Twice is Nice: Blend & Bake Snack Duo

When it comes to snacking, I typically reach for hydrating fruits or vegetables, such as carrot sticks with hummus or an apple with almond butter. However, post-exercise sometimes my body needs a little something more. Something rich in protein and healthy fat, with a hint of natural sweetness.

Now that I'm back in Melbourne and in the groove, I've been experimenting with exercising twice a day. Nothing too exerting, but pairing power yoga with 30 minutes of elliptical training, cross-fit with ab work, or deep stretching with weight training. While my body enjoys the various duo-workout combinations, snack time becomes more crucial than ever. More calories burned = more fuel needed for safe and effective recovery time.

This doesn't seem to be a problem for me, seeing as I love snack time. Snack time was my favourite part of kindergarden, summer camp, and junior soccer practice (orange slices anyone?). Exactly. Glad we're on the same page.

Instead of my usual apple with almonds or carrots n' celery sticks, I've been amping up the protein with smoothies and most recently, protein-rich cookies! And please, trust me when I say this nutty-banana smoothie and protein rich cookie recipe is the ultimate duo.

Nuts for You Smoothie
inspired by a smoothie at Kale Eatery in Toronto 

Ingredients:

• 1-2 tsp cinnamon 
• 1 tbsp chia seeds
• 1 tsp ground flax seeds
• 1 banana
• 1/2 cup almond milk
• 1 tbsp raw almond butter
• 1 scoop Vega smoothie infusion or other protein powder
• 1-2 ice cubes

Directions: Blend everything together and enjoy! You can turn this into a thick n' creamy breakfast by adding 4 tbsp of oats and leaving it overnight in the fridge. The oats and chia seeds will thicken up the smoothie and in the morning you'll have a delicious breakfast waiting for you!

*Note* The smoothie is slightly green in colour due to the Vega plant based protein. However, it does not taste "green" whatsoever! Other proteins may yield a different colour and taste, pending if the protein is flavoured. Regardless, you can't fail with this combination! 
Smooth, thick, and creamy goodness. I can't get enough!

Next up...

High-Protein Post-Workout (or just because) Cookies

Inspired by the bag of organic apricots in my cupboard 

Ingredients:

• 2/3 cup Spelt flour (whole wheat flour or GF flour would work also, although rice flour may result in a denser cookie)
• 1 cup organic oats
• 2-3 tsp Cinnamon, depending on potency (I used 3)
• 8-12 Unsulfered Apricots, chopped (I used kitchen scissors, to make life a little easier)
• 2-3 tbsp Raw cacao nibs
• 1/8 cup unsweetened shredded coconut
• 1 tbsp chia seeds
• 1/3 cup ground flax meal
• 2 large tbsp almond butter (other nut butters are a fine substitute) 
• Organic olive oil (other heart-healthy oils work as well)
• 1/2 cup pure maple syrup 
• 1 tsp pure vanilla extract 
• Splash of almond milk (if batter is too dry)

Directions: Preheat your oven to 350F (180C). In a large bowl, combine oats, flour, cinnamon, coconut, apricots (or other dried fruit), chia seeds, and cacao nibs. Sift in baking powder and stir until well combined. In a separate bowl, combine flax meal, maple syrup, almond butter, and vanilla and mix until well combined. Stir in oil. Add wet mixture to dry and mix until just well combined (no need to overmix!). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Spoon batter onto baking sheet evenly apart and lightly flatten. Bake for 12 minutes exactly. Remove from oven and let cool for a minute, then transfer to a cooling rack. 

Enjoy on their own or crumbled on top of fruit and organic greek yogurt. Delicious! Good to the last crumb. 


mmm snack time. Nothing beats a delicious duo. 


What did you cook this weekend?
xo