Yummy Walnut Butter and Banana Toast

Seems 99% of know what peanut butter is, in fact many of us grew up with it in our cupboards. It's a simple formula, grind nuts to a smooth, spreadable paste. Maybe add a touch of salt, but nothing more is needed. A pretty simple concept really. But have you looked at the ingredients in PB lately?

Take a look and you'll find sugar and hydrogenated oil, both are terrible for our health. Hydrogenated oils are chemically altered, containing unsaturated fats that have had hydrogen atoms added to their structure, making them more solid and turning them into trans fats which are linked to heart disease, obesity and diabetes. Our bodies don't recognize this as food, all it can do is try to fight the free radicals clogging your bloodstream and damaging your cells.

So, what to do instead? Make your own nut butters in minutes. The benefits of making your own nut butters far outweigh a jarred variety. You can control the ingredients and what goes into your butter. For instance, how much salt and sugar, if any. But even better, you can make nut butter from any nut. AND you can add additional flavorings - like cinnamon and raw cacao! Genius.

Today we are making a simple walnut butter and then slathering it on warm toast with touch of honey, cinnamon and a few banana slices. So good and nourishing- it's great as a snack or breakfast.
Blend up a walnut nut butter today, it's one small step to healthier and giant step to yummy!

Raw Chocolate Crunch Energy Bites

Binge season is upon us; there is no reason to try to deny it. But you can fight it, deliciously.

These little raw chocolate balls are not new, but my version adds in crunch to help satisfy that crunchy, cookie need with popped millet. It takes a few extra minutes to pop the millet, but it's so worth it for the addition of gluten free crunch.

The bonus with these balls is that they don't just satisfy your sweet craving but they do it with natural sugar and energy from the dates, good fat from the coconut oil and antioxidants from the cacao and they help to regulate blood sugar with the cinnamon. Set these out but don't tell anyone what they are until after they try them and comment on how good these are.

Indulge if you must right now, but keep these babies in the fridge or freezer year round as your go to healthy, sweet, energy option.

Mashed Guac-mmus Lettuce Wrap

Looking for a simple, fresh lunch or snack that is healthy, tasty and fresh? This little number is yummy and crunchy and filled with healthy fats and protein.  I created these guacamole and chickpea wraps for one of my detoxes and I've been making them ever since.

Chick peas are only 23 percent protein; combine with other beans, rice or sunflower seeds to make a complete protein. In this recipe we use seeds, but add rice or beans as you see fit.

Make each wrap your own by adding in additional nuts or seeds or whatever veggies are in your fridge; chop up or grate zucchini, beets, onions or fennel.. Try serving atop a bed of brown rice for a complete meal.

Enjoy your happy healthy meal and then go do something with all your new found energy!

Watermelon Feta Salad with Spicy Vinaigrette

This recipe is now at Happy Eats Healthy

Pesto meets Vinaigrette: Herbed and Minted

Recently I stumbled upon this Green Chermoula recipe because of a photo that look interesting, but the reviews of it were seriously lacking. And even though I'm still not a fan of cilantro, the ingredients looked intriguing, using both parsley and cilantro with a side of mint and jalapeno.  So I decided to give it a go, knowing I could doctor it up as needed.

Turns out the recipe did need a little help; a splash of lemon and a doubling of the mint and ginger did the trick. The result is an interesting herby, minty, slightly spicy pesto-like vinaigrette that grows on you. The first few tastes didn't totally hook me or my guests, but half way through our meal people were asking for the recipe (and that has happened twice!)

So far I've used this on flat bread pizza, as a spinach salad dressing, drizzled across baked sweet potatoes and then as a light spread on a chicken salad wrap. Talk about versatility! It whips up in seconds, no cooking required. And with these great health benefits (see Happy Health Tips below), adding a second helping is almost a requirement!

Nutty Snack Bar

Recently I led nearly 20 people through a detox resulting in healthy glowing skin, weight loss, reduction of inflammation, improved digestion and happier attitudes among a plethora of additional benefits. During this detox we gave up all processed foods; it was important to cook most, if not all, of our own food.

Healthy, homemade snacks became important as we noshed on clean foods like carrots, hummus and avocado. Towards the end of the detox I yearned for something that is a little bit like a treat and I wanted a snack I could take with me on the go. That's when I tossed this recipe together and it really hit the spot.

These bars come together in a snap. Use whatever ingredients are in your pantry and cut them to whatever size works best for you. I like to make little bite-sized pieces for when I'm at home, but I cut some into a bar size to take on the go with me. Always remember moderation is key with all foods, these tasty little snacks can become addictive so it's best to portion them out

Great for a work or school snack, perfect for a plane trip or during a long sports day, these Fat and Happy Snack Bars will keep you going without gluten, dairy or refined white sugar.

Zucchini & White Bean Guacamole

Another healthy catering gig gave me the opportunity to create a new recipe.

I'm going to climb onto my soapbox for just a moment a remind you all that fats do not make you fat, not when they are healthy fats like avocado. Consumption of fat is needed for the body to work properly (they  raise good HDL cholesterol, lower bad LDL cholesterol, and protect against the buildup of plaque in your arteries and help combat dry skin) so even if you are looking to loose a few pounds, fats should NOT be skipped. That doesn't mean you should go crazy and eat as much (healthy) fat as you want, everything in moderation.

This recipe takes advantage of a classic, guacamole, but it takes it to the next level by stuffing even more nutrients in it using beans and zucchini. Beans area great source of protein and fiber and while zucchini is a mostly water it does offer vitamin A and potassium. Protein, potassium and healthy fats all in one dip with flavor to boot. That is what it's all about, clean eating without giving anything up the flavor.

Whip up a batch and serve as a dip, use a spread on sandwiches or top your salad or taco with this delicious Fat and Happy creation.  You might find eating it with a spoon works too.

Crispy Chickpea Panzanella Salad

My hands down favorite salad is the the classic Italian Panzanella Bread Salad. Fresh tomatoes, cucumbers and olives mingle with balsamic vinegar, then hearty bread croutons sop up the dressing and release all the flavor in one bite. I can eat my weight in this salad.

Since I decided to lay off gluten for a few weeks, this classic version is off my list. That opened the door for a new, modified recipe! The crunchy seasoned croutons are really my favorite part about this salad so it is important to find an equally yummy crunchy replacement. Crispy chickpeas did the trick. While keeping most of the salad intact, chickpeas done two ways rounded out both the flavor and texture.

The salad comes together in snap, but remember you need time to bake the legumes. Perfect for a light lunch or next to a grilled turkey, chicken or pork, this Fat and Happy Chickpea Panzanella Salad is a winner, gluten free or not!

Pineapple Gazpacho

This lovely pineapple has been sitting on my counter for days. Staring me down. Saying "What'chu gonna do with me? I'm gettin' ripe over here!" You know it's time to get cooking when your ingredients start talking to you.

Grilled pineapple has got to be one of my top 10 favorite things to work with- it's simply delish by itself. Chopped up in grain salad with mustard vinaigrette is so good too. Or try a drenching of homemade caramel sauce, it just kills!

Been there, done that.  This time I yearned for something fresh. The late summer sun is beating through the windows and the air conditioning never seems to shut off. That's when it hit me- gazpacho!

Classically made with tomatoes, gazpacho is a chilled Spanish soup from fresh ingredients. Throw some fruit and vegetables in a blender and your done.

Healthy and Delicious Chocolate Fig Smoothie

I greet every day with a smoothie and my birthday day was no different. Though I did yearn for something that felt a little indulgent I didn't want to start my day down a path of destruction by 7am.

My special day smoothie would involve fresh figs, I knew that much for sure since a few figs found their way to me via a local CSA. Chocolate just seemed to be an interesting compliment to the figs.  Thanks to the raw cacao stocked in my pantry I got a great antioxidant boost without turning my healthy breakfast treat into a diner-like fattening shake. The almond milk and hemp seeds pack in a big boost of protein too.

This smoothie is so rich and delicious, you would never guess it's packed with so much nutrition and protein. Start any day with Fat and  Happy love in your glass, you just may have to admit you like healthy foods.

Asparagus, Cabbage and Couscous Salad with Orange Sriracha Vinaigrette

Tis the season of outdoor concerts and movies and evening picnics in the park. It's also the time of year those of us living in the cold climates gain the opportunity to eat more raw food.

This is a fairly simple salad of raw cabbage and asparagus but it gains a bit of heartiness and chewiness from the couscous. The real kick is tossing the whole mix with the Orange Sriracha Vinaigrette- it's a great combination together and brings the vegetables alive.

Napa cabbage is a friendlier cabbage than most, in my opinion. It's high in antioxidants, folates, Vitamins A, K and C and it gives a great crunch to any salad. Asparagus is rich in fiber, supports our immune system, helps our fight against inflammation, has anti cancer benefits and helps to regulate blood sugar. Power packed nutrition in one fun and tasty salad.

Pack the basket, head to your nearest park and pull out this Fat and Happy picnic loving salad. It will leave the crowd comfortably satisfied.

Cashew Cream Soup: Avocado and Pepper

Recently I've found that singeling cashews out of the nut mixture can is not the only way to enjoy them. It's true. Raw cashes are now synonymous with sweet, fluffy dessert toppings as well as savory creams.

You may also be asking why? The simple fact is that not everyone eats, or can tolerate, dairy. And why live a life of creamless soups and desserts when you don't have to?

You may also be intrigued by this, but have concerns with how daunting the process is going to be. Turns out, the process is really quite simple. I'll admit, I was initially hesitant and it took a bit before I finally soaked my first cashew. But I haven't looked back since. Soaking cashews involve covering them with water overnight and then rinsing them before blending with water. That's it! Vary the texture through amounts of water and length of blending. Add a bit of sweetener and vanilla for dessert or leave plain to use in place of classic milk and cream.

Below I've given you the makings for two base soups: a Creamy Avocado Soup and a Creamy Pepper Soup. You can also combine them to make a Creamy Avocado Pepper Soup. Also listed are numerous additions that can be added to either, ultimately giving you ability to make hundreds of soups. Perhaps they should be called Creamy Transformer Soups?

Bite the bullet and test out the cashew phenomenon with either of these ultra simple, Fat and Happy Cashew Cream Soups. It will be the beginning of a new relationship.