Peanut Butter Banana Bread

I modified the recipe from here and made my own clean version of this yummy looking treat!

Ingredients:

For the Bread:
1 1/2 cups mashed ripe banana
1/3 cup plain fat-free yogurt
1/3 cup natural peanut butter
3 tablespoons coconut oil
2 large eggs
1/2 cup honey
1/4 cup coconut sugar
1 1/2 cups whole wheat pastry flour
1/4 cup ground flaxseed (I used hemp seed)
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon ground allspice


For the Peanut Butter Glaze:
1 Tbsp coconut oil
1 tablespoon honey
2 tablespoons natural peanut butter

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350° F. Grease bottom and sides of a 9 x 5-inch loaf pan; spray with coconut oil cooking spray

In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat together the bananas, yogurt, peanut butter, butter and eggs at medium speed until combined. Add sugar & honey and beat until blended.

In a small bowl, whisk together flour, flaxseed, baking soda, salt, cinnamon and allspice. Add flour mixture to banana mixture; beat just until blended. Scrape batter into prepared loaf pan and smooth surface with a rubber spatula.

Bake until top is golden and toothpick inserted into center comes out clean, about 1 hour 5 minutes. Cool in pan 10 minutes, then transfer to wire rack and cool completely.

To make the peanut butter glaze, in a small bowl mix together honey, coconut oil and peanut butter, put in the microwave for 20-30 sec and then mix until smooth. Drizzle glaze over bread.

Photo from Sweet Pea's Kitchen

Healthy Banana Oatmeal Peanut Butter Cookies

2 Bananas (Mashed)
2 Tbsp honey
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1/4 tsp baking powder
cinnamon
1/4 cup almond butter or natural peanut butter

2 Cups rolled oats (I grind half or more into a flour but you don't have to)
1 handful of dark chocolate chips (you can change the cookie by adding raisins, craisins, coconut or your choice of nuts)

Mix first 6 ingredients together until combined.  Add in oat, combine and then add chocolate chips

Bake at 350 15-20 mins, cool and eat.

Chocolate Almond Bites

These beauties are my favorite sweet snack right now, I have a batch in the freezer and pull one out in the evenings or mid afternoon, when I need a little treat.  

Ingredients
1 cup of old fashioned oats
2 TBSP of unsweetened cocoa powder
2 TBSP of unsweetened shredded coconut (this for me is optional)
1/2 cup natural almond butter (I usually use natural peanut butter)
1/4 cup raw honey

Directions
1. Mix the oats, cocoa powder and coconut together in a bowl.
2. Add the almond/peanut butter and honey and mix until completely blended.
3. Pick off about a 1 inch piece and roll into little balls.

4. Chill for about 15 minutes and serve (I put them in a container in the freezer and just pull one out when I want one)

Recipe and image from http://www.luvabargain.com/healthy-recipe-chocolate-almond-butter-oatmeal-bites.html

Green PB Banana Chocolate Smoothie

My afternoon snack often includes a smoothie of some variation.  Here is a great one for when I have a chocolate craving.

1 frozen Banana
1 large handful of spinach
2 heaping spoons of cocoa powder
1 Tbsp natural peanut or almond butter
Agave or honey to taste
Water (enough to cover)

Peanut Butter Chocolate Bars

Ingredients

• 1 (18.25) package plain yellow cake mix
• 1/2 cup butter, melted
• 1 cup creamy peanut butter
• 2 eggs
• 1 (12 oz) package semi-sweet chocolate chips
• 1 (14 ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
• 2 Tablespoons butter
• 2 teaspoons vanilla
• 1 cup coconut (optional...my sister did not like the texture of it in there)

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
2. Combine cake mix, melted butter, peanut butter, and eggs in a large bowl using a mixer or spoon. Press this into a 9X13 pan reserving 1 1/2 cup of the mixture to crumble on top.
3. In a small pot, melt chocolate chips, sweetened condensed milk, and butter. Remove from heat and stir in the vanilla and coconut.
4. Spread chocolate mixture over the mixture pressed in the pan and then crumble the 1 1/2 cups of reserved cake mixture on top evenly.
5. Bake for 20-25 minutes. Cool completely before cutting into bars.

Read more at http://www.the-girl-who-ate-everything.com/2009/03/peanut-butter-chocolate-bars.html#Prs2WiTPHpOxMFJu

Ingredients

• 1 (18.25) package plain yellow cake mix
• 1/2 cup butter, melted
• 1 cup creamy peanut butter
• 2 eggs
• 1 (12 oz) package semi-sweet chocolate chips
• 1 (14 ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
• 2 Tablespoons butter
• 2 teaspoons vanilla
• 1 cup coconut (optional...my sister did not like the texture of it in there)

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
2. Combine cake mix, melted butter, peanut butter, and eggs in a large bowl using a mixer or spoon. Press this into a 9X13 pan reserving 1 1/2 cup of the mixture to crumble on top.
3. In a small pot, melt chocolate chips, sweetened condensed milk, and butter. Remove from heat and stir in the vanilla and coconut.
4. Spread chocolate mixture over the mixture pressed in the pan and then crumble the 1 1/2 cups of reserved cake mixture on top evenly.
5. Bake for 20-25 minutes. Cool completely before cutting into bars.

Thai Peanut Chicken Soup

We were felt like Thai food tonight; and what goes better on a windy grey Saturday in February?  Well...soup of course!!!

I looked for a new Thai soup recipe, something different than our standard one, but I could not really find what I wanted.  So when all else fails...create something yourself. I took some ingredient ideas for a bunch of standard Thai dishes and put it all together.

Its sort of like chicken satay with peanut sauce meets soup...  Yumminess!!!!!

2 Tbsp oil
1 onion, diced
2Tbsp garlic, minced
1 red pepper, diced

Heat oil and saute onion, garlic and red pepper for about 1 minute or until onion is clear and tender.

1 carrot, chopped small
1 tsp cumin
1 tsp coriander
1/2 tsp cayenne
Add carrot and spices to onion mixture and saute for 1 minute

1 large can diced tomatoes (540ml)
1 can coconut milk (I used light)
1 cup peanut butter
3 tbsp fish sauce
2 tbsp brown sugar
1/2 cup chicken broth
3 Tbsp lime juice
salt to taste
Add the rest of the ingredients and bring to a boil over medium heat.  Reduce to low heat, cover and cook until carrots are tender and flavors blend together (about 20 mins)

2 chicken breasts - diced

1 tbsp Thai chili paste
1 tbsp olive oil.
While the soup is simmering, heat the oil and then add the Thai red chili paste and saute for 15 sec. Add the chopped chicken and cook until no longer pink.  Once cooked, you can add to the simmering soup.

Add half a bunch of chopped to the finished soup just before serving.




***for a thinner soup add a second can of coconut milk***

Avalanche Bars

12 oz bag of White Chocolate Chips

1/4 cup creamy peanut butter

3 cups Rice Krispies, or “Puffed Rice” if you’re buying generic

1 1/2 cups mini marshmallows

1/4 cup mini chocolate chips + 2 Tbsp for garnish.

Lightly grease a 9×9 pan (or 8×8 if you prefer thicker bars)

 

1.  In microwave-safe bowl dump in white chips and heat on med power for 1 minute.  Stir and continue in 30 second increments until chips are melted.

2.  Combine the peanut butter with the melted chips

3.  Add the krispies.

4.  Let cool approx 15 – 20 minutes stirring every 5 minutes or so to help cool.

5.  Add the marshmallows and the mini chocolate chips and stir to combine.

6.  Dump mixture into the prepared pan and spread evenly, pressing lightly with the back of your spoon, but do not compact too much, otherwise they will get hard.

7.  Press the remaining chocolate chips into the top for garnish.

 

recipe from cookiesandcups.com

Peanut Butter Balls

Ingredients
3 cups Rice Krispies Cereal
1 cup creamy peanut butter
1 cup powdered sugar
1/4 cup softened butter

Directions
1.in large bowl blend PB, sugar and butter until completely blended
2.Once blended well ad rice krispies and mix for 10 seconds then fold by hand
3.form in 1/4 cup balls
4.chill for 30 min or don't! and enjoy!

Thai Peanut Sauce

•1/3 cup peanut butter, softened
•3 tbsp water
•2 tbsp soy sauce
•juice from 2 limes
•1 tbsp fresh minced ginger
•1/2 tsp brown sugar
•1 clove garlic, minced
•1/4 tsp red pepper flakes, or to taste
•salt to taste

Whisk together all ingredients in a small bowl. Heat over low heat for a few minutes or until the peanut butter softens it up.

Serve with Chicken Satay's

Peanut Butter & Fudge Swirl Pie

1-1/4 cups OREO Baking Crumbs
1/4 cup non-hydrogenated margarine, melted
1 pkg. (250 g) PHILADELPHIA Brick Cream Cheese, softened (I use light or fat free)
1/2 cup sugar (I use Spenda)
1/4 cup KRAFT Smooth Peanut Butter
1-1/2 cups thawed COOL WHIP Whipped Topping (I use light)
3 Tbsp. chocolate fudge dessert topping


MIX crumbs and margarine; press onto bottom and up side of 9-inch pie plate to form crust. Beat cream cheese, sugar and peanut butter in large bowl with mixer until blended. Gently stir in Cool Whip until blended.

SPOON into crust; drizzle with fudge topping. Swirl gently with knife.

REFRIGERATE 4 hours or until firm. Refrigerate leftovers.

:::from Kraft What's Cooking Magazine:::