Spiced Chocolate and Banana Smoothie

Ingredients: (See Spiced Cashew Milk Smoothie with Lucuma Recipe)

Use 2 Cups of the Spiced Cashew Milk Smoothie with Lucuma as your base.

Add in: 

1 Tsp of Organic Pure Cocoa Powder ( or Cacao powder) 

1 Organic Banana 

1Tablespoon of Organic Honey 

3 Icecubes 

Blend in Blender on High until combined. 

This is a very thick and almost pudding like smoothie. It is filling and would make a great quick breakfast or snack. My 6 year old asked for seconds! 

Lula's Granola

AHHH summertime. Hikes, swimming, riding bikes, playing tag, sliding down slides, treasure hunts and leaping thru the sprinkler all before noon... 

I need all the energy I can get to keep up with our active and inquisitive little girl. 

She is always bouncing..literally..ALWAYS! She's like that Tiger that's friends with the fluffy little bear. Springs in her feet and excitement about everything. 

So, to keep up the best I can I try to give my body all it needs to be nourished and healthy. One way I do this is to keep this amazing granola in the house. It is great for breakfast, as a snack, or to take along for those wonderfully busy summer days. It is packed with everything sunny and bright, just like our little girl who's name it shares. Lula. She has given it a gold star..I hope you enjoy it too!

 

Ingredients: 

1/4 Cup Tri-colored Quinoa 

3 Cups Organic Gluten Free Oats (plus 1/8 Cup you add to the finished dish)  

3 Tablespoons Flax Seeds

1/2 Cup Raw Almonds 

1/2 Cup Raw Pumpkin Seeds

1/2 Cup Chopped Pecans 

1/4 Cup Organic Sunflower Seeds

1/2 Cup Organic Rasins 

1/2 Cup Dried Cranberries 

1 teaspoon Cinnamon 

1/4 teaspoon Tumeric 

1 Tablespoon Unsweetned Cocoa Powder  (or Carob powder)

1 Tablespoon Teff Flour 

Pinch of Kosher Salt 

1/4 Cup Coconut Oil

1/4 Cup Organic No Sugar added Peanut Butter

1/4 Cup plus 1 Tablespoon Organic Wildflower Honey

1/2 Teaspoon Organic Madagascar Vanilla 

2 teaspoons Coconut Sugar 

Directions:

In a large bowl combine the first 14 ingredients ( leaving out the 1/8 cup oats for the finished granola) 

Stir well to combine. 

In a small bowl combine the Peanut Butter and Coconut oil. Warm in microwave for 10 seconds or until just melted. To the Coconut Oil mixture add the honey and vanilla, Stir. Pour over the dry ingredients and stir until well combined. 

Preheat oven to 325. On a Silpat or parchment lined cookie sheet gently pour the granola mixture and spread out to an even layer. Bake for 20 mins. Turn the heat off on your oven. Remove the cookie tray from oven and carefully stir the granola. Place back into the oven and leave the door ajar. After another 5 mins remove the granola and stir once more. Remove and place cookie sheet on a cooling rack. Let it cool stirring every 10 mins until it is cool to the touch. Sprinkle over the 2 teaspoons of Coconut Sugar and 1/8 Cup reserved Oats. Stir to combine. 

Store in an airtight container. 

Can be packed up as a good "on the go" snack, added to your favorite dairy free yogurt, or simply in a bowl with your favorite milk substitute and fresh fruit. On a chilly day you can add 1/3 Cup of the granola to 1/4 Cup milk Substitue to a bowl, stir and warm in the microwave for 1 minute. 

Ginger & Maryanne Smoothie

Makes 4 8oz smoothies

Ingredients:

1 Banana-peeled. Frozen or fresh 

1/4 Teaspoon Fresh Grated Ginger

1/2 Tablespoon Unsweetned shredded coconut

1/4 Cup Frozen Chunk Pineapple

1/4 Cup Frozen Sliced Strawberries 

1/4 Cup Frozen Sliced Peaches 

2 Cups Organic Unsweetned Orange Juice 

  

Directions: 

Combine all ingredients in blender. Add more orange juice if you prefer a juicy consistency rather than a slushy consistency. 

I make a mix of fresh fruits and freeze in portion sized labeled freezer bags so I can quickly grab one and have my fruit pre-measured for my smoothies. If you don't have frozen fruit you can always use fresh and add about 4-5 ice cubes. 

*The ginger in this smoothie is great to help soothe an upset tummy.* 

Blackberry & Lemon Waffles

I adore Sunday mornings. I love a leisurely cup of coffee and a big breakfast or brunch. Most of all I love time with my family in our pajamas. Sundays are our days to enjoy the things we miss durning the weeks hurried pace. Today I treated my family to a stack of luscious blackberry and lemon waffles drenched in pure maple syrup. We all left the table with full tummies and stickey maple syrup smiles. 

Ingredients:

1 1/2 Cup Blackberries ( you can use frozen if fresh aren't available just thaw them first) plus some for garnish

3 Tablespoons Fresh Lemon Juice

1/2 Teaspoon Lemon Zest

3 Tablespoons Coconut Sugar

2 Cups of Organic Soy Milk ( or Milk substitute of your choice)

2 1/2 Cups Sweet Rice Flour 

3 Teaspoons Baking Powder

1 Teaspoon Baking Soda

1 Teaspoon Kosher Salt 

1/8 Cup Melted Butter Substitue 

3/4 Cup Unsweetned Organic Applesauce 

1 Teaspoon Flax Oil 

3 Eggs well beaten

1/2 Teaspoon Madagascar Vanilla 

Organic Pure Maple Syrup

Directions:

Place Blackberries, 2 Tbsp. Lemon juice and 2 Tbsp. Coconut Sugar in a small bowl and stir. ( if using frozen berries do this 2 hours or so before you plan to make the waffles so they thaw)

Let this mixture sit while you prepare the rest of the waffle ingredients so the flavors can come together. 

In a large bowl whisk together the Soy Milk and 1 Tablespoon of Lemon Juice. 

In a separate bowl combine the Rice Flour, Baking powder, Baking Soda, 1 Tablespoon Coconut Sugar and Salt. 

Next add vanilla, applesauce, flax oil, eggs and lemon zest to the Soy Milk mixture. Whisk until combined. Add in blackberry mixture and stir gently. Add wet ingredients into dry ingredients a little at a time being careful not to over mix. Stir in the melted butter subsitute. Let stand for 5 mins. 

Using a small ladle scoop batter on to your prepared waffle iron. Bake in waffle iron using manufacturer's directions for baking. 

Serve Warm with Fresh Blackberries & Organic Maple Syrup.

The waffles can also be frozen and reheated for a quick breakfast another day. Place cooled waffles inbetween layers of wax or parchment paper and seal in a freezer bag. To reheat place in your toaster until thawed and crispy on the outside. 

Happy Sunday. 

 

Oatmeal and Peach Smoothie to Celebrate Spring

1 Cup Frozen Organic Peach Slices

1/4 Cup GF Oats

1 Organic Banana 

1/4 Tsp Cinnamon 

2 Cups Unsweetned Vanilla Almond Milk 

1/8 tsp Flaxseed Oil

Blend all ingredients together until combined. Makes 2 smoothies. 

Happy Spring! 

Shamrock Smoothie

Ingredients: 

1 Cup of Fresh Spinach Leaves

2 Bananas 

2 Cups of Soy Milk ( or other milk alternative) 

1 Tablespoon Coconut Sugar

1-2 Tablespoons of Organic Honey ( depending on how sweet you like it use more) 

1/2 Teaspoon Madagascar Vanilla 

1/4 Cup Raw Almonds

1 Cup of Ice 

Directions: 

Add everything to your blender and blend until combined

Pour into glass and enjoy! 

*Makes 4 8oz Smoothies

My daughter LOVES this smoothie and always asks for seconds. Of course she has no idea it has spinach in it.. But hey, as a mom I have my little secrets. 

Pumpkin Oatmeal Casserole

Pumpkin Oatmeal Casserole:

 

Preheat oven to 350

Bakes for 45-50 mins

Serves: 8

 

1/2 Cup Chopped Pecans 

8oz Pumpkin Purée 

1 1/2 Cups Almond Milk (or milk alternative of your choice)

2 Cups GF Oats

1/4 Cup Agave nectar or Honey

Pinch of Salt

1/8 Teaspoon Allspice 

1/4 Teaspoon Nutmeg 

1  Teaspoon Cinnamon 

1 Teaspoon Vanilla 

1 Tablespoon of butter alternative to dot on top ( I like the soy free Earth Balance) 

3 Tablespoons Organic Pure Maple Syrup 

 

Grease a 1 1/2 Quart baking dish. 

Mix all ingredients together in a large bowl. ( will be a bit thicker than pancake batter) 

Add to baking dish and dot the top with butter. 

Bake at 350 for 45-50 Mins

Top with Maple Syrup

 

Serve warm. 

Could also be made the day before and reheats well.( Can add 2 Tablespoons of Almond Milk to rehydrate it a little if needed.) 

I make this on Sunday and eat it all week.  

(GF,RSF,DF,YF,Vegan) 

Optional Add In's: 

1/2 Cup Rasins

1/2 Cup diced Apple

Link to the butter subsitute I use: 

http://earthbalancenatural.com/product/soy-free-buttery-spread/