Chocolate. Chip. Cookies. OHHHH MYYYY GOSHHHH.

The title of this post says it all. I mean, COME ON GUYS IT'S CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES. What else is there to say?! 

            Chocolate Chip Cookies!

                    Ummmmm yeah. 

      My mouth is watering...another batch, please! 

    Chewy, chocolate-y vegan goodness!

Chocolate Chip Cookies! Vegan, gluten-free. Serves one (seriously!). 

Ingredients

1. 1/2 cup instant oatmeal 

2. One overripe mashed banana

3. 1 T raw cacao nibs (you can also use Lilly's stevia sweetened chocolate chips...these are amazing! I just didn't have any this morning 😭)

Method

1. Mash your banana in a medium size bowl. Add remaining ingredients and mix well. 

2. Using a spoon, scoop out about 2 T of "dough" at a time and form into cookies. Repeat until dough is gone. 

3. Place cookies on a parchment lined baking sheet and bake at 350 F for 20 minutes. Let cool and eat! (Perfectly acceptable as a breakfast item 😄👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻)

Blackberry Swirl Nice Cream.

I'm all about simple recipes--in my opinion, the fewer ingredients the better (as long as the taste isn't sacrificed!)! This "Blackberry Swirl Nice Cream" could NOT be ANY EASIER--two ingredients, five minutes, done. It really doesn't get any better than this, people! 

           Blackberry Swirl Nice Cream. 

                  Oooooooh my.....

Blackberry Swirl Nice Cream; Vegan, Gluten-free. Serves one. 

Ingredients 

1. One frozen banana, frozen in chunks

2. 1/2 cup frozen blackberries

Method

1. Place frozen banana chunks in your mini food processor and blend until smooth. Add blackberries and blend--pulse a few times. You don't want to purée the berries...just chop them. Leave some chunks. 

2. Spoon into bowl and serve! Yum! 

Mint-Carob Nice Cream.

When I was younger (and ate ice cream!), my ABSOLUTE FAVORITE FLAVOR was mint chocolate chip. There was NOTHING I loved more than a yummy mint chocolate chip ice cream on a hot summer day. Cool, rich, creamy, perfection. Ahhhhhhh. So refreshing. My fellow mint chocolate chip lovers, REJOICE! This "Mint-Carob Nice Cream" tastes EXACTLY LIKE THE REAL THING! Actually, no. IT'S BETTER! And it's so incredibly healthy! You have to make this...even if mint chocolate chip ice cream isn't your favorite, THIS FLAVOR WILL BE! It's definitely mine! 

             Mint-Carob Nice Cream. 

You reaaaaaaalllly want to make this. Trust me!

Mint-Carob Nice Cream; Vegan, Gluten-free. Serves one (makes one EXTRA LARGE serving!). 

Ingredients

1. 2 frozen bananas

2. 1 T carob powder

3. One peppermint tea bag, steeped in 1 cup boiling water and chilled in the fridge AT LEAST 48 hours for flavors to fully develop. 

Method

1. In your vitamix or other high speed blender, combine frozen nanas, carob, and 1/2 cup of your chilled peppermint tea. Secure lid and blend low to high. Of things are not moving, add another 1/4 cup of tea. Blend until smooth. 

2. Turn off blender and set aside a shallow baking dish. Pour your nice cream into dish, making sure to spread it evenly about the dish. The consistency should be thick but easily spreadable...think very thick smoothie. 

3. Cover and place in freezer overnight. When ready to eat, remove from freezer, let thaw at least 10-15 minutes and enjoy! So so so good! (I may or may not be eating this RIGHT NOW...)

Holiday Post!: Memorial Day Ice Cream Bars.

These Memorial Day ice cream bars are the perfect treat for a hot day! Super simple to make and only 4 ingredients! Definitely a winner!

         Memorial Day Ice Cream Bars. 

        Yuuuuuuuuuummmmmmooooo. 

Memorial Day Ice Cream Bars; Vegan, Gluten-free. Makes one serving (one plate of ice cream bars). 

Ingredients 

1. 2 frozen bananas 

2. 1/2 cup water or almond milk

3. 1 cup frozen strawberries

4. 1/8 cup frozen wild blueberries 

Method

1. Blend the frozen bananas in your vitamix with the water. The result should be like a thick smoothie. 

2. Line a shallow baking dish with parchment paper and pour in banana mixture. 

3. Using caution, slice the frozen strawberries in half and squish halves into banana ice cream. Squish in your bloobs as well. 

4. Cover and place in freezer overnight. Let thaw about 10 minutes before sliding into bars and devouring! Yumalicious!

Orange-Basil Nice Cream

This right here is heaven. I'm not kidding. I literally melted when I ate this. You already know my utter obsession with banana ice cream, but when I added these two extra ingredients to the mix? Oh wow. I am in love.

Orange-Basil Nice Cream.

Orange-Basil Nice Cream; Vegan, Gluten-Free. Serves One.

Ingredients

1. one frozen banana, frozen in chunks
2. one frozen orange, peels and sectioned prior to freezing
3. 3 leaves of fresh basil

Method

1. Easy-peasy. Add all ingredients to your Vitamix (reserving one of the basil leaves for decoration) and blend until smooth and creamy. 
2. Spoon into bowl and garnish with remaining basil leaf. Enjoy!

Banana Ice Cream Pie

If you follow me on Instagram, you already know how much I love my "Nana Ice Cream". And I mean reeeeeaaaalllly love. I would eat it at every single meal if I could. I'm soooo not joking, either. This is a fun little treat that can go for a dessert or even breakfast! Super simple, minimal ingredients, and just the right size. I don't know about you but I'm perfectly happy saying I ate a whole ice cream pie for  breakfast...

Banana Ice Cream Pie.

Banana Ice Cream Pie; Vegan, Gluten-Free. Makes one "mini" sized pie.

Ingredients

1. 1/4 cup ground flaxseeds
2. 2 dates
3. 1 frozen banana (frozen in chunks)

Method

1. In a mini food processor, combine flax and dates. Process until crumbly and sticky. Press into desired dish (if it doesn't hold together, add a splash of water and stir). 
2. Cover and place in the freezer while you make your filling. 
3. Place frozen banana chunks in your Vitamix. Blend until smooth and ice-cream consistency. Spread over crust, cover, and freeze about 15-20 minutes. 
4. Top with coconut cream if desired, slice, and enjoy! 

Yummy!

Holiday Post!: Minty Shamrock Shake

I'm a sucker for holidays. Especially the so-called "Hallmark holidays" (i.e. Valentine's Day, St. Patty's Day, etc.). I always have been, and I think I always will be! There is just such joy surrounding these days. People act happier when they know these days are close. Really! The colors, the decorations, and, who would I be not to acknowledge the best part...the food!
I LOVE preparing holiday-themed recipes. In fact, as time goes on and I continue to increase my recipe collection, you all will be seeing LOTS of holiday-themes recipes. I'm cheesy, I know. I can't help it.
I especially love St. Patrick's Day. Maybe it's my Irish heritage (come on, you had to have guessed. Check out the hair!), or maybe the fact that my favorite color is EVERYWHERE for the entire month of March, or maybe that this holiday marks the beginning of my favorite season...I don't know. I just know I love St. Patrick's Day!
Anyway. On to the RECIPE! If I may be so bold, this smoothie rocks. The combination of flavors come together perfectly and completely epitomize St. Patrick's Day (and Spring in general!). Frosty frozen bananas, creamy coconut cream, fresh mint leaves, oh yeah. Definitely a favorite smoothie from now on...

Minty Shamrock Shake

Minty Shamrock Shake; Vegan, Gluten-Free. Serves One.

Ingredients

1. 2 bananas, sliced and frozen
2. 2 T coconut cream
3. 2 fresh mint leaves
4. 1 Cup almond milk
5. 2 Cups fresh spinach leaves

Method

1. Super-duper simple: Combine all ingredients in a Vitamix or other high-speed blender and blend low to high until smooth. Pour into large glass and enjoy!