This week I have been experimenting with gelatin.
I am not going to call this a super food. We have been over the super food thing before. There is no such thing as a super food; just a super you. Right, Dr. K?
There are, however, foods that are good for you because they meet your bodies’ requirements and help you to function better. Gelatin is one of them.
I like working with gelatin. You can use it to make fun foods and snacks that kids will enjoy and that will put a smile on adult faces too. Cooking with gelatin is a good way to have an impromptu cooking lesson with your child. I did this when I had my five year old niece over and wanted to do something other than sit in front of the computer screen watching Pokémon all day. Seriously, kids still watch Pokémon?
Gelatin is also a great idea for making treats and desserts that are nutritious and non-toxic.
Gelatin it is a powder that is made from animal connective tissue. It is 98% protein and 2% minerals. The protein building blocks that make up gelatin are especially useful for gut health, immune function, joint health, and supporting growth and repair of skin, hair and nails. Studies have also shown that gelatin promotes growth hormone production which speeds recovery from workouts and contributes to lean body mass.
If you have ever heard me, or one of the other coaches from Eat By Design Coaching talk about how awesome bone broth is for you, one of the reasons is because gelatin is a key component of the broth. Bone broth also has other proteins and tons of minerals. It is probably the best way to consume gelatin. A well made broth will become Jell-O-ish (solid and jiggles) when it is cooled in the fridge.
However, if you are tired of making soups and sipping broth, I want to give you a couple of other ways to use store bought gelatin to make a nourishing treat!
I use Great Lakes Kosher Gelatin. It is make from hormone and antibiotic free, grass-fed beef. If you do not live in the United States, you can order it on Amazon and have it delivered.
How to make sour gummy candies (5 year old niece approved!):
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons gelatin
- 1/3 cup lemon or lime juice (I have also used grapefruit juice)
- 3 tablespoons unpasteurized honey
Instructions
- Pour gelatin and citrus juice into a small saucepan over medium heat.
- Gently stir until the gelatin has dissolved.
- Remove from heat and stir in honey.
- Pour into a silicon candy mold (I bought mine at Bulk Barn) or ice cube tray and place in the freezer for fifteen minutes, until it is solid.
Remove from the mold and enjoy!
These will keep well at room temperature for several days.
This recipe for Chocolate Orange Fudge Pops is another great one for kids.
How to make orange chocolate fudge pops:
Ingredients
- 1 can coconut milk
- 1 avocado
- 1/4 cup raw honey
- 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup + 2 tablespoons raw cacao
- 2 tablespoon room temperature water
- 1 tablespoon Great Lakes grass fed beef gelatin
- Zest of two oranges
Instructions
- Combine the coconut milk, avocado, raw honey, vanilla extract and the raw cacao in a blender. Puree everything until as smooth as possible.
- In a small bowl or jug, sprinkle the grass fed gelatin over the room temperature water. Whisk with a fork to combine, about one minute. It will be thick; that's ok!
- Add the gelatin mixture to the blender and combine until totally smooth.
- Zest the oranges and add the fresh zest to the blender and pulse to combine.
- Divide the chocolate mixture evenly between eight, three ounce Dixie cups.
- Freeze for fifteen minutes, and then push a four and a half inch Popsicle stick into the middle of each cup.
- Return to the freezer until frozen.
To remove the fudge pops, simply snip the rims of the cups with kitchen scissors and pull off.
Enjoy!