Thursday, January 26, 2012

Healthy Mocha Cherry Chocolate Cookies - Gluten Free


I ran out of cookies yesterday so I knew it was time to make MORE!  However, I wanted something different, and I didn't want to go to the store to get any ingredients....so I went pantry shopping! :)  I found some dried cherries and dark chocolate chips which got my mind thinking mocha cherry chocolate cookies!  I've never made this flavor before so I was going on complete inspiration.  However, inspiration in this case turned out to be divine!  These are healthy and heavenly!  How does it get any better than that? I started by using my favorite bean and oats "base" which makes a super healthy and flour free treat....then I added in all the yummy flavors of java, cherry and chocolate!  How could anything go wrong with those flavors mingling together? :)  

 


Ingredients:

1 can organic black beans
1 cup old fashioned gluten free oats or 1 cup gluten free flour
2 eggs or egg substitute
3 tablespoons real butter or coconut oil
1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
1 teaspoon sea salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
2 tablespoons pure unsweetened cocoa powder
1 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon mocha or instant coffee
Sweetener - 1 cup unsweetened applesauce plus 1 tsp pure white stevia powder or 1 cup sweetener of choice
1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 cup dried cranberries
1/2 chopped walnuts (optional)


Directions:

Preheat oven 350 degrees.
Place all ingredients except the chocolate chips, dried cranberries and walnuts if using in a food processor and process until very smooth. I ran mine for about two minutes. Fold in chocolate chips, cranberries and walnuts.  Using a rounded tablespoon, drop the cookies onto a lightly greased or parchment-lined baking sheets about 1 inch apart. Bake about 15 minutes or until the cookies are slightly firm and no longer look wet in the center. Rotate pans halfway through. Cool before eating! :) Makes about two dozen cookies.


Wednesday, January 18, 2012

Healthy Chocolate Chip Cookies - Gluten Free

I love making desserts using beans! They taste amazing and even allow me to have dessert for dinner if I choose. How's it get any better than that? :0) These cookies are chewy, moist and healthy enough to eat all of them in one setting without guilt or sugar highs! LOL!

Want canned beans without the funky aftertaste? Try Eden Organics beans! They taste so much better than any other brand I have tried and don't leave that weird aftertaste that you can get with canned beans. Even compared to other organic canned bean brands, I still notice a difference. Their cans are BPA free so I wonder if the different can lining is the difference here. Let me know if you have any thoughts here! Also, what's your favorite canned food brand?

Also, check out my Black Bean Banana Brownies....YUMMO!


Ingredients:

2 cans Eden Organic Garbanzo Beans
1 cup Old Fashioned Gluten Free Oats
1 cups organic apple sauce (apples are on the dirty dozen list, use organic here!)
4 tablespoons unsalted organic butter
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract (make your own!)
1 teaspoon baking soda
2 teaspoons aluminum free baking powder
1/2 teaspoons sea salt
Sweetener of your choice - 1 teaspoon pure white stevia powder PLUS 1 additional cup applesauce or 1/2 - 1 cup of the following: raw honey, agave, maple syrup or sucanat
1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips


Directions:

Preheat oven 350 degrees.
Place all ingredients except the chocolate chips in a food processor and process until very smooth. I ran mine for about two minutes. Add chocolate chips and pulse three or four times until just incorporated. Using a rounded tablespoon, drop the cookies onto a lightly greased or parchment-lined baking sheets about 1 inch apart. Bake about 15 minutes or until the cookies are slightly browned and no longer look wet in the center. Rotate pans halfway through. Cool before eating! :)

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Tuesday, January 3, 2012

Apple Cinnamon Roasted Veggies with Walnuts

I love roasted veggies and have experimented with many recipes and techniques. So I'm very excited to say that I may have found my favorite roasted veggie recipe! It's amazing with a sweet apple glaze and cinnamon roasted walnuts. How can veggies get any yummier than this?

Ingredients:


1 pound red potatoes, cubed
1 pound sweet potatoes, cubed
1 pound carrots, peeled and cubed
1 cup apple cider
3 tablespoons honey or agave nectar or use stevia to taste for a sugar substitute
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
Fresh ground black pepper to taste
1/2 cup walnuts, chopped
1 tablespoon butter
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Directions

Preheat oven 400 degrees.

Divide potatoes and carrots in half and place on two large rimmed baking sheets. Whisk cider, honey or sweetener, salt and pepper in a small bowl. Pour cider mixture over vegetables dividing evenly between both pans. Toss to coat. Bake for about 45 minutes or more until vegetables are glazed and golden brown.

Meanwhile, place chopped walnuts in a small skillet over medium heat. Keep stirring nuts for several minutes until lightly brown. Remove from heat and add butter, cinnamon and a dash of salt. Stir until butter is melted. Let stand to cool.

Once vegetables are roasted, sprinkle with walnuts and eat up!

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