Vegan Chocolate Black Bean Cookies

INGREDIENTS

1. 2 cans of Black Beans (rinsed and drained)
2. 1 1/2 cup of oats or oat flour
3. 1/2 cup of maple syrup
4. 2 tablespoons of cacao powder
5. 2 tablespoons of coconut oil
6. 1 tsp of baking powder
7. 1 tsp of vanilla extract
8. 1 cup of dark chocolate chips

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 350.
2. Place black beans, oats, maple syrup, cacao powder, coconut oil, baking powder and vanilla extract in a food processor or blender and blend until smooth.
3. Fold in dark chocolate chips to the mix.
4. Roll cookies into 2 tablespoon balls and flatten on a coconut oil greased baking sheet.
5. Bake for 20 minutes. 
6. Enjoy these delicious chewy cookies for a fiber filled snack!

SUBSTITUTIONS

• Maple Syrup = Honey, Agave
• Cacao Powder = Raw Cacao
• Dark Chocolate Chips = Raw Cacao Nibs, Nuts, Milk Chocolate Chips

Nut Butter Chickpea Cookies

INGREDIENTS

1 can of chickpeas
1/3 cup of all natural nut butter (I used chocolate NuttZo) http://gonuttzo.com/products/
1/8 cup of agave nectar (substitute with honey or maple syrup)
1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
1 teaspoon of baking powder
Pinch of cinnamon

DIRECTIONS

1. Drain and rinse canned chickpeas
2. Try to remove the clear outer shield layer of the chickpeas (this will allow for a nice chewy cookie)
3. Place chickpeas and nut butter in a food processor and blend until smooth (Honestly you could eat this as cookie dough at this point and it is absolutely to die for)
4. Add agave, vanilla, cinnamon and baking powder and continue blending
5. Place dough on baking sheet (it will be very sticky so try placing water on hands to roll dough
6. Bake cookies for about 12 minutes on 350 degrees

NOTES

Feel free to add anything to the dough, some ideas may include:

• Chocolate chips
• Cranberries
• Walnuts
• Almonds
• Raisins 
• Blueberries

Hearty Nutritious Lasagna

Gluten Free. No Cheese. Vegetarian.

INGREDIENTS

1 cup of whole coconut milk
1 can of garbanzo beans
1 egg
Brown rice noodles
Tomato paste
Canned diced tomato
Onion
Garlic
Black olives
Sun dried tomato
Herbs: parsley, oregano, garlic, pepper

DIRECTIONS

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

"Cheesy" mixture: In a food processor blend coconut milk and garbanzo beans until well mixed. Add egg until smooth.

Tomato sauce: In a big pot, sauté onion and garlic. Then add tomato paste, canned tomato, black olives, sun dried tomato, and all herbs. Reduce and simmer for 15 minutes.

Prepare the noodles by boiling them for 6-7 minutes. Drain and lay them out.

In a baking dish start by layering the tomato sauce on the bottom. Add noodles on top of sauce. Then add your garbanzo bean mixture on top. Repeat again with the tomato sauce until all ingredients are used.

Bake lasagna for 40-45 minutes uncovered.

Let cool for 15 minutes before serving.

BENEFITS

Why should you reduce your dairy intake?

• Countries that eat smaller amounts of dairy have the lowest rates of osteoporosis.
• Dairy products are pasteurized to kill harmful bacteria but this process the vitamins, proteins and enzymes are destroyed.
• Sometimes milk is homogenized which makes it difficult to digest, this is a great alternative to lactose intolerant individuals. 
• Contrary to popular belief, dairy is not your only source of calcium. Try these foods high in calcium: dark leafy greens, soy products, broccoli, green snap peas, almonds ans canned fish.

SOURCES

Cook, Michelle Schoffro. 11 Reasons to Stop Eating Dairy. www.care2.com. 20 February 2012.

Healthaliciousness.com http://www.healthaliciousness.com/articles/foods-high-in-calcium.php

Hearty Nutritious Lasagna

Gluten Free. No Cheese. Vegetarian. 

INGREDIENTS

1 cup of whole coconut milk
1 can of garbanzo beans
1 egg
Brown rice noodles
Tomato paste
Canned diced tomato
Onion
Garlic
Black olives
Sun dried tomato
Herbs: parsley, oregano, garlic, pepper

DIRECTIONS

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

"Cheesy" mixture: In a food processor blend coconut milk and garbanzo beans until well mixed. Add egg until smooth.

Tomato sauce: In a big pot, sauté onion and garlic. Then add tomato paste, canned tomato, black olives, sun dried tomato, and all herbs. Reduce and simmer for 15 minutes.

Prepare the noodles by boiling them for 6-7 minutes. Drain and lay them out.

In a baking dish start by layering the tomato sauce on the bottom. Add noodles on top of sauce. Then add your garbanzo bean mixture on top. Repeat again with the tomato sauce until all ingredients are used.

Bake lasagna for 40-45 minutes uncovered.

Let cool for 15 minutes before serving.

BENEFITS

Why should you reduce your dairy intake?

• Countries that eat smaller amounts of dairy have the lowest rates of osteoporosis.
• Dairy products are pasteurized to kill harmful bacteria but this process the vitamins, proteins and enzymes are destroyed.
• Sometimes milk is homogenized which makes it difficult to digest, this is a great alternative to lactose intolerant individuals. 
• Contrary to popular belief, dairy is not your only source of calcium. Try these foods high in calcium: dark leafy greens, soy products, broccoli, green snap peas, almonds ans canned fish.

SOURCES

Cook, Michelle Schoffro. 11 Reasons to Stop Eating Dairy. www.care2.com. 20 February 2012.

Healthaliciousness.com http://www.healthaliciousness.com/articles/foods-high-in-calcium.php