3 minute Peanut Butter Rice Crispy Treats!

Honestly - is there anything better than Chocolate and Peanut Butter! 

I mean, the two complete my life!

I about die when I eye those gooey chocolate rice bars on pinterest. Amazing!

 I'm sure, but I would definitely not be able to eat just one!

So to the kitchen I went! The PERFECT little treat for kids

 (or afternoons when I need a mommy "pick-me-up") 

I like to store them in my freezer, so I have to wait for them to thaw and it controls portion size!

But with these little babies, you won't feel as guilty if indulging wins!

 Wrapped in packages and Tied with bows - anything looks cuter!

1/3 c honey

1/4 c crunchy peanut butter (all natural!)

1/4 c raw cacao powder or cocoa powder

1/2 tsp salt if pb is unsalted, or you like salt!

1/2 tsp vanilla

3/4 c puffed brown rice cereal

1/2 c regular oats

Mini Chocolate Chips or Unsweetened Carob chips (for a lower sugar option)

(ps. I like lots of salt! Salt and sweet are for me! 

So lessen the salt if you want, but if you like salt - go with kosher salt! Its the best!)

Warm the Honey and Peanut Butter a little in microwave safe dish. 

Stir and add the rest of ingredients.

  Stir quickly and let cool a tiny bit before adding chips.

Roll into balls with hands and place in fridge until hardened

ENJOY!

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Naturally sweetened/grain free chocolate chip cookies!

Nothing like a yummy, Naturally Sweetened Chocolate Chip cookie!

Not to mention, grain free and full of protein and fiber!

I'm really into Date Sugar right now! 

Been having fun finding ways to use it!

Ingredients:

1 can garbanzo beans (drained and rinsed)

1/2 cup quick oats (or certified-gf quick oats)

1/4 cup unsweetened applesauce

1 tbsp oil (canola, veg, or coconut)

1 tsp pure vanilla extract

1/4 tsp baking soda

1 tsp baking powder

1/4 tsp salt

1 cup Date Sugar, or soaked dates blended

3/4 cup unsweetened carob chips or mini Choco chips

1/4 c milk, only add if batter seems dry

Put all ingredients in food processor and pulse until blended well. 

Add extra choco chips at the end if you want a little crunch.

Place into greased muffin tins and bake at 350 for about 7-9 minutes.

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Banana Chocolate Chip Flax Muffins

I was so excited to try this recipe when I saw it! They just looked delectable! 

I made a few changes to cut sugar and fat, and ended up with a tasty, moist, fiber full, protein packed, perfect muffin! It's also GLUTEN FREE! Which means it will be easier for you to digest and easier on your stomach.

adapted from HERE

Ingredients:

1 C Ground Flaxseed

1 1/4 C Oat Flour (oats ground in blender)(GF if need be!)

1/2 scoop of any protein powder (optional)

1/4 C Sucanat

1 tsp Powdered Stevia

2 tsp Baking Powder

1/2 tsp Baking Soda

1/2 tsp Xanthum Gum

1 tsp Cinnamon

2 Ripe Bananas, mashed well

2 Eggs

1/4 C Cinnamon Applesauce Unsweetened

1/4 C Skim, 1%, or Almond Milk

1/2-1 C Dark Chocolate chips, or unsweetened carob chips (to lower sugar even more)

Whisk all dry ingredients in one bowl (except choco chips). And whisk all wet ingredients in separate bowl. Combine the two together and mix just until combined. Fold in Chocolate chips.

Bake at 325 for 25 minutes. LET COOL - they are pretty moist

Makes one dozen

6 Grams of protein per muffin!

Here's an even healthier/lower calorie version - for all you crazies out there! ;-)

Ingredients:

1/2 C Ground Flaxseed

1/2 C Wheat Germ

1/2 C Peanut Flour (my new fav ingredient!!- see below)

1/2 C Oat Flour

1/2 Scoop of Protein Powder

1 1/2 tsp Powdered Stevia

1/4 C Xylitol

1/2 tsp Salt

2 tsp Baking Powder

1/2 tsp Baking Soda

1/2 tsp Xanthum Gum

1 tsp Cinnamon

2 Ripe Bananas, mashed well

3 tsp Energy Egg Replacer (mixed with 4 Tbl water in a separate bowl)

1/4 C Canned pumpkin or Unsweetened Applesauce

1/4 Almond Milk

1/4 C Unsweetened Carob Chips, 1/4 C mini Chocolate chips/cacao Nibs

1/4 C Raisins

Place in Mini Muffin tins for  a quick pick me up snack! 

Bake 325 for 20 minutes. Makes 24.

Per Muffin: Calories- 71, Carbs - 11, Fat - 2, Protein - 3

ENJOY!

Check out my new FAVORITE Ingredient! 

Get the taste of peanut and the protein, but without the extra fat!

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Simple NO BAKE - Cookie Dough Bites!

Sunday is my day I allow myself to cheat! 

I believe there is nothing better than the taste of Cookie Dough! 

 Here's what I came up with.

Ingredients:

1/4 C Pecans

1/2 C Cashews

1/3 C Oats

1/8 tsp Salt (only if your nuts are unsalted!!!)

1 Tb Raw Honey or Pure Maple Syrup

1 tsp Vanilla

1/4 C Dark Chocolate Chips, or Mini Chocolate Chips

Put first four ingredients in food processor. Pulse until well combined and ground fine. 

Add honey and vanilla. Pulse until you get a dough like consistency. Fold in chocolate chips.

Store in between wax paper in the freezer for a quick grab and go treat! 

That is, only if you have leftovers!! 

 ENJOY!!

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Homemade Wheat Thins

I was SOOO excited to find this recipe!! I have always loved wheat Thins, but stopped buying them, trying to rid myself of processed food! These are a GReaT replacement and taste very similar! I am going to keep experimenting to create a fat free and gluten free version. 

(I'll let you know!)

THese are WAY easier and more simple than my trusty Graham Crackers, 

so this might be my new go to for snacks!

Dip in Hummus, or Edamame Hummus or Guac!

Click HERE for the recipe

Here it is laid out before baking.

 Run a Pizza Cutter to make the cracker shape.

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Vanilla Prune Applesauce

Easy, Easy Applesauce! Use for after school snack, baby food, on toast or pancakes, mix into plain yogurt (for a yogurt where you know all the ingredients) or replace fat in recipes. YUM!!!

5-6 Apples peeled, cored, and sliced

2 Tbl Lemon Juice

1 C Water

1 C Chopped Dried Prunes

1 tsp Stevia or 2 Tbl Brown Sugar

3 tsp Vanilla 

Place first 4 ingredients into a Large Pot and bring to a boil, then lower to simmer. 

Simmer 20-30 minutes until apples are pretty soft and stirring occasionally.

Mash with a potato masher, or pour everything into a blender and puree. Then

add in desired sweetener: 2 Tbl Brown Sugar, Sucunat, or 1 tsp Stevia and 3 tsp Vanilla.

ENJOY!

You can easily throw these into freezer safe containers and freeze!

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Orange Pistachio Granola Bars -no sugar or oil added-

HAPPY VALENTINES DAY - 

I love to experiment. This week I have been trying some new RAW recipes. 

(You can learn about my week on raw HERE. )

I bought an AWESOME e-book from Vega-licious. 

She includes great instructions and many amazing recipes!!

You can get the book and many great other ones HERE.

The kids loved their 'Valentine' Granola Bar Snack

Ingredients 

1 1/2 cup pitted Medjool dates (14-15 total) 

 juice and zest of 2 oranges 

3/4 cup cashews (optional) 

2.5 cups rolled oats 

1/3-1/2 cup shelled pistachios 

3/4 cup pumpkin seeds 

3/4 cup sunflower seeds 

I added 1/2 tsp Sea Salt (I LOVE that sweet salty taste!)

1 cup raisins 

My Optional Additions: Shredded coconut, 1 tsp Vanilla, mini chocolate chips or cacao nibs

Directions:

1. Using a food processor, mix ingredients 1-3 until (dates, juice of oranges with zest and cashews) until almost smooth, but can leave slightly chunky 

2. Add rolled oats and pulse 10 times, stop, scrape mixture off sides, and repeat process three more times 

3. Add remaining ingredients except raisins and pulse 10-15 times 

4. Remove, place in a bowl, add raisins and thoroughly mix by hand 

Use any shape of cookie cutter you want and press firmly. About 1/4-1/2 inch thick. 

Place in dehydrator for about 8 hours or bake at 350 for about 15 minutes. 

Check often so they don't brown. They should be pretty crunchy!

ENJOY!!!

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After School Snack -

Almond Butter and Jelly Cookies

Yum!! What a prefect, not overly sweet snack. 

This is a good one for the kids to be involved too!

Get the recipe HERE

(the recipe is Gluten Free, for easy alternatives see below)

Feel free to use natural Peanut Butter in place of the Almond Butter

You can also substitute whole wheat flour for the other flours!

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