Pecan Pie Larabars

Another great recipe from MyWholeFoodLife.  Pecan Pie Larabars.  These taste so delicious, it's hard to believe they are good for you!  With just 3 ingredients, you can't go wrong.  Go ahead, have 2 or 3 or 4...

1 cup raw almonds
1 cup pecans
12 medjool dates (or prunes)

Blend the pecans and the almonds in a food processor until they are fine. Then mix in the dates. The nuts will release their natural oils so there is no need for water. I was a little short on prunes, so I added just a little bit of maple syrup to help bring it together.  Line an 8X8 pan with parchment, leaving enough room for some paper to stick out the sides. Press the dough evenly into the pan. Once it’s spread out, use the extra paper to press the dough down with your palms so it’s packed well. Stick in the fridge to firm up for about 2 hours.  Remove, cut into slices, enjoy!

Day 19 of 30 Days of Cookies - No Bake Macaroons

Love Macaroons?  Try these amazing, guilt free No Bake Macaroons.  Recipe from MyWholeFoodLife (My favoritest blogger ever).

Ingredients

• 2 cups shredded unsweetened coconut
• 10 medjool dates pitted (I used 15 prunes)
• 1/2 cup almonds 
• 1 T coconut oil melted
• 1 tsp ground vanilla bean or extract (I used extract)
• 1 T flax meal + 3 T warm water

Directions

• Combine the flax meal and warm water in a bowl. Whisk it and place in the fridge. 
• In a food processor, pulse the coconut and almonds into a fine powder. 
• Add the dates, flax mixture, vanilla and coconut oil. 
• Pulse until the mixture starts to come together. Roll into balls.  
• You can also roll the balls in some coconut.
• Enjoy!  (And remember to share :) )

Strawberry Lime Cilantro Green Smoothie

It's amazing what a little lime and cilantro can do to your typical Green Smoothie.  It has a crisp, refreshing taste.  I also used pineapple coconut water.  Definitely one of my favorite mixes.

Cilantro has many benefits you may not of realized...

• Toxic Metal Cleansing
• Cardiovascular Protection
• Anti-Diabetic Activity
• Antioxidant Activity
• Anti-anxiety Effects
• Improves Sleep Quality
• Blood-sugar Lowering Effects
• Anti-bacterial and Anti-fungal Activity
• Natural Internal Deodorant

Read more here.

Healthy Homemade Hummus

Hummus is such a great dish to serve up at a party, on movie night or even as a healthy snack at work!  Try this great recipe that you can make yourself with just a few ingredients.  I purchased 3lbs of dried garbanzo beans for $0.48 at Target (on clearance), so this really didn't cost much at all to make!

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cup garbanzo beans, cooked
• 1 tsp garlic minced
• dash of salt
• 1/4 tsp cumin
• pinch of cayenne pepper
• 3 TB fresh lemon juice
• 1/4 cup water
• 6 TB tahini
• 2 TB olive oil

Directions

• Put garbanzo beans, garlic, salt, cumin and cayenne in food processor and process.
• Add lemon juice, water and process.
• Add tahini and olive oil and process until smooth and creamy.
• Serve right away or store in refrigerator for up to 2 days, or store in freezer (freeze in Ice Cube trays for small portion freezing)

Refrigerator Oatmeal - Yogurt Oatmeal

It's not always easy to find the time to eat something healthy in the mornings, especially if you are running off to work or have small children to take care of.  This Refrigerator Oatmeal is a life saver!  Just make a few of these up the night before (or several if you want to make enough for 2-3 days).  You can pretty much make any variation you want!  It's versatile, easy, healthy and delicious.  You just can't go wrong!  These recipes fit perfectly in a half pint canning jar, however you can of course use a larger size if that's what you have.

Start with these base ingredients, then you can add some great extras and make a variety of flavors.  I will post more varieties as I try them!

Base Ingredients

• 1/4 cup old fashioned oatmeal (not quick or instant)
• 1/3 cup milk of choice
• 1/4 cup Greek yogurt
• 1 1/2 tsp chia seeds

Optional Varieties

Apple Cinnamon

• 1/2 tsp cinnamon
• 1/4 cup homemade applesauce
• 1 tsp maple syrup or honey

Pumpkin Pie

• 1/2 tsp pumpkin pie spice
• 1/4 cup pumpkin puree
• 1 tsp maple syrup or honey

Peanut Butter Banana

• 1 TB peanut butter (or PB2 Powder)
• 1 tsp honey or maple syrup
• 1/4 cup diced banana

Quinoa Pancakes

These are a fantastic, healthy breakfast.  Husband and kid approved!

Ingredients

• 1 cup cooked Quinoa
• 3/4 cup whole wheat flour
• 2 tsp baking powder
• dash of salt
• 1 egg plus 1 egg white
• 1 TB coconut oil
• 1/4 cup coconut or almond milk
• 2 TB maple syrup
• 2 TB ground flax seed

Directions

• In medium bowl combine Quinoa, flour, baking powder, and salt. 
• In another medium bowl, whisk together egg, egg white, oil, milk, and syrup until smooth. 
• Add egg mixture to flour mixture and whisk to combine.
• Drop batter by 1/4 cup onto hot griddle and cook until bubbles appear on top.
• Flip over and continue to cook until done.
• 
  

Thanks RachelCooks for the idea!

Peanut Butter Chocolate Banana Strawberry Green Smoothie

Peanut Butter Chocolate Banana Strawberry Green Smoothie.  One of my favorite things about Green Smoothies is how simple they are to make.  Just a few good, healthy ingredients and you have an amazing, delicious drink.

For this smoothie, you just need:

• Handful of Spinach
• Frozen Banana
• Frozen Strawberries
• 1 TB PB2
• 1 TB Cacoa Nibs
• Coconut water and/or almond milk

Place ingredients in blender, blend and enjoy!

Strawberry Banana Chia Green Smoothie

I decided it's time to get back into drinking Green Smoothies.  Green Smoothies are great for helping you with weight loss, adding vegetables and fruits into your diet, they are full of antioxidants, they increase your energy and lower your cravings for junk food.  Oh, did I mention they also taste amazing?  And you can pretty much make a smoothie anyway you want!  There are literally endless possibilities.

Today's Green Smoothie is very simple, just a handful of spinach, frozen strawberries & bananas, chia gel and I used coconut water and a splash of almond milk.  You do not need ice when you use frozen fruits but if you are using all fresh fruits, I recommend adding a few ice cubes.

To make the Chia gel, I took 1 TB of chia seeds and let them in soak in 1/4 cup of water until they became gel.  

Blend everything up, and enjoy!

Pumpkin Pancakes With Just Two Ingredients

That's right, there is just 2 ingredients in these delicious Pumpkin Pancakes.

2 Ingredient Pumpkin Pancakes

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cup pumpkin puree (or sweet potato or butternut squash)
• 4 eggs
• Coconut oil for cooking

Directions

• Put pumpkin and eggs in blender or food processor and blend until well combined.
• Grease griddle or pan with coconut oil and heat to medium high
• Turn griddle to medium low, pour batter by 1/4 cup onto griddle and cook for 7 minutes, flip over and cook 4 more minutes
• That's it!

Thanks WholeFoodsSimply for the idea!

Day 6 of 30 Days of Cookies - Best Ever Vegan Chocolate Chip Cookies

Ingredients

• 1 cup brown sugar
• 1/4 cup maple syrup
• 1/2 cup oil
• 1/4 cup applesauce
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 2 cups flour
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 cup chocolate chips

Directions

• Mix together sugar, syrup and oil until smooth and even in consistency
• Mix in vanilla and applesauce
• In separate bowl mix dry ingredients, except for chocolate chips
• Add dry mixture to wet mixture
• Fold in chocolate chips
• Drop by spoonfuls onto greased baking sheet (or Silpat) and bake in 350 degree oven for 6-10 minutes (I found 10 minutes to be perfect)

Homemade French Fries - Freezing Homemade French Fries

I picked up 20lbs of Potatoes for less than $3 and cooked them all up into hash browns, french fries and mashed potatoes.  This is how to make great Freezer French Fries.

Cut potatoes into desired size for french fries.  Drizzle with oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper.

Bake in 425 degree oven for 20-25 minutes, turning once.

To reheat after being frozen, cook in 350 degree oven for 10-15 minutes.

 Why make and freeze your own french fries?  Besides the taste and health reason... The choice is clear to me...

Day 5 of 30 Days of Cookies - Vegan Zucchini Chocolate Chip Cookies

I picked up a few zucchini and decided to try some zucchini chocolate chip cookies.  These are amazingly delicious!  Great way to get some veggies snuck into your kid's diet.

Ingredients

• 1 cup brown sugar
• 1 cup grated zucchini
• 1/2 cup coconut oil
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 1 cup all purpose flour
• 1 cup whole wheat flour
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 tsp pumpkin pie spice
• 1/2 cup chocolate chips (or raisins or nuts)

Directions

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees
• Mix the dry ingredients together
• Mix the wet ingredients and then add to dry ingredients
• Add chocolate chips (or raisins or nuts) and mix until combined
• Drop by spoonful onto parchment paper lined baking sheet or silpat
• Bake for 10-12 minutes
• Enjoy!

30 Days of Cookies Day 4 - Healthier Dark Chocolate Dream Cookies

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup Dark Chocolate Dreams Peanut Butter (I used half Dark Chocolate, half White Chocolate) (go here for a coupon!)
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1 Tb flax meal
• 2 Tb chia seeds (order here)
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 3 Tb warm water
• 1/2 cup white chocolate chips

Direction:

• Preheat oven to 350*F
• Combine all ingredients in bowl
• Spoon by rounded tablespoons onto ungreased cookie sheet
• Bake for 10-12 minutes
• Let cool on sheet for a few minutes before removing to cooling rack

Makes about 12 cookies, if you can keep from eating the batter :)

You can find the original recipe for these cookies here.

Healthy Banana Waffles

Looking for a great, healthy breakfast the whole family will love?  These are amazingly delicious, a hit for our whole family.  And if you make a double batch, the leftovers are perfect for making Blueberry French Toast Bake.

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cup whole wheat flour (or 1 cup all purpose 1/2 whole wheat)
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 2 tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 3/4 cup almond milk
• 1/2 cup coconut water
• 1 egg
• 1 TB maple syrup
• 1 large banana mashed (about 1/2 cup)

Directions

• Mix dry ingredients
• Mix banana, maple syrup, egg, milk and water together and add to dry mixture
• Pour 1/2 cup batter into greased waffle iron and cook for 3-4 minutes (or according to manufacturer directions)

Pumpkin Spice Pancakes w/Pumpkin Spice Syrup

Ingredients

• 1 cup flour (I used 1/2 white 1/2 whole wheat)
• 1/2 cup oats
• 1 1/2 tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp pumpkin pie spice
• 1/3 cup maple syrup
• 2/3 cup pumpkin puree (or other winter squash or sweet potato)
• 2 eggs
• 2 TB coconut oil
• 1/2 cup milk

Directions

• Mix dry ingredients, add wet ingredients and stir until combined
• Pour batter by 1/4 cup onto hot griddle
• When starts to bubble, flip over and cook until done

Syrup Ingredients

• 2 TB brown sugar
• 1/4 cup honey
• 1/4 cup maple syrup
• 2 TB coconut oil
• 1/3 cup pumpkin puree
• 1/2 tsp pumpkin pie spice

Syrup Ingredients

• Mix all ingredients together in small saucepan on low heat until well combined

Homemade Flour Tortillas - Lard free

Burritos are such a great lunch to send with the hubs to work, especially since I can make them ahead of time and freeze them.  It's cheap, it's easy and it's way better than fast food.  I make our own Refried Beans which saves us a fortune.  While tortillas aren't that expensive, since we're trying to stick to a mostly whole foods diet, or at least make food at home from scratch, I began looking around for a good Tortilla recipe.  Unfortunately, most of them contained lard, or bacon grease, or something along those lines.  Nope, definitely not what I was wanting.  It took some more digging but I finally found some Lard Free recipes.  They were all very similar.  Here's what I ended up making...

Ingredients

• 3 cups flour
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp baking powder
• 1/3 cup oil
• 1 cup hot water

Directions

• Mix flour, salt and baking powder together
• With hands, mix in oil
• Add hot water and mix until a large ball of dough forms
• Let sit for at least 30 minutes
• Divide into balls (I originally did 12, but after the first couple I realized that was too many and the tortillas were too small.  I recommend about 8 balls of dough)
• Roll out into tortillas and cook on hot griddle (I set mine to 300 degrees)
• Cook 2-3 minutes each side

Divide into balls

Cook on griddle

Done

Add Homemade Refried Beans

 Add to freezer bags and freeze

Or add Homemade Salsa, Greek Yogurt and lettuce

Berry Chia Jam

This has got to be the best jam, ever.  No sugar added.  You could even skip cooking it and make Raw Jam.

Ingredients

• 1lb Strawberries
• 1/2 pint Blueberries
• 6oz Raspberries
• 2 TB Chia Seeds

Directions

• Mash berries with potato masher
• Pour into pot and simmer until desired consistency
• Add chia seeds and let sit for 10 minutes
• That's it, you're done. Enjoy!

Cheesy Green Beans & Cauliflower

Ok, can you tell what vegetables I bought this week?  Yes, another Green Beans and Cauliflower dish  (Although, I still think the Curried Sweet Potatoes Cauliflower and Green Beans are still my fav this week).

Ingredients

• 2 cups green beans
• 2 cups cauliflower
• EVOO
• 1 TB minced garlic cloves
• 1 onion
• 2 TB flour
• 1 1/2 cups milk (or water)
• 1-2 tsp paprika
• Salt/Pepper to taste
• 1-2 cups cheese (your preference on cheesiness!)
• Optional - I added chicken I had in the freezer, you could go without this for a great Vegetarian dish or add a meat of choice for those of you who are meat lovers!

Directions:

• Boil green and cauliflower until al dente (3-5 minutes), then set aside
• Saute garlic and onion in EVOO
• Add flour, salt, pepper and paprika, stir
• Add milk (or water) and let simmer until thickened
• Add cheese stir until melted
• Add green beans, cauliflower (and cooked meat if you choose)
• Enjoy!

Vegan Zucchini Bread with Chocolate Chips

Serious, this is by far the best bread recipe I have ever tried.  I found this recipe last year on One Hundred Dollars A Month's blog.  It is near perfection.  I only make changes to the recipe if I don't have something on hand and need to make a substitute.  Like today, I am out of Whole Wheat Flour so I made some Oat Flour from Organic Rolled Oats.

Ingredients

• 6 TB ground flax seeds
• 1/2 cup water
• 2 cups brown sugar
• 1/2 cup oil
• 1/2 cup applesauce
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 2 cups grated zucchini 
• 2 cups all purpose flour
• 1 cup whole wheat flour
• 1 TB baking powder
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 2 tsp nutmeg
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 cup chocolate chips (optional)

Directions:

• Mix together flax seeds and water, let sit for 5 minutes
• Add sugar, vanilla, oil and mix well
• Fold in zucchini
  In separate bowl mix dry ingredients (except chocolate chips)
• Add to wet mixture and stir until combined
• Add chocolate chips
• Pour into 2 lightly greased/floured bread pans
• Bake at 350 degrees for 50-60 minutes

Baked Zucchini Chips

Ingredients:

• Zucchini, cut into slices
• EVOO
• Salt/Pepper/Parsley to taste
• Real Parmesan cheese

Directions:

• Toss chips with EVOO and seasonings
• Place on greased baking sheet (or silpat)
• Sprinkle with cheese
• Bake in 450 degree oven for 25-30 minutes, depending on size of chips