No Bake Protein Bites

Posted on September 4, 2015 by Georgina

No Bake Protein Bites

Holy Cats it’s Labor Day weekend! How’d that happen?

Hard to believe summer is metaphorically over (technically it’s not over until September 23rd) #nerdstatus BUT I’m excited for fall.

You know that saying…. Something like “fail to plan, plan to fail”….? That’s how I feel about food. If I don’t plan ahead and have healthy snacks and food on hand, next think you know, I’m making bad decisions and compulsively thinking about 150 new Lays potato chip flavors(ps I totally think I should be the million dollar winner). I think I really have some great ones but that’s not the point. The POINT is that I DON’T want to eat every flavor of Lays chips and I don’t want to make bad choices.

So every week I spend time trying to cut veggies and clean fruit and make it easy to grab. But sometimes a celery stick or handful of grapes isn’t cutting it. Like I need chocolate or I need crunchy salty….. it’s like a ravenous beast hijacks my body….. the struggle is real.

ENTER these delicious and healthy snack bites. They’re healthy, they’re easy, they’re no bake, they’re easy to store, and easy to bring along anywhere. oh and it tells your mental chocolate monster to STFU 🙂

I’ve made some of these before but honestly these are the best ones I’ve made. I combined several recipes (you’re welcome for testing all types of chocolate and sweet goodness for you. It was hard work……………….)

These are a great option for kids, for adults, for school, for lunches, for snacks, for car rides, for day trips, for watching Scandal on Netflix on the couch for hours…. oh just me? ok then.

Bottom line. These little babies are delicious and a healthy sweet treat. You literally have no reasons to not make them . Like right now.

Here’s the Recipe:

There you have it! As noted, you might have to put a little elbow grease into mixing is all together but even if it seems a little dry in the bowl, once you roll into a ball in your hands, you’ll realize it’s actually perfect and the stick together great!! Hope you get to give these a try and that you enjoy!

HAPPY FRIDAY! Have a wonderful LONG weekend!

xoxo

Gluten Free Coffee Cake

Posted on May 15, 2015 by Georgina

Gluten Free Coffee Cake

Please don’t fall of your chairs and die when I tell you what this cake is made of ………………….. beans.

Yes, beans.

Don’t make that face! It’s delicious! Seriously, I was really skeptical too but Kelly @ the SpunkyCoconut really proved me wrong.

This past weekend my little ‘baby’ sister graduated from college!

Awwww she’s so cute! 🙂

So all the kids were at home and it was Mother’s day on Sunday. I wanted to treat my mom to a breakfast that she didn’t have to lift one finger to make. My sister is SUPER gluten intolerant and I try to eliminate it from my diet most of the time as it just makes me feel bloated and gross. Anyway, so I made the entire breakfast Gluten Free (GF). I came across this recipe for GF coffee cake and HAD to try it.

I’ll admit I was picturing like “health” food cake, weirdo texture, not great taste etc…. but in all honestly (sorry family) I thought they’d be a good group to test it out on and would understand if it tasted like yarn 🙂

But low and behold, it did not taste like yarn it tasted AMAZING!! Moist and delicious and didn’t taste like a ‘sacrifice’ at all. Just as good (if not better) than ANY coffee cake I’ve had. Everyone loved it.

*Gluten Free Coffee Cake*
Cake
Add to food processor:
2 cups white beans (canned or cooked yourself- make sure they’re room temperature)
6 eggs
1 tbsp agave nectar
1 tbsp vanilla extract
1/3 cup honey

Puree well.

Then Add:
1/4 cup coconut oil, liquified/melted
1/3 cup coconut flour
1/2 tsp sea salt
3/4 tsp baking soda
1.5 tsp baking powder

Puree well.

Pour batter into large rectangular greased pan.

Crumble Topping
Puree the following:
3 cups of walnuts
2 tbsp butter, ghee, or coconut oil
1/3 to 1/2 cup coconut sugar (depending how sweet you like)
1 tbsp cinnamon

Spread the crumble over the top of the batter.
Using a fork or knife, really swirl and press the topping into the batter.
Then pat the topping down.

Bake at 325 degrees for about 25-30 minutes until just starting to brown on top and batter isn’t “wiggly”

There you have it! Delicious and healthy coffee cake. I promise you’ll like it! I served with my rendition of THIS & a fruit salad. Yummmmm-O.

See- not a whole lot of it left 🙂

This weekend is my bachelorette party with all my bestest friends in the whole wide world ❤ so hopefully I’ll be able to share some fun shenannigans with you next week 🙂 🙂 Have a great weekend!

xoxo

Sweet Potato Cakes with Garlic Dipping Sauce

Posted on December 13, 2014 by Georgina

Sweet Potato Cakes with Garlic Dipping Sauce

Hello loves!

Happy weekend! I would like to announce to the world that I’M DONE CHRISTMAS SHOPPING!!!

Pretty much a first for me. Usually I’m working away until 12/24! But they are done. I plan on wrapping them up this weekend. I have a few more things that are being delivered in the next coming days and I also have to make one more thing but I have all the supplies for it. I’m so happy!

Christmas is my favorite time of year. People are nicer, the decorations are beautiful (I mean seriously I could just stare at lit up Christmas trees all night long), Christmas music brings back so many happy memories for me, and I get so excited to give my loved ones the presents I’ve put effort and love into!

It all makes me happy. You know what else makes me happy? These amazing sweet potato cakes. Fo’ realzzz

Sweet Potato Cakes w/ Garlic Dipping Sauce

Ingredients

3 lbs. sweet potatoes
1 cup corn kernels (Frozen or fresh)
3 green onions
¼ bunch cilantro (divided)
¼ tsp cayenne pepper – can add more if you like spicy!
¼ tsp chipotle pepper powder
1 tsp cumin
1 tsp salt
1 large egg
2/3 cup yellow cornmeal/polenta
2/3 cup plain breadcrumbs (I did gluten free with these)
Oil of your choice (for frying)
1 cup plain greek yogurt (I used this dairy free kind)
1 clove garlic or 1 tbsp of garlic powder for a milder taste

Instructions

Begin by cooking the sweet potatoes. The fastest way to do this is in the microwave. Prick the skin of each potato with a fork. Wrap one potato in a paper towel, place it on a plate, and microwave on high for 5 minutes. Carefully remove it from the microwave, squeeze it to make sure it’s soft in the center, and the allow it cool as you cook the next one. When the potatoes are cool enough to handle, cut them open and scoop the flesh into a large bowl.
Slice the green onions and roughly chop a handful of cilantro. Add the green onions, cilantro, corn kernels, salt, chipotle, cumin, and cayenne pepper to the bowl with the cooked sweet potatoes. Stir until well combined.
Add the breadcrumbs, cornmeal, and egg to the bowl. These ingredients will bind the mixture together and keep it from falling apart while cooking. Stir until evenly combined. Cover the bowl and refrigerate for 30 minutes. This step is important so you don’t have crunchy cakes 🙂
While the sweet potato mixture is refrigerating, mix up the garlic sauce. In a small bowl combine the yogurt, one clove of well minced garlic or you can use garlic powder for a milder taste, and a handful of cilantro leaves (roughly chopped). Stir until combined and then refrigerate until ready to serve.
After the sweet potato mixture has refrigerated, add enough oil to fully cover the bottom of a medium skillet. Heat the oil over medium-high heat until hot (but not smoking). Shape the sweet potato mixture into small patties and cook about 4 at a time in the hot oil. Cook until golden brown on each side; about 3 minutes per side. Once done, remove from the pan and place on a plate. Continue to cook until all potato mix is gone and add more oil to the skillet as needed.
Top with your yogurt sauce and enjoy!!

You can eat these without the sauce too- they’re equally delicious!!

Soooo damn good and healthy too. These are great by themselves or as a side too.

Hope you enjoy these and I hope you are enjoying the Holiday season so far! Do you have your present shopping done? What do you have left to do? Do you do homemade or buy gifts? Comment below, I’d love to hear from you!

xoxo

Lentil & Black Bean Salad with Spicy Lime Dressing

Posted on December 5, 2014 by Georgina

Lentil & Black Bean Salad with Spicy Lime Dressing

Ah- Who still feels full after Thanksgiving?! Oh just me? There’s just always such delicious food and I over indulge every.single.time. No shame.

But I always run into the issue the week afterwards of obviously needing to eat, but not hungry, or nothing sounds good, or only the stuffing and mashed potatoes sound good but I ate them all… ugh, the struggles. I need something lighter.

Enter delicious veggies:

Yum. These plus protein rich beans and lentils= me eating without feeling guilty!

Plus it helps keep me full longer- ultra bonus.

Plus look how pretty it is! ultra ULTRA bonus

Lentil & Black Bean Salad with Spicy Lime Dressing

Ingredients
1 cup dry lentils (green or brown or both!)
2 cups cooked black beans or 1 15oz can, rinsed and drained
1 bell pepper of your choice, chopped
1/2 small red onion, diced
3 roma tomatoes, chopped
½ cup cilantro, stems removed and chopped

-Dressing-
Juice of 1 lime
2 Tbsp. olive oil
1 tsp. dijon mustard
1 clove garlic, minced (or 1 tsp garlic powder)
1 tsp. cumin
1/2 tsp. oregano
1/4 tsp. chipotle powder
1/4 tsp. cayenne pepper
1/8 tsp. salt

Directions
Put lentils into a small sauce pan with plenty of water to cover, bring to a boil then lower the heat to simmer, cover, and cook until lentils are tender; which is about 30-40 minutes, but check your package for specific instructions! Drain lentils and let cool slightly

While lentils are cooking, make the dressing: place all ingredients in a small bowl or cup* and whisk to combine. Set aside.

Combine the bell pepper, onion, tomatoes, beans, and lentils in a large glass* bowl. Add the dressing and toss to combine. Add cilantro, and lightly toss once more.
You can serve it immediately or chill covered in the fridge to let the flavors combine and enjoy later!

This was really really really tasty and would be something awesome to make to bring for lunches at work throughout the week! It was just what I needed, light and refreshing.

*I suggest using a glass bowl because the dressing contains lime juice. The acidity in lime juice often reacts with metal in metals bowls and can give your food a metallic taste- yuk!

Pourrrrr over

Action shot 🙂

ta da!

now EAT!

This was perfect. Light and delicious. I preferred it chilled a little bit but it was great room temp too!

I hope everyone had a great holiday week/weekend and that you enjoy this dish too!

Ps- less than 3 weeks until Christmas!!! wooohooo! I’m so excited to share some of my crafts and homemade gifts I’m doing this year with you guys! But of course I have to wait until after the gifts are given so I don’t spoil the surprise 🙂

xoxo

Veggie Quinoa “Fried Rice”

Posted on October 3, 2014 by Georgina

Veggie Quinoa “Fried Rice”

Happy Friday!

Fall is really setting in here. It’s beautiful although I’m hoping that the leaves cling on a little bit longer. We have engagement pictures in two weekends and I’m hoping there will be a little bit of color left!!! I’m super excited for those- our photographer site is here. Every single picture she ever takes is stunning and I can’t wait to share ours! ❤

So I’m sure you’re all dying to know who won the giveaway from last week……….I have picked a winner and stay tuned, I will announce the winner on Sunday! yay! I’m so excited and thank everyone who entered from the bottom of my heart!

Now- onto this healthy beautiful food! I love quinoa. It’s nutty and sort of crunchy and delicious, not to mention full of protein and extremely filling! As avid readers of my blog I’m sure you know I’m obsessed with Sriracha- like looking at the picture above, you’re probably thinking- um what, that’s not a lot. But what you don’t know is that after I was done taking these “pretty” pictures, I added an embarrassingly large amount to this 🙂

Anyway- this is super healthy and fresh and delicious. Again this is a super versatile recipe, you can add or remove anything! (ps- I fee like I say that all the time. And truth be told, I think of every recipe as versatile, rarely do I follow word for word. Cooking is about having fun! People need to remember that 🙂 )

Hope you enjoy, HAVE FUN!!!!
____________________________________________________________________

Ingredients:

2 tablespoons coconut oil, divided (or oil of your choice)
2 large eggs, beaten
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 small onion, diced
8 ounces mushrooms, sliced
1 head broccoli, cut into florets
1 zucchini, chopped
1/2 cup frozen corn
1/2 cup frozen peas
2 carrots, peeled and grated
3 cups cooked quinoa
1 tablespoon grated fresh ginger
3 tablespoons soy sauce or tamari
2 green onions, sliced
Sriracha, for serving

Instructions:

Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a medium skillet over low heat. Add eggs and fry until cooked, about 2-3 minutes per side. Let cool before dicing into small pieces.
Heat remaining oil in a large skillet or wok over medium high heat. Add garlic and onion, until onions have become translucent, about 4-5 minutes.
Add mushrooms, broccoli and zucchini. Cook until vegetables are tender, about 3-4 minutes.
Add corn, peas, carrots and quinoa. Cook until heated through, about 1-2 minutes.
Add ginger and soy sauce, and gently toss to combine.
Stir in green onions and eggs

TA DA! That’s it! Now serve and top with Siracha! 🙂