No Bake Chocolate Peanut Butter Bars

Stephanie Spring Food, Snacks

To be honest, I’m dragging a little this week. One thing that always helps give me more energy though, are clean eating snacks that taste delicious! These bars have cocoa powder (instead of chocolate chips) which has the potential to lower LDL cholesterol, reduce the risk of blood clots, increase blood flow to the arteries, lower high blood pressure, boost cognitive performance and provide essential minerals such as calcium and potassium. Ground flaxseed is great for the heart and chia seeds are a superfood that has omega-3 fatty acids, protein, fiber, and antioxidants. The benefits are all wrapped up into one snack to give you energy and so many other healthy benefits. You won’t be sorry you made this! 🙂

Ingredients:

• 1 cup oats
• 1 banana (mashed)
• 1/2 cup peanut butter
• 1/4 cup cocoa powder
• 2 Tbsp ground flaxseed
• 1 Tbsp chia seed
• 1 scoop collagen peptides

What to do:

Mash the banana separately. In a mixing bowl, combine all dry ingredients and add the banana. Stir together until thoroughly mixed and it starts forming together into a sticky mixture. Line an 8 x 8 pan (or really any pan) with wax paper. I used a spatula to flatten the mixture into an even consistency in the pan. Smooth out the top and edges. Place in the refrigerator for 2 hours. Cut to desired width. Store in an air tight container in the refrigerator or counter.

Key Lime Pie Bars

Stephanie Spring Food, Snacks

My craving for citrus-y fruits have been through the roof lately for no apparent reason. If I can make a nutritious snack that feeds the craving though, I go for it. Key lime pie has been on my mind lately but I don’t want all the extra sugar. Plus, with school being right around the corner I am spending some much-needed time in the kitchen prepping for snacks and yummies that I can make quickly throughout the week. The result? Key Lime Pie Bars. Deeeee-licious! Also…five ingredients? Easy as pie! (Except pie isn’t quite this easy). 😉 

 Ingredients: 

• 1 cup unsalted cashews
• 1 cup almonds
• 16 dates (cut in half or more)
• Juice of 3 limes
• 1/2 cup shredded coconut

What to do: 

Pour the almonds and cashews into the food processor and pulse a few times until they are semi-chopped. Add all the remaining ingredients into the food processor. Pulse a few times and then on low or until it starts forming together into a sticky mixture. Line an 8 x 8 pan (or really any pan) with wax paper. I used a spatula to flatten the mixture into an even consistency in the pan. Smooth out the top and edges. Place in the refrigerator for 2 hours. Cut to desired width. Store in an air tight container in the refrigerator or counter.

Corn Salsa

Stephanie Spring Food, Snacks

Somewhere between having people over for dinner, my late night snack cravings, and trying to keep almost all my recipes healthy, I have completely fallen in love with salsa. Peach salsa, garden salsa, black bean salsa, or geeeeez, really any of them is always something I find myself devouring. When we have people over for dinner, it’s one of the easiest and tastiest appetizers to serve. When sweets are calling my name at 8:30 p.m., salsa wins in the clean-eating department rather than copious amounts of chocolate. When I want something easy to make but that is equally appetizing, salsa it is.

I’m a big fan of consistency but sometimes I surprise myself and like throwing in curveballs. Hence, this, “out-of-my-norm” salsa. (Which clearly isn’t very daring and I’m calling myself out on playing it safe). 😉 The balance of all the flavors is sheer perfection! Around here, you can find it paired with tortilla chips, (the hint of lime tortilla chips are a weakness of mine in itself) or one my other weaknesses is dipping these plantain chips into the corn salsa. Whether it’s a picnic, party, or pure indulgence, you won’t regret making this! Serve it with chips, on a southwest salad, or on tacos! (Which one of my faaaavorite taco recipes with this salsa will be coming to you soon!)

Ingredients: 

• 1 cup fresh corn
• 1 medium jalapeno, chopped (seeds removed first)
• 1 Tbsp EVOO
• 2 Tbsp fresh cilantro, chopped
• 3 Tbsp red onion, chopped
• 2 Tbsp lime juice
• Salt to taste

 What to do:

In a medium-sized bowl, combine all ingredients and stir. Serve! 🙂

Game Day Fries With Yogurt Dipping Sauce

Stephanie Spring Food, Snacks

Game Day is right around the corner! And since I feel like I am STILL detoxing from Christmas, New Years, the whole nine yards, a lean and clean version of fries and a sauce is just what I need. They are the tastiest treat for Game Day, a side to any meal, or as a hearty snack. They’re the ideal balance of sweet and spicy. The crowd will go wild! 😉 

Ingredients:

Fries:

• 4 sweet potatoes, peeled and cut to your desired size
• EVOO to coat fries
• 1 tsp Simply Organic Cumin
• 1 tsp Simply Organic Paprika
• 1/2 tsp Simply Organic Adobo Seasoning
• 1/2 tsp Simply Organic Chili Powder
• S&P to sprinkle

Sauce:

1 cup Stonyfield Organic Plain Double Cream Yogurt

2 Tbsp Sriracha

What to do:

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. In a large bowl place cut sweet potatoes. Drizzle with EVOO and mix until all are lightly coated. Set aside. In a small bowl, combine all spices and mix with a spoon. Sprinkle half of the spice mixture over the sweet potatoes. Pour sweet potatoes onto a baking pan. Use the remaining spice mixture to sprinkle on top of the sweet potatoes. Place in the oven for one and a half to two hours or until crispy. Let cool. For the sauce, mix the ingredients together and dip your fries!

*As a Stonyfield blogger ambassador, I am being compensated for this post. However, the thoughts and opinions are 100% my own. Thank you!*