Almond Butter Cups (Healthy)

 These are a fun healthy snack. They can be enjoyed all day long. They are loaded with protein and low sugar. They taste great too.  A great little pick me up for your day. Have a great weekend. Spring is coming up quick. Love it.


Ingredients

Bottom layer

1/3 Cup almond butter (no sugar added) (Or nut butter of your choosing)
3 Tablespoon coconut oil
2 Tablespoons honey
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3 Tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder

Top layer

1 Cup almond butter (no sugar added)
1/3 Tablespoon coconut oil
2 Tablespoons honey
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Makes about 9 regular or 16 mini cups

1. In a small bowl mix together the first 3 ingredients with a spoon. If needed put in microwave for 15 seconds to soften. It should be a nice smooth consistency.

2. Then stir in the vanilla and cocoa powder until all combined and smooth.

3. Put a spoonful into each cup greased muffin pan, mini or regular size. You can also use muffin cups. (I have a picture of making them with cups and without)  It should just be enough to cover the bottom.

4. Mix together the first 3 ingredients for the top layer. If needed put in microwave for 15 seconds to soften and get a smooth consistency. Then stir in the vanilla until smooth.

5. Pour the top layer by spoonful on top of the bottom layer. Smooth with spoon to completely cover the bottom layer.

6. Place muffin pan in the freezer for. Should harden in 30 min. Take out of muffin pan and store in air tight container in freezer or fridge for easy access for a healthy snack. Enjoy!!

Healthy No Bake Brownies (Gluten Free)

It is so wonderful to enjoy this time of year. I am hanging on to the warm weather as long as I can. There are still a lot of beautiful flowers too. I love warm weather. I love to go on morning walks and take it all in. I exercise as much for my mental health as my physical health. It is so healing. It gives me time to ponder and get things sorted out in my head. I also have done some meditation. I know I have a daughter and son that really like meditation. I want to do that more.

It is wonderful to be able to create little snacks that taste really good and are healthy at the same time. These are taster approved my daughter ate one and then came back for a second one. :) Winner!

They whip up fast and you can make extra for later. You can make them with gluten free oat flour if you are eating gluten free.

Ingredients

1/2 cup of oat flour*(Gluten free)
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1/4 cup ground chia (Optional)
1/4 cup dark chocolate chips chopped up*
3/4 cup almond butter
1/4 cup honey
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 Tablespoons coconut oil

Directions  (makes about 10 brownies)

1. In a mixing bowl, mix together all the dry ingredients: flour, cocoa, chia* and chips. 
2. Blend together in blender almond butter, honey, vanilla and oil until all creamy.  Mix into dry ingredients until all combined. 
3. Scoop into balls with a cookie scooper or with spoon. I rolled them into smooth balls with my hands. Delish!
4. Left overs can be stored in an air tight container and store in fridge or freezer.


*I just blend up old fashioned gluten free oatmeal in the blender until it turns to powder.
*I put the chocolate chips in the blender for a couple seconds to break them into smaller pieces.

Easy Frozen Strawberry Jam or Syrup (Healthy)

A couple of days ago I went into the store to find they were having strawberries on sale at $1.00 a lb for a flat. Thanks to California Farmers they were beautiful. I love strawberries. One of the tricks I have found to good berries is they smell good. These smelled good and they tasted wonderful. The best I have had all season. It makes a big difference to have fruit that is a natural sweetness then you don't have to add much sweetener. That makes me happy. This process could be used with any fruit you use for jam or syrup. You will have to adjust the sweetener according to how sweet the fruit is.

I really like using Ultra Gel as a thickener for all kinds of foods dressing, jam, syrups, gravies etc... The cool thing is that you don't have to heat up the food to use it. I found it at my local grocery store Maceys.

Ingredients:
10  C blended up strawberries or fruit
1-2 T fresh lemon juice
5 T honey* You could add more if you want it sweeter.
2 T ultra Gel * You could add more if you want it thicker.
5- pint plastic containers with lids

Directions: Makes 5 1 pint containers.
1. Pour all of the ingredients into the blender pulse until all combined. Don't over mix. 
2. Pour into pint size containers. Leave some room on the top for expansion. 
3. Put in the freezer until ready to use. 
4. Could be used as jam, syrup or a sauce topping. You could also just add it to your smoothie.  Enjoy!  

*I wash off the berries with water 1 to 2 T baking soda and about 1/2 to 1 cup vinegar and let it soak for a little bit. 
* I put the leftovers back in the freezer and pull it out again when I want some more.