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Holiday Gingerbread Granola

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Give a healthier gift this year! This homemade granola is lower in sugar and added fat than most recipes. The gingerbread flavor and the colors, red cranberries and green pistachios, make this a festive treat. Substitute pumpkin puree for the applesauce for pumpkin gingerbread granola. One batch will fill about 2-3 standard size mason jars, which make a great gift! Recommended serving size is 1/4 cup. Try this granola over plain yogurt or with a little bit of milk or milk alternative.

If you need this recipe to be gluten-free, look for gluten-free oats.

Holiday Gingerbread Granola

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Serves 18
Prep time 10 minutes
Cook time 30 minutes
Total time 40 minutes
This holiday granola has less added fat and sugar than most traditional recipes, and is made with whole, natural ingredients. The red cranberries and green pistachios make it a festive gift that would look beautiful in a decorated mason jar!

Ingredients

  • 2 cups old-fashioned rolled oats
  • 1/2 cup unsweetened coconut flakes
  • 1/2 cup slivered almonds
  • 1/2 cup organic unsweetened applesauce (or substitute with pumpkin puree)
  • 2 tablespoons virgin coconut oil, or other oil (melted)
  • 1 1/2 tablespoon molasses
  • 3 tablespoons maple syrup (or more to taste)
  • 1 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 cup dried cranberries
  • 1/2 cup shelled pistachios

Directions

Step 1
Preheat oven to 325° F.
Step 2
In a large bowl, combine oats, coconut flakes, and almonds. Sprinkle ginger, cinnamon, and salt in the bowl and toss.
Step 3
Over the oat mixture, pour coconut oil, applesauce, molasses, maple syrup, and vanilla, then stir to until oat mixture is well coated.
Step 4
Spread granola mixture evenly on a baking sheet and bake for about 30 minutes, stirring every 10 minutes and watching carefully and stirring every few minutes for the last 10 minutes to prevent burning. Remove from oven when granola is golden brown and almost completely dry.
Step 5
Let cool, then add pistachios and dried cranberries.

 

 

Rosemary Sesame Pecans

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Give a healthier gift this year! These savory roasted pecans are free of added sugar but full of flavor. Serving size is about 1/4 cup, so this recipe makes about 16 servings. Pack them into mason jars for festive and healthy holiday gifts!

Lightly adapted from this recipe.
Rosemary Sesame Pecans = Healthy homemade Christmas or holiday gift - low carb, dairy free, gluten free, sugar free. Guesswhoscooking.com

Rosemary Sesame Pecans

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Serves 16
Prep time 5 minutes
Cook time 25 minutes
Total time 30 minutes
Meal type Appetizer, Snack
These savory roasted nuts make a healthy Christmas or holiday gift without all the added sugar of most holiday treats.

Ingredients

  • 2 egg whites
  • 1/4 cup sesame seeds
  • 1 tablespoon fresh rosemary (minced)
  • 1 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1lb pecan halves, raw (about 4 cups)

Directions

Step 1
Preheat oven to 300 degrees F. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.
Step 2
Whisk egg whites in a large bowl.
Step 3
Mix sesame seeds, rosemary, and salt in a small bowl.
Step 4
Add pecans to egg whites and stir to combine well. Add sesame seed mix and stir to distribute evenly.
Step 5
Spread pecans evenly on the baking sheets in a single layer. Bake 20-25 minutes until coating is dry.

Rosemary Sesame Pecans = Healthy homemade Christmas or holiday gift - low carb, dairy free, gluten free, sugar free. Guesswhoscooking.com

Chickpea Blondies

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These blondies are made with pureed chickpeas and contain no flour. They are vegan, dairy-free, grain-free, and gluten-free, assuming you don’t use honey or chocolate chips with dairy. These blondies are moist and delicious, and no one will know that they are made from chickpeas! They would make an excellent healthier holiday gift.
Chickpea Blondies - healthier, vegan, grain free, gluten free, dairy free. Guesswhoscooking.com

Chickpea Blondies

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Serves 9
Prep time 10 minutes
Cook time 30 minutes
Total time 40 minutes
Meal type Dessert, Snack
These chickpea blondies are flour-less, gluten-free, dairy-free, and can be made 100% vegan.

Ingredients

  • 1/2 tablespoon virgin coconut oil (for greasing)
  • 1 can chickpeas (rinsed and drained)
  • 1/2 cup natural peanut butter
  • 1/3 cup maple syrup or agave (or honey, if not vegan)
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/3 cup mini dark chocolate chips (look for vegan chocolate if you want 100% vegan or dairy-free blondies)
  • coarse sea salt or Himalayan salt (for sprinkling)

Directions

Step 1
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease a 8x8 baking pan with coconut oil.
Step 2
In a food processor, puree all remaining ingredients except for chocolate chips and salt. Blend until completely smooth. Stir in chocolate chips, then spoon batter into prepared baking pan.
Step 3
Bake for 25-30 minutes, until lightly golden brown on top and a toothpick inserted into the middle comes out clean. Let cool, then cut into squares and sprinkle lightly with salt.

Chickpea Blondies - healthier, vegan, grain free, gluten free, dairy free. Guesswhoscooking.com

Triple Sesame Cookies

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These lower-sugar cookies contain 3 types of sesame – white sesame seeds, black sesame seeds, and tahini, or ground sesame seeds. They have a strong sesame flavor and are slightly bitter, making them a delightfully unusual cookie! You can use only white sesame seeds if you can’t find black sesame seeds, which are often found in the international section of the grocery store.
Triple Sesame Cookies - lower-sugar, flourless & gluten free. guesswhoscooking.com

Triple Sesame Cookies

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These unique lower-sugar cookies use 3 types of sesame and are a delightfully unusual treat! These easy cookies are flourless, gluten-free, dairy-free, and lower-carb.

Ingredients

  • 1 cup tahini
  • 1/3 cup sugar
  • 1 egg (whisked)
  • 2 tablespoons white sesame seeds
  • 30 drops liquid stevia
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1/4 cup black sesame seeds

Directions

Step 1
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
Step 2
Combine tahini, sugar, egg, vanilla, white sesame seeds, and stevia. Stir well to combine.
Step 3
Place the black sesame seeds in a shallow dish. Scoop about 1/2-1 tablespoon of dough and roll into a ball, then roll in the black sesame seeds, or dip one side of the ball into the seeds. Place onto the cookie sheet and press down to flatten slightly. These cookies won't spread or rise, so they will maintain whatever shape you create now.
Step 4
Bake for 9-11 minutes, or until bottom edges are light golden brown. Remove from oven, and allow to cool for 1-2 minutes before transferring to a cooling rack.

Triple Sesame Cookies - lower-sugar, flourless & gluten free. guesswhoscooking.com

Triple Sesame Cookies - lower-sugar, flourless & gluten free. guesswhoscooking.com

Triple Sesame Cookies - lower-sugar, flourless & gluten free. guesswhoscooking.com

Roasted Brussels Sprouts Chips

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Brussels Sprouts Chips - Guesswhoscooking.com

Roasted Brussels Sprouts Chips

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Prep time 10 minutes
Cook time 15 minutes
Total time 25 minutes

Ingredients

  • 1lb Brussels sprouts
  • 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
  • salt to taste (starting with 1/2 teaspoon)

Directions

Step 1
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
Step 2
Cut off the stems of the brussels sprouts and peel off the leaves. Cut off a little more of the stem to continue removing the leaves until you get to the tight and light-colored leaves in the center. Reserve these cores for another recipe, or try cutting them in half, tossing with olive oil, and roast after you bake the chips.
Step 3
Toss leaves with olive oil and use your hands to rub the oil into the leaves. Season with salt and spread leaves evenly in a single layer on a baking sheet, using 2 baking sheets if necessary.
Step 4
Bake 10-15 minutes, stirring every few minutes. Remove from oven when sprouts reach desired level of caramelization. Serve immediately.

Baked Falafel

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Baked Falafel - gluten free, grain free, vegan. Follow guesswhoscooking.com on Twitter @guesswhoscookin

Ingredients

2 15-oz cans chickpeas, rinsed and drained

1/2 an onion

4 cloves garlic

3 tablespoons almond meal

2 tablespoons fresh parsley

1 teaspoon cumin

1 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon paprika

Dash black pepper

Baked Falafel - gluten free, grain free, vegan. Follow guesswhoscooking.com on Twitter @guesswhoscookin

 

Directions

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Combine all ingredients in a food processor. Pulse until combined, but it’s ok if there are some small chunks. Grease a large baking sheet. Form chickpea mixture into balls, about 1 inch in diameter, and place on the prepared baking sheet. Bake about 30  minutes.

Baked Falafel - gluten free, grain free, vegan. Follow guesswhoscooking.com on Twitter @guesswhoscookin

Savory Roasted Chickpeas Recipe: High-protein, high-fiber, portable snack

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Savory Roasted Chickpeas - a healthy, vegan, gluten free snack. Guess Who's Cooking

Ingredients

1 can chickpeas (AKA garbanzo beans), rinsed and drained

1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon pepper

1/4 teaspoon garlic powder

1/2 teaspoon paprika

 

Directions

Preheat oven to 425 degrees F. In a medium bowl, combine seasonings and mix well with olive oil. Mix in chickpeas and stir to coat. Spread in a single layer on a baking sheet and roast for 35-45 minutes, stirring once or twice, until crispy and golden brown.

If they are soft in the middle, they will taste good, but will get soggy after a day or so. If you want to snack on them a few days later, cook them until completely crisp and store in an airtight container.

Savory Roasted Chickpeas - vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free, healthy. Follow GuessWhosCooking.com on Twitter @guesswhoscookin

Chex Mix Flavored Pumpkin Seeds

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Chex Mix Flavored Pumpkin Seeds

These seeds have the same great taste as Chex Mix, but are much healthier. For those with IBS, one small serving (1-2 tablespoons) is low in FODMAPs.

Ingredients

  • 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce (I used Wan Ja Shan Organic Worchestershire Sauce – gluten-free, vegan, and organic (contains soy))
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon paprika
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1 Tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
  • 8 ounces raw pumpkin seeds

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F.
  2. Combine dry seasonings, then mix in olive oil. Toss with pumpkin seeds, then spread onto a baking sheet in a single, even layer.
  3. Bake for 13-18 minutes until lightly golden brown.

Chex Pumpkin Seeds - Guesswhoscooking.com - low carb, gluten free, dairy free. Follow on Twitter @guesswhoscookin

 

Eggplant “Fries”

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Eggplant FriesTime: 30 minutes (+ 1 hour inactive)

Serves: 4

Ingredients

2 Medium Eggplants

Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Salt and Pepper to Taste

Chili Powder (Optional)

 

Directions

Slice eggplant into rounds. Sprinkle generously with salt and allow to sit for about 1 hour to let the bitter juices come out. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.  After 1 hour, rinse salt and juices from eggplant, pat dry, then slice the rounds into sticks (to resemble French fries).

Place eggplant onto a cookie sheet and toss with olive oil, salt, pepper, and chili powder. Bake for 20-25 minutes, stirring once or twice, until softened and light golden brown. Broil if necessary to achieve desired crispiness.

Salt and Vinegar Roasted Pumpkin Seeds

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Salt and Vinegar Pumpkin Seeds

Do you like salt & vinegar potato chips? These seeds have that satisfying crunch as well as similar tangy flavor. The vinegar flavor is relatively light though, so don’t expect them to be as pungent as the chips! Pumpkin seeds cannot absorb as much vinegar as potatoes, so be sure to make the optional vinegar salt if you want a stronger vinegar flavor. If you can find it, you may even consider adding powdered vinegar!

For those with IBS, 1 small serving (1-2 tablespoons) is low in FODMAPs.

4 from 2 votes
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Salt and Vinegar Pumpkin Seeds

Course Snack
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Marinating Time 45 minutes
Servings 8

Ingredients

  • 2 cups raw pumpkin seeds
  • 2 cups white vinegar, plus 1 tablespoon
  • 1 teaspoon salt

Instructions

Optional: Make Vinegar Salt

  1. Combine 1 tablespoon salt and 1 teaspoon vinegar in a small bowl. Spread it out on a small plate to dry for 24 hours, or dry it in the oven at 250°F for 45-60 minutes, stirring halfway.

Make Pumpkin Seeds

  1. Soak pumpkin seeds in 2 cups vinegar for 45-60 minutes.

  2. Preheat oven to 350°F.

  3. Drain off excess vinegar, and spread pumpkin seeds over a cookie sheet. Sprinkle with 1 teaspoon salt (using vinegar salt if desired) and roast for 13-15 minutes, or until they start to turn light golden brown. Sprinkle with more salt to taste if necessary.

Salt and Vinegar Pumpkin Seeds 2