Maple Almond Granola

This is the best granola you will ever have. It's filling, slightly sweet, and super crunchy. I can't seem to make it fast enough! I'll bake a batch, think it will last me the week, but it will be gone within a few days because the whole family is chowing down. It's great for breakfast or for a snack and doesn't even need berries because of the delicious addition of dried fruits. Seriously, this is the only granola recipe you will ever need. Don't you dare spend $10 on granola at the store - this is better!

Ingredients
Adapated from Pastry Affair

2 cups rolled oats
1 cup uncooked quinoa
1 cup roasted almonds, roughly chopped
1 tablespoon ground flax seed
1 tablespoon chia seeds
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/3 cup coconut oil, melted
1/3 cup maple syrup
1 teaspoon almond extract
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 egg white
1/3 cup chopped, dried apricots
1/3 cup dried cranberries

Preheat the oven to 325 F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

In a large bowl, mix together the oats, quinoa, almonds, ground flax, chia seeds, cinnamon and nutmeg. Add in the coconut oil, maple syrup, almond extract, salt and egg white and stir until everything is combined and well coated. Evenly spread out the mixture onto the baking sheet and bake for 23-27 minutes, until the edges are golden brown . Do not stir half way! Leave it for the full time to ensure crunchy clusters.

Allow to cool completely. Break up granola into clusters and mix in the dried apricots and cranberries. Store in an air-tight container. I have no idea how long this stays fresh for because ours is all eaten in about three days.

Chocolate Almond Cookies

The month of April was been insane. With what seemed like hundreds of school assignments, a fake humanitarian crisis, figuring out U.S. visa regulations, and preparing for a much needed vacation, there was a great need to bake but little time for it. So I came home one evening and just started making cookies because I could and I needed to. Cookies can be such a comfort. They take little time and effort to make and are always so satisfying. Given the stress of the week I also needed chocolate. Chocolate almond cookies were made, and they did just the trick. Here's the recipe:

Ingredients
(Adapted from Joy the Baker)

1/2 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup light brown sugar, packed
1 egg
1/2 teaspoon almond extract
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 1/2 cup white all-purpose flour
1/3 cup cocoa powder
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup semi sweet chocolate chips
Sliced almonds

Preheat the oven to 350 F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. In a bowl, cream together the butter and sugars until fluffy. Beat in the egg, vanilla and almond extract. In a separate bowl, mix together the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Add the flour mixture to the butter mixture and mix until combined. Gently stir in the chocolate chips. Scoop approximately one tablespoon of cookie dough onto the baking sheet, about 1.5 inches apart. Take a few sliced almonds and stick them into the top of the cookie. Bake for 10-12 minutes, just until the bottoms are lightly browned. Allow to cool slightly before eating.

Almond Coconut Energy Bites

On some of my favourite food blogs, and all over my Pinterest feed, I keep seeing variations of these protein packed energy balls. They deceivingly look like they could be some sort of chocolate-coconut concoction but when I peek at the ingredients they're always filled with loads of ingredients that I definitely don't have in my cupboards (though a frequent whole foods shopper might). If you frequent any health food and vegan blogs you may have stumbled across ingredients such as maca powder, or carob powder and had the same thoughts as I did, what in the heck am I gonna do with those! Upon further reading they're supposed to have all sorts of benefits, but when 'creation mode' strikes I usually stick to what I already have on hand.

These energy bites are packed full of goodness with simple ingredients, a slight nuttiness, and a hint of sweetness. What started as following a recipe quickly became me dumping ingredients into the food processor until things seemed right. Here's the recipe:

Ingredients

1/3 cup almond butter

12 pitted dates

1/4 cup unsweetened shredded coconut

1/4 cup oats

1/4 cup ground flax seeds

2 tablespoons chia seeds

1 tablespoon coconut oil

2-4 tablespoon maple syrup

In a food processor, combine the almond butter and dates until well blended. Add in the coconut, oats, flax, and chia seeds, and mix until it the mixture is similar to fine granules. Mix in the coconut oil and gradually add in the maple syrup until the mixture can hold itself in small balls. After everything is combined, roll the mixture into approximately 12 balls and roll into additional coconut (you could also leave them plain or roll them in sesame seeds or other nuts for something different!). Freeze until ready to eat! 

This recipe is great because you can adjust the ingredients to various nuts and seeds depending on what you have on hand or what your taste buds prefer. They're a great mid-afternoon pick me up without too much guilt!

Homemade Almond Joy Bars

Sunday was one of those days where I woke up and immediately felt the need to make something. I get that feeling pretty regularly, but knowing I had a few other items to check off my to do list I got right to it - didn't even eat breakfast first! I've seen on a few of my favourite food blogs the creation of homemade versions of classic candy bars, and they always look ten times better than the plastic packaged original. As you know I am passionate about everything coconut, and though the closest Canadian equivalent is a Bounty bar, I decided to recreate our beloved American friend's Almond Joy Bar. These were so simple to make - even easier than marshmallows (which I know sounds hard but really isn't). If you're having a candy craving make your own! And everything is better fun sized so what's stopping you!? Here's the recipe:

Ingredients

1 cup sweetened shredded coconut

3 tablespoons coconut oil

1 tablespoon maple syrup

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/4 teaspoon almond extract

Pinch of salt

12 whole, roasted almonds

1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

In a food processor, ground together the coconut, oil, maple syrup, vanilla and almond extract. It should form a thick and sticky mixture (if it holds together in a ball then you're good to go). On a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, make approximately 12 rounded rectangles with the coconut mixture. Lightly press a whole almond on top and freeze for 30 minutes. In a small bowl, melt the chocolate chips (30 second increments, stirring in between). Using toothpicks, dip your solid coconut pieces in the chocolate, doing your best to cover it completely. Allow to dry on the parchment before serving

Note: I chopped up some additional almonds and sprinkled it on top of the melted chocolate to make them a little prettier.

I could eat these forever. Once you try them it'll be real hard opening up the plastic wrapper and knowing you won't be nearly as satisfied with your processed bar of gunk. Bring on the homemade-fun-sized happiness!

(Adapted from this recipe)