Happy Friday, everyone! Let’s start the day off with two highlights from “N” day.
Laura (@lmveilleux) tried a new fruit: black sapote!
According to her, it tasted and felt like chocolate pudding. I think we’ll all hop on-board the sapote train. I’ve actually never seen one around my area but now I’m going to keep an extra eye out!
Jocelyn purchased a new, “naked”#plantPOWER lip balm: Booda Butter!
I covet this. That is all.
You all are becoming more and more creative every day with your pictures. Way to go! Keep ‘em coming. Kasey and I seriously gush about how amazing and creative you all are every day!
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O is for…Oatmeal Raisin Cookie Dough Bites!
Today, we’ve got an incredibly healthy and delicious #plantPOWER snack on tap thanks to challenger Jessica. Make sure you follow her on Instagram She has a bunch of beautiful #plantPOWER foods on there and lots of gorgeous and inspiring photos!
Hi everyone, my name is Jessica and I’m a 24-year-old vegan food lover, runner, and tea addict. I grew up in Connecticut and recently moved to Michigan with my boyfriend who started grad school here last fall. I have a B.S. in Elementary Education and Psychology and I plan on going back to school to pursue a Master’s degree in Speech and Language Pathology. I am very excited to share my Oatmeal Raisin Cookie Dough bites recipe for this #plantPOWER challenge!
Before I share my recipe, I think it’s important to note a few things. Growing up, I was blessed to have a mom who loved cooking. She would always ask me to help out in the kitchen and I would always politely decline. I hated, hated, HATED cooking and anything that had to do with peeling, cutting, stirring, etc. My sister was the one who was gifted with the ability to cook. Even my grandmother would joke about my lack of motivation in the kitchen.
Fast forward 10 years and now it’s a completely different story. I no longer dread cooking. I love exploring Pinterest and Instagram in the hopes of finding new and healthy recipes to try. My mindset has changed and I actually think cooking is fun and can be enjoyed! Also, I have developed new-found love of exploring grocery stores like Whole Foods and Trader Joe’s and buying new foods to incorporate into my #plantPOWER dishes.
Jessica and her BF at a Michigan State hockey game!
I think it is also important for me to note that I am vegan. I remember when I was very young, sitting at the dinner table, and telling my mother that I didn’t want to eat meat anymore because I loved animals. She replied, “just don’t think about it” – which is something I didn’t think about until April of 2010. My younger sister decided to go pescatarian (someone who abstains from eating meat except for fish and other seafood) after watching a PETA film at college. So, spur-of-the-moment, I decided to join her as well. Last fall, I decided to go vegetarian, then soon after completely vegan. I have never felt better, had more energy, and felt so good about saving innocent animals and our environment.
I am so thankful for Heather and Kasey for giving me this opportunity! They were one of the first health and fitness Instagrams I started following when I first joined. They have inspired me to fuel my body with clean eating and #plantpower foods! I have learned the importance of clean eating and know it will help me in my pursuit of checking off one of my New Year’s resolutions – to race in a half marathon this year. Thank you again, girls!
- 1/4 cup oatmeal
- 1/4 cup oat flour
- 1 tbsp ground flax
- 1 tbsp raisins
- 1 tbsp raw nut butter
- cinnamon
- vanilla extract
- unsweetened almond milk
- dash of salt
- Mix the oatmeal and oat flour together in a bowl.
- In a separate small container mix together 1 tbsp ground flax and 3 tbsp warm water. Let sit for 10 minutes. (You could substitute 2 tbsp applesauce or mashed banana for the ground flax)
- Combine the ground flax and water with the oatmeal and oat flour. Add 1 tbsp raisins, 1 tbsp raw nut butter, dash of cinnamon, vanilla extract, and drop of unsweetened almond milk. Mix all the ingredients until well-combined.
- Place the dough in the freezer for approximately 10-20 minutes then roll into balls.
- Freeze or refrigerate to keep the dough bites firm.
- Note: You can sweeten the dough bites by adding stevia, agave, maple syrup, etc. to the mixture!
Thank you for sharing your story, Jessica! Kasey and I love receiving submissions from #plantPOWER challengers who are just as passionate as we are about creating healthy and compassionate meals and snacks that nourish our bodies. Thanks for sharing your gift, sister!I
If you’d like to share a #plantPOWER appetizer, entree, snack, smoothie, or dessert, email it to me at heather@fortheloveofkale.com or Kasey at kasey@powercakes.net. We will feature them for the next #plantPOWER challenge! Here are the criteria:
- Picture of yourself and bio of no more than 500 words.
- Recipe and 2-3 clear, good quality pictures of your recipe!
Stay lovely,
Heather
Those oatmeal cookie dough bites look AWESOME!
Cookie dough bites? Yes, please!!
Love this recipe! Sounds amazing!
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