Healthy Candied Nuts for Father's Day!

   Father's Day is in just a few days! I can't believe it is already the middle of June already. It seems like just yesterday we were freezing in January!
     Anyways, with Father's Day approaching, everyone is thinking of ways to make their Dad feel special. There are a million ways to make him feel special and loved, but nothing says "I love You" like a homemade gift from the heart. And to make things even better, its a gift you can eat!

    I love candied nuts! They are so sweet, crunchy and really delicious on salads! But, most of the time, candied nuts are covered in butter, sugar syrups, egg whites, or additives that we really don't want in our body. So, what's a girl to do? Make healthy candied nuts, that's what!

     These candied almonds are vegan, oil and butter free, and really delicious! They make the perfect snack, salad or smoothie bowl topper, and Father's Day gifts! I can just see them in a glass jar with a tag tied to it as a gift for that special person in your life!

So, lets get started!

Ingredients:
1 1/2 cup Almonds ( Pecans or Walnuts would work here too, or a mix of all three!)
2-3 TBS Powdered Sugar
2 tsp Cinnamon
1 TBS Raw Granulated Sugar ( Optional)

Start by washing your almonds to make them wet. Place them in a bowl and try not to have too much water in the bowl. Add in the powdered sugar and cinnamon.

 

Stir them well until each nut is covered with the mix. The sugar will dissolve into a sticky 'sauce' , but that's okay!

Preheat your oven to 350 F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and spread the almonds out in one layer in the sheet. Make sure that not too many are on top of each other.

 

Bake for 20-25 minutes, stirring every 5-8 minutes. When you have 10 minutes left, sprinkle the raw sugar over the nuts and stir them well. This just adds a nice crunch, but its totally optional!

 

When the nuts are done, allow them to cool completely before removing from the pan. This will allow them to become nice and crunchy!

 

 

     Now you have a batch of healthy and delicious candied almonds! I ate them on their own as well as chopped up on a salad!  I would also love to give them as a gift! They would be perfect for Father's Day, House Warming Gift, Party Favor or any other occasion to treat some one with some delicious candied nuts!

I hope you enjoyed this post! I really enjoyed making these yummy treats and I hope you will like them as much as I do!

Please share this post and my blog with your friends and family to spread the love of a healthy lifestyle!

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

I post every Friday!

Stay Healthy, Happy and Laughing!

H. Banana

Happy Father's Day!

Coffee Body Scrub for Mother's Day

    Mother's Day is just a few days away! And while we should celebrate our mother's every day, Mother's Day is a fun holiday to make an extra effort to make them feel special! There are so many ways to spoil our Moms on Mother's Day, but my favorite way is with a delicious homemade dessert and a handmade gift! Handmade gifts are always from the heart, and to me that makes them so meaningful!
    

      Pampering your Mother is a great way to help her relax and make her feel special! Yes, you could send her to the spa for the day, or you could  make her a lovely handmade body scrub so she can pamper herself whenever she wants! This coffee body scrub is the perfect thing to make for anyone who loves coffee, or who loves to feel pampered!

    Before we get into the recipe, let me share with you the health benefits of the amazing body scrub!
Number one would be how exfoliating it is! Your skin will feel amazing after usuing this scrub! The caffeine in coffee can also help to tighten your skin and give it a firmer appearance. The oil in the scrub helps to hydrate and moisturize your skin and give it a dewy look! Why wouldn't you want to use this scrub? :)

Coffee Body Scrub
Ingredients:
1 cup Coconut Oil at room temp.
4 TBS Olive Oil ( This is optional. It will keep your scrub from becoming too solid to use)
1 cup Sugar
1 cup Coffee Grounds (You can use fresh or used)
1 tsp Cinnamon

First, combine your dry ingredients.

 

Next, add in your oils.

 

 

Mix well. If it seems too liquidy, you can add in more sugar or coffee. It just depends on your perfered texture.

 

 

And we're done! How easy was that? There is no excuse fornot making your own body scrubs now, whether you keep them for yourself or give them as a gift!

 

 

     I stored  mine in small glass jars, but a plastic container would work well. Just make sure they are water tight so they don't get filled with water when you use them in the shower. Speaking of using them..... You can use this scrub in the shower or bath. Be careful not to use it if you have any cuts or bug bites because it will sting quite a bit! Also, if you use it on you legs, use it before you shave, not after!

Every Mother deserves to feel special at least one day out of the year, and this coffee body scrub is the perfect thing to show her how much you care for and appreciate her! Let her pamper herself this Mother's Day and many days afterwards, and give her a wonderful handmade gift!

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

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

I post every Friday!

Stay Healthy, Happy and Laughing!
H. Banana