Vegan Coconut Banana Oatmeal Chocolate Chunk Bars

cut off t-shirts...the secret to muscle gains ;) . that's it.  a participant actually cut this shirt for me right before our Zumba half-time performance this past monday during the Rockets game (yeah haven't gotten that post up yet, whoops) and now i want to do all my lifting shirts this way! will have to YouTube a tutorial for sure.  after Barbell Strength class this morning i did back & biceps on my own before starting my day.

whenever i see these baby 1 lb weights on the rack i think about how cute they would be for my future mini me. baby fever strikes again! i've never seen anyone actually use them (other than for a door stop) but aren't they adorable??

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on my last grocery trip, i got a few of these StarKist Tuna Creations from Walmart.  i devoured the Sweet & Spicy and Herb & Garlic flavors a few days ago and finished the Hickory Smoked tuna today. all three were tasty!  love me some portable protein!  someone on IG said they have a Ranch flavor and i sure wish i had seen it at my Wally World.  i'm on the hunt for it.

they are already packed with a ton of flavor, but to the Sweet & Spicy one i added:

• raisins
• boiled egg whites
• green onion
• Grey Poupon Mild & Creamy Dijon Mustard (calorie-free)
• cracked black pepper
• red pepper flakes
• sweet smoked paprika

and topped a few raw red bell pepper slices for lunch one day.  again, it didn't even need all the hoopla!  i usually add all those ingredients to regular, unflavored tuna though.  try it and lemme know what cha think.

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what did i end up doing with this overripe bunch of bananas?  i found a WINNER:

Vegan Coconut Banana Bread Oatmeal Chocolate Chunk Bars

say that 3 times fast!  soooooo, vegan desserts have completely won me over.  i have committed myself to creating way more of them.  i've had a handful of moms contact me about making tasty food for their kiddos with specialty diets, and dairy-free is usually at the top of their list (for the parent's diet too).  i understand completely cause bloating = :( . i found Minimalist Baker surfing the net one day and saw about a quadrillion recipes of theirs i wanted to try.  most vegan dessert recipes i've come across contain a bajillion ingredients, like forreal.  i get discouraged myself just scrolling through them.  that's another reason i like Minimalist Baker though, hence the name! simple, tasty, and they use as few ingredients possible.  busy moms appreciate that too!  i know i do.  anywaaaaaay, this recipe is oil-free, egg-free, wheat-free, diary-free and still tastes freaking AMAZING.  that's always my first concern when all the 'good' stuff is missing from a recipe, ha. i found and adapted this recipe from another healthy site i came across during cardio recently, Ambitious Kitchen.  these do NOT disappoint your taste buds or your waistline.  now that's my kinda dessert!!  all things in moderation though, yall.

no apologies...my nails are the last thing on my to-do list these days. actually they never even make the list. 

moist, delectable, and HEALTHY! 

go ahead, get PIN-happy! i'll wait :)

ok i'm done. ready?

Vegan Coconut Banana Bread Oatmeal Chocolate Chunk Bars

the stuff:

• 2 cups gluten-free oat flour (make your own...i used rolled oats + Ninja Blender)
• 1/4 cup gluten-free rolled oats, un-blended (just for texture)
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tsp baking powder
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 2 tsp vanilla extract
• 1/4 cup honey or light agave nectar
• 3 medium ripe bananas
• 1/4 cup unsweetened applesauce
• 1 heaping tbsp unsweetened toasted coconut flakes
• 1/3 cup dairy-free semi-sweet chocolate chunks

topping:

• 1/2 tsp coconut oil, melted
• 2 tbsp dairy-free semi-sweet chocolate chunks, melted
• 1 heaping tbsp toasted coconut flakes (optional...but that crunch and toasted flavor is everything)

do this:

1. pre-heat oven to 350 degrees & coat baking pan with non-stick cooking spray
2. oat flour: place oats into blender or food processor and blend for 1-2 minutes until oatmeal resembles flour.
3. transfer oat flour to a medium bowl and add: 1/4 rolled oats, baking powder, baking soda, salt and cinnamon
4. throw bananas, vanilla, applesauce, and honey into blender; blend 1-2 minutes until smooth and creamy
5. add wet mixture to oat flour mixture and mix until just combined
6. gently fold in 1/3 cup of chocolate chunks
7. pour batter into prepared pan, spreading evenly with rubber spatula
8. bake for 15 minutes or until toothpick inserted into center comes out clean
9. let cool for 10 min.
10. prepare drizzle by adding 2 tablespoons of chocolate chunks + coconut oil in microwave safe bowl. microwave on high 30 seconds; stir well to combine then drizzle over the top of bars.  sprinkle toasted coconuts over bars. cut into 16 bars and serve it UP!

***NUTRITIONAL STATS( per 1 bar): 98 calories, 18g carbs, 4g fat,  2g protein, 10g sugar***

LOVE AT FIRST BITE!

make these, take a pic, then TAG ME on IG or Facebook and let me know what you thought of this treat!

Q: what are some of your favorite IG accounts to follow for recipes?  please share!

le

take care + toffee chip roasted banana ice cream

<<rewind<<

to last wednesday.

missed my super early cycle class but i still made it to the gym with enough time to get it in on my own that day. i have been putting my best foot forward about hitting the gym super early every single day as opposed to only when i teach my classes.   my body just operates better in the early morning.  as the day goes on, my desire to workout decreases dramatically.  i was able to record a HIIT & abs video i will be uploading to my YouTube channel for ya asap!

i came back home and had one of those breakfasts i could eat every day: whole wheat toast, eggs, avocado, and fruit. i wonder how many pics i have of this plate on my blog already, jeez.  i fueled up so i could head right back out though; i had a hot date planned!

ok, the boys came with me.  ok, it was actually a playdate, haha.  we loaded up the truck and went to spend some time with my BM (baby mama), Marguerite.

she had this beauty, Callie, back in August '14 so Dego was in great company!

i even brought my meals with me so i could stay on track for the day: seasoned chicken breast chunks, sautéed kale, and roasted sweet potato. nothin' fancy!

transforming is fun...and needed.  since leaving the IT industry 2 years ago, i normally only 'dress up' and do something with myself for church and special occasions/events. other than that, i'm in gym clothes and sneakers.  running errands with the boys... ha. i get home from the gym, get them ready, and head right back out most days.  so, i have become accustom to looking a hot mess often.  and i'm ok with it. until i see somebody i know!!! anyway, it's fun to get girly and put more effort into my appearance.  just a little goal of mine that was set at the start of this year along with taking better care of my hair. moms often take care of everybody else and end up with a lack of time for themselves!  make no mistake though; taking time for yourself doesn't mean you must spend hours in the mirror. it means taking and making (15, 20, 30 min or so) every single day to do something for YOU, mentally, emotionally, and physically with NO GUILT. pick a few from this list:

• reading your bible, praying, and meditating. every day.
• working out...especially the sauna or steam room to clear your mind
• learn how to say no, then do it
• get a pedicure
• read a little bit of a GOOD book every day
• take a class (cooking, pottery, painting, YOGA!!!!, etc)
• a long bubble bath soak
• watch the sunrise, solo
• a quiet, daily walk
• dance without music
• sleep in
• go get some fro-yo
• lay down in the middle of the grass and look up at the sky
• a kid-less trip to the store
• schedule a monthly massage
• catch up with friends via a real phone conversation or meet for lunch
• pause, breathe, inhale, exhale, repeat.

i sure do feel better when i'm put together (hair combed, dressed, face made) and looking my best.  my top and bottoms are from H & M! i exchanged the heels for flats before i left though. comfort over style ova heeeere! things have changed.

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my Ninja blender is the BOMB!  what a useful, blessing this Christmas gift is.  the next flavor i whipped up was Toffee Chip Roasted Banana Ice Cream but the roasting part is actually optional. tastes fantabulous either way.

 above was the soft-serve stage and i wanted to devour the entire bowl right then!!! readyyyyy?

Toffee Chip Roasted Banana Ice Cream

the stuff:

• 3 frozen bananas
• 1 cup coconut cream (i get mine canned from Sprouts Farmers Market)
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1/4 cup dairy-free chocolate chips
• 1/4 cup toffee pieces

do this:

1. if roasting, do this step the day before or 2-3 hours prior: place bananas in baking dish, drizzle with vanilla, bake for 40-45 min on 375 degrees.  toss them halfway through baking.  transfer bananas to a freezer safe container and freeze 2 hours minimum or overnight for best results. jump down to #3, add your coconut cream, and continue.
2. if not roasting, add frozen bananas to your Ninja along with the coconut cream and vanilla.
3. blend until smooth. it will eventually get super-duper creamy, don't worry! just keep scraping the sides down and blending.
4. dump creamy soft-serve into your bowl and add mix-ins (chocolate chips, toffee, optional nuts, etc.)
5. eat a few spoonfuls!!!!
6. stir it just a few times to incorporate the mix-ins then put it back in the freezer.
7. after 2 hours or so, it's all yours.

the sauce is melted down diary-free chocolate chips.  some walnuts would actually set this off but i didn't have any.  if you do, throw'em  in!

what does your 'me' time consist of?

pedicures and bubble baths keep me sane.

le

dairy & nut-FREE chocolate chip cookie dough ice cream cupcakes

this just might be the coolest dessert i've ever made. literally.

:shock:

 i owe it all to Kristin over at Yellow Bliss Road for these babies.  noooo idea (as usual) how i even found her blog (i just get click happy and end up finding awesome stuff every single day) and i had so much fun recreating this into a dairy-free (for the most part!) dessert for my lovely fit foodies.

chocolate chip cookie dough ice cream cupcakes (can be dairy-free, nut-free) 

the stuff:

• 1 can garbanzo beans (no salt added)
• 1/2 cup raw organic oat bran OR ground oats
• 2 tbsp unsweetened applesauce
• 1.5 tbsp melted coconut oil
• 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
• 1/4 tsp baking soda
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 3/4 cup Coconut Crystals
• 6 tbsp Enjoy Life dairy & nut free semi sweet Chocolate Chips OR mini dark chocolate chips
• 1 pint So Delicious dairy-free, soy-free, no sugar added Vanilla Bean ice cream - or any ice cream you prefer really! i also used Almond Dream Toffee Almond Fudge. mmm hmmm.
• 35 - .5 oz paper cups

do this:

• set the ice cream and the chocolate chips aside
• throw everything else into your food processor and BLEND until smooth and uniform. no lumps. blenders don't work well for this cause the batter is super thick, fyi
• fold in your chocolate chips to the batter in a separate mixing bowl
• coat your MINI muffin pan with no stick cooking spray and portion out 35 cookie cups (about 1.5 tbsp of batter each)
• bake 10-12 minutes on 350 degrees or until golden brown, then let them cool completely. you can eat a few while they are hot though
• once completely cooled, take out your ice cream and let it soften for about 20 minutes at room temperature
• line the paper cups with cookies and spoon about 2 tbsp of ice cream on top, pressing it down into the cookie. top it off by making a smooth flat surface using the bottom of your spoon
• freeze for about an hour (that's the longest i could wait but shoot for 2)
• rip the paper cups off those suckers and top them however you like!  i used extra creamy whipped cream and more mini chocolate chips.

so,  only take them outta the freezer if you're gonna eat them right then since it's ice cream and all.

  stats below are for the cookie solo; 2 tbsp of the 100 calorie per serving vanilla bean ice cream mentioned above came out to 25 cals.   which means 1 cupcake = 78 cals total.  the stats change though depending on the type of ice cream you use of course.

you could also use Arctic Zero low-calorie ice creams as well, yep.

i took 87 pics per angle. 

and can you tell i found a new pic app? serious overkill.

this one's the toffee almond fudge ice cream. yeah....

wrapping this up now.

k this is it.

forreal.  fun, fun!

aaand a little fitness motivation before i let you go and a reminder to not eat all the cupcakes at once.

enjoy friends!

 Q: what is THE best ice cream flavor, hands down? there are so dang many these days, but Marble Slab's sweet cream is TOP NOTCH in my book! also, Dryers caramel cone crunch, Lord have mercy. haven't had either of them in years though. leave me a comment and let me know yours ;)

le

only the best, ever.

ooooh if only i could only post every day!! life would be grand.  but no, my little one is not having that.  aaaand as luck would have it, my HP laptop quit on me. makes it that much more difficult to keep up with this thing.  however, i'm committed and i'm gonna keep on trucking. this concludes my pity party. breakfast was my usual bowl of oats and egg white omelette with cheese.  i had an oval apple for my mid morning snack- yeah it didn't look like an apple to me either. Central Market was sampling them this past weekend and they tasted like a mixture of apple and pear to me! so, i got a pair.

i also got some fresh whole wheat tortillas while there.  I threw some skinless chicken breasts and ranch dressing mix into my crock pot last night, so this morning we woke up to our lunch all ready to go.  gotta love that thing. today's lunch- a whole wheat, ranch chicken wrap!

i added about a tablespoon of mashed avocado, some cilantro, half a tomato, and half of a laughing cow cheese wheel. nope, no lettuce:(

we'll be eating the rest of that chicken for dinner tonight for sure. i'll have to come up with a creative way to serve it and get back to ya.

 one more thing about CM,  i MUST tell you about this popcorn Sonny and i were introduced to on V-day last month during the chocolate festival.  it's only the best i've ever had, no big deal.  i was already hooked on Popcorn, Indiana's kettle corn, but  now....oh but now.  i went to CM that very same weekend just to get some more bags... only there was not a bag in sight. the shelf was completely cleared out. i was so bummed, but i completely understood.  sooooo when i stopped by CM this past weekend for lunch with my mom, you know i checked for it again. and hello, it was on sale- 2 bags for 4 bucks!!!!! i got two and so did my mom.

ignore the ash on my hand and focus on the chocolate chips on that kernel!! seriously good.

this drizzled chocolate popcorn is definitely an indulgent snack.  i mean it even says it on the bag:)

hope you have a fab monday and an even better week!!

 what's one of your favorite indulgent snacks?

le