Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Banana Mousse (GF)

This was SOOOO good.... my co-workers liked this also.  They REALLY liked the crunch from the chocolate bar and the peanut butter (I used crunchy) !!! One co-worker picked out the banana taste and another co-worker picked out the peanut butter taste.  One co-worker said it was her favorite "mousse" that I've made so far!

I actually make the mousse and then leave it in the freezer for about a week before I take it out to eat it.  I think it has a better flavor - this gives it time for all the flavors to "blend together".

This is made with 1/4 cup peanut butter:

This is made with 1/2 cup peanut butter - it is MUCH thicker:

Ingredients:

1/4 to 1/2 cup natural peanut butter (depending on desired thickness) 
1/8 tsp salt
2 really ripe bananas, sliced
2 oz vegan chocolate bar, broke into pieces

Directions:
Put everything in a high powered blender or food processor and blend until smooth.  

Pour into a jar.  Put in freezer to firm.  Then store in fridge.

My favorite food processor is the  KitchenAid  7-Cup Food Processor. 

For blenders, I use both the  Vitamix Blender and Ninja Master Prep Professional Blender

Estimated Nutritional Value per serving based on 4 servings:  Calories 223,  Total Fat 12.3g, Cholesterol 3mg,  Sodium 160mg, Carbs 25g, Fiber 3.2g, Sugars 15.8g, Protein 5.7g

You know when I sit down or stand up.  You know my thoughts even when I'm far away.
Psalm139:2 (NLT)

Peanut Butter Coffee Mousse (GF) - Tofu Based

I always LOVE coffee flavored things !!  This was DELICIOUS !!!  Great combination - peanut butter and coffee.   Neither flavor is overwhelming.  Nice smooth texture.  

Double the recipe and pour it into a prepared pie crust for a fast, easy and delicious dessert !!!

My co-workers LOVED this -  both the flavor and the texture - they did not  want to stop eating it !!!!  They thought it was DELICIOUS !!!!

I actually make the mousse and then leave it in the freezer for about a week before I take it out to eat it.  I think it has a better flavor - this gives it time for all the flavors to "blend together".

Ingredients:

1/2 package silken firm tofu  (I use Morinu Silken Tofu )
1/3 cup powered sugar
1/8 tsp salt
1/4 cup natural peanut butter
1 tsp Coffee Extract  (I use OliveNation)
1 Tbsp instant coffee


Directions:
Put everything in a blender or food processor and blend until smooth and creamy.  

Put in freezer to firm.  Store in fridge.

My favorite food processor is the  KitchenAid  7-Cup Food Processor. 

For blenders, I use both the  Vitamix Blender and Ninja Master Prep Professional Blender

Estimated Nutritional Value per serving based on 2 servings:  Calories 322,  Total Fat 18.6g, Cholesterol 0mg,  Sodium 184mg, Carbs 28.3g, Fiber 2g, Sugars 23.4g, Protein 14g

You have begun to live the new life, in which you are being made new and are becoming like the One who made you.  This new life brings you the true knowledge of God.
Colossians 3:10 (NCV)

Jolly Green Christmas Tree - Guest Post by Zel Allen

I am SOOOOOO thrilled to do a guest post with Zel Allen !!!!

Zel Allen loves to cook, a passion that led her to author two vegan cookbooks, Vegan for the Holidays. and The Nut Gourmet. With her husband, she also co-publishes Vegetarians in Paradise, a vegan magazine appearing on the net for 16 years. The publication features tasty recipes, vegan resources, articles, and items of interest to the vegan community. She blogs at veganfortheholidays.wordpress.com and nutgourmet.wordpress.com, and contributes articles and recipes to The Vegetarian Journal and Vegan Health and Fitness Magazine. Zel also teaches vegan cooking classes in Los Angeles.

Zel is sharing a fun recipe with us today....Jolly Green Christmas Tree !!!!! Use your imagination, have some fun and decorate the tree however you want !!!

Here's a holiday appetizer that puts yuletide spirit on a plate and unveils your hidden talent as a scultptor. Using nothing more than a spoon you’ll be able to turn this delicious dip into a dazzling sculpted Christmas tree or Christmas wreath that flaunts colorful ornaments you can eat. Make it mildly spiced or crank it up to muy picante with extra jalapeno chiles and a pinch of cayenne.

JOLLY GREEN CHRISTMAS TREE

Yield: 8 to 10 servings

Dip

1 pound frozen peas, thawed

1 (15-ounce) can cannellini or Great Northern beans, drained and rinsed

1/2 cup coarsely chopped fresh mint leaves

2 tablespoons organic sugar

2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lime juice

1/2 to 1 jalapeno chile, seeded and coarsely chopped

1 teaspoon salt

3/4 teaspoon chipotle chili powder

1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

1/2 teaspoon onion powder

1/4 teaspoon chili powder

Pinch cayenne (optional)

Ornaments

1/4 red bell pepper, finely diced

1/2 carrot, finely diced

1 green onion, white part only, sliced

1 whole star anise, or 6 whole cloves

1. Put the dip ingredients in a food processor. Process until smooth and creamy, stopping occasionally to scrape down the work bowl.
2. Spoon the mixture onto a large platter and use the back of a spoon to form the mixture into the shape of a large Christmas tree. Decorate the tree with the bell pepper, carrot, and optional green onion. Place the star anise at the top or arrange the cloves into a radiating star. Serve with baked tortilla chips, bean chips, toasted pita wedges, or your favorite crackers.

Check out more of Zel's holiday recipes in her book Vegan for the Holidays.

THANKS for sharing this GREAT and FUN recipe, Zel !!!!!!!

Banana Cream Pie Smoothie

I LOVED banana cream pie in a graham cracker crust growing up.....the flavor of this smoothie reminds me of a that !!!

Ingredients:

1/2 cup almond milk
1 tsp vanilla extract
3 really ripe bananas, sliced
4 vegan graham crackers, broke into pieces

Directions:
Put everything in a blender and blend until smooth and creamy.  


My favorite food processor is the KitchenAid  7-Cup Food Processor. 

For blenders, I use both the  Vitamix Blender and Ninja Master Prep Professional Blender

..."Lord, you have the power to make me well, if only you wanted to."
Matthew 8:2 (CEV)

Mocha Peanut Butter Muffins - Wheat Flour

These are SOOOOO good ....  REALLY chocolaty and moist. 

My co-workers thought these were REALLY good also...moist, not a strong coffee flavor, not a strong peanut butter flavor and chocolaty !!!

Ingredients:

1 cup Whole Wheat Flour or Spelt Flour (I use Bob's Red Mill)
1/2 cup Corn Flour (I use Bob's Red Mill)
1/4 cup Sucanat   (or brown sugar)  (I use Barry Farm)
1/4 cup Hershey's Unsweetened Cocoa Powder
1/4 cup Ground Flaxseed  (I use Bob's Red Mill)
2 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp ground cardamom
1/4 tsp salt
2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 cup chopped nuts or 1/2 cup vegan chocolate chips (optional)
--------
1 tsp Coffee Extract - Nielsen Massey
1/4 cup instant coffee granules
1/2 cup unsweetened almond milk
1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
2 medium to large very ripe bananas, mashed
1/4 cup natural peanut butter  (I used crunchy)

Directions:
Mix the coffee extract, coffee granules, almond milk, applesauce, mashed bananas and peanut butter in one bowl. 

Mix the dry ingredients in another bowl.    

Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and stir just until the dry ingredients are moistened.  

Pour into muffin pan and bake at 350 degrees for about 20-25 minutes or until toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.  

I like using the silicone bakeware for my muffins.  The muffins  come out so easily and I don't need to grease the pan.  My favorites are:   Casabella Silicone Standard Muffin Pan, Casabella Silicone Large Muffin Pan, Casabella Jumbo Muffin Cups.

The OXO Large Scoop  is GREAT for scooping out batter into the muffin pan.  It is MUCH neater than when I used a spoon to scoop the batter into the pan - I no longer get batter all over the muffin pan !!!

Estimated Nutritional Value per muffin based on 12 muffins:  Calories 142, Total Fat 4.1g, Cholesterol mg,  Sodium 167g, Carbs 23.7g, Fiber 3.2g, Sugars 6.8g, Protein 4.2g



Those whom God had already chosen he also set apart to become like his Son, so that the Son would be the first among many believers.
Romans 8:29 (GNT)