Super Simple Berry Cream Pie

I created this up during the busy holiday season, when we had family over and were looking for a sweet treat to round out our evening meal.  It was extremely fast and easy to put together.  No need to sweeten the whipped cream because the jam and crust are sweet enough.

Ingredients:

• 1 pre-made 9-inch chocolate cookie crust
• 1 jar berry jam (I used Crofter's Asia Superfruit Spread with raspberries, yumberries, cherries and red grapes.)
• 1/2 pint heavy cream, roughly

Directions:

• Whip cream until stiff peaks form.
• Fold 1/3 jar of jam into whipped cream.
• Spread remaining jam on pre-made crust.
• Spread berry whipped cream on top of jam layer.
• Chill until firm.

Kale Quiche

With only 84 calories and 9.2 grams of protein per serving, this dish is a winner!

Ingredients:

• 1 pound extra-firm tofu
• 1/4 cup nutritional yeast
• 1/4 cup cornstarch
• 1 1/2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/2 teaspoon turmeric
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
• 4 cups chopped kale

Directions:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• Spritz a pie pan with non-stick olive oil spray.
• Combine all ingredients, except kale, in food processor and pulse until smooth and creamy.
• Mix in kale.
• Spoon into pie pan, spreading mixture out evenly.
• Bake for 30-40, until golden or the center is not mushy.
• Cool before slicing.

Adapted from Well's Vegetarian Thanksgiving 2011.

Dark Chocolate Oatmeal Drop Cookies

Yet another recipe for our Girls on the Run of Las Vegas post-lesson munchies.  This time, after a busy day, I was trying to use what I had in the house for a quick recipe that wouldn't keep me up cooking half the night. Of course, I still wanted it to be healthy...hence the oats, chia seeds, almond milk, and all-natural sugar substitute.

Ingredients:

• 1 stick butter
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 cup Just Like Sugar Brown
• 1/2 cup unsweetened vanilla almond milk
• 2 1/2 squares of unsweetened chocolate
• 3 cups rolled oats
• 2 tablespoons chia seeds
• 1 teaspoon vanilla

Directions:

• Boil first five ingredients over medium heat, stirring to mix sugar and Just Like Sugar in with the melting chocolate.  
• Boil for 1 minute.
• Remove from heat and stir in vanilla.
• Mix in oats and chia seeds, combining thoroughly.
• Drop by spoonfuls onto wax paper and cool.

Clean Eating Peanut Butter Oatmeal Bars

Since Girls on the Run of Las Vegas is all about teaching the girls healthy living and confidence and self-esteem, through running activities, I decided my next after-lesson snack needed to be as healthy as possible. So, this time I baked clean eating bars with extra nutrition (from chia seeds) that the girls would never notice.

Ingredients:

• 4 cups rolled oats
• 2 tablespoons chia seeds
• 3/4 cup organic, natural chunky peanut butter, melted
• 3/4 cup agave nectar
• 1 cup organic chocolate chips

Directions:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• Spritz a 9x13 baking pan with non-stick buttery spray.
• In a large bowl, combine oats and chia seeds.
• Add agave nectar and mix.
• Add melted peanut butter and combine until moistened.
• If the dough is dry, add more melted peanut butter or agave nectar until you reach the right consistency.
• Fold in chocolate chips.
• Spoon into baking pan and bake for 25 minutes.
• Let cool and slice into bars.

Adapted from 5 Ingredient Peanut Butter Granola Bars.

Oatmeal Walnut Bars

There's been so much going on that I haven't cooked much lately.  A couple of weeks ago, I suddenly realized that one of my recent endeavors - being a founder and coach of Girls on the Run of Las Vegas - provided me with the perfect opportunity to do some baking.  After each running lesson with our 3rd through 5th grade girls, we feed them a healthy snack.  Rather than buying something, I decided to bake the girls' post-lesson treats.

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 cups flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 1/4 cups butter, softened
• 3/4 brown sugar (I used Just Like Sugar, which is a non-caloric natural sugar substitute.)
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1 egg
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 3 cups rolled oats
• 1 1/4 cups chopped walnuts

Directions:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
• Spritz a 9x13 baking pan with non-stick buttery spray.
• Whisk dry ingredients in a large bowl.
• In a separate bowl, cream the butter and sugars together. 
• Add the egg and vanilla, blending thoroughly.
• Add wet mixture to flour mixture and combine thoroughly.
• Mix in nuts.
• Spoon mixture into baking pan.
• Bake for 20-30 minutes.
• Let cool and slice into bars.