Healthy Fig Bites (gluten free)

Fig Bites 

             Hi! It has been a while since I shared a recipe. I thought it would be fun to pass this yummy snack along. I have enjoyed eating figs lately. I have been excited about the calcium they have in them. I am always looking for foods that have calcium in them. They are a healthy treat. When you make them into these healthy bites you have a wonderful snack. 💕

Recipe 

3/4 Cup Sunflower Seeds

1/2 Cup chopped up Figs

1/2 Cup Chopped up Almonds (or nuts of your choice)

4 Tablespoons of honey

1/2 Cup Almond Butter

!/2 Cup Old fashioned rolled Oats (gluten free)

1 C unsweetened Coconut Flakes 

Instructions

1. Grind the sunflower seeds in blender.

2. Pour sunflower seeds into a bowl. 

3. Stir in the remaining ingredients into the bowl until all combined. 

4. Form into bites. 

5. Put on cookie sheet and freeze about an hour. Then store in air tight container in the freezer. 

6. Will store about 2 months. 

7. Makes about 16 balls depending on the size you make. Enjoy!!!

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Trail Mix Bites (Protein)

Love this combination in a yummy bite. You are ready to hit the trail with these or you could just enjoy them for a great snack. They are loaded with protein too as an extra bonus. 

Ingredients

 1 cup of old fashioned oatmeal

1/4 cup of quinoa rinsed (not cooked)

3/4 cup of water

1/4 cup of coconut

1/3 cup of sunflower

1/2 cup of  dark chocolate chips 

1/3 cup of dried fruit

1 teaspoon of vanilla

1/2 teaspoon of salt

1 tablespoon of peanut butter

1/3 cup of honey

1 T coconut oil

Directions

1. Pour all the ingredients into the blender and pulse until the ingredients are broken down and all combined. 

2. Form into ball and store in air tight container in the fridge until hardened. Enjoy. 

3. Keep leftovers in airtight container in the fridge. 

Makes  12

Refrigerator Chocolate Oatmeal Peanut Butter Cookies

So  this is a spin off of this recipe. I changed the chocolate to cocoa. This recipe was always a favorite as I was growing up. I just made it a healthier version than the old recipe that I made before. My family gobbles them up. They are delicious. I hope you enjoy them too.   

If you don't have oat flour on hand, just put some oats in your blender and pulse until it reaches a flour consistency. Use gluten-free oats for a gluten-free cookie.

Ingredients 
2 C old fashioned oatmeal
1 C oat flour
1/2 C honey
2 T cocoa powder
1/4 C coconut oil
3 T peanut butter (natural)

Directions: Makes about 18 cookies
1. Stir all the ingredients together in a bowl.
2. Scoop on to parchment paper, Teflon sheet or wax paper that is on a cookie sheet. (You could flatten them if you want to)
3. Place in  refrigerator and let harden. Keep stored in fridge in air tight container.

Here are some other great chocolate peanut butter cookies. 

Here is another refrigerator chocolate peanut butter cookie.
Here is a gluten free nutter chocolate peanut butter cookie.

Chocolate Almond Butter Oatmeal with Bananas

 

This was a yummy way to eat oatmeal for breakfast. It also made a nice snack tonight. I love the flavors all put together. It left me feeling very satisfied. I am hoping my son will want it for breakfast too. It is a great way to get his day started.


 Ingredients: serves 5-6 store leftovers in covered containers in the fridge.
2 C water
2 C almond Milk or another milk
1 T coconut oil * op
2 C oatmeal (I used 6 grain rolled oatmeal)
3 T unsweetened cocoa
3T almond butter or peanut butter
2-3 T honey 
1 tsp almond extract * optional
topping options: fresh  bananas, fresh fruit, or chocolate chips :)
Drizzle on some additional milk. 

Directions:  
1. Boil water and then add milk and *oil. Stir in oatmeal. Bring to low boil.

2. Stir in cocoa, butter, almond extract* and honey.  Turn down the heat to low. Let the oatmeal mixture thicken until it gets to  your desired consistency.   

3. Serve in bowls and put on your favorite topping. 
   

Cinnanut Oatmeal

You always win when you make something with oatmeal and cinnamon. :) I love the combination. It was fun to make oatmeal this morning and doing something different with it. It is nice to know that I sent my family off with a healthy breakfast. It is a great way to start out your day. It could also make a great snack. This nut mixture could also be used in other hot cereals too.  

Ingredients:
3-4 T coconut sugar or brown sugar
3-4 T water
1/2 tsp butter
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1 pinch of salt
1/2 C walnuts or other nut (finely chopped or coarse if you desire)

4 C water
 2 C old fashioned oatmeal
1 T coconut oil
1 pinch of salt
1 T coconut sugar
Top with: banana, berries or another fruit, more sugar if desired.
milk if desired.

Directions:
1. In a small sauce pan heat up the sugar, water, butter, cinnamon, and salt. Let heat up for 1 or 2 min. Stir in the nuts. Let them cook until the mixture gets nice and thick. Then pour on to parchment paper or waxed paper to cool 
2. In the mean time in a medium sized pan boil the water. Then sit in oats, oil, salt, and sugar. Let it come to a boil again. Turn down the heat and cover. Let cook to your desired preference. I prefer mine with a texture int it.
 3. Scoop the oatmeal into a bowl and then put some of the nut mixture on top. Add other toppings if desired. You can also pour on a little milk as well.

Almond Oatmeal Jumjills

If you have followed my blog much you know I like different kind of power balls. These are some from the past that I have made. I think it is a great size for a snack, and it is loaded with healthy goodness. I like that they are filling and help me curb my hunger. The other thing that is wonderful is that I love eating nuts, so this is a wonderful way to them too. It is a great alternate to some other snacks out there.
Ingredients: Makes 10 balls depending on the size you make them.
1/4 C dates
1/4 C water
1 C almonds
1/8 C sunflower seeds
1/8 C pumpkin seeds
1/4 C old fashioned oatmeal
1/4 C shredded unsweetened coconut
1/4 C coconut oil
2 T sesame seeds
2 T chocolate chips (dark)
1/4 tsp almond extract or vanilla
1tsp cinnamon *optional


Directions:
1. In a small bowl pour in water and dates, and set aside.

2. In a blender mix all the other ingredients. I use my Bosch, and it chops it up just fine. If you don't have a powerful blender, or food processor you could mix it up in smaller groups of ingredients. Then you could mix it together. Then pour into a bowl.

3. Then blend the dates and water in a food processor or blender. Then pour into bowl with the other nut mixture. Form into balls. I then store them in my freezer or fridge in a zip lock bag, and they harden up. Then they are ready to eat when you are ready. :)

Other snacks: 1. Nuts and oats healthy snack
2. Almond cocoa balls
3. Almond Coconut treats

Gluten Free Oatmeal Cookies

It must be something in my genes. I was talking to my sister a couple of days ago, and she said she loves anything with oatmeal in it too. It was fun to hear how much she liked oatmeal. I came home last night, and was craving some homemade oatmeal cookies. I came up with this healthy version. They tasted wonderful the next day too. :) You can add your own variation to them. They are gluten free too. They are a great breakfast too. They are fast to put together. :)


Ingredients: made 20 cookies
1/2 C coconut oil
1/2 C honey
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
2 1/2 C oat flour (I put oatmeal in the blender and ground it up)
1 1/2 C oatmeal (old fashioned)
1/2 tsp salt
3/4 tsp baking soda
1 tsp cinnamon
3/4 tsp nutmeg
1/2 C unsweetened shredded coconut
other variations: choc. chips, dried fruit, raisins

Directions:

1. In a mixing bowl mix, oil, honey and eggs. Then add the vanilla. and beat till creamy.

2. In a separate bowl mix all the dry ingredients together.

3. Then mix all the dry ingredients with the creamed mixture. Don't over mix.

4. Bake in over heated to 350. Bake 8 to 10 min or till lightly golden.

*If you want to keep it gluten free. Use Gluten free oatmeal.

Moist Old Fashioned Oatmeal Bars for Breakast

I have fond memories of making oatmeal cake when I was younger. It was fun to make and tasted so good. So I saw this recipe and got excited. I changed it to make healthier a lot less sugar, and another healthier thing was leaving off the frosting. :) I didn't even miss it. Oatmeal is such a wonderful grain. I think It is my favorite, and it is so good for you. :)

I had the thought this is like a bowl of oatmeal, It has all the great things that a bowl of oatmeal has in it. Just add some fruit, and a drink of milk, or a handful of nuts, and you have a complete meal. I actually added apples to it, so you get some fruit inside as well. It would make a healthy snack, or be in place of dessert. You could make it the night before, and it would be all ready to go. My daughter and grandson came over, and loved it. It is fun to have taste testers. It is very moist.

Ingredients:

1 C Oatmeal
1 1/2 C boiling water
1/3 C coconut oil
2/3 C honey
2 eggs
1 1/2 C whole grain flour
1/4 tsp salt
1 tsp vanilla
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp cinnamon
1/4 C shredded coconut
1 small apple grated

Directions: Serves 12 or more

1. In a sauce pan boil water. Take off the heat pour in the oatmeal and let it sit for 15 min.

2. Cream oil, honey, and egg. Then add the oatmeal,flour, soda, cinnamon, salt, coconut and apple. Don't over mix.

3. Pour into a greased 9x13 pan. Bake at 325 for 20 to 25 min., or till done.

(You could add nuts, or another kind of fruit in there too.) Enjoy today, it will never be here again. :)

* Try these yummy Chocolate Oatmeal Bars
*Try these yummy Chocolate Peanut Butter Oatmeal Refrigerator Cookies
*Try these Moist Oatmeal Fruit Bars
*Try these Chewy Almond Butter Quinoa Bars

Macadamia Nut Granola

Sorry I have been out of town. :) So that is why there has been limited posts. I appreciate Britney doing one. :) I brought back some Macadamia Nuts, and was interested to learn more about them.

Macadamia Nuts: (Some Interesting Information)

1. Helps lower cholesterol and decreases risk of stoke and heart disease.

2. 78 to 86 % of the fat is monounsaturated (Heart healthy good for you fat.

3. Only food source that contains palmitoleric acid. It is a type of monounsaturated fatty acid that can speed up your metabolism that could reduce your bodies ability to store fat.

4. The oil is healthier than olive oil. (I have not tried the oil yet.) It can be heated to higher temperatures than olive oil, without losing its flavor and breaking down.

5. They have falvanoids in them. Flavanoids turn into antioxidants in our body. Antioxidants can help destroy particles in the body that could cause diseases and other conditions. As a result to that it can lower your blood pressure.

6. They have Vitamin A, Iron, protein, thiamine, riboflavin and niacin. Small amounts of selenium (an antioxidant) calcium, phosphorus, potassium and magnesium.

7. Plain roasted are the healthiest and unsalted. (keeps down the sodium)

8. They still are high in calories and fat, ( one of the highest in fat of the nuts) so don't go too crazy. Just replace them for other fats you eat, and enjoy the health benefits.

9. They are harvested after they fall to the ground.

10. Serving size 11-12 nuts

It was fun to have them to put them into this granola. It gave it a great flavor. I hope that you enjoy it!

Ingredients:

3 C old fashioned oatmeal

1 C Macadamia nuts chopped (pulsed them in the blender)

1/2 C unsweetened shredded coconut

1 tsp cinnamon

1/4 C coconut oil

6 T honey

1 C dried tropical mix (pineapple, mango,papaya, cranberries, blueberries)

Directions:

1. Mix oats, nuts, cinnamon and coconut in a bowl. Set aside.

2. In a small saucepan add oil, and honey. Bring to a boil, and let boil 1 to 2 min.

3. Stir honey mixture into oatmeal mixture.

4. Pour on to a cookie sheet with parchment paper on it. Bake at 275 in oven for about l5 min. Then stir in dried fruit and stir it. Let cook another 10 min. I decided I liked it less golden this time.

You can cook till your desired preference. Let cool and store in an airtight container. Enjoy!

Nuts and Oats Healthy Snack

Oh this is so yummy! I love nut chews that you get in the store. I really enjoy eating a mix of nuts. So I made my own mix with out all the additives. This tasted really good plain, but you could mix it with yogurt, cooked oatmeal, fruit, kefir and the list goes on....:)

Ingredients:
1 C mixed cashews, almonds, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds (chopped up not too small.)
3 Brazil nuts chopped
1 T honey
1/2 to 1 tsp cinnamon
2 T oatmeal
*optional 2 T ground flax or chia (I will try them next time)


Directions:

1. I chopped all the nuts in a food processor, with the oatmeal. They were still in small chunks.

2. Then pour into small pot on the stove, mix in the honey and the cinnamon. I cooked it till it started to stick together well, for a few minutes. You can decide how long you cook it depending on how hard you want it.

3. Then you can just eat as is, like granola, or press down into a pan, and then cut it up , or roll into balls. Whatever way you decide you can enjoy it!