Amazing Healthy Discoveries

In my efforts to lose weight I have been experimenting in the kitchen...a lot....and you wont believe what I've found!

1.  You can turn bananas into ice cream!

Fake Healthy Ice Cream

4 bananas (sliced and frozen)
2 Tbsp Peanut Butter (chunky or creamy)
2 Tbsp Cocao Powder

Put the bananas in a blender or food processor.  Use the ice chopping setting and blend and blend and blend.  You will likely have to stop and scrape the sides a few times.  Keep going and if you are patient it will turn into a creamy consistency.  Stir in the other ingrediants.  Voila!  Seriously I loved this so much.


2.  Peanut Butter Energy Balls

Got this recipe off pinterest.  I'll post the real recipe and then my modifications.

1 cup old fashioned oats
1/2 cup flaxseed meal
1/2 cup chocolate chips (I only used 1/3 and they were mini - choc. flavor gets more spread out)
1/2 cup peanut butter
1/3 cup honey ( I used 2 Tbsp.)

Stir in bowl.  Press into balls.  Store in fridge.  SOOOOOO GOOOOOD!  They are only 50 calories each depending on how big you make them.  My problem is stopping after 1 or 2.


3.  Energy Breakfast Smoothie

1 pkg Carnation Instant Breakfast Mix
2 cups almond milk
1 frozen banana
10 almonds dry roasted with sea salt
6 ice cubes

Blend.  Drink.  Enjoy.  This makes enough for two people.  I was seriously not hungry all day.  And it was yummy.  Almond milk is great for smoothies - who knew?

Yeehaw!
Shannon

Syrup time is here!

Apple Cider Syrup

3 cups sugar
6 T. cornstarch
3/4 tsp. cinnamon
3/4 tsp. nutmeg
6 cups apple cider
6 tsp. lemon juice
3/4 cup butter

Mix all together.  Bring to a boil stirring almost constantly.  Roiling boil for 2 min. 


Vanilla (or caramel) Syrup

2 sticks butter melted 
1 cup buttermilk
2 cups sugar
2 T. light corn starch
2 T. vanilla
1 T. baking soda

Use large saucepan.  Boil butter, buttermilk, sugar, corn syrup.  After roiling boil one minute take off heat.  Add vanilla and baking soda.  Serve. 

To carmalize simmer on medium low heat for 30 min. 

Resurrection Rolls

Resurrection Rolls
(aka easy-peasy cinnamon rolls)

When I was in the primary in West Seattle we made these for Easter time.  My family loves them so we have them often. 

You will need:
Crescent rolls
Large marshmallows
Cinnamon
Sugar
Melted Butter

Warning: these are very gooey so I usually put aluminum foil over the baking sheet for easier clean up. 

First, unroll the crescent rolls.  Take a marshmallow and dip it in the melted butter.  Roll it in the cinnamon and sugar until well coated.  Put the marshmallow on an unrolled crescent roll and roll the dough around the marshmallow pinching the sides closed.  When they are all ready, bake following the normal package directions.  (Which I think is 350 for 9 to 11 min, but check.)  The marshmallow will melt, leak out, goo everywhere, etc. 

Here is why they are called resurrection rolls:  The marshmallow is the body.  You embalm it in oil (butter) and rub it with spices (cinnamon and sugar).  Then you wrap it in the swaddling clothes (the dough) and put it in the tomb (the oven).  When you open it up the body will be gone.  There will be an empty space in the roll.  The primary kids loved it.  My family just likes eating them.  Enjoy. 

Shannon

Monkey Bread

Ingredients

·      1 stick butter

·      1 cup brown sugar

·      ¼ cup whipping cream

·      2 TB sugar

·      2 tsp cinnamon

·      4 small Pillsbury Biscuit tubes

·      ¾ cup crushed pecans

Directions

1.      In a saucepan melt together butter and brown sugar, stirring occasionally.

2.      Meanwhile, open biscuit packages and cut each round biscuit into 4 pieces. In a small shallow bowl combine sugar and cinnamon and roll each bread piece in the mixture.

3.      Check pot. After melted add whipping cream and melt down.

4.      Place in Bundt pan and layer as:

        Sauce – pecans – bread – sauce – bread – sauce – bread

Bake at 400° for 20-30 minutes (until bread is cooked).

Homemade Granola

Ingredients

·      6 cups quick oats

·      1 cup chopped walnuts

·      ½ cup flaked coconut

·      ½ cup sesame seeds

·      ¼ cup flaxseeds

·      2/3 cup veg.oil

·      ½ cup honey

·      ½ cup packed brown sugar

·      2 TB water

·      1 ½ tsp vanilla

Directions

1.      Combine honey, oil, brown sugar, water, and vanilla in a saucepan and cook over medium heat, stirring often. Cook 5 minutes or so, until smooth and see-through.

2.      Toss in a large bowl oats, nuts, seeds, and coconut. Pour liquid over dry mixture and combine.

3.      Grease 2 cookie sheets and bake at 275 degrees for 50-60 minutes, stirring every 10-15 minutes. Then remove, and cool. Then break and store in airtight container.