups.  I loved them!  However, I was thinking of something extra on the bottom.  I considered Rice Krispies, but since I am not eating grains at the moment, that was out.  What I came up with was a chocolate nutty crunch on the bottom, followed by layers of chocolate and peanut butter!  Ummm …. yum!  I made two different bottom layers, and I think it is a toss up on which one is better!

Chocolate Energizing Peanut Butter Cups

6 squares unsweetened baking chocolate

1 tbsp coconut oil

1 recipe Cocoa Coconut Energy Balls

1 recipe Chocolatey Coconut Balls

1/2 cup peanut butter

First, I made the Chocolatey Coconut Balls:

1 cup prunes

3/4 cup unsweetened shredded coconut

1 1/2 tsp cocoa powder

Combine all ingredients in a food processor and process until smooth.  Cover and place in fridge until ready to assemble the peanut butter cups.

Next up was the Cocoa Coconut Energy Balls!

10 medjool dates, pitted

1/2 cup walnuts

3/4 cup raw almonds

2 tbsp cocoa powder

1 tbsp coconut oil

2 tbsp unsweetened shredded coconut

1 tsp vanilla extract

Combine the walnuts and almonds and process in a food processor until the nuts are in tiny pieces, and rather crumbly.  Remove from the food processor and place in a bowl.

Pit the dates, and place them in the food processor.  Process until the mixture forms a ball in the food processor.  Add the nuts back in the food processor, and add the rest of the ingredients.  Process until all is combined.

Here are the 2 side by side:

On the left is the Cocoa Coconut Energy Balls, and on the right the Chocolatey Coconut Balls.  The left was definitely more chocolatey (is that even a word???), but the Chocolatey Coconut Balls were sweeter.

I used a mini muffin tin, and put one liner in each muffin hole.

In a small pan over low heat, combine the chocolate squares and 1 tbsp coconut oil.  Stir until it melts.  Spoon chocolate in the bottom of each mini liner.  Place in the freezer for 10 minutes.

I thought about brushing on the chocolate, so it would cover the entire liner, but that didn’t work so well!  I just went with the chocolate on the bottom.

Now add a layer of the energy balls.  I added about 1 tsp on top of the chocolate.

I did 6 with the Cocoa Coconut Energy Balls mixture, and 6 with the Chocolatey Coconut Balls — so we could try each.  But, of course!

Again, place in the freezer for 10 minutes.

Then, another layer of chocolate.

Place in the freezer for another 10 minutes to harden.

Now comes the peanut butter layer!

You can use any peanut butter you want.  I made my own by mixing  3 cups peanuts and 1 tbsp coconut oil in the food processor until it was smooth.

Place in the freezer to let the peanut butter harden.

Now, the last layer of chocolate!

I keep these in the freezer, because they seem to melt quickly.  Remember — this is unsweetened chocolate, so it is not sweet at all.  I think unsweetened chocolate is an acquired taste.  I definitely cannot eat it alone, but mixed in something like this, it is good!

Look at those layers!

Definitely a sweet end to a wonderful day!

Would you consider trying unsweetened chocolate?  I never thought I would like it, but these peanut butter cups are good!