Vegan Chocolate Milkshake Recipe

I’m not much on guilt.  However, when it comes to chocolate milkshakes I admit that I can go a bit overboard.  My love affair with chocolate milkshakes began as far back as my memory serves me.  In fact, I remember that as soon as I was old enough to work a blender on my own I was making chocolate milkshakes (anyone who knows me well will tell you that as far as I’m concerned, there’s only one way to make a proper milkshake: vanilla ice cream with chocolate syrup; none of that chocolate ice cream business).  However, as I creep closer to 40 and my post baby body takes on different forms (thank you Willow Tree), combined with the realization that my every move is being watched and mimicked by my perfect child, I’m forming new love affairs.  Enter: the Vegan Chocolate Milkshake.  I knew it was a hit when Willow and I were chasing each other around the living room trying to drink the other’s up!

Ingredients

• 1 frozen banana +1 ripe (very ripe) banana ( or 2 frozen bananas)
• 1 Tbsp raw cacao
• ½ -1 cup plain soy or rice milk
• Agave nectar to taste

Directions

Blend until smooth and enjoy the chase!

Gluten-Free Vegan Granola Bars

These gluten-free vegan granola bars are great for busy bodies on the go.  Feel free to get creative and substitute whatever you already have in your kitchen. Yum them up!

Ingredients

·         1 cup quick oats

·         1 cup brown rice cereal

·         1 cup quinoa flour

·         ½ cup coconut sugar

·         1 tsp. cinnamon

·         1 Tbsp. chia seeds

·         2 Tbsp. sunflower seeds

·         ½ tsp. sea salt

·         1¼ cup each dried fruit, without added sugar (we used raisins, mangos, pineapples, bananas and apples)

·         ½ cup blackstrap molasses (or brown rice syrup)

·         1 egg replacement (1 Tbsp. ground flax seed + 3 Tbsp. boiling water =1 vegan “egg”)

·         1/3 cup melted coconut oil

·         1/3 cup mashed banana

·         1/3 cup applesauce

Directions

1.       Grease a 9x13” baking pan (we used coconut oil). Preheat oven to 350 degrees F

2.       Combine oats, brown rice cereal, flax meal, cinnamon, flour, dried fruit, and salt in a large bowl.

3.       In a separate bowl, whisk together brown rice syrup, egg, coconut oil, banana, and applesauce.

4.       Pour brown rice syrup mixture into oats/cereal mixture and mix well (you may need to combine with your hands).

5.       Bake in preheated oven for 20-30 minutes or until bars are to desired consistency (less time for chewy bars, more time for crunchy bars).  Leave in pan until cool enough to touch and then cut into desired bars.  Enjoy the yummy goodness!