No Bake Chocolate Cherry Granola Bars- Girl Scout Cookies Never Had it So Good (or Healthy!)

This week has been an absolutly crazy week with clients, preparations for Easter, my in-laws arrival tomorrow, Grandparents Day at my son's school (where I will be helping out all day!) AND his Science Fair the day after Easter involving dry ice (don't ask!) so when my fellow Girl Scout Brownie Mom's asked me to come up with a cute idea for the kids to make for our next meeting I almost cratered...

The criteria were that they had to be something that would/could be:

1) Easy for the girls to make
2) Made without an oven
3) Made in under 10 minutes
4) Nut-free and healthy (I am taking this to mean sugar-free and wholesome ingredients!)
and
5) A snack the girls would like and actually eat!

Then, I thought, "I've got it!" No problem!" We will make my No Bake Chocolate Cherry Granola Bars!

Step 1: Add equal parts Oatmeal and Kashi Go Lean Crunch cereal

Step 2: Add unsweetened applesauce or mashed banana (I used mashed banana) and stir

Step 3: Add honey (I used a whole honey bear.) This is what sticks it together so be liberal about it!!!

Step 4: Add dried cherries (or raisons or cranberries)

Step 5: Add chocolate chips

Then, put them in a fridge to harden for approximately 20-30 minutes. Take out and slice into bars.

If this were not for Brownies and could include nuts a delicious addition to this would be to add almond butter or peanut butter to up the protein ante. But, this being kids and a school function and having nut-allergy kids in the group, this was strictly not allowed!

If I were also making them for myself or my crew, I would also add Sun Warrior Protein Powder in vanilla, perhaps some chia, hemp or pumkin seeds, and maybe even a bit of coconut butter to further up the flavor and the nutritional ante!

Cajun Seitan-Sandwich, Chocolate Bliss and Mommy-Daughter Time at Candle Cafe!

My son is away at a sleepover (he is off today for Passover) and my daughter who attends a Catholic school is not. She was waaaay bummed at having to go to school when her brother didn't have to so last night I decided to take her out to dinner as a treat- a little mommy-daughter bonding!

Caroline's favorite, favorite, favorite place to go is Candle Cafe, a vegetarian restaurant on the Upper East Side here in New York City. Ok, twist my arm! When we go we always share the Cajun Seitan Sandwich (see above,) which is the most delicious, mouth watering sandwich ever even if I were not a vegan (really!)Along with their Seitan Picata, which comes over mash potatos and spinach, this is also my occasional meat-eating husband's favorite meal and also one of my son's favorites!

We started off our meal with a green juice (for me) and a frozen limonade (for her.) Aren't they pretty?!?

Can you tell Caroline is enjoying hers? My little chatterbox barely spoke a word when it arrived as she downed it!

When it came time to order, she surprised me! No cajun seitan sandwich for her (yes, one for me please!) but she ordered the good food plate with rice, sauteed vegetables, soba noodles and a delicious tahini sauce.

She surprised me again with dessert! We usually order their Chocolate Mouse Cake .

But, this time, my chocolate-loving gal ordered the Chocolate Chip Bundt Cake. It was good but I have to say that I missed the Chocolate Mouse Pie!

She loved it and that's all it matters!

Dad met up with us at the end and loved it too!

What a special family evening.

You don't have to live in New York to eat this dish! A few months back, I tried to recreate the Crusted Seitan and came up with my own twist. Here is a picture of the seitan!



Two meals for the effort of one!

Night #1: As you can see, one night I served the seitan with some corn and ketchup (we had a playdate over and they had no idea it wasn't chicken!) And,

Night #2:  The next night, I just piled the seitan high ontop of a bun and added sliced tomato, lettuce and slattered on some Vegenaise. Sorry there is no photo but I will publish one later- in the meantime, you can imagine how delicious it might be!

 

Chocolate and Vanilla Coconut Cream Pudding

People always ask me, "so, how do you stay on a vegan diet?" I am not (and have never been) a meat-lover so becoming a vegetarian was fairly easy feat for me. But, I have to admit  that rich and creamy foods were the foods I craved in my former life. So, when I take my daughter to 16 Handles (frozen yogurt lover's paradise) or see someone devouring a container of creamy Fage Greek yogurt, I am sometimes tempted until I remind myself how much better I feel not eating dairy!

Having a healthy arsenol of foods to fall back on when so you don't feel deprived I found is key. My absolute favorite go-to food for dessert/treat/breakfast is Coconut Cream Pudding! Not only is it very easy to make but it is also outrageously delicious! Here is the basic recipe:

Coconut Cream Pudding

2 cups of coconut meat (you can also use 2 cups of unsweetened shredded coconuts)

¼ cup agave nectar

1 vanilla bean

Touch of water or coconut water (as needed for desired consistency)

Optional: Oh Alaska Chocolate Sauce, Shredded Coconuts, Blueberries (as you can see, I went for them all!)

Place the coconut meat or shredded coconut in a blender along with the agave, vanilla and a touch of coconut or filtered water and blend. If you are using shredded coconut, be sure to soak it for 15-20 minutes or so in water to soften (and you can use this same water to add back to your mixture!) If you are going the "fresh" route you can either open the coconuts (watch this video to see How to Open a Coconut) or use frozen meat. Blend for approximately 2-5 minutes or until smooth. It may be slightly warm when you take it out so put the pudding in the refrigerator to cool off and thicken. 

Here are my two favorite new finds! Exotic Superfoods Frozen Coconut Meat and Coconut Water!!! You can either order these directly from them or, if you live in New York, purchase them from High Vibe. These are staples that I just keep in the freezer to pull out when I need them.
 

If you don't have these, don't fret! Shredded coconut and boxed coconut waters like One and Vita Coco will do as well!!!

So, here is where is gets fun! If you adore chocolate like I do, take half of your pudding mixture above (or just make double the amount) and make a chocolate pudding from it. So easy.

Chocolate Coconut Pudding

Vanilla coconut pudding

1-1 1/2 tbsps unsweetened chocolate powder

2 tbsp agave nectar

Continue to blend in your blender and chill. I love taking the Coconut Cream Pudding and making a dallop on top like whipped cream!!! So delicious and completely hits the spot!

"Sandra Lee-ing" Dinner?

Dinner does not always have to be complicated! And, doesn't always have to be 100% homemade to be delicious and nutritious. I have had the flu this week so just not full of my usual energy and vigor. I wanted to make a healthy dinner for the fam but it just needed to be easy. So, I took the "Sandra-Lee approach" and made a Semi-homemade gluten-free superfood packed marimara pasta! Healthy and they gobbled it up!

First step:

I took crunchy sprouts (lentils, peas, adzuki), a few red peppers, and a few mini carrots and chopped them up in my mini-cuisinart.

Step 2: Put sauce (my absolute fave is Paesano's marinara- once you try it you will never go back) in a sauce pan along the pureed mixture above for approximately 5 minutes.

Step 3: Add my "secret" ingredients: green superfood powder and dulse flakes.

And, voila!

I apologize for the messy image but my kids had just gotten from a trip to Rockefeller Center for my daughter's class project so they came in cold, wet and staaaaaarving and devoured it before I could take a picture!

A simple sandwich for me and then off to an early bedtime!

Veggie Sandwich

2 slices Manna bread

Sliced tomato
1/2 sliced avocado

Few pieces mesclun salad and sprouts (from the delicious Union Square trip)

Tahini

Pile it all up and YUUUUM!



Union Square on a Rainy Day and a Surprise in the Mail!

Some of my favorite vendors come to Union Square in New York City on Wednesdays and Saturdays so I had planned a trip earlier in the week to go today before I knew it was going to be rainy and cold! I almost didn't go, but am so glad I did. There is something so peaceful and calming about going to the market with it is not so busy and it was nice being able to leisurely walk around.

The flower stall was what I first saw when I stepped off the subway. But, flowers were not what I was coming to the market for today! I was in search for sprouts (for me) and apples (for my kids!)

And, I found the holy grail of sprouts and micro-greens,  Windfall Farms from Montgomery, NY. Windfall Farms sells microgreens, sprouts and even organic eggs and is where many of the top chefs go to shop. Ironically enough, Windfall farms is in a green! bus so you can't miss them!

The Windfall Farms Green Bus

And, here are some of the sprouts and greens that they sell. I bought some gorgeous mesclun with some edible flowers, buckwheat and pea sprouts and to use in my salads, sandwiches and smoothies this week! I am literally addicted to sprouts and add then to anything and everything I can. Sprouts are literally baby plants that sprout from seeds and contain all the nutrients needed to grow to maturity and are a true live "superfood" bursting with nutrition and live enzymes.



Greens and Sprouts at Windfall Farms

Microgreens with Flowers



Putting Sprouts in Bags to Go!

Then, it was off to buy the apples! The apples were gorgeous and HUGE!

Here is a picture of one of the apples I bought next to my cell phone (note: it is BIGGER than my blackberry!) I plan to slice this baby up and slather it with almond butter for my son for his after school snack!

I didn't buy them but there was also a great vendor selling mushrooms (by Barnes & Noble)- shitake, oyster, portobello- you name it! I will definitely plan to pick some of those up next time!

Vendor Selling Mushrooms

On my way over to pick up a book at Barnes & Noble, I had to visit the new Andy Warhol statue by Robert Pruitt on the corner of 17th and Broadway! Looking around, it is hard to believe that Warhol's first "Factory" was right here on Union Square! So much history.

I returned home happy with my trip but very cold and very, very wet and a surprise awaited from my Mom. Just what I needed to perk up my day. Dr. Perricone's Cold Plasma, which I have been dying for!!! As a 40 year old mother of two, I am trying to turn back the clock as naturally as I can and this product has been discribed as "gold in a bottle!" Cold Plasma claims it "helps prevent and correct signs of aging and imparts radiant looking skin." Well, it should be considering the cost at $135 but, personally, I can't wait to try it. I will also be testing out the Dr. Alkaitis products so stay tuned!



Eating lots of fresh fruits and vegetables and drinking fresh green juice certainly helps keep us healthy and looking radiant from the inside out but is that enough?

What products do you use? Have you found anything that has worked for you?

After I got over my excitement over my gift, I made lunch. Here is the delicious salad I made with my new sprouts and microgreens. I added avocado, raw pistachios, and a dash of dulse and dressed the salad with olive oil and sea salt. Lunch totally hit the spot. Definately worth the trip!





What's for Breakfast?

My daughter had to get to school early today and, as you can see, it was early morning in the Pennington household.We are NOT, I repeat, we are NOT early risers and this pic encapsulates how we were all feeling!!!

Breakfast had to be easy this morning. Friends and clients are always asking me, "so, what do you all have for breakfast every morning?" Well, my son, Oliver is on a gluten-free diet so the kids had gluten-free bagels with almond butter and St. Dalfour's jelly and some sliced fruit. 

Udi's gluten-free bagel with almond butter and jelly

For those of you who are looking for more gluten-free options, these Udi's gluten-free bagels are the way to go! When my son had to go on a gluten-free diet, the thing he was most upset about missing were his bagels. Many gluten-free products taste like card board but these are delicious and even satisfy my bagel-loving boy!



Udi's bagels



You can find Udi's bagels in the freezer section at Whole Foods and many other health shops. Udi's makes delicious gluten-free muffins (the blueberry and lemon are favorites in our house,) breads (whole wheat and, even "white") and a wide variety of granolas! Whether you are eating a gluten-free diet or not, these are products to get to know!

So, what did I have for breakfast?



Laughing Giraffe's Cranberry Orange Granola


I go in waves but right now I am in my cereal kick so I had Laughing Giraffe's Cherry Ginger Granola with tons of blueberries and my homemade almond milk! Laughing Giraffe's granola are gluten-free, organic and raw. Laughing Giraffe also has a delicious Cherry Cacao Ginger cereal.

Did you know that blueberries contain the highest amount of antioxidants than any other fruit? I am writing an article for The Family Groove right now on the topic of Protecting Your Skin from Sun Damage through Your Fork and was pleasantly surprised when I came across this fact! Dr. Perricone has been advocating blueberries for antiaging for years. Luckily for me, I am almost certifiably addicted to blueberries and have them on my cereal every morning!

Another Laughing Giraffe Cereal with, of course, blueberries!

When I am not having Laughing Giraffe, another favorite is Rawnola by Earthling Organics.

Rawnola with, Of course, blueberries and homemade almond milk

Am I boring? Do you see a pattern??? Do you often have the same breakfast every morning?

When I am not having granola or another cereal, I am definately a smoothie girl. Here are some of my other favorites:

 My Chocolate Banana Smoothie is always a hit in my family and is great for breakfast or for an afternoon snack. I adore having one after a strenuous workout and it always perks the fam up to have something decadent (and still healthy!)


Chocolate Banana Smoothie

My Power Me Up Green Smoothie is always a go-to breakfast for me!

Power Me Up Green Smoothie

 Sometimes the kids get turned off by the green color, so add some frozen berries...and, viola!

Green Smoothie with Frozen Berries

Really, you can throw anything into your blender. I made this smoothie from pineapple, mango and almond milk when my son was feeling under the weather!

Pineapple and Mango Smoothie

And, finally one of my very favorite breakfasts Raw Mixed Berry Pancakes.

Raw Pancakes with Mixed Berries

I adore having these on the weekend when my husband makes the kids homemade pancakes! This way, I feel like I am participating and having something delicious and healthy!

What do you do for healthy breakfasts?

Protein-Packed Waffle Sandwiches and Green Smoothies

I am baaack. We have been up to all our healthy ways but for whatever reason I just felt that we all (and I!) needed a break from chronicling every meal. Don't you ever need to just take a break from what you are doing and gain some perspective? I find that it is a very healthy and essential part of being a busy, working mother!

So, what is on the agenda today? Power waffles! My son has a lacrosse practice and then tennis with the hubbie today and I owed Brian from Digital Running, an online magazine for runners, a picture for a Veggie Protein Powder article that I am writing for him. So, decided that this would be a great way to send Oliver off this morning! Unfortunately, I just realized that we had to throw out the regular waffle maker (thus, the circus shaped waffles) but the shapes did make them more fun for the kids!

Power Waffle Sandwiches

Arrowhead Mills Multi-Grain Pancake and Waffle Mix (I used Cherrybrook Kitchen because my boy is gluten-free)

2 1/2 cups unsweetened almond milk

2 scoops Sun Warrior vanilla protein powder

2 tbsp coconut butter

1 banana Raw honey (I didn't use it because Cherrybrook is pre-sweetened)

Optional: unsweetened chocolate chips

To top: almond butter, sliced banana, honey to drizzle

In a bowl, combine the waffle mix, almond milk and coconut butter as indicated on the package. Stir in the protein powder. For a more "decadent waffle," add chocolate chips. Take two waffles and put almond butter in the middle. We also love to add sliced banana and raw honey for sweetness as well as to aid in digestion and boost immunity.

These "sandwiches" are a nutritious, protein-packed breakfast for kids and adults alike and are also perfect for a pre-or post-workout snack! Sun Warrior adds a wopping 32 grams of protein per two scoops and is a grat way to add nutrition to smoothies, puddings and really, well, anything!

The picture of the "waffle sandwich" is above but here is a pic of the waffles open-faced: Mid-morning my daughter got hungry and, as she is going off to lacrosse as well, wanted to give her something high-protein, and nutrition-packed as well. She loooooves green smoothies so we made a Chocolate and Coconut Green Smoothie- Yum! First we started with the unsweetened almond milk, then added the Sun Warrior protein powder, some Pure Synergy greens powder... And, my secret ingredient... frozen coconut meat, which I buy from High Vibe!

As you can see by her smile, she LOOOOOOVED IT!

Chocolate & Coconut Greens Smoothie
1 1/2 cups unsweetened almond milk
1 cup frozen coconut meat
2 scoops Sun Warrior chocolate powder
2 tsp Pure Synergy greens powder

Few ice cubes

Blend and enjoy. You can see Caroline did!!!