{Healthy} Spinach Banana Donuts

These cute healthy donuts are the perfect toddler-approved two bite snack. There are only 6 ingredients!

These green donuts are packed with nutrients, and if your toddler is like mine and does not like most veggies these help fill in that area.

These donuts are so easy to make and are versatile. You can make them in mini donut pans like I did, or even muffins. They freeze well {in an airtight bag or container} for months and you can pop them out as needed. 

What you will need: 

1 ½ packed cups baby spinach 

1 banana 

2 large eggs 

3 tbsp rolled oats 

½ tsp cinnamon 

1 tbsp ground flaxseed 

Glaze- 

6 tbsp powdered sugar 

 2-3 tsp water 

Directions: 

Preheat the oven to 350°. Grease your donut pan.

Add all of the ingredients into a blender and process until smooth.
Pour the batter into the donut cavities and bake for 17 minutes or until the donuts are firm and browning on the edges. 

Pop out of the donut cavities and let cool completely before adding the optional glaze or freezing. 

Glaze- 

Combine the powdered sugar and 2 tsp water in a bowl until it’s a thick consistency. If too thick, add another tsp water. 

Glaze your donuts by either turning over and dunking into the glaze, or drizzle over the top with a spoon. 

Decorate with some sprinkles! 

Enjoy!

{black bean} S’mores Brownies

I love anything chocolate! Chocolate has a rich and decadent flavor, and easily masks the flavor of other {dare I say more healthy} ingredients. I have made chocolate mousse with banana and avocado in it {see it here} and wanted to try something else in a baked brownie.

These brownies are made with an entire can of black beans in them. The black beans give the brownies a smooth and luscious texture. Even better, my picky 2 year old who loves sweets and not much of vegetables or beans devours them!

They are also topped with everything that would go into a traditional s’mores, making them even more inviting to a toddler.

What you will need 

15 oz can black beans, rinsed and drained 

3 large eggs 

¼ cup neutral oil, like vegetable or canola 

1 tsp vanilla 

¾ cup granulated sugar 

½ cup all purpose flour 

½ tsp baking powder 

¼ cup cocoa powder

Pinch kosher salt 

¾ cup chocolate chips, divided 

2 graham crackers, chopped 

¾ cup mini marshmallows

Directions 

Preheat the oven to 350°F. 

Place the beans, eggs, oil, vanilla and sugar in a blender or food processor and puree for 1 minute. 

Add the flour, baking powder, cocoa powder and salt to a bowl. Add the liquid mixture to the dry and stir to incorporate until no lumps are present. 

Stir ½ cup of the chocolate chips into the batter and pour into a greased 8 x 8 inch pan and top with the remaining ¼ cup chocolate chips, graham crackers and marshmallows. 

Bake for 30 minutes or until the toothpick comes out clean.

Let the brownies cool completely. Then, remove the brownies from the pan and cut into even squares. 

Enjoy!

My Top 5 Hottest Food Trends for 2014

I did some research on what the newest or most popular food trends for 2014 will be and came up with my top 5. I wonder if I will be daring enough to incorporate some of these trends into my upcoming recipes, or if the restaurants I frequent at will start adding these new trends to their dishes.

1. Eggs-cited!
Eggs placed on top of any food; burger topped with an egg, pizza topped with an egg (already saw this one on an episode of Diners, Drive Ins and Dives at a pizzeria in Minnesota.)
Eggs are nutritious, versatile, and can be worked into many dishes. It all started with the breakfast for dinner trend, which I still love, and more people are realizing how healthy eggs really are, in moderation of course.

2.Farm to Table
This trend started to become popular in 2013 as well. I have seen a lot of restaurants from the shows I watch on the Food Network featuring farm to table dishes. I feel this will continue to accelerate into 2014 as more people become more eco-aware and demand less processed, or chemically modified foods. Restaurants started growing their own vegetables and herbs either in a small garden or even on the roof of the restaurant, which I think is great! With the ingredients being the freshest they can be (even being picked literally minutes from you eating it) food will taste much fresher and better for your body without pesticides or other additives.

3.Tea Time, Not Just for 4 O’clock
Green tea has filtered its way into the American culture from the Asians. Green tea has many benefits, it was used in Chinese and Indian medicine to control bleeding and heal wounds, aid digestion, improve your health, and regulate body temperature. It has a lot of antioxidants as well as polyphenols that have anti-carcinogenic effects (more on green tea benefits HERE)
Green tea can be baked into virtually any baked good, sorbet, iced cream, and my favorite Japanese dessert- green tea mochi ice cream!

4. SuperKale to the Rescue
Kale, as well as many other super foods are power-packed with nutrients, antioxidants, and Omega-3s. Other super foods include: sweet potatoes, salmon, broccoli, cauliflower, squash, beets, quinoa, flax seeds, and pomegranate.
Kales go great in salads, sauteed with spinach, or my favorite- baked kale chips!

5. Mediterranean Influence
Mediterranean food has had increasing popularity in the US in the past few years. One reason that I enjoy it is that it is rich in vegetable, lean proteins, healthy fats, and doesn't leave me feeling mad at myself after I eat it. Also, Greek yogurt is my go to breakfast. It is full of probiotics which are good for your digestive health and keep the bacteria in your gut healthy.

Enjoy!