Orange Juice Granola

                                                     

I love granola.

              I create a new flavor almost every week! I usually don't write down what I do (very bad habit, I know!) But here is one combo I come back to often:4 c. rolled oats
1 c. coconut
2 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp nutmeg
1/2 c. pumpkin puree
1/2 c. earl gray tea, brewed double strength (or other strong tea of choice)
 2 T molasses
5 drops liquid stevia (If sugar doesn't concern you, feel free to use 1/4-1/3c. brown sugar, depending on the desired sweetness)
2 T date paste
1 tsp almond extract
1/2 can unsweetened orange juice concentrate, thawed (Please check to make sure there's no sugar added! I use no name brand unsweetened)
In a large bowl, mix the oats, coconut, cinnamon and nutmeg. In small bowl or measuring cup, combine the pumpkin, tea, molasses, stevia, date paste and orange juice concentrate.
Pour over the oats and stir until coated. Bake at 300F for 24 minutes, stirring at 6-minute intervals. Enjoy for breakfast or a snack!

Mini Chocolate Cinnamon Rolls

Last month the lovely Kelly from Foodie Fiasco posted a recipe for The World's Healthiest and Easiest Cinnamon Rolls. They really do live up to their name! Check them out here. I've made them several times, but I've adapted the recipe slightly.

                                               Oh, and I added chocolate. :)

1 1/2 T chia seeds mixed with 6 T water
1/6 c. applesauce (I eyeballed half of 1/3)
1/4 c. coconut flour
1/4 tsp baking powder
shake of salt
1/2 tsp cinnamon
Filling
1 T date paste
1 tsp cocoa
1 tsp reduced calorie margarine
1 tsp xylitol (Or sugar, if you don't mind the calories)
chocolate chips
Let the chia seeds stand until gel forms. Mix with applesauce, then add coconut flour, baking powder, cinnamon and salt. Mix until it comes together. Place on a piece of parchment paper and knead for two minutes then start smushing down. Top with another square of parchment paper and using a rolling pin roll into a square. The dough should be less than 1/2 inch thick. In a small ramekin mix the date paste and cocoa. Peel the top piece of paper off and spread the chocolate date paste on the dough. Liberally shake on cinnamon, and sprinkle about 1/2 tsp chocolate chips over the square. Roll and cut as you would a regular cinnamon roll. (You should get 7 rolls) In the same ramekin you mixed the date paste, mix the margarine and xylitol. Spoon a tiny amount (not even a 1/4 tsp) into 7 cavities of a mini muffin pan. Place the rolls in in the muffin tin and bake at 400 F for 7-10 minutes until done (You might need to bake them a little longer, but err on the side of slightly under-baked)  *if you don't own a mini muffin tin, don't worry! Just use a baking pan and spread the xylitol mixture in the bottom of it, then put in the rolls*        

oops, looks like someone took a bite ;)