Chocolate Protein Banana Bread

I've made this recipe several times.  Every time people have loved it.  Me?  Not so much.  But I'm posting it anyway because it can't always be about me.

Photo: Chocolate Chilli Mango

Ingredients:

·     1/2 cup raw almonds* or walnuts*, ground fine

·     3 T arrowroot starch

·     1/4 cup natural whey protein isolate powder, we use Bluebonnet French Vanilla

·     1/3 cup raw cacao powder

·     1 teaspoon cinnamon

·     1 teaspoon baking powder

·     pinch of sea salt

·     3 very ripe bananas

·     2 whole eggs

·     1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions:

1.  Preheat the oven to 350˚F.

2.  Grease a loaf pan lightly with butter.

3.  Place dry ingredients into the bowl of a food processor and process until combined.

4.  Add remaining ingredients and pulse until smooth.

5.  Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan. 

6.  Bake for about 45 – 50 minutes until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean. 

7.  Remove and cool on a wire rack before removing from pan.

 *  raw, soaked, dehydrated

Innocent Bananas Foster

I surprised my family and made this for dessert last night.  As I'm writing this I realize we've been having quite a bit of desserts lately.  Time to cut back to weekends only.  We'll definitely keep this one in the rotation.  Thanks to The Crohn's Journey Foundation for the great recipe.

Photo: Sarah Choueiry

Ingredients:

2 bananas, peeled and sliced into 1/4" chunks
1 tablespoon coconut oil
2 tablespoons raw honey
1 tablespoon water
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon, more or less to taste
vanilla ice cream we like Julie's Organic Vanilla and Strauss Organic Vanilla Bean

Directions:

• Heat coconut oil in a skillet
• Add banana slices and cook until browned, about 7 minutes
• Meanwhile mix honey and water
• When bananas are browned add honey
• Turn heat off and sprinkle with cinnamon
• Pour over vanilla ice cream.

Serves 4

Frozen Bananas

I have a new favorite blog, stir it up.  She's a paleo wife and mom, like me, and I think we'd be friends.

Today I made the frozen bananas I found on her site.  I adapted it for my preferences and thought I'd share it with you.

Photo: stir it up

For two bananas you'll need:

a heaping tablespoon of almond butter
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
3 tablespoons cacao powder
1 tablespoon coconut oil
1 tablespoon raw honey

• Slice bananas in half lengthwise
• Stir together almond butter, cinnamon and vanilla
• Divide almond butter mixture between two banana halves
• Add a popsicle stick and but bananas back together
• Place in freezer, on waxed or parchment paper, until frozen
• When bananas are frozen, melt chocolate, coconut oil, and honey
• Pour chocolate evenly over both bananas, covering every inch
• Place back in the freezer until frozen, about 30 min.

 Both of my kids were beside themselves excited about this new treat.  I think I'll be making them again very soon.

Cereal

...It's one of the things I miss about being grain free.  Carly was near tears a few days ago.  She begged me to get her a box of cereal.  She even offered to pay for it herself.  Tough love won and I scoured the internet for a paleo "cereal".  I found two great options that both kids like.

Cinnamon Apple Creamed Cereal by Paleo Parents is egg-free, grain-free, gluten-free, dairy-free, corn-free, soy-free, refined sugar-free.

Paleo Cereal by The Paleo Project

• In a bowl combine chopped raw almonds, chopped raw cashews (or whatever nuts you like), blackberries, raspberries, and bananas (or whatever fruit you like).

• Pour coconut milk over nuts & fruit and top with honey.

I think they are great substitutes.  If you try them, please let me know what you think.