Oatmeal Date Breakfast Cookies

You are not going to believe that these cookies are sugar free and healthy too! I made a batch last night and guess what? There's nothing left! Gone! 1 had the privilege of only tasting one cookie. The dates, raisins and maple syrup add to the sweetness of this cookie. Soft and chewy and just the right amount of spice. A perfect breakfast on the go or for an afternoon snack (if it lasts until the afternoon).

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F, line baking sheet with parchment paper

1/4 cup      dates pitted and chopped
3 tbsp.       coconut oil
1                egg
1 tsp.         vanilla
3 tbsp.       maple syrup
1/2 cup      quinoa flour
1/3 cup      all purpose flour
1/4 cup      rolled oats
1/2 tsp.      each of baking powder and baking soda
1/2 tsp.      cinnamon
1/4 tsp.      each of nutmeg and sea salt
1/2 cup      raisins

In a bowl whisk together the flours, oats, baking powder, baking soda cinnamon, salt, nutmeg and raisins. In a food processor, puree dates, coconut oil, maple syrup, egg, and vanilla. add to flour mixture and stir until combined.

Drop by the tablespoon and keep approximately 3 inches apart.

Bake for about 12-15 minutes.  Let cool.

Yield: 18 cookies

Old School Munchies

 

 

Dropped by my parents house the other day just to see how they were doing. My uncle and aunt were over. All four of them were having a game of cards. The snacks my mom was serving brought me back to my childhood days.  The snacks served were what I call peasant food. Food they grew up on back home.

Pictured below, my mom served mini taralli, flavored with white wine. Lupini beans, dried figs that were cut in half and stuffed with walnuts. The dates were also split in half, pitted, stuffed with goat cheese and topped with an almond.

With the figs and dates, serve warm. Just place it in the oven just to warm through.

I must comment on the dates. The thought of sweet and savoury totally turns me off. But with this combination, the flavors balance. The sweet date offsets the savoury goat cheese.

Let me tell you, I cannot stop at one! So addicting! And with a glass of wine, even better!

Toss the chips and peanuts and try this for a change.

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Bocconcini Salad

Spring has sprung here in Canada - finally! We had snow last week and this week we have hit double digit temperatures! To celebrate spring, I made this salad for dinner last night to complement the roasted chicken. Light, easy and delicious, my kids crave for this dish believe it or not!

 



This recipe is quite easy. Slice cherry tomatoes in half. Add sliced cucumber and mini bocconcini. Add salt, black pepper, fresh or dried basil and extra virgin olive oil. That's it! So tasty!

Cranberry Orange Quinoa For Breakfast

Now that I am getting older, healthy eating has become a regiment in my household. The children also have changed their eating habits as they have found that eating healthy makes them feel and look better.

Steel cut oats has become the latest breakfast craze. I love steel cut oats don't get me wrong, but sometimes you need change.  I've stepped it up a notch by using quinoa pronounced (ki nu a) in this recipe.

Cranberry-Orange Quinoa

1 cup         quinoa

3 cups        water

1 tbsp.       unsalted butter

1/2 tsp       sea salt

1                 zest of an orange

1                 juice of an orange

1/2 cup      dried cranberries

1/4 cup      almonds

1/2 cup      vanilla almond milk or cow's milk

2 tbsp.        maple syrup

Sautee the quinoa with butter until lightly golden.

 

 

Add the water and let boil until cooked. Add the salt to the boiling water.

 

 

 

While the quinoa is cooking, soak the cranberries with the orange juice. This will plump up the cranberries.

 

 

 

Once the quinoa has fully cooked, remove from heat and add the almond milk, cranberries with the juice, maple syrup and chopped almonds. For an extra touch, add a dollop of greek yogurt.

 

Refrigerate leftover and reheat the next day.

 



 

 

Motivation Monday

Set your intentions today to do a little something for yourself! I know that I always look after everyone else but myself. We're going to change that! We need to learn to love ourselves! Not in a conceited manner, but to learn self love. Love yourself for who you are! Look in the mirror and affirm that you're beautiful! That you are worthy.

Take a half hour or an hour for yourself. Even more! Soak yourself in a salt bath. Go for a manicure, a walk or meditate! Now that the weather is getting nicer, take your favorite book and read outside - no excuses! You deserve it! Now make it happen! xo

Death By Chocolate

This recipe by far my go to when pleasing a crowd. You can serve in glasses like I did here or in a trifle bowl. When there's an event I'm invited to, the host/hostess always asks me to bring this along.

Skor Trifle

1                   Chocolate cake mix (or your own) prepared
1/3 cup         Kahlua liqueur (or sweetened black coffee)
3 pkgs          Instant chocolate pudding
1 1/2 cups    skor or heath chocolate (I always use Skor)
4 cups           Sweetened Whipped Cream

Make holes, using a fork, all over top of the baked cake. Drizzle the Kahlua over top. Let stand 10 minutes. Chop the cake into small pieces.

Layer the pudding

 

Add the chocolate bits

 

Then the whipped cream and repeat.

 

Chill.

 

Serves 20

 

ENJOY!

         

Lunch on the fly

Tt seems like there's not enough hours in the day sometimes to get all my stuff done. So making a meal sometimes just doesn't happen. So, for lunch I made this quick and easy meal before running out. I lightly toasted some fresh olive bread from my local bakery. Sliced a bit of tomato, added salt and pepper and topped it with sliced bocconcini cheese. I then drizzled extra virgin olive oil. It's that easy!