Snickerdoode-lish Snack Cookies

For tasty other fruit, flax, grain, and nut DR GREGER DAILY DOZEN CHECK MARKS!

TRY THE AWESOME FREE APP!

Snicherdoodle-ish Cinnamon Snack Cookies

1.5 c pitted dates
1.5 c walnuts
1/2 c ground flaxseed
1/2 c Irish oats (steel cut oats)
1 Tbsp cinnamon

Combine all ingredients in a food processor for about 2 min until a dough forms. At this point, you could be done, form into balls or bars, and eat it just like that!

To make cookies, form balls and flatten. Cookies will not change shape during baking. Bake at 350 for ~15 min. Enjoy!

Here is how I sometimes do it. Dump dough on a silicone baking sheet, flatten dough with a second baking sheet. Then use a round tablespoon to sort of cut out cookie shapes right on the baking sheet. It makes about 3.5 dozen cookies. Bake at 350 for ~15 min. Enjoy!

THIS is a post with more cookie recipes (of course all my cookie recipes can be eaten for breakfast!)!

Oil-Free Pesto Bruschetta, Spread, Pasta, Pizza :)

I wanted to add check marks to my basic pesto (Practical Pesto), and the new version reminds me of a tasty bruschetta appetizer when I eat it this way, on a whole wheat cracker slice of toast top with tomato!

This version contains 5 Dr Greger Daily Dozen Check Marks when you include the grain on which it is served.

Oil-Free Pesto Bruschetta

2 cups packed kale, stems removed
1/4 c walnuts
1 T Italian seasoning (homemade Italian spice is tasty!)
1 T basil
2 T flaxseed, ground
2/3 c water
Whole wheat crackers or bread

Blend first 5 ingredients and half of the water in a food processor, then add a bit more water until you reach your desired consistency. Then add to crackers or toast, and top with tomato slices. Enjoy!

OTHER TASTY USES: 

• Pesto and tomato on whole wheat pasta
• Tomato Pesto Pizza
• Cranberry Pesto Pasta Salad

My son prefers the crackers with just the spread, no tomatoes. My younger daughter prefers a full slice of tomato (rather than halves as shown above). How do you and your family like it best?

New Laraball Flavor: Crunchy Pumpkin Spice Cookie Dough!

This delightful recipe was inspired by a Laraball recipe, No-Bake Carrot Cake.

This recipe doesn't make a pretty picture, but it sure is tasty! It also has about 5 check marks on Dr Greger's Daily Dozen checklist from his awesome book, How Not to Die. He provides a list of the healthiest foods to eat every day, according to the best available nutrition evidence.

You'll get 1) nuts, 2) fruit (dates, raisins, pineapple), 3) other vegetables (carrot), 4) spices (turmeric, and more!), 5) flax.

Crunchy Pumpkin Spice Cookie Dough
1 c walnuts (2/3 + 1/3)
1 Tbsp ground flaxseed
2 tsp pumpkin spice
1/4 c raisins
1/4 c pitted dates (5 pieces)
1/2 of a large carrot, chopped in a few pieces
1/4" fresh turmeric
1 piece unsweetened dried pineapple

Simply blend all ingredients (except 1/3 c of walnuts) in a food processor until they stick together like a gooey dough. Add 1/3 c walnuts, and blend a bit more, so you have some extra crunch! Then put the whole dough ball into a resealable bag and make into balls from outside the bag without getting gooey hands. Really, you can just pull/pinch out a piece of the dough, and pop it in your mouth. We refrigerate the dough because it is moister than other Laraballs. Enjoy!

You can also try Skinny Mints which are chocolate-mint Laraballs; they are like Thin Mint Girl Scout cookies and PB and J Poppers!

"Like" my FB page to see on your home page when new posts show up here!

PS- if you haven't, please check out the previous post! Free Naked Food Subscription AND Vegan/Vegetarian Stuff Popping Up Everywhere! It was so fun to make! It's about how we keep hearing about vegetarian, vegan, tufu, organic, etc in shows and books and magazines. I think it's a good sign that more and more people are becoming aware of this healthier way of life! Also, you can subscribe to a new PBWF magazine for free! It's called Naked Food, and it was created in association with The China Study.

WHAT DO YOU THINK? Tell me in a comment below!

Healthy Fudgy Brownies - Simplified!

If you've already tried Peanut Butter Brownies, this recipe won't taste any different. The difference is that THIS RECIPE is EVEN HEALTHIER! I've included some previous text, since it highlights dates!

Like I often say, these are so healthy you could eat them for breakfast! In fact, that is exactly what my 10 yr-old daughter did! She said, "I had to remind myself that these were healthy, so I would stop eating them!" (she actually makes very healthy choices, but that's what she said).

Peanut butter and walnuts are healthy fats, and cocoa has it's own exhausting list of mental and and other health benefits! 

Dates rock! Check out: Dr Greger's endorsement of dates as a healthy food. In a nutshell: a worry is that dates (mostly sugar) may raise our blood sugar, raise our triglycerides, oxidatively stress our bodies, and make us fat. According to recent studies: DATES are FANTASTIC for us! Dates have no effect on triglycerides or weight, and improve antioxidant stress levels. One study proposes that dates may be an almost IDEAL food with their many essential nutrients and health benefits!

Speaking of Dr Greger, this recipe will help you achieve 5 delicious check marks on Dr Greger's Daily Dozen Checklist!

Healthy Fudgy Brownies

1.5 c black beans (or 1 can, drained, rinsed)
3 c pitted dates (60 dates if you're counting!)
2 c walnuts*
1/2" fresh turmeric (or 1/2 tsp)
1/2 tsp cloves
1/2 tsp cinnamon
2 t vanilla
1/2 c ground flaxseed
3/4 c unsweetened cocoa
1.75 c water

In a strong blender, such as a Blendtec or Vitamix, combine ingredients. Add water, 1/2 cup at a time, pulsing between, until mixture is smooth. Line a 12x18" baking sheet with a silicone baking sheet. Alternatively, use several silicone pans (Last time I used a 9x9 square pan, a bread pan, and an 8" round pan to use all the batter). Spread batter about a half inch thick on baking sheet. Bake for 40-50 min at 400 degrees F (convection: 30-40 min at 375). Enjoy!

Gently cut while warm, with a serrated knife.

*Walnuts are healthiest, and one of the least expensive, but probably any nut will work!
**water helps with mixing, but if you omit that last cup of water, or some of it, brownies will be less gooey in the middle.

These are delicious piping hot from the oven! SO YUMMY! AND even tastier the next day...if there are any left!

COMMENTS: What is your favorite dessert? Have you tried a healthy version? Is there a recipe you would like me to try to convert, sweet or savory?

Previous directions (in case this is what you prefer):
In a food processor, combine nuts, dates, spices, beans, and vanilla. Add water, 1/2 cup at a time, pulsing between, until mixture is smooth. In a large mixing bowl, combine mixture with remaining ingredients (flaxseed, cocoa, peanut butter) until smooth. Optional, add up to 1 c additional water**. Line a 12x18" baking sheet with a silicone baking sheet. Spread batter about a half inch thick on baking sheet. Bake for 40-50 min at 400 degrees F (convection: 30-40 min at 375). Enjoy!

Quick and Creamy Kale Couscous Gets 9 Check Marks off Dr Greger's Daily Dozen!

Quick and Creamy Kale Couscous is super easy, nutritious, and delicious! Prepare the dish in 5 minutes and enjoy it all week!

Quick and Creamy Kale Couscous gets 9 Check Marks off Dr Greger's Daily Dozen!

Quick and Creamy Kale Couscous

1 cup whole wheat couscous

2 handfuls kale, ripped, stems removed

1/4 cup walnuts, broken in small pieces

1/4 cup flaxseed, ground

6 dates, pitted, chopped

1 cup black beans, in juice

3 Roma tomatoes, chopped

tsp black pepper

1/2 lemon, squeezed

balsamic vinegar (optional)

Start with dry couscous in your serving bowl. Cover couscous in bowling water, top with kale, cover, and let sit for at least 3 minutes (this will cook the couscous!). Chop dates and tomatoes. Combine all ingredients, and enjoy!

Serve with a side of blueberries and a glass of water, and follow your meal with a brisk walk for a dozen check marks from Dr Michael Greger's Daily Dozen!

I'll also share here, one of Dr Greger's newest videos, which by the way made me cry! Tears of complete admiration and gratitude for all that Dr Greger and his nutritional research team do for the health of the world!

BEHIND THE SCENES AT NUTRITIONFACTS.ORG

Top 4 Party Tips and PB&J Poppers (Revised)!

Party Tips for a Happy Halloween!

(Here is a link to this image)

You will surely be encountering lots of sweets and parties this weekend, which will be fun! Enjoy the good company and smiling (or scary) faces :) As for sweets and treats, here are some helpful tips (ACCHEW!: Away CHeck CHoose Eat Water!):

• EAT up your healthy stuff (some chili, hummus, popcorn, Triscuits, guacamole, an apple, some toasted pecans, etc.) before you encounter all the goodies! It is so much EASIER TO RESIST with a full belly than a growly one.

• CHECK OUT everything that's there, and CHOOSE what really looks like the thing (or things) that you want to enjoy the most! Don't eat anything until you've SEEN the whole spread. Check out Savor Your Sweets!

• Always have a glass of WATER IN HAND at the party. Sometimes people just keep eating and drinking because it's there. If you have your water to drink, that can be the thing that you keep putting to your mouth. Check out Hydrate!

• Finally, MOVE AWAY from all the food. There are plenty of other spots to socialize. Maybe you could snuggle up by a fire!

Try PB&J Poppers for your sweet tooth! One of my FAVORITES!! You can eat them BEFORE the party and/or bring them to SHARE!

PB&J Poppers REVISED*

1 c walnuts

1/4 c peanuts

3/4 c raisins (be sure no sugar is listed in ingredients)

Blend everything in food processor until everything starts sticking together, then form into desired shapes! I almost always do balls, but you could use holiday cutters for a spooky treat!

*The original and this revised recipe are equally delicious, and the revised is even healthier with walnuts (healthiest nut!) and no cherries (since they are usually sweetened)!

Plus, check out these darling little pumpkins that someone made at school :)

(Here is a link to this image)

COMMENTS: Do you like to dress up? What was your favorite Halloween costume ever? My favorite was a simple one that I made for my daughter. She was a flower in a flower pot. It was fun to put it together :)

Peanut Butter Brownies -- Healthy Disguised as Sinful!

Like I often say, these are so healthy you could eat them for breakfast! In fact, I fed them to my kids as an appetizer before dinner! They still ate well, but if they filled up just on these, it would be ok! Dates rock! Peanut butter and walnuts are healthy fats, and cocoa has it's own laundry list of mental and and other health benefits!

To mention dates again, I go back to Dr Greger's endorsement of dates as a healthy food. Here it is in a nutshell: dates are made mostly of sugar, so the worry is that like sugar, dates may raise our blood sugar, raise our triglycerides, oxidatively stress our bodies, and make us fat. According to recent studies: DATES are FANTASTIC for us! No harmful affect on triglycerides or weight, improvements in antioxidant stress level, and one study considers that dates may be an almost IDEAL food with its many essential nutrients and health benefits!

Peanut Butter Brownies

2 c walnuts (or pecans, or some combination of the two, or probably another nut would work!)
3 c pitted dates (60 dates if you're counting!)
2 t vanilla
1.5 c warm water
1/2 c ground flaxseed (optional: updated additional, nutritious ingredient!)
1/2 c unsweetened cocoa
1/2 c natural peanut butter (1/4 c for more of a chocolate brownie; 2/3 c for a peanut buttery brownie!)

Blend all ingredients in a food processor until you have a brownie-batter-ish consistency (no eggs so feel free to enjoy some!). It helps to blend the nuts a while before adding the water.  You may wrap your food processor with a towel when you add the water. Fill pans to thickness you want your brownies to be. I made mine a half inch or so thick. I use two silicone bread pans (4x9" or so) so there are more edges! I also fill something else with what is left; this afternoon I used an 8" round pan.  I bake for ~30 minutes at 375 convection, so that's around 40 minutes at 400 conventional.

Unlike brownies with beans in them, you can feel free to taste and enjoy piping hot from the oven! SO YUMMY!  Happy weekend!

COMMENTS: Do you camp? I've mostly camped as a kid, Girl Scouts, and another random trip or two. I think it's an awesome experience with nature, for anybody, and especially for kids. Now, if I can get my hubby on board! He's a good sport. We did go once when our friends graciously offered up their camper to us, while they slept in their tent. It was fun! I want to do it again! It even had a lasting effect of turning my daughter into a self proclaimed nature-lover :)

Sweetly Stuffed Celery!

This is a refreshing way to have a Laraball, get some extra veggies, and cool off on a hot spring day! Most flavors of Laraballs (or sweet balls, as some call them!) will work.

Except, and I never thought I would say this, but I can't see chocolate tasting great with celery!

PB&J Poppers, Oatmeal Raisin Cookie Dough, and Cashew Cookie work especially well.

Here I used Cinnamon Cranberry Confections, yum!

1/3 c walnuts

1/4 c almonds

1/3 c raisins (with no added sugar!)

1/8 c dried cranberries (unsweetened - finding is a challenge!)

1/4 tsp cinnamon

Blend above ingredients all together in a food processor, fill your celery slices, chill for a bit (optional), and enjoy!

 

OTHER great ways to enjoy Laraballs!

Apple Brownie Sandwich

Berry Berry Brownies

Best Banana Bites

Autumn Harvest Salad

SUPER EASY and NUTRITIOUS!

Autumn Harvest Salad

1 can garbanzo beans

1 c plain non-dairy yogurt CLICK here for Benefits!

1/2 c fresh cranberries (or you can try dried cranberries)

1/2 c walnuts CLICK here for 3 Wonderful Reasons to Be Wild about Walnuts!

1 apple, chopped

pepper, cinnamon

Great on its own, whole wheat toast, or a roll-up of flat bread (Flatout) or a tortilla!

COMING SOON: Benefits of cranberries!, Pumpkin Bread Dip, and Berry Kale Popsicles

COMMENTS: The leaves are just gorgeous this year! What are your favorite fall foods and activities? Have you jumped in any leaf piles yet this year?

Oatmeal Raisin Cookie Dough Laraballs

These Laraballs are ADDICTING!

Only 2 or 3 ingredients and completely satisfying!

No OATMEAL, BUTTER, EGGS, BAKING, GLUTEN, or SUGAR!

LARABALLS: Always Healthy, Gluten-Free, Fast!

Oatmeal Raisin Cookie Dough

1 1/4 c walnuts

3/4 c raisins

Other add-ins: cinnamon, or rolled oats (for a lower-calorie treat)

Blend in a food processor until a dough forms, and  enjoy!

You can eat it by the spoonful, 

or transfer the mixture into a plastic bag and make balls from the outside of the bag, 

or use candy molds and freeze like shown below. 

Gluten-Free Oatmeal Raisin Cookie Dough

Fresh-You RECIPES are so EASY, they can be written up (and made) by kiddos, especially Laraballs!  Click here for more flavors!  This afternoon, my daughter decided to make a "book of food" when included nearly twenty recipes/pages that she could make!  Oatmeal Raisin Cookie Dough Laraballs made the cut (though the words didn't come out boldly enough to see in the pics below)!

When kids help decide about what to make and help make foods, 

they have big appetites for what is on the menu!

COMMENTS: Do you have certain foods that you eat when you are in a "healthy mode/phase"?  In my house, if there is a bag of Laraballs prepared/handy, everyone is less hungry, cranky all day long, and eating less junk!

Practical Pesto!

As promised...


Super SIMPLE, delicious, healthy, and practical!

Ever had your pesto sauce go bad?  Reminds me of avocados: too expensive to let go to waste!  See how to ALWAYS EAT PERFECT AVOCADOS (#1 in Quick Kitchen Tips)!

Cranberry Pesto Pasta Salad

Remember this Pesto RATIO!

1/4 c pine nuts (or walnuts ... similar taste, less expensive, and more nutritious!) NUT BENEFITS
2 c fresh basil, packed

Blend these in a food processor until smooth.
Freeze in 1/2c or so portions.

Fill silicone cupcake holders OR scoop mixture on a cookie tray to freeze, and then fill a freezer bag with the portions.  SO convenient and lasts forever!

Freezing just these two ingredients a) maintains perfect taste and b) minimizes freezer space used!

Whenever you WANT, pull out a 1/2 c portion.

Use spoon (no food processor necessary) to combine with:

1 1/4 c water or low-sodium vegetable broth
3/4 c nutritional yeast (click for benefits!)

Add pepper to taste (optional).

Try it out with Cranberry Pesto Pasta Salad!

ALSO try: Pesto Pizza!

COMMENTS: how do you like to eat your pesto?

Chocolate Cherry Torte Mousse

Hope your valentine treated you sweetly!  If you are still wanting MORE, try this!

Lick your lips, super-SAVORY!!

This is the Chocolate Cherry Torte Laraball version of Power Pudding!

Chocolate Cherry Torte Mousse

1 avocado
1/2 c almond milk
1/2 c walnuts
1/2 c dried cherries (unsweetened is ideal!)
1/4 c unsweetened cocoa
1/8 tsp salt

Blend all ingredients in food processor until smooth!

Makes about 4 1/2 c servings of thick and creamy, tart, sweet, and savory mousse!

Best eaten right away!

Plus, check out these super-cute, easy, heartsy crafts we did today!  Happy Valentine's Day!

SHARE IF YOU DARE!  Do you find crafts online?  What is your favorite, easy, craft that you have found?  I like to search in google under "images" to see what I want fast -- often that's all I need!

Chocolate Raspberry Kiss Muffins

Happy Valentine's Day!

Enjoy these delicious sugar-free (besides the semi-sweet chocolate chips) muffins!

Chocolate Raspberry Kiss Muffins

2/3 c walnuts
1/2 c almonds
1/2 c raisins
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 c chia seeds
1 c rolled oats
3/4 c raspberries, frozen or fresh
1/2 c semi-sweet chocolate chips (CLICK here for benefits of chocolate!)

Heat oven to 375.
Cover rolled oats in water in a large bowl and microwave for 4 min.
Blend oatmeal with all other ingredients in food processor to desired consistency.
Fold in raspberries and chocolate chips.
Fill muffin tin, bake for 20, and ENJOY!

Recipe makes a dozen regular-sized muffins, or 2 dozen mini-muffins (shown).

Note: there are no eggs, so you don't have to be sure they are "done".  Cook to desired texture.

These muffins are a variation of Cranberry Cookies and Cinnamon Cranberry Confection Laraballs, so you may like these recipes too!

SHARE IF YOU DARE! Valentine's Day, love it or hate it? I assume if you clicked on this recipe, you probably love it, but who knows?!

Parfait for Today!

I enjoyed yesterday's parfait so well, I tried a new one today! I made PB&J Poppers with walnuts instead of peanuts, and I added some chia seeds!

So this is it!

1/2 c walnuts

1/3 c raisins (avoid Dole -- there is added sugar!)

1/8 c dried cherries (tell me if you find unsweetened!)

1-2 Tbsp chia seeds

Grind above ingredients with a food processor for 3-4 minutes, until well blended.

1/2 c non-dairy Greek yogurt

Top yogurt with 1-2 Tbsp of above mixture.

Add banana slices, about 1/2 a banana.

Top with a few more crumbles, and enjoy!

If you like this treat, you can check out this Choco-Candy Apple Pafrait!

WHAT DO YOU THINK?  What is your favorite blog?  Do you write one that you want to share?

All Things Chocolate and Berry

(I LOVE BERRIES AND CHOCOLATE)

SO, the newest Larabar ball recipe: Chocolate Cherry Torte, Yum!

1/2 c walnuts

1/2 c dried cherries, unsweetened*
1/4 c unsweetened cocoa

Blend well with a food processor and shape how ever you like! Larabars are a favorite treat in my house and super-healthy (read more here).

In my house, we put the mix in a resealable sandwich bag and shape into balls as eaten. They can be stored at room temp or in the frig. Easy as that!

 

Good for the Naughty (I'll take this coal any day of the year!)

Good for the Nice (easy to gift as a gift!, you can even send in the mail!)

*I used to get unsweetened cherries in the bulk section of Whole Foods - apparently that choice is out!...let me know if you find them! We don't need the sugar - those tart cherries have plenty of flavor on their own! If you only find sweetened and want to decrease added sugar, substitute some cherries for dates.

Another delicious treat! I get it from Costco (Costco doesn't pay me, in case you were wondering -- I just shop there a lot, and I'm pretty sure they have at least one dietitian working for them, picking such awesome products -- most much more nutritious than this!)

Brooksde Dark Chocolate Acia with Blueberry. Dark chocolate and berries combine to give an antioxidant punch! For a candy :) There is a gram of fiber, for a candy, this is cool! I'm not saying you can click away your fruit and veggie requirement here, but for a treat - DELICIOUS!!! And with some nutritional side benefits :) See those smilies :)

UPDATE: these are not dairy-free, so I don't eat them anymore. We did just find some chocolate covered pistachios that are dairy-free, and yummy!

For the chocolate lover, add unsweetened cocoa (~1/4 c) to the 3-Ingredient Super-Shake!

 My 3 yr-old loves it too ... she was dying for a sip when I wanted to take a few pics!

Another great snack - FREEZE DRIED STRAWBERRIES! These were purchased online (www.amazon.com) after Costco STOPPED selling them; the fact that Costco randomly stops selling items I love is one of the only things I don't like about Costco.  The brand Just Tomatoes carries these FREEZE DRIED STRAWBERRIES. They have a huge variety of fruits AND veggies, and the ingredients list is beautiful! - only ONE ingredient!  Can't beat that!

Finally, my 5-yr-old sees me making posts all the time, and you know, "monkey see, monkey do". So, she wanted to write a post too! She made her own "recipe", a doggy snack!

Whole wheat bread trimmed (bitten) to the shape of a dog, topped with Earth Balance (a butter alternative, no hydrogenated oils) with dried cranberries and Cheerios (a great grain!) as a face!

QUICK TIP: regular Cheerios are a healthier choice than Multigrain Cheerios! (less sugar and more fiber!)

TELL ME IN A COMMENT! Do your kids ever invent "recipes"? Do they help you cook? Eat more when they do? It's amazing what a little elbow grease does to the appetite!