Blackberry Coconut Cookie Bars

      I need to say Thank You! to everyone that has visited, pinned, re-posted and shared the Cinnamon Cereal/Snack Bar post.

     I figured since everyone really liked that recipe, I would make a variation with some berries and coconut flour to try and cut the food costs a little bit.

     They came out well, and even though most of them cracked as I was putting them together I only had one casualty. Sometimes coconut flour can be so very frustrating.

     The cookie part of these is less sweet than if it were a stand alone cookie, only because with the filling and the fact that I sprinkled sweetener  on the tops I didn't want to get that weird bitter too much stevia aftertaste.

     These are a lot softer than the other bars because coconut flour really doesn't crisp up like almond flour does which is why I added a bit of oat fiber.

     I've been playing with Jelly/Jam recipes a bit and you can find the blackberry jelly recipe here or use Slim Belly Jelly from page 411 of Trim Healthy Mama .
 

     I see so many mama's looking for snacks that travel well, something they can pack in their purse or keep in the car when out running errands. For me these are an easy snack that I can take with if needed or munch on when I am studying. They are considered an S food for those following the Trim Healthy Mama lifestyle, but would also work as a low carb/sugar free option. They do crumble more than the cinnamon ones.

Here is the recipe for these yummy cookie bars:

Blackberry Coconut Cookie Bars

Printable Recipe

1/4 cup butter

1/3 cup granulated sweetener of choice.

1 large egg
2 TBS almond milk

1/2 tsp baking powder

1 tsp vanilla extract

1/4 tsp salt
2 Tbs oat Fiber

1/3 cup  Coconut Flour
1/2 tsp  Glucomannan Powder 
 
Preheat oven to 350ºF. 

    In a medium mixing bowl add the butter , granulated sweetener, egg, oat fiber, baking powder, vanilla extract and the salt and blend with a handheld blender for 2 minutes on medium speed.

    Add coconut flour and glucomannan and blend until combined.

    Allow the dough to sit for 5 minutes.

    If it is sticky or not firm, add another 1/2 tsp of glucomannan.

    Place between sheets of parchment paper and roll out to desired thickness.

    Cut desired shapes. Place 1 TBS filling on bottom layer.

    Top with additional cookie layer, seal with fingertips and place on cookie sheet

    Bake for 8 minutes.

   

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Yummy in My Tummy Turmeric Tea

     I have always had an issue with inflammation. I was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis when I was 12.  When my dad passed in 2012 my oldest brother was staying with us through the funeral services. Steve likes to cook and he gets creative to the point of “that’s scary” quite often. So when he started looking through the spice cabinet while cooking I got a little scared. Thankfully that meal was only for him as it was a curry and no one else cares for them.

     While he was looking through the spices he started talking to me about the health benefits of each one. When he found the turmeric he told me that this was one that I needed to work more into my diet. Of course I asked why, and he shared with me that it helps with inflammation and cold relief as well as a bunch of other benefits.

     I had forgotten about that conversation until I was floating around on pinterest as so many of us do and there was a glass of “golden milk” on my screen. I clicked on it to see what it was and was surprised to see that it contains turmeric. Then when I started following TrimHealthy Mama they came out with the Singing Canary…. I tried it to curb a craving for orange juice.  So then I went searching for the specific benefits of turmeric and wow did I find a lot. I also found a bunch of recipes for Turmeric Tea …

     I made a couple of them and wasn’t impressed until I started changing ingredients around… This is my version of Turmeric Tea.

Turmeric Tea

Printable Recipe

    8 ounces (1 cup) almond or coconut milk

    1/2 teaspoon turmeric

    1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
     1/8 tsp ground black pepper

    1/2 – 1 teaspoon sweetener

    1 teaspoon MCT oil, coconut oil or butter 

Instructions:

Gently warm the almond milk on the stove.

In a mug, combine the remaining ingredients.

Drizzle a teaspoon of the warmed milk into the mug and mix until the liquid is smooth. 
Then incorporate the rest of the warmed milk.

** for my fellow Trim Healthy Mama’s this is an S drink.

The Ooey Gooey Fudgy Brownie Quest

     One thing that is mandatory in our house are brownies. They are Rick's favorite and one of the things that will make me go off plan in a heart beat.
     Now some of the recipes have come out okay like these ..

 
    But they weren't quite what I was looking for, they are edible... and would be amazing in a brownie sundae drizzled with some hot fudge or caramel sauce (which is probably how they are going to be eaten) Tummy Tucking Ice Cream (Trim Healthy Mama page 368) here we come....

     I did use these while on my fuel cycle (the recipe is available on that group page)  but I think I cooked them too long, and they contain no fat so they are a little dry and chewy. These are the Fuel Pull Brownies. I haven't tried the Deep S ones just yet.

      We did make the Secret Agent Brownie Cake (on page382) before I knew that it needed to sit overnight in fridge, so it was a little weird. I do need to revisit that recipe now that I have been on plan for a few months and have seen some of the tweaks.

My Favorite Printable Meal Planner

     This is my favorite meal planner. it allows me to set goals, make notes and label my meals by type  ( for my Trim Healthy Mama lifestyle). I first saw this style of planner at this blog, although they don't allow you to print a blank one for personal use which is what prompted me to make my own add a note area and offer it as a free printable

     If you aren't following that lifestyle, this works wonderfully for diabetes management in that you can note the carb counts in the little boxes or b/s readings.

      Planning and logging your food is a major component in successful weight loss and diabetes management. I can say from experience that having a food and b/s log has helped me see what foods trigger b/s spikes and when I may not have eaten enough.

     Using forms like this to plan also help with grocery shopping and compiling the list of ingredients needed. Noting things like the recipe page number helps my husband to locate recipes if he is the one preparing the meal.

Chocolate to the Rescue

     Part of what makes me happy eating my new healthier lifestyle is "Skinny Chocolate" it was one of the things that drew me to Trim Healthy Mama to begin with. (We are serious Chocoholics in this house.)

     So when  planning for my very first fuel cycle one of the administrators mentioned making chocolate fudge for Deep S days. She posted this link to a wonderful recipe over on Gwen's Nest that follows the Deep S guidelines.

     I'm not a huge fan of dark chocolate so I normally tweak my everyday chocolates with peanut butter, heavy cream or cream cheese...

 Hello!! Those aren't weight loss friendly...

     Protein powder makes Chocolate chewy, not my favorite... but it works to help make things a more milk chocolate taste. These don't even have that ...

     So I was looking at the variations that were listed and was like but I want chocolate and cherries... or maybe some with coffee as that makes the chocolates taste ohhh so yummy.

     And Chocolate Cherry Candies were born...

Chocolate Cherry Candies

Printable Recipe

1 cup coconut oil, I used refined
1/2 cup softened butter
1 tsp cherry extract
4 TBS ground Sweetener, (I use Pyure Organic Stevia All-Purpose Sweetener )
2 TBS Cocoa Powder, I used Hershey's Dark

Melt the oils, whisk the sweetener into the oils, add the extract.
(I poured this mixture into candy mold cervices about 1/2 way and froze them. Then added the cocoa powder to the remaining oil mixture while that layer was hardening in the freezer.)

When those were solid I whisked the oil mixture with cocoa again and poured into the remaining space of the molds, popped them in the freezer and let them harden all the way.

Unmold and store in the fridge or freezer.

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Stevia Sweet Juice Concentrate

Trying to cut the costs of using stevia and other sweeteners in our home. I've switched from using splenda for many years for a couple different reasons

1. It increases my pain level from Fibromyalgia and RA
2. It seems to make me crave more and more
3. It isn't as naturally sourced as stevia and some other sweeteners

For baking and cooking I am using Pyure Organic Stevia All-Purpose Sweetener, and found a couple articles about how to ferment Now Foods Organic Stevia, White, 4 Ounce for a liquid version to sweeten my coffee and teas.

I started the fermenting process today with

• 1 TBS  Now Foods Organic Stevia, White, 4 Ounce 
• 2 Cups of Filtered Water

 it takes 48 hours so we will see how it turns out.

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Sugar Free Royal Icing

Sugar Free Royal Icing

Printable Recipe

Ingredients:

• 4 cups confectioners sweetener * (sifted)
• 5 tbsps egg whites (pasteurized)
• 1/2 tsp cream of tartar

  Using an electric mixer on low, combine confectioners' sweetener, sifted, egg whites, and cream of tartar; beat on high until icing is whipped and opaque, about 2 minutes.

 Thin with water as needed to make a stiff but spreadable icing.

 Confectioners' Sweetener

     Grind sweetener in a blender or coffee grinder.

Personally, I like to use eryithritol to make this icing as it is not quite as sweet as regular sugar and doesn't have an after taste.

I don't use xylitol in my home but because it is a 1:1 conversion with sugar it could also be used without a funky after taste, however please be aware that Xylitol is extremely toxic to household pets. 

 This post contains affiliate links, while it is no extra cost to you, if you happen to make a purchase than we make a small profit. This helps keep the content of the blog free