Thursday, November 19, 2009

Chocolate Coconut Cookies

Another base recipe tweaked to be healthy. The original called for Splenda, which for one is definitely NOT healthy, and frankly I think tastes like crap. I removed the Splenda and added healthy natural sweeteners. I removed all dairy products and replaced with healthy alternatives. The result is a nutritious sweet you can enjoy anytime!

5 Tablespoons coconut oil
½ cup chocolate chips
¼ cup coconut cream(when cool coconut cream floats to the top of the can of coconut milk)
1 ½ teaspoon pure vanilla
½ teaspoon sea salt
¼ cup Turbinado sugar
¼ cup agave nectar
3 eggs
½ cup coconut flour
½ cup unsweetened coconut

Preheat oven to 350 F.

1) Melt oil in bowl or 1 quart measuring cup -- you can make the whole recipe in the same container that way.

2)Whisk in cream, salt, vanilla, and sweeteners.

3)Taste. This is the point where you want to get the right amount of sweetener for your taste.

4) Whisk the eggs in and beat until they are well-blended. Add coconut flour and blend well, and finish with the dried coconut. Combine well, and let sit for 5 minutes. The coconut will absorb most of the liquid.

Side note: at this point add the chocolate chips or if you want to make them pretty, save them, and later melt them, then drizzle over cookies.

5) Prepare cookie sheets, either by greasing well, covering with parchment paper, or a silicone baking mat.

6) Drop batter by rounded teaspoons (batter will be about 1½ inches across).

7) Bake for about 12 minutes, until cookies are set and just beginning to brown on bottom.

8) Let cool on pan for about 10 minutes. Remove. When fully cool, store in airtight container.

Makes three dozen cookies.

Sunday, November 15, 2009

Heatlhy Dairy Free and Vegan Smoothies. YUM.

Even my kids love these, and they are packed with healthy ingredients that are very satisfying and provide lasting energy, along with a nice helping of protein!

Ingredients:
1/2 cup So Delicious strawberry kefir
1 very ripe banana
1 handful fresh spinach
3 TBS Nutiva hemp seeds
1 tsp agave nectar
1 1/2 cup So Delicious vanilla coconut milk

In a blender(or a large glass using a stick blender)add all ingredients, blend on high for about 1 minute. Pour into a large glass(if using regular blender) and enjoy!

I drink one of these every morning to start my day out right, and it keeps me full well into the afternoon. It's quick and easy to make which makes it very convenient for someone with a busy life. I hope you like this just as much as my kids and I do!

Add it to your tastyplanner here.