Delicious & Healthy Banana Peanut Butter Bites: Your New Favorite Snack!

Transform simple ingredients into irresistible Banana Peanut Butter Bites! Made with just banana, all-natural peanut butter, nutritious hemp hearts, and delightful dark chocolate chips. Enjoy them fresh and raw for an instant energy boost, or freeze them for a sweet, chilled treat perfect for warmer days. This incredibly versatile snack is about to become a staple in your healthy eating routine.

My Personal Journey: Rediscovering the Joy of Raw Bananas

For a significant period, raw bananas were conspicuously absent from my diet. Those who have followed my journey know that I developed a curious aversion or perhaps a subtle intolerance to them. Whether it was a genuine physiological reaction or a mental block, I often felt less than optimal after consuming a raw banana. This led me to banish them from my grocery list, reserving their use solely for baking, primarily in comforting loaves of banana bread.

However, as with many dietary restrictions born from perceived intolerances, things can change. Recently, a strong craving for fresh, ripe bananas began to surface. My body, it seemed, was sending a clear signal that it was ready to re-embrace this wonderful fruit. Listening to these intuitive nudges, I decided to take the plunge. I carefully peeled a banana, sliced it into neat rounds, and, on a whim, dipped each slice into a generous dollop of creamy, all-natural peanut butter. The first bite was nothing short of revelatory. It tasted *so* incredibly good, friends – a perfect harmony of sweet, creamy, and salty.

As I savored each bite in my kitchen, a wave of regret washed over me for all the years of missed banana possibilities. But instead of dwelling on lost time, I decided to channel that energy into making up for it. And what better way to do that than by creating a simple, delicious recipe that celebrates the humble banana in its purest form? That’s how these delightful Banana Peanut Butter Bites were born, and I’m absolutely thrilled to share them with you so we can all enjoy them on repeat!

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Chunky Monkey Superfood Banana Chip Bites: Your Ultimate Healthy Snack & Dessert Recipe

Discover how to create these delightful banana chips topped with rich melted chocolate, fluffy shredded coconut, crunchy crushed peanuts, antioxidant-rich goji berries, and extra chocolate chips. It’s the perfect, wholesome, and incredibly satisfying alternative to traditional candy!

Hello, friends and fellow food enthusiasts!

It feels like just yesterday we were connecting, and so much has happened since then. I’m thrilled to share that I’ve successfully completed my yoga teacher training! The past six months have been an incredible, immersive journey through asana, anatomy, and sequencing. While there were certainly moments of feeling overwhelmed and a bit like a “hot mess,” I now recognize that every challenge and triumph placed me exactly where I needed to be. This transformative experience has deepened my understanding of yoga, myself, and the world around me, forever altering my perspective. You can delve deeper into my personal struggles and wins from this training in this heartfelt Instagram post.

While I don’t currently have plans to teach full-time, the profound insights gained from the training continue to resonate in every aspect of my life. It’s funny, when I was deliberating whether to embark on this journey – to YTT or not to YTT – I sought wisdom from former students. Their unanimous advice? “Just do it,” they urged. “It’ll change your life,” they promised. And they were absolutely right. Their words echoed a universal truth about stepping out of your comfort zone and embracing new experiences.

Today, I want to echo that same sentiment to you, but in a deliciously different context. If you’re searching for a fun, healthy, and incredibly satisfying alternative to conventional candy this Valentine’s Day – or any day, for that matter – then you absolutely must try these Chunky Monkey Superfood Banana Chip Bites. To borrow a phrase from my inspiring yoga instructor pals: “Just do it. It’ll change your life” – or at least, your snacking habits!

These delectable bites are crafted with a mere five simple ingredients, making them an ideal choice for anyone seeking a gluten-free, grain-free, and refined sugar-free treat. They offer all the satisfying sweetness and crunch you crave without any of the guilt, perfect for a mindful indulgence that nourishes your body and spirit.

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Homemade Fig Newton Breakfast Bars: Your Easy, Healthy & Delicious Start to Any Day

Discover these incredible 6-ingredient breakfast bars, packed with hearty oats, wholesome plant-based protein, and the delightful sweetness of fresh figs! Naturally gluten-free, oil-free, and perfectly sweetened with dates and maple syrup, they’re the ideal healthy treat for busy mornings or an energizing snack.

Life can throw some unexpected curveballs, can’t it? As a renter, I’ve certainly had my share of challenges in my townhome. It seems like one thing after another has decided to give up the ghost, creating a constant stream of minor (and sometimes major) headaches.

First, there was the dishwasher, an appliance that, truthfully, never really lived up to its name. Then came the infamous dryer incident of 2020, a three-month saga that saw me meticulously hanging every single item of clothing on a rather precarious drying rack. Let me tell you, friends, crunchy towels and stiff jeans are not anyone’s idea of a good time.

The doorbell, a seemingly simple device, gave up the ghost after only a month, forcing me to hone my listening skills for any persistent knocks. And if that wasn’t enough, I’ve had my share of unexpected roommates: a curious mouse, an ambitious swarm of ants, and more than a few industrious spiders making themselves at home. A few weeks back, I even joked to my parents that the only thing left that hadn’t failed was the AC. Of course, I spoke too soon.

Just this past Saturday morning, I woke up to a home that felt increasingly stuffy, with temperatures steadily climbing. My Nest thermostat, usually so reliable, completely ignored my attempts to coax it back to life. My diagnosis? The AC, *gasp*, was broken. Thankfully, Virginia has blessed us with several days in the pleasant low 80s and mid-70s, making it bearable to keep the windows open and the ceiling fans whirring. This temporary reprieve has meant carefully limiting my oven use to avoid turning my home into a sauna.

It’s during these moments of household chaos that I truly appreciate the simple things, like having delicious, nourishing food on hand. And luckily, I had already prepared a batch of these fantastic Fig Newton Breakfast Bars while my AC was still functioning. These delightful 6-ingredient breakfast bars are everything you could wish for: dense, perfectly chewy, and naturally sweetened with the wholesome goodness of fresh figs and dried fruit. They offer a comforting bite that can make even the most challenging mornings feel a little brighter.

Read more

Homemade Fig Newton Breakfast Bars: Your Easy, Healthy & Delicious Start to Any Day

Discover these incredible 6-ingredient breakfast bars, packed with hearty oats, wholesome plant-based protein, and the delightful sweetness of fresh figs! Naturally gluten-free, oil-free, and perfectly sweetened with dates and maple syrup, they’re the ideal healthy treat for busy mornings or an energizing snack.

Life can throw some unexpected curveballs, can’t it? As a renter, I’ve certainly had my share of challenges in my townhome. It seems like one thing after another has decided to give up the ghost, creating a constant stream of minor (and sometimes major) headaches.

First, there was the dishwasher, an appliance that, truthfully, never really lived up to its name. Then came the infamous dryer incident of 2020, a three-month saga that saw me meticulously hanging every single item of clothing on a rather precarious drying rack. Let me tell you, friends, crunchy towels and stiff jeans are not anyone’s idea of a good time.

The doorbell, a seemingly simple device, gave up the ghost after only a month, forcing me to hone my listening skills for any persistent knocks. And if that wasn’t enough, I’ve had my share of unexpected roommates: a curious mouse, an ambitious swarm of ants, and more than a few industrious spiders making themselves at home. A few weeks back, I even joked to my parents that the only thing left that hadn’t failed was the AC. Of course, I spoke too soon.

Just this past Saturday morning, I woke up to a home that felt increasingly stuffy, with temperatures steadily climbing. My Nest thermostat, usually so reliable, completely ignored my attempts to coax it back to life. My diagnosis? The AC, *gasp*, was broken. Thankfully, Virginia has blessed us with several days in the pleasant low 80s and mid-70s, making it bearable to keep the windows open and the ceiling fans whirring. This temporary reprieve has meant carefully limiting my oven use to avoid turning my home into a sauna.

It’s during these moments of household chaos that I truly appreciate the simple things, like having delicious, nourishing food on hand. And luckily, I had already prepared a batch of these fantastic Fig Newton Breakfast Bars while my AC was still functioning. These delightful 6-ingredient breakfast bars are everything you could wish for: dense, perfectly chewy, and naturally sweetened with the wholesome goodness of fresh figs and dried fruit. They offer a comforting bite that can make even the most challenging mornings feel a little brighter.

Read more

Delicious & Healthy Pumpkin Chia Pudding Parfait with Sautéed Apples: Your Ultimate Fall Breakfast

Discover this easy Pumpkin Chia Pudding recipe, perfectly paired with quick sautéed apples for a nutritious fall breakfast, satisfying snack, or delightful dessert. It’s an ideal choice for meal prepping and fueling your busy workweek!

There’s a special kind of joy that comes with the arrival of fall. The crisp air, the changing leaves, and of course, the bounty of seasonal produce like pumpkins and apples. This time of year always brings a sense of renewed energy, making me anticipate the weekends even more. Just this week, I found myself repeatedly mistaking mid-week days for Friday, eager for that weekend headspace. And what better way to celebrate the season than with a trip to the pumpkin patch and apple orchard, an annual tradition my family (Dan and Harper and I) deeply cherishes?

Both of these fall favorites are the stars of today’s incredible recipe: my Pumpkin Chia Pudding Parfait Cups with Sautéed Apples. I recently shared a sneak peek of these on Instagram, and the response was overwhelmingly positive, with many of you asking for the full recipe. Your enthusiasm for pumpkin and apple dishes warms my heart, and I’m thrilled to finally share all the details!

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Creamy Vegan Carrot Cashew Queso: Your New Favorite Plant-Based Dip

Indulge in this irresistibly smooth and flavorful vegan queso, crafted from tender steamed carrots, creamy cashews, and a generous touch of nutritional yeast. It’s the perfect versatile dip for tacos, vibrant taco salads, hearty burrito bowls, crunchy chips, and fresh veggies!

Celebrating Milestones and Embracing the Messiness of Life (and the Kitchen!)

How has your week unfolded? Mine felt like a rewarding blend of accomplishment and the exciting, albeit sometimes daunting, embrace of new challenges. Just recently, M and I raised a celebratory glass of champagne, a bottle we’d been saving in the fridge since New Year’s, to toast a significant milestone: the completion of my cookbook manuscript! The feeling of typing that final period, after pouring countless hours into hundreds of pages of recipes and stories, was truly exhilarating. It marked the culmination of a deeply passionate project, a labor of love that is finally taking its full shape.

We continued our impromptu celebration during our weekly virtual game night with my sister and cousins. As we shuffled digital pieces in Bandido, lively Irish jigs – mostly spirited drinking songs – played in the background, setting a cheerful tone. Our conversations, however, quickly drifted beyond the game, filled with hopeful anticipation. We talked dreamily about future in-person gatherings, envisioning a post-COVID world where we’re all fully vaccinated and ready for long-awaited hugs and shared meals. The thought of those moments, of connecting face-to-face, makes my heart ache with excitement. I genuinely cannot wait for the day we can gather around a physical table again, sharing laughter and delicious food without a screen separating us.

But until then, the creative journey continues! My next significant hurdle? The cookbook photos. *Dun dun dun.* Yes, the photography for the cookbook is due in less than two months, and I find myself navigating a blend of intense excitement and a touch of anxiety about picking up my Canon camera again. It’s a creative process that demands specific lighting conditions, a certain flow, and a perfectly clear schedule – all of which seem to be elusive commodities these days.

Naturally, I’ve been, shall we say, *procrastinating*, waiting for that elusive “perfect” moment: the ideal daylight streaming through the window, the perfect creative spark, an uninterrupted gap in my often-packed schedule. But as both you and I know from experience, the perfect time rarely, if ever, arrives. Life, much like cooking, often requires us to simply jump into the messiness, embrace the imperfect, and create something wonderful regardless. And that’s precisely the spirit behind the utterly delightful Carrot Cashew Queso I’m thrilled to share with you today.

Speaking of messiness, this queso can be quite literally messy if you follow my lead and blend it with the Vitamix lid slightly ajar on the highest setting! I’m still discovering blobs of this vibrant, cheezy, orange dip clinging to the cabinets and kitchen backsplash. Lauren-error aside, I promise you this vegan queso is incredibly easy to make. It comes together quickly on the stovetop and in your blender, resulting in a savory, creamy dip that’s perfect for any occasion and surprisingly simple to master.

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