A healthy treat I found on FB

A healthy snack for your sweet tooth.

Coconut-Raisin Bars

Coconut-Raisin Bars

Posted At : January 2, 2012 12:14 PM

Coconut Raisin Bars

photo by recipe author

Servings: 12
Preparation Time: 15 minutes

• 2 2/3 cup finely shredded coconut
• 1/3 cup almond flour*
• 1 cup flax seed meal
• 2 tablespoons cinnamon
• 1 cup raisins
• 1 1/4 cup Gold Label coconut oil
• 1/4 cup raw honey

Combine dry ingredients in a large bowl. In a small saucepan heat coconut oil and honey and allow them to melt. You don't need it to boil, just warm enough to melt. Pour melted oil/honey into dry mixture and stir to combine. You want a wet sand like consistency. Taste at this point to determine if you want more cinnamon, more honey, etc.

Pour mixture into a parchment paper lined 8X8 pan. Cover with more parchment paper and press the mixture down. Really make sure this is packed solid. Place mixture in the freezer for a couple hours. Once frozen, remove and cut with a heavy knife. Store in the refrigerator. Enjoy!

*You can grind your own almond flour by placing whole almonds in a blender/food processor and blending until you get a fine meal.

Recipe submitted by Esther, Bremerton, WA

Slow-Cooker Apple-Bread Pudding

Slow-Cooker Apple-Bread Pudding


Only a few minutes are needed to assemble this rich-tasting dessert.

Comfort food at its finest! This slow-cooker bread pudding tastes decadent, thanks to its moist texture and a generous sprinkling of chocolate chips. So go ahead and enjoy—it’s actually lower in fat than you’d expect.

Recipe Times:
Total Time : 3 to 4 hours and 10 minutes
Prep Time : 10 minutes
Cook Time : 3 to 4 hours
Servings : 8

Ingredients:

6 cups crusty bread (such as French bread or a baguette), cut into 1/2-inch pieces (preferably a day old)
2 medium-size tart apples, peeled, cored and shredded
1/2 cup golden raisins
1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chips
1 cup fat-free egg product
3/4 cup water
One 14-ounce can sweetened condensed milk, preferably low in fat
2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice, divided
1 cup fat-free plain yogurt
1 Tablespoon sugar
1/2 cup apple juice

Directions:

step 1 Coat the insert of a large (6-quart) slow cooker with a light application of butter or margarine. Add the bread pieces to the slow cooker. Distribute the shredded apple on top of the bread layer. Then sprinkle the raisins and chocolate chips over the apple.

step 2 In a medium bowl, combine the egg product with the water, condensed milk and 1 1/2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice; whisk to combine. Pour the egg mixture over the ingredients in the slow cooker, pressing down with a spoon or a spatula to make sure the liquid ingredients completely moisten the bread.

step 3 Cover the insert and cook on the low setting 3 to 4 hours, or until a knife inserted in the center of the bread pudding comes out clean. Begin checking the pudding after 3 hours, and continue to cook for increments of 10 to 15 minutes until the pudding is done.

step 4 While the bread pudding is cooking, make the yogurt sauce in a small bowl by whisking together the yogurt, sugar, apple juice and remaining 1/2 teaspoon of pumpkin pie spice. Refrigerate until needed.

step 5 To serve, spoon the bread pudding onto plates and drizzle with the yogurt sauce.

chef's notes:
Firm, tart apples are best for this recipe because their flavor isn't overly sweet, and they hold their shape. Look for apple varieties that are good for baking, like Granny Smith, Honeycrisp and Jonathan.

If you prefer to prep the bread pudding in advance, you can assemble the ingredients through Step 2 and refrigerate in the covered slow-cooker insert for up to a day before cooking. Take the pudding out of the refrigerator 30 minutes before cooking to bring it up to room temperature. Then remove the lid and sprinkle the mixture with 1/2 cup of water before replacing the lid on the insert and turning on the slow cooker.

Pumpkin Cookies

Pumpkin Cookies

Vicki Worthen; Boise, ID

1 cup packed brown sugar
1 cup cooked or canned pumpkin
½ cup oil
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 cup flour
1 teaspoon soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
½ teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon cinnamon
½ teaspoon nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon ginger
raisins (optional)
chopped nuts (optional)
chocolate chips (optional)

In a mixing bowl, beat together sugar, pumpkin, oil, and vanilla. Sift together dry ingredients and add to mixture. Stir until smooth. Blend in raisins, nuts, or chocolate chips. Drop by teaspoonfuls on greased baking sheet. Bake at 350° F for 12–15 minutes. Makes 3–4 dozen.

Apple Pillows

Apple Pillows
(From: The SleepOver Cookbook, By Hallie Warshaw)

Makes 10

Ingredients:
1 pkg 8ounce refridgerated crescent rolls
1 small apple: peeled & finely chopped
1/2 cup raisins
1/2 cup chopped pecans
1 tablespoon light brown sugar
3 tablespoon granulated sugar
Milk for brushing
Cinnamon for sprinkling
Grnaulated sugar for sprinkling
Vegetable cooking spray

Directions:
Preheat oven 350 (make sure the Rack is set in the middle of the oven)
Separate cresent rolls into individual triangles & arrange on a lighly greased baking sheet
In a medium mixing bowl mix together the apple, raisins, pecans, brown sugar & cinnamon
Place teaspoon size portions of the apple mixture onto the center of each triangle
Roll up the dough into a cresent shape
Lightly brush the tops of the crescents with milk & sprinkle with cinnamon & sugar
Bake on the middle rack of the oven for 25min or until golden brown
Remove sheet from the oven place apple pillows on wire rack to cool.

Take-a-Break Snack Mix

Serves: 10; 1/2 cup per serving
Ingredients:

Cooking spray
¼ cup sliced almonds
1 tablespoon light brown sugar
2 teaspoons water
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
2 cups whole-grain oat cereal with yogurt-flavored coating
2 cups whole-grain wheat and bran flakes with raisins
1/2 cup dried unsweetened cranberries
1/2 cup dried unsweetened blueberries

Cooking Instructions:
Put a piece of aluminum foil about 12 inches square on a platter or baking sheet. Lightly spray with cooking spray. Set aside.

In a small nonstick skillet, dry-roast the almonds over medium heat for 2 to 3 minutes, or until lightly golden brown, stirring occasionally.

Stir in the brown sugar, water, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Cook for 1 to 2 minutes, or until the liquid has evaporated and the almonds are coated with the mixture, stirring constantly. Transfer to the foil. Let cool completely, 15 to 20 minutes.

Meanwhile, in a medium bowl, stir together the remaining ingredients.

Add the cooled almonds to the cereal mixture, stirring to combine. Store in an airtight container for up to 7 days.

Cook's Tip: Whether your schedule is go-go-go or hurry-up-and-wait, you’ll be glad you packed these tasty tidbits for healthy snacking. For variety, substitute different nutrient-dense dried fruits, such as cherries, apricots, and plums, for the cranberries and blueberries. Cut them into 1/4- to 1/2-inch pieces before adding them to the cereal mixture.

Calories Per Serving 139
Total Fat2.0 g
Saturated Fat 0.5 g
Trans Fat 0.0 g
Polyunsaturated Fat 0.5 g
Monounsaturated Fat 1.0 g
Cholesterol 0 mg
Sodium 124 mg
Carbohydrates 28 g
Fiber4 g; Sugar 15 g
Protein 2 g

This recipe is brought to you by the American Heart Association’s Food Certification Program. Recipe copyright © 2008 American Heart Association. For more information heart-healthy grocery shopping, visit heartcheckmark.org.

Chuck-A-Rama Bread Pudding & Vanilla Sauce

Chuck-A-Rama Bread Pudding
3 Quarts Bread, 1 Inch Cube
4 3/4 Cups Milk
1/2 Pound Butter
1 2/3 Cups Sugar
1 Teaspoon Salt
1 Teaspoon Cinnamon
1/2 Teaspoon Nutmeg
1 1/2 Cups Milk
6 Eggs
2 Teaspoons Vanilla
1/3 Cup Raisins

Directions:
1. Place milk, butter, sugar, and spices on stove and heat to 200 degrees and immediately remove from heat. Do not over heat!! Do not boil!!
2. Let cool for 5 minutes.
3. In another bowl, combine milk, eggs, and vanilla. Hand whip for 30 seconds.
4. Combine the two above mixes and mix with a hand whip for another 30 seconds.
5. Place 3 quarts of bread, loosely packed, in a 3 quart casserole dish or pan.
6. Evenly pour the milk mix over the bread.
7. Sprinkle 1/3 cop of raisins over the bread and milk mix.
8. Use a spatula and make sure all surface bread has been completely soaked in milk mix.
9. Cover with foil and bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour or until you reach a consistency of jello.
10. Evenly pour 1/3 cup of vanilla sauce just prior to serving.
11. Artistically lace the top with string icing and a caramel topping.

Note: This item must be served soon after cooking as it does not have long holding life.


Chuck-A-Rama Vanilla Sauce
1 1/4 Cups Corn Starch
1 1/4 Quarts Sugar
1 Quart Water, Boiling
1/4 Cup Vanilla
1 Quart Half & Half

Directions:
1. Mix corn starch and sugar together in a sauce pan.
2. Add boiling water and stir until smooth.
3. Place over heat, stirring constantly, until thick. Remove from heat and let cool.
4. When cool add vanilla and half & half.

Chuck-A-Rama Carrot Cake & Frosting

Chuck-A-Rama Carrot Cake
1 1/2 Cups Sugar
1 1/2 Cups Flour
1 Teaspoon Baking Soda
1 Teaspoon Cinnamon
1/2 Teaspoon Salt
1/3 Cup Walnuts, Chopped
3/4 Cup Raisins
1/3 Cup Salad Oil
2 Eggs
1 Teaspoon Vanilla
3 1/4 Cups Carrots, Shredded

Directions:
1. Peel carrots.
2. Shred carrots using a 1/16 of an inch shredder hole.
3. Place first 7 ingredients in a large mixing bowl and mix by hand.
4. Add all remaining ingredients and mix by hand until well blended.
5. Place mix into a greased round 9 inch cake pan and bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes or until done.
6. Let cool and frost with cream cheese frosting.


Chuck-A-Rama Cream Cheese Frosting
1 Pound Cream Cheese
1/2 Margarine
1 3/4 Powdered Sugar
2 Teaspoon Vanilla

Directions:
1. Place first 2 ingredients in a bowl and beat until smooth.
2. Scrape the bowl with a rubber spatula.
3. Add remaining ingredients and beat until light and fluffy.

5 anti Aging Foods

Erase five years off your face!
with these 5 foods

Spinach, Anti Oxidants
If you eat 3 big bowls of spinach you could get the same benefits from = 1/2 Teaspoons of Oregano

Salmon, Omega 3 1lb of salmon you could get the same benefits from = 1 quarter cup of flax seed

Bananas, Vitamin A & C you could eat 128 bananas to get the same benefit of eating = 1/2 cup of sweet potato's

Tuna, selenium (elasticity) 3 oz of tuna is the same as = 1oz of Brazil nut (that's 1 nut)

Carrots have copper to get the same benefits you can eat= 1 package of raisins.

Watch the video -> http://www.thedoctorstv.com/videolib/init/3367

Healthy Granola with Shredded Coconut

*I would really like to try & make this:
Healthy Granola with Shredded Coconut

The beauty of this granola recipe is that you can add in whatever you have on hand -- dried apricots, cherries and pistachios work as well as the fruits and nuts in the original recipe.

SERVINGS
Makes around six cups of granola

INGREDIENTS
4 cups old-fashioned oats
1/2 cup chopped almonds
3/4 cup shredded coconut
1/4 cup packed brown sugar
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1/4 cup honey
2 tablespoons pure maple syrup
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1/2 cup raisins
1/2 cup dried cranberries

PREPARATION
1. In a large bowl, combine oats, almonds and coconut; set aside.
2. In a saucepan, combine brown sugar, oil, honey, maple syrup and cinnamon; bring to a boil.
3. Remove from the heat and stir in vanilla. Pour over oat mixture; stir to coat.
4. Spread in a large shallow baking pan. Bake at 350 degrees F for 15 to 20 minutes, stirring occasionally. Cool.
5. Add raisins and dried cranberries. Store in an airtight container.
Recipe courtesy My Baking Addiction blog.
Read more: http://www.thedailygreen.com/healthy-eating/recipes/coconut-granola-bar-recipe#ixzz1AaUQfYDQ