Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies!

 I came up with this recipe after looking through my cabinets and finding nothing to satisfy my sweet tooth one weekend. I have cravings ALL the time and they tend to come out more often on the weekends. So I have been really working on satisfying myself with little treats here and there throughout the week so I do not crash and burn on the weekend. It is all about finding a balance in your diet. Crushing a whole box of girl scout cookies at once can be harmful, but enjoying 3 or 4 here and there won't have a huge impact on your diet.

We are surrounded by delicious desserts everywhere we go. Depriving yourself of indulgences is completely absurd no matter how strong your will-power is! What most people miss to realize is the healthy alternative to making these scrumptious desserts!

So here is a great recipe you can try out with just a few ingredients and feel good about indulging in! Although this recipe does not fall into my "healthy" category it is a TREAT! Enjoy the sweet moments!

 "Breathe. Let go. And remind yourself that this very moment is the only one you know you have for sure.”

 “The good Lord gave me a brain that works so fast that in one moment I can worry as much as it would take others a whole year to achieve"

-I am working on this :)

INGREDIENTS

1/2 cup of butter (I used a butter made of olive oil which has a lighter taste and is a ton better for your health)

1/2 cup of brown sugar

1/4 cup of Turbinado

1-1/2 cup (s) of Almond Milk

1/2 cup Whole Wheat Flour

1 tbsp Cinnamon

1/2 cup Old Fashion Oats

1/4-1/2 cup Peanut Butter Chocolate Chips

In a medium bowl, mix together butter, brown sugar and turbinado until creamy.

Then, add in Almond milk, whole wheat flour and cinnamon. Mix until smooth but do not over mix!

Then fold in the oats and peanut butter chocolate chips!

Pour evenly into a muffin pan. I greased mine lightly so I didn't have to use the cupcake wrappers. Bake at 350 degrees for 12-15 minutes or until golden brown. I like mine a little bit crispy! And since these were cookies in a cupcake dish they might need a little longer to bake!

I must say I ate about 3 of these and was extremely full and my sweet tooth was totally satisfied! I love adding oats to any cookie recipe because it adds fiber and bulk! Enjoy these crispy, creamy cookie cupcakes!!!

Vegan Mac and Cheese

So I tried out this recipe a few weeks ago and must say it was a very mild version of mac and cheese. In fact, there is NO cheese at all and a whole serving of vegetables mixed into it! I grew up on mac and cheese but looking back I can truly see how horrible and full of processed foods it really was. So here is a diet friendly version!

If you enjoy baked crispy pastas with an Alfredo-like creamy interior, this one is for you! You won’t believe it is completely free of any animal products and sneaks in 4 vegetables to boot! It makes the perfect lunch or dinner on a chilly day. Inspired by oh she glows blog

Ingredients:

• 1/2 medium potato, peeled and chopped
• 1/2 large carrot, peeled and chopped
• 1/2 small onion, peeled and chopped (about 1/4-1/3 cup)
• 1.5 cups raw cashews
• 1 cup unsweetened almond milk
• 4 garlic cloves
• 6 tbsp fresh lemon juice
• 3 tsp kosher salt
• 2 tbsp nutritional yeast
• Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
• 1 tsp mustard
• ~300-340 grams dry/uncooked Macaroni or other pasta (I used whole wheat rotini)
• 1 slice bread
• 1 tbsp Earth Balance or butter
• Fresh or dried parsley, to garnish (optional)
• Paprika, to garnish

Directions: Preheat oven to 350F. Grab a small casserole dish and set aside. In a medium sized pot, add the chopped potatoes, carrots, and onion and fill with water until just covered. Bring to a boil and then reduce to low-medium heat. Cook for about 15 minutes until tender.

Meanwhile, process 1 slice of bread until crumbs form in a food processor. Add in 1 tbsp of Earth Balance (or butter) and process until incorporated. Place in a small bowl and set aside.

Now assemble your cheese sauce ingredients (cashews, almond milk, garlic, lemon, salt, yeast, pepper, mustard) and add just the cashews to food processor. Process until a fine crumb forms similar to corn meal. Now add in the rest of the cheese sauce ingredients and process until smooth.

Once the veggies are cooked, drain and add to cheese sauce mixture in food processor. Process until smooth.

Add your pasta to a medium sized pot and fill with water until the pasta is covered by about 1 inch or so. Bring to a boil and reduce to low, cooking for about 7 more minutes. Drain and rinse with cold water.

In a large bowl, mix together your cheese sauce and drained + rinsed pasta.

Scoop into your casserole dish and sprinkle with the breadcrumb mixture. Now garnish with paprika and bake in the oven for 30 minutes at 350F.

Allow to cool for about 10 minutes before serving. Sprinkle with chopped fresh parsley or dried parsley if you’d like.

Serves approx 4-6.

Note: This is a heavy and drier mac ‘n cheese. If you want it less dry, you might want to add some Earth Balance/butter or additional milk. Graham added some cheese to his and I must say it made it pop! Although it would not be vegan it is still a healthy vegetarian choice! I loved the crispy Alfredo-like texture of this dish and it was soo good as left overs!

Enjoy!

Change your LIFE!

So I am all about becoming better, refreshed, and renewed with each day and the experiences that it may bring or the aftermath I am left with. Yesterday I experienced an amazing partner yoga class with all of my co-workers, although they are really my family! The experience of being in a room filled with so much compassion a willingness to elevate this world warmed my heart. For those of you unaware, I work for the best company in the world, lululemon athletica! http://www.lululemonathletica.com/

Today, I came across an article that caught my eye. It was titled "5 Questions That Could Change Your Life." The first question I want you to ask yourself is -What's one thing you could stop doing today that would have the most positive impact in your life?

The Second question I want you to ask yourself is - What's one thing that your could start doing today that would have the most impact in your life?

Asking the question - "What's one thing I could stop doing" gives you the opportunity to challenge ritualized routines and habits you may want to leave  behind on your path to a more fulfilling life. It helps you find the energy that is being drained from your life and eliminate them or work to lessen them, leaving you feeling lighter, happier and more excited about the future!

Yoga. The main pathway in my life that has lead me to extreme self reflection. When is the last time you have listened to your body actually breathe? I encourage you to try it! How amazing it is that the body never makes mistakes!? Your lungs never forget to inhale...exhale. Your heart never misses a beat. Try to relate this towards how you can regulate your life relating back to these two questions.

Cooking. My other pathway to freedom in relaxation! Cooking is so personal, so adventurous and healthy (well, most of the time). I encourage you to try a new recipe you have always wanted to and make it your own. This might be something you can add in to better your life one small step at a time!

Here is an amazing recipe that happens to be full of energy and flavors!

Fruit and Nut Energy Bites

Ingredients:

• 1/3 cup whole-grain all-purpose flour or whole wheat flour
• 1/8 tsp baking soda
• 1/8 tsp baking powder
• 1/4 tsp sea salt
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon
• 1/3 cup light brown sugar
• 1 1/2 cups toasted walnuts (can also use pecans, hazelnuts or almonds), chopped
• 1/2 cup dried cherries or cranberries
• 12 dates (approx 1 cup chopped dates), pits removed and chopped (or figs, and/or prunes)
• 1 flax egg (1 tbsp ground flax + 3 tbsp water)
• 1 tbsp almond milk
• 1/2 tsp 1 tsp pure vanilla extract

Directions: Preheat oven to 325F. Line a square pan (8 or 9 inch) with parchment paper across both sides for easy lifting. In a small bowl mix together the flax egg and set aside.

Chop and toast the walnuts for 8-9 minutes at 325F. Remove from oven and set aside. Toasting the nuts really brings out the flavour so you don’t want to skip this step.

In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, sugar, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt. Stir in the walnuts and dried fruit. Make sure the nuts and dried fruit are all coated with the flour mixture.

My chopped fruit: cranberries, dates and dried cherries.

Lulu checking it out!

Mix the vanilla into the flax egg after it has thickened up after about 10 minutes.

Add the flax egg mixture and the 1 tbsp almond milk to the fruit and nut mixture and mix well.

Spread into the pan, pressing with fingers to even it out. I used the palm of my hand to spread it evenly.

Bake for about 33-35 minutes at 325For until golden in colour. Remove from pan and allow to cool on wire rack for 10 minutes. Now transfer back into the pan and place in freezer to set for 10 minutes.

Remove from pan once again and allow to cool for about 10 minutes. Now slice the bites up with a sharp knife. Makes 16-20 bites depending on how large you make them. I made them smaller as they are very dense energy wise

Enjoy!

Spring is here!

So we all know Spring is now here!  As the days have gone by and the rain falls I noticed beautiful purple flowers poking up through our rough mulch! I am also positive I have two beautiful bulbs of tulips coming into bloom too and I couldn't be more excited since they happen to be my favorite flowers!

I must admit, I have a stack of recipes I have been wanting to post but have put them on the back burner. Going through school, adding new yoga classes, and organizing my Japan community Challenge (You will hear more soon!) to raise $5000.00 has kept me quite busy!

But I must share this wonderful spring smoothie! I am such a tea drinker. Green, black, lemon, you name it! But now that winter has passed I change to different flavored smoothies for the morning and afternoon. I have been experimenting with Hemp Protein because it is simply the best natural plant protein out there. But it has a disgusting grainy after taste that I have forced myself to get used to. I have found that many fruits do a great job at masking the grainy texture and it is so worth it, because the benefits of Hemp protein is outstanding!

Hemp contains protein, fiber, carbohydrates, vitamin E, phytosterols, and trace minerals, which makes it a nutritionally beneficial food choice. Two-thirds is edistine, which bolsters the immune system and aids in digestion, and the other one-third is albumin.

(This is the brand I use)

Hemp is considered a "complete" protein because it contains all 20 amino acids, including nine essential ones that must be consumed because the body does not produce them.

Hemp contains high concentrations of essential omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids in an ideal ratio of 1:3. Hemp oil contains two beneficial polyunsaturated fatty acids, gamma-linolenic acid (GLA) and stearidonic acid (SDA).

Spring Berry Smoothie with Peanut Butter

1/2 cup of Frozen Cherries

1/2 cup of Fresh Strawberries

1/4 cup of Almonds

2 tbsp of Shelled Hemp Seeds

2 tbsp of Hemp Protein Powder

2 tbsp of Peanut Butter

Desired amount of Soy milk

(I like my smoothies very runny and not thick)

3-6 ice cubes

 

1) Add cherries, strawberries, almonds and shelled hemp seeds.

2.) Then add in Hemp Protein and Peanut butter.

3.) Add in remaining ingredients and blend until smooth and creamy!

Pour and enjoy! This smoothie is the perfect breakfast or snack. Packed with all of your fat and protein needs it also supplies you with available carbohydrates for immediate energy!

 And the best part is you cannot even taste the hemp protein! Play around with different fruits and find your favorite smoothie!

Maple Cinnamon Almond Butter with Hemp, Flax, and Chia Seeds!

So I have been wanting to make my own peanut butter for some time now! When I got my food processor for my birthday I knew I could finally put it to the test. I am a HUGE fan of peanut butter! I love the creamy texture and the smoothness when you put it on something warm how it melts in your mouth like chocolate!

I came across this recipe from one of my favorite blogs. It happens to be Almond butter (but even better!) To add some more nutrients the ingredients called for shelled hemp seeds, chia seeds, and pure maple syrup. If you have ever had PURE maple syrup you know less is more. Even though it can cost a fortune I would rather spend my money on something real than a bunch of sugar and preservatives for shelf life.

So here is the recipe, and it is super easy too!

1 cup of raw (unsalted) almonds

2 tbsp of hemp seeds

2 tbsp of chia seeds

3 tbsp of pure maple syrup

*This only makes about 1/2 cup so if you would like more double the recipe

1.) Mix together all of the ingredients and stir until they are all combined.

2.) Spread onto a cooking sheet (I covered mine in wax paper for less clean up) and cook for 30 minutes at 350 degrees. Stir half way through

The smell of these almonds cooking in the pure maple syrup was so amazing! When I took them out I nippled on a few and they would be such a great snack!

After they cool for a few minutes put them into a food processor.

Process for a full 10 minutes scraping the sides if necessary.

So creamy and rich!!!!

I added this almond butter to my chocolate chip oatmeal pancakes and it was my new favorite breakfast meal!

Spread it over your favorite fruit for a nice snack!

This was such an easy recipe where you can enjoy it for days! I cannot wait to make it again!

Enjoy!

The Yin and Yang of Food

So I LOVE cooking! But there is one thing I enjoy almost as much as cooking, grocery shopping! I love going in with my list (yes it is necessary) and filling my cart with fresh veggies, fruits and whole grains!

I recently just went read through a chapter for my school (Integrative Nutrition) where I was studying the Yin and Yang of foods. The main focus was centered around cravings (don't we all have them) and I left the session wanting to share all of my new learning's with the world! Although cravings will be another blog post I wanted to share the root of where many come from.

Yin and Yang. Polar opposites. Gravity (Yang) and centrifugal force (Yin). They both work together whether we are aware or not. Up and down, in and out. This law translates into the food we eat, and our bodies take huge notice to this law!

YIN FOODS:

-White flour

-Milk, yogurt

-Alcohol

-Caffeine

YANG FOODS:

-Red meat

-Eggs

-Cheese

-SALT

As a society, eating the standard American diet, many eat both extreme YANG and YIN foods that are  highly processed, high in fats, salts and chemicals.  And because of this, it creates extreme imbalances in the body, creating cravings. If you are eating extreme Yang foods your body will crave extreme Yin foods.

 Over time, eating in such extremes will create symptoms like headaches, diabetes, cancer, and the number one killer in America, heart disease. Over time many people turn to over the counter drugs, less sleep, more stress. When did it become normal for us to take aspirin daily??)

The only way to lessen these cravings is to incorporate BALANCING FOODS into our diet.

-Leafy greens

-Whole grains

-Vegetables

-Some fish

-Fruits and nuts

THINK ABOUT THIS: When you have a diet full of balancing foods and eat them consistently you find yourself having more energy, sleeping better, having a balanced mood, less stress, AND YOU HAVE LESS CRAVINGS!

So back to shopping for food at the grocery. When you are looking for foods, keep in mind the balancing foods. I am not saying you must avoid the Yin and Yang (I love me some pizza on Friday nights which happens to be very Yang and salty!) but it will benefit your overall health and cut down your cravings if you base your diet around BALANCING FOODS.

Another way to speed up the cooking process is pre-washing and pre-cutting. Sometimes (wait all the time) I have things that happen unexpectedly and I need a quick meal (or else I know I am going straight to the nearest cafe) so when time is crunched, I have all of my food ready to go!

Here is a look at some Balancing foods with some yin and yang thrown in there too!

Top shelf: Cowboy caviar (recipe below) cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, mushrooms.

2nd shelf: Carrots, kale, chives, parsley.

3rd shelf: Strawberries, red bell pepper, hummus, cheese.

4th self: Yogurt and eggs.

Have your veggies and fruits washed and ready to eat!

Sliced cabbage. Great to throw some stir fry, salads, or burritos!

Parsley. Great for adding flavor to anything!

Kale, I add this stuff to everything! Such a great super food filled with nutrients!

Apples, grapefruits, lemons, kiwis, watermelon and a ton of bananas (graham goes through these like crazy!)

Veggies and root vegetables. Yams, red potatoes, garlic, onions, avocados, and tomatoes!

Whole Grains! Pasta, pita pockets, couscous, and almonds (nuts and seed). I also always have shelled hemp seeds, and chia seeds to throw in anything and everything!

Need some inspiration? One of my favorite recipes (vegan) is the perfect option when preparing ahead of time so you can enjoy it over and over again without a ton of time in the kitchen.

 Pita Pockets filled with quinoa, cowboy caviar, and yams

 This took me about 10 minutes to put together and it was more than amazing! Slice and cut the yams and cook until tender. I had pre-cooked the quinoa, otherwise cook according to box (about 15 minutes).

RECIPE:

1 green bell pepper

4 vine tomatoes

1 onion (optional)

1 can of black beans (drained and rinsed)

1 can of black eyed peas (drained and rinsed)

1 can of corn (drained and rinsed)

1-1 1/2 cups of your favorite Italian Dressing

Mix and ready to serve! This is a great salsa for dipping or you can add it to a salad, to rice or burritos like I did. Make it your own and have fun with these great flavors!