Monday, April 27, 2015

Whole Wheat Pancakes

These pancakes are incredible!  I have always ate the basic pancakes that I slathered a bunch of butter and sugary syrup on and now I can never imagine eating them again.  These whole wheat pancakes are absolutely delicious.

Whole Wheat Pancakes:

1 cup whole wheat flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon raw honey
3 tablespoons oil (vegetable)
1 cup almond milk
1 large egg
3 tablespoons nut butter (I use almond)


  
First stir the honey and oil together in a bowl


Add milk, egg and nut butter and beat well.


Mix dry ingredients into the liquids until flour is moistened.  I end up adding a little water because I like my batter thinner when I cook pancakes.


Cook them like any other pancake.  Preheated skillet on medium heat.  I topped mine with some fresh, sliced strawberries and about a tablespoon of pure maple syrup.  Since I'm the only one that eats them in my house the batter amount will make enough for two different breakfasts.  It stores well in a container in the fridge.  Simply Delicious


 
 

Monday, April 20, 2015

Chocolate Crumble Cheesecake

Like I have mentioned before I love looking at healthy recipe ideas on Instagram.  I saw this picture of this delicious looking dessert yesterday and could not wait to try it! The recipe says it makes 2 servings but it's pretty rich and I think you can get another serving or use the "cheesecake" filling for a crepe or pancake topper.  

Chocolate Crumble Cheesecake:

Chocolate Crumble: 

1/2 cup raw almonds (or hazelnuts)
3-4 pitted dates
1 TBS almond butter
2 TBS cacao or cocoa powder

"Cheesecake" Filling: 

1 cup soaked, drained and rinsed cashews (soak for 3 hours)
2 tsp agave nectar
1/4 tsp vanilla extract
1/4 cup coconut cream (refrigerate the can over night)


Start by making the chocolate crumble which will be used as the crust.  In a blender or processor put the almonds (or hazelnuts), dates, almond butter and cocoa powder. I chop my dates first to help in the blending process.


Blend these ingredients until they become crumbly and then put them in a bowl and set in the fridge.


For the filling: Process the soaked cashews, agave nectar, vanilla and coconut cream.  You may also need to add 1-2 tablespoons of water while blending.


Keep blending and scraping the sides until it becomes whipped and smooth.  This is where you may need to add a little water.  Be patient, it takes a little while.


Then it's time to assemble it.  I used a small mason jar but you can use anything.  First put a layer of the chocolate crumble, then I put a layer of fresh cut strawberries and then a layer of the "cheesecake" filling.  Repeat these layers. I layered until the top of the jar and added a dollop of homemade whipped topping and finished it off with a sprinkle of strawberries and chocolate crumble.  Simply Delicious


 
 
 







 

Tuesday, April 14, 2015

Healthy Cookie

I love looking through posts on Instagram from other healthy eaters and try their recipes.  This one caught my eye because it said "cookie" and I haven't ate a cookie in so long that I was intrigued.  It's a super easy recipe and doesn't make an overwhelming amount.

Healthy Cookie: 

1 banana mashed
1/2 cup oats
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
2 dates pitted and chopped
1/2 tablespoon unsweetened coconut (not pictured in ingredients)
Dark chocolate chunks (amount by personal taste)

*I used some ALOHA superfood chocolate to make these as healthy as possible BUT use whatever chocolate you want. It's so worth it!

350 degrees for 15 minutes

Mix all the ingredients together. After it's well combined I used a tablespoon amount and placed on a cookie sheet.

This amount made 6 cookies. They turned out delicious and would also be good crumbled after being baked and used as a topping on some nice cream or yogurt. Simply Delicious


 

 




Monday, April 13, 2015

Pasta with Chunky Tomato Sauce

Tonight I wanted something light and flavorful.  I made my family spaghetti and since I couldn't eat their noodles or their sauce I decided to create my own "spaghetti".  I used gluten free pasta but use noodles of your choice.

Pasta with Chunky Tomato Sauce:

1 can vegetable broth
2 handfuls tomatoes of choice (I used a variety of cherry)
1 lb. package pasta of choice
1 small onion chopped
1 carrot diced
3 cloves garlic
1/4 cup sliced olives
1/4 teaspoon dried oregano
1/4 teaspoon dried thyme
sprinkle of cinnamon

*you can definitely add a different variety of vegetables to this*

This made enough sauce for my dinner and my lunch tomorrow.  So plan accordingly for more people.

Put the vegetable broth in a skillet with the tomatoes and garlic cloves.  My bigger tomatoes I cut in half and I left the little ones whole.  Bring to a boil and then simmer for about 15-20 minutes.  At this time bring your water to boil for the pasta and cook it according to the package.

After the tomatoes have simmered add the onions, carrots, olives and spices.  When adding the cinnamon just sprinkle it across the top lightly.  I know it sounds a little different but cinnamon is so yummy with pasta sauces.

Keep simmering while the pasta cooks and until onion and carrot are tender.  Then serve on top of pasta.  You can serve it by draining the broth off or add it to the dish.  Simply Delicious 


 
 



Saturday, April 4, 2015

Chocolate Mousse

So this chocolate mousse is sugar free, dairy free and delicious! Wait what???  Yes... SUGAR FREE AND DAIRY FREE!!! I saw this recipe come up on Deliciously Ella's blog and I had to make it so I could determine for myself if it lived up to the picture on the blog.  Wow!!  I could eat the whole bowl!

Chocolate Mousse:

2 ripe bananas
1 ripe avocado
6 medjool dates (pitted)
2 heaping teaspoons almond butter
2-3 heaping teaspoons 100% cocoa powder
4 tablespoons water

 

The recipe calls for a food processor.  I don't have one so I used a few different things.  A little time consuming on my part but totally worth it.  So if you have a food processor it should be a breeze!  I pureed my dates in my ninja single serving cup and then added them with all other ingredients in a bowl.

I then used a hand mixer and finished it off with a high speed single blade mixer.  Whatever method you use, keep pureeing it until it is smooth and creamy.  It makes a delicious mousse that is TOTALLY GUILT FREE!!!  I highly recommend trying this.  Even my kids thought it was great!  Then the other great addition is a topping.  There are so many different things you could try but for my own I added a few frozen raspberries and shaved some of my superfood Aloha chocolate on top. Simply Delicious