TAHINI TREAT

     After spending the last two weeks eating this awesome treat everyday (and sometimes two and three times a day) I've decided it is finally time to share the recipe with you. I'm warning you though, it is so good, and apparently very addictive. This should really come as no surprise to me though as I do recall being quite addicted to this yummy halvah I use to buy at the health food store years ago. I used to eat that stuff like it was going out of style too. I must have a thing for tahini. Luckily tahini is quite nutritious - for example it is a very good source of fibre, protein, vitamins and minerals including iron, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, copper and manganese. It's good for your heart, it boosts nutrient absorption, it helps you burn fat, it fights cancer - it's a super food! But most importantly it tastes delicious and perfectly binds the fruit, raisins and hemp seeds together - making it spoonable and crazy yum.

TAHINI TREAT

1 apple, diced

1 banana, peeled and chopped

2 Tbsp raisins

3- Tbsp hemp nuts

about 3-4 Tbsp tahini

Method: Combine all ingredients and enjoy with a spoon.

BANANA BREAD

I woke up yesterday morning really wanting to bake the very ripe bananas that were sitting on my counter into banana bread.  Then the power company decided to do some repair work on some hurricane related damage, and we were left without power again for the whole day.  So I woke up this morning and went right to it.

I love it that this recipe only uses bananas and brown rice syrup for sweetness.  Lightly spiced with cinnamon and spices, it's the perfect snack anytime of day.  Sometimes I like to bake these in mini serving size pans, like a personal pan pizza, only banana bread!  If you're feeling a bit naughty, you can add some chocolate chips too.

BANANA BREAD

Prep time: 20 minutes

Baking time: 50-60 minutes

Makes 1 loaf

3-4 ripe organic bananas

1/3 cup organic vegetable oil

1/2 cup organic brown rice syrup

1 cup organic whole wheat flour

1 cup organic unbleached white flour

1/2 tsp sea salt

1 tsp GMO free baking powder

1 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp ground organic allspice

1/2 tsp ground organic cinnamon

pinch of ground organic ground cardamom

1/2 - 1 cup organic walnuts, crushed

1/2 - 1 cup organic chocolate chips (optional)

Method:  Preheat oven to 375*.  Oil a 9 X 5 inch loaf pan.  With a potato masher, blend together the bananas and oil until combined.  Stir in the syrup .

     In a separate bowl, mix together all of the dry ingredients, except the nuts and chocolate chips.  Then add the flour mixture to the banana mixture and mix together.  Stir in walnuts and chips.

     Pour the batter into the pan and bake for 50-60 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean.  Let cool for 20 minutes on a wire rack.

Carrot Banana Smoothie with Fresh Ginger and Spirulina

This carrot juice smoothie was a great way to start the day.  I love juicing because it is an easy, delicious way to get more veggies in me and my toddler!  Lately I've been making my own yogurt because I am trying to avoid buying food in plastic containers that are not recyclable plastics #1 and #2's.  It is so easy, especially with the handy yogurt machine my sister picked up for me at Value Village for $1.99.

CARROT BANANA SMOOTHIE with Fresh Ginger and Spirulina

1 organic banana

1/2 cup fresh organic carrot juice

1/2 cup organic yogurt

3/4" organic fresh ginger root

1 tsp organic spirulina

Method:  Juice the carrots and ginger together and blend with the banana, yogurt and spirulina.