puppy love dog treats

Here is a super simple dog treat recipe for all you dog lovers out there!

Little treats made with peanut butter, banana, wheat germ and a whole lotta love!

Puppy Love Dog Treats ~made with peanut butter, bananas and a whole lotta love!

If you’re like us, dogs are not just pets, they are the heart of the family!  Belly (our pug) is the best worst dog anyone could ever ask for!  Super fresh and stubborn as most pugs are, but at the same time so loving and sweet…it’s hard to stay mad at them!  Just look at that face!

To show my pup some extra love, I baked him a batch of these cookies!  

Puppy Love Dog Treats ~made with peanut butter, bananas and a whole lotta love!

puppy love dog treats
 
Print
Author:
Ingredients
  • 1 ripe banana, mashed
  • ½ cup peanut butter
  • ¾ cup wheat germ
  • ¼ cup chopped peanuts
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees, line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
  2. In a medium bowl, add mashed banana, peanut butter, wheat germ and chopped peanuts. Mix until well combined and a dough is formed. (If dough is too thick, add a tablespoon of warm water at a time until a desired consistency is reached.)
  3. Divide dough into two balls. On a floured surface, roll out dough and use a cookie cutter to make treats. Place evenly on the cookie sheet and bake for 15-25 minutes (depending on size of cookie cutter used) or until crisp on the edges and firm to the touch.
  4. Let cool and feed to your favorite pup!

Puppy Love Dog Treats ~made with peanut butter, bananas and a whole lotta love!

Belly will testify, they are pug approved!

Puppy Love Dog Treats ~made with peanut butter, bananas and a whole lotta love!

Check out this puppy love video!  Seriously, it will make your day!

http://elitedaily.com/news/world/dog-gets-excited-passes-video/684461/

(Sorry, I’m not tech savvy enough to insert the clip…you just have to click on the link!)

 

blueberry bliss smoothie

 Blueberry Bliss!

A perfect blend of sweet and tart, which will leave your taste buds begging for more!

Blueberry Bliss Smoothie ~ vegan ~ A sweet and tart blend of blueberries, bananas, nut butter, hemp seeds and greens!

The mix of tangy blueberries and a sugary banana compliment each other nicely, and of course I snuck in some greens!  Hemp seeds and nut butter provide protein power, excellent for a pre or post exercise snack or a light meal.

One smoothie is loaded with nutrients, fiber (insoluble and soluble), vitamins E, K, C, B, healthy fats, potassium, choline and phytonutrients to name a few…no big deal.

It’s a great recipe for introducing green smoothies to a green smoothie newbie, no one will ever know there is spinach in it :)

a perfect blend of sweet and tart, which will leave your taste buds begging for more!

blueberry bliss smoothie
 
Print
Author:
Recipe type: Drinks
Cuisine: Vegan
Serves: 2
Ingredients
  • 2 cups almond milk
  • 1 banana
  • 1 cup frozen blueberries
  • 1 tablespoon nut butter (peanut butter, almond butter, cashew butter, sun butter or tahini)
  • 1 tablespoon hemp seeds
  • handful baby spinach leaves
  • 1-2 dates, pitted (optional)
Instructions
  1. Place all ingredients in a high-speed blender and blend away!

a perfect blend of sweet and tart, which will leave your taste buds begging for more!

Blend ahead of time and have one now and one for later!

Tips for storing green smoothies:

-Use a glass jar with a lid such as a mason jar to store your smoothie.  Try not to use plastic!

-Fill the jar all the way up to the top leaving no room for air!  Exposure to air will make the fruit and vegetables oxidize rapidly causing discoloration and damage to nutrients.  You can even add a splash of fresh lemon juice to further slow oxidation.

-Store in the refrigerator for 1-3 days.  I admit, they don’t taste as good on the third day, but it’s better than nothing!

steel cut oats ~two ways~

Yup, another morning of snow…

Need a little warming up on these cold winter mornings?

Try a bowl of steel cut oats!

Two ways:

Cranberry Orange Flax 

my new favorite :)

Cranberry Orange Flax Steel Cut Oats ~two ways~vegan/gluten free~

Coco Banana Cashew
Coco Banana Cashew Steel Cut Oats ~two ways~vegan/gluten free~

Yes, steel cut oats take more time to cook than old-fashioned oats, and even more time than quick-cooking oats.   But…they are better for you and in my opinion, taste better too!  They are a bit chewier than regular oats and when dressed up with spices, nuts, fruit and maple syrup, they make for a perfect winter breakfast!

Steel Cut Oats ~two ways~vegan/gluten free~

Steel Cut Oats

(for 4 servings)

4 cups water

1 cup steel cut oats

-Bring water to a boil in a medium saucepan.

-Stir in oats, reduce heat to low.

-Simmer uncovered over low heat, stirring occasionally for 25-30 minutes or until oats are tender.

Cranberry Orange Steel Cut Oats ~two ways~vegan/gluten free~

Cranberry Orange Flax Oatmeal

~Add dried cranberries, orange zest, ground flax seeds, dash of cinnamon and drizzle with pure maple syrup~

Coco Banana Cashew Steel Cut Oats ~two ways~vegan/gluten free~

Coconut Cashew Banana Oatmeal

~Top with sliced bananas, cashews, toasted coconut, dash of cinnamon and drizzle with pure maple syrup~

(would taste great with cacao nibs too!)

Helpful Hint:  To make mornings flow a little faster, cook a batch of oats the night before, separate into small containers and heat when needed.