Friday, March 18, 2011

FRESH FOODIE'S KITCHEN: Homemade Granola Bars





I like these bars for so many reasons: 1. they are so quick and easy to make, 2. they give me protein and healthy fats that I really need as a vegetarian, 3. they satisfy my sweet tooth, and 4. they are very satisfying and curb my cravings. I enjoy them on the go, or at the end of the day with a cup of hot tea.
INGREDIENTS*:

  • Almond Butter
  • Honey
  • Coconut Flakes
  • Trail Mix of your choice
  • Oatmeal (uncooked; quick oats or slow cooked oats, NOT instant) 
  • Cinnamon

*REMINDER: Measuring food and counting calories make me crazy, so I avoid them at all costs. If you are a measurer or calorie counter, you'll have to figure out your desired quantities.


INSTRUCTIONS:

Mix in a bowl until evenly distributed and of a sticky consistency. Place several spoonfuls on a large piece of plastic wrap. Use the plastic wrap to assist you in forming your bars into your desired size and shape. Refrigerate until ready to eat to help solidify the bars further. (None of these ingredients need to be refrigerated, so these bars can be put in your purse or lunch bag without the worry of them spoiling during the day.)

NOTE: Because the ingredients are a little pricey and the bars are calorie dense, I recommend limiting your intake. I usually can make about 4 or 5 bars from a batch and make that last me a whole week.


Let me know what you think! Fresh Foodie's Kitchen is a test kitchen! Your feedback is always appreciated.

Sunday, March 13, 2011

FRESH FOODIE'S KITCHEN: Quick and Easy Vegetarian Nachos



Ingredients:

-"Meat" Mixture: Saute in extra virgin olive oil...
  • onion and bell pepper (saute thoroughly before adding crumbles)
  • Morning Star Sausage Crumbles (or meat sub of your choice)
  • cayenne pepper
-Preparing Nachos: Layer in this order....
  • Baked Tortilla chips (My favorite is Guiltless Gourmet brand spicy black bean flavor, but I can't find them anymore.)
  • Black beans
  • Collard Greens (Glory brand "sensibly seasoned" is my favorite kind)
  • "Meat" Mixture (from recipe above)
  • Shredded cheese mix (I usually use 2% mexican or taco blend)
  • Salsa of your choice (My favorite green salsa is Herdez brand salsa verde. My favorite Red salsa is Frontera brand Jalapeno Cilantro)
Microwave for 2-3 minutes and enjoy!