Carrot Cake Lara Bars

I have a confession.  I am addicted to Lara Bars.  Specifically the Chocolate Chip Brownie Lara Bars. I love that Lara Bars use all real ingredients.  I eat one almost every day as a snack or dessert.


While pursuing the Lara Bar website I saw a Carrot Cake version.  However, I have not been able to find it in the stores. So I decided to create my own copy cat version.  It is amazing that a grain free and refined sugar-free bar can taste just like carrot cake.

Ingredients

10 baby carrots, organic
10 large dates, pitted
1 oz raisins (snack box size)
1 cup of whole raw almonds
1/4 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp cloves
1/2 tsp vanilla
1 TBS coconut oil (optional)
1 TBS maple syrup
3 TBS almond butter
1 TBS water (if needed)


In a high speed blender or food processor, chop the carrots until finely diced.

Add in dates, raisins, and almonds. Blend on high for several minutes.

Add all additional ingredients. Continue to blend on high speed, scraping down the sides as needed.

Dump contents on to a large piece of wax paper. Using hands or a spatula shape into a square. Refrigerate bars.

Fruit Smoothie {Dairy and Soy Free}

Wiggles LOVES to make smoothies!  Together, we make then several times a week.  As she has gotten older I have let her do more and more of the steps on her own.  I start by getting out all the ingredients and the blender.  I add the juice and coconut milk.  Wiggles does the rest by herself.  She know to blend in the spinach before adding the fruit.  Together we pick the fruits we plan to use.  I will ask her to add 4 strawberries, 5 mangoes, and 6 pineapples.  We are working on math skills and she doesn't even know it!  Wiggles favorite part is pushing the button to start the blender.

1 cup organic, 100% apple juice (no added sugar)

1 handful organic spinach

1/4 cup coconut milk (optional, adds in a healthy fat)

1 ripe banana

1 to 1-1/2 cups of organic frozen fruit (strawberries, mango, pineapple, raspberries)

Blend together apple juice, spinach, and coconut milk until spinach pieces are very small.

Then add in banana and frozen fruit.  Blend well.  Check consistency.  May add additional frozen fruit and/or apple juice as needed.

Serve cold with a straw.

Tip #1-  Freeze over-ripe bananas (peel first) for smoothies.

Tip #2- Frozen organic fruit is often cheaper than fresh depending on the season.  Check the freezer department of your favorite grocery store often and buy when on sale to stock up.

Simple Granola {Dairy free, Soy free, Nut free, Gluten free}

My girls like their granola to be simple.  No nuts, no fruit, and no seeds.  This recipe is super easy and very tasty.  Best part is that your kitchen will smell amazing when it is baking.

Princess loves the smell of the granola as it is baking.  She will eat it plain as soon as it is cool enough to touch.  I often make her a yogurt parfait for her school lunch box  I layer frozen organic blueberries, coconut milk yogurt, and granola.  Wiggles prefers her granola plain.

Ingredients

4 cup of rolled organic oats (not instant), gluten free oats as needed
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp salt
1/3 cup pure maple syrup
1/4 cup coconut oil
1 tsp real vanilla


Preheat oven to 325 degrees.

Mix together oats, cinnamon, and salt together in a large glass bowl.

Put coconut oil and maple syrup in a small glass bowl.  Microwave for 30 seconds at a time until melted. Mix well.

Pour hot mixture over dry oats.  Add in vanilla.  Mix well until all of the oats are well coated.

Place the mixture on a cookie sheet or 9x13 cake pan.  Bake for 20 minutes.  Remove from oven and mix well.  Place back in the oven and bake for an additional 15-20 until mixture is dry and begins to get crispy.  Note oats will be come more crisp as they cool.

Let cool completely before eating.