May Long Weekend Healthy Treats

Sometimes I use long weekends as an excuse for poor nutrition choices, as it's hard to get away from all that delicious junk food.  I am a junk food - junkie and can admit it with relatively no shame.  The shame comes in the form of feeling pretty crummy when I jump on the scale after the debauchery, or in the way I feel at work after said weekends.


A bit of inspiration came from a recent grocery shop, buying up all the nice looking fresh produce my eyes could see.  Almost every item gave me some pretty wonderful ideas that will both quell the cravings of sugar and carbs, and keep me feeling pretty good about my weekend food choices.


Recipe Number One:


Egg-less Milk-less Chocolate Pudding

Looks and tastes like the dairy big brother.

1 300g package of soft or silken tofu
1 nice ripe avocado 
1 heaping tbsp cocoa powder
2 tbsps agave nectar


In a food processor or powerful blender (I'm using my trusty Magic Bullet), blend up the avocado to be a super smooth consistency.  Add in the tofu, cocoa and agave; blend until completely incorporated.  Empty the contents of the blender or the food processor into a bowl, cover and refrigerate until ready to eat.  Easy.  Delicious.  You almost won't believe it's not pudding.


Recipe Number Two:


Apple Chips

2 crisp apples (Royal Gala are beautiful and readily available)
Cinnamon for sprinkling
Brown Sugar for sprinkling (optional)


Preheat oven to 225º.  Core the apples (optional), and very thinly slice them into rounds. from stem end to the bum end.  Lay them flat making sure not to overlap any on a parchment paper lined baking sheet.  Bake until golden and crispy.  The amount of baking time will greatly depend on your oven, and how crunchy you'd like your chips to be.  Start with an hour and work from there.


If you don't mind a sweeter apple chip but don't want to make the recipe with refined sugar, you can add a few tablespoons of agave nectar or honey to about 4 cups of water.  Boil the mixture, let cool, and add the apples.  Let the mixture sit for a few hours, or over night in the refrigerator.  To avoid having the apples brown, you can sprinkle them with some lemon juice.  Pat the apples dry before putting them in the oven.