Banana Oat Cookies

Banana Oat Cookies

Yields 9 cookies

2 very ripe bananas

2 tablespoons honey

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

1/4 cup almond butter

2 cups rolled oats

chocolate chips

Mash the bananas, then add all of the remaining ingredients. You may need more or less oats depending on your banana size, so look for a wet cookie dough texture. Stir in as many chocolate chips as you’d like. Spoon scoops onto a baking sheet, and then form to make a cookie shape. Bake at 350 for about 10 minutes.

Avacado Spinach Strawberry Salad

Avocado Strawberry Spinach Salad with Poppy Seed Dressing

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Total Time: 10 minutes

Yield: 2-4 Servings

Ingredients

Salad Ingredients:
• 6 cups fresh baby spinach
• 1 pint strawberries, hulled and sliced
• 1 avocado, diced (or you can double this to 2 avocados!)
• 4 ounces crumbled gorgonzola or blue cheese
• 1/4 cup sliced almonds, toasted
• half a small red onion, thinly sliced
• poppyseed dressing (recipe below)
Poppyseed Dressing Ingredients:
• 1/2 cup avocado oil (or any oil, such as olive oil)
• 3 Tablespoons apple cider vinegar
• 2 Tbsp. honey
• 1 Tbsp. poppy seeds
• pinch of ground dry mustard (optional)
• salt and pepper

Method

To Make The Salad:

Toss all ingredients together with your desired amount of dressing until combined. Serve immediately.

To Make The Poppyseed Dressing:

Whisk all ingredients together until combined.

Ginger snaps with white chocolate chunks

http://www.twopeasandtheirpod.com/soft-gingersnap-cookies-with-white-chocolate-chunks/

1 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
1 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup molasses
2 tablespoons canola oil
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 1/4 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 1/4 teaspoons cinnamon
1 1/4 teaspoons ground cloves
1 teaspoon ground ginger
2 large eggs
3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 cups white chocolate chunks

1 cup granulated sugar-for coating cookie dough balls

1. Preheat oven to Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line two large baking sheets with parchment papers or with a silicone baking mat. Set aside.

2. In the bowl of a stand mixer, cream together butter and sugar until smooth and creamy.

3. Beat in the molasses, canola oil, vanilla, baking soda, salt, and spices. Mix until well combined.

4. Add the eggs, one at a time, and beat until smooth. Slowly add in the flour. Next, stir in the white chocolate chunks.

5. Scoop the dough into balls and roll in granulated sugar. Place on lined baking sheets, about two inches apart. Bake for 10 minutes, the cookies will still be soft. Remove from oven and let cookies cool on the baking sheet for five minutes. Transfer to a wire rack and cool completely.

Chocolate Mousse Pie

Crust:

2/3 cup graham cracker crumbs

4 Tbs. melted butter

1/3 cup rice checks crumbs

1/2 cup chopped pecans

Filling:

1 cup milk chocolate chips

6 Tbs. sugar

3 oz. cream cheese, softened

1/3 cup milk

1 and 1/3 cup of whip cream

1 tsp of vanilla

Directions:

Mix together graham crackers, rice checks crumbs and chopped pecans with melted butter.  Press into the bottom and sides of a pie pan to form the crust.  To make the filling, in a medium size bowel combine the cream cheese and 2 Tbs. of sugar with an electric mixer.  In a sauce pan over medium heat or in the microwave, melt the chocolate chips and 2 Tbs. of milk. Once the chocolate is smooth, add the remaining milk to the chocolate mixture. Let the chocolate mixture cool a bit and then slowly add it to the cream cheese mixture while continuing to beat.  Mix thoroughly.  In a separate bowel beat together 1 1/3 c of whip cream, 1 tsp. vanilla and the remaining 4 Tbs. of sugar, beat whipped cream until stiff peaks form, don’t be afraid to overbeat the cream.  Fold the whipped cream into the chocolate/ cream cheese mixture and spoon filling into the crust.  Freeze until firm, about 4 hours.  Before serving; whip up a bit more whipped cream using 1 cup of whip cream, 1/4 cup sugar and 1 tsp vanilla. Spread whipped cream over mousse.  Use chocolate shavings to decorate this scrumptious pie!

Easy Pecan Pie Bars

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=696445610370483&set=a.616483381700040.1073741825.100000151504630&type=1

Mexi Chicken

Chicken
2 large boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1/2 tsp. ancho chili powder
1/2 tsp. smoked paprika
1/2 tsp. garlic powder
salt and pepper

Pasta
2 c. radiatore pasta (measure before it is cooked)
1 Tbl. extra virgin olive oil
1/2 c. onion, finely chopped
1/2 c. green or red bell pepper, chopped
1 1/2 c. half-and-half (I used fat-free)
1/2 c. mild salsa verde (green salsa)
1 c. petite diced tomatoes from a can, undrained
1/4 tsp. ancho chili powder
1/2 - 3/4 tsp. smoked paprika
1/4 c. fresh cilantro, chopped
1 Tbl. cornstarch dissolved in 1 Tbl. cold water

For the chicken: Combine ancho chili powder, smoked paprika, garlic powder, salt and pepper; season both sides of each chicken breast with the rub and set aside for a few minutes to allow the chicken to absorb some of the spices.  Then, grill on the George Foreman or cook in a skillet over medium heat until internal temperature registers 165 degrees on an instant-read thermometer.

For the pasta: Cook pasta according to package directions; drain.  Meanwhile, heat olive oil in a medium skillet over medium heat.  Add the onion and chopped peppers and saute for a few minutes or until tender.  Stir in the half-and-half, salsa verde, diced tomatoes, chili powder, smoked paprika and cilantro.  Allow to cook, stirring occasionally, until heated through.  Add the cornstarch/water mixture and continue cooking until thickened.  Stir in the cooked pasta.

To serve: Slice cooked chicken and serve over pasta.  Garnish with more cilantro, if desired.  Serves: 3-4   

DIY chocolate?

Homemade Nesquik mix:

2/3 C Sugar
1/3 C Cocoa
Pinch of salt

Combine the three ingredients and store in a sealed container.


Homemade Chocolate Syrup:

3/4 CWater
1.5 C Sugar
3/4 C Cocoa
1 tsp Vanilla
Pinch kosher salt
2 T Corn Syrup


Boil water and sugar together.  Whisk in remaining ingredients and cook over medium heat for about two minutes.  Let mixture cool and pour into storage container of choice.  (I use glass).  Once it's cool, I keep it in the fridge.