Bananas and Plants Bread

When I look to try out a new ingredient, I tend to try it out in a recipe I have made numerous times.

 The latest NEW ingredient I discovered is a vegan butter, 

Flora Plant Butter.

 

 I decided to substitute FLORA PLANT BUTTER (unsalted) for the coconut butter in my Banana Bread Recipe. The result ... a moister banana bread!

I have found there are simple swaps to change a recipe to make it fit your dietary needs. I am adding Flora Plant Butter to that list.

 

My Favorite Swaps ... to make baked goods vegan

1. flax egg (1 tbsp flax seeds + 3 tbsp water) ... for an egg
2. mashed medium ripe banana  ... for an egg
3. equal parts FLORA PLANT BUTTER ... for real butter
4. equal parts coconut butter ... for real butter

Now that I have met Flora Butter, I am going to start to use it all the time. 

More recipes to come!

Banana Bread with a Monk Crunch

 I am a FAN of snacking on nuts. 

Select Harvest just came out with Monk Crunch Almond Snacks and I am enjoying them! 

 

I like them alone or in a mix with some dried fruit and seeds. 

I like them so much, I decided to find ways to incorporate them into a family favorite, banana bread.

I decided to use some of the Vanilla Monk Crunch in my Gluten Free Vegan Banana Bread Recipe. I diced a cup of Vanilla Monk Crunch Almonds and added them to the batter. 

 

The result ... a flavorful CRUNCH in the middle of my bread.

 

 The added texture and flavor added to the bread. I toasted my bread and enjoyed it with some fruit and a cup of coffee for breakfast. 

 

Hoe do you enjoy Monk Crunch?

Yogurt ... So Simple ... So Powerful

I enjoy yogurt as part of my breakfast. When you walk into the store, there are many yogurt options available for you to choose. You may become overwhelmed when you see all of the options: dairy, non-dairy, Greek, Icelandic, plain, flavored, non-fat, low-fat, or full-fat.

You need to pick the product that is best for you. When you settle on the one you prefer, there are so many things you can do with it!

Greek Yogurt

Greek Yogurt is thicker than traditional yogurt and has more protein because more of the liquid is strained out of it.

Icelandic Yogurt 

Icelandic Yogurt is similar to Greek Yogurt but it is made with skim milk. The result is a milder taste and higher levels of protein and pure milk

Cashew Milk Yogurt

Cashew Milk Yogurt is lower in sugar than dairy based yogurts.  There are many other vegan yogurts available. Cashew Milk Yogurts are more frequently available in most stores.

How do you enjoy Yogurt?

I like to use a plain variety as my blank canvas and add to it. Additions include:

• dried fruits/nuts/seeds
• fresh or frozen fruit
• cinnamon
• supplements like SuperBeets and  Collagen Maximizer + 

Spirit of Spring Overnight Oats

I enjoy making overnight oats. The jar is a blank canvas where I can craft a different masterpiece each time. A couple of favorites in our household are overnight oats with mango and overnight oats with bananas.

A bank canvas

I enjoy adding different flavor profiles to the jar to make the meal a bit different. Protein powder can be added to make the dish more satisfying. Collagen powder can be added for hair, skin, nails, and muscle recovery.

Textures satisfy

When you serve your overnight oats you can add nuts, seeds, or dried fruits for added texture to make a more satisfying meal. If you find your fruit was not sweet enough for your taste, you could add just a bit of honey or agave at serving.

Simple to make

All you need is a jar, oatmeal, chia seeds, fruit, and milk (of choice). The other items are extras and flavor to the meal.

Instructions (I use a 16 oz. glass jar that was a nut/seed butter jar ... reuse/recycle)

• Add 1 TBSP chia seeds (I use organic)
• Add 1/4 cup oats (I use gluten free)
• Add a scoop of protein powder (optional)
• Add 1/4 cup milk of choice and stir
• Add 1/2 cup fruit (diced in SMALL pieces)
• Add an additional 1/4 cup oats 
• Add more milk until jar is almost full
• Cover and stir
• Refrigerate overnight
• Stir, add toppings or additional milk, and enjoy 

Spring Overnight Oats uses fruits that produce a pastel, spring look. A combination of red and yellow fruit produces a beautiful look. We eat with our eyes first. Delight the eyes, and the stomach will be overjoyed!

Gluten Free Hope & Sesame Qiche

I did an experiment with my tried-and-true Gluten Free Quiche recipe. I substituted SESAME MILK for almond milk in my recipe and LOVED IT!

Sesame Milk vs Almond Milk Experiment

I used unflavored original Hope & Sesame Milk in the recipe and the swap was not detectable in the texture. I DID NOTICE a slight change in the flavor. Original almond milk (any brand) contains quite a bit of sugar. The use of unflavored sesame milk removed the slightly sweet taste from the quiche that the almond milk provided. I made a second quiche and used original Hope & Sesame and the flavor difference was mitigated. Original Hope & Sesame Milk was a 1-1 match for almond milk in my quiche recipe.

Bottom Line

Quiche is a dish that can take on the flavors of the vegetables that are used in it. The next time I make the quiche I will use unflavored Hope & Sesame if I am trying to lean my dish in a savory direction and the original if I am looking for a sweeter hint in the dish. Hope & Sesame Milk is made from organic sesame seeds. Sesame milk is nutritious, tastes great, and is a better option for the environment as it is made from a drought tolerant crop that revitalizes the soil.

Roasted Banana Bread, Gluten Free and Vegan

I had some dental work done and needed to have soft foods for a while. To add variety to my diet, I continually made modifications to my quick bread recipes.

One of my favorite modifications was adding a ROASTED BANANA to the top of my banana bread. 

This created a MOIST bread that was great for breakfast ... or dessert. I paired the bread with nut butter and fruit for breakfast ... and a chocolate nut spread (homemade or store bought products by Nutella or Don't Go Nuts).

I started with my popular Valentine Banana Bread Recipe and made modifications.

MY MODIFIED RECIPE

2 cups Pamela's Baking and Pancake Mix
1/2 cup gluten free oats
2 FLAX EGGS
1 TBSP vanilla
1 1/2 cups ripe bananas (normally 2 medium)
1/2 cup dried fruits or nuts (optional)
1/4 cup coconut butter
1 banana for the top

Instructions:

• Prepare the flax eggs 
• Add the vanilla, coconut butter, and ripe bananas 
• After the wet ingredients are combined, add the dry
• Add the nuts/dried fruit/seeds if you wish
• Coat a loaf pan and add the banana on top in a decorative fashion
• Bake at 350 for 30-40 minutes (check after 30 then every 5 minutes thereafter)
• Let cool enough to cut so the bread does not crumble. 

Cover and store ... for up to a week if it will last that long!

HOPE & Sesame Milk TRANSFORMS Recipes

There are many plant based milks on the market and I have tried many of them. I first tried HOPE & Sesame Milk at the Nourished Festival in Del Mar earlier this year. Sesame milk tastes great on its own as well as in cereal/granola. I also like using sesame milk in recipes.

Sesame Milk is A Nutritious, Dairy Free, Plant-Based Product

• It is organic
• It is rich in calcium (double that of cow's milk)
• It is rich in iron and zinc
• It is high in protein 
• It provides the body with fiber
• It is low in carbs 
• It provides healthy, unsaturated fats

HOPE & Sesame TRANSFORMS Recipes

I have enjoyed making Chia Pudding for many years. SESAME MILK has made me fall in love with the recipe again! I like the thicker texture it provides. It is a satisfying meal (or dessert if you choose to make it decadent) that will bring a smile to your face when you eat it. This recipe is one I love. It has MANY VARIATIONS based on the flavor profile (and decadence) you wish.

HOPE & Sesame Chia Pudding 

BASE RECIPE FORMULA

1 or 2 mashed bananas (based on size) + 1 1/2 cup Sesame Milk  + 1/4 cup chia seeds (I use organic)

Instructions:
Thoroughly combine the base ingredients so the chia seeds are covered in liquid. Place in an airtight container in the refrigerator until set (1 hour or so). I usually make my chia pudding at night and let it rest while I sleep.

NOTE: I used 1 cup of HOPE & Sesame Vanilla and 1/2 cup HOPE & Sesame Unsweetened Original in the first picture and 1 1/2 cups HOPE & Sesame Chocolate in the second pictures. The vanilla and chocolate are sweet and lend more to a decadent dish. If you prefer, you can cut the sweetness with some unsweetened as I did.

Breakfast Options:
Top with:

• a few banana slices/fresh fruit
• nuts/seeds/dried fruit mixture 
• coconut
• granola

Dessert Options:
Top with:

• mini chocolate chips (gluten free in my house) or chocolate shavings
• nuts/seeds.dried fruit
• a drizzle of jam/jelly
• cookie crumbles (or cookies on the side)

HOPE & Sesame Rice Pudding

Ingredients 
1 1/2 cups cooked rice (under cook the rice to create a "sticky rice" texture)
2 cups HOPE & Sesame Milk (I used 1 1/2 Vanilla and 1/2 Unsweetened)
1/4 cup sugar
1 tsp vanilla (if you do not use a vanilla based milk)
1 egg or 1 flax egg
1 pinch of salt

Instructions:

1. Combine 1 1/2 cups of milk (I used HOPE & Sesame Vanilla), pinch of salt, sugar, and rice in a pot on the stove top. Turn the heat on medium and stir until fully mixed. 
2. In a separate bowl, combine the egg and 1/2 cup HOPE & Sesame Unsweetened. Add 1 cup of the rice mixture from the bowl and combine to create a thickening agent. Once combined, add to the pot on the stove top.
3. Cook to desired consistency. 

Serve
HOPE & Sesame Rice Pudding is BEST when it is fresh off the stove. The warm pudding is sweet, creamy, and melts in your mouth!

You can top with your favorite gluten free toppings like maraschino cherries, dates, dried fruit, nuts, seeds, chocolate, and jam/jelly.

If you can resist finishing the batch, store in an airtight container and enjoy the leftovers. If you microwave them for about 30 seconds you can get back some of the creamy, luscious consistency.

ENTERTAINING TIP: I served the rice pudding at a dinner party and set up a topping bar and let people serve  themselves.

Blueberry Crumble Muffins

Blueberry Crumble Muffins

Muffins with morning sun coming in through the blinds. 

What a sight to wake up to on a weekend morning!

The  blank canvas I started with today was Mom's Place Gluten Free Blueberry Muffins w/ Crumble Topping. I love customizing a packaged product to create something unique. The muffins themselves without the changes taste great, just like homemade. The muffins with the modifications add a kick of flavor.

I modified the package directions and added the following to the mix:

• 1/3 cup oil
• 2 flax eggs
• 1 cup plain Greek Yogurt *See NOTE
• 1 tbsp vanilla extract
• 1 cup fresh blueberries
• 1 cup ground flax seeds
• 1/4 cup water
• 1/4 cup diced fresh ginger 

NOTE: to make vegan ... soak 1 cup of cashews in water overnight and blend

The taste and texture calls you back for more!

I followed the package directions for the following:

• I added 2 melted tbsp unsalted butter to the crumble mixture NOTE: add coconut butter to make vegan. Next time I will add 1/2 the crumble as it is a sweeter topping than I normally use. I will also add 1/4 cup of oats. I will save the other 1/2 for another batch at a later time.
• I used large muffin tins and filled them 1/2 full of the muffin batter and topped them with the crumble mixture. 
• I sprayed the muffin tin rather than use a liner as the packaged suggested. Next time, I will use a liner for ease in clean up and storage.  

The Wonders of Jool

The Wonders of Jool

There are many uses for Jool. It is great on its own as well as in recipes. Jool's natural sweetness lends it to uses for breakfast or dessert.

Jool for Breakfast

I added a layer of Jool Chocolate Date Spread to my Banana Bread Recipe to create a layer of flavor in the middle. I served the bread with a thin layer of Jool Chocolate Spread and even added a roasted banana.

Dates contain natural sugars and are high in fiber and antioxidants. They have a low glycemic index and may help control blood sugar. They contain 20% of the RDI for potassium, 14% of magnesium, and 12% of vitamin B6. Studies have shown they may contribute to brain health, bone health, and ease a woman's labor pains.

I DROOL for JOOL

I DROOL for JOOL

I Drool for Jool! 

When I came across Jool Chocolate Date Spread at the La Jolla Open Aire Market I KNEW I needed to try the product. It was everything I love in one package! To me, dates and chocolate go together like peanut butter and jelly. I am SO happy I tried this product!

You Know You Love A Product When ...

When you open the jar you see something that LOOKS like Nutella, but know that it is not Nutella as it only has THREE ingredients: dates, chocolate, and olive oil. I celebrate a product with no added sugars...the natural sugar of the dates is all you need here!

When you spread the Jool Chocolate Date spread on bread, a banana, a pancake, a waffle, or an apple you are transformed. The rich cacao and the sweet date flavor complement the fruit and pastry and send you on flavor thrill ride. Sprinkle on some walnuts and you get a crunchy delicacy!

So Many Ways to Use Jool Chocolate Date Spread ...

I decided to use Jool Chocolate Date Spread in one of my tried-and-true recipes. I added it to my Power Cookie Sandwich Recipe. I loved the results! I made a batch using dates and cranberries and a batch using dried bananas. Both tasted great ... but the dried bananas were special. The next batch I make, I will use a combination of dates and dried bananas.

A Breakfast Classic Reimagined

Oatmeal is a breakfast classic. Enjoy Life Foods has re-imagined the classic into a portable oval bar you can eat on the go!

Multiple Flavors

Oatmeal is known for being a blank slate that can take on the flavor of the toppings added. Enjoy Life has brought to the market several flavor combinations for our enjoyment:

• Maple Fig
• Apple Cinnamon
• Mixed Berry
• Chocolate Chip Banana

A Healthy Breakfast On-The-Go

Breakfast ovals TASTE GREAT and provide you with 20g of whole grains (12% of your daily fiber) and all natural fruit. These SOFT BAKED OVALS are free from:

• Gluten
• Wheat
• Dairy
• Soy
• Sulfites
• Lupin
• Fish
• Crustaceans
• Peanuts
• Tree Nuts
• Casein
• Egg
• Sesame
• Mustard
• Shellfish

Variety of Uses

I enjoy Breakfast Ovals on their own with some fruit and crumbled in my yogurt or chia pudding.

Sesame Milk Chia Pudding

Plant Based Milk Alternatives

I have been drinking almond milk for years and have been happy with the taste of the product. What concerns me about almond milk is that it takes ONE GALLON OF WATER to produce JUST ONE NUT. Living in California and experiencing droughts, water restrictions, and fires, I wish to find another plant based milk source that is more sustainable.

Hope & Sesame

A new product, Sesame Milk,  entered the marketplace last year and I just had an opportunity to try it. Hope & Sesame has brought to the marketplace delicious sesame milk in original, original unsweetend, vanilla, chocolate, and chocolate hazelnut flavors. The creamy milk is wonderful. Each flavor is great. I can find a way to use each one...I cannot decide which is my favorite!

Hope & Sesame sesamemilks contain Sesamein, their very own plant-based protein concentrate. An 8 ounce glass of sesame milk contains 8 grams of protein (as much as dairy milk) with less sugar, more Vitamin D, no dairy, and no lactose.

Sesame has many nutritional benefits:

• high in protein
• high in magnesium
• reduces blood pressure
• reduces cholesterol
• boosts heart health
• boosts respiratory health
• prevents cancer
• good for digestion
• good for healthy skin
• relieves arthritis
• protects the liver from alcohol
• prevents wrinkles
• encourages bone health

Sesame Milk provides nutrients including:

• Plant-protein
• Heart- healthy fatty acids
• Calcium
• Iron
• Phosphorus
• Selenium
• Manganese
• Magnesium
• Copper
• B-complex vitamins
• Zinc

Sesame Milk Uses

Drink sesamemilk on its own or use it in recipes. Today I used Chocolate Hazelnut Sesamemilk as my blank canvas and created Chocolate Hazelnut Chia Pudding. Today we ate this is a dessert.

Ingredients:
1 cup Chocolate Hazelnut Sesamemilk
1/8 cup chia seeds (organic if possible)
VARIATIONS: Fresh fruit, seeds, nuts, or granola as a topping (if desired)




Instructions

• Stir the chia seeds in the milk until fully covered with liquid
• Let set in the refrigerator for at least an hour
• Stir to desired consistency ... NOTE: I wanted my chia pudding a bit thicker so I added an additional 1 TBSP of chia seeds at this point, stirred, and let the pudding set for another 30 minutes
• Serve when set or wait a day
• I served both plain and with bananas and coconut ... top based on your flavor/texture preferences

NOTE: This can be served for breakfast or dessert based on presentation/toppings.

Raspberry Infused Muffins

I was looking to create a heart healthy meal and a red inspired dish for Valentine's Day. I decided to use as my blank canvas a packaged muffin mix and add heart healthy red raspberries.

I used as my blank canvas Duinerken Foods Muffin Mix. I substituted plant based products for animal products; I used flax eggs for the eggs the recipe called for and almond milk instead of cow's milk.

To create the red raspberry infusion I filled a muffin tin half full then added raspberries. I covered the layer of raspberries with more muffin mix and topped the mix with a raspberry.

The result was a muffin mix with a crunchy top and a moist interior. The muffins are just the right amount of sweet. Serve them with a raspberry yogurt parfait for a heart healthy Valentine's Day breakfast.

I am a fan of Duinkerken Foods products. They are great blank canvasses that can be customized to create a masterpiece!

Mango Mornings: Overnight Oats

I have made many varieties of OVERNIGHT OATS and come back to the mango recipe variation quite a bit. The recipe is simple to make and other fruits can be substituted for mangos to make the recipe fit your taste preferences and seasonal fruit availability.

Simple Formula 

Add the following to a jar (I rinse and use glass nut butter jars to reduce waste):

• 1 cup of mango (I layer mine)
• 1/8 cup organic chia seeds
• 3/4 cup gluten free oats
• 1 scoop protein powder
• 1 TBSP honey or agave (OPTIONAL)
• 3/4 cup milk of choice - I use almond or cashew

TIPS:

You can make a couple of jars ahead of time. The night before you wish to enjoy the breakfast, add the milk of choice and shake. In the morning, stir the jar and add additional milk if the oats absorbed more milk than you wish. I start with a ratio that errs on the dry side so that more liquid can be added at the last minute. It is difficult to soak up additional liquid last minute, especially if you want to eat the breakfast on-the-go.

NOTE: for details on mango availability, how to pick a mango, and how to store a mango can be found at Mango.org. 

Granola Simple and Sweet

I love making homemade granola using my GRANOLA MADE SIMPLE RECIPE/FORMULA. Today I made a sweeter variation than I usually do. I omitted the dried fruit and added mini chocolate chips.

Granola Formula

Oats + Ancient Grains + Seeds + Flavor + Oil + Honey + OPTIONS

Sweet Start Variation

• 4 cups gluten free oats  
• 1 cup seeds ... pepitas + sunflower seeds
• 2 TBSP almond flavoring  
• 1 cup coconut oil
• 1 cup honey (use agave to make vegan)
• 3/4 cup  Enjoy Life Foods Mini Chips in my recipe for a sweet treat
• 1 cup unsweetened coconut
• 1/2 cup ground flax seeds

Each batch of granola I make just a bit different ... after all, variety is the spice of life!