Best Apple Snacks

Summer seems to coming to an end. A great way to celebrate the new season is by going apple picking.

 If you can’t get to an orchard, visit your local farmers market and select a variety of different apples and seasonal produce. By experiencing, and cooking with new ingredients, you are not only creating great memories with your children but lasting healthy habits .

 Below are my favorite apple recipes. Mommy  approved and kid tested!

 Apple Crumble 

 Ingredients
2 cups oat flour
Pinch of sea salt
 ½ teaspoon cinnamon
½ cup coconut oil or butter ¼ cup maple syrup
1-tablespoon vanilla extract
 5 medium apples, peeled, sliced,

 Directions:
1.In a large bowl, combine flour, salt, cinnamon.
2. In a smaller bowl, combine oil or butter, maple syrup and vanilla.
3. Stir wet ingredients into dry.
4. Place apples in an 8×8 baking dish.
5. Crumble topping over the apples.
6. Cover and bake at 350° for 45 minutes on low rack.
7. When apples are soft and their juices bubble, remove cover and bake 10 more minutes to brown crispy.
8. Serve warm with a dollop of yogurt

Apple Bran Muffins

 2 cups wheat Bran
1 - 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
1 tsp. Baking Powder
1 tsp. Baking Soda
1 tsp. cinnamon
 1 1/4 cup milk of choice. I like almond
 1/2 cup maple syrup
 2 tbsp. coconut oil
 3/4 cup applesauce
1 Egg, beaten
1 tsp. pure vanilla extract (optional)
1/2 - 1 cup raisins
1 medium to large apple peeled and diced

 Directions 
1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
2. Combine dry ingredients, wheat bran, flour, baking soda, baking powder and cinnamon.
3. In another bowl, blend applesauce, milk, maple syrup, oil, egg and vanilla.
4. Add wet ingredients to dry ingredients and blend well.
5. Add in the raisins and diced apples.
6. Spoon batter into a muffin tins and bake for 15-20 minutes

Healthy Snack Bar

This delicious treat also doubles as a perfect snack or mini meal.  It is loaded with protein, fiber and healthy fats

 Ingredients
1 cup dry figs
 1 cup dates
 1/2 cup almonds, coarsely chopped
 1/2 cup walnuts, chopped
 2 tbsp coconut oil 1
/2 teaspoon of vanilla



Directions
 Submerge dry fruit in boiling water and set aside for about 20 minutes until the fruit is very soft.
 Drain and place the fruits in a high speed blender.
 Process till you have a rather smooth and thick paste. Add 1 or 2 tbsp -- if needed to keep the blades moving, but don't let the mixture get liquid.
 Heat the coconut oil in a heavy-bottomed saucepan. Add the fruit paste and cook, stirring almost constantly, for 10 minutes.
Add the walnuts and cook, stirring, for another 10 minutes .
Grease a small plate and turn the fruit and nut mixture into it.
Using a spatula flatten the mixture.
Let mixture set. Then cut into squares.

Healty Back To School Snacks

FUN AFTER SCHOOL TREATS

With school almost back in session, It is time to think about what goes into those lunch boxes. Kids need healthy, fast snacks that will sustain their energy, appetite, and mood throughout their long days.

Healthy high quality snacks, that consist of powerful proteins, complex carbohydrates and healthy fats are a great strategy for regulating blood sugar, appetite and warding off those mid-afternoon meltdowns.

 The trap most parents fall into is not realizing the difference between a snack and a treat, or not being prepared enough to pack balanced snacks. A snack is merely a mini meal, meant to nourish your children.

So Plan ahead and have healthy snack choices on hand. The ice cream truck is a treat, not a snack and will not sustain or nourish your kids.

 Below are some of my favorite grab and go snacks, which should give you some ideas and help you plan ahead. I would love to hear your kids' favorite snacks!

 Apple or pears  rings with almond, peanut, cashew, or sunflower butter/ decorate with chips or raisins
 Lara bars- a great three ingredient snack bar
 Cottage cheese mixed with, berries, walnuts /almonds/flax seeds
 Hummus with carrot sticks/ sliced red/yellow/orange pepper
 Guacamole with carrot sticks/ sliced red/yellow/orange peppers
 Ricotta cheese mixed with cocoa powder, stevia, and vanilla extract topped with berries
 Hardboiled eggs with carrot and celery sticks and hummus
 Celery sticks with organic peanut butter or almond butter add raisins for kids
 Avocado slices wrapped in nitrate-free turkey breast
 A piece of sprouted grain, whole grain or pita with almond butter and bananas
 Fresh sliced pineapple with a handful of pistachio nuts 
A bowl of blueberries mixed with raw almonds Cottage cheese with cinnamon, apple slices, and walnuts
Organic cheese stick and carrots

No Oven Required Coconut Cacao Bites

These  are super nutritious as well as easy to make. Perfect when you want a sweet treat on a hot day.









 Ingredients: 
 2 tbsp coconut oil
 6 figs

 2 cups raw almonds
 1/2 cup raw, local honey

 2/3 cups raw cacao
nibs
 3/4 cup coconut flakes

 Directions 
 1.Put almonds into food processor and pulse to a fine meal.
 2.Then add all ingredients except for coconut flakes.
 3.Use a large spoon to scoop out the dough and roll into balls.
 4.Cover non-bleached wax paper with the coconut flakes and roll balls until covered with coconut

Meatless Mondays -- Zucchini Burgers

Meatless Monday Burgers

Serves: 4 burgers

Meatless Mondays are a great time to experiment with new recipes. These zucchini burgers are simple to make and loaded with fiber and protein. Feel free to experiment with different toppings like avocado, tomato, onion, or mango.  And serve over a bed of lettuce or on a spouted bun.

Ingredients

1 cup shredded Zucchini

1/4-cup onion chopped

1 cup organic, (non GMO Black Beans) rinsed and drained

4 tablespoons Ground Flax

½ t garlic powder

Directions

In a medium bowl add all ingredients

Mash together with a fork

Let it sit for a few minutes for all the flavors to blend, then form into burgers

Heat oil of choice. I like coconut. Cook till golden brown on both sides until golden on both sides

Serve and garnish

Strawberry Banana Almond Pancakes

Super Protein Pancake Serves 6

These protein-packed pancakes are infused with seasonal strawberries and topped with potassium rich bananas. For an extra bonus they are loaded with omega three fatty acids from the flax, almond flour and coconut oil

Ingredients

1 cup whole oat flour

1 cup almond flour

1 tablespoons ground flaxseed

1 tablespoon maple syrup

1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder

1 teaspoon baking soda

2 eggs, lightly beaten

1 tablespoon vanilla extract

2 cups plain Greek yogurt

1 tablespoon melted coconut oil

1 teaspoon butter, to prepare the skillet

1 cup sliced strawberries

·       banana slices for garnish

Directions

Combine all the dry ingredients. Then mix in coconut oil, yogurt and beaten eggs. Blend well. Pour one at a time in a greased pan. After batter is poured add two strawberry slices. When the batter bubbles flip. When brown remove from plate and top with banana slice.

Passover Cookies

Almond Chocolate Chip Cookies

You don't have to give up eating Chocolate Chip Cookies just because it is Passover! These cookies are perfect for after a Sedar, or anytime you are looking for a gluten free option that is rich, crispy, and loaded with protein

Ingredients

1 cup raw almond butter

1/2 cup almond flour

1/3 cup maple syrup

1 egg

1 Tbsp. vanilla

1/2 tsp. salt

1/2 tsp. baking soda

1/4 tsp. baking powder

1/2 cup chocolate chips/ Carob chips

Directions

Preheat oven to 350F

Place all ingredients in a food processor -- except chips--and process until smooth

Add chips and mix

Chill dough for 30 minutes

Roll 2 Tbsp of dough into balls and place on parchment paper lined baking sheet

Bake for 10 minutes

Peanut Butter Love-- Healthy blondies

Peanut Butter Love

Makes 12  squares

Kids will love these peanut butter chip squares. They resemble a Blondie or a Nestles Toll House Cookie--crispy on the outside-- gooey and chocolaty on the inside. One bite is all it takes to become the sweetest mom on earth.

Ingredients:

16 oz  natural  ( no sugar added) peanut butter/ almond butter/ cashew butter (room temperature)

2 eggs

1 cup pure maple syrup or honey

I teaspoon baking soda

½ teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon of vanilla

1 cup of dark, semi sweet chocolate chips

butter, or oil such as coconut for greasing the  pan

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees

2. In a bowl, mix peanut butter and maple syrup. Then mix in beaten eggs, vanilla, salt, and baking soda .

3. Mix until well blended and smooth.

4. Stir in half the chocolate chips.

5. Pour batter into a well-greased Pyrex dish

6. Scatter the remaining chips on top

7. Bake for 35 minutes – checking after 25 minutes to make sure the edges do not get too brown. If top looks very brown, cover with foil and bake for the remaining 5-10 minutes 

8.  Cool and serve