Posted in Almond milk, Apples, breakfast, Drinks, Ingredients, Recipes, Smoothie, Snacks, Spinach

Apple Jack Smoothie (GF, DF, Paleo)

Original date: 5/4/13
Edited: 12/22/22

Quick
Gluten-Free
Meal Planning

Smoothies are quick and delicious. They can be healthy depending on the ingredients in the smoothie.

This smoothie reminds you of Apple Jack cereal without all the sugar.

Apple Jack Smoothie

Happy Herbivore

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Stars of the recipe:

  • 1 c. Unsweetened almond milk
  • 1 c. Banana, frozen
  • 1 c. Fresh spinach
  • 1/2 Apple, diced
  • 1/2 tsp. cinnamon
  • 1 date (for sweetness – I left it out of mine, and it was okay.)

Steps:

  1. Place in blender.
  2. Blend it until smooth.
  3. Drink and enjoy!

Printable Recipe

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Posted in breakfast, DIY, Eat at home ingredient spotlight, Recipes, Snacks

Apple Crisp Granola

Original post: 10/3/12
Edited: 12/21/2022

Vegetarian
Gluten-free (if using gluten-free oatmeal)
Quick

I pretend to be a cereal eater. I buy cereals, most of which go to waste before they are eaten. Since the milk texture in my cereal really bothers me, I eat dry cereal. That can get really boring quick. My husband and sons love cereal with milk. So I’m the odd man out in my family.

However, I enjoy eating granola in Greek yogurt. The pieces of granola don’t get soggy like they do in milk. So making homemade granola can be cost-efficient. Homemade granola can also be adapted to my taste and preference. I also know what exactly is in it, so there are no mystery ingredients. Plus, it’s delicious!

So when this recipe crossed my inbox, my curiosity peaked. So I got the few ingredients I needed to make the granola. I made it on a Sunday morning before church. I took some with me to eat during refreshment, so I wouldn’t eat any of the not-so-good goodies. When I shared some of it with my fellow churchgoers, they were impressed with the taste. As was I.

The granola combines the flavors of fall. Cinnamon and nutmeg tickle your taste buds. Apples scream fall! There are also a few surprises hidden in the granola.

Apple Crisp Granola

Adapted from Rachel Cooks

Stars of the Recipe:

  • 3 c. oats (old-fashioned or quick cooking)
  • 1 c. chopped raw walnuts
  • 1/2 c. shredded unsweetened coconut
  • 1/4 tsp. salt
  • 1 Tbsp. ground cinnamon
  • 1 tsp. freshly grated nutmeg
  • 4 Tbsp. packed brown sugar
  • 4 Tbsp. canola oil
  • 4 Tbsp. honey
  • 1 tsp. pure vanilla extract
  • 2 c. chopped dried apples

Steps:

  1. Preheat oven to 300 degrees Fahrenheit.
  2. Spray a large baking sheet with nonstick cooking spray or line it with parchment.
  3. In a large bowl, stir the oats, walnuts, coconut, salt, brown sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg.
  4. In a separate microwavable bowl, stir together the canola oil, vanilla, and honey. Heat in microwave for 45 seconds on 50% power.
  5. Pour wet ingredients over dry ingredients. Stir until everything is well coated.
  6. Spread granola in an even layer over the baking sheet.
  7. Bake for 15 minutes, stir, and then bake for 15 to 20 more minutes, until golden brown.
  8. Let cool completely. Stir in dried apples once the granola has cooled.
  9. Store in an airtight container.
  10. Enjoy!!!!
This post has been linked to Eat at home – Ingredient Spotlight.
Posted in Apples, breakfast, Ingredients, Oatmeal, Recipes, Snacks

Apple Cinnamon Instant Oatmeal or Overnight Oatmeal

Original post: 1/22/2014
Edited: 12/20/2022

Vegetarian
Gluten-free (if using gluten-free oatmeal)
Quick
Meal Planning

In August of 2010, I posted an entry for Instant Oatmeal Mix. As we are experiencing another cold snap, oatmeal is a good way to warm up on a bitterly cold morning.

I was pursuing Yummy Life’s instant oatmeal packets’ blog entry and found some good ideas for different types of instant oatmeal. Instant oatmeal mixes are better than the Quaker or off-brand instant oatmeal packets. You control the ingredients. Plus, it doesn’t have preservatives.

Using some of the ideas from Yummy Life and what I had around the house, I came up with divine apple cinnamon instant oatmeal.

Apple Cinnamon Instant Oatmeal

Stars of the recipe:
  • 2-1/4 c. Instant or Quick Oatmeal
  • 1/3 c. powdered milk
  • 1/2 c. packed brown sugar
  • 2 to 3 tsp. cinnamon
  • 1/3 c. dried apples
  • 1/3 c. chopped nuts (I used cashews.)
  • 2 -3 Tbsp Chia seeds
  • 2 tsp. salt
  • 2 Tbsp. Vanilla powder (optional)
Steps:
  1. Mix all of the ingredients in a bowl.
  2. Store in an airtight container.
  3. When ready to make oatmeal, mix 1/2 c. of the oatmeal with 3/4 c. water. (Make sure the bowl is big enough because the oatmeal expands in the microwave.)
  4. Heat in the microwave for 90 seconds.

Or:

  1. Mix all of the ingredients in a bowl.
  2. Store in an airtight container.
  3. Mix 1/3 c. oatmeal, 1/2 c. water, and 1/4 c. Greek yogurt in a Mason jar or similar jar.
  4. Make sure the lid is on tight, and shake up the mixture.
  5. Place in the fridge for at least 4 hours or overnight.
  6. Enjoy straight out of the fridge, or allow it to warm up to room temperature before eating!

Printable Recipe

Posted in breakfast, Chocolate, Coconut, Ingredients, Oatmeal, Recipes, Snacks

Almond Joy Granola

Originally published: 12/17/2013
Updated: 12/19/2022

Gluten-free (if using gluten-free certified oats)
Meal planning
Quick

One of my favorite candy bars is Almond Joy.  This is a good thing on Halloween because the boys won’t touch them with a 10-foot pole or if the Imaginative One is being his snarky self, a 9 and 3/4-inch pole.  I get their Almond Joy candy bars on Halloween.  The combination of chocolate and coconut is pure heaven!!  😃

My other favorite treat is granola, either plain or with plain Greek yogurt.  So the combination of the taste of Almond Joy candy bars with yogurt is the best flavor, at least it is to me.

Almond Joy Granola

Kiss My Broccoli
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Stars of the recipe:
  • 2 c. quick oats
  • 3 Tbsp. unsweetened cocoa powder
  • pinch of salt
  • 2 Tbsp. coconut oil (I heated mine up in the microwave for a minute.  Then it smelled like paradise.)
  • 1/3 c. honey (Spray down your measuring cup with cooking spray first.)
  • 1 tsp. sugar
  • 1/2 tsp. almond extract
  • 1/3 c. shredded coconut (I used sweetened.)
  • 1/2 c. almonds – 1/2 whole, 1/2 slivers
Steps:
  1. Preheat oven to 300 degrees.
  2. Combine oats, cocoa powder, and salt in a large mixing bowl.
  3. In a smaller mixing bowl, combine the coconut oil after it’s heated up, honey, sugar, and almond extract.
  4. Pour the wet ingredients over the dry ingredients.  Mix until combined.
  5. Spread in a thin layer on a cookie sheet.
  6. Bake for 8 minutes, stir and then bake for another 8 minutes.
  7. Take out of the oven and let cool for 10 minutes.  Then add almonds and coconut.
  8. Store in an air-tight container for 2 weeks.
  9. Enjoy by itself or over yogurt!

Printable Recipe

Posted in Holiday/Christmas, Recipes, Snacks

Christmas “Crack” Pretzels

I had bought some wreath shaped pretzels to use for my Rolo Turtles not realizing the Rolos would fall through the wreath. I used one bag of the wreath pretzels for my cinnamon sugar pretzels. Since I had another bag to use up, I found this recipe. Hubby had leftover popcorn oil from an event he hosted in November so this was a perfect way to use the pretzels.

Enjoy these at your Christmas get together or even on New Year’s Eve. Yum!

Oh and the best part of this is there is no baking involved. Sweet!

  • Servings: 16ish
  • Difficulty: extremely easy
  • Print

Ingredients

  • 15 to 16 oz. bag of pretzels
  • 6 oz. buttery popcorn oil, canola oil, or melted butter
  • 1.5 Tbsp. dry ranch salad mix (not the dip)
  • 0.5 tsp. garlic powder
  • 0.5 tsp. Cajun seasoning
  • 2 Tbsp. Parmesan cheese (I used a garlic Parmesan cheese powder.)

Directions

  1. Pour the pretzels into a deep dish.
  2. In a separate bowl, mix together the oil and seasonings.
  3. Pour over the pretzels. Stir until all of the pretzels are combined.
  4. Sprinkle the Parmesan cheese. Stir once again until the pretzels are combined.
  5. Continue stirring every 15 minutes or so for 3 hours or until the oil is absorbed by the pretzels.
  6. Store in an airtight container. Enjoy!

Recipe source

Stay kind!

Have a magical day,
Traci

Posted in Gluten Free, Recipes, Snacks, write 31 2017

Fall Trail Mix (DF, GF) – Blog Post #12

We went to Meijers the other day.  As I walking back to the front of the store, I noticed the pumpkin spiced Cheerios so I decided to get me a box.

Once I got home, I decided to use the Cheerios to make a trail mix.

Now there is some debate whether Cheerios are truly gluten free.  Some people have reactions when they eat them.  If you are one of those people, please don’t use them.

I had some pumpkin spiced pumpkin seeds waiting for me to do something with so I used them in this trail mix.

You can use any kind of nut.  I had pecans available so I used them.  I think walnuts would be delicious in this trail mix.

I also used some freeze dried apples that I got at Trader Joes.  However, I think dried cranberries would be delicious also.

Store your trail mix in an airtight container.

Fall Trail Mix

Fall Trail Mix

  • Difficulty: super easy
  • Print

Ingredients

– 2 c. pumpkin spice Cheerios

– ¾ c. chopped nuts

– ½ c. freeze dried apples or dried cranberries

– ¾ c. pumpkin seeds

 

Directions

  1. In a large bowl, combine all of the ingredients.
  2. Enjoy in moderation!

 

Store in an airtight container.

Happy eating,
Traci

 

Posted in Crockpot, dairy free, Gluten Free, Recipes, Snacks

Cranberry Almond Coconut Snack Mix (Gluten Free, Dairy Free)

I know there is some debate on whether Cheerios is really Gluten Free or not.  Since I have not been diagnosed with Celiac’s disease and only have a sensitivity to gluten, I decide that Cheerios are okay for me.

The Wee One loves this snack mix.  While it was cooling on the baking sheet, he would randomly walk into the kitchen, take a handful of the mix, pop the snack mix into his mouth, and then walk out.

I added some pumpkin seeds to my snack mix.  Yum!

Cranberry Almond Coconut Snack Mix

  • Servings: 12
  • Difficulty: easy
  • Print

 

 

Ingredients

-5 c. Cheerios

-3 c. Honey Nut Cheerios

-1 c. gluten free oats

-1 c. dried cranberries

-2 c. unsweetened shredded coconut

-2 c. raw almonds, chopped

-1/4 c. melted coconut oil

-1/4 c. honey

-1/2 tsp. cinnamon

-1/2 tsp. salt

-1 tsp. vanilla

Directions

 

  1. Spray crock with non stick spray.
  2. Place the both kinds of Cheerios, oats, cranberries, shredded coconut, and almonds into the crock.
  3. In another bowl, whisk together the honey, coconut oil, cinnamon, salt, and vanilla.
  4. Pour the honey mixture over the dried ingredients in the crock.
  5. Stir until everything is evenly coated.
  6. Before placing the lid on the crock, place a paper towel over the snack mix.  Cover, and then cook on low for 3 hours.  Stir every 45 minutes.
  7. When done cooking, pour the mixture on a paper towel or parchment paper lined baking sheet.
  8. Allow to cool for an hour before placing in an air tight container.

Happy eating,
Traci

Posted in Gluten Free, Snacks

5 of My Favorite Gluten Free Snacks

  1.    Larabars

Image result for larabars image

These are a snack that I have loved for a long time not just since I went gluten free.  When my father-in-law was trying to watch his sugar, I introduced him to these bars.  When I tried them myself, I fell in love with them.

I do have a recipe for homemade coconut cream Larabars.

Continue reading “5 of My Favorite Gluten Free Snacks”