JR Date Bar and More

Today I modified my JR DATE BAR RECIPE and added Zego Cranberry Seed + Fruit Blend MIX-INS to the top of the bars for extra flavor, texture, and visual interest!

The original recipe called for:

1 Cup of Dates (I get mine from Futterman Farms) - pitted and diced
2 Cups of Nuts - your choice to use one nut or a mix to create the flavor profile of your choice
1/3 Cup Flavor Ad-Ins

Today I modified the recipe:

2 cups of dates
1 cup of nuts ( I used cashew)
1 cup of gluten free oats 
1 tsp vanilla
NOTE: You may need to add/reduce oats based on moisture content of the dates you are using.

Instructions:

Add 1/2 of the ingredients into a VitaMix or powerful blender/food processor.
Get to a relatively smooth consistency and add the rest. 
Place in a glass Pyrex container, press down to help solidify, and cover.
NOTE: The thickness of the bars is based on the size of the container you use. I made THINK ones today!
Refrigerate for about 1 hour to help the bars set.
NOTE: Just before placing the bars in the refrigerator I added 1/2 cup of MIX-INS to the top of the bars.

A Small Company with Big Flavor ... 88 Acres

I had the opportunity to try 88 Acres Sunflower Seed Butter at the Nourished Festival in San Diego. I enjoyed the flavored sunfllower seed butters and have enjoyed having them on toast ... the maple was excellent as a substitute for maple syrup on french toast!

 I cannot wait to try the PUMPKIN SEED BUTTER and the WATERMELON SEED BUTTER ... two products I have not had and am eager to taste and use in recipes!

The ginger apple seed bar reminded me of a fall day. It would go great with hot cider or ginger tea!

Love With Food Box LOVES to Give Back

I have enjoyed the Love With Food Boxes hat I have had! Each has been filled with delightful treats that have given me an opportunity to try new products of which I was not aware. I have become a regular purchaser of many of the products found in the boxes.

If you are looking for healthy subscription service that offers organic, all-natural or GMO-free snacks and are always free of trans-fats, hydrogenated oils, high-fructose corn syrup and artificial flavoring or coloring, then look no further than Love With Food!

Holiday Altruism

This December, Love With Food has teamed with Sarah Michelle Gellar’s organic baking brand Foodstirs to benefit Alliance of Moms / Raising Foodies and Feeding America. Throughout the month of December, Foodstirs’ beloved seasonal treat, the Organic Molten Chocolate Chip Mug Cake, can be found in Love With Food by SnackNation’s Tasting Box (starting at $7.99 per month) and Deluxe Box (starting at $16.50 per month), which feature a selection of all natural snacks with clean ingredients. New subscribers can visit lovewithfood.com/freebox to get a free $25 snack box and $15 off any of their 6 month or longer plans. A portion of the proceeds will go to the Alliance of Moms / Raising Foodies as well as a donation of 1meal for every Tasting Box sold and 2 meals for every Deluxe Box sold to Feeding America.

If you are looking for last minute gift ideas or something to gift yourself, consider Love With Food and make your gift count ... double!

I cannot get enough Sun! Can You?

I cannot get enough Sun...SunButter that is!

I cannot get enough SunButter. I spotted the NEW packaging at Sprouts recently and purchased a few jars to replenish my supply. I try to limit added sugars from my diet. Thanks SunButter for helping me achieve my goals!

SunButter not only TASTES GREAT, but is also an American product.
 
SunButter is made in the USA from sunflower seeds grown in the USA. It TASTES GREAT and is a perfect NUT BUTTER ALTERNATIVE. SunButter is not only NON-GMO Project Certified but also free from the common 8 allergens:

1. peanuts
2. tree nuts
3. milk
4. eggs
5. fish
6. crustacean shellfish
7. wheat
8. soybeans

SunButter appeals to a variety of people.
Adults and kids alike will love SunButter. It is a "school safe" product that can be used in lunches or treats for a class. SunButter is a product that people will love, whether they need to avoid eating nuts or not.

SunButter is for more than a "SunButter and Jelly" Sandwich
I recently made a healthy snack using SunButter, pepitas, and hemp seeds (Interstate Bait) on a rice cake. This snack was filled with plant based protein, fiber, and antioxidants. It was a great gluten free, low-sugar pre-workout snack.

I also modified my Power Cookie .... Sandwich Recipe and added SunButter.  This cookie can be made to be a healthy breakfast cookie or snack, or can be made decadent. The stir-ins determine the flavor profile and the purpose. This batch is made with dates to create a GRAB-AND-GO breakfast treat.

You can make the cookie any size ... a larger cookie can be cut in half to create a sandwich. I added SunButter to the sandwich below.

Handfulls Snacks ... Enjoy by the Handful or in Your Favorite Recipe

I have fallen in love with Handfulls Snacks! Their Crunch Bites line of products are great to enjoy BY THE HANDFUL or to add to salads for some extra CRUNCH and protein!

Crunch Bites add a rice cracker shell, a crunch, to the California Almond! They come in a variety of flavor profiles for you to enjoy!

Crunch Bites or Fusions can be added to a salad to add flavor and texture. The image below shows adding a HANDFUL of Crunch Bites to a salad! Read my recipe for A Simple Salad With A Crunch.

Handfull Snacks Fusion line of nuts, seeds, and dried fruits are great BY THE HANDFUL as well as used in recipes! They come in a variety of flavors, savory and sweet! I have enjoyed baking Fusions into gluten free breads, sprinkling them on my Greek Yogurt for breakfast, adding them to salads, and adding them to fried rice. The possibilities are endless! The flavors are superior! 

I enjoy adding Fusions to recipes. I made Strawberry Nut Bread using CABO CATAMARAN CRUNCH and created a gluten free bread that was moist, flavorful, and satisfying!

Breakfasts can be made magical with the addition of Handfulls Snacks.  A Gluten Free Breakfast with a Fusion of Flavors includes Denali Mountain Mix with adds great flavor and texture at the start of a HOT day!

Holiday Quinoa Bites

I love simplicity in the kitchen. Quinoa is one of the versatile foods in my pantry. It is great for savory meals, it is great for a hot cereal, and it can be made into cookies. I adapted my SUGARLESS CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIE recipe to make Holiday Quinoa Bites.

I doubled the base recipe below ... to share with family and friends!

Base Ingredients:
1 very ripe banana (that's the natural sweetness)
1 cup of flax seed meal
1 cup of almond flour (it's gluten free)
1/2 cup cooked quinoa
1/2 cup unsweetened coconut
1/2 cup dried cranberries + diced dates from Futterman Farms
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 cup soy butter (I used WOW Butter)

OPTIONS: Roll balls in coconut or sesame seeds for decoration

** I use Bob's Red Mill Ground Flax Seed Meal, Almond Flour, and Quinoa **



Substitutions:
Hazelnut Flour works well too
If making these for someone with a nut allergy ... use quinoa flour, coconut flour, or oat flour.

Bake for 20 minutes at 350 on a parchment lined baking sheet
Let cool
Store in an airtight container OR enjoy right away!

Kashi Teff Crackers

When I started to eat a gluten free diet there were not many highly nutritious options in the marketplace. Fortunately, the number of healthy options has increased over the years! One way to eat gluten free is to use as few packaged foods as possible. When I do eat prepared foods, it is important to me that the product is nutritious and that the company believes in sustainable practices. Kashi products are ones I loved prior to having to be gluten free. I am excited to see they are continuing to add to their gluten free options!

The new crackers by Kashi use one of the Grains of Discovery, Teff. This ancient grain is high in fiber and a good source of calcium. The crackers are light and crispy. They are flavorful...it is a challenge to only eat a few!

The Lemon Chickpea Chili flavor tastes like a falafel and accompanies hummus well.
The Tomato Lentil Berbere is a great spicy side to a sandwich or salad.
The Red Sea Salt variety goes well with salsa.

Enjoy these new Gluten Free crackers made with good-for-you ingredients. 

NEW Enjoy Life ProBurst Bites

Enjoy Life Foods is coming out with a new product that will be available in stores in March. The Enjoy Life ProBurst Bites are allergen friendly - free of milk, nuts, and soy.
 

Look for these products when they hit stores. They have a bit an outer shell and a softer inside. The dark chocolate used offsets the sweetness of the fruit and provides a rich, satisfying, fiber filled, and protein packed snack!

Each bite is about 1 inch in size and a serving is 3 ProBurst Bites! Take a few in a plastic baggie or a small container to have an after school snack or a post workout pick-me-up.