Blueberry Oat Bars

February 25, 2019 Amanda Plott

I think, just like most out there, I generally go in and out of wanting sweet or savory for breakfast. Most days, savory wins out. This week though, I was in a sweets sort of mood! These Blueberry Oat Bars couldn’t have hit the spot any better. They’re sweet, tart, and perfectly acceptable for breakfast, brunch, or even dessert!

These oat bars are surprisingly easy to make, with really just a handful of pretty standard staple items too. There’s little mixing and no cooking involved. Just a few stirs and some time to bake. Plus, they’re low sodium, vegetarian, and dairy-free too. Good stuff all around…

Skinny Bacon & Cheddar Irish Soda Bread

February 17, 2019 Amanda Plott

There is one thing that I absolutely MUST make every year towards the end of February and the beginning of March, and that is Soda Bread. Again, it’s a nod to my Irish roots. Irish soda bread is a yeast-free bread that is quick and super easy to make. Really, guys… it’s almost fool-proof. Almost. Trust me, I know because baking tends to scare the pants off of me.

I used my original Healthified Irish Soda Bread as a base for this Bacon & Cheddar variation. This time around I used whole wheat flour to get a more golden color at the end, and of course… loaded this bad boy up with plenty of cheese and bacon goodness…

Dark Chocolate Oat Bars

February 6, 2019 Amanda Plott

Dark. Chocolate. Oat. Bars.

These oat bars are delicious AND easy to make. Sure. They take 2 hours of chilling in the fridge, but so long as you can wait it out. These bad boys are basically fool proof. Plus, they’re ridiculously easy to make gluten-free with a simple swap of flours.

If you’re gluten-free, you know what to do here so I’m not even going to get into it.

With a handful of whole ingredients and right at 15 minutes of hands-on prep time, you can have these bars ready to go with minimal effort. Great for breakfast, brunch, dessert, or as a snack. Kids are going to love them. Adults are going to love them. They’re good stuff.

A fin mix of a granola bar and a cookie. But. With no baking required!

If you’re scared of not baking the flour, I’ve heard it mentioned before that you can zap your flour in the microwave for a few seconds to get it up to temperature and kill off any nasties that way. I haven’t researched that myself, so I have no idea if that factually is a thing though.

Yum

Dark Chocolate Oat Bars
TheSkinnyFork.com

These easy to make oat bars are perfect as a breakfast bite, a snack, or even dessert. Delicious and made with just a few ingredients! Keep them on hand and ready to enjoy any time.

Prep Time: 15 Minutes • Cook Time: 2 Hours

The Skinny:
Servings: 9 • Serving Size: 1 Bar • Calories: 384 • Fat: 24 g • Saturated Fat: 9 g • Carb: 36 g • Fiber: 1 g • Protein: 10 g • Sugar: 6 g • Sodium: 6 mg

Ingredients:
• 3 C. Old-Fashioned Rolled Oats
• 1/2 C. All-Purpose Flour
• 1/2 C. Tbsp. Maple Syrup or Honey
• 3/4 C. Almond Butter
• 3 Tbsp. Coconut Oil
• 1 Tsp. Vanilla Extract
• 1/8 Tsp. Ground Cinnamon
• 3/4 C. Dark Chocolate Chips

Directions:
Line an 8x8” square dish with parchment paper and set aside.

In a large bowl, mix together the 3 C. oats, 1/2 C. flour, 1/2 C. honey, 1/2 C. of the almond butter, 3 Tbsp. melted coconut oil, 1 Tsp. vanilla, and 1/8 Tsp. cinnamon.

Transfer half of the oat mixture to the bottom of the prepared dish and press down (using clean fingers, the back of a spoon, or a piece of parchment paper.)

Place the dish into the fridge to chill and set for at least 30 minutes.

Melt the 3/4 C. chocolate chips and the remaining 1/4 C. almond butter together over a double boiler.

Remove the dish from the fridge and pour the chocolate out over the oat mixture and spread evenly.

Place the dish back into the fridge to chill and set for at least an hour.

Once hardened, remove the dish from the fridge and top with the remaining half of the oat mixture. Again, press the oats using fingers, the back of a spoon, or parchment.

Return the dish to the fridge for at least another 30 minutes to harden.

When firm and harder, remove from the fridge and cut into 9 bars.

Store in the fridge and enjoy for up to 2 weeks!

Step-by-Step Photos:

Nutritional Claims: High Fiber • Low Sodium • Vegetarian • Pescatarian • Egg Free • Peanut Free • Soy Free • Fish Free • Shellfish Free • Pork Free • Red Meat Free • Crustacean Free • Celery Free • Mustard Free • Sesame Free • Lupine Free • Mollusk Free • Alcohol Free • Kosher

Quinoa Pesto Bowl

January 30, 2019 Amanda Plott

This post has been sponsored by Great Day Farm Eggs. All opinions are mine alone. #EggceptionallyGreat

Bowls are all the rage right now. Breakfast bowls. Lunch Bowls. Dinner bowls. Healthy bowls! Fortunately, this bowl can be either of those. One of the best parts about this bowl though is that it’s super easy to put together. This bowl starts with some cooked quinoa and is layered with greens, avocado, pesto, and of course - an egg!

Everything’s better with an egg on it, right?…

Vegan Biscuits & Vegetarian Country Sausage Gravy (Sponsored)

January 24, 2019 Amanda Plott

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #VeggieNewYear #MorningStarFarms #CollectiveBias

YOU! Yes, you! Are you making this year a healthier year? I know I am! This year, just as with every year, I’m striving to eat less and less meat for a plethora of reasons. And just like me, once you try these Vegan Biscuits & Vegetarian Country Sausage Gravy… you’ll be convinced just like I was! There are two things that make me nervous in the kitchen though, and that’s baking and anything involving a roux.

A roux is a thickening mixture that’s made using butter and flour, and as I’ve found out over the years, it can be tricky. Or can it? Maybe it’s just all in my head and I make it more complicated than it really is. That sounds more like the truth of it. So… I figured why not try and test my limits even more by baking vegan biscuits and making a vegetarian country style sausage gravy to pair?…

Blueberry Muffin Overnight Oats (Sponsored)

January 15, 2019 Amanda Plott

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #FindNutritiousHere #FoodGoals #CollectiveBias

New Year resolutions can be tricky and difficult to stick to. It seems like it’s about this time when we all start to taper off and give in. If you’re anything like me, my New Year resolutions are always centered around food. Food is life, after all. Even being as I’m more of a health conscious person, I always, always, ALWAYS strive to do better and eat better. That’s where these Overnight Oats fit in.

As I said, one of my resolutions this year was to eat more simply. Food can get complicated and I want to take the time to slow down, reel it in, and enjoy food for what it is. Yep! I left my resolution pretty vague and open. That’s one of the tricks to sticking to these resolutions!…