Monday, October 29, 2012


Halloween Popcorn Balls
Makes 18 Popcorn Balls

My Grandmother Beauty said you should always have something special to remember the holidays by, and these popcorn balls were always a memorable treat. While they were not something she would encourage us to eat everyday-- as she did not want my sister and I to know the dentist that well-- they were something we looked forward to all year.  The original recipe had marshmallows and corn syrup, but over the years,  I experimented with different ways to make them healthier so they would be a snack we could have often, instead of a once a year treat. 

These popcorn balls taste as decadent as Cracker Jacks, but are much healthier as they are loaded with protein and omega three fatty acids from the almond butter.   

Ingredients
4 cups popped popcorn.
1/2 cup maple syrup, or honey, or agave
1/2 cup almond butter, or peanut butter, or sunflower butter
1 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice
 
Directions
1.Add maple syrup,  and almond butter to a saucepan. Stir over medium heat till warm and mixed together.
2. Remove from heat 
3.Pour the heated mixture over the popcorn; make sure the popcorn is totally coated. Add pumpkin spice.  Stir mixture together. 
4. Wait a few minutes till the mixture has cooled, and then use your hands to shape the popcorn into balls. Make sure to squeeze the popcorn together tightly to make each ball. They should be  a little bigger then a golf ball.
6. Place finished popcorn balls on plate. You can wrap the balls in plastic  ( after they have set) and tie them up with a black and orange ribbon for a great Halloween give away.
 
 
 ** Tip--before you form the balls, put a little cool water on your hands so they do not stick to your fingers. Hands should be moist, but not wet.  Also feel free to eat the mixture warm if you do not want to make it into balls. 

Friday, October 12, 2012

A Perfect After School Snack



Super-Hero French-Toast  
Makes 2 Servings

My kids will tell you that French toast is not just for breakfast. This snack is loaded with protein and fiber and it’s great for any time of day. Add fruit and you’ve created a snack that’s loaded with antioxidants.

Ingredients:
2 Pieces of Ezekiel 4:9 raisin bread
1 Egg
1 tbsp of milk (regular, soy, almond, hemp)
½ tsp cinnamon
½ tsp vanilla
Coconut oil
½ tsp flax seed
Grade B maple syrup or fruit spread

Directions:
1. Take chilled bread and cut into star shapes or shapes of your choice with cookie cutters
2. Dip the bread shapes into the mixture of eggs, milk, cinnamon, flax (mixed together)
3. Heat a skillet with either coconut oil or butter
4. Put dipped shapes into pan, brown for a couple minutes on each side and flip
5. Serve with either maple syrup or fruit spread
6. Feel free to garnish with bananas, strawberries or any other of your favorite toppings 

Grade B Maple Syrup
When selecting syrup, steer clear of artificially flavored products and choose 100% pure organic maple syrup. The smell and taste of maple syrup combined are hugely effective in flavoring foods. The strong flavor of maple syrup means that only a few drops are needed to enhance taste. Use maple syrup as a sweetener and train your kids’ taste buds to appreciate a variety of flavors, rather than becoming reliant on overly sweetened products.