Date and Coconut Bars

As promised, here's the recipe for the snack bars I mentioned in Friday's post. I made this recipe after some experimenting in the kitchen. We all enjoy eating them and think your family would too!

To start, here's what you'll need:

1 bag of pitted dates (8oz. or about 30 dates)
1/3 cup of carob powder
2/3 cup of coconut flakes (unsweetened)
1/2 cup of rice milk
1 cup of mixed nuts (grounded)
1/4 cup of coconut flakes (for garnishing)

Step 1: Place dates in a small pot and add water to (just enough to cover the dates halfway). Boil for about 5mins.

Step 2: Allow the dates to cool for a bit before placing them in the blender. Add 1/2 cup of milk (I used rice milk) and blend until smooth. Set aside.

Step 3: Without using water, blend the mixed nuts to make them a bit smaller than your regular "chopped nuts".

Step 4: Mix blended dates and carob powder thoroughly. Then add the mixed nuts and the 2/3 cup of coconut flakes. Again, mix the ingredients together until they are completely mixed.

Step 5:  Place the mixture in a 9" x 13" dish and even it out with the back of a spoon. Add the 1/4 cup of coconut on top making a garnish.

Step 6: Place in fridge at least 2 hours to cool and set. I usually leave mine in overnight.

Step 7: Once it is finished "setting", remove from fridge and cut into bars!

These are great for dessert after a hearty lunch and they add a tasty touch to a light evening supper. Go ahead, give them a try! Let me know how you enjoyed this recipe!

Healthy Homemade Pizza

Pizza is one of my family's favorite lunches and this week I made six small pizzas for Sunday's lunch. As promised, here's the recipe:

Healthy Homemade Pizza

Makes 6 small pizzas

6 pocket pita loaves
2 1/2 cups of cashew cheese (recipe here)
2 raw tomatoes, quartered
1 orange bell pepper, sliced
1 onion
seasonings of your choice

To make the lunch healthier, I try to avoid cooking/baking the veggies longer than necessary and this recipe is almost raw.

Step 1: Chop up the veggies and set aside.

Step 2: Spread your pita pocket with cheese.

Step 3:  Add the chopped vegetables on top and add seasonings.

Step 4: Place your pita pocket in the oven on 350 degrees for 20 minutes. It
should look something like this when it's finished.

Variations: You can add any of your favorite veggies on top to

make a pizza that you'll enjoy. Pasta sauce also makes a great
pizza topping. :-)

Have a blessed day everyone!

P.S. We have five participants for the Friendship Afghans project and would love to have one more join us to make 6! If you or a friend of yours would like to join, please click here for more information. You can also help spread the word by posting about it on your blog! I've set up a poll in the right sidebar so we can choose a color scheme, so if you are a participant please vote!

Blueberry Pecan Cookies

My sister Leah and enjoy baking and on Sunday, we decided to bake some cookies. We rarely use recipes and love to bake using our imagination and, most times, the results are delicious. ;-)

We decided to use up some of the fruits we had around and measured everything as we mixed it in so we can give the recipe to you all if it turned out right. :-)

Blueberry Pecan Cookies

5 fresh bananas

15 pitted dates

1 cup of blueberries

1 cup of chopped pecans, raw
1/4 cup of carob powder (optional, similar in taste to chocolate)

2 1/2 cups of whole wheat flour

1 1/2 cups of rolled oats
1/2 tsp of salt

3/4 cup of warm water

First, put the oven on preheat at 350 degrees. Then blend the bananas and dates until smooth. You may need to add a little water to help it blend.

Next mix the flour, oats, carob powder, and salt together.

Add the blended fruit to the mixing bowl and add the warm water. Stir completely.

Then add the chopped pecans and blueberries. 

 

Use two spoons to scoop the dough into the pan. Use the back of a spoon to help "form" the cookie.

They should look something like this:

Bake for about 30 minutes or until the tops are crispy. Enjoy!

All of us agree that the cookies were the best we've tasted in a LONG time! If you try our recipe, please add a comment and let us know how they turned out. 

Blessings,