Friday, February 27, 2015

Apple Nut Butter Sandwiches

Yummy apple and your favorite nut butter made into a delicious and healthy snack. Kids will love making these! Some fun ideas are mini chocolate chips with peanut butter. 

I used Nutzo Seed Butter and Coconut Butter ... tastes amazing!! 



Apple Nut Butter Sandwiches
Gluten Free, Vegan, Dairy Free

Ingredients:

Apples
Nut Butter
Pumpkin Pie Spice or Cinnamon

Additional ideas:  granola, mini chocolate chips, coconut, nuts and seeds

Instructions:

Slice apples and spread your nut butter on each slice.
Place 1 slice on top and push down to help them stick together.
  Sprinkle pumpkin pie spice or cinnamon on top.

That's it, it's that simple.  Here's a video of us making our apple sandwiches.

Paleo Protein Packed Pancakes, Gluten Free, Dairy Free

These paleo protein packed pancakes are gluten free, dairy free and taste delicious.

Coconut flour is one of my favorite gluten free flours.  Not only does it taste amazing, but it has numerous health benefits including, high in fiber, high in protein and healthy fats.
  

Gluten Free, Dairy Free, Vegetarian

Ingredients:

1 egg
1/2 banana mashed
1 teaspoon coconut flour
1/8 cup almond milk 
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon vanilla

Instructions:

Mash your banana and add to your egg.
Add remaining ingredients and mix together.
Heat a non stick pan and spray with cooking spray.
Pour a large spoonful of batter into your pan.
Cook on 1 side until all the edges are cooked and pancake is bubbling. This will take several minutes and is longer to cook than a traditional pancake.
Turn and cook until other side is brown.

Fruit Topping:

1/2 cup of mixed fruit.  I used strawberries & blueberries.
Add 1 to 2 teaspoons of date syrup, maple syrup or honey.
Add a few splashes of water.
Cook over the stove until fruit is soft and pour over your pancakes.

Enjoy ...

Notes:  
Be patient as these pancakes take longer to cook than traditional pancakes.
Be sure to cook longer on the first side.
Using your spatula, gradually go around the entire pancake to be sure it does not stick before flipping.

Here is a video from making the pancakes! 

Thursday, February 26, 2015

Raw Caramel Maca Date Frappacino, Vegan, Gluten Free, Dairy Free

This creamy and delicious Caramel Maca Date Frappacino will keep you energized and full.  It's also vegan, gluten free and dairy free. Add banana and chia for a perfect breakfast frappacino and just add a shot of espresso for the perfect healthy coffee frappacino!  This super tasty shake is a wonderful snack or post workout treat! It's nice and thick and the added dates give it a wonderful sweetness. I love the taste of the cashew milk with the dates, but you can use any other dairy free milk. Almond milk and even coconut milk would also work well in this shake!


Raw Caramel Maca Date Frappacino
Vegan, Gluten Free, Dairy Free

Ingredients:

1 cup Cashew Milk
1/2 cup water
1 cup ice
1 teaspoon maca powder
1 teaspoon lucuma powder
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 piece of vanilla bean

Instructions:

Simply blend and Enjoy ...

Here's a video of making the shake!  

Wednesday, February 25, 2015

Vegan Caramel Yerba Mate Latte, Gluten Free, Dairy Free

Creamy, sweet and so delicious ...

This yummy dairy free mate latte is super healthy.
It's sweetened with dates, frothy cashew milk and is super creamy, healthy and tastes absolutely amazing.

Caramel Mate Latte


Caramel Mate Late
Vegan, Gluten Free, Dairy Free
Author:  Gluten Free Jersey Girl 

Ingredients

1 brewed cup of mate tea (I used chai spice)
1 cup cashew milk (or other non-dairy milk)
2 dates
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 piece of vanilla (or 1 to 2 teaspoons vanilla)
1 teaspoon maca powder

Instructions 

Simply blend together ... for a creamy, frothy latte and enjoy ...

Here's a video making my latte! 

Fun at Starbucks trying the new Coconut Milk Latte Vlog

Starbucks rolls out a new Coconut Milk Latte!

My friend and I stopped by Starbucks to try the new Starbucks Coconut Latte.

Check out our video review and let me know what you think of the new coconut milk!  While I wish that Starbucks would have used straight up coconut milk, I am please that there is a gluten free, dairy free option for me now at Starbucks.  There are added fillers and while I would have loved a healthier option, I am still pleased that there is now an option for me!  

Please note, there is always a chance for cross contamination at Starbucks, but I have not had any issues with that for myself.  Always check with your barista before ordering your drink because I cannot guarantee the coconut milk will be gluten and dairy free and they can also change their brands at any time. 


Tuesday, February 10, 2015

Gluten Free, Vegan White Bean Peanut Butter Blondies

Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip White Bean Blondies
Recipe by:  GlutenFreeJerseyGirl
Gluten Free, Vegan, Dairy Free, Egg Free, Eat To Live, Nutritarian



These vegan, gluten free blondies are super moist and filled with only nutritious ingredients.  I eat these for breakfast or as a special treat!  Because of the white beans, they are packed with protein which makes this a perfect breakfast food or snack after a workout.   If I didn't tell you, you would not even know there were beans in this recipe.  My blondies are healthy and be warned, very addictive!   I love to create recipes without eggs and flour and wanted to try something different.  I am so happy with how these came out.  Give them a try.  I hope you like them!

Ingredients: 

1 can white beans
1 cup pitted dates
1/4 cup apple sauce
1/2 cup peanut butter
2 teaspoons vanilla
1 tablespoon chia seeds
 1 tablespoon coconut nectar (or honey)
1 tablespoon cinnamon
1/4 scraped vanilla bean (optional)
dash of sea salt
1/4 cup allergen free dark chocolate chips (I used Enjoy Life)

Directions:

Blend all ingredients except chocolate chips together.
Spread evenly into an 8x8 greased glass dish
Spread chocolate chips over the top and press down into the batter.

Bake at 300 degrees for approx. 45-60 minutes. (Oven times may vary)

Note:  Be sure to cool completely before cutting.

Enjoy ...

I like to have mine with a scoop of frozen banana ice cream and topped with caramel date syrup!


Here's a video of us making the blondies.

Friday, February 6, 2015

Heart Shaped Peanut Butter Cups

A sweet and tasty valentine candy perfect for your favorite chocolate lover in your life.  These peanut butter cups are so easy to make and are so much healthier than some popular ones in the stores.   The secret to getting the best chocolate is to temper your chocolate.


Heart Shaped 
Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups
Recipe by:  GlutenFreeJerseyGirl
Gluten Free, Dairy Free, Vegan

Note:  This chocolate needs to be refrigerated...

Ingredients:

1/4 cup cocoa butter
1/4 cup coconut oil
1/2 cup cocoa powder
1 Tablespoon coconut nectar
1 Teaspoon stevia
1 teaspoon vanilla or 1/4 of vanilla bean
dash of sea salt
peanut butter

Instructions:

Melt the cocoa butter and coconut oil.
Add the cocoa powder and stir for a few minutes.
Add sweetener, vanilla and sea salt and continue stirring.
Remove from the heat and stir from a few minutes.
Place back on heat for a few minutes and continue to stir.
Do this several times until your chocolate until it becomes smooth and shiny.

Note: Do not to let your chocolate get hotter than 110F degrees.  You can use a candy thermometer if you want to be sure, however, I did not use one.   Once it reaches this heat is when you will remove it from the heat and let it cool to around 90F degrees and then repeat the process until chocolate is smooth and shiny.
(This is called tempering your chocolate.)

Pour into your candy mold halfway.  Place in freezer for about 15 minutes or until chocolate hardens.

Remove from the freezer and put 1 tablespoon of your favorite nut butter into each heart.  Then fill with remainder of chocolate and freeze for at least 2 to 3 hours or until your chocolate hardens.  Use raw nut butter to keep them raw.

Here's a video making my favorite peanut butter cups!

Monday, February 2, 2015

Building German Panzer World War II Tank

Panzers were German tanks which stormed all of Europe in World War 2 and my husband found one  that you can build online.  He and Davey spent hours building it.  

It came out awesome!!


Sunday, February 1, 2015

Monster Jam 2015 at the Izod Center Hughes Family Vlog

What a fun day at Monster Jam.  Yesturday was the last day that Monster Jam will be at the Izod Center in New Jersey.  It was a lot of fun, but sad to see them closing.  I am not sure where they will hold Monster Jam in the future, but it was fun to be able to attend several shows there.  As always, the drivers were wonderful and Davey took lots of pictures and got signatures for the Monster Jam Yearbook.  

Here's a fun video from our day at Monster Jam ...