• 3 cups rolled oats
• ½ cup brown sugar
• 2 tsp baking powder
• 2 eggs
• 1 cup unsweetened applesauce
• 1 cup milk
• 1 tsp vanilla

Then, for the healthy toppings, try these suggestions:

• Cranberries and pistachios
• Blueberries and shredded coconut
• Chocolate chips and almonds

Here are the 7 steps to make the muffins, then add the topping of your choice:

1. Grease muffin tin well. Set aside.




2. In a large mixing bowl, combine rolled oats, brown sugar and baking powder. Set aside.




3. In another mixing bowl, combine eggs, applesauce, milk and vanilla and whisk thoroughly.




4. Pour wet ingredients into dry ingredients and mix.




5. Scoop batter into prepared muffin tin.




6. Bake at 375°F for 30 minutes.




7. Enjoy!

Source: Sara Lynn Cauchon

The post Make Yummy OATMEAL MUFFINS With One of These Popular Toppings! appeared first on Top Morning Recommendations.

CHOCOLATE PEANUT BUTTER PRETZEL PROTEIN SHAKE

• 1 scoop chocolate protein powder (I used whey)
• 1/2 frozen banana
• 1/2 tablespoon natural peanut butter
• 1/2 tablespoon cacao nibs
• 5 mini salted pretzels
• 1/2 cup milk or water
• 1/2 cup ice cubes

Here’s all you need to do:

1. Add all ingredients to a blender and blend until smooth. Add more liquid or ice to reach desired consistency.




2. Top with crushed pretzels, cacao nibs, and chocolate syrup!

Note that this smoothie recipe contains:

Calories: 284
Fat: 8 g
Carbohydrates: 27 g
Sugar: 9 g
Fiber: 5 g
Protein: 28 g

Source: Katie

The post Make This Delicious Protein-Packed “PRETZEL SHAKE” for an Early Morning Energy Boost! appeared first on Top Morning Recommendations.

Calories: 240
Fat: 3.2 g
Saturated fat: 1.2 g
Unsaturated fat: 2 g
Trans fat: 0
Carbohydrates: 37.7 g
Sugar: 13.6 g
Sodium: 368 mg
Fiber: 5.3 g
Protein: 17.7 g
Cholesterol: 2 mg

Here are the ingredients you need to make 2 of these smoothies:

• 1 ripe banana
• 1 cup plain low fat yogurt
• ½ cup oats – old fashioned or quick cooking
• 2 tablespoons cocoa powder
• 2 scoops chocolate protein powder + 1 cup water
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ice to thicken

Place all ingredients in a high speed blender and puree until smooth. Start with a handful of ice and add more until you’ve reached desired consistency.

Just add more ice if you want to make it thicker!


Source: Liz DellaCroce

The post Make a Perfect Protein-Rich CHOCOLATE OATMEAL BREAKFAST SMOOTHIE! appeared first on Top Morning Recommendations.

Here’s the list of ingredients for this Kamut Dark Chocolate Energy Bar recipe (serves 20):

• ⅔ cup prunes
• 1½ cups water
• ¾ cup coconut
• ¾ cup kamut flour or gluten free flour
• 1 cup gluten free large flake oats
• ½ cup dried cranberries
• ½ cup gluten free dark chocolate, cut into slivers (or chocolate chips)
• ½ cup pumpkin seeds, toasted
• ¼ cup hemp hearts
• 1 banana, mashed
• 3 TBP maple syrup

This recipe is easily adaptable to whatever your cupboards are filled with.  Feel free to play around and substitute ingredients like the pumpkin seeds, dried cranberries, chocolate, or hemp hearts with whatever you have on hand.

This will take you about 45 minutes to make:

Directions

1. 1. Preheat oven to 350. Grease a jelly roll pan (or cookie pan).

1. 1. Put water and prunes in pot, over med-high heat. Bring to a boil. Take off and set aside for 10 minutes.

1. 1. Put the coconut in a dry pan over medium heat. Stir occasionally until golden brown, about 3 minutes. Set aside.

1. 1. Put the coconut, kamut or gluten free flour, gluten free oats, cranberries, chocolate, pumpkin seeds, hemp hearts in bowl. Stir. Stir in the mashed banana and maple syrup.

1. 1. Add the prunes and water to a food processor or bullet. Puree until smooth. This should make about ¾ cup prune paste. Add to the wet/dry mixture.

1. 1. Pour onto the pan and press down to pack. It should be about ¾inch thick. Bake for 25-30 minutes. Take out and cut into 20 squares. Let cool completely before removing.

Source: Selena De Vries

The post Super-Healthy ENERGY BAR with DARK CHOCOLATE and a Special Energy-Boosting Ingredient appeared first on Top Morning Recommendations.

A couple of tips:

– measure both the oats and the flour accurately and carefully to ensure best results,

– chilling is needed to stiffen up the dough so it doesn’t spread out too thin while baking,

– don’t overbake, so they’ll stay soft and chewy in an airtight container for the rest of the week (if they last that long!)

Here are the ingredients you’ll need for 15 “Almond Joy” Oatmeal Cookies:
 

• 1 c (100 g) instant oats (measured correctly)
• ¾ c (90 g) whole wheat flour (measured correctly)
• 1 ½ tsp (4 g) baking powder
• ½ tsp (1 g) cinnamon
• 1/8 tsp (1 g) salt
• 2 tbsp (28 g) coconut oil or unsalted butter, melted
• 1 large egg, room temperature
• ¾ tsp (4 ml) almond extract
• ½ c (120 ml) agave
• 2 tbsp (10 g) shredded unsweetened coconut
• 2 tbsp (28 g) finely chopped dark chocolate

Read the preparation instructions on the next page and watch Amy’s video …

Next Page »

The post Easy-to-Make, Soft & Chewy CHOCOLATE ALMOND OATMEAL COOKIES (Video) appeared first on Top Morning Recommendations.

• 250 grams Roasted Hazelnuts (skins removed)
• 1/4 Cup of Cocoa Powder
• 1/2 Cup of Caster Sugar (Super Fine White Sugar)
• 1 Teaspoon of Vanilla Extract / Essence
• 1/4 Cup of Vegetable Oil

This only takes about 5 minutes to mix together, making 1 jarful.


Watch how he does this in the video …

This Home Made Nutella is obviously a lot healthier than the store-bought version:

Now watch another video to learn how to make this mouth-watering sandwich spread into a “cheesecake” treat: No-Bake Protein Cheesecake Bites

The post [Video] Homemade CHOCOLATE HAZELNUT Recipe … Better Than a Jar of Nutella! appeared first on Top Morning Recommendations.

They are dried and fermented bits of cacao beans. The texture of our raw organic cacao nibs is similar to that of roasted coffee beans. They have a deep chocolate flavor which can be described as slightly bitter and nutty.

Cacao nibs are an excellent source of antioxidants, fiber, iron and magnesium.

Cacao nibs are often included in trail mix, smoothies, overnight oats, brownies and muffins for an enriched flavor as well as for the many health benefits. Here are 6 health benefits that you should be aware of:
 
 

1) Nutritional Powerhouse: Chocolate lovers, rejoice! Raw organic cacao nibs are an excellent source of fiber and iron. A single one-ounce serving of cacao nibs provides 18% of the DV for fiber and 21% of the DV for iron. They are also chock-full of protective antioxidants and magnesium. In fact, raw cacao nibs are one of the best food sources of magnesium: an essential mineral involved in over 300 chemical reactions in our body, from nerve function to bone health.

2) Brain Food: A study led by researchers at the Northumbria University in England examined the effects of cacao consumption on cognitive activity. Subjects who consumed a cacao drink before performing mathematical calculations completed them more quickly and accurately than the control group that received no cacao. The lead professor of the study suggested that the high polyphenol content of cacao may be protective against declining cognitive function. Organic cacao nibs are one smart snack!

Read about 4 more health benefits on the next page …

Next Page »

The post Important Facts About Adding CACAO NIBS (or Cocoa Nibs?) to Your Recipes appeared first on Top Morning Recommendations.