Clean Eating Caramel Corn!

The holiday season is one of those times when my family goes NUTS with the baking!  My mother's holiday cookies are extravagant, magazine worthy, and most of all delicious! I find myself frequently reaching for a treat, not because I'm hungry but simply because they are visible and convenient! I LOVE my mother's butter tarts and cannot wait until she makes them, but I also wanted to find a recipe that was a healthier option to add to those get togethers, or just for a cozy Friday night around the fire! If you find that you are a "picker", this is the perfect healthy treat for you!

Clean Eating Caramel Corn

Recipe:

8-10 cups air popped popcorn

1/2 cup honey

1/4 cup all natural peanut butter

dash of salt

4 ingredients, 4 minutes and you have a delicious caramel corn that is fit to sit on any holiday dessert table! In a saucepan bring honey to boil over medium heat. Boil until the honey starts to bubble and climbs 1 inch up the side of the pan (not long). Remove from heat and add the peanut butter. In a large bowl, pour peanut butter mixture over popcorn and stir with a spoon until evenly distributed. I like to sprinkle on a little sea salt at this point. Don't use hands as mixture can burn!

Spread the popcorn on a cookie sheet to cool. Don't forget to sample as you go ;)

Store in an air tight container, or in a festive tin like this one!

Merry Christmas!

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Healthy Protein Eatmore Bars

I have an Eatmore Bar memory. Indulge me:

When I was 10 years old, my mother took us girls to stay at her friends house in Vancouver for the weekend. Before heading to Stanley Park to walk the trails, we had stopped at a near by convenience store and been allowed to choose a bagful of candy! During our playtime at the park, I greedily shoved all that sugar down my gullet, except for my prized Eatmore Bar. I was saving that one for the finale! Once we got back into our car, my mom had said no more sugar, and that anything we had left was going to have to wait until tomorrow. Gutted! 

The next day came and we were set to leave. I don't recall how exactly I had forgotten that precious candy bar, tucked safely beside the bed I had been sleeping in, but somehow I did! I begged my mom to turn around for that lone bar...the bar that I had saved especially for that grueling ride home. Alas, she never did turn back, and thoughts of the forgotten bar still haunt me.....

Right! Well, until now anyway. Check out the following recipe and re-create a little taste of your childhood, only healthier :)

 Recipe:

(adapted from damyhealth)

1 cup dates (soak to soften)

3 tbsp nut butter

1/4 cup hemp hearts

2 cups salted peanuts (unsalted for lower sodium option)

3 scoops vanilla protein powder

2 tbsp cocoa powder

1/4 cup water

1/2 tsp vanilla

In a food processor chop peanuts and set aside. Add nut butter, vanilla, cocoa powder and dates, process until smooth. Add wet mixture to chopped peanuts. Stir in protein powder and hemp hearts, adding water if mixture appears too dry. Mix with hands to form a large ball. Press ball between two pieces of plastic wrap and shape into a rectangle.  Slice into 16 bars, wrap in plastic wrap and store in the freezer

Once you sink your teeth into these little gems, you will realize that they are just like Eatmore Bars, only healthier with no added sugar and added protein!

Cacao Mint Protein BOMB!

Mint and chocolate....YUM! These are super easy little protein power balls that are clean eating, but hit the spot when you're craving something sweet!

I saw this new flavour of BOUNCE bomb in the store and had to try and make my own! It was covered in raw cacao nibs...crunchy and delicious! 

I did a side by side taste comparison and it was pretty close, if I do say so myself! Give this recipe a try.

Recipe:

1 cup of dates (soaked in hot water for 1/2 hour -then discard water)

1/2 cup all natural nut butter (I used peanut)

dash of sea salt

2 tbsp hot water

2 tbsp cocoa powder

1 tsp peppermint extract

1 1/2 scoops vanilla or chocolate protein powder

1/4 cup raw cacao nibs for rolling

Directions:

In a food processor place dates, peanut butter, salt, water, cocoa powder,  and peppermint. Blend until smooth. Add the protein powder. At this point I mixed it in with my hands to ensure it was was well incorporated.  If protein won't mix in, add a tbsp of hot water. 

Next roll the mixture into small bite size balls and roll in cacao nibs.

This part was a little tricky as I found that the cacao nibs didn't adhere that well. I took the nibs in my hand instead and pressed them into the ball. That seemed to do the trick!

 Store these in the freezer and enjoy in moderation! Aka, one a day!

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Healthy Chocolate Topped Coconut Mounds!

I'm a little obsessed with all things COCONUT right now! How about you?  I enjoy sprinkling it in my oatmeal, Greek yogurt, and power protein balls and bars. I loved this simple recipe because I had all of the ingredients right there in my cupboard, so whipping up a batch when you feel like a clean treat, is easy breezy. 

Coconut Mounds

Here is the easy recipe:

1/2 cup unsweetened coconut

1 tbsp honey

1/2 tbsp water

1/2 tsp vanilla

2 tbsp coconut oil

Directions:

Mix together and freeze on waxed paper covered tray. Wow, that was difficult. Once frozen, dip the tops in a combinations of 1/4 cup melted coconut oil, 1 tbsp cocoa powder and 1 tsp maple syrup. Put back in freezer to harden and store there. Now...practice moderation :)

#movedaily

Coconut Cacao Nib Klondike Bar! (dairy-free, Paleo)

I'm saying this on screen....I probably shouldn't have made these bars...but I did! It's my son's graduation in 3 weeks and I borrowed a Roberto Cavalli dress from a friend that I don't want to just look good in...I want to look great! So, I decided to "dial it in" with my nutrition for the occasion. Sheeesh its hard!! My meals are not the problem, we enjoy eating healthy. The issue is the treats! I've got a hankering for the sweets. Anyway, I wanted to sub out the sugar for healthier options but these bars are just too dang good. It was really hard to have just one. Moderation is the key people, even when the recipe says CLEAN. Let me know what you think! 
*recipe revised from detoxinista

Vanilla Ice Cream Bar:

1 cup raw cashew pieces, soaked in water for 2 hours
1 cup water
1/4 cup melted coconut oil
2 tablespoons honey
1 tablespoon maple syrup
1 tablespoon vanilla extract

Extras:

2 tablespoon coconut mana

1/4 cup cacao nibs

Chocolate Coating:

5 tablespoons cocoa powder

5 tablespoons melted coconut oil

1/4 cup maple syrup

Directions:

 Discard water that cashews had been soaking in. In a blender, combine the first 6 ingredients and blend until smooth.

Line a brownie pan with parchment paper or wax paper. Add in your cacao nibs and coconut mana.

 Pour that ice-creamy batter into pan and freeze for 4 hours. Slice bars. 

In a separate bowl, combine coating ingredients. Take each frozen slice and dunk it into the coating. Place back on pan and back into freezer to solidify. Store in freezer.

Try to eat just one:)