Instagram, Raw Brownies, & A Future Giveaway

I'm letting you know now that this post involves several different topics and may be lengthy.

  This past Saturday my mom and I along with our assistant pastor, his wife, three of his girls, his sister (our past youth leader), his niece, and nephew went shopping at the Grapevine outlet mall as a day of fun. We all met up at cracker barrel for a late breakfast before spending 7 hours roaming the very crowded mall.  My mom was told by some friends that we had to eat at the Rainforest Cafe because it is a unique experience so we made reservations to have a late lunch/early dinner. When it's was time to be seated, we were lead into a dark room that is heavily decorated to look like a rain forest with mist machines at the bar, mechanic animals that move every few minutes with sound effects, and the staff was dressed like safari guides.

Grain-Free Pumpkin Bars

  Since Thanksgiving is in a few days I thought it would be a good time to share this delicious dessert recipe that also happens to be healthy{which can't be said for many holiday desserts.}This Thanksgiving we are gathering at my aunt's house and I'm in charge of bringing the stuffing, mashed sweet potatoes, and a dessert which will be these bars. Even if you don't have anyone in your family that has to follow special dietary needs {I'm the only one in my family} these bars will pass the taste test.  

  The texture of these bars is a mixture between the creamy custard  like these pumpkin pie cups and a soft cake. When you take a bite of the soft bars you will first notice the creamy pumpkin flavor paired with the spices before tasting the nutty almond butter. I have made this twice since I found the recipe online and both times the bars were gone in less than 2 days. You could even try using pureed acorn squash or sweet potato instead of pumpkin and pecan butter would give the bars a nuttier, richer taste.

Vegan Chocolate Chip Oat Pancakes

   This past weekend I discovered a new tasty treat at Central Market: Banyan Vegan Tofu Fried Rice that is also wheat and gluten free. I've tried my fair share of healthy {gluten free, dairy free, and vegan} products that tasted plain to down right disgusting, but this was delicious! One package is enough for 2 meals, one of which I cheated and added leftover chicken, but it was tasty both ways. One really good thing about these is that the packages can be frozen to be enjoyed without having to wait until the next trip to C.M.

 Random Note:I think this sweater from Urban Outfitters is really cute!

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Carrot Cake Oatmeal

  Yesterday was suppose to be a good day, but it turned out to be one of the most frustrating and emotional days that I have had in a while. My mom and I went down to one of the community colleges to try to get me set up for classes and fix some of the information that the computer system messed up. We were shuffled from one office to another to try to fix some information, see what was already set up, and to see what else I needed, but after being told by several people that they weren't sure why things weren't falling into place, my hopes of it being a smooth ride were gone. So, I now have a few days to refresh myself on math subjects that I completed over 4 years ago to take a 4 hour accuplacer test {covering 4 subjects} and then go back a few days later to well.. I'm not sure why I have to go back so soon if they won't have my test results that fast so I guess i'll have to wait and see.

 Question: So what happens when I have a horrible day?
Answer:
1.I listen to some good music by Ray Lamontagne. I love him!
2. Fall in love with a pair of cute slouchy moccasins online, but can't find where to buy them. They said they were Steve Madden but I didn't see them on the site. 
3. Cuddle with the kittens{who have turned into little monsters as seen here} while watching something on t.v. 
3. And finally make some really good comfort food. 

Banana Oat Chocolate Chip Cookies {Healthy}

   I made spaghetti squash for the first time Friday night and it was a hit! It's so easy because all you have to do is pop it in the oven for 1 hour before shredding it into "pasta" so we will be eating it more often. We participated in Bountiful Baskets this past weekend and ended up getting some squash (acorn and carnival) so I'm thinking about making a soup or even try making squash risotto which might help me use some my overflowing plants of rosemary that I actually have kept alive for a few weeks!{I kill plants & fish. I can hand raise kittens that are 48 hours old, but I've killed every plant and fish I have ever had, well actually my last few goldfish fish turned into cannibals. Oops}.

   Late Saturday night, I made another batch of my Sunday Morning Muffins for my mom's class at church for Sunday. I've made these muffins several times, but this was the only time every muffin came out looking like the the one below without the cream cheese oozing out. Instead of making the streusel topping, I just divided a small packet (the little restaurant size packets) between the 12 muffins for a little crunch. 

  I can across this cookie recipe a while back on foodgawker when I had a few ripe bananas, but I didn't want to make another banana bread recipe {seeing as I have 5 quick bread/muffins recipes using bananas} and I have made this recipe twice since. These cookies have no flour, no sugar, no oil if you use applesauce like I did, and vegan (depending on what type of chocolate you use). And unlike most cookie recipes where you end up with a few dozen cookies in your kitchen this only makes 18 small, 2-bite cookies. 

Healthy Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookie Dough! {No Bake}

  Lately I have been posting mostly sweet recipes and it kind of bugs me since I don't want y'all to think I only eat chocolate-covered treats throughout the week, especially since most of the recipes I've been sharing I actually made as far back as a few weeks ago but waited to post about it. After stopping by Central Market the other night and buying a few pounds of chicken breasts, a pound of large fresh scallops, and a lot of green veggies like baby bok choy (one of my favorites) I have several savory recipes in mind to share soon. I've also been thinking up a few new recipes for soup since according to my mom the changing weather will be "soup weather" soon.

But right now we are still talking about sweet treats. 

  Have you ever stopped by Katie's blog: Chocolate-Covered Katie? Her blog is full of amazing small portioned desserts that are healthy so you don't have to feel guilty about having nutella fudge, chocolate pumpkin brownies ,and I especially want to try the cookie dough dip. This recipe was kind of inspired by her cookie batter recipes.

Healthy Zucchini Brownies (Paleo)

  The "usual" brownie recipe contains butter, cups of sugar, oil, eggs, cocoa powder, and flour. This brownie recipe doesn't contain any of the above except 1 egg.  Some might argue that this dessert isn't a "brownie"  because the batter doesn't contain cocoa powder or melted chocolate, just chocolate chips that melt when baking. Some might categorize this as a healthy blondie, chocolate chip zucchini bread,  or a snack cake which is okay.

   I found this recipe about a week ago when searching from a healthy chocolate recipe. The more I searched for chocolate recipes that contained zucchini, the more I discovered that a lot of people have made this recipe and blogged about it. I noticed that in some pictures, the brownies were more of a golden brown color instead of the rich, chocolate brown in the original picture. For a second I thought about adding some cocoa into the batter thinking it may not be chocolaty enough, but decided against it to try how I liked the original recipe as is first and I'm glad I did. I did add 2 tablespoons of mini chocolate chip on the top of the brownies since it was all that was leftover from another recipe. 

60lbs of apples, 18 bananas, & Homemade (unsweetened) Applesauce

 Most of the recipes I'm going to be sharing for a while will be either be breakfast or dessert recipes and I think all of them will contain either fruits, vegetables, or both. I've also re-stocked my gluten free flour supply since a mouse got into my last stash so a few will also be gluten free.

  This past weekend, we participated in Bountiful Baskets since we haven't bought anything in months (P.S If you want to learn about Bountiful Baskets see this post). We got 2-30lb boxes of Gala apples; one is for us and the other is for the animals or 1 1/2 for us, depending on how many recipes I want to try.

Pumpkin Spice (Steel Cut) Oatmeal

 The aroma of cinnamon and nutmeg to me signify that it's time for the weather to cool down, it's getting closer to the holidays, and to add a little spice to almost every recipe I make, especially baked goods. This pumpkin oatmeal has cinnamon, other warm spices, uses maple syrup instead of refined sugar, and fills you up before you head off to work or school. This is the perfect breakfast for the chilly, rainy mornings that we have been having around here lately.

  Up until maybe two years ago, I'd never tried steel cut oats and when I did I wasn't so sure about if I liked the them that much. Steel oats have a very different texture compared to regular oats because of how they are processed and takes about 3 times longer to cook up. About 5 months ago, I used steel cut oats to make overnight cinnamon apple oatmeal  in a slow cooker which everyone enjoyed for breakfast and it made the house smell delicious!

Honey Walnut Banana Bread

Last Wednesday I went to my first physical therapy appointment which mainly consisted of  trying to pin point where the problem was (without knowing the MRI results), discovering that my right leg which is where i'm having pain in is weaker than my left, and learning new stretches that help strengthen my core without straining my back or leg. I also learned that if you have back problems, that you shouldn't lean forward which  can aggravate the problem area, but to bend down. I never realized how much I lean forward until someone told me not to.

 Charlie and Gus Gus visited the vet on Friday to get fixed. I was a ball of nerves while they were gone since this was the first time they would be with other people besides us. It seems like just yesterday they were 2 tiny balls of orange that could fit in my palm and needed to be fed every few hours. Charlie got her belly shaved and she was the only cat that I recall in all of our years of owning cats to be aggressive and testy after getting fixed. I finally took pity Gus Gus since he was at the receiving end of her wrath and I took Charlie into my bedroom for some quiet time where she turned into a purring, cuddle bug.

Turning 18 & Chocolate Coconut Pudding

    I'm officially 18. It's weird, it seems like yesterday when the biggest decision I had to make in middle school was who to sit by at lunch, dealing with the challenges of high school life, and complaining about living in a small town with all of the other kids and planning our escape plans as soon as we could. It's crazy how when all of that stuff was actually happening, time seemed to move at the pace of a sloth, but now looking back it went by really fast. I guess that quote about how nothing seems to change from day to day, but when you look back everything has changed. I can testify that this past year has be hectic to say the least with my health issues, new family situations, discovering new passions, and trying to figure out where I fit in this big world.

Peaches & Cream Popsicles

  The last time I made popsicles, the sticks ended up coming out, but the filling stayed in. I think it has something to do with my cheap, but cute popsicle molds. Earlier this summer, my mom and I went shopping to find some popsicle molds since we had lost our old ones, but none of the half dozen stores we checked had them. I've used little paper cups for the doggie popsicles I've made (a recipe I'll share later), but I didn't want to use them for regular popsicles.  Well, she ended up getting me a 10 pop mold online and the very next day when we walked into World Market there was a small 6 popsicle mold. 

  I found this recipe the other day and really wanted to make it so I did and prayed that the popsicles would actually come out of the mold this time. I filled the sink with a little water and let the molds sit for a few minutes to help loosen them up. Well, history repeated its self; the handle came out,but with only half of the stick and the filling stayed in the mold. I then ran a little warm water over the ends of the remaining molds and tried again and it worked! These popsicles are creamy due to the yogurt and are packed with delicious peach flavor.

Double Chocolate Cakies & Finishing Senior Year.

   I have been wanting to make this and this recipe for a while now, but it always got put off until today. The recipe is for double chocolate cakies by multiply delicious which is a blog that I have bookmarked several recipes since finding out about the paleo diet. This recipe is...gluten free, dairy free, refined sugar free, paleo, and it satisfies your chocolate craving (without the guilt). A cakie is like a cookie-sized cake without the icing.

   I had to make a little adjustment to the recipe, but they came out great. The recipe made 10 cakies, but the last one was bigger since it had enough batter for 1 1/4 cakies which I added a few more chocolate chips and some shredded coconut.

Peanut Butter Coconut Cups

  This weekend I was looking for more gluten-free recipes. After looking through several recipe that I had saved via foodgawker, pinterest, and some magazines, I decided to make a new recipe. I wanted to do something with coconut, but I didn't want to crack open to 2 fresh coconuts that we have sitting on our counter so I went with shredded coconut (i'm lazy today).
  I thought about making this recipe or this one, but I made my own recipe based off the peanut butter cups recipe I made a while back.

Buttermilk Oatcakes & Berry Compote

  

  These oatcakes (like pancakes) are great because they are filling, healthy, and have a good chew from the oats. The creator of this recipe wanted to show how easy a high-fiber & healthy breakfast could be without butter and extra fats. 

   The oatcake recipe can be categorized as having "no refined sugars" if you leave out the sugar which is what I did. This recipe makes 12 pancakes so having only 1 tbsp of sugar doesn't really matter; you could add more sugar if your family likes sweeter pancakes. I left out the sugar and just topped the cakes with the compote and some extra maple syrup and both my dad (who loves sugar) and I were happy with how they tasted. In the magazine, this recipe is labeled as high fiber, heart healthy, low cholesterol, and healthy weight. 

Pecan Almond Date Bars

   I finally got my packages of almond flour and coconut flour in the mail a few days ago so I decided to look up some of the recipe that I've bookmarked in that past to make. As soon as I saw Allie's post for Pecan Date Bars, I knew what I was baking first. I love dates and I add pecans to almost every baked good that I can so I thought this would be a good recipe to try my first recipe labeled Gluten-free & Paleo among many other labels!
  The Paleo diet is basically the diet of our ancestors with meats, vegetables, fruits, nuts, but doesn't include dairy, grains (gluten), or processed foods. I'm not saying that I'm going to switch to an all Paleo diet (at least not now), but I do like the idea of it and how many people that say that they feel so much better after being on it for a while. Here are a few good sites for learn more about Paleo: Multiply Delicious (I've bookmarked  & pinned so many of her recipes), here, and here.