Since I'm taking a few days off from working out, I decided I would spend the time I'd normally spend working out, experimenting with food!
Sounds like a good deal to me.
There is one thing I've been wanting to make for so long, and today was finally the day. Plus, I'm really in need of afternoon snacks these days. Check this out--I'm sure you guys will love this!
5 Ingredient No-Bake Chocolate Chip "Cookie Dough"
[Makes 12]
Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup raw cashews
- 1/2 cup uncooked oats
- 2 1/2 tablespoons brown rice syrup (or maple syrup)
- 1/4 cup chocolate chips
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
Stuff you need (minus the vanilla...that was a last minute addition!):
Combine the oats and cashews in a food processor.
Blend to a powder-like consistency.
Add the brown rice syrup and vanilla.
Blend to incorporate. Then add the chocolate chips.
Blend but not too much! You still want the chocolate chips to be whole.
Form the dough into balls.
Enjoy!!
SO GOOD.
Great afternoon snack. Protein + complex carbs + healthy sweetener. FYI: brown rice syrup is a great alternative to regular sugar or other sweeteners such as honey and maple syrup. Why?
Sugar (and simple carbohydrate) consumption tends to cause a sharp increase in blood sugar levels. This then causes rapid release of insulin which basically moves the sugars into fat storage. Not good!! (This is why complex carbs are recommended). Anyway, brown rice syrup actually consists of 50% complex carbohydrates and only 3% glucose. Hence, brown rice syrup doesn't cause the rapid increase in blood glucose levels that other sweeteners do.
And it tastes good!
Moving on...
I still had another huge leek to cook with this week! So let's get to it.
Leek & Greens Barley Risotto
Inspired by this recipe
Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup barley (or wheat pasta or other whole grain)
- 2 cups vegetable broth
- 1 leek (bottom portion only)
- 2 garlic cloves
- handful of greens of choice (I used swiss chard/collards)
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 tomato
- black pepper/oregano to taste
Cook the barley. (1/2 cup barley + 1 1/2 cups boiling water in a covered pot for about 20 minutes).
In a large pot, heat the olive oil and add chopped garlic, chopped leeks, and greens.
Saute till soft. Add the tomato.
After the mixture has become juicy, add the cooked barley.
Add the vegetable broth, black pepper, and oregano. Stir and let simmer.
Most of the liquid should be absorbed within 10 minutes.
Serve with cheese and crushed red pepper. (You don't actually have to).
I love barley, but now I love it more because it almost tastes like pasta in this dish. Success!!
