Food Challenge

CINNAMON RAISIN PALEO GRANOLA (VEGAN) Super crunch, extra large cluster cinnamon raisin paleo granola. This lower-carb granola recipe features nuts, seeds, almond butter, and pure maple syrup for a super nutritious breakfast or snack! I wanted to name this post, “Oatmeal Cookie Paleo Granola,” but then I counted the ways that would be confusing. This granola really does taste like a crunchy oatmeal raisin cookie, loaded with cinnamon and oat-esque flavor from the combination of almond butter, vanilla extract, roasted nuts and coconut. Essentially, all ingredients put together yield a cozy cookie flavor that’ll keep you fiending for more. And the crunch. You guys, the crunch is REAL. I spoke about this in the first  Paleo Granola  recipe I posted years ago. I don’t know about  you, but when I’m craving something crunchy, there’s just no stopping me until it’s fully satisfied. While I can definitely get on board with a vegetable chip (fun fact: I LOVE ka...

CHERRY MAPLE ALMOND GRANOLA Heart-healthy, protein-packed almond granola with maple and cherry flavors for a tasty breakfast or snack. This gluten-free, vegan recipe is perfect for making in bulk to enjoy throughout the week. Homemade granola is just one of those fun-to-make recipes, and is the perfect catchall for pantry purges. If you’re like me and have little odds and ends lingering around in your cupboards (2 tbl pumpkin seeds here, ½ c. dried fruit there, the occasional cacao nib, etc etc), granola is a great job placement for said ingredients. PLUS, it makes for a healthful addition to your daily diet and is easy to make in bulk. BOOM! granola is kween. You can view this granola recipe as a heart-healthy breakfast, a protein-packed snack, a delicious resource to satisfy your massive crunch craving, and/or your pack-and-go trail mix to fuel your outdoor adventures. My basic formula for granola creation is 3 parts rolled oats, 1 part raw nuts, 1 part raw seeds, and 1 part drie...

CHOCOLATE CHIP BANANA BREAD BAKED OATMEAL Gluten-free baked oatmeal with banana bread flair for an ultra flavorful and fun breakfast. This easy recipe is a great make-ahead breakfast! This post is sponsored by Bob’s Red Mill. Has anyone else been craving the carbs this winter like they’re training for an ultra marathon slash bulking up for the zombie apocolypse? Insert girl with her hand raised emoji here. x3. While I used to fight any craving for sugar or cabs, I have since embraced my body’s need for them. When I hit the 25 age marker and came to the realization that my metabolism doesn’t work with the swiftness of a gazelle’s the way it used to, I essentially omitted carbs as long as I possibly could until the flood gates would open and I’d go to town on ALL OF THE BROWNIES. I look back on those days and want to give mid-twenties Julia a hug. And a beer. She was moody, under-nourished in body and soul…needed some sustenance like bad. This isn’t to suggest we should all drop...