Gingery Pepita Energy Bars – a little spicy, a little salty and a little sweet and only around 150 calories!

Dairy Free, Dessert, Favorites, Gluten Free, Kid Friendly, Lighter Fare, Low Cal, Native Sun Recipe, Quick and Easy, Raw, Six Ingredients or Less, Snack, Soy Free, Vegan, Vegetarian 1 Response »

May 182013

Gingery Pepita Bars – a little spicy, a little salty and a little sweet.

Gingery Pepita Energy Bars

100% delicious.

Gingery Pepita Energy Bars

These are so satisfying and EASY to make – you’ll never spend money on pre-made bars again. I’ve been making tons of variations of these with whatever is on sale. I simply add enough dates, raisins or prunes so that the mixture just stays together and then shape into bites or bars.

Bars are perfect to grab on a busy day when you just won’t have a lot of time to eat and make a great breakfast or snack. The cashews and dates will give you tons of energy, ginger aids in digestion and has anti-inflammatory powers, and pepitas, or pumpkin seeds, are a great source of zinc, protein and iron.

Say no to store bought bars!

Gingery Pepita Energy Bars

Gingery Pepita Energy Bars

Serves 4
Vegan, Gluten Free
Printable Recipe
**Ingredients on sale now at Native Sun Natural Food Market, May 7 – June 6

Ingredients

1/2 cup chopped dried dates
1/3 cup raw cashews
1/4 cup chopped crystallized ginger (ginger chews)**
1/8 tsp coarse sea salt
2 Tbsp whole pumpkin seeds (pepitas)**

Directions

1. Place all ingredients except whole pumpkin seeds in a food processor and pulse until combined. Mix pepitas in by hand and roll into a ball; press onto parchment paper and form a square; cut into four sections.

Nutrition Facts
4 Servings
Amount Per Serving

Calories 156.4
Total Fat 5.8 g
Saturated Fat 1.1 g
Polyunsaturated Fat 1.5 g
Monounsaturated Fat 3.0 g
Cholesterol 0.0 mg
Sodium 77.6 mg
Potassium 221.0 mg
Total Carbohydrate 26.8 g
Dietary Fiber 2.4 g

Sugars 17.3 g
Protein 2.5 g
Vitamin B-6 4.0 %
Vitamin C 0.2 %
Vitamin E 5.4 %
Calcium 1.5 %
Copper 15.5 %
Folate 4.0 %
Iron 5.1 %
Magnesium 9.7 %
Manganese 9.3 %
Niacin 2.8 %
Pantothenic Acid 4.0 %
Phosphorus 8.7 %
Riboflavin 2.4 %
Selenium 4.9 %
Thiamin 2.3 %
Zinc 5.0 %

*Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.
Enjoy my Gingery Pepita Energy Bars!

How I Won the Battle with Depression and Got off Antidepressants – and a Sunny Mila (Chia) Dreamsicle Smoothie with 3000 mg of Omega 3′s

Articles and Reading, Beverage, Breakfast, Dairy Free, Egg Free, Favorites, Food Find, Gluten Free, Gratitude, Kid Friendly, Quick and Easy, Six Ingredients or Less, Soy Free, Vegan, Vegetarian 9 Responses »

Apr 222013

I felt like a three ton weight was pressing on my shoulders and wanted to just lie in my darkened closet and not come out.

One of the hardest parts was that I looked normal.

Sunny Mila (Chia) Dreamsicle Smoothie

It is not easy to share the details of my life in a public forum like this, in fact I’ve had this post written for a while and continued to put off posting it because I just wasn’t sure I wanted to put it out there, but I’m going to do so in the hopes that I might be able to help someone else.

My life was (and is) seemingly perfect. I have a supporting and loving family, husband and daughter, a wonderful home, a job, I have figured out my passion, I have all my limbs and hey, I live in Florida, how bad can things actually be?

I was suffering from major depression. What made it worse was that I should NOT be depressed, right? I should have felt only happiness and gratitude. And I DID, but I also had a cloud that hung over my head and no matter how much I tried to talk myself out of it, read positive books, think positive thoughts, it would still be there. It was so bad that I would cry almost every day on the way on the drive to work and many days on the way home. When I got to work I would blow my nose, put some cover-up around my eyes, slap on some powder and put my glasses on to cover it up. I was exhausted all the time, so much so that it felt like physical pain. I would tell my mom this almost daily. Mom I’m so tired it hurts.

I had an aging (and very noisy) Labrador, Madison, that would wake me at night and afterwards I wouldn’t fall back to sleep which made the exhaustion worse. One particular weekend stands out in my memory. Some friends, Matt and Stephanie, came in town and several couples were going out for dinner. My hubby was busy doing something that I can’t recall so I was going to go myself. I put on a beautiful new dress that had the colors of the ocean, blues and greens, and drove to my friend Justine’s house 45 minutes away from mine to see them. Everyone was chatting and gathering their things to head to dinner. I tried to put on my game face but I was so worn down that I was wrestling with myself. Just suck it up and go, you’ll be fine. And the next thought, I’m so tired it hurts. I just want to sit at home and wallow. The exhaustion won. I said I’m so sorry, I can’t do it. I have to go home. I’m exhausted. I envisioned everyone mentally rolling their eyes at me. Of course they weren’t, but I was so embarrassed. I’m still embarrassed about that day and sad that I missed seeing Matt and Steph. I was too young to be that tired. Anyone is too young to be that tired.

That memory always fades into another; my husband and I were staying in St Augustine to celebrate the “February Birthdays” with about five other couples, and I was so worried about even making it to dinner, never mind out afterwards for drinks and music. I was so tired that I wanted to forgo dinner at the Floridian and just stay in my hotel room at the Edgewater by myself. I drank two red energy drinks and one and a half of those little energy bottles and was still exhausted. I was so embarrassed that I would resort to drinking such chemicals when I have a food blog about eating a healthy, plant based diet.

Sunny Mila (Chia) Dreamsicle Smoothie

I was on the highest dosage of Bupropion I could be on and I had tried many of the other antidepressants. Nothing seemed to work. My poor mom is a saint for listening to me through all the crying.

On a particularly dark day I said enough was enough and called my physician to see if she would increase my dosage again. I told her I just want to be a zombie. Get through the day. Go home. I don’t want to feel this weight any more. She said no. You are on the highest dosage. It can not be increased any more, Dawn. I cried about that.

My hair was falling out so I fired my hair dresser thinking that he had over-processed my hair.

Then one day I got an email from my mom’s neurology nurse practitioner, Megan. (My mom has Multiple Sclerosis.) Megan, asked me if I would do a talk on food, nutrition, recipes and my CSA (KyV Farm) for her MS group she runs and I told her of course, I would love to. She said my mom had been telling her about my food blog and she got very excited because she is vegetarian.

Things would come up and I didn’t get around to it, but we continued to talk and become friends. She became a regular follower of my blog and we would occasionally discuss recipes offline.

A while later I did a few posts about flax and chia seed. Once again she contacted me and said she saw I was eating chia seeds. I said yes, and told her how I was eating lots of organic chia and freshly ground flax daily. She asked if I had tried Mila, a raw seed blend. I said no and asked if it is organically grown and non GMO. She said yes to organic and no to GMO. She said I’d be happy to share some with you. I said as long as it’s one ingredient and is a whole, raw food, send it on over. I’d try it.

A few days later I got a large bag of seeds. Being the health nut that I am I cracked it open and began eating it. About three weeks into it I noticed better digestion, more energy and I was falling back to sleep after Madison woke me up at night. Hmm…well that was nice. The seeds I was eating before hadn’t had the same effects. I started getting low and asked her for more. About three months into eating it I noticed something about my depression. Not that I wasn’t getting upset, but that I wasn’t crying all the time. I seemed to be able to get over the hump easier.

Eager to get off any pharmaceuticals, I decided to cut out one day a week of taking them, after a week or two I cut out two days. And so on and so forth.

After a few months I was completely off pharmaceutical antidepressants, and for some reason I didn’t put two and two together. But I finally thought about it and the ONLY thing I had changed was this food.

I did some research. I found many studies about high amounts of Omega 3’s helping the symptoms of depression. The blend I was eating has 3000mg per serving, I know other brands do as well, but for some reason the organic kind I was eating before didn’t touch the depression.

The fact that I had no idea this was one of the “side effects” of eating this whole, raw food until after I was off the meds was what really moved me.

My hair started growing back in. I didn’t realize that many people experience hair loss on high dosages of antidepressants, so now that I was off them, my hair started growing back. Now, over a year later, I don’t even take one medication, my weight is lower and I have more energy. I can’t remember the last time I drank a disgusting red energy drink or took those little energy bottles. I have a cup or two of coffee in the morning because I enjoy it, and that’s all I need. I get up between 4:15 and 4:40 am and typically get to bed around 9 or 10 pm.

I’m so thankful that Megan sent me that purple bag of seeds that was so different than everything I had tried before that I think of her daily with gratitude.

The best part is that the three ton weight is gone. And I’m happy to say I finally did do that talk for the MS group and had a great time.

This is my story. I’m not embellishing or exaggerating. I still absolutely do get upset about things but am able to deal with them a bit better and find my moods much more even. I did join the business with Megan in order to share information about my story and the food that helped me so much and I’m so proud to represent it. I tell people about it like a good movie or good restaurant. If they want to try some, great and if not, that is fine too. I am NOT by any means saying that what I found will cure anything whatsoever, and I’m NOT giving any advice on how to get off antidepressants, all I know is my own experience and how it helped me. Everyone’s bodies are different and react differently to foods. Please also notice that I said it took THREE months. If I had been expecting the effects of this food I probably would have gotten impatient. Because I didn’t know this was a benefit of this food, it was like an added bonus. And what a bonus!

All I ask is that you treat yourself with love and consider the side effects of taking any sort of pharmaceutical BEFORE you start. Your doctor will most likely NOT try to treat any ailment through food and nutrition before going to pharmaceuticals. There are a very few like Megan and if you have found one, hold on to them like gold.

I have no idea what other ailments my body was suffering from those high dosages of antidepressants, not to mention the energy drinks but I am so thankful, every day, that I found this food.

If you have questions about my experience please contact me at chefdawn (at) hotmail.com.

“If you’re concerned about your health, you should probably avoid products that make health claims. Why? Because a health claim on a food product is a strong indication it’s not really food, and food is what you want to eat.”
― Michael Pollan, In Defense of Food: An Eater’s Manifesto

Sunny Mila (Chia) Dreamsicle Smoothie

Sunny Mila Dreamsicle Smoothie

Serves 1
Vegan, Gluten Free
Printable Recipe

Ingredients

1 cup vanilla almond milk
2 mandarin oranges, peeled and sectioned
1/2 frozen banana, chopped
1 scoop (2 Tbsp) Mila
**If using unsweet vanilla almond milk, you can add a bit of agave, honey or sweetener of choice

Directions

1. Blend everything together and enjoy!

“While it is true that many people simply can’t afford to pay more for food, either in money or time or both, many more of us can. After all, just in the last decade or two we’ve somehow found the time in the day to spend several hours on the internet and the money in the budget not only to pay for broadband service, but to cover a second phone bill and a new monthly bill for television, formerly free. For the majority of Americans, spending more for better food is less a matter of ability than priority. p.187”

― Michael Pollan, In Defense of Food: An Eater’s Manifesto

Nutrition Facts
1 Serving
Amount Per Serving

Calories 252.4
Total Fat 6.8 g
Saturated Fat 0.1 g
Polyunsaturated Fat 3.1 g
Monounsaturated Fat 0.1 g
Cholesterol 0.0 mg
Sodium 184.5 mg
Potassium 460.0 mg
Total Carbohydrate 43.9 g
Dietary Fiber 11.2 g
Sugars 28.2 g
Protein 6.5 g

Vitamin A 10.8 %
Vitamin B-6 14.6 %
Vitamin C 7.7 %
Vitamin D 25.0 %
Vitamin E 50.7 %
Calcium 53.3 %
Copper 4.6 %
Folate 2.4 %
Iron 10.9 %
Magnesium 7.7 %
Manganese 20.9 %
Niacin 1.4 %
Pantothenic Acid 1.3 %
Phosphorus 14.0 %
Riboflavin 5.0 %
Selenium 0.8 %
Thiamin 1.5 %
Zinc 0.6 %

*Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.

A Fresh Take on Old Favorites – Two Bagel Toppings! Curried Cashew Hummus and Curried Cashew Cream Cheese

Appetizer, Breakfast, Dairy Free, Egg Free, Favorites, Gluten Free, High Protein, Kid Friendly, Native Sun Recipe, Quick and Easy, Six Ingredients or Less, Soy Free, Vegan, Vegetarian No Responses »

Feb 282013

Two Bagel Toppings! Curried Cashew Hummus and Curried Cashew Cream Cheese

Remember some of the diets of the past? Go fat free, they said. Peanut butter was the devil, nuts were off limits and you couldn’t even LOOK at an avocado. (Be still my heart.)

Curried Cashew Hummus and Cream Cheese

(Don’t even get me started on the Atkins craze. That’s a whole post in itself.)

Fat free cheese, fat free cream cheese, fat free yogurt, fat free cookies – Snackwell’s anyone? We were swimming in processed, fat free but sugar filled foods as the obesity epidemic skyrocketed.

Curried Cashew Hummus

Thankfully, times are changing and people are beginning to learn that balance is the way to go and that we do need some fat, some carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals and protein in the form of whole foods.

Cashew Cream Cheese

Meet the cashew. Cashews can be turned into alternatives to almost any dairy you like – milk, sour cream, cheese, cream cheese, but have NO cholesterol and some of that healthy fat we used to miss. Typically I use raw cashews, but in this case the curry ones were on sale at Native Sun Natural Foods Market, so I decided to give them a try. I soaked them first so they would blend easier and voila! Delish!

As for the hummus – this was a little sub I learned from my friend Suzanne. A co-worker had brought bagels into the office and instead of eating it dry, since she had also cut out dairy, she topped it with some hummus. I tried it and LOVED it, so now it’s my favorite way to enjoy a bagel or baked bread and as the usual dip for crunchy, fresh veggies.

A dash of curry gives these two toppings a little hmm factor without being overpowering. If you don’t like curry, simply leave out the curry powder, use olive oil instead of the curry coconut oil and use raw cashews instead of curry.

Curried Cashew Hummus

Serves 4 (Hummus serves 4-6)
Vegan, Gluten Free
Printable Recipe

Ingredients

4 GF bagels, such as Udi’s
2 Tbsp chopped curried cashews, soaked for 1 hour or overnight
1 can chickpeas, Tree of Life, drained and rinsed
1 Tbsp nutritional yeast
3 cloves garlic
2 tsp fresh lemon juice
1 Tbsp melted curry coconut oil, Ziggy Marley (you can sub olive oil here)**
Dash of curry powder
1 Tbsp tahini
¼ tsp salt

Directions

1. Blend cashews through salt in a small food processor or blender, adding 1/2 Tbsp water at a time until creamy consistency is reached. Spread ¼ mixture over each of four toasted bagels.

Curried Cashew Cream Cheese

Inspired by this recipe
Serves 4 (Cream Cheese serves 4-6)
Vegan, Gluten Free
Printable Recipe

Ingredients

4 GF bagels, Udi’s
1/2 cup chopped curried cashews, soaked for 1 hour or overnight
1 tsp fresh lemon juice
2 tsp apple cider vinegar, Bragg
Dash of curry powder
¼ tsp salt

Directions

1. Blend cashews through salt in a small food processor or blender, adding 1/2 Tbsp water at a time until creamy consistency is reached.

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Nutrition Facts Hummus (without bagel)
4 Servings
Amount Per Serving

Calories 231.5
Total Fat 8.9 g
Saturated Fat 3.8 g
Polyunsaturated Fat 1.9 g
Monounsaturated Fat 2.5 g
Cholesterol 0.0 mg
Sodium 510.3 mg
Potassium 302.8 mg
Total Carbohydrate 31.4 g
Dietary Fiber 6.4 g
Sugars 0.3 g
Protein 8.5 g

Vitamin A 0.7 %
Vitamin B-12 16.6 %
Vitamin B-6 90.8 %
Vitamin C 11.1 %
Vitamin E 0.6 %
Calcium 6.3 %
Copper 19.5 %
Folate 29.5 %
Iron 13.4 %
Magnesium 13.4 %
Manganese 43.8 %
Niacin 37.3 %
Pantothenic Acid 5.8 %
Phosphorus 18.2 %
Riboflavin 74.7 %
Selenium 10.1 %
Thiamin 86.3 %
Zinc 14.1 %

*Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.

Nutrition Facts Cream Cheese
4 Servings
Amount Per Serving

Calories 99.6
Total Fat 7.9 g
Saturated Fat 1.6 g
Polyunsaturated Fat 1.3 g
Monounsaturated Fat 4.7 g
Cholesterol 0.0 mg
Sodium 255.0 mg
Potassium 104.2 mg
Total Carbohydrate 6.1 g
Dietary Fiber 0.5 g
Sugars 1.1 g
Protein 2.6 g

Vitamin B-6 2.3 %
Vitamin C 2.3 %
Vitamin E 0.5 %
Calcium 0.8 %
Copper 19.1 %
Folate 3.0 %
Iron 5.8 %
Magnesium 11.4 %
Manganese 7.6 %
Niacin 1.2 %
Pantothenic Acid 2.1 %
Phosphorus 8.4 %
Riboflavin 2.0 %
Selenium 2.9 %
Thiamin 2.3 %
Zinc 6.4 %

*Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.
Enjoy These A Fresh Takes on Old Favorites – Two Bagel Toppings! Curried Cashew Hummus and Curried Cashew Cream Cheese!

Blissful Blueberry Bake and Six Disney Food Survival Tips

Articles and Reading, Breakfast, Dairy Free, Dessert, Egg Free, Native Sun Recipe, Six Ingredients or Less, Snack, Soy Free, Tips, Travel, Vegan, Vegetarian No Responses »

Feb 212013

Six Disney Food Survival Tips

Blissful Blueberry Bake

Disney World.

Is it one of your life’s dreams to get there? Or are you not into the lines and crowds?

I would definitely put myself into the latter category. Camping is one of my favorite pastimes. Nature. Solitude. Calm. My life is crazy enough as it is, so going into an environment of man-made chaos is not my cup of tea. Nevertheless, I just returned from a three day Disney adventure because we had family that flew in from Massachusetts that my daughter had never met and she very much enjoyed meeting her cousins…and Mary Poppins.

One of the first and most obvious things to me, of course, was the food choices of many Disney-goers. At the “resort” we stayed at there was a cafeteria where my family and I ate. During one particular breakfast I noticed a sadly obese child that had skittles, some sort of cinnamon bun, a chocolate chip cookie, bacon and a chocolate chip pancake on his plate and was washing that down with his ($17) mug of Coke. The more I looked around, the more I realized it was the same with many of the parents and other children’s plates. Some of the “healthy” choices were Light and Fit yogurt, flavored milks and frosted flakes. If you know anything about the commercial dairy industry and GMO corn, you know this is not actually a healthy choice.

So what is a food conscious person to do? With a little planning you can both save money and stay healthy!

1) Spend a little time to plan ahead. Choose a few recipes to make beforehand, such as this five ingredient black bean burger. **(For those flying in see below.)
2) Find out if you can get a refrigerator in your room or if you will need to get ice each morning.
3) Bring a canvas bag for non-refrigeration items, a large cooler for anything that must stay cold and smaller lunch bag for the day trips.
4) Each morning separate breakfast items out and then pack enough food items for lunch and snacks in the smaller bag. (You will have a much easier time of this with a plant based diet since you won’t need to worry as much about refrigeration.) If you are not going back to the room for dinner, you will need to pack that too.
5) Bring paper plates, napkins and utensils. (If you are flying in you can get these on the park grounds, but taking them along allows you to forgo having to stand in line to obtain only a plate.)
6) Bring some reusable storage containers that you can portion your lunch into and rinse out each night.

Note: For lunch items such as a bean burger, there are a few restaurants that are happy to allow you to use their condiments such as salsa, lettuce, tomato and onion when you tell them you or your child has food allergies – especially if you do purchase something from them such as a side salad or small iced coffee (I packed my own coconut creamer).

**If you are flying in, prior to leaving home, purchase and pack a soft sided cooler. Upon arriving in Orlando find a grocery store such as Publix and stock up on some ice and essentials. You can still make these five ingredient black bean burgers - all you need is a can of beans, mustard, ketchup, some instant oats, salt and pepper and a microwave.

The outcome? With just this little bit of preparation: 1) I saved enough money to cover my daughter’s three day ticket into the park as a Florida resident and 2) we had some really delicious food compared to some of the generic items available. There would have been almost nothing either of us could eat between my plant based diet and my daughter’s food allergies. I found almost no meat/dairy free choices, unless we wanted to get a iceberg lettuce salad or a plastic packaged $7 bowl of melon.

Some of the items I packed included refillable water bottles with filters, fresh fruit, dried fruit, sun butter/peanut butter, whole grain bagel thins, rice cakes, home made bean burgers, an avocado, onion and tomato, carrots and hummus, salsa and organic corn chips, oatmeal, coconut milk creamer, rice milk for my daughter and a few splurge items such as a container of Blissful Blueberry Bake, gluten free fig newtons and GF pretzels.

Looking at the population of people that was in the parks was disheartening. There were so many people that were so overweight they actually had to have motorized wheelchairs to get around. It made me so sad and wishful that I could help them. But as with all things in life we can only Live and Let Live and lead by example. The more of us that band together in these situations and show people that eating and living healthy is possible the better. My hope is that even ONE person saw what we were doing and said you know what, I’m going to do that next time!

Blissful Blueberry Bake

This blueberry bake is a simple and satisfying warm dessert. For those folks where fresh blueberries are not available, frozen would work great too. Whatever you choose, be sure to get a variety that does not contain added sugars or salt -this way you can control the amount that is added to the recipe.

I encourage you to dress this base recipe up in different ways – some ginger or cinnamon would be lovely or the addition of some extra pecans or other nuts. Don’t like agave? Try subbing some 100% maple syrup. Any which way, you can’t go wrong with baked blueberries!

Blissful Blueberry Bake

Serves 4
Vegan, Gluten Free
Printable Recipe
**Items on sale now at Native Sun Natural Foods Market, Feb 7 through Mar 6, 2013

Ingredients

1 pint fresh blueberries**
¼ cup agave nectar, (Madhava)**
1 Tbsp fresh lemon juice
1/4 tsp sea salt
1 cup gluten free granola, (Natures Path)**
1 tsp coconut oil, melted (Nutiva) **

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350F; mix blueberries, agave, lemon and salt in a small baking dish; mix granola and coconut oil in a small dish and then spoon over blueberries evenly; cover and bake 60 minutes, until warm and bubbly.

Nutrition Facts
4 Servings
Amount Per Serving

Calories 213.6
Total Fat 4.5 g
Saturated Fat 1.5 g
Polyunsaturated Fat 1.8 g
Monounsaturated Fat 1.0 g
Cholesterol 0.0 mg
Sodium 166.4 mg
Potassium 94.2 mg
Total Carbohydrate 42.9 g
Dietary Fiber 4.4 g
Sugars 29.8 g
Protein 2.7 g

Vitamin A 2.0 %
Vitamin B-6 1.9 %
Vitamin C 24.7 %
Vitamin E 5.0 %
Calcium 1.3 %
Copper 3.1 %
Folate 1.6 %
Iron 4.3 %
Magnesium 1.3 %
Manganese 14.2 %
Niacin 1.8 %
Pantothenic Acid 0.9 %
Phosphorus 1.1 %
Riboflavin 3.0 %
Selenium 0.8 %
Thiamin 3.3 %
Zinc 0.8 %

*Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.
Enjoy my Blissful Blueberry Bake and Six Disney Food Survival Tips!

Tofu Xpress Giveaway and an Easy Saucy Kale and Tofu Sandwich

Dairy Free, Dressing, Egg Free, Food Find, Gratitude, High Protein, Lighter Fare, Main Meal, Native Sun Recipe, Quick and Easy, Six Ingredients or Less, Vegan, Vegetarian 37 Responses »

Feb 042013

For my Kale and Tofu Sandwich scroll down!

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And the winner of the giveaway is #13 Anna Rabhan! Please check out her article at her website the Organic Adventurer on Palm Oil and Orangutans.

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The long ago day when I overheard people talking about the book the China Study was the day that changed my life. I had already been leaning towards a plant based diet, but the facts about the proteins in animals and dairy scared me enough to finally make that change. The authors studied the instances of cancer, diabetes and heart disease in populations of rural China that ate little to no animal foods. They then took these findings back and performed laboratory studies where they found they could turn on and turn off cancer cells with the addition of the protein found in milk.

Even if it isn’t true the more I ask questions and facts I learn about the treatment of animals, especially dairy cows in most of the commercial farming industry, the happier I am that I found this book and the more I celebrate plant proteins like tofu, tempeh and legumes! Do you ever wonder…..What happens when it is time to retire that dairy cow? What happens to the male goats? What about male chicks in the egg industry? How do we harvest down and foie gras?

Ultimately each person is free to make their own decisions absolutely free of judgement. I encourage all of us to simply make informed decisions. Just like in all areas of life, it is so important to edcuate ourselves on the facts as best we can and then select what is right for us.

For those of you that are thinking about adding more plant based foods into your diet but don’t know what to do with tofu, the first thing you need to know is that you have to press the water out of it to get a firm texture that is reminiscent of animal protein. You can do this by putting a bunch of paper towels under the tofu and placing two plates, one on top and one on bottom, and topping with some weight (usually heavy books work well) for an hour up to overnight. OR you can get this super easy tofu press! My tofu press I bought from TofuXpress years ago is one of my all time favorite kitchen gadgets that gets used at least weekly. I can’t tell you how much I love this thing! No more plates and messy towels – this press will not only press the water out, you can marinate right in it!

TofuXpress Giveaway from FCC!

I am so excited to bring you a giveaway of a TofuXpress!

This press is a $40 value and I will ship to anywhere is the continental US.

To enter for THREE chances to win – tell all your friends!

Leave one comment: Entry #1 What is your favorite kitchen gadget? (Please share the love and share this giveaway with your friends!)

Leave a second comment: Entry #2 Like Florida Coastal Cooking on facebook AND share about the giveaway (If you are already a follower, thank you! Please simply share the giveaway and leave the comment you did so.)

Leave a third comment: Entry #3 Follow Florida Coastal Cooking on Twitter and tweet about the giveaway (If you are already a follower, thank you! Please simply share the giveaway and leave the comment you did so.)

The giveaway will end in one week on Monday, February 11th, 2013 5:30AM EST

Good luck!

Saucy Kale and Tofu Sandwich

This is one of my favorite ways to eat pressed tofu – SIMPLE, with kale, seasonings and a great dressing. Lately a kale, tofu and Annie’s Light Goddess dressing salad is all I bring for lunch. The great thing is that the hearty kale can stand up to being dressed that morning so I don’t have to worry about it turning to mush and at the same time it can marinate to the tofu. Yesterday for lunch I decided to try it as a sandwich and it was really good. The toasted bun gives it a nice crunch and the flavor of the Annie’s dressing is a soy/tahini/cider vinegar base which gives it a nutty and slightly salty flavor.

It is important to season firm, pressed and uncooked tofu because, just like any animal protein, it needs some flavor. Have you ever tried an unseasoned piece of chicken? I remember what it tastes like – bleck!

If you are not sure about leaving the tofu uncooked – you can marinate it in the dressing and then roast, grill or pan sear it.

Saucy Kale and Tofu Sandwich

Easy Saucy Kale and Tofu Sandwich

Serves 1
Vegan
Printable Recipe

Ingredients

1 bagel thin, I used Rudis Whole Wheat Flatz
2 curly kale leaves
1/4 block pressed organic tofu
Coarse sea salt, fresh ground pepper, to taste
1/8 tsp garlic powder
2 Tbsp Annie’s Light Goddess Dressing

Directions

1. Toast bagel thin; top with 1 kale leaf; top with tofu; sprinkle salt, pepper, garlic powder and dressing; top with remaining kale leaf.

Full Nutrition info not available for this recipe
Estimated
225 cals
12.8 grams protein
1/2 your daily calcium
Enjoy my Easy Saucy Kale and Tofu Sandwich!

Layer it up! Recipes in a jar, 2 Ways – Kale Maple Blueberry Smoothie Parfait and Kale and Quinoa Salad in a Jar

Breakfast, Dairy Free, Egg Free, Gluten Free, Lighter Fare, Low Cal, Native Sun Recipe, Quick and Easy, Raw, Salad, Six Ingredients or Less, Vegan, Vegetarian 9 Responses »

Jan 282013

Breakfast and Lunch in a Jar!

“Leaving the tiny Bed and Breakfast in the English countryside we looked at our bill and it listed charges for water and electricity. We walked to our tiny car, hopped in and wound our way through the narrow streets, lined with 10 foot hedgerows and finally managed to find a grocery store – where they charged us extra for the cart and bags. When we glanced around, everyone was simply carrying what they needed in re-usable sacks.”

Those were my mother’s words when she and my father returned from a wedding in England. The stories of their trip made me even more aware that the US is a throw away society. If we had to do the same as they do in England, imagine how much more we could conserve. Have you ever had an experience like this in another country?

Off the top of my head I can think of some of the areas we Americans could improve – kid juices boxes, straws and wrappers, plastic bags and utensils, lights being left on in office buildings and enormous amounts of water to fill pools and water lush, grassy yards. We are so used to this in our society that we don’t even stop to think about it before we open the lid to the trash can to put an item in. Where is this going?

Here is one great way for us to reduce, re-use and recycle some old jars – Layer it up!

Utilizing pre-made foods such as this raw nut and fruit mix and some quinoa and white beans that I had pre-cooked and froze from the bulk bins at Native Sun makes it quick and easy to throw these recipes together.

(These recipes are also being submitted to Thank Goodness it’s Quinoa! TGIQ)

Tierra Raw Nut Mix

Everyone is drinking green smoothies now so this parfait/smoothie hybrid is a great way to get your veggies in and take along in the car. I love this layered one because it looks so pretty and the nuts and raisins give it some texture and sweetness. I don’t know how many people I talk to that say they could never give up dairy – yogurt, cheese or milk. I promise, not only will you get a serving of kale, you won’t miss the dairy this parfait!

Kale Maple Blueberry Smoothie Parfait

Serves 1
Vegan, Gluten Free
Printable Recipe

Ingredients

1/2 banana, chopped into chunks
2/3 cup blueberries + 2 Tbsp
1 Tbsp maple syrup
1 cup unsweet vanilla almond milk
1 large leaf kale, chopped
2 Tbsp raw nut, seed, dried fruit mix, Tierra Raw Mix, Tierra Farms, chopped**

Directions

1. Freeze bananas and 2/3 cup blueberries; blend frozen bananas, blueberries, maple syrup, almond milk in a Magic Bullet or blender. Layer half this mixture in a Mason jar. Top with half chopped nut mixture and 2 Tbsp blueberries.

2. Add kale to remaining blueberry mixture and blend. Spoon into the Mason jar; top with remaining dried fruit mix.

__________________________________________

Take lunch on the go with this kale and quinoa salad in a jar.

Hearty kale can stand up to being pre-dressed, and once the jar is covered you can simply shake and eat. This recipe offers a lot of protein – 10.6 grams – so it will keep you fuller longer and the slow burning carbs won’t cause that after lunch crash like you get from eating empty fried carbohydrates.

Kale and Quinoa Salad in a Jar

Serves 1
Vegan, Gluten Free
Printable Recipe

Ingredients

2/3 chopped kale
1 Tbsp any light Annie’s Natural Salad Dressing of choice
1/4 tomato
1/4 cup cooked quinoa (dry quinoa on sale now – cooking instructions)
Dash coarse ground sea salt, fresh ground pepper and garlic powder
2 Tbsp pre-made hummus (I used black bean hummus)
1/4 cup cooked beans

Directions

1. Layer kale, dressing, tomato, quinoa, salt, pepper, garlic powder, hummus and beans in a mason jar. Enjoy immediately or screw on jar lid to take along for later.

__________________________________________

Kale Maple Blueberry Smoothie Parfait
Estimated Nutrition Info
1 Serving
Amount Per Serving

Calories 324.2
Total Fat 13.1 g
Saturated Fat 1.4 g
Polyunsaturated Fat 2.1 g
Monounsaturated Fat 5.5 g
Cholesterol 0.0 mg
Sodium 212.1 mg
Potassium 856.5 mg
Total Carbohydrate 51.4 g
Dietary Fiber 8.2 g
Sugars 29.4 g
Protein 7.0 g
Vitamin A 278.3 %
Vitamin B-6 27.9 %
Vitamin C 94.5 %
Vitamin D 25.0 %
Vitamin E 64.4 %
Calcium 55.4 %
Copper 29.0 %
Folate 9.4 %
Iron 15.6 %
Magnesium 24.1 %
Manganese 92.6 %
Niacin 9.6 %
Pantothenic Acid 4.9 %
Phosphorus 14.3 %
Riboflavin 14.2 %
Selenium 3.0 %
Thiamin 10.3 %
Zinc 14.8 %

*Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.

Kale and Quinoa Salad in a Jar
Estimated Nutrition Info
1 Serving
Amount Per Serving

Calories 225.3
Total Fat 5.5 g
Saturated Fat 0.5 g
Polyunsaturated Fat 1.3 g
Monounsaturated Fat 1.2 g
Cholesterol 0.0 mg
Sodium 367.5 mg
Potassium 530.6 mg
Total Carbohydrate 35.8 g
Dietary Fiber 8.7 g
Sugars 3.9 g
Protein 10.6 g
Vitamin A 268.3 %
Vitamin B-6 13.6 %
Vitamin C 71.5 %
Vitamin E 4.5 %
Calcium 10.2 %
Copper 21.2 %
Folate 28.1 %
Iron 23.5 %
Magnesium 15.8 %
Manganese 44.0 %
Niacin 4.7 %
Pantothenic Acid 2.6 %
Phosphorus 30.6 %
Riboflavin 41.9 %
Selenium 6.7 %
Thiamin 12.9 %
Zinc 8.2 %

*Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.
Enjoy my Recipes in a jar, 2 Ways – Kale Maple Blueberry Smoothie Parfait and Kale and Quinoa Salad in a Jar!

What if…… and a Recipe For a Sweet and Salty Broccoli, Carrot and Tofu Stir Fry

Articles and Reading, Dairy Free, Egg Free, Main Meal, Quick and Easy, Six Ingredients or Less, Vegan, Vegetarian 2 Responses »

Jan 092013

A reflection on the importance of treating with food instead of medicine…….

CSA – Brussels, Broccoli, Carrots and Tomato

By now we have all figured out that the world didn’t end in December because we are all still here. But all that talk about the world ending got people talking. What if…..

Story in In-Style this month – Sandra Lee lived through the Super Storm

There WAS an emergency - a flu pandemic, a hurricane, terrorist attack, nuclear bomb….

Tofu Stir Fry

I’ll share a little known fact about me – I graduated with a sociology degree so I love the study of people and especially what would happen in an extreme disaster. I just finished a thought provoking book called One Second After by William R Forstchen. The setting is in North Carolina and the US is struck by an EMP, or electro magnetic pulse – this documented scenario can happen from a solar flare, but in this case, a nuclear device was detonated in the atmosphere high above the US – so there is no risk of radiation, but it fries all electronics and computers. In the book, the main character, John, is simply going about his day when he hears his daughter’s CD player stop playing music and the fan slowly stops turning. That is it. Next they realize the noise from the highway has stopped. All electronics with computer chips stop working. This sounds not too bad right?

Think about this. No one knows what happened because all communication is cut off. Everyone was waiting to find out what happened and what to do. If this happened – phones and radios don’t work so there is no communication, ATMs and banks are useless, cars stop working, pace makers stop, back-up generators and the computers at drug stores and super markets are dead and there is no way to truck the food, medicine and supplies that communities now rely on for daily deliveries. The people stranded on the highway, just driving through the area don’t know what is going on. Many of them need medications and food so they must walk into the nearest town – there are people that are so out of shape and unhealthy, they CAN’T walk for miles, some that make it to the pharmacy can’t get their meds because there is no access to the money on their check cards or their records.

For anyone on pharmaceuticals such as statins or other heart medication that could have been considerably helped through diet and exercise – in the book, they don’t make it. They can’t get access to the medications that they would normally simply buy when they needed it. People get cuts or ear infections – there are no antibiotics, so these minor injuries result in catastrophic infections. Any meds that needed to be refrigerated also degrade such as anyone with insulin dependence. How long could this loss of electronics affect us? Months or even years.

Also, consider this. In the past most humans had skills and trades. They were carpenters, farmers, seamstresses and blacksmiths….they had something they could barter with. Maybe some wool in exchange for food. Clothing in exchange for some tools.

How many of us in the US can grow our own food now? (Francisco and Vivian at my CSA, KYV Farm would have LOTS of new friends.) Sew? Cook? Do carpentry? Many people drive somewhere in our cars, sit all day on computers, drive home, go through the drive through, sit on the couch, watch TV, check facebook etc. What if we were at work when this happened? Do you have a crisis plan for your, your family and your children if communication is cut off?

Tofu Stir Fry

At home, is there anything in your pantry you could eat if you didn’t have access to the grocery store? I’m not talking a package of Doritos. I’m talking FOOD. Rice. Beans. Nut butters. Cans of veggies and fruit. Things that would keep in any disaster and would store without refrigeration. Meats and dairy will not keep (unless you count spam but that isn’t really food, ha!). How about a way to get fresh water? If the electronics stopped working, my well wouldn’t work. How would I get fresh water to drink, bathe and flush the commode?

Lots of Dry Beans

I’m not trying to worry or upset you but I am trying to get you to THINK of what you would do in different situations because when I started thinking about it – I realized I’d be in big trouble. I’m not saying I’m now a Doomsday Prepper but I do have a plan in case of disaster, a bit of extra rice and beans in the pantry, a water bottle used for hiking that filters water, and I called to get an extra bottle of my yellow Lab, Tally’s phenobarbital we use to treat her seizures. SIMPLE!

Organized Dry Goods – Grains and Beans Etc.Stored in Recycled Glass Containers

What else can you do? Take care of any ailments you can through FOOD instead of medicine. Start eating healthier and exercising. (I, of course, have to share info about my favorite super-food, Mila. Not only is it shelf stable, you could eat it in a disaster. This whole, raw food is what the Indians of the Copper Canyon ate on their long runs in the book born to run.) Especially those of you that are nurses and doctors. You have skills that are invaluable in daily life – in an emergency you would be even more valuable. You spend your days caring for others, please don’t forget to take care of yourselves!

I’m so thankful that we have found a way to treat my daughter’s horrendous food allergies of wheat, eggs, dairy, peanuts, cod, red 40 and more through a healthy, whole foods diet. I used to have to get $300 tubes of steroid creams more than MONTHLY. I’m also thankful that my family doesn’t need heart, cholesterol, blood pressure or anti-depressant medication – we have taken care of what we can by eating healthy and exercising, but my mom has Multiple Sclerosis and uses an injectable drug called Beta Seron. What would she do in an emergency? Definitely food for thought. Americans tend to take so much for granted, myself included, but I’m becoming more aware. Water. Food. Medicine. Washing machines. Toilet paper. Dry clothing. Toothpaste. Antibiotics. Vaccines. All these things are trucked in daily – especially in inner cities.

So many disasters already do happen and the populations in those areas would be so much better off with just a LITTLE preparedness; so I implore you to ask yourself….what if?

Just think – if you have some shelf stable tofu and some gardening skills you could make this. No gardening skills? Talk to an organic farmer and see how they do it. EASY, sweet, salty and nutty – my whole family loved this. I used sun butter because my daughter has lots of food allergies so she could enjoy it as well. As much as I didn’t feel like cooking when I got home, this was so simple to throw together in about ten minutes!

Tell me – have any preparations been made for an emergency or disaster? What would you do if you didn’t have access to any electronics?

Sweet and Salty Tofu Stir Fry

Sweet and Salty Broccoli, Carrot and Tofu Stir Fry

Serves 4
Printable Recipe
Vegan, Gluten Free, Oil Free

Ingredients

1 block tofu, pressed
1 head broccoli, chopped (from KyV Farm)
3 carrots, chopped (from KyV Farm)
2 Tbsp Sunflower seed butter (or any nut butter you choose)
2 Tbsp agave
1 Tbsp wheat free Tamari

Optional

Red pepper flakes

Directions

1. Heat 1 Tbsp water in a wok over medium high heat; cube tofu and add, browning on two sides, about three minutes, adding 1 tsp water as needed to prevent sticking; remove from heat and set aside.

2. Heat a second Tbsp water in wok add vegetables; stir constantly until tender crisp, again adding 1 tsp water as needed to prevent sticking; about 3 to 5 minutes.

3. Add tofu back to wok and reduce heat. Mix sunflower seed butter, agave and tamari in a small bowl; add to tofu mixture and toss to coat; serve with red pepper flakes if desired.

Nutrition Facts
4 Servings
Amount Per Serving

Calories 233.2
Total Fat 11.7 g
Saturated Fat 1.6 g
Polyunsaturated Fat 5.8 g
Monounsaturated Fat 3.6 g
Cholesterol 0.0 mg
Sodium 365.3 mg
Potassium 801.1 mg
Total Carbohydrate 19.0 g

Dietary Fiber 7.3 g
Sugars 5.9 g
Protein 19.0 g
Vitamin A 157.2 %
Vitamin B-12 0.0 %
Vitamin B-6 18.1 %
Vitamin C 241.6 %
Vitamin D 0.0 %
Vitamin E 20.4 %
Calcium 21.1 %
Copper 21.4 %
Folate 36.8 %
Iron 21.6 %
Magnesium 37.7 %
Manganese 75.7 %
Niacin 12.9 %
Pantothenic Acid 10.3 %
Phosphorus 30.6 %
Riboflavin 15.4 %
Selenium 24.8 %
Thiamin 12.4 %
Zinc 15.9 %

*Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.

Fresh & Crisp Collard Tofu Wraps for One

Dairy Free, Egg Free, Favorites, Gluten Free, Lighter Fare, Low Cal, Main Meal, Native Sun Recipe, Quick and Easy, Raw, Salad, Six Ingredients or Less, Vegan, Vegetarian 6 Responses »

Dec 302012

After all the crazy eating over the holidays – cookies, heavy meals, wine and empty carbs…..it’s time to detox!

I love using fresh collard greens as a wrap for delicious fillings. It adds a nice crunch as well as lots of vitamins, fiber and nutrients.

Crisp Collard Wrap – Trim the Woody Stem

One of my goals for this year is to incorporate more raw foods into my diet. A raw, vegan diet is when only plant foods are consumed and the foods are not heated above 104F. When we cook foods, many of the vitamins, nutrients and enzymes degrade – so to add more raw plants to your diet can be very healing.

Crisp Collard Wrap – fill with desired toppings…

Some great ways to get more raw foods into your diet are with fruits, juices, smoothies, Mila, wraps such as this, starting a meal with a fresh green salad and trying your hand at sprouting nuts, seeds, legumes and grains. This is really fun to do with kids!

Crisp Collard Wrap

Here are some great resources I found on Wikipedia:

Raw: The Uncook Book: New Vegetarian Food for Life by Juliano Brotman and Erika Lenkert (Regan Books, 1999)
Raw by Charlie Trotter, Roxanne Klein, Jason Smith, and Tim Turner (Ten Speed Press, 2003)
The Complete Book of Raw Food Lori Baird, Ed., and Julie Rodwell, Con. Ed., (Healthy Living Books, 2004)
Raw Food/Real World: 100 Recipes to Get the Glow by Matthew Kenney and Sarma Melngailis (William Morrow, 2005)
RAWvolution: Gourmet Living Cuisine by Matt Amsden (William Morrow, 2006)
Transitioning to Living Cuisine by René Oswald (2008)
Everyday Raw and Entertaining in the Raw by Matthew Kenney (Gibbs Smith, 2009)
Everyday Raw Desserts by Matthew Kenney (Gibbs Smith, 2010)
Everyday Raw Express by Matthew Kenney (Gibbs Smith, 2011)
Going Going Gone Raw by Chef Be*Live, Douglas van Duyne and Cintia van Duyne (G. Normous, 2012)

Crisp Collard Wrap

Fresh & Crisp Collard Tofu Wraps for One

Serves 1
Vegan, Gluten Free
Printable Recipe
**On sale now at Native Sun Natural Foods, Dec 7 through Jan 6, 2013

Ingredients

4 fresh collard green leaves**

Fillings
2 Tbsp favorite dressing (such as Annie’s Goddess dressing)
1/4 block of tofu, pressed of water
1/3 cup fresh salad (mixture of choice: tomato, lettuce, red onion, carrot)
Coarse sea salt, fresh ground pepper, garlic powder – to taste)

Directions

1. Lay the collard green flat and cut out the woody stem at the base of the leaf. Reserve that for vegetable stock or your compost pile.

2. Divide the fillings in half and fill each collard leaf towards the base of the leaf.

3. Fold the sides over and roll, then cut the collard roll into halves.

Nutrition Facts
1 Serving
Amount Per Serving

Calories 291.8 (For lower cals and fat use a lighter dressing.)
Total Fat 20.6 g
Saturated Fat 2.0 g
Polyunsaturated Fat 4.0 g
Monounsaturated Fat 1.6 g
Cholesterol 0.0 mg
Sodium 497.2 mg
Potassium 222.5 mg
Total Carbohydrate 5.6 g
Dietary Fiber 0.5 g
Sugars 0.6 g
Protein 17.4 g

Vitamin A 9.6 %
Vitamin B-12 0.0 %
Vitamin B-6 4.1 %
Vitamin C 17.0 %
Vitamin D 0.0 %
Vitamin E 0.0 %
Calcium 12.3 %
Copper 11.4 %
Folate 11.2 %
Iron 12.3 %
Magnesium 21.3 %
Manganese 56.9 %
Niacin 3.0 %
Pantothenic Acid 1.2 %
Phosphorus 20.0 %
Riboflavin 4.0 %
Selenium 18.4 %
Thiamin 4.5 %
Zinc 9.1 %

*Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.

Creamy Choco-Minty Oatmeal

Breakfast, Dairy Free, Egg Free, Gluten Free, Kid Friendly, Native Sun Recipe, Quick and Easy, Six Ingredients or Less, Soy Free, Vegan, Vegetarian 2 Responses »

Dec 242012

Mint and chocolate are one of my most favorite flavor combinations. I love that aromatic freshness with the rich chocolate. When I noticed that the chocolate mint coconut milk was on sale at Native Sun I just had to give it a try…..but what to do with it other than put it in coffee or drink it straight….somehow the oatmeal idea popped into my head and I thought that sounded like a fun option. If you like chocolate and mint I think you’ll like this too!

Creamy Choco-Minty Oatmeal

If you are looking to save calories you can simply make the oatmeal with water and then pour a bit of the chocolate mint milk on top – but if you can splurge on this creamy version it is well worth it.

This recipe is not overly sweet so feel free to add some additional agave or honey if desired and for Mila lovers – this is a perfect recipe to stir a Tbsp into.

I know what I’ll be making for breakfast on Christmas morning!

Creamy Choco-Minty Oatmeal

Creamy Choco-Minty Oatmeal

Serves 1
Vegan, Gluten Free
Printable Recipe
**Items on sale now at Native Sun Natural Food Market, Dec 7 through Jan 6 2013

Ingredients

1/2 cup rolled oats** (for gluten free diet be sure to use gluten free oats)
1/2 cup vanilla un-sweet non-dairy milk
1/2 cup chocolate mint coconut milk (plus extra for topping at finish)**
1/2 tbsp agave (or local honey for non-vegan)
Dash of coarse sea salt
Dash of cinnamon
5 vegan chocolate chips (or regular semi-sweet for non vegan**)

Directions

1. Mix oats through cinnamon in a small sauce pot. Bring to a boil over medium high heat – reduce heat and cook about 5 to 6 minutes or until desired thickness.

2. Spoon into a bowl and top with extra chocolate mint coconut milk and chocolate chips.

Nutrition Facts
1 Serving
Amount Per Serving

Calories 286.9
Total Fat 9.5 g
Saturated Fat 3.5 g
Polyunsaturated Fat 1.0 g
Monounsaturated Fat 1.0 g
Cholesterol 0.0 mg
Sodium 328.0 mg
Potassium 100.5 mg
Total Carbohydrate 48.2 g
Dietary Fiber 6.0 g

Sugars 19.1 g
Protein 5.5 g
Vitamin D 12.5 %
Vitamin E 25.0 %
Calcium 15.1 %
Iron 12.3 %
Magnesium 2.1 %
Riboflavin 2.2 %
Thiamin 10.0 %

*Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.

Mini Chocolate Chip Oat Bites and a Giveaway!!

Appetizer, Dessert, Egg Free, Low Cal, Native Sun Recipe, Quick and Easy, Six Ingredients or Less, Snack, Vegetarian 10 Responses »

Dec 122012

CONGRATULATIONS TO SUZANNE HIGBY! You are the winner of the FIVE FREE smoothies, juices, wraps or sandwiches at Native Sun Natural Foods Stores. Please go to the Baymeadows location to pick up your gift cards and mention that you are the winner of the Florida Coastal Cooking Giveaway.

Pin this recipe:

WHO would have ever guessed that five simple ingredients could be so satisfyingly delicious?

WHO would believe there is no baking?

WHO loves a giveaway???

Enter for a chance to win FIVE Native Sun gift cards for a free wrap, sandwich, juice or smoothie.
[Only entries within driving distance of Native Sun Natural Foods Market, 11030 Baymeadows Rd, Jacksonville, FL location please. For those of you not in the area - stay tuned! I'm working on some more fabulous giveaways!]

How to enter:

Get 1 entry: Tell us what your favorite wrap, sandwich, juice or smoothie is – whether you make it at home or buy it at Native Sun
Get a 2nd entry: Like Florida Coastal Cooking on facebook and share the giveaway.
Get a 3rd entry: Like Native Sun Natural Foods Market on facebook and share the giveaway.
And a 4th entry: Pin the giveaway on pinterest.

Please leave a separate comment for each entry.
The winner will be picked at random at 10AM est Saturday, December 15th, 2012.
Gift cards expire 12/31/2012 so act fast!
The winner can pick their 5 winning gift cards up at the baymeadows location – 11030 Baymeadows Rd, Jacksonville, FL.

Happy Holidays to you from Florida Coastal Cooking and Native Sun

Chocolate Chip Oat Bites

Mini Chocolate Chip Oat Bites

Inspired my my friend Theresa’s oatmeal ball recipe.
Makes 18 1 1/2 tsp bites
Vegetarian
Printable Recipe
**Ingredients on sale now at Native Sun Natural Foods Market, Dec 7 – Jan 6

Ingredients

1 cup rolled oats**
1/4 cup Earth Balance Coconut peanut butter spread
2 Tbsp honey
2 Tbsp chocolate chips**
1/4 tsp coarse sea salt

Directions

1. Mix all ingredients well and, using a teaspoon, scoop rounded teaspoonfulls and form into ball shapes.

Nutrition Facts
18 Servings
Amount Per Serving

Calories 52.6
Total Fat 2.7 g
Saturated Fat 0.9 g
Polyunsaturated Fat 0.6 g
Monounsaturated Fat 0.9 g
Cholesterol 0.0 mg
Sodium 43.5 mg
Potassium 20.1 mg
Total Carbohydrate 6.7 g
Dietary Fiber 0.8 g
Sugars 3.0 g
Protein 1.2 g

Copper 2.8 %
Iron 2.8 %
Magnesium 3.8 %
Manganese 21.4 %
Phosphorus 4.5 %
Thiamin 4.4 %
Zinc 2.3 %

*Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.

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