No-Dye Green Cookies (Paleo and Nut-Free)

Say what? Another post? All in the same week? This must be a record.

Anyway, I HAD to share this recipe before St. Patty’s day. It’s too perfect not to!

Here we have a grain-free and nut-free paleo cookie. But wait for it… take a bite and the inside is COMPLETELY GREEN. And nope! No color dye or spinach was used to achieve this effect.

So what’s the secret? The combination of sunbutter and baking soda! It creates a chemical reaction that results in a green cookie. Just make sure to wait a few hours for the green to show up. I HIGHLY recommend waiting until the next day for the best results!

If you have little kids, I suggest making these the night before St. Patrick’s day and telling them that the leprechauns used their magic to jazz up the cookies. It works every time 😉 

No-Dye Green Cookies (Paleo and Nut-Free)

Ingredients:

3/4 cup organic sunbutter (I use the Once Again brand)

1 egg

2 tbsp honey

1/2 tsp vanilla

1 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

pinch of stevia

Optional: 2 tbsp cane sugar (for a sweeter cookie. I usually omit)

3 tbsp coconut flour

3 tbsp chocolate chips

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and line a baking pan with parchment paper.

In a bowl, combine the sunbutter, egg, honey, and vanilla. Mix in baking soda, salt, stevia, and sugar (if using). Add in coconut flour and chocolate chips.

Roll into 12 balls and place on baking sheet. Press down slightly. Bake in the oven for 13 minutes. Allow to cool completely. Eat now OR wait a few hours for the green color to appear. I HIGHLY recommend allowing the cookies to sit overnight. The next day, the cookies will be completely green on the inside!!!

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Green Tea Coconut Bars (Paleo)

In honor of St. Patrick’s Day, I’ve got (another) green recipe post. Surprisingly- and to the relief of my brother- no spinach is needed this time to get the green color. 

Instead, I’ve put to use a small and forgotten container of matcha green tea that has been collecting dust at the back of the cabinet. And bam! Green! (Not that you can completely tell with the crappy lighting…)

Anyway, this tea powder has opened up a range of possibilities! (Green cookies, anyone? 😉 ) Luckily, I have all of Spring Break to “experiment” now!    

Green Tea Coconut Bars (Paleo)

Ingredients:

1/2 cup unsweetened shredded coconut

1/4 tsp matcha green tea (this is a powder)

1/8 tsp salt

2 tsp honey

1/2 tbsp coconut oil, melted

Optional: chocolate chips

Directions:

In a small food processor, pulse together the coconut, matcha green tea, and salt until the green color is distributed. Add in honey and oil and pulse until dough begins to stick together. Stir in chocolate chips. Press dough into an desired container that is lined with parchment/wax paper. Let harden in the fridge for at least ten minutes before taking out and cutting into individual bars.

“Shamrock Shake”

I’ve never had a shamrock shake.

Not even when I was little (thank goodness).

I’d like to say that I was food conscientious from a young age, but I wasn’t.

I just hated mint. And still do, by the way.

Still, I kinda felt alienated with all the green drinks around me. People love their shamrock shakes apparently

So, I made my own, tasting probably nothing like McD’s version. But that’s okay. Free of the mystery ingredients and dyes AND bypassing on the mint? AND being green. I’ll happily take it and chug it down 🙂

“Shamrock Shake”

Ingredients: 

2/3 cup plain, organic whole milk yogurt

1/2 cup fresh spinach (add more for a greener color!)

1/4 cup almond milk

2 tbsp nut butter

1/4 tsp vanilla extract

1/4 tsp cinnamon

salt, to taste

Directions: 

Combine all ingredients in a food processor/blender and blend until smooth and green.

Want more green? 

Avocado Shake I

Avocado Shake II 

Irish Soda Bread

Yup, a St. Patrick’s Day recipe. Instead of going all out and fancy though, I wanted to make the most basic Irish Soda Bread possible. This means no sugar, raisins, or butter  (but feel free to add some if you want more of a dessert bread 🙂 ).Of course this is not a complete traditional bread (I can’t help but to put my own spin on things). I used my own  “buttermilk” recipe (milk + vinegar) and somehow, I don‘t think the Irish used spelt flour all that much.

Since this recipe is so basic, I’ve been using it a lot for sandwich bread and I even made a bread bowl with it!

P.S- It tastes awesome if toasted 😉

Irish Soda Bread 

Ingredients:

1 cup milk

1 tbsp vinegar

2 cups spelt flour (can use whole wheat flour)

1 cup whole wheat flour

1/2 tbsp baking soda

1 tsp salt

Directions:

Mix milk and vinegar together in a small bowl. Let stand for 10 minutes. Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 375 degrees. In a large bowl, mix together flours, baking soda and salt. Create a well in the middle of the mixture and pour in milk. Mix altogether and knead with your hands into a ball. If too dry, add a SMALL amount of milk. Place on an ungreased baking sheet and press down slightly until your hands just cover the dough from sight. Cut an X in the bread, 1/4-1/2 inch deep. Bake for 40 minutes. Serve upon taking out of the oven. Store in a sealed ziplock bag.

“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.