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Banana Strawberry Chocolate Chip Bars

Another banana recipe.  Over ripe bananas, strawberries, an chips..I could throw something together. And guess what, it worked!

Banana Strawberry Chocolate Chip Bars

1 c. old fashion oatmeal

1 c. whole wheat pastry flour

1 tsp. baking powder

1 tsp. baking soda

1/4 tsp. extra fine sea salt

good dash of cinnamon

1/2 c. diced strawberries

2 large over ripe mashed bananas 

1/4 c. turbinado sugar

1 tsp. pure vanilla extract

1 TBSP. pure maple syrup

1/2 c. non dairy chocolate chips

Preheat oven 350 degrees. Spray a 6" x 10" pan with non-stick cooking spray.

-Whisk oatmeal through cinnamon in a medium bowl. Gently stir in strawberries to coat.

-In a large bowl, whisk together the banana, sugar, vanilla, and maple syrup. 

-Add dry ingredients into the wet ingredients and gently stir a couple times. Add chocolate chips and stir until blended.

-Spread evenly into the prepared baking dish.

Bake for 25- 30 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean.

New To Me...Brown Rice & Sprouted Grain Tortillas

Went to Natural Grocers today and picked some brown rice tortillas and sprouted grain tortillas along with seitan. I have made seitan before but have not tried these tortillas.  The brown rice tortillas are wheat and gluten free. The sprouted grain tortillas are 100% flourless and are made out of sprouted wheat, sesame seeds, sprouted soybeans, sprouted barley, sprouted millet, sprouted lentils, sprouted spelt, which are all organic, plus sea salt and filtered water. You can't get any more natural than this. You can use seitan instead of beef strips. So my plans are this week is to make seitan & veggie wraps!

Chocolate Cherry Smoothie or Shake!

I was craving something cherry, and chocolate. How about a smoothie this morning...or a shake? Either way..I'm going to get it! A good breakfast..right?? Especially when you add spinach to the mix!

Chocolate Cherry Smoothie

1 1/4 c. non-dairy milk
1 cut up frozen banana
1 c. pitted frozen tart cherries
1 hand full of baby spinach
2 tsp. carob powder
1/4 tsp. pure almond extract
1 TBSP pure maple syrup

Put all in blender and run until smooth. Pour into your favorite glass and top with non-dairy chocolate shavings...yummy.

New Drink Holder!

Went to Bed Bath & Beyond today looking for a specific item but instead walked out with this cool tumbler!
How many times has this happened to you?? I knew what size I wanted but which design!! Took me approx. 10 minutes to decide. It's not like I can't buy another one...or the one I did buy will be with me forever.  I had to share...I really, really like dragonflies too, along with butterflies.

Another Meatless Day!

Meatless Monday! Do you try to go meatless? On dinner's menu, I will be serving Pinto Bean Stew with Jalepeno-Corn Dumlings! A recipe I found in the April issue of Eating Well. It will be needing a few adjustments..we'll make it work.  My tummy is growling just thinking about it. Maybe because I didn't have breakfast yet..which now I have to skip  because it's now lunch time!  Open the refrig. and have leftovers!!

Quinoa Not So Stroganoff

No beef needed for this dish!  Stroganoff - noun 'A dish in which the central ingredient, typically strips of beef, is cooked in a sauce containing sour cream.' That bypassed this kitchen a long time ago. Quinoa- (pronounced keenwa)  is a tiny grain no bigger than a mustard seed. It's a complete protein grain and it supplies all the essential amino acids in a balanced pattern. The pasta I purchased has the ingredients organic corn flour & organic quinoa flour. And gluten free!  Note: You need to soak the cashews in water for 2 hrs. before starting.

Quinoa Not So Stroganoff

1 8 oz box quinoa elbows
1/4 c. veggie broth
1 small onion chopped
4 medium-large carrots peeled & diced
1 10 oz pkg. white mushrooms (or any other you prefer)
1 1/2 c. frozen peas thawed
1 6 oz pkg. baby spinach

Sauce
1 c. raw cashews soaked in water for 2 hrs. to soften them up.
1 garlic clove
1 1/4 c. water
1 TBSP  lemon juice
1/2 tsp. salt
2 good dashes of nutmeg

salt & pepper (optional)
peanuts (optional)

-Cook the quinoa pasta according to instructions and drain.
-Line the bottom of a skillet with the veggie broth. Saute the onions, carrots, and mushrooms until carrots are   almost fork tender. Add the peas and spinach. Stir to combine until spinach is slightly wilted. Turn off heat.
-Drain the cashews. In a blender, add the cashews, garlic, water, lemon juice, salt, and 2 good dashes of nutmeg. Blend until smooth.
-Add the cashew sauce and the pasta to the veggie mixture. Stir until combined.

Serve it up, top with peanuts & enjoy!!!

Still have bananas!

Still have bananas....made some banana doughnuts and mini muffins!! Why not have one of each!!

Blueberry Spinach Oatmeal

What's in your breakfast bowl this morning?? My husband made blueberry spinach oatmeal! It sounds eww but my daughter love's it! Oats deliver a source of dietary fiber and other nutrients. Plus it's 100% whole grain. Blueberries are very good in vitamin C, Magnesia, and dietary fiber, they deliver powerful antioxidant protection from the cellular damage caused by free-radicals. I cup of blueberries only contain 81 calories!

Blueberry Spinach Oatmeal

3/4 c. old fashion oats
1 c. water
1 handful spinach
1 c. blueberries
nuts, sweetener optional

Mix oats and water in a microwave proof dish. Microwave for 3 minutes. Stir in spinach and blueberries and microwave for another 2 minutes. Remove from microwave and let cool for a few minutes.

Crazy mixture but really good!

Angie's Popcorn Sweet & Salty

Have any one you tried Angie's Classic Sweet & Salty Popcorn? Found it at Target. Not too bad . It's Certified Gluten Free, Non GMO verified, no artificial, anything, whole grain, cholesterol free, Vegan, Kosher, no trans fat  and no high fructose corn syrup. Granted...it has sunflower oil, but once in awhile for a treat..it's satisfying!