Chocolate Covered Cookie Dough (Low Sugar)

 It is hard to resist a spoonful of cookie dough. This is a great way to enjoy a spoonful with out the guilt. So indulge yourself with a mouthful of yum. The nice thing is they are filling too. A great little snack with protein.  #Gluten Free #Low Sugar

Ingredients

1 C cashews unsalted pieces
2 T coconut oil
1 tsp vanilla
2 T honey or sweetener of your choice
1 C  Bob's Red Mill old fashioned oatmeal (gluten free)
1 C unsweetened shredded coconut *optional
2 T  Bob's Red Mill chia * optional
1/4 C dark chocolate chips chopped up
1/4 C dark chocolate chips
1 T coconut oil

Directions  makes 16

1. Pour into a blender cashews, oil, vanilla and honey. Blend and pulse until creamy.
2. Pour in oatmeal, coconut, chia, and blend and pulse till all combined and cookie dough consistency.
3. Stir in the chocolate chips roll into bite size balls.
4. Place on non stick pan. Place in freezer to harden about 20 min.
5. In the meantime put chocolate chips in a microwave safe bowl add oil. Put in microwave about 45 seconds. Long enough to melt the chips. Stir together and let cool.
6. Take the bites out of the freezer and dip into chocolate. Place on non stick pan.
7. Place back in the freezer and and let harden about 20 to 30 min.
8. Take out and indulge yourself. Store left overs in air tight container in the fridge or freezer. Yum!

Chocolate Chip Muffins (whole grain)

This is a super easy recipe that is whole grain. I chopped up the chocolate chips which added a little bit of chocolate in every bite. They make a great little snack or a nice addition to a meal. 

Ingredients

2/3 C honey

1/2 C olive oil or coconut oil

1/2 C almond milk

1/2 C water

2 eggs

1/4 tsp salt

1/4 C chia

1 1/2 tsp baking powder

1 C whole wheat flour 

1/2 C dark chocolate chips chopped up

Directions make 12 mini muffins Heat oven to 400

1. Beat or stir together honey, oil, water. Beat or stir in the eggs. Set aside.

2. In a small bowl mix together salt, chia, baking powder, and flour. 

3. Fold flour mixture into wet mixture stir until all combined. 

4. Fold in chocolate chips. 

5. Grease muffin tin. Scoop muffin mix into tins. 

6. Bake 12-15 min. 

7. Take out of muffin tins and let cool on wire rack. Enjoy

Fruit and Nut Chocolate Bites (no added sugar)

These are inspired after eating the chocolate cherry Kind Bars. They are so expensive to buy and so I thought it would be fun to make my own healthy version of them. No added sugar either. You make them ahead and have them when ever you want them for a lot less money. Mission accomplished! Great little healthy snack. 

Ingredients

3/4  C dark chocolate chips

1 T coconut oil

1 C dried fruit (I used  1/2 C cherries and  1/2 C pomegranates) 

2 T coconut oil

5 T chia *optional

1 C cashews unsalted

1 C almonds unsalted

1/4 C dark chocolate chips

Directions

1. In a small bowl place chips and oil. Put in microwave for 1 minute and then stir. Then put back in for 1 min. Stir again, and place in fridge to thicken a little. 

2. In blender pour all of the rest of the ingredients. pulse and stir. I left the nuts a little chunky. 

3. Scoop and roll into balls. 

4. Dip into chocolate and place on greased surface or non stick surface. 

5. Place in fridge to harden. 

6. Store in airtight container. Enjoy!

Raw Granola

Thank you Ashlee for sharing this with me. This is a great way to satisfy your craving for an oatmeal chocolate chip cookie in a healthier way. It has the wonderful texture of cookie dough. It can be eaten with milk or plain. I would put this in the treat category, but it is a healthier treat. :) It is a great way to get your family to eat oatmeal. It got gobbled up by my family.

Ingredients:
1/2 C honey
1/2 C coconut oil melted
1/2 tsp salt * optional
1 C unsweetened coconut flakes
1 C almonds chopped
4 C old fashioned oatmeal
1/2 tsp almond extract *optional
1 C dark chocolate chips (* or raisins)

Directions:
1. Pour all the ingredients into a mixer except the chips. Mix until combined.
2. Pour in the chips and stir until just combined. Eat immediately or store in an airtight container to eat later. 
Enjoy!

*If you want a version with fewer calories you can cut the honey and oil down to 1/3 C for each. It tried it. It tastes good just a drier version, and it doesn't clump as much.  If you are are adding milk to it for cereal, the the drier version will work great..   

Gluten Free Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookie Tart

I hope you are having a happy "Thankful season". Although every season can be a thankful season. We are looking forward to having almost all my extended family here at our house for Thanksgiving. It should be over 60 people. It will be a treat to have them here. :)

We had a quick get away last weekend for my son to play in a tournament. We had a really nice time. I saw this quote at the tennis court and Loved it. It is So true! I need to make sure I am feeding the right wolf.

"An old Cherokee told his grandson: "My son there is a battle between two wolves inside us all. One is Evil. It is anger, jealousy, greed, resentment, inferiority, lies, and ego. The other is Good. It is  joy,  peace, love, hope,  humility, kindness, empathy and truth. The boy thought about it and asked: " Grandfather, which wolf wins?"  And the grandfather quietly replied:  "The one you feed."    

I came up with this treat today. I was making something similar to the layered cookie that you have during the holidays, that has the eagle brand milk in it. I decided to try a healthier version of that, and this is what I came up with. It can even be gluten free if you use gluten free oatmeal.

Ingredients:
3 1/4 C old fashioned oatmeal (gluten free oatmeal if desired) *
2/3 C honey
1/3 C coconut oil or butter (melted) 
2 tsp cinnamon * optional
3/4 C chopped up dates *
1 1/4 water
1 C almonds chop in blender
1/2 cashew pieces chop in blender
1/4 C  unsweetened coconut
1/2 C dark chocolate chips
garnish chips and coconut

Directions:
1. Blend in blender oatmeal until it turns into flour.* Pour into bowl. With a pastry blender blend in honey and oil into the oatmeal. Add in the cinnamon. Press into greased tart pan or pie pan. Make it thin.
2. Bake in oven at 350 for about 10 min.
3. In the meantime pour dates and water into a sauce pan. Heat on medium heat until soft. Stir in the nuts and coconut. Combine for a few minutes oover the heat. Take off the stove.
4. Stir in the chocolate chips. Press on top of the crust.
5. Garnish with chips and coconut. Serve

* Add sweetner to the date mixture if you want it sweeter.
* You could not blend 1/2 the oatmeal and have it have whole half blended.     
* The oatmeal crust could be used for another kind of tart or pie. :)

Frozen Banana Yogurt with Chocolate Chips

This is a nice variation to homemade ice cream. It is low in sugar too. The bananas add a nice creaminess to the consistency. My family seemed pleased with it as well. It was a nice refreshing treat on . The chocolate chips in it added a nice touch too.

Ingredients:
3 med ripe bananas mashed (If they aren't ripe with brown spots it could kill the flavor)
1/4 C water
4 T honey (add more if you want it sweeter)
1 tsp cinnamon
2 1/2 C almond milk
2 1/2 C Greek yogurt (can substitute plain yogurt)
1/2 chocolate chips melted with 1 tsp oil mixed in

Directions:
1. In a saucepan on the stove put in mashed bananas, water, honey. Stir until heated a couple minutes.
2. Then add almond milk and vanilla. Stir until the mixture is nicely thickened. 3 to 5 min. (low heat)
3. Then whisk in yogurt. Then put into the refrigerator to chill a couple hours. (Till nice and cold)
4. Then pour into ice cream maker and follow manufactures directions.
5. Then when frozen yogurt is done, melt the choc chips in the microwave. Stirring often. Then add the oil.
6. Drizzle over yogurt and stir in. Serve!

Healthy Oatmeal Cashew Chocolate Chip Cookies (Vegan)

Well I went to get my teeth cleaned yesterday, by my one of my sweet daughters who is a dental hygienist. Getting my teeth cleaned is Not one of my favorite things to do, so I really appreciate a daughter who makes it a better experience, with her concern and the extra effort she puts into it. She is a sweetie. :) We have made it a tradition to go out to eat, after she cleans my teeth. We to to the Herb Shop. I Love their bread (It was even warm this time :) they serve with their turkey sandwich and their cookies are so good too. It helps me to soften my concerns about my teeth.
Well I looked at the ingredients in their cookies, and came up with my own variation today. They have a lot of healthy ingredients. I would not feel bad eating them for breakfast. You could add some other ingredients instead of chips too. Like dried fruit, nuts etc... Yum!

Ingredients:
1/2 almond milk or soy milk or...
2 T cider vinegar
3 C whole grain flour ( I did about 2 C kamut flour, 3/4 C spelt flour and 1/4 C teff flour)
2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
3/4 C cashew powder (1/2 cashews ground into powder in the blender)
1/2 C coconut oil
1 1/4 to 1 1/2 C honey (depending on your sweetness preference) or 2 C sugar for vegan recipe
1 T vanilla
6 C old fashioned oatmeal
1 C chocolate chips or dried fruits or nuts

Directions: Heat oven to 350 Bake 8 to 10 min.
1. In a small bowl pour in milk and vinegar. Set aside for about 10 min. So milk can curdle.

2. Measure and pour the flour, salt and soda in a separate bowl.

3. In a mixing bowl, beat oil, honey and cashew powder till nice and creamy. Then beat in the vanilla. Then beat in the milk mixture.

4. Then alternate adding the flour and the oatmeal. Fold in the Chips.

5. Scoop on the cookie dough on to cookie sheet. (I used parchment paper.)

6. Don't over bake just cook till light golden. Cool on cooling rack.

The cashew powder added a creaminess to the cookie.

* You could flatten them before baking if you want a flatter cookie.

* Cider vinegar can be used in baking to work as a binding and leavening agent. Very Cool! :)

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

Healthy Chewy Chocolate Peanut Butter Granola Bars

This recipe has some of my favorite food combinations in them, peanut butter, oatmeal and choc. chips, and I would say they are fairly healthy. :) When I bit into one of these the word that came to mind was "Yum"! I gave one to my son before his tennis practice, and he said he liked it. It is always nice to hear those words. :) I plan to wrap these up individually, and then they will be ready to go.Ingredients:

1/2 C coconut oil
1/2 C honey
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp vanilla
3 T peanut butter (gives the flavor without all the calories)
1/2 C almonds chopped finely
1/2 C chocolate chips chopped up
1/2 C unsweetened coconut
1/4 C sesame seeds
3 1/2 C oatmeal

Directions:

1. In a saucepan on the stove, pour in honey, oil, peanut butter. Stir until all melted. Then add the cinnamon and vanilla. I let it reach to a boil, and then let it boil 2-3 min.

2. In a food chopper or blender pour in almonds and chips. Chop them up into small pieces.

3. Then in a bowl mix together, coconut, sesame seeds and oatmeal, until all combined. Then pour the hot liquid on top and stir together. Then pour the almonds and chocolate chip mixture in and stir until all combined.

4. Press into pan. I used a 9x13 inch pan and it didn't quite cover all of it. I wanted to keep them thicker. You could also press into a cookie sheet. Let cool. Cut into bar size pieces and wrap individually.

I am excited about this recipe, I hope you enjoy them!