The Good Chocolate Milkshake

OMG! That is how I have to start this entry because I just tried this. I've been daydreaming about it for two weeks now and finally got some chocolate almond milk from the store to make it. You're welcome!

1 Banana

1 Tbsp of slivered almonds

1 Tbsp natural peanut butter

1 Cup of chocolate almond milk

Blend!

Maybe use your frozen bananas to give this shake more of a chilled temp. 

There goes your muffin supplies!

Peanut Butter Banana Snack Wrap

 It's not one of those meals that you eat with your eyes first - but if you give this ugly duckling a go I guarantee it'll be a staple!

It's the quickest breakfast or packed lunch that'll keep you going. AND THERE"S PEANUT BUTTER IN IT so who cares what it looks like!

Ingredients:
1 Banana
1 Small whole wheat tortilla
However much peanut butter you want!

I took this tasty treat hiking last week - so it travels well :)

Try throwing in some nuts, seeds, shredded coconut or chopped dates! I never have but maybe you're not as lazy/rushed as I am when this item comes into my meal planning.

The Simple Smoothie

Refuel post work-out or or between meals and feel satisfied (with slivered almonds slipped in).


1/2 Banana
1/3 Cup frozen raspberries
3/4 Cup strawberries
1 Tsp honey
1 Tbsp slivered almonds
3 Dried dates
1/2 Cup milk (or almond milk)


Blend! The frozen raspberries chill the drink and the almonds add nice texture with the banana.

Garnish like a fancy restaurant bartender and impress yourself. Cheers to you!

Apple Craisin Coleslaw

So satisfying! It's got crunch, sweet and acid components.


1 Bag of chopped cabbage
1 Carrot julienned
1 Apple julienned
4 Stalks of celery thinly sliced
1 Cup of craisins
1/2 Cup sunflower seeds (roasted)
1/3 Pumpkin seeds



Really you can put how much of whatever you want. I was using half a bag of cabbage at a time for myself at home. This would be great for summer BBQ's or potlucks. Different then the typical heavy creamy slaw that is delicious but expected and not really that good for you.

This recipe can be tweaked and modified. As a side dish I would put the seeds in. If this is a light meal serve with a simple quinoa salad on top (diced orange pepper, cucumber, celery) or with your choice of protein.

Dressing: Dijon Balsamic
1 Lemon juiced
2/3 Cup balsamic vinegar
1/3 Cup olive oil
1 Tbsp dijon mustard
1 Tsp honey

I'm no expert but I hear that dressings should be two parts acid and one part olive oil - the rest is really at your discretion.

Double Chocolate Peanut Butter Cookies

Soft, rich and chewy. All the things one would want in a cookie that accompanies chocolate x2 and peanut butter!

1/4 Cup butter

3/4 Cup peanut butter

1/3 Cup of cocoa powder

1 Cup of flour

1/2 Cup brown sugar

1 Tsp baking soda

1/8 Tsp salt

1 Cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

1/2 Tsp cinnamon, nutmeg and ground cloves

1 Tsp vanilla

1-2 Eggs

I know people say you can't bake without proper measurements but I do it all the time. My grandpa requested I bake chocolate chip cookies so I though okay, double chocolate. And throw some peanut butter in there! From other recipes I do stay semi-true to consistencies of okay, this needs that much of  a buttery substance and that much of a dry ingredient. I almost always cut the sugar in half and sometimes the batter is too dry so I need to add in an extra egg to make it mix. I have yet to hear complaints.

Cream butter and sugar. Add vanilla and eggs then dry ingredients. This batch does have a tone of spices (1/2 tsp in total of all combined) just because I though I could go without spices but it's so nice in baking, right? Your call.

I like making cookies in quite small balls, flatten a bit then they only seem to take 7 minutes to bake on parchment paper at 350.

Also, the light coloured cookies in the picture are from a much earlier blog entry: White Chocolate and Oatmeal Spice cookies. (May be my favourite kind… and The Good Cookie… okay they're all good)! 

Feel free to pin some posts, as I just learned how to use pinterest over the weekend so most recipes are on a board there! 

Roasted Jalapeño and Cumin Hummus

Red pepper, avocado, kale… I'm finding you can really put anything with tahini, chickpeas, garlic and lemon and it'll taste fab on veg or other dip vehicles.

This batch is a little spicy! Not too much, don't be scared.

1 Can of chickpeas
 (or equal portions cooked)
3 Cloves of garlic
1 Large jalapeño
1 Tbsp tahini
1/2 Tsp cumin
1 Lemon juiced
Salt and pepper
Olive oil
Warm water

Roast garlic and halved jalapeño (seeds and stem out) in a bit of olive oil at 350 for 25 minutes. I wrap the garlic cloves in tin foil with the tips cut off and a little olive oil.

In a blender add the lemon juice, tahini, chick peas, garlic, jalameno (chopped), cumin, s&p and about a 1/3 cup of olive oil. I add 2-3 tbsp of warm water just to help it blend nicer. Don't get me wrong, there's a lot of stopping the blender and mixing by hand, then blending, then mixing by hand and repeat. Always taste before you put in a bowl then you can make adjustments. This was a big hit at my end of school-year party so it's tried and true.

Chunky Southwest Yam and Celery Soup

This recipe needs something, I'm thinking cilantro but it's still pretty darn satisfying! If you don't blend this soup then don't roast the garlic. Otherwise give it a couple pulses in the blender and keep it chunky. Completely pureed has a unpleasant texture.

3 Yams
3 Cloves of Garlic
3 Veg stock cubes
1 1/2 Cups of corn
1 Can black beans
1 Can chick peas
1 Yellow onion
1/2 Bunch of celery (8 stalks)
1 Large carrot
2-3 tbsp of cumin
1 Tsp red pepper flakes
1/8 tsp of cinnamon
2 Tbsp of tomato paste
Salt and pepper
12 Cups of water

Roasted the yam in cumin and oil. In the pot I first softened the onion then added the other veg, water and rest of the ingredients. Partially blended. Next time I feel like I should add an extra yam, take out the chick peas and less water. Hope this inspires and let me know if you have any suggestions! Don't get me wrong, it is tasty, I just can't put my finger on what's missing… maybe cilantro,
like I said.