Year: 2013

Almond Joy Energy Bites (Vegan & Gluten Free)

Melissa King 89 Comments

Almond Joy Energy Bites.  This past Sunday, we made Almond Joy Waffles for breakfast. They were a big hit so I decided I would try some almond joy energy bites with similar ingredients.

My husband liked these healthy vegan almond energy bites so much, that I had to stop him from eating them all.  I still needed to take pictures. A common food blogger problem haha!

 

Almond Joy Energy Bites

 

It’s funny because as soon as he gets home from work, I am shoving things in his face to taste test.  I like to get his approval as well as my three year old.

She helped me make these and kept trying to sneak the batter when she thought I wasn’t looking.  Sneaky sneaky.  Can’t say I blame her.  They are delicious!

Looking for more energy bite recipes?

Almond Joy Energy Bites

Almond Joy Energy Bites

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Prep Time 10 min Serves 12 balls     adjust servings

Ingredients

  • 1 cup almonds
  • 1 cup shredded unsweetened coconut
  • 10-12 medjool dates
  • 1/4-1/2 tsp almond extract (I used 1/4 only because my husband doesn't like a strong almond flavor)
  • 1 T coconut oil melted
  • 2 T water
  • 1/4 cup chocolate chips I used carob chips

Instructions

  1. In a food processor, mix the almonds and coconut until they are fine.
  2. Then add the dates, coconut oil and water and continue to pulse until you see a dough start to form.
  3. Roll into balls and place in the fridge to firm up.

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Recipe Notes

I got about 12 balls out of my batch.

Almond Joy Waffles (Vegan, Gluten Free)

Melissa King 31 Comments

Almond Joy Waffles.  Sundays at our house have a morning tradition of waffles or pancakes.  Lately, it has been waffles.  I think my older daughter really looks forward to it.

We used to do pancakes in my house growing up and I loved it. Today, I made some Almond Joy Waffles.

To get things going quickly in the morning, I mix all the dry ingredients the night before.  That way, it’s just as quick as store bought pancake mix, but much healthier!

 

Almond Joy Waffles

 

I wasn’t really a fan of the Almond Joy bar growing up.  I have grown  to love all things coconut now.  My husband, on the other hand, loved them so I knew he would enjoy these.

Almond Joy Waffles

Almond Joy Waffles

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Prep Time 10 min Cook Time 10 min Serves 4 large waffles     adjust servings

Ingredients

Instructions

  1. Turn on your waffle iron so it can heat up. 
  2. In a medium bowl , mix the dry ingredients. 
  3. In a large bowl , mix the wet. 
  4. Add wet to dry and mix just until combined. 
  5. I scooped about a 1/2 cup amount of batter onto my waffle iron , but everyone’s is different.  I got 4 large waffles out of my batch.  If you are feeling extra frisky, you can top yours with some chocolate chips as well!

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Healthy 3 Bean Soup

Melissa King 37 Comments

Soups are great inexpensive meals to make that go a long way.  This 3 bean soup is my latest recipe.   I have a lot of my soups posted here.  You can use up leftover vegetables in the fridge and they also freeze well.  This 3 bean soup is very easy, budget friendly and healthy!  Can it get better than that?

soup2

This is my husband’s favorite soup.  He said it reminded him of Progresso soup without all the MSG and sodium.  My favorite is still the Split Pea Soup.  This soup is also vegan and gluten free.  I hope you enjoy it.

3 Bean Vegetable Soup

3 Bean Soup

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Prep Time 15 min Cook Time 8 hr

Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 cups white beans
  • 1 1/2 cups pinto beans
  • 1 1/2 cups kidney beans
  • 1 28 oz can crushed tomatoes
  • 4-5 carrots cut in circles
  • 4-5 celery stalks diced
  • 1 onion diced
  • 4-5 cloves garlic minced
  • 4-6 cups of stock (I used a homemade stock )
  • 2 T oil (I used walnut oil)
  • 1-2 cups water
  • 1 T parsley
  • 1 tsp sage
  • 1 tsp thyme
  • salt to taste

Instructions

  1. We used dried beans that we soaked overnight and then boiled them for about 20 minutes in the morning.  They are so much cheaper than canned beans and they taste cleaner too. 
  2. Throw everything in a pot and turn on high just to get the soup going and after it is boiling, bring it down to low and simmer covered for up to 8 hours if you like.

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Recipe Notes

I cooked mine about 6 hours. The soup can be cooked in less time if you keep it on high. I just think the longer a soup cooks, the more the flavors develop. If you had a pressure cooker, you can probably get it done in much less time.

Tips on Avoiding MSG

Melissa King 14 Comments

SAMSUNG

Monosodium glutamate ( MSG) is used in a lot of processed foods to add flavor.  It is a food additive that should be avoided. MSG is an excitotoxin.  What does that mean?   That means that it can excite your cells to the point that they get damaged.  Damage to cells can lead to cancer.  Cell damage can also lead to other degenerative diseases like Parkinson’s or Alzheimer’s.  Other adverse reactions to MSG can include, headaches, dizziness, diarrhea, mood swings and heart palpitations.  Another scary thing about MSG is that it can be hidden in certain ingredients.  So a processed food can be labeled no MSG, but it could in fact, contain MSG.  Here are some terms to look for:

Yeast extract
Anything “hydrolyzed”
Autolyzed yeast
Soy protein isolate
Whey protein isolate
Calcium or sodium caseinate
Textured protein
Gelatin

If you have a sensitivity to MSG you should also know that there are some ingredients that can produce MSG.  Here are some of those:

Carrageenan
Maltodextrin
Citric acid
Bouillion
Natural flavors
Malt extract

MSG is mostly found in soups, broth, snack foods, veggie burgers, frozen meals and even baby food.  Always make sure you read labels on anything you buy.  It takes a bit more time, but it is worth it in the long run.

Key Lime Larabars (Vegan and Gluten Free)

Melissa King 85 Comments

Key Lime Larabars.  I had a reader request a key lime larabar recipe.  I have got to say that I like these a lot.  I am not really a fan of key lime anything, but these little bars are good!

They reminded me of the Coconut Cream Larabars, which are like crack and also my favorite.  These larabars are so easy to make.  How can you not try them when they take only 5 minutes?

 

homemade key lime larabars

 

The taste of lime comes out real nice in the finish.  It’s a subtle taste.  I only used the juice of 1 lime, bit you can add more if you like.  Now I have one question.  Is there any flavor I am forgetting about?  I thought maybe the blueberry flavor.

What do you all think?

Key Lime Larabars

Key Lime Larabars

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Prep Time 10 min

Ingredients

Instructions

  1. Process the cashews, coconut and almonds until they are a fine powder. 
  2. Then add the dates and lime juice until a dough forms.  If the dough looks a bit dry, you can add a few tablespoons of water to help it come together. 
  3. Line an 8×8 baking dish with parchment leaving enough room for some to come out the sides.
  4. Spread dough into the the dish.  It will be very stick and you may need to wet a spatula to help you. 
  5. Once the dough is evenly spread, press it down with your palms using the parchment paper. 
  6. Place in the fridge for a few hours to set.

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Chocolate Mint Cookie Dough Bites

Melissa King 50 Comments

Chocolate Mint Cookie Dough Bites.  With St. Patrick’s day coming up, I am trying to think of some vegan friendly desserts.  This recipe came to me after I made my No Bake Vegan Nutella Bites.  These chocolate mint bites remind me of eating mint chocolate chip ice cream.

They are like Thin Mints without the guilt!  These little balls of goodness are vegan, dairy free, soy free and can easily be made gluten free by using gluten free oats.

 

chocolate mint cookie dough bites

 

The best part?  They can be made in 5 minutes.  Since there is no egg in this cookie dough recipe, it’s safe to eat right out of the food processor.

I had to stop my daughter before she ate most them!  They go really well with homemade almond milk.  Yum!

Looking for more mint chocolate recipes?

Chocolate Mint Cookie Dough Bites

Chocolate Mint Cookie Dough Bites

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Prep Time 10 min Serves 12 balls     adjust servings

Ingredients

Instructions

  1. In a food processor mix the cashew and oats until they are a powdery consistency.
  2. Then add the dates, cocoa powder, 2 T milk and peppermint extract and mix until a dough starts to form. If the dough looks dry, add a bit more milk.
  3. Roll into balls and place on a parchment lined baking sheet . 
  4. Set in the fridge to firm up. I got 12-14 bites out of my batch.

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