Refined Sugar Free Berry Cobbler

     Summertime always reminds me of fresh berries, picnics and berry cobblers. I love having warm berry cobbler with a scoop of ice cream melting on top. But, like most desserts, that is usually full of processed and refined sugars. Thankfully, I've created a recipe free from refined sugars, but still full of flavor and sweetness!

Chocolate Lover's Granola - Small Batch Granola

Valentine's Day is just a few days away, which means chocolate is everywhere! It seems that chocolate is a popular way of saying 'I love you!' ! This Chocolate Lover's Granola is the perfect way to say I love you to a friend, special someone or even yourself!

Healthy Homemade Bread

I love bread! I love all kinds of bread, but my favorite is the kind with a crunchy crust and soft insides! Whenever we make bread at home, it fills the house with a lovely smell, and I just can't wait for it to come out of the oven!
    Fall is here and we are already having some cooler weather, which has put me in the mood for some delicious homemade bread!

    This bread recipe is super simple, easy to make, and super healthy! I don't use any oil in making my bread, so its pretty much fat-free, and you can choose whether you add a sweetner or not to make it sugar-free!

     Another thing I love about making bread at home is that you can add whatever you want to it! I added herbs and oats to my bread today, but there are a million other things you can add! Here are a few of my favorites!

     Cinnamon and Maple Syrup

     Cinnamon and Raisins

     Pumpkin Seeds, Sunflower Seeds and Cracked Wheat

     Herbs and Sundried Tomatoes


Ingredients:

1 cup Warm Water

2 tbs Dry Active Yeast

3 tbs Sweetener (optional)(I used Organic Raw Sugar here, but I also love to use Maple Syrup, or you can use Agave, Honey, or any other form of sweetner you like! )

2 cups Flour (I like to use a 1/2 and 1/2 ratio of whole wheat and white flour, but you can do all one or the other as well!)

2 tsp Salt

Flavoring of Choice (Here I used 1/3 cup crushed oats and 2 tbs of herbs)

     Start by adding your water, yeast and sugar to you mixing bowl. I suggest using a electric mixer for this! Mix your yeast and sugar into the water for a few seconds and then let it rest for a minute or two.

     Then, add in the flour, salt and flavorings. Make sure not to put the salt directly into the yeast mixture or it will kill the yeast. Once its mixed with the flour, its fine!

 

     Mix together until a dough ball has formed and the bowl of your mixer is fairly clean. You may need to add in extra flour.

 

     Knead the dough for 10 minutes in your mixer or 15 minutes by hand. Keep and eye on it, you might need more flour during the kneading process.

 

     After you have kneaded your dough, for it into a ball and allow it to rise for 30-35 minutes, or until it has doubled in size. It will rise better in a warm place, covered with a tea towel.

     Once it has risen, it's time to form your loaves. You can use bread pans, muffin tins, or do free-form as I did. I did two differnt loaves, one with herbs and oats and one with just oats. Make whatever shape you like, just remember they are going to rise again.

     Place themon a floured baking sheet or greased bread/muffin pan in your oven with the temps. set at the lowest setting. Mine goes down to 170 F. Let the bread rise for 25-30 minutes.

     If you want, you can take a sharp knife and gently make slices across the top, for a rustic look! Bake at 350 F for 24-30 minutes, or until the top goes golden brown and the bread comes off the pan easily.

     Allow them to cool for at least 15 minutes before slicing and enjoying! Your house should smell amazing and you should feel all warm and cozy!

     I sliced mine for supper and ate it along with some delicious vegetable soup! It was the perfect fall supper!

     How ever you choose to enjoy your bread, and what ever you like to put in your bread, I know that you will love this recipe just as much as I do! I love the simplicity of the recipe and the deliciousness of the bread! I just know that, once you make it, you won't go back to store bought ever again! :)

     If you enjoyed this recipe, please share it with your friends and family memebers!

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Stay Healthy, Happy and Laughing!
H. Banana

Brownie Batter Balls

   Everyone loves brownies and brownie batter is almost as good (if not better!)! Its gooey, sweet, and most importantly, chocolate! You can never go wrong with chocolate and you can never have to much of it! Finding new ways to have chocolate is always fun, and finding a healthy way to have chocolate is even better!

     Dates are a fairly new food in my diet. I had never really heard of them or tried them up until a few months ago, but now I don't know how I lived without them! They are super sweet, creamy, gooey and delicious! Add some cocoa powder and some coconut to the mix and you have yourself a winner!

     These Brownie Batter Date Balls are going to become a favorite of anyone who loves chocolate, brownies, and yummy snacks! They are completely vegan, dairy-free, oil-free, gluten-free( as long as you have gluten free oats) and refined sugar free! Also, they are super amazingly delicious and I want to eat the whole batch right now!


Ingredients:
12-13 Mejool dates, pitted
2 TBS Cocoa Powder
1/2 cup Rolled Oats
1 tsp Vanilla
Pinch of Salt
1/2 cup Shredded Coconut ( Sweetened or Unsweetened is fine!)

Start by pitting your dates and adding them to a food processor.

Process them until you get a creamy texture. You might need to add some warm water a TBS at a time if your dates were on the dry side.

Not a very pretty picture, but we'll change by adding in the cocoa powder, vanilla, salt, and oats. Processes until well combined and the oats are a chopped up a bit.

And there is your brownie batter dough! Taste it to make sure its good! :) Then pour your coconut into a bowl, ready for rolling.

 

Then start rolling your dough into balls. You can make them as big or as small as you like! I got around 16 in my batch. If the dough is sticking your hands, dip your hands in some water every once in a while. This will prevent the sticking!

 

 

And there you go! Healthy Brownie Batter Date Balls! Let them sit in the fridge for 30 minutes or so to firm up a bit before snacking on! Store them in the fridge to keep them fresh longer!

 

 

Not only are these little treats delicious but they are packed full of fiber, protein, and healthy fats! Perfect for a snack or little dessert to satisfy a sweet tooth! Make them for yourself or share them with your friends and family. You will suddenly become very popular! :)

 

 

If you make this recipe, please let me know what you thought! I hope you like this post and it has given you inspiration to live a healthier lifestyle!

 

Please share this recipe and my blog with your friends and family to spread the love of healthy living!

 

You can follow the blog via email, Google, Twitter @ SpinachisGood, Tumblr @ justrunningforfood, Pinterest @ Hannah Plunkett, and on Instagram @ the_vegan_runner. Follow on social media for more Spinachisgoodforyou content!

 

I post every Friday!

 

Stay Healthy, Happy, and Laughing!

H. Banana

Hurray For Oats!

     Oats might seem a weird thing to write an entire blog post about, but they really are amazing! My family and I have started making and selling homemade granola at our Farmer's Market, so we have been dealing with a lot of oats lately! This got me thinking.. "Why should we eat oats? How good are they really for us?" and so I did some research. This is what I found...

#1 Oatmeal is Delicious!
well, maybe not on it's own, but when oats are added to recipes they really can be delicious! Keep ready for some great recipes and ideas on how to use oats more!

#2 Oatmeal Provides Fiber and Protein
Most Americans don't get enough fiber these days, so adding it in whenever you can is important. Protein is also a important thing in your diet. Having oats for breakfast provides you with some much needed fiber and protein, and it keeps you full until lunch!

#3 Oatmeal Helps Lower Bad Cholesterol
Oats contain a special strand of fiber called beta-glucan which, studies have shown, reduces levels of bad cholesterol and can help to prevent heart disease and strokes! With the number of deaths from heart diseases grows, it is important to protect ourselves from it in every way possible!

#4 Oats Contain Important Vitamins and Minerals
Oats might seem simple, but they are packed full of nutrients! They contain B vitamins and minerals like iron and magnesium! These are so important in our diet because they keep our bodies running smoothly, like they were meant to!

#5 Oats Aid in Weight Loss
Oats contain fiber, which helps to keep us full and also acts as a natural laxative. Both of these things help in weight loss. When we eat oatmeal for breakfast, we will remain full until lunch, which keeps us from snacking, thus, helping us lose weight. Studies have shown that, those who eat oatmeal at least three times a week, lose weight and keep it off better than those who don't eat oatmeal!

#6 Oats are Cheap!
There are so many "health" foods out there that claim to help in weight loss or keeping your body healthy. And while those things might work, they are usually pretty expensive. Oats, on the other hand, are so healthy for you and they help in weight loss AND they are super cheap! Replace your morning "health" cereal with oat meal and watch your wallet get bigger and your waistline get smaller!

   So, oats are pretty great, right? With all those health benefits, why wouldn't you want to eat them everyday? Well, maybe because they are pretty boring by themselves and you don't know how to make them delicious? Worry no more! Here are some great ways to eat oatmeal everyday!

Brownie Batter for Breakfast-
Measure out your oats into your pan ( 1/3 of a cup is a serving size). Add in 1-2 TBS of cocoa powder, 2-3 TBS of maple syrup, a pinch of salt and your cooking liquid ( you can use water, almond milk, chocolate almond milk......). Cook your oatmeal as usual. When they are done, add them to your bowl and top with chocolate chips, almond butter and raspberries for a delicious, health and filling breakfast!

Oil Free and Vegan Granola-
My recipe for Valentine's Day Granola is oil free, vegan and delicious! I love to eat granola on top of smoothie bowls, oatmeal, nondairy or banana ice cream or just a handful for a snack!


Oatmeal Smoothie-
Add 1 banana( Frozen is best) , a handful of berries ( I like strawberries and again, frozen is best), 1 TBS nut butter of choice, 1/3 cup oats and enough nondairy milk ( coconut or almond are my favorites) to blend to your desired thickness. This smoothie is super refreshing, filling and delicious! Its perfect to start your day or to pick you up in the afternoon!

Oatmeal Cookies-
My Banana Bread Cookies are super simple to make, but they are really yummy! With just a few ingredients, these cookies can be whipped up in a flash and enjoyed for breakfast, snack or dessert!

Oatmeal Bowls-
Here are a few great ways to enjoy oatmeal-
Cinnamon, Maple Syrup, Apples and Raisins
Vanilla, Blueberries, Almonds and Maple Syrup
Peanut Butter, Banana, Chocolate Chips
Pears, Maple Syrup, Dried Cranberries and Nutmeg
Coconut Milk, Pineapple, Mango, Raspberries

     So there you have it! So many ways to enjoy oats everyday! of course there are so many more ways you can eat oats, but I couldn't fit them all in to this post! Oats can also be used in things like veggie patties, breads and other savory things! With all these options, you have no excuse not to be eating oats everyday, or at least every week!

 I hope you enjoyed this post all about oats, their health benefits, and several ways to eat them everyday! Please share this post and my blog with your friends and family to spread the love of healthy living!

You can follow the blog via email, Google, Twitter @ SpinachisGood, Tumblr @ justrunningforfood, and Pinterest @ Hannah Plunkett.

I post every Friday!

Stay Healthy, Happy and Laughing!

H. Banana

Valentine's Day Granola

Granola is delicious. Granola given as a gift is super special and granola given or received on Valentine's Day is amazing! This granola is the perfect way to show someone how much you care! Its delicious, easy to make and give as a gift, and it also happens to be healthy! What more is there to love?!

Homemade gifts are so much better than store bought ones! They are always from the heart, because you put your time and effort into them, and you put thought into what to make. Giving a homemade gift on Valentine's Day is the best way to show your love!

A lot of granola recipes have a few standard ingredients in them. Butter, Honey, and Oats. Some use coconut oil or other types of oils, and some might use a differnt form of sweetener, but usually they are all about the same. I took out the butter and added in banana and I used maple syrup instead of honey. Becasue of those changes, this recipe is vegan, low in fat, refined sugar free, and packed full of fiber and protien!

The Recipe

1 ripe Banana- mashed
4-5 TBS Maple Syrup
3 tsp Nutmeg
4 tsp Cinnamon( Good for the heart!)
1/2 tsp Salt
2 tsp Vanilla
1/4 cup Chia Seeds
5 cups Rolled Oats ( to make this recipe gluten-free, use gluten-free oats!)
1/2 cup Quinoa
Raisins
Dried Apples( or mix-ins of your choice. Sliced or Crushed nuts like almons, pecans, walnuts or cashews. Ground Flax seed, Flaked Dried Coconut, Dried cranberries or blueberries, seeds like pumpkin, sesame, or sunflower, or freeze-dried fruits like raspberries or strawberries!)

-- Nuts, Seeds and coconut flakes can be added before baking. Anything else needs to be added after baking.

First, mash the banana and add  the maple syrup, nutmeg, cinnamon, salt and vanilla to it. Mix well with a whisk.  Then add in the oats, quinoa and chia seeds. Make sure to stir well and get everything evenly coated.  If you are adding nuts, seeds or flax seeds, you can add them in now.

Preheat your oven to 400 F. Lay the raw granola out on a baking sheet and spread it as evenly as possible. Bake for 30 minutes, stirring every 10 minutes. Make sure to flatten out the granola after each stir.

 

Once it is all toasty and golden brown, its done! Your home will smell amazing! You could leave it how it is, but to add to the amazing-ness, lets add a few more things! I added a few handfuls of raisins and dried apple chips, but feel free to add what ever you want.

Stir the ingredients together and then let the mixture cool completely! I usually have a few bites while it is cooling! I just can't help myself!

 

Once it has cooled, you can store it in air-tight containers. I like to use mason jars, but plastic would work just as well! Also, using pretty containers makes gift-giving even easier!

 

 

I know I would be thrilled to receive a jar of homemade granola for Valentine's Day! I can't imagine anyone complaining about getting a home--made, from-the-heart gift anytime of the year! They just are so special!

 

Whether you give this as a gift to your specail someone on Valentine's Day or you keep it for yourself, this granola is amazing! You will want to keep this recipe some where safe! :)

 

 

I love to eat granola on smoothie bowls and oatmeal, over dairy-free ice-cream or banana-ice-cream, or just with a splash of almond milk as a cereal! Its the perfect way to start your day becasue it is full of protein, fiber, healthy sugars, and even cinnamon( which is good for your heart!). It also makes a great snack or even dessert!

If you liked this recipe, please let me know, and share it with your friends and family! Spread the love and give this as a gift for Valentine's Day or anyday!

You can follow the blog via email, Google, Twitter @ SpinachisGood, Tumblr @ justrunningforfood, and on Pinterest @ Hannah Plunkett.

I post every Friday!

Happy Valentine's Day!

H.Banana

Vegan Sweet Potato Casserole

  I love sweet potatoes in just about everything! They are also really good for you, and are a great fall time vegetable. However, during this time of year, sweet potatoes get stuffed into dishes with butter, cream, butter, tons of sugar, more butter, marshmallows, and other, not-so-healthy ingredients. It really is sad because they almost cover up the taste of the sweet potato, in all its glory, and you are left with a sugary, buttery over load.

       But this recipe for sweet potato casserole is not only vegan, meaning no butter, cream, or other animal products, but also is low in sugars, which allows the beautiful sweet potato to shine! After all, its called Sweet Potato Casserole, so shouldn't you be able to taste the actual sweet potato?

This healthier, vegan, but still delicious recipe is so good, you won't even be able to tell there isn't a bucket load of sugar, butter, or cream in it! So let's make it already! :)

Ingredients:
5-6 medium Sweet Potatoes, peeled and roughly chopped
3 TBS Coconut Oil
4-5 TBS Maple Syrup ( add more or less depending on how sweet you like it!)
1 Tsp Cinnamon
1/2 Tsp Nutmeg
Pinch of Salt
Splash of Vanilla Extract

Topping:
5 TBS Coconut Oil, melted
4 TBS Maple Syrup
Pinch of Salt
1 Tsp Cinnamon
1/2 Tsp Nutmeg
1/2 cup Almond Flour
1 cup Oats
Handful of chopped Pecans
Sprinkling of Brown Sugar( Optional)

Start by peeling and chopping your sweet potatoes. Add them to a pot of boiling water and cook for 20 minutes, or until soft.

 

Once they are cooked, drain off the water and return the potatoes to the pot. Use a fork, potato masher, or electric mixer to mash the potatoes into a smooth puree.

Add in the coconut oil, maple syrup, cinnamon, nutmeg, salt, and vanilla and give it a good mix. Taste and adjust if needed.

Lightly grease a pan with coconut oil, and then spread the potato mash evenly in the pan.

 

 

Then, make the topping! Add the melted coconut oil, maple syrup, cinnamon, salt, and nutmeg to a bowl and give it a whisk. Them stir in the almond flour, oats, and chopped nuts. Give it a really good mix and then layer it on top of the sweet potato mix. Make sure to get an even layer.

 

 

This topping would be great for apple crisps, peach cobblers, or even muffins!

 

 

 

Heat your oven to 350 F. Bake your casserole for 35-40 minutes, or until the edges start to brown and your house is filled with the smell of fall! Serve right away to your family and friends, or eat it all by yourself! No judging here! :)

The brown sugar on top is totally optional,  but I think it gives a really nice crunch. I used maybe a tablespoon, if even that much, and it really makes a difference! You could even use something like coconut sugar!

 

Mhhhmmmmmmmmm. I can't tell you how much I enjoyed making and eating this recipe! So delicious, comforting, perfectly sweet, and healthy! What more could you want?

 

 

I really hope you enjoy this recipe as much as I did! Its a great fall time meal, and even a perfect dish to add to your Christmas table!

 

Please share this post and my blog with your family and friends to share all things healthy living!

You can follow the blog to stay up to date on all the post! Twitter @ SpinachisGood, Tumblr @ justrunningforfood, Pinterest @ Hannah Plunkett, Google, and Email!

 

New post every Friday!

 

Keep Healthy and Safe!

H. Banana