Homemade Larabars (the ultimate snack)

German-Chocolate Fudge Bites

(credit goes to chocolatecoveredkatie.com)

(Makes 10-14 balls)
(I always double it)

3/4 cup pitted dates (I like Sunmaid, because they are softer.) (120g)

1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract

1/16 tsp salt

2 tbsp cocoa powder (or raw cacao powder) I omit this, I think they are good sans cocoa if that's possible
 
2 tbsp unsweetened shredded coconut (You can buy this at The Food Emporium in Shreveport)

1/3 to 1/2 cup raw pecans (I do half walnuts for the omega 3 adavantage)
 
optional: feel free to add some chocolate chips


Blend all ingredients together very well. (I recommend using a food processor.) Squish the dough together. (I transferred the dough to a plastic bag then smushed it together in the bag. It’s much less messy this way!) Roll into balls, cookie-cuttered shapes, or bars… or you can even use it for a pie crust!

Then I keep it in the fridge. They firm up a little and don't feel oily this way. 

http://chocolatecoveredkatie.com/chocolate-covered-recipes/fudge-baby-mania/

Her website offers TONS of variations so you have have fun with it.

Snacks

This needed it's own post. :) I have so much to learn from you guys.

• We do a lot of nuts and dried fruit, 

• or just apple or orange slices. 

• Popcorn is always good (we pop our own and so control the toppings). 

• Salsa is good with cucumber slices instead of chips. 

• I love cornbread muffins, 

• pumpkin bread, 

• banana bread, or 

• healthy muffins. 

• I love chocolatecoveredkatie.com for healthy versions of some of my favorite treats that can load up the calories if I make them with butter, oil, or whatever. Her recipes are usually quick to make. 

• I love her oatmeal pancakes too. Those types of snacks will keep me satisfied for 2-3 hrs if we are on the go or I just need something quick. They freeze well too. 

• A "man" snack we like is a combo of nuts and seeds (pumpkin seeds, sesame seeds, cashews, etc). They are great raw and you can buy them in bulk at sunflower market. Pumpkin seeds that are already husked are much easier to eat, are high in protein and fiber, and can be very filling. 

• Like sometimes instead of carrots and celery, 

• we have cucumbers and peppers, 

• or tomatoes and olives. 

• Dry cereal is easy and tasty--especially granola.

Here are some quick meals I feed Kellan:


Breakfast

• 1. Oatmeal with canned coconut milk (I like Thai Kitchen brand. I just open it and put it in a mason jar in my fridge and add it to stuff he eats). I also add hemp seeds for omega 3s.
• 2. Oatmeal, stir in peanut butter or almond butter. 
• 3. Green smoothies: 1 c almond milk/orange juice, 1 banana, 1 c frozen fruit, 1/2-1 c spinach. 

snacks

• 1. larabars
• 2. vegan chocolate mousse (great alternative to pudding, I’ll add the recipe)
• 3. PB&J sandwich
• 4.Target carries “happy puffs” that are great and easily portable. Made with really good ingredients and they added dehydrated veggies like kale or sweet potato.

easy meals

• 1. refried beans stirred into tomato soup (I like the kind the comes in the box from Pacific.) So good and "creamy"!
• 2. baked beans with baked (or microwaved) sweet potato cubed
• 3. avocado with refried beans
• 4. coconut rice (use canned coconut milk for up to 1/2 of the liquid when you cook rice. I’ll send you the recipe.) Serve with black beans or green peas (Kellan loves peas and they count as a legume!)
• 5. Split pea soup
• 6. Frozen veggies microwaved (a softer option and still have a lot more nutrients than canned), and sliced olives
• 7. Chili
• 8. Whole wheat pasta (just cook it and eat it like a finger food—usually pretty good source of plant-based protein and whole grain).
• 9. Hummus (Kellan would eat this straight from the spoon!) or mix into pasta or dip with bread.

Faux Ground Beef- musing of my mind

Okay, this is really just the Lentil Taco Meat all over, 

BUT (I'm really silly excited about this right now)

I just made up 1lb of lentils with a few carrots, a whole onion and about 1 1/2c celery and used Beef stock for the liquid. 

We used it tonight for gound beef in our Sloppy Joes, and tomorrow I'm using it in my lasagna. There have been some recipes that I miss meat for and I'm super excited that I can so easily use this lentil mix. I'm contemplating throwing in some cooked wheat berries next time for some added texture.

Chocolate Mousse

Chocolate Mousse




1 cup semisweet chocolate chips

1/2 cup fortified soymilk or other nondairy milk

1 package (12.3 ounces) low-fat silken tofu

1 teaspoon vanilla extract



1. Place the chocolate chips and soymilk in a microwave-safe bowl and
microwave for 1 minute. Let rest for 2 minutes. Alternatively, place
the chocolate chips and soymilk in a double boiler over gently simmering
water. Heat, stirring occasionally, until the chips are melted.


2. Transfer the chocolate chip mixture to a food processor or blender.
Add the tofu and vanilla extract and process until smooth.


3. Stored in a covered container in the refrigerator, leftover Chocolate
Mousse or Chocolate Mousse Pie will keep for up to 3 days.

*I always make sure that the tofu is "non-GMO". It's a great way to sneak in more plant-based protein. This is filling too. Just make sure to wait a full 24 hours before serving.

-By Charity Lighten
(one of the whole food mommies)

Lentil Taco Meat

Lentil Taco "Meat"

Ingredients

1 medium yellow onion, diced
3 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 bell pepper, chopped (optional)
1 cup diced mushrooms
1 cup diced carrots
1 cup diced celery
1/4 cup taco seasoning (I used 1 1/2 packages of McCormick Seasoning)
1 cup lentils (rinsed)
1 1/2 cups water
2 tsp Better Than Bouillon vegetable base

DIRECTIONS

Place all ingredients into pressure cooker, except the 1 1/2 cups water and bouillon.  Do add a little water (about 1/8 cup) to saute all the ingredients for about 5 minutes, stirring frequently.  Continue sauting until the onion is slightly tender.  Add the 1 1/2 cups water and bouillon, close the lid and cook on high pressure for 8 minutes, then do quick pressure release.

Transfer to a blender or food processor and pulse a few times--until a crumbly texture is achieved.

* You can crackpot this for 4 High or 8 Low hrs. Soften the veggies first before putting in crockpot.

**Update- I don't know why this has to be crock pot or pressure cooker, I say sauté your vegetables and then add the lentils and simmer. The lentil bag will tell you it needs a lot of liquid, for this faux meat you will not want that much so that it doesn't become mushy.

So Good! Family approved. It really has a nice ground beef texture. Lentils are great for protein, 1/4c to 1/4c Lentils have more protein than chicken or beef, and none of the fat -but- you also get Carbs, fiber, sugars, vitamins. Good stuff :) When I make this again I'll make a big batch and freeze some so tacos will be fast.