Healthy Banana Pancakes

WHAT BETTER WAY TO CELEBRATE VALENTINE'S DAY THIS SATURDAY MORNING WITH SOME DELICIOUS AND HEALTHY PANCAKES!?! 

WHEN I SAW THIS RECIPE ON ALYSSA QUILALA'S FITNESS INSTAGRAM, I KNEW I HAD TO TRY IT. MY HUSBAND ABSOLUTELY LOVES PANCAKES SO EVERY SATURDAY WHEN WE DON'T HAVE ANYTHING MAJOR GOING ON I TRY TO MAKE HIM A YUMMY BREAKFAST. LATELY I HAVE BEEN TRYING TO NOT EAT ANY STARCHY CARBS OR SUGAR SO IT HAS BEEN REALLY HARD RESISTING A GOOD OLD FASHIONED PANCAKE WHEN I MAKE THEM FOR HIM.  SO WHEN I FOUND THIS RECIPE FOR HEALTHY BANANA PANCAKES THAT HAS NO SUGAR AND NO FLOUR, IT WAS THEE PERFECT SOLUTION! OF COURSE RYAN HATES THEM BUT AT LEAST WHEN I MAKE HIM PANCAKES I AM NO LONGER TEMPTED TO EAT HIS BECAUSE I HAVE MY OWN! :)

IT REALLY IS SUPER EASY AND ONLY HAS 5 INGREDIENTS! SCROLL BELOW FOR THE RECIPE AND BE SURE TO FOLLOW FITMAMAQ FOR MORE HEALTHY RECIPES!

BELOW ARE THE PANCAKES THAT I MADE FOR RYAN. IT'S PROBABLY BETTER TO POUR PANCAKE BATTER INTO A METAL HEART COOKIE CUTTER THAT IS ON THE GRIDDLE SO YOU COOK IT AS A HEART INSTEAD OF ACTUALLY CUTTING OUT A HEART SHAPE AFTER THE FACT, BUT I ONLY HAVE PLASTIC COOKIE CUTTERS SO I IMPROVISED :)

INGREDIENTS

2 EGGS
1 BANANA
1 TBLSP FLAX OR CHIA SEEDS (I USED FLAX)
1/2 TSP PURE VANILLA EXTRACT
1/4 TSP BAKING SODA
PINCH OF SALT

DIRECTIONS

1) SMASH THE BANANA AND BEAT THE EGGS AND COMBINE

2) ADD THE FLAX OR CHIA SEEDS, BAKING SODA AND VANILLA AND MIX TOGETHER

3) SPRAY HEATED PAN OR GRIDDLE WITH COOKING SPRAY

4) POUR A LITTLE LESS THAN 1/4 CUP ONTO GRIDDLE (YOU DO NOT WANT THEM TOO BIG BECAUSE THEY ARE KIND OF HARD TO FLIP)

5) LET SIT FOR A WHILE AND THEN A LITTLE BIT LONGER THAN YOU THINK AND THEN FLIP. TRUST ME, THEY DO GET MUCH BROWNER THAN YOU THINK THEY ARE GOING TO GET BUT THEY AREN'T BURNT! IT REALLY IS HARD TO FLIP THEM WHEN THEY AREN'T DONE ENOUGH.

6) SERVE WITH YOUR CHOICE OF FRESH BERRIES AND PURE/ORGANIC LOCAL MAPLE SYRUP! I USED MAPLE SYRUP FROM NONE OTHER THAN THE FINEST COUNTRY HOME AND GARDEN STORE IN THE AREA, SWEET MEADOWS. I ALSO DON'T USUALLY PUT BUTTER ON THEM BECAUSE THEY DON'T NEED IT. I DID IT MORE OR LESS FOR THE PICTURE. :P BUT ONCE I TRIED PEANUT BUTTER ON THEM AND THEY WERE HEAVENLY! THE POSSIBILITY OF TOPPINGS ARE ENDLESS! IT'S UP TO YOU!

7) ENJOY!

Healthy Dark Chocolate Avocado Cookies with Sea Salt

SINCE THE HEALTHY PB & J COOKIES WERE SUCH A HIT, I DECIDED TO POST MY NEW FAVORITE HEALTHY TREAT, DARK CHOCOLATE AVOCADO COOKIES WITH SEA SALT! SOUNDS WEIRD, I KNOW, BUT THEY ARE OH SO GOOD! 

ANYONE WHO KNOWS ME KNOWS THAT I AM OBSESSED WITH DARK CHOCOLATE. I HAVE A NEED AND IT'S REAL. =) SO AS I AM GOING THROUGH THIS HEALTHY EATING JOURNEY THIS YEAR TO FINALLY REACH MY ULTIMATE WEIGHTLOSS GOAL; I REALIZED I NEEDED TO FIND A HEALTHY WAY TO EAT DARK CHOCOLATE. I FOUND THE ORIGINAL RECIPE FOR THESE COOKIES ON THE SMOOTHIE LOVER BLOG AND TWEAKED IT A LITTLE BIT TO FIT MY PANTRY AND BUDGET.

THERE IS NO FLOUR, NO SUGAR, AND NO BUTTER! THE AVOCADO WORKS AS THE BUTTER AND TASTES SO GREAT! THEY ARE ALSO 70 CALORIES PER COOKIE WHICH ARE NOT EMPTY CALORIES. THESE ARE HEALTHY AND HEARTY CALORIES! =) THEY AREN'T LIKE YOUR TYPICAL COOKIES THOUGH. THEY HAVE A MORE BROWNIE LIKE TEXTURE AND ARE VERY LIGHT AND AIRY AND OH SO FUDGY! THEY HIT THE SPOT JUST RIGHT! TRUST ME =)

HEALTHY DARK CHOCOLATE AVOCADO COOKIES WITH SEA SALT

PREP TIME: 5 MINUTES

COOK TIME: 10 MINUTES

YIELD: 12 COOKIES

1 COOKIE = 70 CALORIES

NOTES:

IN MY OPINION THESE COOKIES TASTE BEST ONCE COMPLETELY COOLED AND CHILLED. THEY ALSO TASTE GOOD WHEN FROZEN! 

THE ORIGINAL RECIPE CALLS FOR 1/2 CUP COCONUT SUGAR INSTEAD OF THE BANANA BUT I DID NOT HAVE COCONUT SUGAR (IT IS PRETTY EXPENSIVE). THE RECIPE SAYS THAT YOU CAN SUB THE SUGAR WITH 1 BANANA AND THAT THE 1 BANANA IS ENOUGH SUGAR FOR ALL THE COOKIES BUT I FELT LIKE IT NEEDED MORE SWEETNESS DUE TO THE BITTER CHOCOLATE. SO I ADDED IN ORGANIC HONEY FROM NONE OTHER THAN THE AMAZING SWEET MEADOWS COUNTRY HOME AND GARDEN! TRY ANY OR ALL VARIATIONS USING WHATEVER SWEETENER YOU PREFER! 

THE ORIGINAL RECIPE ALSO DOES NOT CALL FOR SEA SALT BUT I AM A SUCKER FOR SEA SALT WITH CHOCOLATE SO I TRIED IT AND THOUGHT IT WAS DELICIOUS. FEEL FREE TO LEAVE IT OUT!

I ALSO REALIZE THAT TECHNICALLY THESE COOKIES AREN'T COMPLETELY FREE OF REFINED SUGAR DUE TO THE DARK CHOCOLATE CHUNKS. BUT HEY, DARK CHOCOLATE IS GOOD FOR YOU AND YOU DO NOT NEED TO USE VERY MUCH! AT THE LOCAL GROCERY STORE I FOUND A MINI GREEN AND BLACKS ORGANIC DARK CHOCOLATE BAR THAT WAS THE PERFECT SIZE- ONLY 1.2 OZ! THE COCOA POWDER I USED WAS UNFORTUNATELY NOT ORGANIC BECAUSE GOSH DARN IT, I COULDN'T FIND ANY ORGANIC DARK COCOA POWDER ANYWHERE, NOT EVEN AT THE LOCAL HEALTH FOOD STORE! I JUST ORDERED SOME FROM AMAZON (HOW DID I LIVE BEFORE AMAZON PRIME!?) AND I'M WAITING TO MAKE MORE OF THESE DELICIOUS COOKIES USING THE ORGANIC COCOA POWDER (JUST FOR MY SISTER WHO ONLY EATS ORGANIC, HAHA). THE HERSHEY'S SPECIAL DARK WORKS JUST AS WELL IN A PINCH! 

INGREDIENTS

1 AVOCADO (VERY RIPE BUT NOT BROWN)

1 BANANA

2 TBLSP HONEY

1 EGG

1/2 CUP DARK COCOA POWDER

1.2 OZ ORGANIC DARK CHOCOLATE (YOU CAN ADD EVEN MORE THAN THIS BUT I AM TRYING TO LIMIT MY SUGAR INTAKE) SEE NOTES BELOW.

1/2 TSP BAKING SODA

1 TSP COARSE SEA SALT (OPTIONAL)

INSTRUCTIONS

1. PREHEAT OVEN TO 350°

2. GET OUT YOUR TRUSTY FOOD PROCESSOR (I LOVE MY NINJA!) IF YOU DO NOT HAVE A FOOD PROCESSOR, YOU CAN ALSO USE A HAND MIXER. ADD THE AVOCADO AND BANANA AND PULSE TILL SMOOTH. ADD IN THE EGG AND REPEAT.

3. ADD THE COCOA POWDER AND THE BAKING SODA AND 1/2 TSP SALT. RESERVE THE OTHER 1/2 TSP SALT FOR LATER.

4. BREAK UP YOUR CHOCOLATE BAR INTO CHUNKS OR JUST USE CHOCOLATE CHIPS AND STIR THEM IN.

5. PLACE  DOLLOPS OF COOKIE BATTER (ABOUT 2 TBLSP WORTH) ONTO A COOKIE SHEET THAT IS LINED WITH PARCHMENT PAPER. YOU WILL NEED TO FLATTEN THE COOKIE A LITTLE MORE INSTEAD OF ROLLING INTO BALLS BECAUSE THESE COOKIES DO NOT REALLY SPREAD DURING BAKING.

6. BAKE FOR 8-10 MINUTES OR UNTIL THE SIDES OF THE COOKIES DO NOT STICK TO THE PARCHMENT AS MUCH AS THEY DID BEFORE BAKING.

7. COOL DOWN. COOL WAY DOWN! IT WILL BE VERY HARD TO GET THESE OFF THE PARCHMENT PAPER UNTIL THEY ARE COOLED OFF. WHILE THEY ARE COOLING SNEAK ONE INTO YOUR MOUTH BECAUSE THEY TASTE SUPER YUMMY RIGHT OUT OF THE OVEN TOO! (JUST A LOT MESSIER)

8. SPRINKLE THE REMAINING SEA SALT A LITTLE BIT ON TOP OF EACH COOKIE.

9. STORE IN AIRTIGHT CONTAINER IN THE FRIDGE. ENJOY!

I AM THINKING OF TRYING THESE WITH CRUSHED UP ALMONDS INSIDE OF THEM SOMETIME TOO! AGAIN, MORE CALORIES BUT THE GOOD KIND OF CALORIES! =) I HOPE YOU ENJOY THESE SUPER EASY AND HEALTHY DELICIOUS GOODNESS!

Carrot Cake Sandwich Cookies

A FRIEND SENT ME THIS RECIPE A WHILE BACK WHEN I MADE THESE DELICIOUS OATMEAL CREME PIES THINKING I WOULD PROBABLY LOVE TO MAKE CARROT CAKE CREME PIES FOR EASTER AND SURE ENOUGH SHE WAS RIGHT =) NOT ONLY WERE THEY SO TASTY, THEY ALSO LOOK SUPER CUTE AND ARE DIFFERENT FROM THE TYPICAL CARROT CAKE.

THE RECIPE I FOLLOWED IS LINKED AT THE BOTTOM. I PRETTY MUCH FOLLOWED IT EXACTLY SAVE FOR A COUPLE THINGS. FIRST OFF NORMALLY WHEN BAKING I AM IN A TIME CRUNCH- HECK I AM ALWAYS IN A TIME CRUNCH, HAHA. MEANING, THAT IF I FORGET TO TAKE THE BUTTER OUT OF THE FRIDGE TO LET IT SOFTEN FOR A FEW HOURS BEFORE HAND, I END UP MELTING IT IN THE MICROWAVE TO SOFTEN IT =/ YES, YES I KNOW THAT IS A #1 NO NO BUT IN THIS CASE IT ACTUALLY SEEMED TO WORK OUT NICELY BECAUSE THESE COOKIES ENDED UP BEING EXTREMELY MOIST! YOU ARE PROBABLY SAYING TO YOURSELF, JUST USE A KITCHEN AID- THAT WILL SOFTEN HARD/COLD BUTTER IN NO TIME! YEAH, UNFORTUNATELY I DON'T HAVE ONE, YET. MY EYES ARE SET ON THIS BEAUTY THOUGH...

BELOW IS THE RECIPE.  BESIDES MELTING THE BUTTER, THE ONLY OTHER THING I DID DIFFERENTLY IS USE HALF AS MUCH BUTTER IN THE FILLING AND TWICE AS MUCH POWDERED SUGAR. I DO NOT LIKE AN OVERLY BUTTERY FROSTING/ICING/FILLING AND NEITHER DOES MY FAMILY SO THAT IS WHY I MADE THAT ADJUSTMENT BUT IT REALLY DEPENDS ON YOUR TASTE BUDS! SPEAKING OF BEING IN A TIME CRUNCH, IT SAYS TO STORE COOKIE DOUGH IN THE FRIDGE FOR 1 HR AND 15 MIN. I STUCK IT IN THE FREEZER FOR HALF THE TIME BECAUSE I DIDN'T HAVE THAT LONG. SO BECAUSE OF MELTING THE BUTTER AND NOT LETTING IT SIT IN THE FRIDGE FOR THE ALLOTTED TIME, THESE COOKIES WEREN'T AS FLUFFY AS THEY PROBABLY COULD BE, BUT SINCE I WAS SANDWICHING THEM ANYWAYS I FIGURED THEY DIDN'T NEED TO BE FLUFFY. I ALSO FORGOT TO USE PARCHMENT PAPER LIKE THE ORIGINAL RECIPE SAYS. DO NOT FORGET TO USE PARCHMENT PAPER OR THE COOKIES WILL STICK LIKE CRAZY TO THE COOKIE SHEET. 

INGREDIENTS

1 1/4 CUPS ALL PURPOSE FLOUR

1/2 CUP QUICK OATS

3/4 TSP BAKING SODA

1 1/4 TSP GROUND CINNAMON

1/4 TSP GROUND GINGER

1/8 TSP GROUND NUTMEG

1/4 TSP SALT

1/2 CUP UNSALTED BUTTER, SOFTENED

1/2 CUP GRANULATED SUGAR

1/2 CUP PACKED LIGHT-BROWN SUGAR

1 LARGE EGG

1 TSP VANILLA EXTRACT

1 1/4 CUPS FINELY GRATED CARROTS

3/4 CUP CHOPPED WALNUTS OR PECANS (I USED PECANS)

CREAM CHEESE FILLING

4 OZ CREAM CHEESE, SOFTENED

6 TBSP UNSALTED BUTTER, SOFTENED (I USED HALF AS MUCH)

1 PINCH SALT

1/2 TSP VANILLA EXTRACT

1 CUP POWDERED SUGAR (I DOUBLED THIS)

DIRECTIONS

IN A MIXING BOWL, WHISK TOGETHER, QUICK OATS, BAKING SODA, CINNAMON, GINGER, NUTMEG AND SALT FOR 30 SECONDS, SET ASIDE.

IN A SEPARATE BOWL CREAM TOGETHER 1/2 CUP BUTTER, GRANULATED SUGAR AND BROWN SUGAR UNTIL WELL BLENDED. MIX IN EGG AND VANILLA EXTRACT. SLOWLY ADD IN FLOUR MIXTURE AND STIR JUST UNTIL COMBINED. STIR IN CARROTS, THEN FOLD IN PECANS. COVER BOWL AND CHILL DOUGH FOR  1 HR 15 MINUTES. (LIKE I SAID BEFORE I NEVER HAVE TIME SO I STUCK IT IN THE FREEZER FOR 45 MINUTES AND IT WAS PERFECT) PREHEAT OVEN TO 350 DURING THE LAST 10 MINUTES OF CHILLING.

DROP DOUGH 2 TBSP AT A TIME. YOU CAN ROLL THEM INTO BALLS FOR MORE EVEN ROUNDS - NOTE: THE DOUGH IS REALLY STICKY! THIS IS NORMAL! MAKE SURE YOU PLACE THEM ON PARCHMENT LINED BAKING SHEETS, SPACING COOKIES AT LEAST 2 INCHES APART. BAKE IN PREHEATED OVEN 12-13 MINUTES UNTIL CENTERS NO LONGER LOOK DOUGHY. ALLOW TO COOL ON BAKING SHEET SEVERAL MINUTES AND THEN TRANSFER TO A WIRE RACK TO COOL. COOL COMPLETELY THEN SANDWICH 2 COOKIES TOGETHER WITH THE CREAM CHEESE FILLING. STORE IN AN AIRTIGHT CONTAINER IN A SINGLE LAYER.

FOR THE CREAM CHEESE FILLING:

IN A BOWL USE AN ELECTRIC STAND MIXER OR A HAND MIXER AND WHIP TOGETHER CREAM CHEESE, BUTTER AND SALT UNTIL SMOOTH AND FLUFFY. STIR IN VANILLA AND POWDERED SUGAR AND CONTINUE TO WHIP UNTIL SMOOTH AND VERY FLUFFY. 

GRAB A GLASS OF MILK AND ENJOY!

RECIPE SOURCE: COOKING CLASSY