Double Chocolate Brownies

These are my husband's new favorite.  Rich chocolate, light texture, and perfect with a glass of almond milk.  I'm having a hard time eating just one!

Double Chocolate Brownie Bars

Wet Ingredients: 
3 eggs

4 medium bananas

½ c. applesauce

3 c. black beans (cooked)

2 c. honey

1 T. vanilla

Dry Ingredients:

8 c. white wheat flour

1 c. unsweetened cocoa

1 T. baking soda

1 T. sea salt

1 c. chocolate chips

1 c. chopped almonds

½ c. craisins (optional)

Beat eggs and bananas and then add the rest of the wet ingredients.  Add dry ingredients and mix.  Combine chocolate chips, nuts, and craisins last.  Spread dough in two greased cookie sheets.  Bake trays at the same time and switch racks half way through (12 minutes and 12 minutes).  Total baking time 24 minutes at 350 degrees.  Yield:  70 bars.

Easy Green Smoothie

So you've heard all the hype about Green Smoothies.  You even 'like' green smoothies, and want to have them often, but what about when you're traveling?  Or in a rush?  Or you've run out of one of two of the ingredients?  If you want something healthy, satisfying, and delicious, this is my go-to green smoothie in pinch (and a lot of times when I'm not).  It's the easiest way to start my day, and I so I do just that...more often than not. (Bonus:  All of the ingredients can be stored in your food storage too!)

Easy Green Smoothie

Love 'N Peas (pea protein)
http://www.naturessunshine.com/us/product/love-and-peas-675-g/sku-3082.aspx

Natures Harvest
http://www.naturessunshine.com/us/product/natures-harvest-465-g-15-servings/sku-3090.aspx

Ultimate Green Zone
http://www.naturessunshine.com/us/product/greenzone-ultimate-powder-368-g/sku-1103.aspx

Diatomaceous Earth (optional--thickens the shake and it kills parasites)
https://www.earthworkshealth.com/detail.php?id=3&prod=DE-10LB-BAG
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RECIPE:
1 scoop of each and 8 oz of water, 
shake well (in container with tight fitting lid)

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Blondies

One would never guess that these delicious bars are packed with protein.  The perfect snack when your blood sugar drops in the afternoon or between meals.  My kids loves these.  (What better recommendation can you get?!)

Wet Ingredients:

4 eggs

4 medium bananas

½  c. applesauce

3 c. white beans (cooked)

2 c. honey

1 T. vanilla

Dry Ingredients:

8 c. white wheat flour

2 c. steel cut oats (soaked overnight)

1 T. baking soda

1 T. sea salt

1 c. chocolate chips

1 c. chopped almonds

½ c. craisins (optional) 

Beat eggs, beans, and bananas and then add the rest of the wet ingredients.  Add dry ingredients and mix.  Combine chocolate chips and nuts last.  Spread dough in two greased cookie sheets.  Bake trays at the same time and switch racks half way through (12 minutes and 12 minutes).  Total baking time 24 minutes at 350 degrees.  Yield:  70 bars.

Note:  Measure the 2 cups of oats in the morning (as they will expand after they are soaked).  

Banana Oatmeal Muffins

Banana Oatmeal Muffins

2 eggs
1 1/2 c. almond milk
1/3. c. coconut oil (solid)
1 t. vanilla
1/3 c. applesauce
4 medium bananas
1/2 c. honey

3 c. whole wheat flour (4 cups if freshly ground wheat)
2 c. rolled oats

4 t. baking powder
1 t. baking soda
1 t. salt
1 t. cinnamon
1 t. nutmeg
1 c. chopped almonds (optional)
1 c. chocolate chips

Beat eggs and then add the rest of the wet ingredients.  Add dry ingredients and mix.  Combine chocolate chips and nuts last.  Stir until just combined and drop into oiled muffins tins (I use coconut oil for this).  Bake muffins at 350 degrees for 22-25 minutes.  Yield:  24 muffins.

Note:  This batter can also be used to make drop cookies.

*Adapted from my friend Kim's recipe.

Date Nut Coconut Balls

Sweet tooth?  This is the perfect fix. Bite and enjoy!  Just try not to eat them all at once!

Date Nut Coconut Balls

Step 1:
1 T. ground chia seeds
1 T. ground flax seeds
8 medjool dates, pitted and pureed

Step 2:
3 T. honey
1 c. unsalted raw crunch almond butter (from Trader Joe's)

Step 3:
1/2 c. chopped almonds (soaked overnight and drained first)
6 whole wheat crackers, crushed (Ak Mak) - optional for a stiffer ball
1 scoop pea protein (Love & Peas from Nature Sunshine)
1 T. unsweetened cocoa
1-2 dashes stevia

Step 4:
1 c. unsweetened shredded coconut

Using a high powered blender, grind flax and chia seed.  Puree dates.  Combine all the wet ingredients in a large mixing bowl.  Add the dry ingredients (except the coconut) and combine.  Place the coconut in a bowl.  Use your hands to roll the mixture into little balls, roll in the coconut, place in an airtight container and store in the refrigerator or freezer, separating with wax of parchment paper.

Baked Oatmeal

Christmas Breakfast all year long?  Yup, it's that good.  This is our traditional Christmas Breakfast and one that we have often throughout the year because it is just that yummy, and of course its good for you too.  Enjoy one of our favorite treats for breakfast, a snack, or dessert.  I like it any time.

Baked Oatmeal

2 1/2 c. steel cut oats
1 can coconut milk
1/2 c. coconut oil
4 eggs
1/2 c. honey
1 t. baking powder
1/2 t. salt
2 t. cinnamon
2 t. vanilla
2 c. chopped apples
1 c. raisins
1 c. craisins
2 c. chopped almonds

Mix oats and coconut oil in a bowl, cover bowl and set on counter overnight (8-12 hours).  In the morning, beat coconut oil, honey, and eggs until glossy.  Add baking powder, salt, cinnamon and vanilla and beat.  Stir in oats, raisins, craisins, and chopped apples. Pour into 9x13 inch baking dish and bake at 350 degrees for 50-60 minutes.

Notes:

*I like to soak my almonds overnight in the refrigerator in purified water.  Drain in the morning and chop. 
*You can substitute regular old-fashioned rolled oats instead of steel cut.  Decrease baking time to 30-40 minutes.

Peanut Butter Cookies

Cookies for breakfast?  It's a stretch, but who would have thought a cookie could be so healthy and yummy too!  This is a family favorite and I am happy to share it with you.

Peanut Butter Cookies

3/4 c. coconut oil (solid, not liquid form)
3/4 c. pureed white beans
2 2/3 c. honey
3 c. natural peanut butter
6 c. hard white wheat flour
2 t. baking soda
1 t. sea salt

Beat beans in mixer until smooth.  Add coconut oil, honey, and peanut butter and mix.  Add dry ingredients and mix.  Scoop spoonfuls and drop onto baking sheets.  If smooth cookie is desired, coat hands in oil and roll between hands.  Lightly grease baking sheet.

Bake at 350 degrees for 8-10 minutes (depending on the size of cookie and your oven).  Be careful not to let them get too brown or they will be crunchy (but dipped in almond milk, they can be redeemed).

Yield: 5 dozen 

How about a little Zucchini?

Zucchini Mini-Muffins

3 cups whole wheat flour
2 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1 cup honey
2 cups shredded zucchini 
1/2 cup coconut oil
2 eggs

In a large mixing bowl combine flour (I use ground white wheat flour which is not has heavy as red wheat), cinnamon, baking soda, sea salt, nutmeg and baking powder.  Stir in honey, zucchini (I recommend a food processor to shred zucchini, skin and all, or use your cheese grater over a plate), coconut oil and eggs.  Mix ingredients until dry ingredients are moistened.  Scoop into mini-muffin tins and bake at 400° for 11 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean.  Yield:  48 Mini-Muffins

For Full-Size Muffins:   -->Prepare as above, except scoop dough into 24 muffin tins.  Bake at 400° for 20 minutes.  

For Bread:  Prepare as above, except pour into two well oiled loaf pans.  Bake at 350° for 45-60 minutes.

Applesauce Mini-Muffins

Good things come in small packages!  These are a family favorite, and my kids whip up a batch nearly every week!

Applesauce Mini-Muffins

Mix First:
1/2 c. oil (We use olive oil.)
1 c. honey
2 eggs
2 1/2 c. applesauce

Add Second:
3 1/2 c. wheat flour (We use 'white wheat' ground to a fine texture.)
2 t. soda
1 t. sea salt
2 t. cinnamon
1 t. cloves

Optional Add-Ins: (Try one or all three!)
1 c. berries
1 c. chopped almonds
1 c. chocolate chips

Bake at 350 degrees for 16 minutes.
Cool for 5 minutes and pop out of the pans.
Serve and freeze the leftovers (that is, if you have any!)
Yields: 7 dozen

Lean & Green

 

How many different ways are there to make a lean and green meal (protein and vegetables)?  As many as you have imagination for!  As one who thrives on consistency and repetition, I was pleasantly surprised that each of these dishes had it's own flare despite the fact that they are made from essentially the same few ingredients.  Take a look.  

This simple salad...

...became an easy lean & green with the addition of some lentil sprouts to add some protein.

Celery dipped in almond butter.

Aren't the colors beautiful???  A few soaked almonds or nuts and this meal is complete.

Black bean quinoa, steamed zucchini and crooked neck with some raw carrots.  

Raw veggies and hummus to dip.

 
Mixed sprouts and lightly steamed broccoli.

Sprouted lentils, steamed vegetables, olives, and grape tomatoes.

Black beans, tomato, avocado, lettuce, hummus, blue corn tortilla chips, carrot and celery strips.

Chicken, lightly steamed green beans, olives, and alfalfa sprouts.

Akmak whole wheat crackers. Celery, jicama, and carrot strips.  Hummus and soaked almonds.

Steamed green beans, sprouted lentils, tomatoes, and olives.

Bed of lettuce, white cabbage, canned chicken, tomatoes, avocado, and soaked almonds.  

Fried kale, tomatoes, olives, sprouted lentils, and chick peas.

Bed of lettuce, cucumber, tomato, cubed jicama, steamed asparagus and baked chicken breast. 

Steamed green beans, grape tomatoes, and sprouted legumes.

Bed of lettuce, tomatoes, olives, cubed jicama, steamed green beans, and baked salmon.

Bed of lettuce, purple cabbage, mung bean sprouts, cucumber, and tomato.

Steamed green beans, alfalfa sprouts, tomato, olives, sprouted lentils, and adzuki beans.

Steamed zucchini, yellow quash, red peppers, olives, and sprouted legume mix.

Raw sweet potato chips, green pepper, soaked almonds, and hummus dip.

Bed of spinach and lettuce, cilantro, purple cabbage, tomato, cucumber, and sprouted legume mix.

Bed of lettuce and spinach, cilantro, cucumber tomato, soaked almonds, and sprouted legume mix.

Crooked neck squash, yams, olives, spouted legume mix and alfalfa sprouts.

Fried zucchini, tomatoes, olives, and alfalfa sprouts.

Luau Salad.  

Bed of lettuce, black beans, avocado, tomato, red pepper, and cucumber.

Quinoa, black beans, avocado, and tomato.

Steamed zucchini, broccoli, red pepper, boiled egg, and soaked almonds.

Raw broccoli, celery, and cucumber with hummus dip.

Steamed broccoli and sprouted lentils.

Steamed zucchini, yellow squash, green beans, tomato, olives, and sprouted legume mix.

Bed of lettuce, black beans, chick peas, tomato, avocado, and craisins.

Whip Up a Dip!

I admit it.  This is a 'must have' for me.  I whip a batch of this up every week, and LOVE it.  Every time.  Try it with bell pepper strips, cucumbers, celery or carrot sticks.  Delicious on wraps, sandwiches. . . basically everything.


Homemade Hummus

Ingredients:
3 cups cooked chickpeas
(or 2 cans rinsed and drained)
(6 oz. dry beans make 3 cups cooked)
4 T. tahini (sesame seed paste)
3 T. olive oil
3 T. lemon juice
1 1/2 t. sea salt
1 1/2 t. minced garlic
3/4 c. water

Directions:
Place all ingredients in blender. Mix until creamy. Refrigerate overnight.

Alterations:
For thicker texture, use less water and stir with long spoon handle in between blending.

For creamier texture, use a couple more Tablespoons of water.

the wrap

This easy little number has become a fast favorite for any meal of the day. I keep all of the ingredients in a plastic tub in my refrigerator, so that it is easy to pull out and assemble in less than a minute. Filling, satisfying, and great for 'on the go' as well.


SPINACH WRAP

whole wheat tortilla (sprouted best)
hummus spread
zuchinni
red onion
spinach
avacado
feta cheese

On tortilla spread garlic hummus and top with 10-12 thinly sliced zuchinni and a little red onion. Top with a handful of fresh organic spinach, and 3-4 slices of avacado. Sprinkle with crumbled feta cheese and roll it all up. Enjoy!