Oatmeal Berry Bars

These make great little breakfast bars.  They are “clean” with no processed sugar or flour.  A bonus is that they are also dairy-free.  You can substitute butter for the coconut oil if you are not avoiding dairy.  The flaxseed, oatmeal, and whole wheat flour up the fiber content.  The berries add antioxidants.   They make a perfect on-the-go bar

.

Oatmeal Berry Bars

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cook Time: 40 minutes

Total Time: 60 minutes

Yield: 24 bars

Ingredients

  • 1 cup + 2 tablespoons whole wheat flour, divided
  • ½ cup + 2 tablespoons maple syrup, divided
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • ¼ cup flaxseed
  • ½ cup coconut oil
  • 2 ½ cups quick cook oats
  • 2 tablespoons apple or orange juice
  • 3 ½ cups (18 oz) fresh blackberries, raspberries, or blueberries (I’m partial to the blackberries)
  • 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice

Instructions

  1. Heat oven to 375 degrees. Grease 9x13 inch pan.
  2. Add 1 cup flour, ½ cup maple syrup, and salt to a food processor. Pulse once or twice to combine.
  3. Add the coconut oil and pulse 5-6 more times until coarse crumbs form.
  4. Add the oats and pulse 2-3 more times. Remove 1 ½ cups of the mixture and set it aside.
  5. Add the juice to remaining mixture and pulse 3-4 more times until moistened. Press this mixture firmly and evenly into the bottom of the pan using the bottom of a measuring cup (mixture sticks to you if you use your fingers).
  6. For the filling, mix together the 2 T flour and salt in a medium-size bowl. Add 2 T syrup, fruit and lemon juice and gently toss the mixture. Distribute the filling over the crust.
  7. Sprinkle the reserved crumb mixture over the filling.
  8. Bake about 35-40 minutes or until top is golden brown.
  9. Let the pan cool. Eat or store in refrigerator in an airtight container.

Do Ahead Prep

Wash and allow berries to dry.

http://sweeterhoney.com/oatmeal-berry-bars/

 

 

Sweeter Chocolate Chip Cookies

 

These are one of my favorite cookies.   Yes, they do have sugar (a little sugar on occasion never hurt anyone, right?), but everything else about them is good which is hard to find in a cookie.  They have oil rather than butter.  Whole wheat flour rather than refined flour.  I replaced some sugar with flaxseed.  Oats (and flaxseed and whole wheat flour) up the fiber content.  Cinnamon adds flavor and health benefits like reducing LDL cholesterol and inflammation.  Enjoy these healthy cookies!

Hot out of the oven!

Sweeter Chocolate Chip Cookies

Prep Time: 30 minutes

Cook Time: 15 minutes

Total Time: 45 minutes

Yield: 2 dozen

Ingredients

  • 1 ½ cup whole wheat flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ½ cup safflower oil
  • ½ cup granulated sugar
  • ½ cup brown sugar
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 ¼ teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  • ¼ cup flaxseed
  • ½ cup old-fashioned rolled oats
  • ½ cup chocolate chips

Instructions

  1. Combine the flour, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt in a medium bowl. Set aside.
  2. Mix together oil and sugars.
  3. Add in egg, vanilla, and flaxseed.
  4. Stir in flour mixture.
  5. Fold in oats and chocolate chips.
  6. Cover and chill dough for at least 15 minutes.
  7. Heat oven to 375 degrees.
  8. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.
  9. Shape dough into 1 inch balls. Press cookies down a little to flatten.
  10. Bake 7-8 minutes.
  11. Enjoy! Store leftover cookies in freezer to preserve freshness.
http://sweeterhoney.com/sweeter-chocolate-chip-cookies/

 

Honey Applesauce Whole Wheat Bread (bread machine recipe)

There is nothing better than fresh bread baking in the oven.  The bread machine invention has made this super easy.   Just throw everything in the bread machine and you will have fresh baked bread in a few hours.  This recipe has become one of our family’s favorites in the machine.  It is so good…you don’t need butter!

Honey Applesauce Whole Wheat Bread (bread machine recipe)

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 4 hours

Yield: 2 lb. loaf

Ingredients

  • 1 ½ cups unsweetened applesauce
  • 1 egg
  • 4 tablespoons honey
  • 2 tablespoons safflower oil
  • 2 cups whole wheat flour
  • 1 ½ cups whole wheat pastry flour (you can use bread flour if you are not concerned about the whole wheat content)
  • 1 ½ teaspoon salt
  • 1 ½ teaspoon ground ginger
  • 1 packet yeast

Instructions

  1. Add the applesauce, egg, honey, and oil first.
  2. Add the flours, salt, ginger, and yeast.
  3. Select Whole Wheat Cycle.
  4. Once baked, take the bread out and let it sit for about 10 minutes. Then, slice and enjoy!
http://sweeterhoney.com/honey-applesauce-whole-wheat-bread-bread-machine-recipe/

Easy Panini Sandwich

I made these sandwiches last night.  I used leftover vegetables (I think it would also be good with zucchini and/or mushrooms) and Engine 2’s Healthy Homemade Hummus recipe.  You could use any hummus you liked.  These sandwiches were so good, I’m having one again today.

Easy Panini Sandwich

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 5 minutes

Yield: 2 sandwiches

Ingredients

  • Hummus (I used Engine 2's Healthy Homemade Hummus)
  • 1/4 cup chopped red pepper
  • 1/4 cup chopped green pepper
  • 1/4 cup chopped onion
  • 1/4 cup chopped tomato
  • 1 cup raw spinach
  • 4 slices of whole wheat sourdough bread (bought at Whole Foods)
  • Extra virgin olive oil

Instructions

  1. Brush oil on one side of a slice of bread and thickly apply hummus on the other side. Repeat for all bread slices.
  2. Place slice of bread on heat, oiled side down (use a panini maker or George Forman grill).
  3. Top with peppers, onion, tomatoes, and spinach.
  4. Place second slice of bread on top of vegetables with hummus side down (oiled side should face the heat).
  5. Repeat all steps for second sandwich.
  6. Close lid and cook for 5 minutes.
  7. Eat and enjoy! I served it with a side of carrot sticks and a fruit.

Do Ahead Prep

Do Ahead Prep: Chop peppers and onions.

http://sweeterhoney.com/easy-panini-sandwich/

 

 

 

 

Peanut Butter Banana Rollups

We came home from our Thanksgiving travels and had little to choose from in our fridge to eat.  My husband came up with these and they were delicious!  We ate them for lunch, but I’m not sure if they were more of a meal or better for dessert.

Peanut Butter Banana Rollups

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 5 minutes

Total Time: 10 minutes

Yield: 2 tortilla rollups

Ingredients

  • 2 Whole Wheat Tortillas
  • Peanut Butter
  • 1 banana
  • Honey
  • Cinnamon

Instructions

  1. Spread some peanut butter on both tortillas.
  2. Cut a banana in half and 1 half on each tortilla.
  3. Drizzle with honey and sprinkle with cinnamon.
  4. Lightly grill/warm on a griddle or pan on the stove.
  5. Ready to eat!
http://sweeterhoney.com/peanut-butter-banana-tortilla-rollups/

Whole Wheat Tortillas

It was love at first bite!  When I first discovered the blog www.100daysofrealfood.com and tried this recipe, my family and I were hooked.  This is NOT my recipe, but I include it below because I simplified the recipe from 100 days website and doubled it for you.  Please click here for the original:  http://www.100daysofrealfood.com/2010/05/26/recipe-whole-wheat-tortillas/.  We make these tortillas once a month and keep them in the freezer, so they are ready for any Mexican-inspired meal.  They are also great to put in my kids’ lunches.

Whole Wheat Tortillas

Prep Time: 30 minutes

Cook Time: 1 hour

Total Time: 1 hour, 30 minutes

Yield: 24 tortillas

Ingredients

  • 5 cups whole wheat flour
  • 1 cup oil (I’ve used safflower, grapeseed, and olive oil and all work fine)
  • 2 teaspoons salt
  • 2 cups warm water

Instructions

  1. In a heavy-duty mixer (like a KitchenAid), mix the flour, oil, and salt for 3-5 minutes.
  2. Gradually add water and mix for another 3 minutes until dough is smooth.
  3. Divide the dough into 24 even dough balls. Put 12 dough balls on 1 cookie sheet and the remaining 12 on another. Flatten slightly. Let stand for 15-30 minutes.
  4. Heat a griddle to a medium-high temperature.
  5. Roll tortilla balls into a tortilla shape (use a little flour and a rolling pin) or use a tortilla press (I highly recommend a tortilla press).
  6. Put tortillas on the griddle and cook for a minute on each side. Set aside to cool. Continue cooking until you have 24 tortillas. Try not to eat too many hot, homemade tortillas. They are irresistible!
http://sweeterhoney.com/whole-wheat-tortillas/

Pumpkin Cookie Cake

My daughter is not a fan of cookie cake (or any cake for that matter), but she likes pumpkin cookies.  I combined the pumpkin cookie recipe with a standard cookie cake recipe and tweaked it to make it Sweeter Honey approved.   This recipe is the result.  I served it to a group of girls and 75% of the girls liked it and went back for seconds!

Pumpkin Cookie Cake

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 15 minutes

Total Time: 30 minutes

Ingredients

  • ¼ cup applesauce
  • 1/3 cup canned pumpkin
  • ½ cup pure maple syrup
  • ¼ cup ground flaxseed
  • 1 egg
  • ¾ teaspoon vanilla
  • 1 ½ cups whole wheat pastry flour
  • ¼ teaspoon baking soda
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • 1 ½ teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
  • ¾ cup chocolate chips

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  2. Spray a round cookie cake pan with nonstick spray.
  3. In large bowl with an electric mixer, mix the applesauce, pumpkin, maple syrup, flaxseed, egg, and vanilla.
  4. In a separate bowl, combine flour, baking soda, salt, and pumpkin pie spice.
  5. Add flour mixture to egg mixture. Mix well.
  6. Add chocolate chips.
  7. Spread dough into prepared pan.
  8. Bake 15 minutes or until light golden brown.
  9. Allow cake to cool. Eat as is or decorate with homemade icing.
http://sweeterhoney.com/pumpkin-cookie-cake-2/
  Enjoy!

 

Pumpkin “Health” Bread

I’ve tweaked my husband’s grandmother’s pumpkin bread recipe to make it “clean”.  Her recipe is the best pumpkin bread on this planet, but this one is pretty good plus it is “health bread” as my dad says.

Pumpkin Health Bread

Prep Time: 10 minutes

2 loaves of pumpkin bread. Or 1 short loaf pan plus 12 muffins or 9 mini loaves.

Ingredients

  • 1 ½ cup whole wheat flour
  • ¼ cup oats
  • ½ cup flaxseed
  • ½ teaspoon baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ¾ teaspoon ground cloves
  • ¾ teaspoon nutmeg
  • 1 ½ teaspoon cinnamon
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 cup maple syrup
  • 1 can (15 oz.) pure pumpkin
  • ½ cup oil
  • ½ cup water

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  2. Sift together: flour, oats, flaxseed, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cloves, nutmeg, and cinnamon.
  3. Beat eggs, maple syrup, pumpkin, oil, and water in a separate bowl.
  4. Combine flour mixture with egg mixture.
  5. Pour into muffin pans, mini loaf pan, or regular loaf pan.
  6. Optional: Sprinkle a mixture of 2 T brown sugar and 1 t cinnamon on the top of the batter before baking.
  7. Muffins: Bake for 16-20 minutes.
  8. Mini loaves: Bake 20 minutes.
  9. Loaf pan: Bake 35-45 minutes.
http://sweeterhoney.com/health-pumpkin-bread/

 

Cocoa Coconut Bites

These are delicious.  My new favorite dessert.  I found this recipe on Sprouted Kitchen’s website.  I double the recipe to make more at one time.

Cocoa Coconut Bites

Yield: 20 bites

Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 cups dried, unsweetened coconut
  • 1/2 cup cocoa powder
  • 1/3 cup rolled oats
  • 1/2 cup maple syrup
  • 1/4 cup extra virgin, unrefined coconut oil
  • 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
  • 1/4 tsp. cinnamon

Instructions

  1. In a mixing bowl. Combine the coconut, cocoa powder and rolled oats together. Stir in the maple, coconut oil, vanilla and cinnamon. Mix to coat everything evenly. Set in the fridge for 20 minutes.
  2. Preheat the oven to 215'.
  3. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Using a mini scooper or your hands, make 1 inch balls and set them on the baking tray (they don't spread, ample space between is not important).
  4. Bake them on the middle rack for 20 minutes. Remove to cool.
http://sweeterhoney.com/cocoa-coconut-bites/

Cream Cheese Frosting

This not a perfect recipe (it has sugar), but it is much better than store-bought icing.  See my post about store-bought frosting.

Cream Cheese Frosting

Yield: Tops 24 cupcakes

Ingredients

  • 1 package (8 oz) cream cheese, softened
  • ¼ cup butter, softened
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 4 cups of powdered sugar

Instructions

  1. In a small mixing bowl, beat the cream cheese, butter, and vanilla.
  2. Gradually add sugar, beating until smooth.
  3. Use to frost cakes and cupcakes.

Do Ahead Prep

Get out cream cheese and butter to soften.

http://sweeterhoney.com/cream-cheese-frosting-3/
.