Clean Eating Recipe - Lemon Chia Overnight Oats

Lemon Chia Overnight Oats

I am a sucker for anything lemon or chocolate flavored! I really wanted to get some chocolate into this dish but I wasn't brave enough. That will have to be an experiment for another day ;-)

These overnight oats were so refreshing, they just tasted clean zesty. The best part was they left a great sweet after taste in my mouth. They would go well with just about any berry, I can't wait to try them with blueberries!

Recipe

1 Cup Organic Rolled Oats

6 oz Lemon Flavored Greek Yogurt

2 Tsp Chia Seeds

3/4 Cup Unsweetened Vanilla Almond Milk

1 Tsp Fresh Lemon Zest 

*optional for extra strong lemon flavor squeeze the juice out of half a lemon in to mixture

Mix all ingredients together in a jar store in refrigerator overnight and serve with your favorite berry!!

Makes two servings. 

Hope you enjoy your  Lemon Chia Overnight Oats!!

Clean Recipe - Chia Seed Pudding

Clean Eating Recipe - Chia Seed Pudding

Do you want to eat a Superfood for dessert?! Well here on is!

Chia seeds are considered superfood. The main health benefits of chia seeds are that they are loaded with antioxidants (antioxidants can help prevent signs of aging and also known to aid in the prevention of cancer), and they are a great source of omega-3.

Here is a quick and simple recipe that you can use for breakfast a snack or dessert!

Ingredients:

3 Tbsp Chia Seeds

1 Cup Unsweetened Almond Milk

1 Tsp Honey

1/8 Tsp Cinnamon

1/8 Tsp Vanilla Extract

Place all Ingredients into a jar stir well and store in refrigerator at least 8 hours before serving.

*makes 1 to 2 servings 

This Chia Seed Pudding Recipe tastes delicious with fruit added to it.

Enjoy!

Clean Eating Recipe - Peanut Butter Cups

Clean Peanut Butter Cups Recipe

With only 3 ingredients these little nuggets are quick simple and absolutely amazing!!

I should mention though these are absolutely addicting and not 100% clean.  My choose to make the recipe quicker by using a chocolate bar for the chocolate layer instead of making my own chocolate sabotaged me from being able to classify this as fully clean ;-). However, I will note, the higher the concentration of cacao in your chocolate bar the higher the chances are of it being clean. I used a Scharffen Berger 82% Cacao bar so I guess I can say these are at least 82% clean! There are definitely times when shortcuts are worth it. When getting chocolate in my belly is a result of a shortcut, I am all for it! (I will be posting a homemade clean eating chocolate recipe soon that you can use as the chocolate here as well, stay tuned!)

Ingredients

1 cup fresh nut butter (I used fresh almond butter)*

2 Tbsp organic coconut oil melted

Dark chocolate bar

*In most health food stores such as Whole Foods, there are machines located in the bulk food bin section that you are able to put your choice of nuts in and turn them into fresh nut butter.

**Want a lower calorie treat there is a modified nut butter cup located at end of post :-)

In a medium bowl mix peanut butter with coconut oil. Once mixed well, split up the dough and place into each hole in a mini muffin tin. Press well into the bottom of each tin hole. Place in Freezer.

 Now melt your chocolate in a double broiler. Take tin out of freezer, using a spoon, place 1 to 2 spoonfuls of melted chocolate on top of peanut butter. 

Return to freezer for about 10 minutes or until chocolate hardens. Take a thin knife and press between peanut butter cup and tin. This should pop each cup out of their hole. Storing in the freezer is recommended.

**For lower calorie less clean version follow this ingredient list **

1/2 cup fresh peanut or almond butter

1/2 cup PB2

1/4 cup water

2 Tbsp coconut oil

Dark chocolate bar

Mix PB2 powder with water in a medium bowl, then add fresh almond butter and coconut oil. The rest of preparation and storage recommendations are the same as above.

Enjoy your Peanut Butter Cups!!

Clean Smoothie Recipe - Carrot Cake - Easter

Carrot Cake Smoothie Recipe

With Easter just a round the corner I was inspired to find a tasty healthy alternative to my favorite spring time dessert, carrot cake. Here is my recipe for a clean carrot cake smoothie. Tastes like I stuck a piece of frozen carrot cake in a blender!! Haha!

Ingredients

4 medium carrots cut into small pieces

1 frozen banana

6 dates

1/2 cup organic rolled oats

1/2 cup unsweetened vanilla almond milk

1/4 cup plain greek yogurt

2 Tbsp chopped walnuts

2 Tbsp organic shredded coconut

1/4 tsp vanilla extract

1/4 tsp cinnamon

handful of ice

Place all ingredients in blender. Blend. Pour. Sip and Enjoy!!

(makes 2 servings)

carrot cake smoothie recipe

Clean Eating Recipe - Roasted Nuts Cinnamon Sugar Flavor

Cinnamon Sugar Roasted Nuts

I always see the pre-packed flavored nuts in the grocery store and think yum, what a great idea. This is when I turn the package over, read the ingredients and then return them to the shelf disappointed. I am a sweets person, I swear I was born with a mouth full of sweet teeth! So naturally I wanted to experiment with infusing my nuts with some sweetness.  I mean who can really resist the nuts they sell on the corners in NY. The heavenly scent of caramelized sugar and roasted nuts wafting through the air piercing your nostrils with a much welcome and captivating scent, a far cry from the smoggy city air.  So you stop, you pull out a few dollars and purchase a warm bag. You can't get your wallet tucked away quick enough because you are so anxious to pop a few into your mouth. The second they touch your tongue you know your senses led you right, they are delectable so you grab another handful as you disappear back into the hustle! Ok, ok, Ill stop teasing your taste buds now.  What I am trying to say is not that these nuts compare to NY nuts, I don't think there is any comparison, but they were inspiration for my sweet nut experiment. And, I must say for a clean eating guilt free snack these are pretty darn good. They are also a great addition atop salads and chopped up in baking recipes.

Enjoy!!!

Recipe

1 Cup nuts of your choice

1 Tbsp coconut oil (you may have to melt it first)

1 tsp each of cinnamon and coconut sugar **

Heat oven to 425 degrees

Place nuts in a medium bowl. Pour the coconut oil over them and add the cinnamon and sugar. Toss together until nuts are well coated.

Spread evenly on a baking sheet and place on middle rack in oven.

Bake for 5-10 minutes, once you start smelling the nuts roasting they will be ready!

**you can add more cinnamon and sugar according to personal taste but be aware if you are taste testing when raw, they will taste sweeter after they are roasted)

Clean Smoothie Recipe - Maca Cacao

If you have yet to hear about Maca, now it the time to start getting familiar with it!! Maca, a plant grown in Peru for over 3000 years and used in medicine, is becoming a very popular superfood in american culture. My first experience with Maca was about 4 years ago when I went back to work after my son was born. During my afternoon break I, in my new Mama night after sleepless night fog would get a blended coffee from the health bar next store that featured Maca as one of its most beneficial ingredients. I have always been highly interested in nutrition and health though at that point in time I was so focused on making it through each work each day and running home to take care of my 16 month old and my 3 month old, I never really took the time to research what the health benefits of Maca were. 

Fast forward 4 years and I feel almost every health and nutrition information I encounter raves about the health benefits of Maca. Maca which is considered a superfood is beneficial for enhancing energy, stamina, memory and fertility. It helps woman with balancing hormones, menstrual problems, and menopause symptoms. It can also aid in lessing the effects of depression, osteoporosis, anemia,  and helps boost the immune system.** After learning this I decided to make it a mission to find ways to incorporate Maca into my families diet. It has a slight butterscotch smell to it and for me tastes a bit nutty. I tend to use it as an addition to sweet recipes. It blends well into smoothies and as an addition to doughs when baking.  Here is my recipe for a Maca-Cocoa Ice Cream. A low calorie nutrient and antioxidant dense sweet treat that is great as a desert, after school snack or mid-afternoon pick me up. 

Enjoy!

Maca Recipe

3 Frozen Bananas

1 Cup Frozen Pineapple

1 Cup Vanilla Almond Milk (unsweetened)

1 1/2 Tbsp Maca Powder

1 1/2 Tbsp PB2 Chocolate

1 1/2 Tbsp Coconut Flakes (unsweetened)

1 1/2 Tbsp Cocoa Powder (unsweetened)

Handful of Ice

*optional soak 1 tsp of chia seeds in the almond milk for about 15 min. then add all to mix

Blend until creamy and serve immediately or store in freezer.

Yields 4 servings at around 150 calories each

**these statements have not been evaluated by the FDA

Clean Recipe - Gluten Free Banana Bread

Gluten Free Banana Pecan Muffins

Have you ever taken a bite out of cardboard? Ok, technically, I have not either. Let me set the scene though. You are at the grocery store strolling through the aisles curiously picking up packages of food   checking the label looking at the bold lettering claiming all these healthy things. "No High-Fructose Corn Syrup!",  "No Sugar Added!", "Low-Fat!" Then you come across a box of "Gluten-Free" chocolate chips cookies. You have heard about this Gluten-free thing on the news, on the internet, that health guru you follow on instagram, and of coarse, from that overly spunky health nut mom down the way. Every one seems to be going gluten-free. So you grab the box put it in you cart and feel proud thinking "I too will be gluten-free and proud, take that yoga pant wearing spunky mom" (no offense to yoga pant wearing spunky moms, I have to admit my friends see me as that woman! haha) You get home and crack open the box, after all who can resist a chocolate chip cookie. You take a bite and start to chew your chewing slows as you pick up to box to make sure you read the label correctly. Yep, the box still says chocolate chips cookies, however what is in your mouth is far from the known and loved taste of chocolate chips cookies, this taste is more like cardboard! So let me ask you again, have you ever taken a bite out of cardboard. Chances are more people are going to say yes this time!!

Here is the good new! Gluten-free skeptics and gluten-free lovers can both rejoice over this recipe. No cardboard here. These muffins are incredibly moist and flavorful. My children loved them and my  gluten-free skeptic friends did not know they were gluten-free until I told them. Try them for yourself and Enjoy!!

Recipe:

3 overly-ripe bananas

1/2 brown rice syrup

1 large egg

1/3 Cup applesauce (I used some that had no added sugar)

1 Teaspoon vanilla extract

1 Teaspoon gluten-free baking soda

1 Teaspoon cinnamon

1/4 Teaspoon nutmeg

dash of cloves 

pinch of salt

1 1/2 Cups gluten-free flour

1/2 Cup chopped toasted pecans**

Heat oven to 350 degrees.

In a large bowl mash the bananas until almost no clumps are visible. Stir in brown rice syrup and egg then add applesauce and blend well. Add vanilla extract, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves and salt. Stir all together. Stirring slowly add in flour. Once all combined add pecans and blend in.

Either spray muffin tin with a non-stick spray or insert cupcake liners. 

Pour mix in each hole and bake for 25 min or until an inserted toothpick comes out clean!

Yields 12 Muffins

**To toast pecans lay them flat on a cookie sheet and place in oven (heated to 350 degrees) until aromatic, approximately 5 min.