Raw salted vanilla nut butter cookies.

by Filed Under: Brunch, Cookies, Desserts, Gluten Free, No bake/cooking required!, Nuts, Party Foods, Raw, Vegan, Vegetarian, Wheat Free Leave a Comment

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I love raw desserts!  I stopped eating processed sugary foods about two years ago.  Once I gave it up I felt so much better.  I then shied away from desserts until I had a few “raw” desserts and fell in love.  These came together so quickly in my food processor and then I store in the refrigerator.  I prefer them cold.  Perfect summer treat too!  You can sub out the almond butter for whatever you have in your pantry.  Peanut butter, of course, is heavenly which is normally how I make them.  This time I used Justin’s Almond Butter in their vanilla flavor and added vanilla paste (you can use extract) for a super vanilla packed flavor.  These are gluten free and vegan but I hope that doesn’t scare anyone from trying these.  There is a weird stigma with vegan food, as I’m learning.  People think it’s flavorless… it’s quite the opposite. You get to actually taste the ingredients because nothing is masked with oils and preservatives.  Kids totally love these too!
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— Knead to Cook

Edamame Pea and Corn Salsa Salad. {vegan} {gf}

by Filed Under: Appetizers, Brunch, Dips, Gluten Free, Mexican, Party Foods, Salsas & Guacamole, Side dish, Vegan, Vegetarian, Wheat Free 5 Comments

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The hot weather has my mind going right to salsa.  I’m known, in my close circle of friends for my tomato salsa.  Seriously, I think my friends just come over to eat it first then enjoy our friendship on a secondary level.  Ha ha.  I always make salsas, margaritas and we enjoy relaxing nights around the fire pit making s’mores and enjoying the warm weather.  Well this is my first batch of healthy salsa for the season.  It’s light.  Refreshing. Not heavy and packed with vitamins and much needed protein.  I eat this by the bowl full for lunch or dinner.  I require so little in life to be happy.

This would make a great side dish salad or served with tortilla chips as a salsa.  It’s quite versatile.  Totally vegan and gluten free.  No nuts.  Perfect dish to take to a party.  No fuss because this beautiful dish whips up in seconds and can be made all with frozen veggies (like I did).

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— Knead to Cook

Raw Triple Chocolate Banana Bites.

by Filed Under: Breakfast, Brownies, Brunch, Cookies, Desserts, Featured, Fruit, Gluten Free, Holiday, No bake/cooking required!, Nuts, Party Foods, Snacks, Vegan, Wheat Free 1 Comment

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Mountain of deliciousness.  Clean eating does not have to be boring or without chocolate!

Before we headed out of town last Friday for our race weekend, I wanted to whip up a healthy treat for my girls to have on hand.  These are totally dairy and gluten free.  They are a twist on my classic energy balls/bites that I make. I also rolled these in organic unsweetened cocoa powder which added a complimentary bitter to sweet balance.  Protein packed these are great for a post-workout snack or just a treat when you’re craving something chocolate.  No guilt here!  I store these in the fridge and love them cold.  I make them bite-sized so you can pop them and go!  Portable perfection. [Read more…]

— Knead to Cook

Chickpea Salad. {Vegan} {Gluten Free}

by Filed Under: Beans, Brunch, Easter, Gluten Free, Nuts, Party Foods, Raw, Salads, Vegan, Vegetarian, Wheat Free 1 Comment

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If you love tuna or chicken salad as a sandwich or on a bed of greens you’re going to need to try this one asap!  I actually came up with an idea for this salad while running my half marathon on Sunday.  I had two products that I really wanted to combine together both from Maille and I bamm! this came to me around mile 7.  I whipped this up and have eaten probably half of it already.  I needed to put it away to stop.  I’m going to serve this tonight to my husband on a bed of mixed field greens which will make a lovely dinner.  I had some on gluten free crackers for lunch.  And admittedly, I ate some straight out of the bowl too!  Pathetic, I admit.  But packed with protein and flavor.  So good!

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— Knead to Cook

Creamy pesto sauce/dip. {Vegan} {Gluten Free}

by Filed Under: Brunch, Dips, Gluten Free, Party Foods, Pasta, Raw, Vegan, Vegetarian, Vitamix, Wheat Free 2 Comments

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My oldest asked for pesto on Monday.  My plan was to make an avocado cream pasta but I quickly adjusted my sails to accommodate.  I’ve felt overly compassionate for her as we are now working on week 3 of a dairy & gluten free diet.  I had just made my cashew cream (to use for my other planned dinner) and wanted to incorporate it into the pesto.  The result, light and creamy.  Totally vegan, no dairy- and as long as you use gluten free pasta (brown rice, quinoa etc.) this dinner was perfect for her and for everyone else in my family.

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— Knead to Cook

Almond butter raw cookie dough bites.

by Filed Under: Brunch, Cookies, Desserts, Easter, Gluten Free, No bake/cooking required!, Nuts, Party Foods, Raw, Snacks, Vegan, Vegetarian, Vitamix, Wheat Free 6 Comments

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Happy Tuesday!!!  It’s going to be a good day.  I’m finally on the mend from the cold/laryngitis that’s been plaguing me.  I got a good night’s sleep.  I ran outside in shorts (yes this is a feat for Pennsylvania after this horrible winter) and I ran 8 hilly/windy miles this morning in the rain.  I was still sub 8 minute mile, which was good, not my fastest but I realize I’m still on the mend.  This month, I’m bound and determined to run outside versus the treadmill, which I’ve become quite attached to over the past three months thanks to Mother Nature.  I felt good pushing it and left it all on the road – it was simply all I had.  Now to keep building from that.  

Other news… I admit, I come from a long line of car aficionados.  My grandfather was obsessed with cars back in the day (40’s and 50’s) and always sported the very best, coolest, hippest cars.  I just love that despite not meeting him (he died when my dad was a teenager) I cherish the pics I have of him with his wheels.  My uncles and my own father… all car obsessed.  I think I have some weird car gene that was passed onto me.  Did I mention that when I was in high school and had that weird “career path” test that tells you the best fields to get into I got car mechanic?  Ha ha!  Seriously!  I did.  But I digress, I love them but as I’ve gotten older, and wiser, I realize that I need something safe with great gas mileage that isn’t inhaling premium gas every time I hit the gas pedal (did I say I have a need for speed too?).  Ohhhhh my father is very proud (ha ha). So after exhausting research – no lie I asked people on the streets with the cars I liked what they thought, test drives, annoying questions, brochures, internet research, overthinking way too much… oh how I hate buying cars- we are picking up our brand new 2015 wheels tonight!  Great gas mileage along with speed, safety and all the bells and whistles – I’m excited!  My poor husband will be a bit remorseful giving up his convertible, especially with spring weather finally approaching but we are thankful this endeavor is over!  As I sit here typing this – my father is in kitchen pouring over the brochure and the features!  Ha ha!  This makes me laugh.  

Finally, this week I’m doing an experiment with my oldest daughter.  I’m removing dairy and gluten from her diet to test a theory.  So far, two days into it… I’m already seeing a vast improvement.  So with my test, I know I have to produce really good, delectable treats that she will eat and not miss her daily yogurt or whole wheat bread.  I’m working on finding or making the perfect gluten free bread that she will deem “acceptable” and not gross.  My battle of the week!  But treats… I make many gluten free treats that she loves but this week I’m stepping it up.  We all love raw cookie dough bites/energy balls I make and I saw this recipe in Oh She Glows cookbook and thought I would give these a try.  Totally vegan.  No dairy.  No gluten.  The perfect test!  I also used Enjoy Life’s chocolate chips (dairy free) so she would have her chocolate and not miss that either.  They came out great and I think only 4 remain which means I need to make another batch.

Perfect snack to make and store in the fridge or freezer for snack attacks.  Filled with protein thanks to the nut butter.  Hope you give these a try!

Adaptation from Oh She Glows Cookbook

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— Knead to Cook

Crispy Almond Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies.

by Filed Under: Cookies, Desserts, Easter, Evolution Power Yoga 40 Days, Gluten Free, Holiday, Holiday Baking Ideas, Nuts, Party Foods, Snacks, Vegan, Vegetarian, Vitamix, Wheat Free 5 Comments

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Oh I’ve been enjoying my new vegan cookbooks my husband got for me.  They’ve been the highlight of this incredibly long, difficult week.  I’m not sure what its been this week but everyone I’ve spoken to has felt the same way.  Weird, right?  Definitely a cookie because I survived the day kinda week.  Ha ha. Altho a super long dragging week it has been productive.  Kids passports photos/applications/processing done. My oldest is officially a trained and certified lifeguard!  Myriad of doc appointment completed.  We’ve decided that we need to buy a new car.  Oh how I loathe this process.  Not my car, but my husband’s.  This probably means a bit of changing around.  He will take mine, he drives an hour each way to work and I have the hybrid and I will get said “new” vehicle.  As much as I love cars… I do not like shopping, researching and doing all of the due diligence to acquire a new one.  Anyone who would like to share what they drive and their opinion with me, please feel free!  Looking for something a bit more rugged.  Something we can throw our bikes on and go.  Hiking.  Trails. Oh I miss my Hummer.  Okay back to reality at hand… cookies.  Happy place.

I’ve been testing out so many awesome recipes and I have really enjoyed sharing them with my family as well.  These were a huge hit!!!  One batch I divided up – half with vegan chocolate chips and half without because my husband is allergic to cocoa.  I made them and they were gone in 2 days!  They are super crunchy yet chewy.  Packed with flaxseed, oats, almonds… great vitamins, minerals and protein.  Gluten-free too!  Great snack for school lunches or for after-school.  

Face it, who doesn’t want to have a cookie once in a while (or more often)?  So why not make it healthy without losing the flavor, texture or yumminess.  These fit the bill… hook, line and sinker!

Adapted from Oh She Glows cookbook.
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— Knead to Cook

Vegan Kale and Basil Pesto.

by Filed Under: Appetizers, Brunch, Condiments, Dips, Evolution Power Yoga 40 Days, Gluten Free, Grilling, Grilling/Rubs/Sauces, No bake/cooking required!, Party Foods, Pizza, Pork, Sauces, Seafood, Vegan, Vegetarian, Vitamix, Wheat Free 1 Comment

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On a vegan roll this week with the recipes.  Again, I think many people shy away or turn their nose up to trying vegan recipes – trust me, don’t!  All of these recipes I’m sharing I “test run” on my family and my kids and father are all staunch carnivores.  It is nice to mix up your menu choices.  Add more veggies and sub out the meat once in awhile, remember Meatless Mondays?  Okay so my kids LOVE LOVE love, pesto.  I haven’t made it all winter – well because it reminds me of spring and summer.  It’s light and fresh and normally has ingredients that come from our garden.  Well now that the snow has melted (Amen!) and spring has SPRUNG (finally) I wanted to whip up a different pesto that was nutritionally set up as a powerhouse, who doesn’t want their kids to eat more green veggies right?, and was totally vegan (because you can try a vegan recipe without dying I promise).

This pesto is so packed with vitamins and minerals – your body will be humming along nicely and when you eat lots of color (remember science and photosynthesis?) – that comes from the sun, that energy and glow will happen to you.  Insert the wahhh wahhh wahhhh from Charlie Brown but I’m serious.  Since becoming a vegetarian – consuming more and more vegetables has changed my skin texture and it now has a glow plus I have a ton of energy.  Meat doesn’t do that for you, sorry.

Back to the recipe at hand… this recipe can be made solely with basil or a combination of basil, kale and spinach – whatever you like.  Totally flexible and totally tasty.  Also refrigerates or freezes beautifully.  Plus how easy is this dinner… process it in your food processor or Vitamix and keep it in the fridge till you boil your pasta.  Ummmm hello easy weeknight dinner.  Also spreads great on crackers, acts as a dip for veggies or a spread on your sandwich, top your favorite protein, in soup… the ideas are endless.

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— Knead to Cook

Tex Mex Casserole. Vegan and Vegetarian options.

by Filed Under: Brunch, Cabot Fit Team, Cheese, Evolution Power Yoga 40 Days, Gluten Free, Mexican, Party Foods, Vegan, Vegetarian, Wheat Free 9 Comments

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I’ve been a long time fan of the blog Oh She Glows – Angela is a pioneer in the world of vegan blogging.  She has been very open about her food struggles and successes and her first cookbook is wildly successful and fabulous.  My husband bought this for me and I’m determined to work my way through many of the recipes and share them with you.  I think so many people fear the word vegan thinking that food is crazy, bland, boring, cardboard-like, tofu or something disgusting and that couldn’t be farther from the truth.  Plus each recipe can be customized to you and your family’s preference.

I made this recipe yesterday and it came together quite fast.  My oldest is going through lifeguard training and she tries to eat earlier because she hates to have a full stomach while swimming (which I can understand).  I had this in the oven and it only took about 15 minutes to finish up.  From there I set my oven to the warm setting and served it as my family arrived home for dinner.  For my youngest, who isn’t a fan of cheese, I left it vegan – for my father and husband I added shredded Cabot hot jalapeño cheddar and some diced avocado.  Totally customizable!

This recipe is based on Oh She Glow’s Tex Mex Casserole but with my interpretation.  

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— Knead to Cook

Chocolate Peanut Butter Oat Cookies. Gluten Free.

by Filed Under: Brunch, Cookies, Easter, Gluten Free, Party Foods, Snacks, Vegetarian, Wheat Free Leave a Comment

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Every once in a while I throw in some chocolate cookies for good measure.  There is just something inherently right about chocolate.  And there are many health benefits to dark chocolate so I count this as a good-for-you food!  It just makes the world right again! Ha.   Well I made these gluten free, flour-less and gluten free.  I bought some Peanut Butter & Co. Dark Chocolate Dreams on sale and thought it would be fun in this recipe.  My kids loved it.  Easy to make, whipping up in minutes.  Bake really quickly and are the perfect match to a glass of cold milk.  Once again, chocolate saves the day!

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— Knead to Cook