Avocado Brownies

Sounds healthy? Sounds kind of weird? Sounds…delicious? All three!

Avocado is a great base for rich, creamy dishes. It not only adds a moist texture, but is FULL of good fats and nutrients. Paired with some good quality dark chocolate, you won’t even miss the cholesterol and animal products!

Ingredients:

• 300g dark chocolate
• 2 tbsp coconut oil
• 2 Hass avocados
• ½ cup sweetener (I used agave syrup)
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 3 eggs / egg replacers**
• ½ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1/3 cup flour of choice
  ** I used Neat Egg egg replacer for the firm time, and love it! It’s a blend of ground chickpeas and chia seeds. Chia seeds + water works great as well!

 

Once you've gathered all of your ingredients, it's time to bake!

Blend avocados until creamy

Prep Time: 30 Minutes:

1.     Preheat oven to 400° F

2.     Line or coat a 9 x 13 pan

3.     Blend avocados in a food processor / blender until smooth and set aside

4.     Melt dark chocolate and coconut oil together until smooth

** I used a glass bowl over simmer water

5.     Combine dark chocolate/ coconut oil mixture with the avocado, sweetener and vanilla until smooth

6.     Add egg replacers one at a time, combining thoroughly before adding the next.

7.     Stir in unsweetened cocoa powder and flour of choice until thoroughly combined.

8.     Pour batter into prepared pan and bake for 12-15 minutes

9.     Top with powdered sugar and enjoy!

 

 

 

These turned out rich, creamy and delicious. Bring these to a potluck, and no one would know they're dairy-free, egg-free, and made without any refined sugars! For added sweetness top with your favorite frosting or fresh berries!

Reference recipes: http://www.frugalmomeh.com/2016/04/avocado-brownies.html

BBQ Chickpea Wrap

BBQ Chickpea Wrap

After saving a large quantity of chickpeas from being thrown away during my brother's recent move, i've been looking for awesome new recipes. After attempting some oven roasted chickpeas that didn't turn out quit crispy enough, I went for something even simpler, a wrap. This recipe takes 10 minutes, and as little as 4 ingredients!

Ingredients:
- 1 can drained chickpeas
- Your favorite BBQ Sauce
- Lettuce
- Tortilla

Additional Topping Ideas:
- Carrots
- Onions
- Hummus
Prepare:
1. Heat up 1/3 cup BBQ sauce and 1/4 cup water in sauce pan
2. Add in 1 can of drained chickpeas and let simmer. Add BBQ sauce to taste.
3. Load up wrap as desired and enjoy!

Ezekiel wraps are very crumbly, next time I will not be using them.

BUT, turned out delicious!

Protein Trail Cookies

Oatmeal Raisin Chocolate Chip Trail Cookies

I've been baking for years. I always loved looking through my mom's cookbook, picking out a recipe and gathering all the ingredients. As I got older and began making healthy substitutions, I stopped following these recipes and started creating my own. I find that most days when I go to create something new, I prefer throwing together whatever I think will taste good and hope for the best. Most of the time this unconventional method yields pretty tasty results!

A few weeks ago some hikers offered us protein cookies mid-trail, and a lightbulb went off. Why had I never made these?! These have good protein, carbs, and a bit of chocolate!

Ingredients:

• 2.5 Cups Rolled Oats
• 1/4 Cup Chocolate Pea Protein Powder
• 1/3 Cup Dairy-Free Chocolate Chips
• 1/3 Cup Raisins
• Cinnamon to taste
• Nutmeg to taste
• 1/2 Tbsp. Baking Soda
• 2 Tbsp. Unsweetened Vanilla Almond Milk
• 1/4 Cup Agave Sweetener
• 1/2 Cup Unsweetened Applesauce
• 1 Ripe Banana Mashed

Method:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit
• Combine dry ingredients: Oats, Pea Protein Powder, Cinnamon, Nutmeg, Baking Soda
• Blend Sweetener, Applesauce, Mashed Banana, Almond Milk and mix in with dry ingredients
• Fold in Chocolate Chips and Raisins
• Form into balls and place on lined baking sheet. Bake 11-13 minutes.

Plant Based 7-Layer Dip!

This Super Bowl Sunday I wanted to try a healthier version of a snack table classic that everyone would enjoy. The traditionally fat and cholesterol loaded dip becomes something you won't want to avoid with a few simple swap-outs. While all the ingredients could be created from scratch, I made this batch from pre-made items.

Layer 7: Trader Joe's Sweet Corn and Chile Tomato-Less Salsa

Layer 6: Chopped romaine

Layer 5: Heidi Ho's Delicious Plant Based Cheese: "Spicy!"

Layer 4: Chopped romaine

Layer 3: Trader Joe's Guacamole

Layer 2: Chopped romaine

Layer 1: Trader Joe's Traditional Style Fat-Free Refried Beans

As someone who loves to cook, but became self conscious about my pot-luck style contributions, this dip gave me a serious confidence boost! It was loved by all, and no one was missing the shredded cheese and sour cream! 

Finished within 10 minutes!

On-the-Go Snacks

When you’re on-the-go and living a healthy active lifestyle, having go to favorite snacks are a must. Here are a few of mine that you can almost always find stashed in my purse, car or gym bag!

Some of my favorites!

1.     Fresh and dried fruit: Fresh is always better the number one choice, and usually will be an apple, banana or dates. However, my go-to dried fruit is Trader Joe’s “Just Mango Slices”. I usually bring these on hikes as my own plant based “Jerky”.

2.     Bars: while I’m not proud of it, I don’t make NEARLY as many homemade granola bars as I used to and picking up some bars on-the-go is extremely convenient. 

a.     High Activity: Luna Bars, Lara Bars Clif Bars and Clif Builder Bars. These extra calories, Carbs and Protein are definitely needed.

b.      Low Activity: Lara Bars, Clif Kid’s Bar, Trader Joe’s Just Fruit bars, local natural bars. 

3.     Coconut Water: after a hike, or a long day of being in the sun, I look to Coconut Water (regular, not flavored), to re-hydrate!

4.     GORP : Good ol’ raisins and peanuts, AKA trail mix!

5.     Pretzels/Chex Mix:  definitely not the healthiest option, BUT sometimes after a long day of hiking (and sweating away all your salt) you want something crunchy and salty!

Comment below some of your favorites!

Green Smoothie Bowl

This perfect green smoothie bowl is packed full of nutrients, without tasting like you're drinking a handful of spinach!

Layer in blender:
- 2 cups spinach
- 8 oz. Coconut Water
-1 cup fresh papaya
- 1/2 cup fresh pineapple
-1 frozen banana

Top with my 'Must Make Muesli' and Enjoy!!

[Healthier] Marshmallow-Free Rice Krispies

Growing up Rice Krispie Treats were always a QUICK & EASY dessert, that I LOVE. This is a plant-based spin on a true fall classic.

Ingredients:
  4 Cups Puffed Rice Cereal
  2/3 Cup Brown Rice Syrup
  1/4 Cup Coconut Oil
  Dash of Salt
  1 Tbs. of Vanilla
  Food Coloring

 Next time I will add in nut butter, and possibly some chocolate chips!