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Wednesday, September 9, 2015

Frozen chocolate peanut butter banana bites Perfect healthy dessert for hot summer nights, okay, any night


ingredients
  • 3 medium-ripe bananas, sliced
  • 1/4 cup peanut butter (I used smooth PB)
  • 10 oz baking chocolate (I used dark)
directions
  1. Arrange half of the banana slices on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Spread with peanut butter.

  2. Top with the other half of banana slices and freeze for about one hour.

  3. In the meantime, cut chocolate in pieces and put 2/3 of it in a microwave safe bowl. Microwave on medium power for 30 seconds, stir, then repeat in 15 seconds interval until the chocolate has melted. (If you prefer to melt chocolate on the stove top, place a heatproof bowl over a small saucepan filled with simmering water. On low heat, stir chocolate until melted (allow a few minutes). Ensure the chocolate avoids contact with water and steam whilst melting). Add 1/3 remaining chocolate and keep stirring until it is fully melted. It's called tempering chocolate. It will allow the chocolate to have a glossy texture and to set correctly.
  4. Remove bites from the freezer and dip them into melted chocolate. You have to work quickly before the bites start to thaw and get mushy. If you want to take you time, you can work with one bite at a time and leave the others in the freezer. Using two forks, dip one bite in melted chocolate and roll it to cover all sides. Using one fork, remove bite from chocolate. With the other fork, remove excess chocolate and arrange the bite back on baking sheet.
  5. Freeze at least 3 hours or until ready to serve. Keep them in the freezer.

Blueberry Oatmeal Crumble Bars - Fast, easy, no-mixer bars great for breakfast, snacks, or a healthy dessert! BIG crumbles and juicy berries are irresistible!!


INGREDIENTS:

Crust and Crumble Topping
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, melted
1 cup all-purpose flour
3/4 cup old-fashioned whole-rolled oats (don't use quick cook or instant, they're finer and behave like flour and will make mixture too dry)
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/4 cup light brown sugar, packed
pinch salt, optional and to taste
Blueberry Layer
12 ounces (2 cups) blueberries (fresh or frozen; I used frozen and didn't thaw)
1/3 cup granulated sugar
2 tablespoons lemon juice
2 teaspoons cornstarch

DIRECTIONS:

  1. Preheat oven to 350F. Line an 8-inch square pan with aluminum foil and spray with cooking spray; set aside. Lining the pan helps with cleanup and is recommended.
  2. Crust and Crumble Topping - In a large, microwave-safe bowl melt the butter, about 1 minute on high power.
  3. Add the flour, oats, sugars, optional salt, and stir to combine. Mixture will be dry and sandy with some larger, well-formed crumble pieces.
  4. Set 1 heaping cup mixture aside to be sprinkled on later as crumble topping.
  5. Transfer remaining mixture to prepared pan, and using a spatula or your fingers, hard-pack the mixture to create an even, smooth, flat crust; set aside.
  6. Blueberry Layer - In a large mixing bowl (same one used for crust and crumble is okay), add all ingredients and toss to combine. If sugar hasn't dissolved fully that's okay because it liquifies while baking.
  7. Evenly distribute blueberry mixture over the crust.
  8. Evenly sprinkle with the reserved heaping 1 cup crumble topping mixture. Before sprinkling, I squeeze the mixture in my palm to encourage bigger crumble pieces to form.
  9. Bake for about 55 minutes, or until edges are set and center has just set. Crumble topping should appear set and very pale golden. I used frozen berries without thawing and the pan was very cold going into the oven. If using fresh berries, baking time will be reduced, but I'm not sure by how much, I'd guess at least 10-15 minutes, possibly less. Bars may take longer than 55 minutes if blueberries are very juicy. Watch your bars, not the clock, when evaluating doneness. Place pan on a wire rack and allow bars to cool for at least 30 minutes before slicing and serving. If you try to slice bars before they've cooled completely, they'll be extremely messy and could fall apart. Bars will keep airtight at room temperature for up to 1 week, in the fridge for up to 10 days, or in the freezer for up to 6 months.

Clean No Bake Peanut Butter Pie | 24 Deliciously Healthy Ways To Satisfy Your Sweet Tooth


Ingredients
    Crust:
  • 1 cup walnuts or pecans
  • 1 cup cashews
  • 2 tbsp agave, honey or maple syrup
  • 3 - 4 tbsp almond, rice or soy milk
  • 2 tsp pure vanilla extract
  • 1 tsp cinnamon
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • Filling:
  • 1 cup organic peanut butter, unsalted (if using salted omit salt)
  • 3 medium bananas, ripe (yellow)
  • 3 tbsp almond, rice or soy milk
  • 2 tsp pure vanilla extract
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 1/3 cup dark chocolate chips, mini or regular (optional)
Directions
  1. To make the crust, add Crust Ingredients to a food processor and process until a ball of dough forms, stopping and scraping the sides of the bowl. Start with a few tablespoons of almond milk and add more if necessary to bring to a desired consistency. Be careful not to over process the crust into a nut butter. Transfer the dough to a 9" pie dish and flatten on the bottom and sides with your hands to make a pie shell. You can make a pretty rim using the fork.
  2. Give food processor a rinse, wipe with a towel and add Filling Ingredients. Process until smooth, pausing and scraping the sides of the bowl. Pour filling into the prepared crust and smooth the top with a spatula. Sprinkle with chocolate chips (optional), cover with plastic wrap and freeze for 3-4 hours or until frozen. Thaw on a counter for about 30 minutes before slicing and serve.
  3. Storage Instructions: Freeze covered for up to 3 months.

Chocolate Zucchini Brownies - 100% whole grain, dairy-free, and have no added fat other than what is in the chocolate chips! So gooey and chocolatey, nobody will have a clue that these are made healthier.


Ingredients

  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
  • ¾ cup coconut sugar or unrefined or granulated sugar
  • ¼ cup (60 ml) unsweetened applesauce
  • 1 cup (125 grams) whole wheat flour or whole spelt flour
  • ½ cup (45 grams) Dutch-process cocoa powder (regular cocoa powder would also work - I just prefer the darker taste of Dutch-process)
  • 1½ teaspoons baking soda
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • 2 cups (about 300 – 320 grams) peeled and grated zucchini
  • 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips + ½ cup mini chocolate chips to sprinkle on top (for dairy-free, use Enjoy Life Chocolate Chips)

Directions

  1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (176 degrees C) and line an 8"x8" pan with parchment paper or spray with baking spray.
  2. In a large bowl, mix together the eggs, vanilla, coconut sugar, and apple sauce and let this sit for 5 minutes to let the coconut sugar dissolve.
  3. In a separate medium bowl, mix together the flour, cocoa powder (sifted if lumpy!), baking soda and salt. Make sure there are no clumps before going on to the next step.
  4. Add the dry mix to the wet, gently stir until combined. Be sure not to over mix!
  5. Then fold in the zucchini and 1 cup chocolate chips.
  6. Pour the batter into the pan and even the surface with a spatula.
  7. Sprinkle ½ cup mini chocolate chips on top.
  8. Bake for 30 - 35 minutes (14 minutes for the half batch) or until a toothpick inserted in the middle doesn't come out gooey. It might still be sticky - just not have raw batter on it.
  9. Store in an airtight container for up to 2 days at room temperature or up to one week in the refrigerator. I recommend storing them in the refrigerator right from the beginning due to their high moisture content.