Sweet potato casserole paleo style

[LauraR]

Are these ingredients ok? This looks delicious. I would not top it with the walnuts though

• 6 large sweet potatoes, peeled and chopped into chunks;
  
• 1 cup walnuts, chopped;
  
• ½ cup full-fat coconut milk;
  
• 1 tbsp cocoa powder;
  
• 1 tbsp vanilla extract;
  
• 1 tbsp cinnamon;
  
• 2 tbsp olive oil, butter or clarified butter;
  
• Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
  
• 
  
• 
  
• This is the recipe http://paleodietlifestyle.com/sweet-potato-casserole/
  

[Susan W]

The only suspect I see is the vanilla. I have not found a compliant vanilla. They all contain sugar. Irritating, I know.

[jennrider]

I have found pure (not imitation) vanilla extract without sugar. You can make your own. It involves lots of vodka and vanilla beans. Haven't tried it. Yet.

[jennrider]

Comment posted several times so I'm editing them and making stuff up. Crappy cell phone service to blame.

[jennrider]

I have found pure (not imitation) vanilla extract without sugar. You can make your own. It involves lots of vodka and vanilla beans. Haven't tried it. Yet.

[jennrider]

Sounds yummy

[Alana in Canada]

I just checked--my (imitation) vanilla contains water, alcohol, caramel colour, artificial flavour

What's "caramel colour"?

Oh and instead of walnuts, one could use pecans, right?

[Susan W]

I don't buy imitation, I only buy Pure Vanilla Extract and while I haven't really searched very hard, I haven't found one with no alcohol or sugar and neither would be compliant. Making your own with Vodka would be fine after Whole 30. I'll look when I go to Whole Foods next time..maybe it exists and I just haven't seen it.

Imitation is definitely not compliant.

[Susan W]

Comment posted several times so I'm editing them and making stuff up. Crappy cell phone service to blame.

I wondered what happened.

[jeepifer]

Simply Organic Pure Vanilla Extract. States clearly on label No Sugar Added.

Ingredients:

Organic Vanilla Bean extractives in water, organic alcohol.

http://www.simplyorg...nilla%20Extract

Edited to add:

I also love their cinnamon. Of course, Penzeys has the best cinnamon.

[Susan W]

But the alcohol takes it out of the running for Whole 30. Unless the amount is so small it doesn't matter. Hopefully a moderator will weigh in.

[jeepifer]

I'd be interested to see what they have to say. 1 Tbsp across the whole recipe isn't much, and it is baked, which I would think cooks off the "alcohol" portion.

Maybe accomplish the same thing taste-wise by grinding up a whole vanilla bean?

[Susan W]

Real vanilla beans are awesome. You slit them open and scrape out the little seeds. I think they are preserved with alcohol, but again it's not much. I had a dessert biz long ago and I used to use vanilla bean paste. It was heavenly but who knows what was in it.

[jeepifer]

I think pecans would be lovely on this instead of the walnuts.

Too bad I'm spending Thanksgiving alone -- I'd make this up in a heartbeat (pending approval on the extract, LOL) if I didn't have to eat it all myself. Or maybe I'll do it anyhow and make small portions to freeze. Hmm.

[Susan W]

Oh I totally think you should make it and freeze leftovers.

[Susan W]

Well, I did a search for Vanilla Extract and found this.

http://forum.whole9life.com/topic/1948-vanilla-extract/page__hl__%2Bvanilla+%2Bextract__fromsearch__1

[Zoodles]

I agree - use a vanilla bean! Just split the bean, scrape out the seeds and put the pod and the seeds into the coconut milk. Heat gently for 5-10 mins or so to infuse the flavour and that's it. The flavour is so much better!

[Kirsteen]

I posted this in a previous thread

In the UK funkyraw.com sells 100gm for £16.95. This is the whole vanilla bean ground down into a powder with nothing added. I bought some ages ago. I know it's dear but I keep it in the fridge and it seems to last for ages and is awesome. I've always taken my coffee black but sometimes I add some vanilla or cinnamon or cardamom or even chilli to spice it up a bit.

in the US Renegadehealth.com sells 2oz of raw organic pure vanilla bean powdder for $13.95.

hope this helps

[Fenderbender]

http://www.arizonavanilla.com/Store/vanillastore.php?cat=16

I buy my vanilla beans from these guys..... They also have these products which I believe to be 100% ground vanilla beans ( I'd call to be sure) I buy the "B" grade beans and grind them myself and make my own extracts.... Amazing products and you can get 1/2 pound for what 5 pods cost at the market...... ( makes a great gift if you put in a little jar....who doesn't like fresh ground / extract vanilla?)

[Delaine Ross]

Slw is right. No alcohol for the Whole30. Even in your vanilla exract...