Protein-Packed Oatmeal

I love oatmeal...period. It's a simple sentence, but it says all it needs to say. I'll eat it at any time of day, any way. This probably isn't a new concept, because oatmeal is such a staple in many people's diet. It is healthy, filling, and above all else...easy. It's quick to make and quite affordable.
I've become quite creative with my oatmeal add-ins throughout my college career. Eating in the same caf, with the same food evokes one to get creative with what is available. A few concoctions have elicited brows to be raised by my friends (maybe we'll get into that later), so when I was surprised by one of my roommate's favorite ways to eat oatmeal, I was truly shocked I had never thought of it.
She added a scoop of protein powder to her warm bowl of oats! Genius! Not only will this bowl of oats fill you up, it will keep you full! And as an added bonus, you can switch up the flavors and be okay with having a bowl of chocolate for breakfast!
Of course, after learning of this I have made quite a few variations, but my absolute favorite is the tried and true chocolate!
This isn't really a recipe so much as it is a guideline...add protein powder to oatmeal...BUT I'm going to write a recipe out anyway. Feel free to change quantities and ingredients how you see fit!

I like it so much, it's not just a dorm-room staple. Now that it's summer and I'm not in the dorms, I still make this frequently. It's great after  a work out too.

Protein-Packed Oatmeal

1/2 Cup oatmeal (GF)

1 cup water or almond/soy/milk, extra as needed

1 scoop favorite protein powder

add ins: chocolate chips (because you can never have enough chocolate), cocoa nibs (seen in photos), cocoa powder, berries (of course!), unsweetened coconut, walnuts/almonds and the like, ohhh....any nut-butter of choice. <- This would just taste like a favorite chocolate-covered peanut butter cup of mine.

1. Combine oatmeal and liquid and cook using method of choice, in a microwave or over the stove. Heat until the liquid is absorbed and the oats are cooked through.

2. Transfer cooked oats to a bowl (only if you used the stove), and stir in your protein powder until thoroughly combined.

3. Add additional water if the consistency is too thick.

4. Sprinkle with optional toppings and enjoy!

Do you use protein powder? What do you put it in?
Cheers,      Suzy

S'more Cupcakes

These cupcakes are a real treat. Don't let the length of the recipe be intimidating, the end result is worth every bit of work and when taken step-by-step the assembly isn't too difficult. I was pleasantly surprised at how well the whole thing turned out, and on my first try too!

If you are wondering how to go about eating these, ie., with a fork and knife, face-first, one-bite-wonder (not possible), ...roasted over a fire and on a stick... I say to opt for the face-first variation. 

Just like a kid at a campfire...no hesitation. 

To make the Marshmallow-Stuffed Graham Cracker Cupcake:
1 1/2 cups of gluten free graham crackers, ground to a fine flour using a food processor
1/2 cup gluten free flour blend (I used a mixture with ground oatmeal!)
1 1/2 t baking powder
1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup sugar
2 eggs
1 t vanilla extract
3/4 cup milk
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Marshmallows, the kind used for s'mores
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Chocolate Frosting
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Chocolate Squares
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Extra GF graham cracker crumbs

Instructions
To Make the Cake:
1.  Preheat oven to 350 degrees F and line a muffin tin with paper liners.
2. Combine the graham cracker flour, Gluten Free flour blend, baking powder, and salt.
3. Separately, cream the butter and sugar together until lighter in color and fluffy. Add one egg at a time, thoroughly combining before adding the second. Stir in the vanilla.
4. Slowly mix the flour mixture to the butter mixture, along with the milk until no lumps remain and all ingredients are combined.
5. Pour the batter into the lined muffin tins, about 1/2 full.
6. Place one marshmallow in the center of each muffin tin and gently push into the batter.
7. Bake for 20 minutes in the pre-heated oven, but please check your cupcakes and adjust time accordingly, they should be golden brown and the marshmallow should appear as though it has been roasted, and are a bit sunken within the cupcake.

8. Once you have removed the cupcakes from the oven, place ANOTHER marshmallow right in the crater that the first marshmallow created. Yup, you read that right. A whole second marshmallow stuffed right there in the middle of each cupcake. This one will get all warm and gooey, making for a welcomed surprise when you take that first bite!...and second, and third... 

9. You can frost the cupcakes that are brimming with marshmallows, once they are cooled. I used a large plastic baggie that was sealed and had the corner cut off, but feel free to apply the frosting however you like, as long as you pile it high!!

I used extra GF graham cracker crumbs and a chocolate square to garnish the already-over-the-top decadent cupcakes.

Please enjoy these cupcakes. They are by no means health food...but are completely delicious and worth sharing for special occasions.

Cheers,      Suzy

This recipe was constructed from a mish-mash of these adapted recipes:
http://www.52kitchenadventures.com/2013/05/23/homemade-smores-cupcakes/
http://www.theshabbycreekcottage.com/2013/04/marshmallow-in-middle-chocolate.html

Best Chocolate Frosting

Before going gluten free I didn't realize that most frosting contains a thickener, often flour. After making the realization, frosting just became an extra addition to the growing list of things that you have to look out for when eating. Among the sneaky places gluten hides, frosting is low on my list of concerns. Other foods that I eat more often, and are more relevant to my daily life such as roux in soups and thickeners and emulsifiers used in salad dressing, trump frosting. However, when I had an idea for these luscious cupcakes I knew I wanted to use the best frosting possible, and after looking into a couple recipes I was reminded just how prevalent flours are used in the creamy cake topper. After some research I came across this recipe and made modifications according to personal experience with gluten free flours and preferences.

The result was a frosting that is luxury at it's finest. It is silky, smooth, and chocolaty beyond belief. Much more rich-tasting than any frosting you might get out of a plastic container.

Ingredients
1 cup chocolate chips
1/3 cup Gluten Free flour of choice (the finer, the better...I used sweet white rice)
3 T unsweetened cocoa powder
2/3 cup granulated sugar (I used a less because I knew this cupcake was already going to be so sweet)
1 cup almond milk
1 cup butter, room temperature

To Make The Frosting:
1. Carefully melt the chocolate chips in a microwave-safe bowl in 30-second increments and stirring after each. 
2. In a small saucepan and over medium heat, combine the GF flour, cocoa powder, sugar and milk. Whisk to combine and remove lumps, allowing the mixture to come to a simmer for 3-5 minutes until thickened.
3. Remove from heat, transfer to a large mixing bowl (it is suggested to strain it into the bowl), and allow it to cool COMPLETELY in the refrigerator or freezer.
4. In a mixer (or in a bowl with a hand mixer), beat the butter until fluffy [2 min]. Add the cooled flour mixture and beat until fluffy [2 min]. Incorporate the melted chocolate chips and continue to beat until smooth and still fluffy [2 min].

At this point the frosting is ready to  pipe onto your cooled cupcakes, or you can go old-school (my personal favorite way of doing things) and smooth it on with a frosting knife.

Recipe for this S'more Cupcake HERE

Cheers,

     Suzy

Fan-FREAKING-tastic Bars

Oh yes they are!
It was declared on more than one occasion... by more than one person...
I'll try to convey the greatness of these bars with pictures and as many adjectives as possible; but just so you know, pictures and words can only say so much and you should just make them and let them speak for themselves.

They are chewy and crunchy, yet soft because they are no bake; they are fruity, nutty, sweet, a tad salty, and a little chocolaty. 
They are healthy. They have healthy fats, provide plenty of fiber, and only use wholesome ingredients. 
You can customize them to your heart's delight, they are Gluten Free (of course), Vegan, and incredibly easy to put together.
Did I mention they have chocolate? 
And they are FILLING! So worth it.

I had saved the original recipe quite a while ago, but it took a close friend of mine to make them first and get met to dig the recipe out and make them myself! Oh, what I've been missing out on!

The recipe is from 86 Lemons and I haven't changed it too much because quite honestly, they are perfect.

Someone was being sneaky and taking one from my background

Peanut Butter Chocolate Breakfast Bars
1 1/2 cups rolled oats (use gluten-free if desired)
1/2 cup flax seed meal1/4 cup chia seeds1/4 cup sunflower seeds1/3 cup pumpkin seeds1 cup cashews, almonds, walnuts1/2 cup honey/pure maple syrup/agave1 cup natural nut butter
1/2 cup vegan chocolate chips or coco nibs
1/2 cup dried cherries/blueberries/cranberries

Line and 8x8 inch dish with parchment paper. Combine oats, seeds, and nuts in a large bowl. Add in agave, etc. and nut butter of choice, and gently fold until all ingredients are incorporated (you may need a bit more honey/maple/agave depending on humidity and other ingredients used). Finally, fold in chocolaty and fruity add-ins until thoroughly mixed in. Dump the dough into the lined baking dish and spread evenly using a spatula. 
Let the bars chill out and firm up in the fridge for a couple hours or overnight (or in the freezer, for like, an hour; As 86 Lemons suggests, for those of us who just cannot wait until tomorrow). 
Cut into (12/16) squares.
Enjoy! 
Devour!
Make more!!

Simply Good Brownies

These are those brownies everyone needs a recipe for. They are quick to get a batch in the oven and practically scream for a tall glass of milk.

I'm no brownie connoisseur, but I'd say these are more on the cakey-fudgy side. They remind me of the brownies my grandma used to make for dumping vanilla bean ice cream on and drizzle with Sander's hot fudge. Except, these are made with almond meal. They are perfectly chocolaty, and not too sweet.
I really like the texture of these almond meal brownies. They have a slight crust that forms on top and lends that nice shine that tops classic brownies. It's surprising that the almond meal elicits such an airy crumb, it makes them an excellent vehicle for milk! Because the almond meal contributes extra moisture to the batter compared to the run of the mill flour, they have a little bit of a fudge consistency...but they are not fudge-y where you have to eat them with a fork otherwise you'll end up with melted chocolate all over your fingers. I do have a recipe for that sort of brownie, and those are a great treat for a bit more formal of a gathering, in my opinion. Instead, I literally made these after a lunch out with my grandparents on a whim. And I love them for their simplicity. They were delicious gripping a cold glass of milk in one hand and digging them out of the pan with the other free hand...no plates or forks necessary.

The added fiber and protein from the almond meal make these a healthier alternative to the usual brownie, and even the cocoa powder isn't bad; with it's own contribution of antioxidants and fiber. These are practically health food...practically. ; )

Though I have only made them once and cannot (yet) attest to this, this recipe seems as though it would be fairly easy to play around with and tweak to suit whatever kind of brownie-mood you are in. I would think they could be further health-i-fied with a more natural sugar substitute, or if you feel creative, you could try mashed banana or date paste. I'm sure these variations will end up on this blog eventually, because I will most definitely be making these again!

I found this excellent recipe for Almond Flour Brownies from The Wannabe Chef quite awhile ago. It's too bad it has taken me so long to getting around to trying it, this recipe would have been a staple by now.

I did tweak the recipe a bit to suit my liking, and I would make them just the same next time.

Recipe: Almond Meal Brownies

yield: 9 brownies
3/4 cup almond meal
3 T unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 t (GF) baking powder
3/4 C sugar of choice
3 eggs or 3/4 cup egg whites
1 1/2 t vanilla extract
1 t instant espresso
1/2 cup butter (I use a yogurt butter from a tub)
1 Cup dark chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350 degrees and prepare an 8 x 8 inch glass dish with cooking spray.
Combine the almond meal, salt, cocoa powder, and baking powder.
Seperatly, carefully melt the butter and 1/2 cup of the chocolate chips. I use the microwave by heating on high for thirty seconds, stirring, and heating for 5-10 more seconds before stopping to stir. Continuing in 5-10 second intervals until almost melted. Remove the mixture from the microwave before completely melted and stir, the chocolate will continue to melt into the butter without being heated further.
In another bowl, mix together the eggs, sugar, vanilla, and espresso powder.
Take a spoonful of the butter/chocolate mix and gently stir this into the egg and sugar mix before adding all of the butter/chocolate mixture. This is so the eggs don't begin to cook from the heat shock the butter and chocolate might provide.
Combine both chocolate mixture and the dry ingredients and stir well before pouring into the prepared baking dish.
Now for those remaining chocolate chips...distribute those over the top of the batter.
Bake for 30 minutes until a toothpick comes out clean.

Oh, except I would add more almond nut butter on top. This is a must, in my opinion. Almond flour brownies...almond nut butter...it was meant to be!

It's the simple things.

Do you have a go-to recipe for casual company?

Cheers,
Suzy

Banoffee Pie

I had the pleasure of making this pie and being able to share it with my grandparents. Following a lovely lunch, this was a really great way to end the meal. Sometimes you just need to make a tried-and-true, old-fashioned pie.

Well, it wasn't my tried-and-true per say, I had never made a Banoffee pie before. BUT, I went crazy researching recipes and comments for making Banoffee pie, until I was confident I had a no-fail recipe.

I had taken an interest in making one after reading another blogger's post about it's origins. 

I had always thought Banoffe pie had to do with coffee and bananas...but I was mistaken, it's toffee and banana! This is a brilliant combination and is a really nice change from chocolate-overload desserts that I am usually drawn to. Of course, chocolate is still made it's appearance on the pie, but only a little... as decoration. The bit of bitterness the dark chocolate lent the pie, did complement the super sweet bananas and toffee wonderfully.

This is a classic English dessert that I look forward to making again! It was a breeze to put together and the result is a grand presentation. 

What really won me over was the texture. The soft bananas and toffee pair really well with the chewy graham cracker crust and fluffy whipped topping.

Now, I will admit...while I was making the pie I was a little concerned about how it would turn out. To me, a layer of toffee just didn't seem...how do I want to put this...appetizing? I thought the banana and toffee were mixed together as a filling before being put in the pie crust, instead of being layered separately like how the recipe called for. To make myself feel better, I did add a single layer of banana before pouring the toffee into the crust. There...that's better! Whew. I realize this isn't normal, but I liked it, and I don't think anyone would really notice...or care for that matter.

Banoffee Pie

adapted from maameemoomoo
yield: 1 10 inch pie

2 1/2 cup gluten free graham cracker, crushed
1/4 cup almond meal as needed
1 cup butter, melted
1 can condensed milk
5 bananas, divided
200 ml whipping cream
1/4 cup dark chocolate, melted

Fill a large pot with water and submerge the can of condensed milk in the water. Place the pot on the stove and bring to a boil. Continue to boil the water for 2 hours, adding more water as needed.
Remove the can and let cool completely.
I use the plastic baggie and rolling pin method for crushing graham crackers, I always end up with crumbs everywhere, If you prefer another method go for it.
Melt the butter, add the cracker crumbs and thoroughly mix. I thought my mixture was too wet still, so I added almost 1/4 cup of almond meal. Press mixture into the base and onto the sides of a 10 inch pie dish (I used a springform pan).
Chill for 1 hour.
Here is where I added one banana slice layer.
Open the can of condensed milk. Spread onto the base of your crust. Chill for 1 hour.
Peel and thinly slice the rest of the bananas, layer on top of the toffee layer.
Whip the cream for a few minutes on high (I used a hand-held blender), and spread this over the bananas.
Decorate with the melted dark chocolate.

This pie was also super easy to make gluten free. All you really need to do is buy gluten free graham crackers, which are now quite common to find in grocery stores. Of course if you are feeling really ambitious you could try to make your own graham crackers, but in this recipe I settled for store-bought.

Now, since making this recipe, I can say it is my tried-and-true, I look forward to making this again for another gathering.

What are some of your favorite flavor combinations?

I'm pretty sure banana and toffee will be making it's appearance in the kitchen much more frequently, and the chocolate...that will always be close at hand ;)

Cheers, 

     Suzy

Basic No-Bake Protein Bar

I've been making and slowly modifying this bar for years. The original recipe is by Stella Juarez and it has served me very well! 
This recipe is a no-bake, which makes it wonderful for making at night to have in the morning as a quick breakfast or makes for a fantastic snack post-workout. They are also really easy to travel with, making them a smart choice for packed lunches or snacks.

I love eating these with a smudge of almond butter next to a tall glass of water.

I suggest really taking your time to find a good protein powder for these. The flavor of the protein powder really does come through, so you have to be okay with it's taste.

Yield: 9 square bars

1/3 C nut butter of your choosing

1 C Oatmeal, uncooked (GF)

132 g chocolate protein powder (this is a bit less than 1 1/2 Cups worth, or 6 scoops, depending on the size of your scoop)

1 t vanilla extract

2 T flax meal

1 C non-fat dry milk

1/2 C water, extra if necessary

Add the oatmeal, protein powder, flax meal, and dry milk powder to a bowl. Stir to combine. Add in the nut butter and mix lightly. Now, add in the water. The water will dissolve the dry milk powder, making the mixing process much easier. You will definitely have to work a little to incorporate all of the dry ingredients, only adding extra water if necessary.

Spray, or prepare and 8 x 8 inch baking dish with non-stick spray or with parchment. 

Press the 'dough' mixture into the baking dish, and smooth it out evenly.

Refrigerate the mixture for a few hours or overnight.

Cut into 9 squares.

I like to keep these in a Ziploc bag the fridge, stacked with parchment in between each layer. They store well for up to a week. 

Mmmm, oat-y, chocolaty goodness.

What is a recipe that you have been making for years?

Notes: 

• If you do not like the chewy texture of the oats, the whole cup of oatmeal can be ground to a flour using a blender, for a softer consistency. 
• Sella's original recipe calls for half of the oatmeal ground into a flour. Play with the recipe and tailor to how your liking!
• These are a fantastic source of protein. Depending on the protein powder, they can contain around 20 grams of protein! 

Cheers,
     Suzy