Coconut Cashew Energy Bites - No Bake! 3 ingredients!!!

Lately I have become more & more drawn to my kitchen & probably spend 1+ hrs in it a day & have been loving it! I have been exploring recipes & just having fun with my whole ingredients. So, today, being the totally cashew nut that I am, FINALLY decided to do something with CASHEWS!!!

This recipe is super fun, easy, no bake & only has three...yes THREE simple ingredients!!!

So, please forgive me...I forgot to add the 3rd ingredient in the shot, but with all honesty, the 3rd ingredient was kinda of an afterthought! lol. Sorry unsweetened shredded coconut...I cannot tell a lie! 

Coconut Cashew Energy Bites

2 c pitted dates
2 1/2 c cashews
1/2 c shredded unsweetened coconut

Put them in a food processor (I used my Ninja!) & I think I blended mine for about 30 secs, scraped off the edges & did another 30 secs. Then I dumped them in bowl & rolled them into two bite balls! Easy peasy!!!!

OMG! They are just so yummy & this consistency is PERFECT for the balls to form neatly!!!

This recipe made 24 balls & below is the info based on 1 ball! 

Nutrition Facts

Serving Size 31 g

Amount Per Serving

Calories  139 Calories from Fat  72

% Daily Value*

Total Fat  8.0g 12%

Saturated Fat  2.5g 12%

Trans Fat  0.0g

Cholesterol  0mg 0%

Sodium  3mg 0%

Potassium  178mg 5%

Total Carbohydrates  16.3g 5%

Dietary Fiber  1.9g 8%

Sugars  10.3g

Protein  2.7g

Vitamin A 0% • Vitamin C 0% Calcium 1% • Iron 6%

Nutrition Grade B-

* Based on a 2000 calorie diet

Nutritional Analysis

Good points

• No cholesterol
• Very low in sodium

Bad points

• High in sugar

Enjoy!

xo,

Nancy

Coconut Carob Truffles

This recipe is really uber easy & took about 10 minutes to make!!!! 

Coconut Carob Truffles

Ingredients

2 c pitted dates

1/8 c unsweetened coconut flakes

1/8 c powdered carob

Put all the ingredients in a food processor (I used my Ninja) & blend for about 2 minutes or until it's this consistency.

Dump into a bowl. I coated my hands with coconut oil so it wouldn't stick to me. The roll into balls & then roll around in some extra powdered carob. While I was rolling them in the carob, I had thought about maybe doing coconut flakes too? 

And viola! Put in the fridge for about an hour & viola!!!! 

Nutrition Facts

Serving Size 24 g

Amount Per Serving

Calories  78 Calories from Fat  14

% Daily Value*

Total Fat  1.5g 2%

Saturated Fat  1.3g 7%

Trans Fat  0.0g

Cholesterol  0mg 0%

Sodium  4mg 0%

Potassium  149mg 4%

Total Carbohydrates  16.8g 6%

Dietary Fiber  1.8g 7%

Sugars  13.7g

Protein  0.8g

Vitamin A 0% • Vitamin C 0% Calcium 2% • Iron 1%

Nutrition Grade C+

* Based on a 2000 calorie diet

Nutritional Analysis

Good points

• Very low in cholesterol
• Very low in sodium

Bad points

• Very high in sugar
• From calorie count!!!!

Enjoy!

xo, 

Nancy

Losin' It!

I am back & re-dedicated to my weight loss journey! Since the beginning of the month until today, I have lost 7 lbs. It's been a struggle, but I have no other choice than to live a healthier, better lifestyle for myself & those around me. I do not want to depend on pills & other pharmas to make me "healthier" down the road with burdening me with more side effects. 

Right now, I am struggling with anemia (which my "side effects of that have been moodiness, lack of energy, constipation & at one point, heart palpitations) as well as slight knee inflammation. I will admit, that I am currently taking an anti-inflammatory for my knee (2x a day), but am trying to just manage with one until I don't need them anymore.

As for the anemia, my blood results came in last week, so I just "found out" about it (although I've known I've had iron issues for a few years, but they were just that "issues" not a diagnoses). I have a Dr's appt on Wednesday to read the results; however this is a "simple" fix. I do not want to go another medication & now with knowing, I have been good the past week with eating more iron. 

I have been juicing more & staying more on track (I use the Lose it! app!!!) which is kinda sorta fun seeing what's going on!

Thanks for reading!

Nancy
xo

Cinnamon Raisin Homemade Bagels

I would be lying if this was my recipe, but I followed King Arthur's recipe to the T...except that I made 16 smaller bagels instead of the 8. I followed the bread maker part since I have one (and I LOVE it!)

Here is it, just a minute before it was done rising!!!

I have to admit, I was a bit intimidated about the water bath (since I have never done it before), however, it was quite fun boiling dough! lol. I ended up doing them 4 at a time instead of 5.

Cooling! My husband said they were a bit flat vs. fluffy. Yes, they were a crunchy, which I like, but he's all about that fluff! lol. I baked them on 2 baking sheets; one had parchment paper, the other was just sprayed with oil (top layer). The ones with parchment paper came out fluffier than the others (which browned faster). I had one of each, toasted, still yummy!

On a side note, I did notice that my yeast had expired a yr ago :( (I am almost a non-believer when it comes to expiration dates' however, this time, that may have been the reason they didn't fluff up! lol

Whip it good!!!! Yes, served some up with some whipped cream cheese & down the hatch, Sugar patch! 

Enjoy,

Nancy

xo

Chicken & Rice Casserole

This month, in efforts to use up the food we already have in our home, we have opted not to buy any more food until we have depleted what we have already (more on this in another post). So, I decided to make a Chicken & Rice Casserole. Super easy to make & super yummy! Below are the ingredients I used!!!

Ingredients

1 head of raw broccoli
2 cups of cooked brown rice
1 pkg of chicken pizza topping
1 can of cream of chicken
1/4 c of corn
10 crushed whole wheat crackers
2 slices of provolone cheese
1/4 c of mayo

Mix all the ingredients together & then bake in a 8x8 dish at 350 degrees F for 30 minutes. Makes 4 servings. 

Enjoy!

xo, 
Nancy

Banana Pineapple Bread Recipe

I was in a baking mood yesterday...so I decided to be a tad creative & made banana pineapple bread, which my husband thought was an odd combination, until I pulled it out of the oven & the smell filled the house! Yesssss, it was good!!!

As always, I tried to use the most healthiest ingredients possible & try to make healthy substitutions, which I did on this one as well. Below is the recipe! BTW, it also has coconut flakes!!! WHAT?!?!? I know!!!

Banana Pineapple Bread

1/4 c butter

1/4 c unsweetened applesauce

1/3 c egg whites

1 banana, mashed

1/3 c of pineapple (I used canned chunks bc I didn't have the crushed)

1/2 c unsweetened coconut flakes

2 c whole wheat flour

1/4 c unsweetened almond milk

1 t baking powder

1/2 t baking soda

1/2 t salt

Mix together & bake at 350 degrees F for 60-65 mins. Super easy & super yummy! I couldn't help but have a big glass of almond milk with a slice of this bread!!! 

Serves approx. 8 View nutritional facts below:

Nutrition Facts

Serving Size 90 g

Amount Per Serving

Calories  209 Calories from Fat  69

% Daily Value*

Total Fat  7.7g 12%

Saturated Fat  5.0g 25%

Trans Fat  0.0g

Cholesterol  15mg 5%

Sodium  285mg 12%

Potassium  187mg 5%

Total Carbohydrates  30.4g 10%

Dietary Fiber  1.9g 8%

Sugars  3.4g

Protein  4.9g

Vitamin A 4% • Vitamin C 8% Calcium 5% • Iron 9%

Nutrition Grade B

* Based on a 2000 calorie diet

Enjoy!

xo,

Nancy

Perfect Potato Recipe

Oh, who doesn't love the potato?! Yes, it is a white starch; I do use it sparingly, maybe a couple of times a month (I do try to substitute it with sweet potato instead). However, I did have a ton of potatoes at home & my niece & nephew were spending the night. They have been used to homemade french fries, fried in oil. I wanted to test them on my potatoes & I got comments "Best potatoes ever!" and "You have to give Mommy the recipe!" 

The recipe & concept is real simple! After I made the potatoes, I saved some for lunch the next day & added some chicken sausage for my protein; ignore the protein! lol Please be aware that there are no measurements in this recipe! lol

Preheat over at 400 degrees F. Chop up potatoes (as many as your heart desires) in 2 bite size chunks. But them in a bowl & sprinkle olive oil on them. Mix until fully covered. Now season. I used garlic powder, onion powder & Parmesan cheese. Bake for 20 mins.

You will not regret it! :)

Enjoy!

xo,

Nancy