AND SHE'S A GENIUS

I'm a genius.

These. Are. Amazing. And will definitely be on my menu at Bakery Zero!! But till then, we might just have to wait (& trust me it'll be worth the wait...)

They taste exactly like the cauliflower crust pizza at Malibu Farm but BONUS: you don't have to drive all the way to California - and pay $20 - to get one! Soooooooo good and only 135 calories 😳

Like I said... I'm a genius. #foodnerd

Homemade Healthy Twix

THESE ARE GOOD.

When I'm bored, sometimes I'll start throwing things into a food processor and try to make something new and yummy (haha, anyone else?) A few weeks ago I decided that I was going to try to make healthy Twix. So I tried it... BOOM. So good.

• Dairy free
• Gluten free
• Refined sugar free
• Guilt free!

Healthy Homemade Twix Bars

Ingredients:
Base layer-

• 1 c coconut flour
• 3 T coconut sugar
• pinch of salt
• 1/4 c egg whites (or a whole egg)
• vanilla
• 1/2 c apple sauce
• almond milk to reach desired consistency

Caramel layer-

• 12 soaked dates
• 1/4 c water 
• 2 T maple syrup
• pinch of salt
• a few tsp carob powder (optional - this just gives it more of that "toffee" taste)

Chocolate-

• Dark Chocolate 
• 1 T Coconut oil

Directions:
Mix all of the ingredients for the base layer until the mix reaches a firm/doughy consistency and press into a pan lined with parchment paper
**You can either place this in the freezer to set OR bake on 375 for 10 minutes**
While the base layer is either setting (or baking), strain the dates and place them into a food processor with 1/4 c water and process until it reaches a smooth consistency
Add in the maple syrup, salt, carob powder, and more water if needed
Once the base layer is ready, spread the date caramel evenly on top
Place it back into the freezer to set again
After about 10 minutes in the freezer, take out your base and caramel concoction and slice into twix-sized bars and either space them out on a plate, or place them on a cooling rack (so you can pour your chocolate evenly on top)
Melt the dark chocolate with the coconut oil
Pour the chocolate evenly over the twix bars until they are all covered
Place your bars back into the freezer and wait for them to set (should only take a few minutes)
Enjoy your dairy-free, refined sugar-free, grain-free, guilt-free treat!

SOO YUMMAY

Copycat Cubby's Wild Rice & Kale Salad

One of my most favoritest salads ever... Can't decide if it's a good or bad thing that this re-creation is so spot on cuz now I can have it 4.5 times a day every day 😳

I LOVE this salad from @cubby's (as previously mentioned in my "Healthy Reminder" post when madre & I hiked Timp)

FYI - I do like to change a few things in this salad. Keep in mind that you can have fun & go crazy with each ingredient swap!

Copycat Cubby's Wild Rice & Kale Salad

(I like using spinach so technically this is a 'Wild Rice & Spinach Salad' 😆

Serves 1
Ingredients:

• large handful of spinach (or chopped kale) 
• 1/2 of a microwaveable Minute Rice "Ready to Serve" Multi-Grain Medley cup (got this @Walmart - pic below)
• chopped grilled chicken (I use Foster Farms frozen pre-cooked grilled chicken breast strips @Walmart - pic below)
• garlic salt
• 1/2 thinly chopped gala apple 
• 1/2 of a sliced avocado
• dried cranberries
• slivered almonds
• fresh grated parmesan
• lime juice

Directions:

Slice up 1/2 apple and 1/2 avocado
(I would suggest massaging the avocados into the greens - it also acts as the dressing)

Microwave the Multi-Grain Medley rice cup

Microwave the chicken to defrost it, then cut the strips into smaller pieces. Sprinkle on some garlic salt and grill on medium-high heat for just a few seconds to get it a bit of crispier/charred (grilling is optional)

ASSEMBLE! 

Throw everything inside of a bowl, mix it all up, and squirt lime juice on top as the healthy dressing! 

TRUST ME & TRY THIS SALAD - IT'S INCREDIBLE 

Plus, it's super easy, super cheap (got of my all ingredients from Walmart), and super healthy. 

The Original Acaí Bowl

Who doesn't love Acaí bowls?
✋ me when I can't afford them....

Acaí bowls are not only delicious, but they contain a super fruit (Acaí....) that is pack full of healthy antioxidants. Fun little fact: antioxidants help the body in avoiding damage to cells caused by oxidants.

While these delicious bowls are SO YUMMY, they tend to be extremely over-priced and can often contain loads of extra sugars.

So to all of the Acaí bowl lovers out there, (and to anyone in general) here is the solution!! This is my recipe for your typical, "original" flavored Acaí. (One that is cheaper and way more healthy!)

The Original Acaí
(BTW this is my secret recipe so don't let it get out okay? 😁😂)

Serves 2
Ingredients

• 1 Sambazon unsweetened Acaí packet
• 1/2 c shredded ice
• 1/2 c frozen blueberries
• 1 date (optional)
• 1 banana
• unsweetened almond milk (only a tiny swig at first, then add more to reach desired consistency)
• Optional: 2 large dollops of agave or honey (sometimes instead of agave or honey, I only add a few squirts of stevia)

Directions

Blend and enjoy! Top with homemade granola (recipe below), sliced bananas, and a swirl of honey! 

Homemade granola👇👇

The cinnamon granola topping

• 1 c almonds
• 3 c oats
• 2/3 c honey
• 2 T coconut oil
• 1/2 t vanilla extract
• 1/8 t almond extract 
• 1&1/4 T cinnamon

Directions 

Preheat oven to 350 Fahrenheit

Chop the almonds so that you have a bunch of different sizes - some finely chopped, and some larger (it might be a good idea to take half of the almonds and process or blend them to get finer bits)

Mix all of the almonds, oats, and salt in a large bowl 

Microwave the honey and coconut oil for about 30 seconds, then add in the vanilla and almond extracts

Pour the wet honey mixture into the bowl with the dry ingredients and mix so that everything is coated evenly

Pour your entire mixture onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper

Bake for 5 minutes, stir everything around, then return to the oven for 5 more minutes

Spread granola evenly onto wax paper or a different baking sheet and allow it to cool

After completely cool, break it apart and store in an airtight container!