Banana-Oatmeal Peanut Butter Cookies

Banana-Oatmeal Peanut Butter Cookies

Prep time: 10 minutes
Cook time: 15 minutes
Makes about 15 cookies (mine made more than this)

3 ripe bananas, mashed
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
3/4 cup chunky peanut butter
3 tablespoons pure maple syrup
2 cups old fashioned rolled oats
1/2 cup whole wheat flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 cup non-dairy chocolate chips or raisins (I used both the first time I made these. YUM!)

Preheat the oven to 350. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
In a large bowl, mix the bananas, vanilla, peanut butter, and maple syrup until they are a creamy consistency.

(I bought an entire bag of ripened bananas at Sweetbay for $1.22!! Isn't that a great deal?! I mashed 3 of the bananas for this recipe. I peeled the rest, put them in baggies and tossed them in the freezer. Frozen bananas are soooo good in shakes!)

In a seperate bowl, combine the oats, flour, and baking powder.

Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and stir until they are well combined; the batter should be slightly sticky. Fold in the chocolate chips or raisins. (or both!)

Place rounded, heaping tablespoon-size balls of the batter onto the lined baking sheet. Bake for 15-18 minutes.

Gobble these up while they are still warm.

^^^ Rip said it was OK to gobble them up!! ^^^ I sure did! 

I dunked a few of them in Vanilla Coconut Milk!!! OMG I highly recommend buying that stuff.




Have you heard about the Engine 2 Diet? I love the Engine 2 Diet recipes! Rip Esselstyn recently came out with a new book titled "My Beef With Meat".  The recipes are awesome! You should definitely buy the book! Rip gives a TON of great information about why it is beneficial to follow a plant-strong diet. We went to see him present at Whole Foods a few months back and he is so inspirational!! Brought tears to my eyes to listen to him speak. I am so thankful that we were able to meet him. Make sure you check out his books!!

I just got the book a few days ago and I have already made these cookies 2 times. They are soooo good. They only last a short while.

You can find the recipe on page 259-260 in My Beef with Meat by Rip Esselstyn

Chocolate Coconut Protein Pancakes

In the mood for a pancake breakfast? I have been making protein pancakes almost every weekend. YUM!! This recipe will tickle your taste buds! A whole lot of chocolatey-coconut goodness in every bite!

Ingredients:

1/2c raw rolled oats
1/4c cottage cheese
2 egg whites
1/2 scoop chocolate protein powder
1/2t coconut extract
1T unsweetened almond coconut milk
1t cocoa powder
1T unsweetened coconut flakes

Directions:

In a blender, combine 1/2c raw rolled oats, 1/4c cottage cheese, 2 egg whites, 1/2 scoop chocolate protein powder, 1/2t coconut extract, 1T unsweetened almond coconut milk, 1t cocoa powder, and 1T unsweetened coconut flakes. Batter should be thick. 

Pour onto a HOT griddle, but no higher than medium heat. Wait a couple seconds, then slowly pour more batter onto each pancake to make them thicker. I topped them with coconut flakes and carob chips. For the syrup, mix a small amount of Chocolate Shakeology with a little bit of water and pour over top. YUM!

Banana Split Shakeology - Dessert for Breakfast?!

I love finding healthy alternatives to my favorite unhealthy meals. I used to buy those mini Ben & Jerry's or a half gallon of ice-cream and sit down with a spoon. No wonder I was overweight.

I recently discovered this amazing recipe for a healthy banana split!

Ingredients:
1/2 frozen banana  (peel bananas, cut them in half, freeze)
1/2 cup frozen strawberries
1 cup almond milk
1 scoop Chocolate Shakeology


Directions:
Put all ingredients in a blender and blend well. I used my Vitamix. Started it at Variable 1 and turned it up to 10 and then HIGH. Push the ingredients into the blades using the tamper. Blend for about 30-60 seconds. Mixture will be thick like ice-cream. 

Scrape it out of the blender and into a bowl or cup. Eat with a spoon. Mmmmm! No more cravings for ice-cream! I enjoyed this dessert for breakfast. Healthy and delicious. Better than a banana split. 

You can enjoy dessert for breakfast, too. Interested in trying Shakeology?

Check it out: myshakeology.com/cara623

Pumpkin Pie Pancakes

Pumpkin Pie Pancakes
Do you like pumpkin pie? If so, you HAVE to try this recipe!
These babies seriously taste like a dessert!

For the Pancakes:
2/3 cup oatmeal
1/4 cup cottage cheese
1/4 cup pumpkin
1 tbsp honey
1 tsp cinnamon
1 egg
1 egg white

For the Icing:
1/8 cup cottage cheese
1/8 cup pumpkin
1/2 tbsp honey
1 tbsp almond milk



To make the pancakes:
Mix all ingredients. I used an immersion blender.

Just mix until ingredients are well blended. It only took a few minutes. I'm sure you could add everything to a regular blender. Or just mix well with a spatula.





Scoop the mixture onto a heated skillet to form three pancakes. Cook for a few minutes on each side.















To make the icing: Stir all of the icing ingredients together in a small bowl.
Layer the icing in between pancakes and put a dollop on top. Add pumpkin pie spice! Enjoy! 

P.S. Yes, I may have licked the plate. They really were THAT good!

Let me know what you think of the recipe!! Have a great day! 

http://beachbodycoach.com/cara623

Cookie Dough Greek Yogurt

Treat yourself to a sweet, healthy dessert!

Cookie Dough Greek Yogurt

Ingredients:
1/2 cup greek yogurt
2 tbsp PB2
1 tsp maple syrup
a few vegan carob chips (or use chocolate chips)

Mix all of the ingredients together and enjoy!

Follow me on instagram for more delicious recipes! @caralyoung

Now you can have your cookie dough and eat it, too! You're welcome!!
I love trying to create healthier versions of my favorite foods!
What's your favorite dessert?

Cinnamon Roll Protein Pancakes

I have fallen in love with Pancake Sunday! I've been trying out new protein pancakes recipes. This one is the best so far!!!

I found this recipe on Instagram. Follow @spoonfuloffit for more delicious recipes! She is awesome! Follow me @caralyoung.

I changed it up a little bit... I did not use Stevia or any sweetener in the batter, but feel free to add some. It was delicious without. I also made my own "frosting" recipe. I just used Greek yogurt and honey. Perfection!

Ingredients:

1 scoop vanilla protein powder (Sunwarrior)
1/4 cup oat flour (Put 1/4 cup oatmeal in the Magic Bullet)
2 egg whites
2 tbsp almond milk
1 tbsp Greek yogurt
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1/4 tsp butter extract

Frosting:
Greek yogurt
honey

Directions:
In a small bowl, combine all dry ingredients.
Add wet ingredients.
Mix well.

Heat a skillet/pan. Add a couple spoonfuls of the batter to form a pancake. Cook on each side until done to your liking. Use all of the batter. Mine made about six small pancakes. 

Spread the frosting between each layer and add a dollop on top. Sprinkle cinnamon on top for extra fun and deliciousness. 

I better buy more protein powder so that I can continue to enjoy Pancake Sunday!! What's your favorite pancake recipe?? Please share! I need more ideas!

Buffalo Tempeh Pizza

We all have those trigger foods that we just LOVE! Pizza is one of my favorites, but I know that it isn't the healthiest. I enjoy making my own pizzas at home! They are healthier and it's a lot of fun!

Last night we tried a Buffalo Tempeh Pizza:

Ingredients:

1/2 Boboli Whole Wheat Pizza Crust
6 tbsp Buffalo Tobasco Sauce
1/4 cup blue cheese
1/4 cup mozzarella cheese
1/4 red onion, diced
1 8 oz. block of tempeh cut into small cubes

Preheat oven to 400

Heat the tempeh in a pan until brown. With about 1 minute left, add 3 tbsp of the buffalo sauce.

Spread leftover sauce onto the pizza crust.

Top crust with tempeh and red onion. Add blue and mozzarella cheeses.

Bake for 15 minutes.

Enjoy!