Chocolate Protein Granola

I love all things chocolate. That can be a problem, but it can also be a solution. For those of you that don't know, real chocolate is good for you. It is what is added to chocolate that isn't good for you. If you get a good dark chocolate (72% cocoa or more), then you are doing your body more good than harm. I like to add it to a bunch of super seeds to make a fabulous granola. With cocoa being a super food itself, you are simply making your granola extra super! 

So here is an easy recipe packed full of protein, flavor, and all things scrumptious. Enjoy!

Chocolate Protein Granola
adapted from Whole Yum


2 Cups Rolled Oats
1/2 Cup Dark Chocolate Chips
1/2 Teaspoon Cinnamon
1/2 Cup Raw Mountain Honey
1 Tablespoon Maple Syrup
1/2 Teaspoon Vanilla Extract
1/4 Cup Melted Coconut Oil
1/4 Cup Unsalted Pumpkin Seeds
1/4 Cup Sunflower Seeds
1/4 Cup Sliced or Whole Almonds

Preheat Oven to 275 Degrees.

Mix all dry ingredients in a bowl.

Mix all liquid ingredients in a separate bowl.

Combine all liquid, and dry ingredients together in a large bowl; stirring evenly.

Place some of the coconut oil on a deep baking sheet.

Slowly add the granola to the baking sheet and place in oven.

Stir the granola every 15-20 minutes for even heat distribution for about an hour.

Let the melted chocolate settle in the granola and cool for 30 minutes.

You can munch on this plain for a snack, or eat it with almond milk for a meal. 

If you like my recipes, please support my work and get my cookbook! Featuring 150 recipes, 100 of which are not on the blog. That's right! 100 new recipes! Gluten-Free Made Easy is the perfect guide to your new lifestyle! Learn dozens of tips and tricks for avoiding gluten and over 150 tasty, simple recipes. Going against the grain has never been easier!

"Gluten-Free Made Easy" is available for sale at Barnes and Noble, Books and Things, Cedar Fort, Amazon and many other great bookstores.

Healthy Snickerdoodle Cookies

I am curious what every one else's morning routine is. I think the morning routine is the most important routine you can have. The way you start your day, sets the scene for what is to come the rest of the day. I may be more ritualistic than some, but it works for me. 

My ritual starts the night before. I try to get 8 hours of sleep. I found some amazing organic insomnia loose leaf tea at my local farmers market. A mug of that 30 minutes before I turn out the lights, and I am done for. Monday through friday I try to get to sleep by 10pm. It might be early for some, but for me it allows me to wake up refreshed by 6am. My husband usually brings me my morning green tea as he is getting ready for work. Since I work from home, I like to start my day in bed with green tea and my laptop. Because my blog is 24/7 I usually spend the first hour of my day answering readers questions.

By 7:30 am I am in my yoga clothes, I have taken my morning vitamins, and I am deep into my morning devotions. By 8am I submit my posts to my various employers (blogs, magazines, pin boards, etc...). At 8:45 I turn on my meditative music and get my mind ready for yoga. 9 - 11 am is all about yoga for me. That is my morning in a nutshell. The rest of the day is spent writing and cooking. I think I am productive because of the way I start my day. 

To keep myself healthy and satisfied through the day, I keep healthy "cookies" on hand. This is the last healthy cookie recipe in my "healthy cookie series". I am sure I will bring you more flavors later, but I am all stocked up with flavors. Again these are healthy and so easy to make. Enjoy! 

Healthy Snickerdoodle Cookies

adapted from My Whole Food Life

1 cup certified gluten-free rolled oats

1 cup almonds

1 vanilla bean (pulp only)

2 tsp cinnamon

12 medjool dates

1/4 cup water

In the food processor, grind up the oats and almonds.

Then add in the rest of the ingredients until a dough starts to form.

Roll into balls and then flatten them with your palm.

Store in an airtight container in the freezer. They last for months. 

Healthy Banana Bread Cookies

These are my daughters favorite in the healthy cookie series. 

To date I have brought you: Healthy Cafe Mocha cookies, Healthy Chocolate Chip Cookies, Healthy Apple Pie cookies, and Healthy Vanilla Chai Cookies. All of which are scrumptious. So it is time for another classic flavor. My daughter loves banana bread. I find it funny because she does not like banana's. She likes their flavor, but not their texture. So she used to always have me make banana bread. She makes a good one too. The problem is, banana bread is really not good for you. So full of sugar and processed flour. Not really something she should be eating. So I put her favorite flavors in a healthy cookie instead. When she bit into one of these her eyes rolled back and she said "Oh. My. Gosh. Mom, these are the best you have ever made! By far my favorite!". So there you have it. Straight from the expert. 

These cookies are suitable for breakfast. 142 wholesome calories in each cookie. (One piece of toast has 130 calories). Full of all things wholesome. Enjoy!

Healthy Banana Bread Cookies
Recipe by Christi Silbaugh
makes 12 cookies

1 cup dates

1/2 cup dried banana

1 cup raw almonds

vanilla bean pulp

1 tsp cinnamon

Add all ingredients to your food processor and process until a dough forms. 

Roll 2 Tbsp dough into a ball and press it flat into a cookie on parchment. 

Store in an airtight container in the freezer and they stay fresh for months.

Almond Crusted Chicken

I know I have been bringing you all sorts of healthy sweet recipes, so it is time for a savory one. Almonds have quickly become a staple in this house. I love their versatility. They adapt to any kind of food you are cooking. I am so glad no one in our home has an almond allergy! I know some who do and that would just be awful. 

Why I love almonds so much? The top reasons: 

• Lower LDL-Cholesterol and Reduce Your Risk of Heart Disease
• Almonds Provide Double-Barreled Protection against Diabetes and Cardiovascular Disease
• Reduced risk of coronary heart disease.
• Improve Blood Fats
• Their healthy fats help you lose weight
• Lowers Risk of Weight Gain
• Full of Manganese, Copper & Riboflavin—More Help with Energy Production
• Help Prevent Gallstones
• A Protein Powerhouse

You can read all about the health benefits of almonds here: Almonds, the world's healthiest food.

So because they are so healthy, I decided to use them to bread my chicken, rather than use the usual high calorie tortilla chip. The result was pure bliss. All of us agreed that this is the way I will be breading my chicken from now on. I can't wait to make a chicken Caesar wrap this way! 

Healthy Almond Crusted Chicken

16 ounces skinless chicken fillet
1 cup raw almonds
1/4 cup Parmesan cheese
2 teaspoons paprika
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1 egg

*optional:

greens
Ranch

Preheat oven to 425°F. 

Ground up your almonds in a food processor until they resemble bread crumbs.

 Mix together the ground almonds, paprika, Parmesan, salt and pepper into a shallow dish and set aside.

Rinse chicken and pat dry with paper towels, then cut into even-sized long portions. Whisk your egg. Coat each piece of chicken with egg, then dip evenly into the almond mixture. 

Place each chicken stick on a lined baking sheet and drizzle or spray lightly with olive oil. Bake for 20 - 22 minutes, until golden brown and crisp on the outside. 

They are great served by themselves, or  I serve mine over super greens and homemade ranch. 

If you like my recipes, please support my work and get my cookbook! Featuring 150 recipes, 100 of which are not on the blog. That's right! 100 new recipes! Gluten-Free Made Easy is the perfect guide to your new lifestyle! Learn dozens of tips and tricks for avoiding gluten and over 150 tasty, simple recipes. Going against the grain has never been easier!

"Gluten-Free Made Easy" is available for sale at Barnes and Noble, Books and Things, Cedar Fort, Amazon and many other great bookstores.

Healthy Vanilla Chai Cookies

Welcome to day 4 of my healthy cookie series! I have already presented you with Healthy Cafe Mocha cookies, Healthy Chocolate Chip Cookies, and Apple Pie cookies. When I was coming up with what flavors to make, my daughter was visiting the loft. She begged me to try to make a vanilla chai cookie, because vanilla chai is her favorite flavor of all things. At first I was unsure if I could nail it. Knowing I had a fresh batch of Madagascar vanilla beans on hand, I thought I would give it a try. Good news! I nailed it! Taylor was very happy!

Another healthy cookie containing no added sugar, and full of all things wholesome. Ready in 5 minutes and completely suitable for breakfast. 

Healthy Vanilla Chai Cookies

Recipe by Christi Silbaugh

Makes 12 cookies

1 cup almonds
1/4 cup walnuts
1 Vanilla bean (pulp only)
2 Tsp Cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon ground cardamom
1/4 teaspoon ground allspice
1/8 teaspoon finely ground black pepper

1 1/2 cups medjool dates, pitted

Start out by adding the almonds, walnuts, vanilla bean pulp, cinnamon, ginger, cardamom, allspice, and black pepper to your food processor. Pulse until ingredients resemble bread crumbs.

Next add your dates and process until a thick batter appears. 

Add 2 Tbsp of the batter to your hands and roll a ball out of it. Smash onto parchment paper to form a cookie. 

Store in an airtight container in the freezer until ready to serve. They last 6 months in the freezer. 

Healthy Apple Pie Cookies

Today is day 3 in my healthy cookie series. Why am I doing a healthy cookie series you ask? My answer is simple. We all want to eat right, but we are all tempted by treats. I believe that if you have healthy scrumptious treats on hand, you are less likely to splurge and go for the unhealthy treats. Especially if the treats are so healthy, that you can have several without any guilt. I like to keep several flavors of healthy cookies on hand. So you will have many more flavors coming your way. 

These Apple pie cookies are awesome. Everyone has their favorite, and these are mine. They taste like a homemade apple pie, but without all the bad ingredients. Instead you have a cookie that is wholesome and suitable to serve for breakfast with your morning coffee or tea. In fact, I find that eating two of these cookies with a big mug of green tea, keeps me full and satisfied until lunch. Each cookie has 140 wholesome calories from fruit and nuts, so you can't go wrong here. Don't be afraid to try them! They take 5 minutes to make and you won't be sorry. 

Healthy Apple Pie Cookies

recipe by: Christi Silbaugh

Makes 12 cookies

1/2 cup organic medjool dates, pitted

3/4 cup dried organic apple slices

1/4 cup raisins

3/4 cup almonds

1/2 cup walnuts

1/2 tsp cinnamon

Soak the dried apples in warm water for 5-10 minutes. 

Meanwhile, gather remaining ingredients and pour into a food processor.

Drain the fruit and add to the food processor. Process for 30 – 60 seconds or until the mixture sticks together when pinched with your fingers.

Make a ball out of 2 Tbsp of dough. Flatten into a cookie on parchment paper.  Store refrigerated for up to two weeks or package them in air-tight containers, freeze, and store for up to six months.

Healthy Chocolate Chip Cookies

I am well into my third month of yoga. While I have never been happier and more confident, I also have never been more sore. You know it is working when you are on your third month and you still can't move. Thankfully today is my yin class. I always go to yin the day after I go to vinyasa. It gives me hope, and time to re-focus. I do love my yoga. I love how it has changed me. How anyone can go back to life without yoga, after they have experienced it, I will never know. 

In combination to yoga and walking, I am also healthy eating. As I mentioned yesterday I am going to be bringing you many more "healthy cookie" recipes. I think having these on hand help you stay the course on your healthy eating goals.Why? Because we all have bad days, bad weeks, moments of weakness. Having these on hand to grab during those times, is a recipe for success. Yesterday I brought you Healthy Cafe Mocha Cookies. Today, it is time for a classic. Healthy Chocolate Chip Cookies. Make these and you have a chewy chocolate chip cookie that is suitable for breakfast. They contain 140 calories per cookie, and is the same as eating a handful of nuts and dates. So eat away! 

To keep this recipe vegan, I use enjoy life mini chocolate chips. 

If you are not concerned about dairy, then you can use whatever chip you like. However, enjoy life mini chips are really really good!

Now here is the easy recipe. Takes 5 minutes to make. Enjoy!

Healthy Raw, Vegan, Gluten-Free Chocolate Chip Cookies

recipe by: Christi Silbaugh

makes 12 cookies

2 cups raw cashews 

2 cups medjool dates

1 tsp pure vanilla extract

3 tbsp mini dark chocolate chips

Add your cashews to a food processor and pulse until they resemble bread crumbs. Next add your dates. Make sure the pits have been removed. 

Add Vanilla and pulse until fully blended. Stir in chocolate chips.

Roll approximately 2 tablespoons of the dough into a ball. Then press flat. I do this on parchment paper. 

Place in an airtight contain in the freezer until ready to serve.

If you like my recipes, please support my work and get my cookbook! Featuring 150 recipes, 100 of which are not on the blog. That's right! 100 new recipes! Gluten-Free Made Easy is the perfect guide to your new lifestyle! Learn dozens of tips and tricks for avoiding gluten and over 150 tasty, simple recipes. Going against the grain has never been easier!

"Gluten-Free Made Easy" is available for sale at Barnes and Noble, Books and Things, Cedar Fort, Amazon and many other great bookstores.

Healthy Cafe Mocha Cookies

Today I had a hard morning. It was my early yoga class. 6 am to be exact. I only go to the 6 am class once per week. It is my effort to free up my day, to get work done, and get the hard hard hard vinyasa class out of the way. After a very shaky night's sleep, the alarm went off at 5 am. Rolling over, I see immediately why my night's sleep was so bad. The husband decided to watch John Wayne movies all through the night, and the TV was still on. The thoughts of skipping class, or going to another one later, naturally ran through my mind. However, I have made a commitment. It is not a commitment to anyone else but myself. While so many others let me down in life, I refuse to let myself down. I got out of bed, made my green tea, and quickly threw my yoga gear on. 

I made it to class, I struggled through class, I successfully finished class. Another boost to my my self esteem. I will skip the internal dialog that went on through class that started with 4 letter words and ended with the satisfaction of completing my goal. I am done with the 6 am class until next week and that my friends is a victory!

I decided to make some comfort cookies, but with all things wholesome. Needing some serious caffeine and something to live for, I got busy. 

So if someone gave you a plate with raw almonds and dates, you would know it was a very healthy option right? Well today I present to you a cookie, that is just that. Yes it has calories. 142 calories per cookie to be exact. However, they are 142 wholesome calories. They are also packed with protein. Being raw they digest slowly leaving you full and satisfied for hours. 

I am going to be bringing you many more "healthy cookie" recipes. I think having these on hand help you stay the course on your healthy eating goals. If you get a craving for chocolate or any other sweet item, head to the freezer and grab one or two of these. They take 5 minutes to make, so get busy! Enjoy!

Raw, Vegan, Gluten-Free, Cafe Mocha Cookies

recipe by: Christi Silbaugh

1 cup almonds
1/4 cup walnuts
1/4 cup cashews
2 TBSP cocoa powder
1 TBSP ground coffee beans
1 1/2 cup medjool dates, pitted

Start out by adding nuts to your food processor. Pulse until the the nuts resemble bread crumbs.

Add cocoa powder, and ground coffee beans, and process until well blended. 

Next add your dates and process until the dates have puree'd and fully blended with the nuts. The dough should look like thick batter. 

Roll the dough into 2 Tbsp rolls and then squish flat to make a cookie. I do this on parchment paper. Place the flattened cookies in the freezer for 10 minutes to set. Then serve. I store mine in an airtight container in the freezer until I serve them. They last for months in the freezer. 

If you like my recipes, please support my work and get my cookbook! Featuring 150 recipes, 100 of which are not on the blog. That's right! 100 new recipes! Gluten-Free Made Easy is the perfect guide to your new lifestyle! Learn dozens of tips and tricks for avoiding gluten and over 150 tasty, simple recipes. Going against the grain has never been easier!

"Gluten-Free Made Easy" is available for sale at Barnes and Noble, Books and Things, Cedar Fort, Amazon and many other great bookstores.

Shaved Brussel Sprout and Bacon Salad

 

My husband has always told me that he can't stand Brussels sprouts. He also said it is a waste of time for me to make them, because he has never had a Brussels sprout he liked. So I listened to him for the longest time. I passed them up over and over again. I was never that fond of them either, so I had no issue leaving them out of our diet. With us trying to eat a huge amount of veggies, I started to get curious. So I dove in and bought a pound from our local organic market, and set out to make a Brussels sprout my husband could tolerate.

I figured the key was to keep it raw. As much as people rave about caramelized Brussels sprouts, you would think we like them too, but that is not the case. We have very similar taste in vegetables. If it is soggy or mushy, we won't like it. I like texture. So I settled on shaving them, to give them more of a cabbage flavor, and it worked! We both enjoyed this salad. Suitable for a main meal, or a side salad, and very easy to make. I think it tastes even better the next day which makes this a very good lunch idea that you can make ahead of time and pack the night before. Enjoy!

Shaved Brussels Sprout and Bacon Salad
adapted from Pinch of yum

1 lb. Brussels sprouts
6 slices bacon
⅓ cup almonds
½ cup freshly grated Pecorino Romano cheese

For the dressing:
1 shallot, chopped
juice of one orange
juice of one lemon
½ teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon honey
2 tablespoons Greek yogurt
⅓ cup oil

Fry the bacon over low heat until crispy. Drain on paper towels; crumble and set aside.
Shred or slice the Brussels sprouts. Slice them super thin and then break the layers apart with your hands. Fluff it up a little and you’ll get a delicate shredded texture.

Place the almonds in a food processor and pulse until finely chopped. Toss the Brussels sprouts, bacon crumbles, almonds, and cheese together. 

Place all the dressing ingredients in a food processor and pulse until creamy. Add the water as needed for consistency. Toss the salad with the dressing and serve immediately.

Spicy Quinoa Cakes

 

How is everyone doing so far on their healthy eating quest? We are doing well here. I just finished two straight months of yoga 4 times per week. I didn't miss a single class. I have been eating very well, only wholesome whole organic foods that are well balanced. I have never felt better. It is a great thing to slowly see the changes in your body and to feel the added strength. My wish for all of you is that you can feel the same. 

One thing I miss right now is hash browns. I know I can eat them. I just also know they are a splurge and not the best for me. So instead I have been making quinoa cakes to accompany my eggs. My husband loves spice, and I have really become a spice fan myself. Anything that speeds up the metabolism is a win in my book. 

These quinoa cakes are crispy on the outside and tender inside, similar to hashbrowns. The difference... they are packed with protein and are very good for you. Perfect for the new year, new you. 

These cakes are also good just served plain, in a wrap, or dipped in a greek yogurt dip.

Gluten-Free Spicy Quinoa Cakes
adapted from Soup Addict
makes 8 patties

2 cups cooked quinoa, at room temperature (leftover quinoa is perfect)
3 large eggs
1/2 teaspoon fine-grain sea salt
1/3 cup finely chopped fresh chives
1 small sweet onion, finely chopped
1/3 cup freshly grated pepper jack cheese
2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1/4 cup crushed tortilla chips
1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil

Combine the quinoa, eggs, and salt in a medium bowl and mix well. Stir in the chives, onion, cheese, garlic, and pepper. Add the tortilla chips, stir well, and the let the mixture rest for a few minutes. 
Form the mixture into thick patties.
Heat the oil in a large, heavy skillet over medium heat until shimming, swirling to throughly coat the bottom of the pan. Working in batches, gently place patties in the pan, leaving space between for easy flipping. 
Cover and cook for 5 minutes, until the bottoms are browned. Carefully flip the patties with a spatula and cook the other sides for 4 minutes, or until golden. Remove patties from the skillet and cool on a wire rack while you cook the remaining patties.