If you know me you can pretty much call it a day after reading the title of this recipe. Say no more, me. But I can’t help myself. This is 187% my kind of food. I think it could be yours, too, if you knew what was good for you. Continue reading
snacks
Dark Chocolate Chip Spice Muffins
Man can breakfasts get mundane in my home. Finding something thats quick and healthful while still tasting yummy for the kiddos can be quite the challenge. I am thankful they love eggs in all shapes and forms but, as it is, we darn near need to buy a family of chickens to keep up with that whole deal.
Sweet treats can be so fun for breakfast…and these muffins fit right in that category. My kids love my pumpkin muffins and sometimes for something fun I add in chocolate chips. So I thought…if pumpkin is so yummy in a baked good, why wouldn’t sweet potato be? Continue reading
Roasted Balsamic Tomato Melts
I like these. I reeeeaaaalllly like these.
This boring old tomato had been staring me in the eye for days and I finally caved. I knew it wasn’t the kind of tomato that was worthy of being eaten alone with a little salt. After all, it is March. But I needed to utilize it in some way. So I sliced it up and away to the oven it went for a roast. Continue reading
Perfectly Healthful Blueberry Banana Muffins
So these have sort of become a weekend breakfast staple for us. They are quick and easy to put together and the leftovers freeze wonderfully for quick breakfasts later on in the week.
They are healthful and full of nutrients without refined sugars and flours which makes me pretty darn happy…and pretty darn ok with the fact that my kids always want seconds. Continue reading
Carrot Spice Cake Bars
One bite of these yummy bars and I was immediately taken back to grade school. My elementary school had some pretty amazing hot lunches they served; the same ladies in the kitchen every morning as the sun came up whipping the children up homemade, heart-filled food. We were lucky; so different than things today, and because of it, I have serious aspirations of doing that lunch lady thing someday myself, in some capacity.
Getting nutritious, balanced meals into children’s bodies just once a day over lunch at school could be so beneficial for their health. Regardless of what they are getting at home, how comforting to know they can be guaranteed one solid meal at school. In my opinion, that should be part of the curriculum, along with a quick five minute chat with them about what they are eating, where it came from, and what it can do for their impressionable bodies. Man, wouldn’t that be a game changer. To me, this is just as important as learning about history or 2 + 2. Because none of those fun facts and concepts can be properly maintained and applied without a healthy, nourished body to absorb it all. Continue reading
Autumn Bark
Happy Halloween Week! It’s funny, I was never really a fan of this upcoming holiday until my kids came along. But now, for me, it’s basically pure excitement. It’s a fun excuse to dress my kids in hilarious outfits (please, just pray Jude allows me to put his costume on him for at least one photo. one, thats the goal this year, just one little itty bitty photo is all i ask for. pray friends, pray.) Not to mention this holiday is perfectly placed among the most GORGEOUS time of year. Crispy Autumn. Ahh.
So on top of the costume thing and the beautiful time of year thing I’m pretty sure most of my excitement stems from the fact that it’s a perfectly wonderful opportunity to get fun and creative in the kitchen. Holidays equal special food. Always. Continue reading
Gluten Free Ranch Pretzels
So I’ve got this darling sister that happens to make the most ridiculously wonderful ‘Dill Prezels’ on the planet. Like, the kind of pretzels to write home about. They are out of control…buttery, dilly, crunchy and about as addicting as a black market drug. Continue reading
Cinnamon Pear Sauce
So friends, as you may remember, I am a total fan of homemade applesauce. It’s unbeatable…store bought varieties just don’t compare. Not to mention when you make it homemade you’re not stripping away a ton of the nutrients through processing and preserving. I’m just sold on the whole deal, especially considering how simple it is to prepare at home.
Now, theres a couple of kinds of food love, in my book. Theres being a total fan, as I told you I was of the applesauce in the paragraph above. And then theres Hallelujah, over the moon, this-is-out-of-control, party-don’t-stop food love. This Cinnamon Pear Sauce? I would classify it under the latter. Continue reading
Chicken, Black Bean and Avocado Eggrolls
Serve them as an appetizer, snack or dinner. Quite honestly, Id choose seconds instead of dessert any day of the week. The chopped avocado inside of the egg roll is the most awesome surprise…and of course, all of its co-stars get my props, too. Continue reading
Nourished Banana Bread
This is the good stuff, right here, friends. Our very favorite banana bread recipe. Now, I must warn you. This recipe contains no refined sugar. No gluten or crazy “healthy flour blend” that you need to go buy. And chances are, if you utilize any of my “baking” recipes you already have all of these ingredients sitting right in your freezer or pantry-they are my baking “staples”.
My kids beg for more. My friends are shocked that a sweet treat that’s typically packed full of unhealthful ingredients can actually be transformed into something they can feel good feeding their kiddos for breakfast. This, right here friends, is why I love to cook. Because it really is possible to turn traditional favorite recipes into more nourishing versions…and this banana bread recipe is the perfect display of just that. I hope your family enjoys this one as much as we do!
Nourished Banana Bread
*note: you can purchase pre made oat flour, but it’s a piece of cake to make your own: just place rolled or old fashioned oats (gluten free for a GF version) in a food processor or blender and process until it becomes a fine, flour-like texture.
Ingredients
1 1/4 Cups Gluten Free Oat Flour
1/4 Cup Flax Meal
1/4 Cup Almond Meal
1 Teaspoon Baking Soda
1/2 Teaspoon Salt
3 VERY Ripe Bananas, mashed *about 1 1/2 cups
6 Tablespoons Unsalted Butter, melted and slightly cooled +more for greasing the pan
1/4 Cup Honey, Pure Maple Syrup or Agave Nectar
2 Eggs, lightly beaten
1 Teaspoon Pure Vanilla Extract
1/2 Cup Chopped Walnuts, optional
Directions
Preheat oven to 350 and grease a 9×5 inch loaf pan with butter. Place the oat flour, flax meal, almond meal, baking soda and salt in a medium bowl and whisk to combine.
In a large bowl whisk the bananas, honey/maple/agave, butter, eggs and vanilla together until well-combined. Pour the dry ingredients into the banana mixture and stir gently until all ingredients are just incorporated. Fold in walnuts. Pour into prepared baking pan (and sprinkle the top with whole oats, if desired) and bake for 50-55 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Let cool before removing from the pan.
nourishedpeach.com 