Crunchy Granola on a Soggy Fall Day

Let me begin by, brrrrr…. it's cold outside, and by cold i mean not 70 degrees….because anything under that IS cold to me! haha. But really, it's been rainy and gloomy for the last few days and I have been stuck inside (by will more than force) baking. GRANOLA! I love granola and what I love even more than granola is pumpkin season! Of course I mixed the two and made some magical deliciousness (not lucky charms, but better.)  I also wanted some chocolate, which isn't weird at all because i'm a girl and chocolate is chocolate. SO I decided on two granolas that I wanted to make! The first was Pumpkin chia chai.  Don't let that confuse you because Chia is the seed, and Chai is the spice! I LOVE chai spiced anything! It really compliments pumpkin and is even Fall(y) on it's own! I don't think that is a word but, whatever. The second was Carob/Cocao and it was love at first munch.  They compliment each other if you want to make both and eat them side by side on some yogurt or with some almond milk! And yes, you should be excited because these are GOOD.

The pumpkin/cinnamon smell is still taking over my house from this one! No complaints here.

mmmm chocolatey goodness.

Picked some fresh raspberries from the garden because they are gorgeous!

RECIPE(S)

First I'll start with the 

PUMPKIN CHIA CHAI

In this recipe you can use peaches if you are like me and had A TON from your trees or you can use Pears, either really goes great! 

WHAT YOU NEED

1/2 C All Bran

2 C Rolled Oats

1/2 C Sunflower Seeds (I used salted)

3 TBLS Chia Seeds

2 TBLS Ground Superfood Mix (optional)

2 TBLS Coconut Oil

3/4 C Pumpkin Puree

2 Peaches/Pears (small)

1 TSP Vanilla Extract

1 Tsp Pumpkin Pie Spice

2 Tsp + Cinnamon

2 Tsp Dark Agave Syrup

1 Packet Truvia 

(add more if you want it to be more sweet)

Preheat the oven to 300F. 

Put the peaches or pears in the microwave in a  tiny bit of water for about a minute.  

Mix dry ingredients in a bowl. (Except spices)

Turn the peaches over and microwave another 30 seconds.

Peel the peaches and throw into a small saucepan with the coconut oil and pumpkin puree.  Cook on medium/low heat for about 2 minutes while mashing in the peaches a little bit.  

Throw that along with all other ingredients into a food processor or high speed blender and blend. 

Pour mixture over dry ingredients and spread evenly over a greased cookie baking sheet. 

Bake for 50 minutes stirring every 15 ish. Let cool…..anndddd devour! 

For the

 CAROB/COCAO

WHAT YOU NEED

2 C Rolled Oats

1 1/2 C Puffed Kamut

1 C Raw Unsalted Almonds (chopped)

and any other nuts you might want!

3 TBLS Coconut Oil

2 Small Apples

1 TSP Vanilla Extract

2 TBLS Carob Powder

1 TBLS Cocao Powder (or Cocoa either works)

1 TSP Agave Syrup

1 Packet Truvia 

a pinch of sea salt

Preheat oven to 300F.

Mix Dry Ingredients in a bowl.

Microwave sliced apples for about 3 minutes or so until soft.

Heat coconut oil in a small saucepan and throw apples in along with vanilla extract. Cook for a few minutes then throw this along with all other ingredients into a high speed blender or food processor. Blend until smooth (I actually left mine a little rough, it gives it texture)

Pour over dry ingredients and spread evenly over a greased cookie baking sheet.

Bake at 300 for 45 minutes stirring every 15 minutes or so! Let cool…or not. Munch.

ENJOY!

Nutriton Facts

Granola calories don't count. Just eat it.

Carob Chip Cookie Dough Protein Bars

My sweet tooth is unreal most days and I usually try to settle it with something vegan and moderately healthy. It doesn't always do the job, but these bars take care of business! I know that it is weird to have chickpeas in something sweet but TRUST ME you can't even taste them at all and they add such a creaminess without using any dairy while adding protein too! These seriously taste like chocolate chip cookie bars. So dang good. I ate two of them already in under 10 minutes, whoops! I regret nothing.

This is the Vegan Protein I use most often! It's really good and adds a yummy flavor.

Carob Chips are SOO yummy.

I just soak these chia seeds in almond milk and it makes a "chia egg"

Before….

AFTER!!!!

Eat up! (they're good for you)


Ingredients

1 C Oats
1 Can Chickpeas ( I used organic)
1 Packet Vegan Protein Powder (vanilla)
6 Pitted Dates
1/4 C All Bran Cereal
1/4 C Coconut Yogurt (Plain or Vanilla)
2 Tsp Coconut Sugar
2 Packets of Truvia
1 Tsp Flaxseed Oil
1 tsp Baking Powder
2 Tbls Vanilla extract
A Few Drops Of Rum Extract
1/4 Tsp Sea Salt
1 C Almond Milk
1 Tbls Chia Seeds
1/4 C Carob Chips (unsweetened)

Preheat the oven to 400 F.

First, mix the chia seeds in the cup of almond milk. Let sit until all other ingredients are in the food processor.

Add everything except the carob chips into food processor and blend.  Pour into an 8x8 greased pan and sprinkle with carob chips.

Bake for 28 minutes! Let cool…..or don't. Eat them. All.

*Raw*nola

I've been really trying to eat mostly raw food lately and I love the sweetness that this raw granola adds to any breakfast smoothie or dessert jar! It really is so delicious and sweet you won't believe your mouth. ANNDDD the fact that its raw and pretty good for you is an added bonus! I seriously have trouble not eating it all if I am sitting near this jar for too long. TOO GOOD.

Such simple ingredients!

Do you love my seashell spoon orrrr…? Of course you do.

It's a beauty.

Toss into your food processor 

7-8 Medjool Dates (pitted of course)

1/2 C Raw Oats

1/2 Cup desiccated Coconut (I used organic and unsweetened but use whatever you have)

1 Tsp Coconut Sugar or Agave

1-2 Tsp Cinnamon (depending how spiced you want it)

BLENDDDDDD and of course demolish. Like usual.

This makes about 8 servings

NUTRITION INFO

Calories (g): 105

Fat (g): 2.3

Sodium (mg): 5.8

Potassium (mg): 146.2

Carbs (g): 21.5

Fiber (g): 2.1

Sugars (g): 15

Protein (g): 1.3

Iron (%): 2.3

Best Friend Smoothie Bowls

Today I had to say goodbye to one of my very best friends in the whole world.  Jocelyn has always been such a blast to hang out with and we could honestly laugh at each other for days.  I'll miss her very much.  She drove all the way to Utah from California for my farewell and I am so grateful that she did. Love you JO JO. So, before she left I made her and I a delicious smoothie bowl to cry over....I mean eat. If you didn't already know, I LOVE SMOOTHIE BOWLS.  They are so much more fun than normal smoothies because you can put delicious things on top and eat it with a gigantic spoon to shovel that stuff in the pie hole. So delicious and very nutritious. Oh anddddd I had to use some of my gazzillion peaches that my bountiful tree produced this year! Juicy, juicy, juicy and all over the place lol.

This is about 1/3 of them…..yeah. I have plenty to chow down.

I know this isn't the most attractive thing i've made but it was super delicious so I had to share!

This bowl looks small but it's actually really big.  And i ate it all…..the whole dang thing haha.

P.S. I love love adore love puffed kamut. (the puffed rice looking stuff in the middle) It's so light and fluffy but adds a delicious crunch and earthy flavor to everything! Sometimes I just have it by itself topped with frozen blueberries or oranges and agave and almond milk! It tastes like heaven and replaces my sugary cereal when a craving strikes.

Serves Two

BLEND TOGETHA

2 C Spinach

2 Sticks of Celery

3 Baby Carrots

1/2 C Almond Milk

1 C Coconut Water
(I usually put these in the blender and blend at a high speed for about 20 seconds so it's really smooth)

3 Small or 2 Medium/Large Peaches (peeled)

1 1/2 C Mixed Frozen Berries

1 Banana

2 Tsp Coconut Sugar or Agave


Top with COCONUT my favorite thing in the world, puffed kamut, granola, broken up BLYSS balls, or more fruit!
 Devour.

<ENJOY>

Raspberry-Peach-Protein-Jars

I honestly didn't know what to call these works of art, but they are delicious and have many beautiful layers and I think I'm in love.  Why does putting something in a mason jar automatically make it better in my brain? I don't know but you should try these for yourself and tell me what you think! They look complicated but I promise they are really simple, and well worth your 15 minutes+30 seconds to Devour! Get your spoons ready….

I actually bought this Quinoa at TJ Maxx. Who woulda thunk?

Favorite Dairy Free Alternatives!

Some Home-grown-at-grandma's peaches!

These peaches were so juicy and fragrant! I love Fresh Peaches.

I love the color that this chia compote turned out to be!

Perfect texture….so creamy!

GLORIOUS.

I seriously can't handle how good these turned out! I ate mine warm but you can always put it in the fridge and wait until it's all cooled. The quinoa gives such a nice nutty flavor and the berries give a tang but it's still perfectly sweet and perfectly healthy! 

What you need

-2 tsp Coconut Sugar (seperated)

-1/3 C Quinoa

2/3 C+ 1/8C Almond Milk

1/3 C Coconut Milk

1 tsp Cinnamon

2 Tbls Chia seeds

2 Small Peaches (peeled)

1/2 C Raspeberries

1 Ripe Banana

1 Scoop Vegan Protein Powder

2 Tsp Maca Powder

a few drops of Stevia or half a packet of Truvia (sweetener)

For the Coconut Quinoa Base: Start by boiling the 2/3 Almond Milk and the Coconut Milk in a small saucepan over medium heat, add Quinoa and Cinnamon let simmer for 15 minutes. While this cooks make the other layers! When it's finished stir in 1 Tsp coconut sugar.

For the Compote: While that is cooking, put the Peaches and Raspberries in a saucepan and turn it onto about medium heat.

As they soften, mash them with a potato masher or a fork and stir while they continue to soften and break down, let them simmer for about 5 minutes, stirring every once in a while. Add the Chia seeds and 1 Tsp Coconut Sugar when it looks like the fruit is bubbly and pretty soft and mix them in well. 

For the Banana/Maca Protein Whip: Blend the banana, Maca Powder, Protein Powder, the Stevia sweetener and 1/8 C Almond milk together in a blender until it looks like a thick "Whip" or pudding. 

Layer the Quinoa Base, then the Compote, and lastly the Whip into two mason Jars. Try Not to lick the spoon EVERY time you put an ingredient into the jar…. :) 

Top with anything you want! I used more fresh raspberries and some organic shredded coconut. Mhmmmm.

Nutrition facts

1 Jar

Calories: 350

Fat(g): 8

Sodium(mg): 95

Potassium(mg): 548

Carbs(g): 42

Fiber(g): 14

Sugar(g): 20

Protein(g): 14

Calcium(%): 40

Iron(%): 35

ALL VEGAN

and PERFECT for breakfast or a dessert! Dig in! 

Berry-Acai smoothie bowl

I love a giant fruit smoothie every once in a while and nothing beats eating a thick one…...out of a bowl…...with a huge spoon! Its better that way so you can top it with all the crunchy/sweet things you want.  Personally, I love the taste of Acai powder, but not everyone agrees.  You can simply omit the powder if you don't want it, but it makes it so much more nutritious (and the purple smoothie color you get is gorgeous!) It turned my whole mouth purple and I felt like a kid again.

THROWWWW into a blender

-1 frozen banana

-1 tsp Maca powder (optional)

-1 C frozen berries

-1 C coconut water

-1/2 scoop vegan (or non vegan) protein powder

-Vegan greek yogurt ( I used So Delicious Vanilla Coconut greek)

-1 Tbls Acai powder

-1 C spinach or kale 

I always keep a big bag of frozen spinach or kale in my freezer to add to my smoothies.

Blend it up, pour it in a bowl, and add your desired toppings!

I put dried organic coconut flakes, dried mulberries, and a broken up BLYSS BALL from my last post!

ENJOY!!!!

BLYSS BALLS

Since I've been craving sweets pretty badly lately, I figured I would do some BLYSS BALLS. They are just that, BLISS BLYSS.  They are a tiny package of goodness. I think it's fun to adjust the recipes I see of these, being made on Pinterest and other blogs, and add in the flavors I want.  They are perfect for an afternoon pick-me-up or a pre-workout boost. These have plentiful amounts of nutrition smashed into them as well! Healthy fats, iron, protein, good sugars for energy and many other things that your hot bod craves. I love them! Here is the recipe I made today. Feel free to add more sweetener, but I don't do very much because i'm a sugar lover  hater.  I rarely eat processed sugar (and for good reason.) Last night I had a (generous) bowl of SUGARY Fruity Pebbles because they sounded so delicious and due to the fact that I don't have much sugar hardly EVER, I was literally bouncing circles around my mom while she was trying to watch TV, assuredly driving her insane, and I made her go on a walk a few minutes later and I crashed…. hard and felt soooo sick.  I'm not about that. She almost had to drag me by my shirt around the block because I felt like a zombie. That's what I get for being healthy I guess…. haha. *thumbs down*

Don't you love my cute periwinkle nails? I may or may not have used my mom's polish that I got for her….She loves me.

I probably ate more carob chips then I actually put in the recipe.  They are like healthy vegan chocolate, you can't go wrong.

YUM. They are pretty delicious, I must say.

To make these balls of Blyssfulness just add to a food processor

-1 cup+ pitted dates (add until you get that sticky consistency that you need)

-1/2 cup raw almonds

-1/2 cup sunflower seeds (shelled obviously)

-1/3 cup sesame seeds (I used black but you can use whatever kind)

-1/4 cup dried goji berries

-2 Tbls unsweetened dried flaked coconut

-2 Tbls carob powder

-1 1/2 Tbls Carob Chips

-1 1/2 tsp ginger powder

-a pinch of coconut sugar (or any kind of sweetener-trivia, agave, honey, etc.)

-a Tbls or less of water

BLEND BLEND BLEND until you get all of the stuff pulverized. Press into little balls! It may take a while but just smash that stuff together really hard and they'll stick. Stick them in the freezer and eat whenever your little heart desires! 

NUTRITIONAL INFORMATION

Servings 18

1 ball per serving 

Calories 113
Fat (g) 4.4
Saturated 0.8
Sodium (mg) 16.6
Potassium (mg) 132
Carbs (g) 16.3
Fiber (g) 2.2
Sugars (g) 12
Protein (g) 3
Calcium (%) 2.9
Iron (%) 3.5