chocolate chai truffles

Chocolate Chai Truffles!

These little "truffles" are made from date paste, oats, spices and cacao...a heavenly scented sweet treat!

 I love all the flavors and spices fall brings, but I am so sad to say goodbye to the summer!   I’m not ready to go full-blown pumpkin spice yet, so I will start with chai :)

These little “truffles” are made from date paste, oats, spices and cacao…a heavenly scented sweet treat!  I keep a batch of date candy or no-bake bars in the refrigerator for a little pick me up during the day or as a healthier way to satisfy my love of dessert!  They are kid approved too!

Inspiration for this recipe comes from the adorable, motivational and plant-based lady over at Earthy Andy!   I first started following her on Instagram, go check her out!

These little "truffles" are made from date paste, oats, spices and cacao...a heavenly scented sweet treat!

chocolate chai truffles
 
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Chocolate Chai Truffles, a heavenly scented sweet treat! Makes 26-28 truffles
Author:
Recipe type: Dessert
Cuisine: Vegan
Serves: 28
Ingredients
  • 2 packed cups medjool dates, pitted
  • 1 tablespoon coconut oil
  • 2 tablespoons strongly brewed chai or black tea
  • ½ cup coconut sugar
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  • 1.5 cups old fashioned oats
  • 1 tablespoon cacao powder
  • ½ teaspoon cinnamon
  • ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • ⅛ teaspoon ground ginger
  • 2 healthy pinches of sea salt (I use course pink sea salt)
  • ¼ cup unsweetened coconut flakes
Instructions
  1. Place pitted dates in a food processor and pulse until a paste is formed.
  2. In a large frying pan over medium-low heat add coconut oil, date paste, tea and coconut sugar. Stir mixture until well combined and cook until bubbling. (around 3-5 mins.) Remove from heat and stir in vanilla. Set aside and let cool.
  3. In a large bowl mix together oats, cacao powder, cinnamon, ground nutmeg, ground ginger and sea salt. Add cooled date paste mixture and stir until well combined. (this step takes some elbow grease!)
  4. Using a tablespoon, scoop out mixture and use palms of hands to roll into a ball. Roll in coconut flakes until covered.
  5. Store in refrigerator.
  6. Enjoy!
Nutrition Information
Serving size: 1 Calories: 82 Fat: 1 Carbohydrates: 19 Sugar: 14 Fiber: 2 Protein: 1

These little "truffles" are made from date paste, oats, spices and cacao...a heavenly scented sweet treat! 

What is coconut sugar?

Coconut sugar is made from the sap of the coconut palm plant.  It is light brown in color, similar to the color of light brown sugar.  However, it is not as sweet as regular white sugar or brown sugar.  Unlike white sugar, it contains trace amounts of nutrients such as iron, zinc and potassium.  The constitution of coconut palm sugar is also different than white sugar.  To best explain it, here is a blurb off of Dr. Weil’s website, “coconut sugar is 70 to 79 percent sucrose and only three percent to nine percent each of fructose and glucose. This is an advantage, because you want to keep your consumption of fructose as low as possible, and cane sugar is 50 percent fructose.”   But, don’t forget…sugar is sugar and it’s best to consume in moderation!

double chocolate banana bread

Surprise your kids with this Double Chocolate Banana Bread when they get off the bus, because nothing says “welcome home” better than banana bread!

Double Chocolate Banana Bread ~vegan~

For many, last week was the first week back to school.  My little one starts Pre-K on Monday and he couldn’t be more excited!  (I can’t wait as well…a few items on my “to do” list might actually get done!)  This summer definitely goes down in the books as one of the best ever!  We welcomed Rowan into the world, spent endless hours on the beach and made memories to last a lifetime, but I’m ready for things to slow down a bit.  It will be nice to get back into a routine, cook more meals at home and enter into hibernation mode.  I don’t know about you, but banana bread has slow down and relax written all over it!

This isn’t your typical banana bread recipe that is loaded with butter and saturated fat.  Instead applesauce is used to give it a fluffy texture.  Sweetened naturally by ripe bananas and maple syrup and of course a few chocolate chips are tossed in for good measure!

I used a combination of whole wheat pastry flour and ground old-fashioned oats for added fiber and nutrients, but you can simply use whole wheat pastry flour if you prefer.  If you don’t have whole wheat pastry flour use whole wheat flour and a half white flour.

Surprise your kids with this Double Chocolate Banana Bread when they get off the bus, because nothing says "welcome home" better than banana bread!

double chocolate banana bread
 
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Double Chocolate Banana Bread, the ultimate comfort food! !Makes 15 servings
Author:
Serves: 15
Ingredients
  • 1 cup old-fashioned oats (ground into a flour)
  • 1 cup whole wheat pastry flour
  • ¼ cup cacao powder or high quality cocoa powder
  • ¾ teaspoons baking soda
  • ¾ teaspoons salt
  • 3 ripe bananas (mashed), 1 heaping cup
  • ½ cup pure maple syrup
  • ⅓ cup unsweetened apple sauce
  • ¼ cup soy or almond milk
  • 1½ teaspoons pure vanilla extract
  • ⅓ cup chocolate chips plus ¼ cup for topping (I like using Enjoy Life chocolate chips)
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray an 8x4 baking pan with natural cooking spray and set aside.
  2. Place old-fashioned oats in a high speed blender or food processor and blend until a flour is formed.
  3. In a large bowl add oat flour, whole wheat pastry flour, cacao powder, baking soda and salt. Stir until well combined.
  4. In a separate bowl, add mashed bananas, maple syrup, apple sauce, milk and vanilla. Stir until well combined.
  5. Add wet ingredients to dry ingredients and lightly stir together until just mixed. Don't over mix!
  6. Fold in chocolate chips and transfer batter to baking pan. Top with ¼ cup chocolate chips.
  7. Bake for 50-55 minutes or until toothpick inserted comes out clean and edges are pulling away from side of pan.
  8. Let bread cool, slice and enjoy!
Nutrition Information
Serving size: 1 Calories: 157 Fat: 4 Carbohydrates: 29 Sugar: 15 Fiber: 3 Protein: 3

At only 157 calories and 4 grams of fat per slice, this is a healthier way to satisfy that sweet tooth!

Surprise your kids with this Double Chocolate Banana Bread when they get off the bus, because nothing says "welcome home" better than banana bread!

Surprise your kids with this Double Chocolate Banana Bread when they get off the bus, because nothing says "welcome home" better than banana bread!

Double Chocolate Banana Bread…double chocolate, enough said!

Happy Friday :)

pasta salad on a stick with greek dressing

Pasta Salad On A Stick With Greek Dressing, putting a spin on your classic pasta salad and making it picnic perfect!

Pasta Salad On A Stick With Greek Dressing, putting a spin on your classic pasta salad and making it picnic perfect!

Serve these alongside the most delicious Greek dressing for your Labor Day cookout!  It’s a fun finger food that is family friendly, kids love eating food off of skewers!  I stacked cherry tomatoes, rigatoni pasta, fresh basil leaves, chunky cut cucumbers, black olives and avocado, but the options are limitless!  If you have cheese lovers in the family add mini mozzarella balls for a caprese style salad!

Pasta Salad On A Stick With Greek Dressing, putting a spin on your classic pasta salad and making it picnic perfect!

pasta salad on a stick with greek dressing
 
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Pasta Salad on a Stick, putting a spin on your classic pasta salad! Makes 10 skewers
Author:
Recipe type: Appetizer
Cuisine: Vegan
Serves: 10
Ingredients
For the Pasta Salad Skewers:
  • 20 fresh basil leaves
  • 1 cup black olives
  • 1 cucumber, cut in large-bites
  • 20 cherry tomatoes
  • 2 avocados, cut in cubes
  • 1 cup rigatoni pasta, cooked according to package and cooled
  • 10 wooden skewers
For the Greek Dressing:
  • ½ cup extra virgin olive oil
  • ⅔ cup red wine vinegar
  • 1¼ teaspoons garlic powder
  • 1¼ teaspoons dried oregano
  • 1 teaspoon pepper
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon dijon mustard
Instructions
For the Pasta Salad Skewers:
  1. Assemble skewers adding each of the ingredients as desired.
For the Greek Dressing:
  1. Whisk all ingredients together
Drizzle skewers with dressing or serve on the side. Enjoy!

    This seriously has to be one of the easiest recipes ever!  

    If you can chop veggies and boil water you got this!  

    Not only do they look pretty, but they are loaded with Vitamin C, antioxidants, fiber, Vitamin A, healthy fats and potassium to name a few!

    Pasta Salad On A Stick With Greek Dressing, putting a spin on your classic pasta salad and making it picnic perfect!

    Idea inspired by Sandra Lee!