Chia Pudding

Serves 4

1 can full fat coconut milk
1/4 cup maple syrup
1 Tbsp vanilla
splash almond extract (optional)
1/3 cup chia seeds

Blend all liquid ingredients just until mixed. DO NOT OVERMIX. Then stir in chia seeds and refrigerate 2+ hours.

Glacamole

Avacado. 3 or so, mashed

Onion. 1/2 finely chopped

Tomato. 2 diced

Hot picketed peppers or jalapeño to taste, finely chopped

Cilantro - about 1 Tablespoon

Salt

Garlic - minced

Lime- juice from 1 

Mix together and serve with Doritos 

Story; David made this while visiting summer of 2016. Very good

Carrot cake

2 1/2 carrots, grated (I use food processor for this)

1 Apple - medium. Grated

1/2 orange, peeled and blended with;

1/3 cup water (if using sugar not syrup increase water to 1/2 cup)

1/4 cup oil

3/4 cup maple syrup (can use 1 cup sugar instead of syrup)

Add blended ingredients to;

2 cups flour

1/4 cup corn starch

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon allspice

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1 teaspoon salt 

Bake in 9x9 cake pan or the equivalent. 350 degrees for :30 minutes.

Frosting;

Use a hand mixer and blend the following.

1  - 8 ounce package cream cheese

1 teaspoon vanilla

1/3 to 1/2 cup maple syrup. ( add just enough to get the sweetness you like, and the consistency)

Chopped pecans (optional)

Story- I made this for Will's birthday in 2011, he thought it was the best carrot cake recipe. At that time I used sugar. In 2016 after we made maple syrup, I have been using the syrup as a sweetener. I works nicely in this recipe. 

David's Pancakes

1 cup Sweet potato, cooked and mashed

1 plantain grated

1Tablespoon olive oil

2 eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla

Milk (add at the end to make the right consistency)

1/2 cup almond flour or almond meal

1 cup all purpose flour

1 Tablespoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 cup corn meal

Blueberries

Mix liquid ingredients and vegetables together and add dry ingredients.

Add enough milk to make consistency for pancakes

Enjoy:

Story-David stayed with us awhile July 2016, he had developed this recipe and shared it with us. We all very much liked these pancakes served with sausage and maple syrup.

Energy Bites

1 cup old fashion oatmeal
2/3 cup coconut flakes
1/2 cup peanut butter
1/3 cup honey
1/2 cup ground flax seed
1/2 cup cocoa nibs
1/3 cup chia seed
1 tsp vanilla

Mix together, form into rounds the size of a walnut or a little larger, freeze.

Dianne made a variety of this recipe Spring 2016, they are good, not at all sweet, and filling

Peanut Butter and Honey Granola

3½ cups old-fashioned oatmeal
½ cup shredded coconut
½ cup chopped nuts (any kind)
¾ cup peanut butter 
½ cup honey
⅓ cup butter (or coconut oil)
1 tsp pure vanilla extract
dash salt

Preheat oven to 325. Combine oatmeal, nuts, salt, and coconut. In a small saucepan over medium heat add the butter, peanut butter, and honey. Stir frequently. Once melted, remove from heat and add vanilla.

Pour the melted ingredients into the bowl with the dry ingredients. Combine the ingredients. Pour the granola on a baking sheet. Bake for about 25 minutes, stirring a few times. The more you stir, the less clumpy it will be. Also the less chance of burning.  Store in an air tight container for two weeks. Use on yogurt or dip your banana in it or add in some dried fruit or chocolate chunks and call it trail mix. 

I like having snacks around that are really tasty but not filled with heavily processed ingredients or refined sugar. The problem is, this doesn't stay around long!

Brownie in a mug

2 Tbsp butter, melted

2 Tbsp water
1/4 tsp vanilla extract
1 dash salt
2 Tbsp sugar
2 Tbsp unsweetened cocoa
4 Tbsp flour

In a 12 oz coffee mug, add water, butter, vanilla, and dash of salt. Stir well. Add cocoa, stir. Add sugar, stir. Add flour, stir. Microwave for 60-90 seconds. (I think I did 75 seconds) Do not overcook. Enjoy with a spoon. Now you have one serving of a fresh, fudgy brownie whenever you want! Plus you don't have to worry about what to do with the leftovers!

For an ever better sized portion, I halved the recipe and cooked it for 1/2 the time.