Author: Amanda Nespor

Homemade Clif Bars!

INGREDIENTS:

  • 1 cup dates (pitted)
  • 1¼ cups crisp rice cereal
  • 1 cup quick-cooking oats
  • ¼ cup coarsely chopped peanuts
  • 2 tablespoons ground flaxseed
  • ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • Pinch salt
  • ½ cup peanut butter
  • 1/3 cup brown rice syrup
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • ¼ cup mini semisweet chocolate chips

DIRECTIONS:

1. Spray an 8×8-inch pan with non-stick cooking spray; set aside.

2. Place the dates in a food processor and pulse until finely chopped. Combine the pureed dates with the cereal, oats, peanuts, flaxseed, cinnamon and salt in a large bowl.

3. Combine the peanut butter and brown rice syrup in a small saucepan over medium heat, stirring until melted and completely blended. Remove from heat and stir in the vanilla extract.

4. Pour the peanut butter mixture over the oat mixture and stir until well combined. Gently stir in the chocolate chips. Turn the mixture into the prepared pan and press firmly to pack the mixture into the pan. Let the mixture sit until completely cool and set, at least 1 hour. Cut into bars, then wrap individually in plastic wrap and store in the refrigerator.

Whole Wheat Waffles!

These are SO delicious! Extra delicious: add breakfast sausage that has soaked in maple syrup into each waffle :)
SERVES: 4 – 5
INGREDIENTS
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 ¾ cups milk (I have used everything from skim milk to thick buttermilk…so whatever you have on hand should work)
  • ¼ cup oil (I used melted butter)
  • 1 tablespoon honey
  • ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon (We prefer fresh)
  • ¼ teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 ½ cups whole-wheat flour (I used King Arthur’s organic white whole-wheat flour)
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • ⅛ teaspoon salt
  • Warmed 100% pure maple syrup for serving
  • Fresh fruit for serving
INSTRUCTIONS
  1. Preheat your waffle iron.
  2. In a large mixing bowl whisk together the eggs, milk, oil, honey, cinnamon, and baking soda until well combined.
  3. Add in the flour, baking powder, and salt and whisk together just until the large lumps disappear.
  4. When the waffle iron is hot, dab it with a little butter and then ladle some batter onto the center of the iron. Follow the instructions that came with your waffle maker to know how long it should be cooked (mine takes about 3 – 4 minutes each).
  5. Keep waffles warm until you finish cooking all of them. Top with pure maple syrup and fruit. Enjoy!

AMAZING Honey Whole Wheat Banana Bread!

Delicious, good-for-you, and easy to make!
INGREDIENTS
  • 1 1/2 cups whole wheat pastry flour
  • 3/4 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1 heaping cup mashed ripe banana (about 2-3 bananas)
  • 2 Tbsp honey
  • 3 tsp Brown Sugar
  • 1/3 cup nonfat vanilla greek yogurt
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla
  • 2 1/2 tablespoons unsweetened vanilla almond milk
  • 1 egg
  • 1 egg white

INSTRUCTIONS

  1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Grease a 8×4 or 9×5 loaf pan with cooking spray.
  2. In a large bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder,baking soda, and salt; set aside.
  3. In a large mixing bowl, combine mashed banana, honey, brown sugar, greek yogurt, olive oil, almond milk and vanilla and beat on low until smooth in consistency. Add in the egg and egg white and beat again until well combined, about 1 minute. Add the banana mixture to the flour mixture and combine until moist — It’s important to not over mix!
  4. Spoon all of the batter into the greased loaf pan. Bake at 325 degrees for 45-60 minutes or until a tester inserted into middle of the bread comes out clean. The length of time will vary based on which loaf pan you use, so I suggest checking the bread at 45 minutes. Also, don’t fear the golden crust! The bread may look done on the outside, but the inside is what’s important — you don’t want a gooey bread.
  5. Once a tester inserted into the bread comes out clean, cool for 10 minutes in pan on wire rack, then remove from pan gently and cool completely on wire rack. Cut into 12 slices and enjoy!
NOTES
If you’d like to freeze your bread, simply wait until bread is completely cool, then slice and individually wrap in cling wrap and place in the freezer. Once ready to eat, just toast or microwave your slice and spread with your favorite topping.
It can be made with chocolate chips too!