No-Bake Energy Bites

I have been seeing lots of energy bites on Pinterest and decided to give them a try. I felt guilty about making cookies, so I made these as a way to gets sweet fix without interfering with my lifestyle.

These can be made many different ways, so find what you like and run with it!

Ingredients
1 cup dry oats (I used a mutli-oat mix that can be purchased at Trader Joes.
3/4 creamy peanut butter or nut butter
1/3 cup raw honey
1/2 cup ground flaxseed
1/2 cup sliced almonds, crushed
1 tsp vanilla
1/8 tsp sea salt
1 tsp cinnamon

1)In a large mixing bowl, combine all ingredients. Using a spatula, continuously fold ingredients until completely mixed. The mixture will not be completely stick together.
2) Scoop out tablespoon sized mounds and roll into a ball. You may need to use your hands and pack the balls tightly so they won't fall apart.
3) Store in an airtight container, makes about 20-25 bites.

Mint Chocolate Chip Cookies

Hey everyone! Occasionally I will post a recipe for something unhealthy..... I know it isn't the theme of my blog but I enjoy baking with old school recipes that sometimes call for ingredients that aren't favorable to a nutritious diet. That being said, I bake like this once in a blue moon! I spotted a bag of mint chocolate chip morsels right after the holidays and knew immediately that I'd make cookies for my fiancé because he LOVES mint chocolate combinations (which I do not- so these are just for him! <3)

I am not sure if these chocolate morsels are always available and if not you can use regular chocolate chips. This recipes makes a tasty cookie.

Ingredients
1 cup sugar
1 cup brown sugar
2 tsp vegetable oil
4 tbsp melted butter
2 eggs
2 tsp vanilla
1 cup all purpose flour
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
1 1/2 cup mint chocolate chips

1) Preheat oven to 350F.
2) In a mixing bowl, combine flour, baking soda and salt. Stir so it mixes well.
3) In the bowl of a stand mixer, cream sugar, butter, egg and vanilla until fluffy.
4) While mixer is on, slowly add dry ingredients to wet ingredients until well combined.
5) Fold in chocolate chips.
6) Scoop out desired amounts of batter onto a greased cookie sheet.
7) Bake for about 13 minutes or until the edges are slightly browned.
8) Let cool on a rack.
9) Enjoy!

Tips
- Ways to make these lighter: use wheat flour instead of white flour, use egg beaters instead of eggs, substitute apple sauce for oil.
- You can also use a silpat instead of greasing a pan.

Enjoy!

Heavenly Chocolate Bites

Last night I prepared a little dinner for my closest friends! A dinner party at my house is a big deal to me no matter what the occasion. I decided to make a lovely chicken cacciatore, Italian bread, salad and dessert. I decided to turn to Pinterest to get inspired and it worked!

This little bites of chocolate heaven are delicious and part of a clean eating diet. The only ingredient that wasn't clean in the actual bites I made was the chocolate because I didn't have any raw cocoa nibs. So here goes! Enjoy!

Ingredients
2/3 cup cooked steel oats, hot
1.5 cup sliced almonds
2tsp vanilla
2 tsp cinnamon
6 tbsp raw honey
1 tsp sea salt
1/4 cup whole wheat flour
1 1/4 cup chocolate chips

1) Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
2) Combine hot oats, almonds, vanilla, cinnamon, sea salt, honey and flour in a stand mixer bowl.
3) When all ingredients are thoroughly mixed, slowly add chocolate chips on medium speed.
4) The heat from the oats will cause some of the chocolate to melt. Mix for about 15-20 seconds until mixture is dark brown and mixed well.
5) Form small mounds about 1tbsp each onto a cookie sheet lined with a baking mat, parchment paper or greased.
6) Bake for 20 minutes. The cookies will not look much different than prior to baking.
7) Allow cookies to cool completely before serving.

Tips:
1) If you don't have a stand mixer, prepare all ingredients in advance and combine quickly to ensure chocolate melts. Stir by hand for about a minute to ensure the batter is mixed properly.
2) Chocolate chips and regular honey will also work for this recipe.

Have a delicious day!

Peanut Butter Banana Whippers

Whip it Good!

So my darling fiance and his family LOVE ice cream! I mean LOVE LOVE LOVE ice cream! I have definitely caught the ice cream bug from them and enjoy it once in a while. About 2 years ago, I went to a fabulous restaurant in Philadelphia owned by my best friend's friend Rocco. The restaurant is called Fuel and features a substantial menu of fresh, organic ingredients and all under 500 calories. Now, I know some of you are thinking, "Yeah, and it all probably taste like paper." Nope! The food is filling and flavorful!
Well, to get on with the story, my friend told me about these Banana Whips that Fuel sells. She described it as ice cream but without the guilt. Sounds good to me! When I tried them, I ordered the Nutella Banana Whips and oh my goodness, delicious! So here are my rendition of the Banana Whips!

Ingredients
2 bananas, sliced and frozen
2 tbsp peanut butter (I used organic, but any will do)
Ground Cinnamon

(Yes, that's it!)

1) In a food processor, puree the frozen bananas until smooth. You may need to pulse the processor a few times to pull the banana down toward the blade. Use a silicon spatula or wooden spoon to push down banana. Whip for about 30 seconds more.
2) Add peanut butter and puree until completely incorporated.
3) Using a silicon spatula, scoop banana whips out of food processor bowl and into an air-tight, freezer safe container.
4) Scoop your own portion out and sprinkle with cinnamon!

Tips
a) This simple recipe can be adapted in a million ways! Add nutella (like fuel), berries, protein powder, anything! You name it and it will probably taste amazing!

Apple Streusel

This is a Weight Watchers recipe, not mine, but I had to share! My wicked sweet tooth only lets me hold back for so long!

Photo & recipe are from http://www.laaloosh.com/ a great
blog with all Weight Watchers style recipes!

Weight Watchers Apple Streusel Recipe

Ingredients:
- 4 medium apples
- 1/4 cup unpacked brown sugar
- 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
- 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice
- 1/4 cups whole wheat flour
- 1/4 cups uncooked old fashioned oats
- 1  tbsp coconut oil
Directions:
Preheat oven to 350°F.
Stir together apples, 1/4 cup of brown sugar, cinnamon and lemon juice; pour into a 1 1/2 quart baking dish.
Cut flour, oatmeal, remaining brown sugar and coconut oil together with a pastry blender or fork in a medium bowl; sprinkle over apple mixture.
Bake until apples are tender and top is browned, about 45 minutes.
Serving size = 1/2 cup
Each serving = 3 Weight Watchers Points


Well this looks delish!!! What a perfect holiday dessert that does not pack a calorie punch. I'd use whole wheat flour instead of white, but its so little flour white still works.

Diabetics can utilize a brown sugar/sweetener blend like Splenda's here.

Check back soon for more recipes!

Have a delicious day!

My Love Affair with Pumpkin continues.....

Fibery, pumpkiny goodness!!!!

I cannot express enough how much I LOVE pumpkin sweets. This time of year offers a wide variety of sweet pumpkin treats that also pack a calorie punch! I opted to make 2 different pumpkin dishes with a large can of pure pumpkin.

I started out with Pumpkin Pecan Muffins.

Ingredients

3 cups whole wheat flour

2 Tbsp brown sugar

1 tsp baking powder

1 tsp baking soda

1 Tbsp cinnamon

1/2 tsp ground ginger

1/2 tsp ground cloves

3 eggs + 1 egg white

2 cups sugar

1/4 cup veg. oil

3/4 cup applesauce

2 cups pure pumpkin

1/2 cup chopped pecans

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Line a cupcake pan with liners.

Mix flour, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon, ginger and cloves.

In a mixing bowl combine pumpkin, sugar, oil and applesauce. Mix on a low speed and add eggs one by one.

Slowly add dry ingredients until batter is thick and smooth. Fold in pecans.

Baked for 15-18 minutes or until the batter no longer comes off onto a fork when tested.

Yummy Pumpkin goodness!!

I also made a cream cheese glaze for the topping. Mix 1 stick of cream cheese with about 1/2 cup of confectionary sugar, 1 tbsp of vanilla and 1/4 cup water. Mix until smooth and drizzle over the muffins.