Granola Bites (Protein Packed)

These yummy bars are loaded with protein. They will give you a great energy boost any time of the day. You can make them ahead and store them in air tight container in the fridge and have them when you want a great protein snack. Yum! It is always a winner with chocolate and peanut butter.

Ingredeints

1C. chopped almonds (food processor)

1/2 C. sesame seeds

1/ 2 C. toasted quinoa

4 1/4 C. old fashioned oats
1/4 C. hemp seed Bobs red mill

1/4 C. flax seed (ground) *Optional

1/4 C. chia (ground) *Optional

1/2 C. honey

1/2 C. water

1 1/2 C. natural peanut butter
2 T coconut oil

1/2 C. unsweetened shredded coconut
1 C dark chocolate chips

Directions

1. Pour into a medium sized bowl almonds, sesame seeds, quinoa, oats, hemp, flax, and chia. stir  until completely blended.

2. Then add oat mixture to water, honey, and peanut butter, add coconut oil Mix till all blended. Then fold in coconut and chocolate chips.

3. Firmly press into a jelly 13x9 pan. Compress to make it all level. You can use a spatula. Allow to sit  in fridge until firm. Cut and eat.

4. Store leftovers in fridge in air tight container. 

Flax and Sesame Breaded Fish

It is fun to eat fish different ways. It is also nice when you can incorporate grains in with the fish too. So this is a new way to serve your family fish. You could also put this crumb mixture on chicken. Nice way to add omega 3 to your diet.

Ingredients:
 5 4 oz fish fillets tilapia of salmon
1/3 C water
2 garlic cloves minced
1/3 C soy sauce low sodium
3T flaxseeds

4 T sesame seeds
2 T dried parsley
1/4 tsp crushed red pepper
1./2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper

1 slice of whole grain bread toasted

Directions: Bake at 350
1. In a small bowl place fish and water, garlic and soy sauce in a bowl. Let sit for about 30 min. Prior to putting on the crumb mixture.
 2. In a blender or food processor blend flax seeds, sesame seeds, parsley, red pepper. salt, pepper ,and toast. Pulse it 3 to 4 times. Until nice crumbly mixture. Pour 1/2 the mixture on the plate at a time.
3. Dip the marinated fish into the crumbs then roll it over and cover the other side. Continue the process until all the fish is covered.
4. Place in greased square Pyrex. Bake for about 15 min.  

 

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

Sweet Whole Grain Challah Bread

This is a pretty bread with a nice flavor! I did cook the bread on parchment. I just took it off for the picture. I made mine in the shape of a horse shoe this time.

You could put jelly beans into the braid after it is cooked too. Here is another braided bread!

Ingredients:

The sponge

2 C warm water

1/2 C honey

2 T yeast

2 C whole grain flour (I used 1 C spelt flour 1/2 C kamut flour 1/4  C brown rice flour and  1/4 C oat flour)

The bread

1/2 C coconut oil or olive oil

4 eggs

3 tsp salt
1/4 C honey

8C whole grain flour

1 egg

1 T water

sesame seeds or poppy seeds, cheese or cinnamon and sugar

Directions:

1. In a bowl, pour in water, honey and yeast. I don't even stir them. Just swish it together, moving around the bowl a little. Then let it stand about 10 min.

2. Then stir in 2 C of flour, and cover with a towel. Let sit for 30 min.

3. Stir in egg, and oil until all mixed.

4. Stir in salt, honey , and the rest of the flour. (You want the dough to be sticky, don't add too much flour)

5. Knead by machine 5-8 min or by hand 10 min. The dough should still be sticky

6. Place the dough in an oiled bowl. Cover with a towel. Let rise until doubled. (Or you can let rise overnight in the fridge.)

7. Then divide the dough into 3 equal portions to braid. A scale is helpful to balance it out evenly.

8. Roll each piece into a long rope. Then connect the three pieces at the top and braid the bread.

9. You can make it into a long braid or a circle. Place on parchment paper on cookie sheet.

10. Beat together 1 egg and 1 T water. Brush on 1/2 of the egg mixture, on the top of the bread. Cover with plastic and let rise until double. About an hour to and hour and 1/2. Take off the plastic and brush on the remaining egg.

11. Sprinkle on topping of your choice. I used sesame seeds this time.

12. Preheat oven to 375 . Bake 30 to 40 min you can cover for the last 15 min with foil if it starts getting too brown.

This would be a wonderful bread for Easter!

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!