A Morning Snack You Would Usually Think Is Normal But Is Not, P.S. It is a smoothie, SHHHH...

So I recently decided to go on a paleo diet which is one that includes fruits veggies and meats, but does not allow you to eat anything that has sugar, gluten, legumes, dairy, or processed foods. I know, I know, it sounds like I have lost my mind by deciding to go on a diet, and honestly I think that I have. I felt the need to try out different 'ways of eating' as my mom would say. The reason I chose to go on a paleo diet was because of the science fair. My friend Mikelle did a paleo diet for her science fair project in biology and how the det affected facial acne, and it had a really positive impact. I decided to try it out and maybe test that theory. So anyways, that is how we got here to me telling you about how I decided to go on a paleo diet and blogging about it. Now that we are through me explaining why in the world I would want to eat healthily, how about I tell you about this smoothie. The reason that it is not normal but would seem normal is because it looks like a regular smoothie, but if you look at the ingredients, it isn't. It is healthy! woah... The other crazy thing is, that it also tastes good! I got this recipe from a website that I have recently discovered called Paleo Porn, and they have tons of great paleo snacks. So, now that I have got you all worked up for this delicious, and healthy, smoothie, here is your recipe.

Ingredients:

10 ounces of frozen organic whole blackberries
1/4 cup of blanched almonds
1 teaspoon of cinnamon
1 can of unsweetened full-fat organic coconut milk

Method:

Add the blackberries to a blender and blitz for 5-10 seconds
Add the almonds and process until the nuts are chopped
Add the cinnamon and coconut milk and process, stopping to scrape down the sides until smooth
Pour into glasses and serve
Enjoy! :)

Image Courtesy of Paleo Porn

The More Unique Combination For Your Yogurt in the Mornings (Also Makes Granola)

So I was getting ready for school very early the other morning, but the only problem was that I could not find anything that I wanted to eat at 6 A.M. I did not remotely want to eat cereal, for I had eaten cereal for the past week. I mean, come on, who wants to eat the same thing every single day for breakfast. I get it, yea you will eat a new cereal for a couple of days, then you might switch to an english muffin, but if you just have cereal everyday, it gets to be that you dread breakfast time, so you kind of end up just going without any breakfast. But, with this new recipe, it will give you another thing to add to your selection of breakfast choices. This version of yogurt is not actually the most interesting, for I am sure that you would be able to find another one that had chocolate on the top and told you how to put honey on it to make the shape of s bear or something crazily ridiculous like that. This yogurt is just a normal yogurt, but with some little twists on it that allrecipes came up with.

Ingredients:

5 cups of old fashioned oats
1 cup of brown sugar
1 cup of flaked coconut
1 tablespoon of ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon of ground nutmeg
1/2 cup of water
1/2 cup of vegetable oil
1 tablespoon of vanilla extract
1/2 cup of raisins (any dried fruit can be substituted for the raisins)
1/2 cup of sliced almonds
1 tub of yogurt.

Method:

Preheat the oven (yes, you have to preheat the oven) to 325ºF.

Mix the oats, brown sugar, flaked coconut, ground cinnamon, and ground nutmeg together in a large bowl.Stir the water, vegetable oil, and vanilla extract into the oats mixture; spread the mixture onto a baking sheet.

Bake this mixture of oats and other assortments in the preheated oven for about an hour, stirring the oats every 15 minutes or so until they are a nice golden brown color and are nice and crunchy. Transfer them to a bowl. Stir in the raisins and sliced almonds.
If you do not want to add yogurt, then here is the place to stop. You have made a delicious granola that can be used in all sorts of ways.

The next step is to add in the yogurt. Take whatever portion of yogurt you would like to eat that morning, I usually like about 3 piled tablespoons, and pour however much of your freshly made granola you would like over the top. Stir it in and Voila, your breakfast is complete!

Image Curtesy of Red Tricycle

This delicious way to have a new breakfast that is not at all as boring as eating cereal every morning at 6 A.M. before school is a great way to stay healthy and stay fit! For more delicious ways to enjoy your breakfast and every other meal of the day, check back to themoodfoods for more expert tips and recipes!

The Totally Not Boring Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookie

So I know when you read the title you totally just wanted to read this recipe about totally not boring oatmeal chocolate chip cookies right, and I'm not sorry to say that I won't let you down.  This cookie is not only delicious, but it is also, wait for it, totally not boring! When you make this totally not boring, and delicious, oatmeal chocolate chip cookie, you will feel the flavors explode in your mouth. As Remy tells his brother Emile in Ratatouille,
Remy: I have got to to teach you about food. Close your eyes.
            Now take a bite of . . .  No! No! No!
            Don't just hork it down!
Emile: Too late.
Remy: Here.
            Chew it slowly.
            Only think about the taste.
            See?
Emile: Not Really.
Remy: Creamy, salty sweet, an oaky nuttiness.
            You detect that?
Emile: Oh, I'm detecting nuttiness.
Remy: Close your eyes. Now taste this.
            Whole different thing right?
            Sweet, crisp, slight tang on the finish.
Although Ratatouille is just a cartoon, Remy does make some good points about how you need to enjoy the food as you eat because, too many a time, we have just guzzled down a cookie in less than 30 seconds as Emile does, and never end up actually tasting the flavors. S I hope you enjoy these cookies, and taste every flavor of the oatmeal, and chocolate chips in this cookie.


Ingredients:

2 cups (10 oz) of all-purpose flower]
1 teaspoon of baking soda
3/4 teaspoon of baking powder
1 teaspoon of salt
1 cup (8 oz/2sticks) of unsalted butter, room temperature
1 cup (7 oz) of granulated sugar
1 cup (7 oz) of packed light brown sugar
2 eggs at room temperature
2 teaspoons of vanilla extract
2 3/4 (9 oz) of rolled oats
1 cup (6 oz) of bittersweet chocolate chips or chunks
1 cup (6 oz) of milk chocolate chips or chunks

Method:

Preheat the oven to 350ºF. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.

Measure the flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt into a bowl and whisk it to combine.

Using a stand mixer with the paddle attachment, beat the butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar on the medium speed for 3-5 minutes, until lighter in color and fluffy. Scrape the bottom and sides of the bowl several times during the process.

While the mixer is running, crack the eggs into a liquid measuring cup and add the vanilla extract. Reduce the speed to low and then slowly pour in the eggs, letting them fall in one at a time and incorporating the first one entirely before adding the next.Scrape the bottom and sides of the bowl once during the process.

Gradually add the dry ingredients (in 2-3 additions) with the mixer on low speed. Scrape the bottom and sides of the bowl once to fully incorporate the butter and sugar. Combine the oats and chocolate in the same bowl used for the dry ingredients, then add them to the dough with the mixer on low speed, mixing just until everything is well distributed. (Sometimes it is easier to finish mixing with a rubber spatula.)

Scoop the dough into balls the size of ping pong balls. Place the dough balls onto the prepared pans (about 6 per pan), then press them into 1/2 inch thick disks.

Bake them for 10 minutes, rotating the pans halfway through the baking time. The edges of the cookies should be golden brown, while the centers will appear blonde and slightly underdone.
Let the cookies cool on the baking sheets.

Image Curtesy of Inspired2cook

I hope you enjoyed making, (and eating) your totally not boring oatmeal chocolate chip cookies! For more expert tips and delicious recipes, check back next week at themoodfoods!