Green Zebra Cakes (Paleo)

I cannot believe that my last post was almost a month ago! Honestly, I’ve been too busy to keep up with life outside of student teaching. Come mid-December, I promise to make it up to you. Surprisingly, I had a little time this weekend, so I was able to work on this post! It’s kinda Halloween-ish, right? Well, it’s a green and black treat if that makes a difference…until next time!

Green Zebra Cakes:

Base:

1 ripe banana

1/2 avocado

1/4 cup coconut butter

1/2 tbsp vanilla extract

1/2 tsp salt

Chocolate Drip:

1/2 tbsp coconut oil, melted

2 tsp cacao powder

2 tsp honey or maple syrup

Directions:

Combine all base ingredients in a food processor and blend until smooth. Spoon into silicone cupcake liners and place in the fridge for 1 hour. Afterwards, pop the cakes out of the cupcake liners and place on a plate.

In a small bowl, whisk together the chocolate drip ingredients. Drizzle over cakes. Upon contact with the cold cakes, the drizzle should harden up. Place in the fridge  until ready to serve.

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Cookie Dough Protein Bowl (Grain-Free)

Confession: When I was little, I used to sneak large globs of cookie dough from the giant tub of Pillsbury in the fridge. I laughed at the threat of getting an upset stomach. Oh, to be young and so carefree…

As evidenced by today’s post, however, my childhood desires have not entirely been suppressed with age. As much as I love my Paleo Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Dip, I do not always have sweet potatoes at hand. Instead, I have created this protein-packed cookie dough.

And guess what? I have not only been eating this as a snack and dessert, but also for breakfast too! Looking at the ingredients list, I can confidently say I regret nothing!

Oh, and an added bonus? This recipe will stuff you up! I couldn’t even get through a quarter of my cookie dough bowl before getting full! With that said, enjoy!

Cookie Dough Protein Bowl (Grain-Free) 

Ingredients:

1/2 cup protein powder (obviously, pick a flavor you like!)

3/4 cup plain, whole milk yogurt

1/4 cup nut butter and/or coconut butter

3 tbsp coconut flour

2 tbsp shredded coconut

1 tsp vanilla extract

 1/2 tsp cinnamon

1/2 tsp salt

Pinch of stevia

2 tbsp cacao nibs

Directions:

Add all ingredients (except the cacao nibs) into a food processor and blend until smooth (likewise, you can just stir all the ingredients together in a bowl really well). Stir in the cacao nibs, transfer to a bowl, and place in the fridge for 20 minutes before serving. Makes a great breakfast, snack, or dessert!

Butternut Squash Chocolate Cookies (Paleo)

All I want to do is make these cookies.

All. Day. Long.

But, finals are once again upon me and I only have time to look at this picture and salivate. The struggle is real.

I think this will be the first thing I make once my semester is over.

Here’s to 2 weeks from now!

Butternut Squash Chocolate Cookies (Paleo) 

Ingredients:

1/4 cup pureed butternut squash, COMPLETELY cooled

1/4 cup coconut butter, melted

1 tbsp pure maple syrup 

1/2 tsp cinnamon

1/4 tsp vanilla extract

1/8 tsp salt

2 tbsp cocoa powder

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and line a baking pan with parchment paper. Combine squash, coconut butter, syrup, cinnamon, vanilla, and salt in a food processor. Blend until smooth and then scoop out all contents into a bowl (make sure to scape sides and bottom of food processor with a spoon as the coconut butter tends to stick!) Add in cocoa powder and stir until all the ingredients are evenly mixed. Place in the fridge for 5 minutes. Take out, drop into desired cookie sized-shapes on parchment-layered pan, and press down lightly. Transfer to the oven and let cook for 12 minutes. Let sit to harden before eating.

“Irish Potato” Candy (Redone)

I’ve recently learned that most people have no clue what Irish Potato (Candies) are. Upon looking it up, I found that it’s a treat that has originated (and stayed) in the Philadelphia area. Since I’ve always lived in NJ, I just figured that they were as universal as cookies or cupcakes. My bad.

(While I’m on the subject, does anybody know what a hoagie is? I’ve used the term “hoagie” my whole life- yet, when I went to NY, nobody had any clue what I was talking about. It’s so strange how dialects work).

Anyway, back on topic. For those who don’t know, Irish Potatoes become popular where I live every March, around St. Patrick’s Day. Growing up, homeroom mothers would always make them for any classroom parties we had in March. Typically, they are small potato-shaped treats made with lots of powdered sugar, coconut, cream cheese, butter, vanilla, and cinnamon. They are neither potatoes or Irish. Regardless, it’s one of those things everyone eats around this time of year, kinda like the Shamrock Shakes. To find the recipe for this, you can just google it.

When I began cooking for myself, however, I became turned off by the ingredients used to make these “potatoes.” Instead, I’ve made my own “potatoes.” Since this candy is not an Irish tradition, I feel no guilt with remodeling it. And I mean by a lot. So, does it taste like the Irish Potato candy? A little. More important, does it taste good? Yup.

Still, if you have eaten Irish Potatoes before, don’t expect the stuff you find in the stores. If you’ve never had it and have nothing to compare it to, feel free to still try.

Hey, you can’t miss what you never had, right?

“Irish Potato” Candy (Redone)

Ingredients: 

2/3 cup solidified coconut butter

1 tbsp vanilla protein powder

1/2 tsp vanilla extract

cinnamon

Directions:

In a SMALL food processor (unless making a big batch), combine coconut butter, protein powder, and vanilla. Blend until creamy. Place in the fridge for a couple minutes to harden slightly. Roll into little balls. Sprinkle cinnamon on top and roll until coated. Keep at room temperature.