Veggie Staples

dairy free, gluten free, refined sugar free, plant based recipes

Protein Packed Apple Snack Bites

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If there is ever way to pack in some extra protein for a snack, I’m looking for it. As someone who doesn’t eat much more than fish, I add it in when I can. Have you ever heard of Manitoba Hemp Hearts? Manitoba is a company that makes hemp hearts, an amazing plant based protein made from hemp seeds! I love using them in everything from baking to smoothies, to give food a subtly nutty flavor or an extra crunch! Yum! Each serving has 10 grams of protein, and 10 grams of Omega 3 & 6! Amazing!

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As a mom of a 1 year old, I’ve always got snacks with me. Between my husband and my daughter, someone is always hungry (or hungry). After making your own almond butter (super easy and inexpensive, directions below), swirl in some hemp seeds to make it crunchy and add more protein! And then dip your apple slices in more hemp hearts once you slather them in almond butter too! This is a really awesome snack packed full of protein that everyone in my whole family can munch on while we’re out! Everyone wins and we’re all eating something healthy!

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Protein Packed Apple Snack Bites
Author: 
Recipe type: snack
Prep time: 
Total time: 
Serves: 3 apple snacks
 
Ingredients
  • 3 cups raw almonds
  • *optional: 2 tablespoons of honey or oil for sweetness or creaminess
  • 4 tablespoons Manitoba Hemp Hearts
  • 3 apples, washed and sliced
Instructions
  1. If making your own almond butter, blend almonds in blender or food processor until smooth. Stopping as needs to push down what has stuck to the sides with a spatula or spoon (blend in honey, oil or extra hemp seeds if desired)
  2. Once apples are washed and sliced, dip in almond butter and roll them into the hemp seeds (1-2 tablespoons at a time)
  3. I doubt the snacks will last 24 hours (in the refrigerator) but you can try!
  4. *recommended to store your almond butter in the fridge!

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Chocolate Coconut Tartlets

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here are not many things I love much more than the chocolate & coconut pairing! I was recently gifted the new Enjoy Life Baking Mixes!! They are SO easy to use - add water & oil (I like coconut oil best) & they taste SO good! Also a plus: they are incredibly versatile)! Multi purpose mix, muffin, pancake, waffle, brownie & pizza mixes?!! They did not disappoint! Even my husband loves everything I’ve made! (Note: All enjoy life products are free of the top 8 allergens: wheat/gluten, dairy, peanuts, tree nuts, egg, soy, fish and shellfish free!. Products are also made without casein, potato, sesame and sulfites.

I’m sharing with you today one of the new recipes I tested out with the multi purpose flour, these wonderful chocolate coconut tartlets!! I added it as the thickening agent for the creamy chocolate center in these beautiful little gems. I also used melted Enjoy Life Chocolate Chips for the filling! They are a must make for any chocolate coconut fan you have in your life. Perfect for dessert or a summer party, you can’t go wrong! I hope you enjoy them as much as we do!

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Chocolate Coconut Tartlets
Author: 
Recipe type: Dessert
Prep time: 
Cook time: 
Total time: 
Serves: 12 tartlets
 
Ingredients
for the crust
  • 1½ cups unsweetened coconut shreds
  • ¼ cup coconut sugar
  • 2 egg whites
for the filling
  • ¾ cup almond milk
  • 4 ounces enjoy life chocolate chips
  • 6 tablespoons Enjoy Life Gluten Free All Purpose Flour Mix
  • 1 egg
  • ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
  • *coconut oil for greasing
  • *slivered almonds for topping, optional
Instructions
  1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees
  2. Mix crust ingredients until they form a ball of ‘dough’
  3. Divide into 12 equal balls of dough
  4. In a lightly greased mini muffin pan, place balls of dough in each muffin tin, pressing your thumb into the dough to make a hole for the filling
  5. Place in the oven to bake for 10 minutes until the edges are brown
  6. While the coconut shells are baking, measure out chocolate chips and place them in the microwave for 30 seconds. They should be slightly melty. Mix together with a fork or whisk until completely melted, (*add more time in the microwave if needed, 10 seconds at a time)
  7. Add all other ingredients to the chocolate and whisk until well combined.
  8. Allow coconut shells to cool once they are finished.
  9. Once cooled (10 minutes or so) add filling (and sprinkle with slivered almonds, optional) and bake for another 10 minutes, or until a toothpick or knife comes out clean.
  10. Allow to cool before eating

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Vegan S’mores Smoothie

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What is better than s’mores on a summer night? Not too much, right? I do really love a gooey s’more every once in a while, but most of the ingredients aren’t very good for you, unfortunately. A little splurge every once in a while isn’t so bad, but if there’s a way that I can make them healthier, I’m going to do it! (and that way I can have a few more). This smoothie was inspired by the s’more, the perfect summer treat! Just as decadent, though. I used So Delicious Coco Whip as the ‘marshmellow’ (really awesome cool whip that is vegan that So Delicious just came out with). I highly recommend it if you haven’t already tried it! But I really love either The Urban Poser’s or 100 Days of Real Food’s marshmallow recipe if you want to use the real deal (and both really easy to make). I promise you will really love this recipe!

What is your favorite summer treat?

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Vegan S’mores Smoothie
Author: 
Recipe type: Smoothie
Prep time: 
Total time: 
Serves: 2 smoothies
 
Ingredients
  • 1 cup So Delicious Coco Whip or 4 homemade marshmellows
  • 1 cup non dairy milk
  • 4 gluten free graham crackers (homemade or store bought)
  • 1 tablespoon raw cocao powder
  • Enjoy Life Chocolate Chips (to sprinkle on top if desired) feel free to add some in the smoothie if you want!
  • ice to taste
Instructions
  1. Place all ingredients in a blender & serve immediately

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Perfect Summer Salad

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Summer is officially here! (well, it has been for a while). What is your favorite summer activity? It’s never officially ‘summer’ for me until we’ve headed to the cape at the end of June, and we stay the entire month of July. It’s been cool, but we’re having a great time so far!

Also FYI for anyone living around Marylou’s, they now carry stevia and almond milk!! Yahoo! Anyways….

This is the perfect summer salad - and my go to when I’m hosting dinner, or I need to bring something over to a party! Easy, simple, and a very light dressing to accompany it. You can make it this way, or make it your perfect summer salad by adding (or subtracting) whatever ingredients you like. Mine incorporates red onion, tomatoes, cucumber, peppers, avocado and carrots. Sometimes it’s nice to have a lettuce free salad! What is your favorite salad ingredient?

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Perfect Summer Salad
Author: 
Recipe type: salad
Prep time: 
Total time: 
Serves: 4
 
Ingredients
  • 1 avocado, sliced and cubed
  • 2 large tomatoes, washed and cubed
  • 1 cucumber, washed and cubed
  • ½ cup shredded carrots
  • 1 peppers, washed and cubed
  • ½ cup red onion, washed and chopped
for the dressing
  • 2 lemons, juiced
  • 2 tablespoons organic italian seasoning
Instructions
  1. Wash and chop all vegetables as needed or desired
  2. Place all ingredients in a bowl and toss with lemon juice and italian seasoning
  3. Serve immediately

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Almond Butter Banana Yogurt Parfaits

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So on Monday May 4th, I started the 21 Day Sugar Detox (level one). Great book by a great author, Diane Sanfilippo. I don’t eat a lot of sugar to begin with (a little stevia in my coffee & some dark chocolate, usually after dinner) but I am 13 pounds away from my goal weight (pre Zoey) and I have not lost but a mere few pounds in the past month. I’m hoping this helps jump start whatever is making me plateau despite HIIT workouts, lifting weights, and macro/calorie counting.

I’m starting with Level 1 this go around (there is also level 2 & 3). Level one includes plain yogurt, green bananas & green apples in moderation. These are my go to fruits anyways, so score! This almond butter banana yogurt parfait is a really great snack that is incredibly filling. It’s really easy and I made them in small 8 ounce mason jars I picked up at Target (find the same ones here) so I had go to snacks for the week! You can layer with more bananas or almonds (cashews and peanuts are no-no’s, walnuts, pecans & seeds are all okay). What is your favorite low sugar/no sugar snack?

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Almond Butter Banana Yogurt Parfaits
Author: 
Recipe type: snack
Prep time: 
Total time: 
Serves: 1 jar
 
Ingredients
  • 5 ounces plain non dairy yogurt (lowest sugar content possible)
  • 2 ounces banana, sliced
  • 1 tablespoon cinnamon
  • 2 tablespoons slivered almonds
  • 1 tablespoon almond butter
Instructions
  1. Place half container (2.5 ounces) into the bottom of the mason jar
  2. Add 1 ounce banana, 1 tablespoon slivered almonds, almond butter & ½ tablespoon cinnamon on top of the yogurt
  3. Add the rest of the yogurt on top of ingredients
  4. Top with one tablespoon cinnamon & 1 tablespoon slivered almonds
  5. Place top on mason jar & store in the fridge up to 5 days or enjoy immediately!

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No Marshmallow Rice Crispy Treats

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My husband loves rice crispy treats. As in, I make them, and they are gone within the day. It’s a pretty crazy addiction (along with all his other sweet treats). But, unfortunately, marshmallows are not very good for you, and making them on your own is not easy! So, I thought, what could I use that I know would be a good marshmallow substitute? Honey, for sure (I didn’t try my two batches with maple syrup, so I’m not sure that it would work). These were just as awesome with no marshmallows! Husband approved, and I added chocolate chips to the second batch for hint of extra sweetness! Yum! These no marshmallow rice crispy treats are a great alternative so the normal ones - full of processed ingredients! I also used Enjoy Life’s Crunchy Flax Cereal for the ‘rice crispies’. I am a huge advocate for their foods, free of the top 8 allergens (especially gluten & dairy free! I always use their chocolate chips)! You could also swap out half of the honey for some sort of nut butter to help the cereal stick together. What is your favorite indulgence?

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No Marshmallow Rice Crispy Treats
Author: 
Recipe type: Snack
Prep time: 
Total time: 
Serves: 12 bars
 
Ingredients
  • 1 box enjoy life crunchy flax cereal
  • ½ cup honey (or ¼ cup honey, ¼ cup nut butter)
  • ½ cup Enjoy Life Chocolate Chips
  • 3 tablespoons coconut oil
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
  1. Pour cereal in a large mixing bowl
  2. Melt honey, coconut oil & vanilla on a pan on low
  3. Pour honey mixture over cereal until evenly distributed
  4. Add in ½ cup chocolate chips and mix well
  5. Place rice cereal mixture in a 9 X 9 inch pan, pressing down until flat and even
  6. Place pan in the refrigerator for at least one hour
  7. Cut into 12 squares and serve
  8. Best if left refrigerated

 

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Roasted Lemon Cayenne Cashews

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More snacks, anyone? I love my nut & seed bars, but I’ve been eating them for 3 weeks & I need a little break! Last week I posted a recipe for roasted cinnamon vanilla cashews, which are more dessert like! This week, I thought I’d bring you something savory, like these great roasted lemon cayenne cashews! Do you like roasted nuts? One of my favorite things to do in the fall is roast pumpkin seeds in sea salt from all our pumpkins (find that recipe here)! If you are allergic to cashews, or just don’t like them, you can always swap them out for almonds, or even seeds instead, using the same method. Do you ever soak your nuts in any extracts? What do you use and what is your favorite? Sweet or savory?

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Roasted Lemon Cayenne Cashews
Author: 
Recipe type: snack
Prep time: 
Cook time: 
Total time: 
Serves: 4 servings
 
Ingredients
  • 1 cup raw cashews
  • ½ cup lemon juice
  • ½ cup water
  • 1 tablespoon cayenne (+ more if you like them extra spicy)
Instructions
  1. Place cashews in a bowl overnight to soak in ½ cup lemon juice & ½ cup water
  2. *add cayenne to water mixture if you like it spicy!
  3. In the morning, spread nuts out on a paper towel to thoroughly dry (a few hours)
  4. Preheat the oven to 200 degrees
  5. Place nuts on a silpat and spread out evenly
  6. Sprinkle with 1 tablespoon or more of cayenne
  7. Roast in oven for 3 hours

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Roasted Cinnamon Vanilla Cashews

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Do you need new snack recipe ideas? Per the request of followers & friends, I’m still on a mission to get you more snack recipes! These roasted cinnamon vanilla cashews are easy, but take a long time in the oven (and are totally worth it). I’m tempted to say a dehydrator might work, but I haven’t tested it yet, so I can’t be sure! These require you to soak, dry, and then bake for a few hours at low temp to get crunchy. But who doesn’t love the sweet combination of cinnamon and vanilla? Do you love the smell of roasted nuts like I do? It makes me think of my days living in Boston and New York City with the street vendors. Delicious! Although a little bit time consuming, the end result is magical! Feel free to double, triple or even quadruple this roasted cinnamon vanilla cashew recipe - or use almonds!

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Roasted Cinnamon Vanilla Cashews
Author: 
Recipe type: Snack
Prep time: 
Cook time: 
Total time: 
Serves: 4 servings
 
Ingredients
  • 1 cup raw cashews or almonds
  • ½ cup pure vanilla extract
  • ½ cup water
  • 2 tablespoons cinnamon (or more, if you like)
Instructions
  1. Place cashews in a bowl overnight to soak in ½ cup vanilla extract & ½ cup water
  2. *add cinnamon to water mixture if you like extra cinnamon!
  3. In the morning, spread nuts out on a paper towel to thoroughly dry (a few hours)
  4. Preheat the oven to 200 degrees
  5. Place nuts on a silpat and spread out evenly
  6. *Sprinkle with 2 tablespoons (or more) of cinnamon
  7. Roast in oven for 3 hours
  8. Allow to cool before serving

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No Bake Cocoa Cranberry Bars

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I’m reallyyyyyy into these no bake cocoa cranberry bars right now. I normally really dislike dried fruit, but with the cashew butter in these no bake bars, and the cocoa, they really are just delicious. I find myself craving them in the afternoons or in the evening after dinner! I don’t have to feel guilty about eating them; no refined sugars, full of protein & fiber, so they are very satisfying. And did I mention they are no bake? (if you like no bake bars, check out the other no bake bar I just posted)! I’m finding that cocoa & cranberry is my new favorite combo! What is your favorite combination in any type of snack bar?

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No Bake Cocoa Cranberry Bars
Author: 
Recipe type: Snack
Prep time: 
Total time: 
Serves: 12 bars
 
Ingredients
  • 1 cup raw almonds (slivered or whole)
  • 1 cup raw pumpkin seeds (pepitas)
  • ⅔ cup nut butter
  • ½ cup honey or maple syrup
  • ½ cup raw cocao
  • ¼ cup low sugar dried cranberries (or any dried fruit you like!)
Instructions
  1. Mix all ingredients together in a bowl until all the ingredients have stuck together
  2. Press mixture into an 8 X 8 pan and press flat
  3. Place pan in the refrigerator for 30-60 minutes
  4. Remove from refrigerator, cut & serve
Notes
Best if kept refrigerated

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No Bake Nut & Seed Bars

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The past few weeks I’ve gone through a bit of a dry spell with recipe creation. I’m not sure if it was just the winter season coming to an end, or my crazy schedule (it really felt like March Madness in the Staples household)! After a few weeks hiatus (I did post some workouts & fitness pieces), I’m back! I had some requests for some snack items, and was inspired by my recent trip to Starbucks. Have you heard of the company called Evolution Fresh? They make great cold pressed juices & snacks, and they are sold at Starbucks. When I’m out and need something to eat, this is usually one of my go to places, as I know I can get a bag of almonds, a juice, or even one of their snack bars. The only problem with this is they are pretty outrageously expensive. I don’t know about you, but I cannot pay $3 for a ‘granola’ bar every time I feel like it. So I went home, looked up the ingredients list, and got into making my own. I think mine are actually a bit healthier. They are about the same amount of calories, but I used raw honey for my No Bake Nut & Seed Bars, they used brown rice syrup & agave. Anyways, these are delicious, and they are a great go to breakfast (super filling, lots of fiber & protein)! Perfect for a post workout snack, or even something to take care of that sweet craving after dinner at night. Snack on!

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No Bake Nut & Seed Bars
Author: 
Recipe type: Snack
Cuisine: Nut & Seed Bar
Prep time: 
Total time: 
Serves: 12 bars
 
Ingredients
  • 1 cup raw almonds
  • 1 cup raw pumpkin seeds (pepitas)
  • ½ cup nut butter (I used almond)
  • ¼ cup flax seeds
  • ¼ cup raw honey or maple syrup
  • 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
  • 1 tablespoon cinnamon
  • pinch of sea salt
Instructions
  1. Mix all ingredients in a bowl
  2. Press mixture into an 8 X 8 pan until flat and evenly distributed
  3. Place in refrigerator for 1 hour
  4. Remove from refrigerator and cut into 12 even pieces
  5. Serve and enjoy!

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