No-Bake Chocolate Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookie Without The Sugar (Vegan)

Last night I had a chocolate craving. I wanted no-bake cookies. But when I searched for recipes I didn't want all of the sugar and butter. So I was thrilled to find this recipe on AllRecipes.com These are great snack cookies as well as breakfast cookies. They are made with Maple Syrup instead of sugar. They are YUMMY!

No-Bake Chocolate Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookies

INGREDIENTS
2/3 cup 100% maple syrup
1/4 cup vegetable oil
5 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 cup peanut butter (I suggest Adam's Chunky Brand)
1 cup rolled oats
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

DIRECTIONS
In a saucepan over medium heat combine the maple syrup, oil, cocoa and cinnamon. Boil for three minutes, stirring constantly. Remove from heat and stir in the peanut butter, rolled oats and vanilla until well blended. Drop by heaping spoonfuls onto waxed paper and chill to set, about 30 minutes.

Wholesome Coconut Cookies

CAUTION: These are Very Tasty!! I made these cookies for St. Patrick's Day and we only have a few left. I colored the coconut green by smashing up spinach leaves and squeezing the juice over the coconut. It didn't change the taste. I know because I ate Way Too Many! They are only 100 calories. But still...

This recipe is a Bob's Red Mill Recipe! It is also considered a Vegan Recipe.

Wholesome Coconut Cookies

INGREDIENTS:
1 cup Hard White Whole Wheat Flour, Organic
1/2 cup Organic High Fiber Hot Cereal
1/2 cup Coconut, Shredded
1 tsp Baking Powder
1/8 tsp Sea Salt
1/2 cup Evaporated Cane Juice
1/4 cup Margarine (Non-hydrogenated)
1/3 cup Milk (Soy, Rice, Cow)
1 tsp Vanilla Extract

Beat together margarine and sugar until well blended. Add milk and vanilla and mix until smooth. In a separate bowl, mix together flour, cereal, coconut, baking powder and salt. Pour dry ingredients into the wet and mix until just combined.
Scoop by the tablespoon onto a greased cookie sheet and pat down slightly.
Bake at 350°F for 12 minutes.
Makes 18 cookies.

NUTRITIONAL INFORMATION Servings Size: 1 Cookie Calories 100, Calories from Fat 45, Total Fat 5g, Saturated Fat 2.5g, Cholesterol 0mg, Sodium 40mg, Total Carbohydrate 14g, Dietary Fiber 2g, Sugars 5g and Protein 2g.

Spinach Rotini Pasta Salad

This is a delicious and very filling spring and summer time meal. This recipe comes from the back of the Heartland Whole Grain Rotini box. You can add or take away many different ingredients with this recipe. I've seen red onions and even strawberries in this dish. Olives are another idea. This was definitely a hit with my husband and four year old! MMM!

Spinach Rotini Salad

Ingredients:
12 oz Heartland Whole Grain Rotini
4 oz fresh baby spinach
1/2 cup Parmesan cheese
1/2 cup Italian dressing (any oil based dressing will work)
3/4 cup tomatoes, diced
4 oz pepperoni, julienne (I use turkey peperoni if I use meat in the recipe)
8 oz Cheddar cheese, shredded (I use Mozzarella, it has less fat)
salt and pepper to taste

Directions:
Cook rotini according to package directions. Rinse with cold water and drain. Combine all remaining ingredients in a large mixing bowl. Add pasta and mix well.

Double Carob Cookies (Healthy Chocolate Alternative)

This is a great recipe for those who really enjoy chocolate, but are trying to overcome a chocolate dependence. Carob is a bean that has a similar taste to chocolate without the negative effects of real chocolate. In fact it could be considered good for you. Carob has a lighter flavor then chocolate, so don't expect an overpowering chocolate cookie. But these are delicious! I fed them to a group of 15 year olds and they were approved! Need I say more? This recipe stems from Bob's Red Mill Recipe Database. I have changed it a bit so the Nutritional Information might not be 100% accurate.

Double Carob Cookies

INGREDIENTS:
3/4 cup Butter (room temperature) (Try the Smart Balance brand to add Omegas to your diet.)
1 cup Turbinado Sugar (aka: Sugar In The Raw) -OR- 1/2cup Sugar and 1/2 cup Brown Sugar
2 large Eggs (Try to use eggs that are marketed for their Omegas)
1 tsp Vanilla
1-1/2 cups Whole Wheat Pastry Flour -OR- If Whole Wheat non-pastry flour is used, add 2-3T Olive Oil to recipe
1/2 cup Soy Flour
1/2 cup Carob Powder (Toasted)
1/2 tsp Baking Soda (Use Non-Aluminum Soda, it's better for you!)
1/2 tsp Baking Powder (Use Non-Aluminum Powder, it's better for you!)
1/2 tsp Sea Salt
6 oz. Carob Chips -OR- Dark Chocolate Chips (Make sure Cocoa is the first ingredient on your Chocolate Chip ingredients.)
1/2 cup chopped Walnuts-Baker's Pieces -OR- Any nuts

Preheat oven to 350°F. Lightly grease 2 cookie sheets, set aside. In a large bowl cream together the first 4 ingredients (butter through vanilla extract). In another bowl blend together the next 6 ingredients (flours through salt). Add the flour mixture to the butter/vanilla mixture; stir well. Add the carob chips and chopped walnuts; stir well. Drop by teaspoonfuls 2 inches apart onto prepared cookie sheets and bake 8-10 minutes.
Makes 4 dozen cookies.

NUTRITIONAL INFORMATION Serving Size: 1 Cookie Calories 100, Calories from Fat 45, Total Fat 5g, Saturated Fat 3g, Cholesterol 15mg, Sodium 50mg, Total Carbohydrate 12g, Dietary Fiber 3g, Sugars 5g, Protein 1g.

What is Carob?

"Beneficial Uses: Carob is considered a remarkable antidiarrheal, and it is highly recommended that travelers pack Carob when visiting foreign countries. Carob is said to be high in fiber and rich in one class of tannins (polyphenols) that manifest strong antiviral and antiseptic properties, making it effective when given to treat bacterial-induced diarrhea.

According to Dr. Qi Dai, assistant professor of medicine at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, a ten-year study found that the particularly strong antioxidant effects of the polyphenols, which may be found in Carob, act to reduce the incidence of alzheimer's disease.
Carob is considered a demulcent, a medicine with soothing, mucilaginous qualities that shield mucous membranes from irritating substances.

In France, some early research indicates that Carob may be helpful in stimulating inactive kidneys and may be effective in cases of chronic kidney failure.

Carob is a wonderful substitute for cocoa, because it contains fewer calories, is naturally sweet, and, unlike cocoa or sweet chocolate, is caffeine-free and non addictive. In addition, it is usually cheaper. Also unlike cocoa and chocolate, Carob does not interfere with the body's assimilation of calcium. Carob Beans may be roasted and ground for use as a coffee substitute, and Carob is a versatile additive used to flavor jams, liqueurs, juices, cigarettes and other food products."
- Herbal Extracts Plus

Chicken & Lentils

If you are looking for something healthy and different, this is a good choice. This meal is tasty and healthy. Nothing fancy, just a good home cooked meal. This recipe stemmed from Bob's Red Mill Recipe Database. I have changed it a bit, so the nutritional Information might not be 100% accurate.

Chicken & Lentils

INGREDIENTS:
1 lb washed & sorted Lentils
6 cups Vegetable or Chicken Stock
1/2 tsp Sea Salt
1/8 tsp Pepper
8 oz. Cooked, Skinless, Boneless Chicken Breast
1 small Yellow Onion, peeled and chopped
1/2 cup Celery, diced
1/2 cup Carrot, diced
1/2 cup broccoli
3 cloves Garlic, peeled & minced

Place all ingredients, except salt and meat in a heavy saucepan, cover and bring to a boil over high heat. Add meat, reduce heat to low and simmer about 45 minutes to 1 hour, stirring occasionally, until lentils are tender, but not mushy. Most of the water will be absorbed during the cooking process, so keep a close eye on the pot to make sure lentils do not stick. Mix in salt and pepper. Serve with rice or corn bread.
Makes 6 servings.

NUTRITIONAL INFORMATION Servings Size: 1 Serving (389g)Calories 410, Calories from Fat 40, Total Fat 4.5g, Saturated Fat 1g, Cholesterol 40mg, Sodium 540mg, Total Carbohydrate 57g, Dietary Fiber 12g, Sugars 8g and Protein 37g.