Vegan Protein Bites

The recipe I'm about to share was inspired by a similar recipe that can viewed at http://chefambershea.com/2012/05/03/cake-batter-balls-raw-vegan-high-protein-glutengrainsoynutseedsugar-free/

Ingredients:
1/2 cup Pure Nourish (Vegan Protein Powder purchased HERE)
2 tbs coconut flour
1 tbs melted coconut oil
4-6 tbs canned whole coconut milk
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp vanilla extract
(optional) blueberries

Mix all of the dry ingredients together first then mix in the coconut oil and vanilla extract. Use a spoon to stir in the coconut milk, start with 4 tbs add more if the mixture is too dry to hold together. Once the mixture is crumbly but comes together like play dough roll into 6 even balls. At this point you can  top with some blueberries or chopped nuts/seeds or you can leave them as is and put them in the refrigerator to set and chill.

These are a delicious treat or snack for before or after a workout or if you're craving a cookie. Remember, all things in moderation! Limit yourself to 2-3 per snack.

Almond cookies (Dairy Free, Gluten Free, Sugar Free, Soy Free)

Yesenia, a fellow Slenderiiz user and friend, posted a link to some delicious cookies today! http://www.yummly.com/recipe/external/Flourless_-sugar-free-peanut-butter-cookies-309702

The recipe calls for peanut butter and peanuts, so I adapted to almond butter and chopped almonds. The only other substitute I made was instead of using a tsp of water I used a tsp of coconut milk.

(Makes about 2 dozen small cookies, recipe adapted from Flourless Almond Butter Cookies from Cookie Madness.)

Ingredients:

1 large egg

1 cup granular Splenda or Stevia-in-the-Raw Granulated Sweetener

1 tsp. baking powder

1/2 tsp.vanilla extract

1 cup creamy natural almond butter (check sugar content, the one I used had no sugar in the ingredients)

1 tsp. water (I used coconut milk)

1/3 cup chopped almonds (optional)

Instructions:
Preheat oven to 350 F.

In mixing bowl, use electric beater to beat together the egg, Stevia, baking powder, and vanilla for about a minute. Add almond butter and water and beat together. (The mixture was fairly dry and broken apart. Just be sure the peanut butter is mixed well with the other ingredients.) Add peanuts if using, and blend into dough.

Use a large non-stick cookie sheet. Measure out a heaping teaspoon of batter for each cookie, then smash down with a fork. Bake 15 minutes, or slightly longer, until cookies feel firm and are slightly browned.

Tip: For easy clean up line your baking sheets with foil.

Yesenia's cookies look so beautiful I had to share =)

No Bake Cookies Sugar Free, Dairy Free, Gluten Free

When you're making a life style change instead of just a "diet" you have to have options for treats so you don't feel like you're deprived and then binge on junk food. I adapted several different recipes in order to come up with this one great alternative to your traditional, calorie and sugar packed no bake cookie.

NOTE: Make sure you measure the coconut oil while in liquid form, and if you are using a loose almond butter reduce your coconut oil measurements by 2-3 tbs.

Things you need:
1 cup Almond butter (make sure it's sugar free)
1 3/4 cup Stevia in the Raw
3 cups Old Fashioned Oatmeal (make sure it's gluten free)
1/2 cup Coconut oil
1/2 cup Unsweetened coconut milk
1/2 tsp Nutmeg (or cinnamon)
1/4 tsp Salt
1 tbsp Unsweetened Cocoa powder (if you want a chocolate cookie use 1/3 cup)
Wax paper / cookie sheet

In a large sauce pan melt the coconut oil on low, add the stevia. Stir in the coconut milk and turn the heat up to medium and stir in the almond butter, salt, nutmeg, cocoa powder. Heat mixture and mix thoroughly, add the oat meal and stir over heat for 30 seconds- 1minute until evenly incorporated. Remove from heat and drop on to two cookie sheet lined with wax paper. Place in the freezer to set.

I like to store mine in the freezer for freshness and the extra crunch.

These awesome little cookies are packed with protein and fiber and are less than 150 calories per cookie!

Karl likes to grab these on the way out the door to work as a quick breakfast paired with either an apple or an orange.