Healthy Treats Archives - Journey With Healthy Me

Gluten & Oil Free Blueberry Mini Bites

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Preparing a simple meal this evening, in the pressure pot, I considered ideas for an equally simple after dinner treat. I remembered a recipe for mini blueberry muffins in Liver Rescue by Anthony William.

Created without gluten, oil, refined sugar or eggs, these bite sized snacks seemed perfect! Best of all, I had time to prep the blueberry mini bites and pop them in the oven while dinner cooked without my aid.

Gluten & Oil Free Blueberry Mini Bites

Scanning the recipe, I saw that I had all the ingredients on hand. At least, what I had on hand would work. One of the things I love about recipes is that they can typically hold up to minor adaptations.

I had black chia seeds rather than white ones. I’m out of organic maple syrup, however my raw organic honey container is almost full. And my muffin tin is small, but not a mini size. Game on!

Gluten & Oil Free Blueberry Mini Bites

An easy to make healthy treat. Gluten, oil, refined sugar and egg free.

5 from 1 vote

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 10 mins

Cook Time 20 mins

Total Time 30 mins

Servings 12 Mini Muffins

Ingredients

1/4 cup chia seeds regular or white
1 cup mashed banana approx 2 bananas
1/2 cup gluten free oat flour
1/2 tsp baking soda aluminum free
1/4 tsp sea salt
1/4 cup maple syrup may use raw organic honey
1 tbs lemon juice
1/2 cup frozen wild blueberries

Instructions

Preheat oven to 375F.
Place chia seeds in blender and blend on high until finely ground.
Add mashed bananas, oat flour, baking soda, sea salt, maple syrup and lemon juice to blender and blend until smooth batter forms.
Pour batter into a bowl and add frozen wild blueberries. Mix gently.
Line a mini muffin pan with 16 mini parchment baking cups and fill each one with a heaping tablespoon of batter.
Bake for 20 minutes, until muffins turn golden brown and inserted toothpick comes out clean. Remove from oven and allow muffins to cool completely before eating. Muffins continue to firm up as they cool.

Notes

If you don't have mini parchment baking cups, lightly grease muffin tin with coconut oil.

Gluten & Oil Free Blueberry Mini Bites

Gluten & Oil Free Blueberry Mini Bites Use wild blueberries, if possible, as the health benefits are greater. I purchase them in the frozen foods section.

Improvise as Necessary

As you can see, in the photo above, I also lacked mini parchment baking cups. No worries! I very lightly greased the muffin tin with coconut oil.

Since I didn’t have a mini muffin tin, I filled 12 compartments with heaping tablespoons of batter, rather than 16. I’m calling the results mini bites. However, the treat was excellent in taste and texture. Slightly sweet, these blueberry mini bites pair well with a cup of hot mint tea.

I so appreciate that Anthony William continually offers new recipes along with his wisdom about health and fighting disease. It may seem like a small thing, preparing these decadent little high nutrient desserts. However, it means a great deal to me. Discovering I can create a wide variety of meals, dishes and treats completely shifted my perspective of what it meant to live a plant based lifestyle.

My food fuels my health. I eat well. And I love every bite.

Gluten & Oil Free Blueberry Mini Bites

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Vegan Blueberry Banana Bread

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I dearly love my afternoon tea time. Therefore, I’m always excited to find and try a new recipe for a healthy treat that can accompany my hot tea. This easy Vegan Blueberry Banana recipe, adapted slightly from one by Anthony William, is perfect.

This beautiful loaf is free from gluten, refined sugar, eggs and diary products.

Vegan Blueberry Banana Bread

I used gluten free oat flour combined with arrowroot starch, to help hold the loaf together after it cooled. See this guide about other gluten free flours and starches.

Any unsweetened non-dairy milk is acceptable. I like the combo of almond and coconut. Leave off the walnuts if you are watching fats.

Vegan Blueberry Banana Bread

Healthy version of a classic favorite, with the added benefits and taste of wild blueberries.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 10 mins

Cook Time 40 mins

Cooling 30 mins

Total Time 50 mins

Course Dessert

Cuisine American

Servings 4

Ingredients

3 ripe bananas
1/4 cup pure maple syrup
1/4 cup coconut sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 cup unsweetened almond coconut milk
1 1/2 cups gluten free oat flour
1/2 cup arrowroot starch
1/2 tsp sea salt
1 tsp aluminum free baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 cup frozen wild blueberries
chopped walnuts, for topping optional

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a 9x5 loaf pan with parchment paper.
Mash bananas in a bowl with fork or potato masher. Add maple syrup, coconut sugar, vanilla extract and almond coconut milk. Mix well.
In a separate bowl, combine oat flour, arrowroot starch, sea salt, baking powder, and baking soda. Add wet ingredients and stir gently, until ingredients form a batter. Add frozen blueberries and fold in very gently, stirring just until mixed in.
Pour batter into loaf pan. Top with walnuts, if desired, and bake in oven for 40 minutes. Then turn off oven and leave blueberry banana bread in oven for another 10 minutes. Remove from oven and cool completely, on a rack, before slicing. Serves 4.

Keyword Vegan Blueberry Banana Bread

Vegan Blueberry Banana Bread Use a potato masher to easily mash up ripe bananas.

Vegan Blueberry Banana Bread Ready to bake. I LOVE using parchment paper and line all baking pans and cookie sheets with it. Try this one from If You Care. This parchment baking paper is unbleached, compostable and totally chlorine free.

Vegan Blueberry Banana Bread Isn’t that a gorgeous loaf? It smelled so wonderful as it cooled.

The two main ingredients in the Vegan Blueberry Banana Bread have important health benefits.

Wild Blueberries

These berries contain powerful antioxidants. According to Liver Rescue there’s not just one pigment inside a wild blueberry, there are dozens of pigments. The wild blueberry is to the liver as mother’s milk is to a baby. The pigments in wild blueberries have the ability to penetrate deep into liver cells and cross cell walls and membranes inside the liver, spreading their blue everywhere. Wild blueberries also enhance the intestinal tract, feeding good bacteria there, which benefits the liver greatly.

Bananas

Did you know that the fructose in bananas is the liver’s favorite source of food? It provides quick fuel to the liver and wakes up sleepy cells, increasing their ingenuity and work output. Bananas soothe the lining of the intestinal tract and also calm the nerves attached to the intestinal tract. This fruit is one of the most antibacterial, anti-yeast, antifungal foods available. It’s a great food to combine with other nutrient-rich foods or to take with supplements, because they improve the liver’s ability to absorb nutrients. (from Liver Rescue)

Perfect Afternoon Tea

This Vegan Blueberry Banana Bread is great as a breakfast bread or works well as a light after dinner dessert.

I paired a slice with a cup of hot spearmint tea, for the perfect afternoon break. The texture is light and the bread tastes slightly sweet, loaded with bananas and wild blueberries. I topped this first loaf with walnuts. Those can be omitted, if desired.

This recipe definitely goes onto my “make again…often” list. Is tomorrow too soon, to pop another loaf into the oven?

Vegan Blueberry Banana Bread

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Rustic Shortbread Cookies

Post holidays, the Liver Rescue book club, consisting of my mom, sister and me, picked up again with Chapter 3. We are learning much about our overworked, underappreciated livers. It truly is amazing, how hard our livers work, to keep us healthy for as long as possible. More about what I am learning in a future blog post.

Tonight it was good to get together and chat about the book over a simple, plant based meal, a cup of hot tea, and a healthy treat. I supplied dinner…Lentil Shepherd Pie…and a healthy dessert…Rustic Shortbread Cookies. The recipe came from my favorite health conscious grocery store…Natural Grocers.

Rustic Shortbread Cookies

This easy and healthy recipe arrived via my email. Tonight felt like the perfect opportunity to give it a try.

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups almond flour
1/2 cup arrowroot starch
1/2 cup coconut sugar
3/4 teaspoon sea salt
1/2 cup dairy free butter (I used olive oil butter), at room temperature, divided into 8 pieces/spoonfuls
1 teaspoon vanilla

Directions:

Preheat oven to 300 degrees. Line cookie sheet with parchment paper. In mixing bowl, combine flour, arrowroot starch, coconut sugar and sea salt. Using a pastry cutter or fork, cut in butter, a few pieces at a time. Repeat until all eight pieces are incorporated. Add vanilla. Stir and then using hands, knead dough until all ingredients are well combined.

Form dough into walnut sized balls, place on baking sheet and flatten with a fork. Bake 15 – 20 minutes, until golden brown. Allow cookies to cool completely, on cookie sheet. The arrowroot starch acts as a binder, as the cookies cool, holding them together.

Perfect with Tea

We rushed the cookies, not allowing them to cool completely before sampling with hot tea. They were excellent though, especially with the herbal tea. Not too sweet, these rustic shortbread cookies make a light, occasional treat to enjoy.

I appreciate Natural Grocers, for sending me recipes. Of course, I purchased all my ingredients there. Visit their website link, in the sentence above. In Joplin, they are located on the corner of 7th and Range Line.

And pick up some herbal tea while you are there! My favorite is the Yogi Detox blend, with echinacea.

Healthy Christmas Eve Treats

With Christmas on Tuesday, I chose to share recipes for healthy treats tonight rather than info about a supplement. Being plant based doesn’t mean we can’t occasionally enjoy snacks or treats. I’ve discovered there are healthy, and delicious, alternatives to sugar or dairy laden snacks.

I tried out three new holiday suitable treats this evening, and a wonderful chai hot chocolate.

Healthy Rice Krispy Treats

This quick and easy recipe comes from Anthony William.

Ingredients:

1/2 cup raw honey

2/3 cup raw cashew butter

2 teaspoons alcohol-free vanilla

1/4 teaspoon sea salt

4 cups organic brown puffed rice cereal

Directions:

In large bowl combine honey, cashew butter, vanilla and sea salt. Add cereal, stirring well to coat. Line 9×9 baking dish with parchment paper. Spread cereal mixture in pan, pressing firmly. Chill in refrigerator at least one hour. Cut into bars. Makes 9-12 bars. Store in refrigerator.

Chai Hot Chocolate

I have missed hot chocolate during the winter months, since going plant based and eliminating sugar and dairy products from my diet. The delicious hot drink combines the goodness of chai with a sugar free, dairy free hot chocolate.

This wonderful drink is adapted from a recipe by Taking Route.

Ingredients:

For the chai spice – mix together in a small bowl

1 teaspoon ground cloves

1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg

2 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

3 teaspoons ground ginger

1 teaspoon allspice

For hot chocolate –

2 cups dairy free milk (I used almond coconut)

2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder

2 tablespoons pure maple syrup

Directions:

In a saucepan mix together milk, cocoa powder, maple syrup and 1 teaspoon of the chai spice mix. Bring just to boiling point, whisking occasionally. Lower heat and simmer a few minutes. Pour into mugs. Makes two serving.

I topped the chai hot chocolate with a dollop of whipped coconut cream (available at health conscious grocery stores) and a sprinkle of cinnamon.

I carried out steaming mugs of chai hot chocolate and a small plate of the rice krispy treats to share with Greg around a crackling fire in the backyard fire pit. What a perfect winter evening!

Healthy Chocolate Chip Cookies

This great recipe comes from an Instagram friend, Leah’s Health.

Ingredients:

2 cups gluten free flour (I used a combination of almond and oat flour)

2 tablespoons Arrowroot Starch

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/4 teaspoon sea salt

1/4 cup pure maple syrup

3 tablespoons water

2 tablespoons melted coconut oil

1 teaspoon vanilla

3/4 – 1 cup dark chocolate chips, sweetened with stevia. (I used 1 cup of dark mini chocolate chips, sweetened with stevia)

Directions:

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper. In a large bowl combine flour, arrowroot starch, baking soda and sea salt. Add maple syrup, water, coconut oil and vanilla, stirring just until combined. Add chocolate chips.

Form into large balls of dough, 2 – 3 tablespoons each, and flatten on cookie sheet. Makes 7 – 9 large cookies. Bake 8 – 10 minutes, until lightly browned. Don’t over bake.

Gingerbread Bars

Finally, I adapted a recipe my grandson and I used a couple of nights ago. He made gingerbread cookies to give as gifts. I decided to try gingerbread bars, as his creations smelled so wonderful!

Ingredients:

3/4 cup of olive oil spread (rather than butter)

3/4 cup coconut sugar

3/4 cup molasses

1 teaspoon salt

2 teaspoons cinnamon

2 teaspoons ground ginger

1/4 teaspoon allspice

1 flax egg (1 tablespoon ground flaxseed mixed with 3 tablespoons of water. Let set for 5 minutes.)

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

3 1/2 cups gluten free flour (I used oat and almond)

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. In large bowl whisk together olive oil spread, coconut sugar and molasses. Stir in flax egg. Add salt, spices, baking powder and baking soda. Using a wooden spoon add flour, half a cup at a time. If baking as bars, don’t allow dough to form into a ball. Chill mixture for 30 minutes in the refrigerator. Press into baking sheet. Bake 20-25 minutes, until toothpick inserted in middle comes out clean and edges are slightly browned. Cool completely. Cut into bars.

Or for cookies, add enough flour so that dough forms into a ball. Chill. Then roll dough out, between two sheets of parchment paper, to 1/4 inch thickness. Cut into shapes and bake 8 – 10 minutes.

I’m ready for Christmas Eve, with holiday songs to listen to, plant based meals to prep for the next day and healthy versions of traditional treats to snack on. I’ll enjoy some quiet, cozy moments late tomorrow night, appreciating the glow of Christmas tree lights and tea light candles…and a cup of chai hot chocolate and one of my healthy Christmas Eve treats.

Raw Date Granola

When I discovered a bag of dates in the refrigerator this morning, I knew just what to create for Try This Tuesday. During my 10 days of eating whole raw foods, I marked a recipe to try in Life Changing Foods by Anthony William.

Raw Date Granola is simple to make, and it is perfect to snack on or use as a topping on fruit bowls, banana ice cream or smoothies.

Raw Date Granola

2 cups dates, pitted

1/4 cup unsweetened coconut

1/4 cup almonds

1/4 teaspoon sea salt

Process ingredients in a food processor until roughly chopped. Store granola in a container in the refrigerator for up to two weeks.

Makes 2 – 4 servings.

Sweet and Crunchy

This treat couldn’t be easier to make. In five minutes I had a batch of date granola. The combo of sweet chewy dates and crunchy almonds was perfect. The granola reminded me of the date balls I used to make during the holidays.

And dates are an amazing food for the digestive system. They also deliver vital glucose to the liver, and refuel the brain and muscles. Dates also keep the heart healthy, support the adrenal glands and they have anti-cancer properties.

Create a batch of raw date granola and enjoy the treat while sustaining a healthy body.

Order Life Changing Foods by clicking the link below.

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Rustic Apple Galette

This warm and homey dessert is perfect for fall weather. A galette is a French word for a flat, round cake or pastry, usually open faced with fruit piled in the middle. This rustic dish is a healthy version, created by Anthony William, meaning it can be enjoyed without guilt or the ill effects sugar or gluten would cause.

Apple Galette Recipe

For the crust:

1 tablespoon ground flaxseeds

3.5 tablespoons water

1 1/2 cups almond flour + more for dusting

3/4 cup tapioca flour

1.5 tablespoons coconut sugar

1/4 teaspoon sea salt

1/4 cup coconut oil

1 – 3 tablespoons water

2 tablespoons almond milk (optional)

1 tablespoon maple syrup, to serve

For the filling:

3 red apples, cored and thinly sliced

1 teaspoon lemon juice

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon cardamom

2 tablespoons coconut sugar

Directions:

Make a flax “egg” by mixing together flaxseeds and water. Set aside.

In a food processor or blender, combine the almond flour, tapioca flour, coconut sugar and sea salt. Process until combined. Add coconut oil and flax egg and mix again, adding water bit by bit until the dough comes together. Not all of the water may be needed. Refrigerate dough for 30 minutes. Mix apple slices, lemon juice, spices and coconut sugar together in a bowl.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Place a piece of parchment paper on a baking sheet and lightly dust with almond flour. Roll the dough into a 1/4 inch thick circle and place apple filling in center, leaving 2 inches around the edge. Gently fold edges up, using the parchment paper to prevent tearing, creasing the edges of the dough as you go.

Brush dough with almond milk, if desired, and bake for 35 – 45 minutes, until browned. Let cool for 10 minutes before cutting. Drizzle with maple syrup, if desired. Makes 4 – 6 servings.

Rustic Apple Galette

Taste of Autumn

The galette came together and was in the oven quickly. As I washed dishes I enjoyed the fragrant aroma of cinnamon and cardamom and bubbling apples. This wholesome fruit is not only full of health boosting nutrition, apples have a grounding effect as well. We feel more connected to the earth and to ourselves when we eat apples.

I brewed a cup of herbal tea as I anticipated savoring the galette. I was not disappointed. What a delicious and satisfying afternoon treat. I did not drizzle maple syrup on my slice of galette. For me, it wasn’t necessary.

Rustic apple galette is already a favorite, and worthy of company or potluck dinners. I think my favorite way to enjoy this fall treat though is during an afternoon break with a hot cup of tea.

Rustic Apple Galette

3 Ingredient Chocolate Cookies

I’m always on the lookout for healthy treats. It’s not easy because I have tough criteria. The snack can’t contain gluten, refined sugar, eggs or dairy products. Thankfully, such recipes do exist. For Try This Tuesday, I tried out a quick and recipe for 3 ingredient chocolate cookies.

This recipe comes from Listotic. Check out her website HERE

3 Ingredient Chocolate Cookies

2 large very ripe bananas

1 cup quick rolled oats, gluten free

2 tablespoons unsweetened cacao powder

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mash bananas in a bowl. Add oats and cacao powder and stir until cookie dough like consistency is reached. Depending on size of the bananas, you may need less oats. Start with 3/4 of a cup and add more to make a dough that holds its shape. Optional: add in a handful of unsweetened coconut flakes, dark chocolate chips sweetened with stevia, dried fruit or nuts.

Drop by spoonfuls on cookie sheet lined with parchment paper. Use fingers or a fork to mash down dough, forming a cookie shape. Bake 10 – 12 minutes. Enjoy warm from the oven. Makes 12 – 15 cookies.

These were so easy to make and turned out well! The cookies hold their shape during baking and have a wonderful texture and chocolate flavor without being too sweet. I like how versatile the recipe is. I added a handful of unsweetened coconut flakes to this batch. I’ll try adding nuts or dark chocolate chips sweetened with stevia next time.

I sampled two warm, fresh from the oven cookies with my afternoon tea. This is what I love, hot tea made from herbs plucked from my garden, and light, wholesome snacks that contribute to health, rather than complicate it. I’ll be experimenting with different versions of this basic recipe!

Raw Vegan Carrot Cake with Cashew Lemon Frosting

Every once in a while, it is good to have a small treat, and to celebrate. Today I rejoiced that the sun appeared bright again in the sky, after days of heavy rain. In honor of this happy occurrence, I tried a new recipe for a special treat, adapted from onegreenplanet.org.

This luscious dessert was easy to make, coming together in minutes using a blender and a food processor.

I left the iced cake in the freezer for about an hour, then moved it to the refrigerator. After having a small green salad for dinner, I was ready to sample my treat.

This cake was so yummy! Forget about it being raw. It doesn’t taste like raw carrots. The cake has a nice texture and holds together well. The frosting is creamy and sweet without a bit of sugar.

This recipe makes an excellent treat for those special occasions or simply because the sun is shining! I enjoyed my celebratory slice with a cup of hot thyme tea.

Apricot Bars Made with 4 Ingredients

I am enjoying trying out the healthy, plant based recipes in Anthony William’s book, Life Changing Foods. For each of the 50 life changing foods that Anthony writes about, he includes a wealth of information plus a mouth watering recipe. Recently I sampled the Apricot Bars.

This simple recipe has only four ingredients and using a food processor made preparation quick and easy.

Apricot Bars
1 cup apricots, sulfur-free
1/2 cup dates, pitted
1/2 cup almonds
1/4 cup shredded unsweeted coconut

Combine ingredients in processor and process until well blended. Line cookie sheet eith parchment paper and press mixture into a large flat rectangle, approximately 1/2 inch thick. Chill in freezer for 30 minutes. Cut into bars and store in refrigerator for up to a week.

This recipe was so simple to make, and took less than 5 minutes to prepare. I used organic, sulfur-free apricots. Dampening my hands with water made shaping the mixture easier as it didn’t stick to my fingers.

After chilling, the mixture cut readily into bars. I tried one immediately. Naturally sweet and chewy, these bars are the perfect treat. I’ve grabbed Lara bars in the past, snacks made with a few wholesome ingredients and sold in grocery stores. These apricot bars are even better and I can make them myself.

Apricots are high in amino acids and minerals. They help cleanse the digestive tract and lower the risk for many types of cancer. In addition, this fruit stabilizes energy, boosts the growth of red blood cells, strengthens the heart and nourishes the brain. Those are powerful benefits in a small package. And sulfer-free dried apricots tend to hold all of their beneficial qualities.

I love having a healthy option if I feel like a treat. And I like knowing I am contributing to my healing rather than than feeding disease with sugar laden desserts. I’m looking forward to sampling each of the recipes in the Life Changing Foods books. It is a form of creative and delicious play with long term benefits that go way beyond having something good to eat.

I am inspired to create lasting health.

Check out Life Changing Foods for info about 50 amazing foods and delicious recipes for each one.

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National Pi Day…Celebrating Without Pie

Today, 3.14, is National Pi Day! March 14 is celebrated around the world in honor of the Greek letter pi, representing the ratio of the circumference of a circle to its diameter. The mathematical constant begins 3.14159 or, more commonly, 3.14, and as an irrational number, extends to an infinite number of decimal places. Congress made this date a national holiday in March of 2009, to show support for the National Science Foundation and to give teachers a reason to encourage students to have fun with pi.

My grandson brought the holiday to my attention years ago. And of course, one of the ways to celebrate pi day, is with pi(e)! I used to eat a slice coconut cream pie, or some other decadent pie from Big R’s. However, since I now adhere to a plant based lifestyle, pie is no longer an option!

Several years ago, browsing through a cookbook of Dr. Hyman’s that I had just purchased, I found a solution! Using a recipe in The Blood Sugar Solution Cookbook, I created my own mini “pie”….a Double Peanut Butter Chocolate Cup. Okay, it’s not a pie! But it’s round, and that stayed with the pi theme.

Best of all, although it looks like it’s full of all the wrong things, it is a healthy alternative. This little taste of heaven has NO sugar, flour, gluten, eggs or dairy. Using organic ingredients makes it even better. The cups were quick and easy to make and set up in the freezer. Sometimes, food that looks good and is good for you, tastes terrible! But when I sampled a peanut butter chocolate cup, they were wonderful! Creamy, not very sweet, yet very satisfying as a treat.

Here is the easy recipe:

Today is also Albert Einstein’s birthday. Pi day seems like the perfect birth date for this mathematical and scientific genius. Happy Pi Day…and happy birthday Albert Einstein…and good health to all!

Check out this cookbook from Dr Mark Hyman, with 175 recipes:

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