Banana Berry Coconut Baked Oatmeal

Ingredients: 
3 c rolled oats
1/4 c ground flaxseed
1/4 c brown sugar
1/2 t salt
4 t baking powder
2 t cinnamon
1 t vanilla
2 c coconut milk
4 eggs
3 bananas
3 c frozen mixed berries

Top with coconut & bake at 350 for 45-50 min.

Super Orange Juice

This is a great immunity booster when you're feeling under the weather. I always juice a lot when my kids are sick. I made this in my juicer, not blender.

Ingredients:
2 apples
2 oranges
2 limes
4 carrots
1 sweet potato

Pineapple Delight Smoothie

This tastes better than an Orange Julius! 

Ingredients:
1 scoop protein powder
2 bananas
2 c. frozen pineapple
3 c. OJ

King of Greens Smoothie

This is my version of Cafe Fresh's King of Greens. I think it comes pretty close.

Ingredients:
1 scoop protein powder (I prefer egg white protein)
1 t. wheatgrass powder
1 t. coconut oil
1 handful spinach
1 handful kale
1 1/2  bananas
1 c. frozen mango
1 c. frozen pineapple
2 drops lemon essential oil
2 drops lime essential oil
4 c. water kefir (or coconut water)

Blend until smooth, then stir in 2 T. chia seeds.

Mediterranean Egg Scramble

We love eggs at our house and we consume a crazy amount. This is an egg scramble I threw together from whatever was in my fridge. Fast & yummy for breakfast or lunch!

Ingredients:
1 t. EVOO
1/4 onion
1/2 bell pepper
1/2 small zucchini
1/2 t. oregano
1/2 t. parsley
1/2 t. basil
1/4 t. red pepper flakes
1 clove garlic
1 egg & 2 egg whites
1 handful spinach
1 handful cherry tomatoes
1 T. feta cheese

Directions:
Sauté onion, pepper, zucchini, garlic & spices together in oil. Add eggs and cook through. Toss in spinach & tomatoes at the very end and top with feta cheese.

Coconut Steel Cut Crock Pot Oatmeal

Ingredients:
2 1/2 c. steel cut oats
7 c. water
3 c. coconut milk
1/4 c. brown sugar
1 t. cinnamon
2 T. coconut oil
1/4 t. salt
2 t. vanilla

Directions:
1. Combine everything except the vanilla in a large crock pot. (I recommend using a crock pot liner for easy clean up)
2. Cook on low for 8 hours. Stir in vanilla after cooking. Serve with dried fruit & coconut. (Chopped dates are delish with this!)

Banana Berrry Baked Oatmeal

Ingredients:
3 c. rolled oats
1/4 c. ground flax seed
2 c. coconut milk
4 eggs
1/4 c. brown sugar
4 t. baking powder
2 t. cinnamon
1 t. vanilla
1/2 t. salt
3 bananas, sliced
3 c. frozen mixed berries
Shredded coconut

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees
2. In a large bowl, combine oats, flax seed, sugar, baking powder, cinnamon & salt.
3. In a small bowl combine milk, eggs & vanilla.
4. Combine wet & dry ingredients. Add fruit, and stir. Pour in a greased 9x13 pan and sprinkle coconut on top. Bake for 45 min.

Best Almond Milk

Ingredients:
1 1/2 c. raw almonds, soaked overnight
6 c. water
2-4 dates (depends on desired sweetness)
1 t. vanilla extract
1 T. coconut oil
Pinch of sea salt
Pinch of cinnamon

Directions:
1. Rinse & drain the soaked almonds (allow to soak for at least 8 hrs).
2. Combine all ingredients in a high power blender (I use a VitaMix) and blend on HIGH for 1 min.
3. Place a fine mesh sieve over a large bowl. Then place a few layers of cheesecloth, or a nut milk bag (yes, this is a real thing, and I LOVE mine!!!) in the sieve.
4. Pour 1/4-1/3 of the almond milk in the cheesecloth and gently squeeze out the milk.

**This makes almost 2 quarts of almond milk. If your blender is small, I recommend halving the recipe.**

Keeps in the fridge for 3-5 days. The milk will separate, so give it a good shake before drinking.

You can use the ground almonds to make your own almond meal. Just spread it out on a parchment lined cookie sheet & bake @ 300 degrees for 1-2 hrs. Then grind in a food processor & store in a mason jar.

No Bake Granola Bars

Ingredients
2 c. rolled oats
1 c. brown rice cereal or wheat puffs
1/4 c. pumpkin seeds
1/4 c. sunflower seeds
1/4 c. chia seeds
1/4 c. almonds
1/4 c. craisins
1/4 c. shredded coconut
1/4 c. chocolate chips
1/8 c. ground flaxseed
1/4 c. coconut oil
1/4 c. peanut butter
1/4 c. agave
1/4 c. honey
1 t. vanilla

Directions
1. In a large bowl, combine dry ingredients.
2. Meanwhile, in a small saucepan, combine oil, pb, agave & honey. Heat until melted.
3. Stir in vanilla off the heat. Then add wet to dry and mix until combined.
4. Press mixture into a 8x8 pan (lined with parchment) and place in the freezer for 30 min.
5. Remove from freezer, lift out the parchment, and cut into 8 rectangles.

**These need to be kept refrigerated (or frozen)**

Banana Oatmeal Breakfast Muffins

Made these last night after getting over the flu. They are moist and delicious, and not too sweet. Perfect.

Ingredients:
1 c. plain greek yogurt
2 ripe bananas
1 t. vanilla
2 1/2 c. oats
2 eggs
1/2 c. sugar
1 1/2 t. baking powder
1/2 t. baking soda

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
2. Combine all ingredients in a food processor and blend until smooth.
3. Line a muffin tin with paper liners. Spoon batter into each. Bake for 15 minutes.

Crock Pot Apple Oatmeal

Ingredients:

2 c. steel cut oats

4 c. apple juice

4 c. water

6 apples, peeled & cubed

1 t. cinnamon

Directions:

1. Place all ingredients in crock pot and let cook on low for 6-7 hrs. Wake up to breakfast!

**I wish I would have used a crock pot liner for this recipe. So if you have one, use it and make clean up a breeze.**

Pumpkin Waffles

I don't know about you, but whenever the weather starts to cool off a little I crave two things: soup and anything with pumpkin. These waffles are perfect for a cool autumn morning. My family gobbled them up!

Dry Ingredients:
1 1/2 c. whole wheat flour
1 c. all purpose flour
4 t. baking powder
2 t. cinnamon
1 t. ginger
1/2 t. salt
1/4 c. brown sugar

Wet Ingredients:
2 c. milk
1 c. pumpkin
4 eggs
1 t. vanilla

Directions:
1. Preheat waffle iron.
2. In a large bowl combine dry ingredients.
3. In a smaller bowl, beat wet ingredients. Add wet to dry and mix until incorporated.
4. Cook until crispy and golden brown. Serve with pure maple syrup.

Vegan Banana Raspberry Baked Oatmeal

I made this for breakfast this morning. This is the before picture (not yet baked). After smelling this delicious creation for 40 minutes my family was too impatient to eat for me to get an after picture. It was one of those things that smells so good it's like torture having to wait for it to finish baking. It was so tasty we ate the whole thing! Oink!

Ingredients:
2 c. rolled oats
1/4 c. brown sugar (or other sweetener)
1 c. chopped walnuts
1 c. raspberries (fresh or frozen)
2 bananas, sliced
1 t. cinnamon
1/2 t. salt
1 T. vanilla
1 flax egg (1 T. ground flax + 3 T. water)
2 c. almond milk

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
2. In a large bowl, combine oats, sugar, walnuts, berries, banana, cinnamon & salt.
3. In a small bowl, combine vanilla, flax egg & almond milk.
4. Gently add wet ingredients to dry ingredients. Pour into a greased casserole dish.
5. Bake for 40 minutes.

Vegan Oil-Free Zucchini Bread

Another yummy recipe from Oh She Glows. I omitted the raisins from her original recipe. Just doesn't seem like raisins belong in zucchini bread. This bread is incredibly moist even though it has no oil. And not too sweet, just the way I like.

Ingredients:
2 c. whole wheat flour
2 t. baking powder
1 t. baking soda
1/4 t. salt
1/2 t. cinnamon
1/2 c. sugar
1/3 c. chopped walnuts
1 flax egg (1 T ground flax + 3 T water, mixed and set aside for 5 min)
1 1/4 c. shredded zucchini
1 T. lemon zest
2 t. fresh lemon juice
1 T. maple syrup
1 1/4 c. almond milk (soy would work too)

Streusel Topping:
2 t. margarine
1 T. sugar
1 T. flour
1/2 t. cinnamon

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Mix flax egg & set aside.
2. In a stand mixer, combine dry ingredients: flour, baking powder & soda, salt, cinnamon & sugar.
3. In a separate bowl, combine wet ingredients: flax egg, lemon zest & juice, maple syrup & milk.
4. Add wet to dry and mix until just incorporated. Add zucchini and walnuts and stir just a bit more.
5. Place batter in a well greased loaf pan. Combine streusel topping and sprinkle on top.
6. Bake for 40-50 minutes until a toothpick comes out clean.

Vegan Apple Pie Pancakes

I'm always looking for good new breakfast recipes. It's my kids favorite meal of the day. After my husband tasted these pancakes his exact words were, "Mmmm, these are blog worthy!" I think you'll agree.

Ingredients:
2 c. flour (whole wheat, spelt, kamut, white, oat, whatever you want!)
2/3 c. rolled oats
1/4 c. sugar
1 T. baking powder
1 T. cinnamon
1/2 t. salt
1 t. vanilla
2 c. soy milk (almond would also work)
4 c. apples, peeled & diced

Directions:
1. Combine the dry ingredients.
2. Add the soy milk, vanilla & apples.
3. Stir until just combined.
4. Cook on a hot griddle or pan. Serve with maple syrup.

Greek Yogurt Pancakes

Fluffy, melt in your mouth pancakes! These are in fierce competition for my favorite pancake recipe. They are delicious cooked with some chopped fruit mixed into the batter too!

Ingredients:
1/2 c. whole wheat flour
1/2 c. all purpose flour
1 t. baking powder
1/2 t. baking soda
1/2 t. cinnamon
1 T. sugar
1/4 t. salt
1 c. greek yogurt
1 c. buttermilk
2 eggs
1 t. vanilla

Directions:
1. Combine dry ingredients: flours, baking powder, soda, cinnamon, sugar & salt.
2. In a separate bowl combine wet ingredients: yogurt, buttermilk, eggs & vanilla.
3. Cook on a hot griddle and try not to eat the whole batch. They are seriously that good!

Banana Bread Oatmeal

This is seriously my favorite breakfast right now. I've eaten it almost everyday for the past week (no, I'm not pregnant). It tastes just like banana bread, yum! Plus, it's vegan (you know I'm on a vegan kick right now). I prefer my oats raw, but if you like, you can cook them.

Ingredients:
1 banana
1/4 t. vanilla
1/2 t. cinnamon
1 T. ground flax seed
1/2 c. rolled oats
Handful of chopped walnuts

1/4 c. almond milk

Directions:
1. In a bowl, mash your banana with the vanilla and cinnamon.
2. Mix in the flax seed, oats & walnuts.
3. Pour in the almond milk and enjoy!

Easy Vegan Pancakes

I watched Forks Over Knives this week, and it seriously has me considering going vegan. Over the past year, I've changed a lot about what my family eats. We eat little to no meat, as many organic products as I can find, and we seldom eat out. The change has been a slow one, and if you would have asked me last year if I could go vegetarian, I would have said no! So how is it that I can easily see myself becoming vegan now? If you've seen the movie, you'll understand. And if you haven't seen the movie, you should. I really do believe that there is a strong correlation between our diet and our ability to avoid major illnesses (heart disease, diabetes, cancer, etc.). I want my family to live long, healthy lives. My husband had cancer when we were engaged, and currently has elevated cholesterol & blood pressure (even with the healthier diet he's adopted). So at least for us, I think this is really the next step in becoming as healthy as we can.

I've had a hard time finding easy vegan breakfast recipes. By easy I mean, containing ingredients that I already have and don't have to search in the far depths of the health food store to find. These pancakes, that I've adapted from Kirsten's Kitchen, are just as tasty and fluffy as our favorite non-vegan pancakes. Definitely an easy switch to make. I used a combination of flours and substituted almond milk for rice milk (in my opinion, rice milk makes for weird/soggy pancakes), and used agave instead of sugar. I love to mix in fresh fruit (bananas, blueberries, or blackberries are our fav) and serve with pure maple syrup.


Ingredients:
2 1/2 c. flour (whole wheat, oat, all-purpose, whatever you want!)
2 t. baking powder
1/2 t. baking soda
2 T. agave
Pinch of salt
2 c. almond milk
2 T. coconut oil (sunflower or grapeseed work great too)
2 t. apple cider vinegar

Directions:
1. In a large bowl combine almond milk, oil, vinegar, agave & salt. Whisk to combine.
2. Add the flour, baking powder & baking soda. Whisk until just combined.
3. Spray a hot griddle or pan and cook on medium heat until golden brown.

Green Citrus Razzle Dazzle

The hubby and I just got done doing a 3-day cleanse. We had the stomach flu last week (sorry, TMI I know!) and just weren't feeling 100%. Fruits and veggies only for 3 days, including a lot of juicing. By the end we felt so good, I seriously think we should eat like this all the time! If you've never tried it, you should. You'll be glad you did!

I found this beauty on Pinterest. Seriously, what did we do before Pinterest? My kiddos loved it so much, we had it twice in one day! It's pretty thick so you may want to add more juice.

Ingredients:
1-2 c. juice (pom, acai, mango, whatever as long as it's 100% juice!)
2 giant handfuls of spinach
1 handful of baby carrots
2 oranges
1-2 bananas (depending on size)
1 c. frozen raspberries
Ice (optional)

Blend it all up & thank me later!

3 Ingredient Banana Pancakes

My SIL introduced me to this great health/fitness blogger. She is a fitness instructor and health fanatic. And she posts some awesome recipes. I love these simple, easy pancakes. They are so good you don't even need syrup!

Ingredients:
1 banana
2 T. almond butter
1 egg

Directions:
1. Blend all ingredients and cook on a hot griddle.