Carrot-Oat Breakfast Cookies

In the past I have posted about my favorite, cookies for breakfast!

Click here to check out that post.

But just to recap... I occasionally receive a small recipe booklet in the mail from Ralph's (or Fry's here in Arizona) grocery store. They have done a lot over the years to appeal to the more health conscious customers, and so far all of the recipes I have tried have been very tasty!

These cookies are healthy'ish, at least in my opinion anyway. They are high in Vitamin A and are naturally sweet without using anything but maple syrup and coconut oil to sweeten it. I made a few tweaks to this recipe to make the cookies a tad bit healthier. The original recipe called for using canola oil, but I used coconut oil instead. I found the original recipe to be a bit runny, so I suggested to use 1/4 of ground flax seed in the recipe as well, which the original recipe did not call for. I'm glad I found a good reason to add in so much flax seed, as it provides a ton of Omega-3's and has numerous health benefits.

Prep Time: 20 minutes | Bake Time: 10-12 minutes | Total Time: 30-32 minutes
Makes About 20 cookies

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup whole-wheat four
• 1/2 cup old-fashioned rolled oats
• 1/4 cup ground flax seed
• 1/4 cup Grade B maple syrup
• 1/4 cup coconut oil
• 2 eggs
• 1/3 cup grated carrots
• 1/4 cup unsweetened shredded coconut
• 1/4 cup dried cranberries
• 1/4 cup walnuts, chopped
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/8 teaspoon nutmeg

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.

Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.

Combine flour, oats, baking powder, nutmeg and salt in the work bowl of a stand mixer outfitted with the paddle attachment. Mix until well blended.

Add maple syrup, coconut oil, eggs, coconut, grated carrots, walnuts and cranberries. Stir just to blend.

Arrange the cookies about 2 inches apart on the baking sheets.

Transfer to the oven and bake for 10-12 minutes, or until the edges begin to brown.

Let cookies cool completely before removing from baking sheet.

Serve immediately or store in airtight container in the refrigerator.

Cinnamon Spiced Coffee

I have been super short on time lately. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy being busy; it makes me feel productive and the days seem to go by faster. But I have made some pretty big life changes lately, and I'm having to look for additional ways to maximize time during my morning routine.

I'm usually scrambling to get out of the door in the mornings trying to make it to class on time. My school takes punctuality seriously, and if I clock in one minute past 8am, I automatically get 4 hours deducted off of my time card. Ouch!

I like to exercise in the morning, make lunches for everyone, and spend some quality time with my kids before we part ways until the early evening.  I usually end up eating breakfast in the car or when I get to class, and I have been skipping coffee when I need it now more than ever.

So, I decided to make my coffee ahead of time to save myself some time. The recipe below is enough for 4 days worth of coffee for me, but I only have one cup a day. If you drink more coffee, simply adjust the measurements below to better suit your needs. I am only in class Monday through Thursday, so that's all I need it for. I hope you enjoy it as much as I enjoy those few extra minutes in the mornings!

Ingredients:

• 4 cups of brewed coffee
• 2 cups of coconut milk
• 1 cup of protein powder (I used vanilla, but chocolate would be good too)
• 1 dozen dates, pitted
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg

 

Essential Oils:

• 4 drops of Protective Blend

(You could also use peppermint, cinnamon, orange, or any other essential oil that is safe for consumption..

You could also just completely omit the essential oils, and still have a fabulous cup of coffee.

For more information on how to purchase these oils, please feel free to contact me.)

Instructions:

Brew the coffee according to the manufacturers recommendation.

Place the coffee in a blender and store in the refrigerator until it is room temperature.

Once cooled, add coconut milk, protein powder, dates, and spices.

Blend in your blender (I use my Blendtec) until the dates are fully liquefied.

Add essential oil (optional).

Store in a glass jar in the refrigeration until ready to use.

Nerdy Extras:

Protective Blend Essential Oil helps to support healthy immune function and is full of antibacterial properties. It is a blend made up of orange, clove, cinnamon, eucalyptus, and rosemary essential oils.

FDA Disclaimer: "These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent disease."