Apple Pie Energy Balls

When you're in the mood for a healthy treat, Larabars are a go-to for many people - they're one of the few snacks that are gluten free, vegan, paleo, raw and actually taste good.  Apple Pie was always my favourite flavour of Larabar, when I used to buy them, but unless they're on sale, I rarely buy these anymore.  Firstly, because it's really easy to make your own, and secondly, because their parent company opposes GMO labelling. There are dozens of Larabar copy-cat recipes out there on the web, and so many different ways of achieving a common goal!   I've seen recipes made with apple sauce, apple chips, apple rings, and actual apples - but this is my way of making Larabar copy-cats.  These are great little snacks for a mid-afternoon pick-me-up, or even for an on-the-go breakfast.

Recipe notes:  My brand of apple chips was simply Fuji apples and cinnamon.  Try to find apple chips with as few ingredients as possible, or dehydrate your own apples.  If your chips don't have cinnamon, add about 1/4 to 1/2 tsp of cinnamon to the mix.

As far as dates go, I've used all different types of dates with success.  Medjool, Algerian, Deglet... they're all good!  There are subtle differences in flavour, so if you prefer one over another, use whatever you like.

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup cashews
• 1/2 cup pecans
• 1 cup dates, pitted
• 1 cup apple chips
• unsweetened coconut flakes
• optional: cinnamon, splash of vanilla

Method:

1. Add dates to food processor or magic bullet and pulse until they're finely chopped.  Add the nuts and apple chips to the food processor.  Pulse until the nuts are finely chopped and the mixture holds together when you mould it in your hand.  (Don't allow the nuts to form into a paste/nut butter).  You should still be able to distinguish small pieces of nuts and dates in the mixture.

2. Prepare a dish with some coconut flakes (about a half cup)

3. Form the mixture into small, 1-1/2 inch balls.  Roll the balls in the coconut flakes.

These should be okay to keep covered on the counter for a few days, but any longer than that, you should store them in an airtight container in the fridge.

Yield: approx 15 balls

Paleo Peach Crisp for One (or two!)

Living on my own, I don't always get to my produce when it's in the best shape for eating raw, so when I was faced with a giant peach that smelled delicious, but was slightly soft, I thought I could either cut it up and mix it into my yogurt, or I could make myself a delicious Sunday morning treat.  With no grains/gluten and no refined sugar in the house, this was pretty much a no-brainer.  I dug through my pantry and fridge, and came up with a recipe that I think will become a staple in my kitchen (I plan on replacing the peach with apples in the fall - yum!)

Paleo Peach Cobbler for One

Ingredients:

Peach mixture:

• 1 ripe peach, peeled and cut into small chunks
• 1/2 a vanilla bean 
• 1/4 tsp cinnamon

Crisp mixture:

• 3 tbsp ground flax seeds
• 1/4 cup almond flour
• 2 tbsp shredded, unsweetened coconut
• 3 tbsp butter, melted
• 1 tbsp maple syrup
• 1/4 tsp vanilla
• 1/4 tsp cinnamon
• dash of sea salt
• slivered almonds (optional)

Method:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Place peaches in a bowl.  Scrape vanilla beans on top of peaches, add cinnamon and combine.

Place the fruit mixture at the bottom of a small oven-proof dish (I used a 23cm dish) or individual ramekins & set aside.

In a separate bowl, combine flax, almond flour and coconut until blended.  Add the wet ingredients & spices, and mix until combined.  

Top the peaches with the crisp mixture.  Add slivered almonds if desired.  

Bake for about 20-25 minutes, or until the topping is a light golden brown.  

This makes an awesome breakfast when served warm... or throw some homemade vanilla ice cream or frozen yogurt on the side for a quick and easy dessert.  

Sweet Omelette with Cinnamon Toasted Pecans (Primal)

This is my absolute favourite Primal breakfast, hands down.  If you're craving the taste of pancakes, but  don't feel like whipping up the egg whites for light, fluffy coconut flour pancakes, or don't feel like the heaviness of almond flour pancakes... this is the recipe you want.  It's quick, easy and delicious.

Ingredients:

For the Omelette:
- 2 eggs
- 1 tsp vanilla
- dash of cinnamon
- butter for pan (about 1tsp)

For the Pecans:
- 1/2 cup pecans (I make extra so that I can snack on them later!)
- 2 tbsp butter
- 1 tsp cinnamon

Serve with:
- maple syrup
- blueberries or other fresh berries

Method:
1. Start with the pecans: In a small frying pan, melt 2 tbsp of butter.  When melted, add your pecans + cinnamon and sauté until the pecans look slightly softened and glisten with the butter.  Remove from heat and set aside in a dish.

2. In a bowl, beat the two eggs, vanilla and cinnamon.  Melt the butter in the pan, and then pour the mixture in.  When it starts to bubble on the sides, carefully flip it.  Once cooked, remove from pan and fold over on your plate.

3. Spoon the cinnamon-toasted pecans, and add some berries on top, then drizzle with maple syrup and serve!

The whole process takes less than 20 minutes - if you time it well, you may even be able to get a breakfast like this in before work or school!  Please let me know if you try this, and what you think!

Cinnamon Roll Pancakes

Oh, how I love the weekend!
So yesterday, I was browsing through my Google Reader, when This Post over at I Heart Nap Time, reminded me of Recipe Girl's Cinnamon Roll Pancakes.  I love me some cinnamon.  And cream cheese icing.  And pancakes.
And I love Saturday mornings when I don't have to rush to get to work on time!

So guess what I did this morning?
Mmmhmm, you guessed it!

So, I don't think my pancakes turned out *quite* as nicely as Recipe Girl's... but I also halved the recipe and eliminated the egg (someone needs to go grocery shopping later today!).  If you make this and also need to eliminate the egg, just add a bit more of the other liquids in the batter, they'll turn out fine!

I cut the recipe in half, to make two pancakes - one that I ate, and one that I'll freeze.  Even cutting it in half, the recipe made too much of the cinnamon mixture, and WAY too much icing.  So keep that in mind if you'll be doing the same.

Anyone have any recommendations about how to reheat the frozen pancake?

Romance Yourself Breakfast

Good morning!

There is nothing like breakfast. I could eat it for ev

ery meal of the day. Ok, so you can’t surprise yourself with breakfast in bed you sure can still enjoy a little early day treat. Yes please note I didn’t

say AM because really why restrict yourself to the before noon hours any way.

French Toast

1 Banana

2 slices of ancient grain bread (or super fluffy crusty white bread if you are naughty)

½ cup of white chocolate chips

2 table spoons of powdered sugar

1 table spoon of organic PC sugar

3 eggs

2 table spoons of cream

½ teaspoon of vanilla extract

1 teaspoon of coconut oil

So in a shallow bowl mix egg and cream and organic sugar

Soak break in the mix and put into a frying pan on med heat with coconut oil melted. Slow cook this on each side until all colors of yellow and brown and fluffy white.

Slice bananas and top the fried bread with it, add the white chocolate chips and dust with powdered sugar.

For an alternative sugar breakfast switch the vanilla with almond extract and the white chocolate chip with butterscotch. Switch the Bananas to strawberries or red berry fruit salad. I will add a picture of this version the next time I make it.