Raspberry Millet Breakfast Bars

A wheat and gluten free raspberry millet breakfast bar is an easy addition to my weekly meal planning. And my friend, you know, optimal health is all about the planning!

Intentional eating, thinking, praying, and moving are the keynotes of optimal health. One way you and I can start this lifestyle by embracing some whole grain flours that are nutrient dense, filling, tasty, and gluten free.

Even if you don’t have a wheat sensitivity, these breakfast bars are a good idea because there is no refined white flour or sugar. They are made with whole grain and maple syrup (how much you use is up to you).

Benefits of Raspberry Millet Breakfast Bars

Millet is cheap, easy to mill with a Nutribullet blender (or other high powered straight blade blender), and it’s full of good B vitamins! The mineral composition per 100 grams is not bad either!

The antioxidants in raspberries are helpful in reducing reactive oxygen species destroying blood vessels and myelin sheaths of nerve cells. Damaged nerves lead to neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s and Parkinsons. (1)

They are also thought to keep lipid levels and blood sugar under control. Like most fruit, raspberries are rich in fiber, vitamin C and has a trace amount of minerals.

It’s a pretty exciting day when you and I can enjoy the taste of fruit while also keeping diseases at bay. God’s perfect design is unparallelled!

Combine this lovely fruit with protein and fiber rich grains like oats and millet and you have a well-rounded breakfast bar. What God puts in the garden is good!

Blessed is everyone who fears the Lord,
who walks in his ways!
You shall eat the fruit of the labor of your hands;
you shall be blessed, and it shall be well with you.

Psalm 128:1-3 ESV – Blessed Is Everyone Who Fears the LORD – Bible Gateway

Raspberry Millet Breakfast Bars

1/4 Cup Applesauce (no added sugar)
2 Tbsp Extra Virgin Olive Oil
1 Egg
1 tsp Vanilla
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp apple cider vinegar
2 Tbsp Maple Syrup
1/2 Cup Oats
1 Cup Millet (ground)
1/2 Cup Almond Flour (optional, substitute oat or more millet)
2 Tbsp Arrowroot Flour
1/2 tsp xanthan gum
2 Tbsp flaxseed (milled)

Raspberry Filling

1 cup Raspberries
3 Prunes
3 Dates
1 Tbsp Maple Syrup

Combine all the wet ingredients into a bowl and mix well.
Add the dry ingredients and combine until well blended and a dough forms.
Divide the dough in half. In a 9×9 lightly oiled baking dish place half of the dough onto the bottom and spread until the bottom is covered. Set the rest of the dough aside until your filling is ready.

Raspberry Filling

Place the cup of raspberries in a saucepan and add the dates, prunes, and maple syrup. You can use fresh or frozen–but keep the heat low to slowly draw out the liquid in the fruit, I did not add water.
About 10 minutes and you have the fruit soft and ready to puree with the seeds in a Bullet blender. The flat blade will pulverize the seeds and will work like a thickening agent for the fruit filling.
Place the filling over the 9×9 inch baking dish of prepared dough. Spread it evenly across the dough. Take the remaining dough and dollop it in small balls over the filling. They will form a crust as they bake together.
Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes or until light brown.

I hope you enjoy these raspberry millet breakfast bars! There are plenty of more breakfast ideas on the blog too, if you are interested!

Enjoy!

References:

Hu B, Shi Y, Lu C, Chen H, Zeng Y, Deng J, Zhang L, Lin Q, Li W, Chen Y, Zhong F, Xia X. Raspberry polyphenols alleviate neurodegenerative diseases: through gut microbiota and ROS signals. Food Funct. 2023 Aug 29;14(17):7760-7779. doi: 10.1039/d3fo01835k. PMID: 37555470.

Oatmeal Cream Roll Cake

I am making a low sugar oatmeal cream roll cake during the 28 Day sugar fast because my handsome hubby likes his sweets. After all, he did not agree to do this fast with me. Since he is not on the lower sugar plan at this time, I thought maybe I can give him a lower sugar version to get his sugar intake down a bit.

Hey! You do what you have to do, right?

I can’t leave him out there during Valentine’s Week without some extra attention. Since I’ve received two pictures of him eating sweets this week from vending machines, it’s time to take action!

Poor guy, he can’t get away with anything, LOL.

The recipe comes from my desire to make a healthier version of the famous oatmeal cream pie that has too much sugar (25 grams per cookie verses 8 grams per slice of our cake), additives, dyes, and flavorings. We really just don’t need it to make our oatmeal cream roll cake a tasty dessert!

In addition to NONE of the bad stuff, you’ll find this recipe is also easy and versatile. I bet you can make little cake rounds with it and create your own cream pie! I chose to make a cake roll because it’s easy to cut and store in the fridge and he can have a slice after dinner or for breakfast.

Benefits of Oatmeal Cream Roll Cake

First of all, the most benefit of this cake is the lower sugar content. Most roll cakes call for a cup of sugar, this one has 1/4 cup of sugar, a tablespoon of molasses for color, and 1/8 teaspoon of pure stevia (no xylitol or alcohol sugars). Plus, it has apple sauce for moisture and sweetness.

Oats are a good source of B vitamins, protein, and fiber. So, they contribute to fullness and satiety. The beta glucan fiber content binds to waste products and moves it out of the body while also feeding our good gut microbes. A plus for all of us looking for ways to reduce cholesterol naturally. (1)

They also contain antioxidants like avenanthramides that help us produce nitric oxide and lower blood pressure, while maintaining blood vessels. Oats also contain minerals like manganese, zinc, and magnesium which are vital for heart, muscle, bone, and neurological health.

If you really like oats and their benefits, here are some other oat recipes on my blog you may enjoy!

Devotion

What God puts in the garden is good, my friend! I am always impressed by His divine nature revealed in His creation. Sharing the beauty of His design for healing in the benefits of the grains, nuts, seeds, vegetables, proteins, and fruits He created is sheer joy!

By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers. But if anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him? Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.

1 John 3 ESV – See what kind of love the Father has – Bible Gateway

I love how we are given an example to open our hearts and give to others in need. The needs for our neighbors, friends, children, and adults within our community are great! Many are spiritually poor and starving for the truth you and I hold and treasure.

They are also looking for easier ways to feed their families healthy meals that nourish and sustain their bodies. God provides both, and you and I are called to share that love with our gifts, talents, and abilities. Therefore, I hope you enjoy this oatmeal cream roll cake as small gesture of appreciation for you visiting the site!

Oatmeal Cream Roll Cake

1/2 Cup Oats (Gournd)
1/2 Cup Whole Wheat Flour
1/4 Cup Sugar
1/8 Tsp Pure Stevia or Monk fruit (This is less than 1/8 tsp)
1 Tbsp Molasses
1 tsp Baking soda
3 Eggs
1/2 tsp salt (optional)
2 tsp Cinnamon
2/3 Cup Apple Sauce

Cream Filling

1 Cup Heavy Cream
1 Tbsp Powdered Sugar
1/2 tsp Vanilla

Preheat oven to 375 degrees
Combine all the dry ingredients in a bowl and mix well.
Add the eggs and applesauce mix well.
Lightly grease a small cookie sheet or jelly roll pan with butter or oil, place parchment paper over that and lightly grease again.
Pour the batter onto the pan and spread out evenly, tapping the pan on the counter to remove air bubbles.
Bake for 10 minutes.
Remove and carefully place on non terry cloth dish towel sprinkled with powdered sugar.
Fold the towel over the cake and gently roll end to other end and place it in the freezer for 20 minutes.

Cream filling

While the cake is cooling, whip your cream, vanilla, and sugar until light and fluffy.
Set it in the fridge until the cake is completely cooled.
When the cake is cooled, gently unroll and place the filling over the cake and gently roll again end to end. You can leave this cake on the towel and roll it up again and store it in a Ziplock bag, that way the plastic is not in contact with your food. Otherwise, if your plastic wrap is BPA free and you want to use plastic, it will store well that way too.

You can also make this gluten free by substituting the flour for 3/4 cup ground oats and 1/4 cup arrowroot flour or tapioca flour. You can also add 1/2 tsp xanthan gum. It’s delicious this way, too, so the hubby says!

If you enjoy this oatmeal cream roll cake leave me a review by clicking the stars! I am always looking for ways to help my family enjoy life and be healthier, I pray your family is blessed by this too!

Take care and look around for more ideas!

References:

Paudel D, Dhungana B, Caffe M, Krishnan P. A Review of Health-Beneficial Properties of Oats. Foods. 2021 Oct 26;10(11):2591. doi: 10.3390/foods10112591. PMID: 34828872; PMCID: PMC8625765.

Coconut Cherry Almond Cookies

My favorite no-sugar cookie is hands down, coconut cherry almond! When I say no-sugar, I mean zero unrefined processed sugar and lightly sweetened with a couple of tablespoons of maple syrup.

So, yes, you and I will get some carbs and fat in this delicious cookie for the holiday season, but we will also load up on fiber, nutrients, and antioxidants. That’s why when I do our traditional cookie day, I make this low sugar coconut cherry almond cookie for my personal enjoyment.

Being careful to indulge and not binge is the key to staying on track with healthy eating. One way to do that is to think about the upcoming holiday parties and plan meals and treats accordingly.

Asking ourselves a few questions keeps us aware and intentional about what we are eating.

How many parties am I attending this week and what can I do between them to offset indulging?

What treats at work, school, or home are tempting me between meals that I can choose to set aside and savor after my salad for lunch? Enjoying the small treat after feeding my cells will help me feel satisfied and full. Also, by eating it this way, I am not spiking my insulin or blood sugar between meals.

Some Benefits of Coconut Almonds and Cherries

Since saturated fat has been ostracized for decades, it may be a little difficult embracing its beneficial properties. However, they are still there! For instance, coconut oil has been shown to help with weight loss and Alzheimer’s. It also has antimicrobial, antifungal, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer effects. (1)

As with any high fat, high calorie food, we want to be wise in how we combine it with other foods. When Pacific Islanders ate their native coconuts with all the fiber present, they were at low risk for metabolic disease. Once they began incorporating highly processed (refined white flour, refined white sugar, etc.) foods to their high saturated fat diets, they too became susceptible to increasing risks of cardiovascular disease.

Almonds are also rich in monounsaturated fats, polyunsaturated fats, vitamin E, fiber, potassium, and magnesium, nutrients essential to heart health. (2) Throw in some anti-inflammatory cherries, some fresh milled soft white wheat with all its B vitamins, and overall, you have a decently healthier cookie. As I always say, “What God puts in the garden is good!”

We can enjoy a few treats with our family and friends while keeping the fruit of self-control firmly in our hearts this Christmas season. I pray you are filled to overflowing with the love of God and His plan for restoration for one and all.

The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.

2 Peter 3:9

I savor the hope, joy, peace of Advent too, but there is something about the love that tops it off and stirs my heart in a way nothing else does. It’s so nice to rest in the love of God, and not worry so much about feeling unloved by others.

I talk more about God’s love in The Gift of Love blog post, check it out if you have time.

In the meantime, I hope this low sugar coconut cherry almond cookie becomes one of your favorite treats for the holidays as much as it is mine!

Coconut Cherry Almond Cookies

1 Cup Oats
1/2 Cup Flour ((Your choice, almond/gluten free/fresh-milled))
1 Egg
1/4 Cup Coconut Oil (melted)
1 Tsp Cinnamon
1/2 Tsp Almond Extract
2 Tbsp Maple Syrup
1/2 Cup Cherries (Fresh/Frozen/or Rehydrated)
1/2 Cup Coconut (Flakes/Unsweetened)

Preheat Oven to 350 degrees
Combine melted coconut oil, egg, and maple syrup in a mixing bowl.
Add the oats, flour, coconut, cinnamon, and almonds, then fold in the cherries.
Form into rounds and flatten into disc, bake for 18-20 minutes, let cool, and enjoy!

I hope you enjoy this easy cookie recipe and share it with your family and friends! I look forward to offering more recipes and health tips on this blog without annoying advertising.

You can always contact me for coaching if you need further assistance in making healthier choices. I look forward to serving you!

Merry Christmas!

Mysty

References In Order of Use:

Sekhar S, Makaram Ravinarayan S, Kashmer D Yu A, Kilic F, Dhawan R, Sidhu R, Elazrag SE, Bijoora M, Mohammed L. Are We Nuts Over Coconuts? Studying the Effects of Coconut Oil on Low-Density Lipoprotein and Cardiovascular Diseases: A Systematic Review. Cureus. 2022 Apr 17;14(4):e24212. doi: 10.7759/cureus.24212. PMID: 35637823; PMCID: PMC9132222.
Kalita S, Khandelwal S, Madan J, Pandya H, Sesikeran B, Krishnaswamy K. Almonds and Cardiovascular Health: A Review. Nutrients. 2018 Apr 11;10(4):468. doi: 10.3390/nu10040468. PMID: 29641440; PMCID: PMC5946253.

Acai Berry Yogurt

This acai berry yogurt is nice and refreshing for breakfast or as an after-dinner dessert. The freeze-dried powder of this amazing berry has been in my freezer for a year because I didn’t really have a habit of drinking it regularly. However, after injuring my shoulder a week ago, I remembered how wonderful it was for preventing sore muscles.

I figured if it’s good for keeping me from getting sore form a work out, it must also be good for healing a torn muscle. I decided to mix a teaspoon of it with water twice a day to see what would happen. I also used my red light belt on the should for twenty minutes, twice a day.

The powder did not dissolve well in the water, so I put it in my yogurt instead. It worked great, and tasted much better!

Benefits of Acai Berry

God’s wonderful plants continue to amaze me with their ability to help us heal! The wonderful properties of this plant are truly a gift. The rich amount of polyphenols help decrease inflammation, while the oxygen radical absorption capacity of this berry helps prevent disease. The berry is loaded with antioxidants has been shown to have the following benefits (1):

Cardioprotective—yes your heart!

Renoprotective—your kidneys!
Hepatoprotectives– the liver!
Neuroprotective —the nerve cells!

The impressive benefits go on and on…..I am thankful it assisted my red-light therapy belt to improve a potentially serious shoulder injury in 5 days. I went from not being able to raise my right arm to touch my ear to full mobility. I did some light stretches, drank plenty of water, and rested the arm, too. Moreover, the pain relief I felt in just two days was even more impressive.

I’m sure you can find a reputable brand near you to use for this recipe! Here is what I chose “Earthly Choice, Great Day Acai Powder”:

I exalt you, O Lord, for your amazing provision!

Be exalted, O Lord, in your strength!
We will sing and praise your power.

Psalm 21 ESV – The King Rejoices in the LORD’s – Bible Gateway

Acai Berry Yogurt

1 tsp Acai powder
2 Tbsp. Yogurt
1/2 Cup Blueberries
1 Tbsp. Walnuts

Enjoy your berries, my friend! God’s plan for you is good! I am here if you need a RN Health and Wellness Coach to get you started!Book an Appointment

References:

Laurindo LF, Barbalho SM, Araújo AC, Guiguer EL, Mondal A, Bachtel G, Bishayee A. Açaí (Euterpe oleracea Mart.) in Health and Disease: A Critical Review. Nutrients. 2023 Feb 16;15(4):989. doi: 10.3390/nu15040989. PMID: 36839349; PMCID: PMC9965320.

The Ultimate Breakfast Cookie

If you’re looking for a little take-along snack with your morning smoothie or egg, this ultimate breakfast cookie will help. It’s nutrient dense with pumpkin seeds, walnuts quinoa, and whole grain. It’s also low in sugar, which is tolerable to those who have completed their sugar fast to remove its sweet desire from the pallet.

There are studies to prove you can retrain your taste buds to remove excess salt and sugar. (1)

Keeping sugar at a minimum in our diet for optimal health, is the goal here. We want whole food, all the time! And giving up those highly processed items without nutrients, is a start to better health.

Plus, you can choose if you want to go with baker’s honey (17 grams of sugar per tablespoon and 60 calories) or cane sugar, which has 13 grams per tablespoon. Using 2 tablespoons of honey in this recipe keeps the sugar less than 1 teaspoon per cookie.

Remember, the American Heart Association recommends less than 6 teaspoons of sugar per day to minimize heart disease risks! The American Cancer Society also recommends a low sugar and decreased intake of processed food. (1) So, making our own items and having complete control of the ingredients in them, helps us stay within range.

Exercising portion control is still a must here, as well. Just because they are healthy doesn’t mean we can eat the entire batch!

Practicing intentional eating and making healthy, purposeful choices alongside this cookie to attain fullness is doable.

Good Land

When we look around at all the things available to us in our markets and our farmland, we can see how the Lord has given us good land. I feel a small piece of the promise for Israel came true for Americans too, so many years ago. As they sought freedom to worship in a better land, on the Mayflower and her sister ships, they arrived at a land of plenty.

And they took in their hands some of the fruit of the land and brought it down to us, and brought us word again and said, ‘It is a good land that the Lord our God is giving us.’

Deuteronomy 1:25

Enjoy your good land today, my friend! And while you’re at it, try this ultimate breakfast cookie to get you started! I am here for you, if you need a RN health and wellness coach to guide your through healthier lifestyle changes. Book a consultation here!

The Ultimate Breakfast Cookie

1 Cup Whole Grain Flour
1 Cup Oats
1 tsp. Salt
2 Tsp. Cinnamon
1/4 Tsp. Baking Soda
4 ounces Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil
4 ounces Butter
2 tbsp apple sauce
2 Tbsp.. Honey
1 Egg
2 tbsp Chia Seeds
1 Cup Quinoa (Precooked)
1/2 Cup Pumpkin Seeds
1/2 Cup Walnuts
1/2 Cup Chocolate Chips

Preheat Oven to 350 degrees.
In a medium bowl combine the oil, softened butter, egg, honey, and chia seeds apple sauce, and set aside.
Combine the whole grain flour of your choice (spelt/oat, hard red/ sorghum, gluten free, etc.) with the salt, baking soda, cinnamon, and cooked quinoa.
Add the oil mixture to the dry ingredients and stir until well combined. Add the pumpkin seeds, walnuts, and chocolate chips.
Bake at 350 for 15-18 minutes or until done. Times may vary with ovens.

I hope you enjoy these ultimate breakfast cookies! if you’re looking for more cookie recipes check out these Vegan Cookies and Low Sugar Lemon Cookies.

References:

May CE, Dus M. Confection Confusion: Interplay Between Diet, Taste, and Nutrition. Trends Endocrinol Metab. 2021 Feb;32(2):95-105. doi: 10.1016/j.tem.2020.11.011. Epub 2020 Dec 28. PMID: 33384209; PMCID: PMC8021035.

The NOT So Amazing, But Good… Sugar Free Brownies

I know, you just want to click to see what is NOT so amazing, right? LOL, I found a sugar free banana brownie recipe on YouTube and wanted to try it, my way.

The original recipe calls for 3 bananas ( I made the mistake of using green bananas, so make sure yours are very ripe for the added sweetness) 1/2 cup of cocoa powder, and 1/2 cup of peanut butter. If you want that recipe, go for it!

I wanted mine a little more exciting, and power packed with protein, omega 3, and fiber.

So, here you go! Remember cocoa has antioxidants like flavanols that are anti-inflammatory. Therefore, since there is no refined white sugar in these sugar free brownies, they will not cause you pain. That’s a win, for sure! It is also helpful for increasing nitric oxide in the body, a powerful vasodilator that has cardioprotective measures. (1)

Cocoa powder has also been shown to feed the good gut bacteria to stimulate an anti-inflammatory pathway!

Friend, what God puts in the garden is good! The plans he has for you and me are just as spectacular as the plans He had for Jeremiah, when we place our trust in Him!

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.

Jeremiah 29:10-12 ESV – “For thus says the LORD: When seventy – Bible Gateway

Recipe for Sugar Free Brownies

The NOT So Amazing, But Good… Sugar Free Brownies

A simple sugar free brownie recipe adapted from a YouTube video

3 Bananas
1/2 Cup Organic Cocoa
1/2 Cup Organic Natural Peanut Butter
2 Tbsp. Hemp Seeds
2 Tbsp. Chia Seeds
1/2 Cup Walnuts
1 Tbsp. Vanilla
1 Tsp. Cinnamon
pinch Salt
2 Tbsp. Dark Chocolate Chips

Preheat oven to 350 degrees
In a bowl mash the bananas with a fork. Add the cocoa powder, cinnamon, vanilla, and peanut butter. (At this point if you decide you want them sweeter, you can add 2 tablespoons of honey or maple syrup (or a 1/2 tsp liquid stevia).
Place the batter in an 8×8 pan lined with parchment paper.
Sprinkle the hemp seeds, chocolate chips, chia seeds and walnuts on the top and press down into the batter slightly.
Place them in the oven and bake for 20 minutes. Cool then remove from pan and cut into squares. I store mine in the fridge!

They are yummy!

I hope you like these sugar free brownies! They are so full of nutrients you and I can feel good about indulging a little! We owe a big thank you to the person who created the idea! You’ll find other brownie recipes on the garden blog!

Sugar Free Berry Crisp

A sugar free berry crisp is a great way to start the day!

Here is a simple and easy recipe for you to make if you are interested in enjoying your berry crisp without eating a lot of sugar.

Benefits of Berries

According to PubMed, studies show berries are plentiful in anthocyanins, vitamins, minerals, and fiber. Therefore, they are beneficial for the following conditions:

Cancer fighting antioxidants
Reduces inflammation
Oxidative Stress
Reduces Heart disease risks
Beneficial for low fat diets and fighting obesity
Antioxidants help fight neurodegenerative disorders.
Fighting Alzheimer’s

Enjoy the benefits of berries in your morning routine and throughout the day to improve blood vessels, and blood flow to all areas of the body. What God puts in the garden is good!

Devotion

Joseph was thirty years old when he entered the service of Pharaoh king of Egypt. And Joseph went out from the presence of Pharaoh and went through all the land of Egypt. During the seven plentiful years the earth produced abundantly, and he gathered up all the food of these seven years, which occurred in the land of Egypt, and put the food in the cities. He put in every city the food from the fields around it.

Genesis 41:46-48 ESV – Joseph was thirty years old when he – Bible Gateway

Joseph stored up the grain from the seven plentiful years as the earth produced abundant crops. You and I can benefit from the storing up in our plentiful years, too! When we are young, we have the opportunity to store up savings, train our children in the way they should go, and take care of our homes.

If we have faith and value, the wisdom of the bible we can store up treasures in heaven. I am grateful for every berry God provides and all wisdom in his Word. I hope you do too!

Enjoy this berry crisp today and get some of those antioxidants while you build up your cells!

Sugar Free Berry Crisp

3 Cups Berries ( blueberry, blackberry, strawberry)
3 Cups Oats
2 tsp Cinnamon
1 Cup Walnuts
2 Eggs
1/2 tsp salt
2 tsp tapioca or corn starch

Preheat oven to 375 degrees
In a pie pan place the three cups of berries and add the corn starch or tapioca. You can use frozen or fresh berries, whatever you have on hand. Here you can add a tablespoon of maple syrup or honey to sweeten if you prefer.
In a separate bowl, add the oats, walnuts cinnamon, and salt.
Blend in the two eggs and coat all the oats (if you want… add another tablespoon of maple syrup or honey in this step, too)
Cover the berries with the oat mixture and bake for 35-40 minutes or until bubbly. Remove and enjoy! I store mine in the fridge!

I look forward to sharing more recipes with you! Check out the garden for more ways to use berries! If you are looking for workshops, I have those too!

Energy-Boosting Breakfast Brownies

I love spending time with my family, and I can’t think of a better way to spend time than preparing a batch of brownies! These fiber and protein packed breakfast brownies have all the vitamins and minerals in fresh-milled whole grain, too.

I talk often about intentional eating only because I want more energy and a highly functioning body to do God’s work. I want that for you and your children too! Therefore, it’s worth taking 25 minutes out of my busy schedule to teach them how to live, prepare, and enjoy life a little more. It also helps them avoid future chronic disease.

Plus, handing them processed packaged doughnuts and cakes don’t give them the vitamins, minerals, fiber and protein they need to function in school, pay attention, and learn like these brownies will.

Brownies from the Garden? Yes, and All the Benefits too!

Now, I know you’re probably thinking brownies don’t come from the garden. However, cocoa beans come from one of the most plentiful and nutrient rich gardens in the world! They are packed with phytonutrients and minerals and according to a PubMed article they help muscle uptake of glucose for better use. The better our muscles use glucose the better we control our weight. Cocoa also helps neurons in the circulatory system improve thinking and helps boost the mood (1)

Like cocoa, dates also come from tropical areas. Although high in natural sugar and carbs, they contain a good amount of selenium, magnesium, copper, zinc, and complex B vitamins. Not only that, but they are a good source of fiber. Lord knows, we need more fiber to flush out all the toxins and chemicals we are exposed to daily.

You’ll get even more fiber, protein, B vitamins, and vitamin E in the whole grain and oats used in this brownie recipe. Plus the oats are rich in beta-glucan and known for helping to control diabetes and lower cholesterol. (2)

God’s always looking out for you and your family, my friend. Let’s give Him praise for His abundant goodness!

Devotion

Oh, how abundant is your goodness,

which you have stored up for those who fear you

and worked for those who take refuge in you,

in the sight of the children of mankind!

Psalm 31:18-20 ESV – Let the lying lips be mute, which speak – Bible Gateway

You and I can take comfort in knowing we have such a mighty Champion who stores up goodness for us! He is working for us, in us and through us to reach this lost and broken world. Physically and mentally, my friend! What greater peace than to take refuge in Him. Moreover, when we do, we teach our children to do the same.

They can maneuver through this life with the teachings of faithful parents and grandparents, or flounder aimlessly without purpose. Let’s take that added anxiety and frustration away by giving them the hope and confidence of God; while filling their bellies with good food.

Energy-Boosting Breakfast Brownies

1 15 oz Can Black Beans
2 Cups Fresh-Milled Soft Wheat
1 tsp Baking Powder
3 Tbsp. Cocoa Powder
1/2 Tsp Salt
2 Tbsp. Chia Seeds
2 Eggs
2 Tbsp. Ground Flax Seed
1/3 Cup Pureed Dates
1/2 Cup honey ((or sugar))
1/4 Cup Olive Oil
1 Cup Almond Milk

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Put 6 dates in a 1/4 cup of hot water and soak 5 minutes, then puree them in a blender
Open the beans, rinse and drain them, then puree them in a blender (or mash with a fork)
Fresh mill a cup of wheat berries and a cup of oat berries (or just use 1 cup store bought whole grain flour and 1 cup ground oats)
In a large mixing bowl add the flour, ground flax and chia seed, salt, baking powder, cocoa, and mix well.
Add the pureed beans, dates, eggs, oil, and milk and stir well.
Place the batter in an oiled 9×13 pan and bake for 25-30 minutes or until the toothpick comes out clean.
Let cool completely.

I left out my favorite walnuts in this recipe for kids at church who have nut allergies, but OH! how much better they would be with some walnuts added!

Thank you for stopping by today and checking out this brownie recipe! I look forward to serving you with any recipe ideas I come up with or come across, as well as encouragement from God’s mighty word. If you or your family need further coaching with health issues or chronic disease, contact me for affordable coaching, I am here for you.

Also, if your church wants to do bread workshops or participate in classes, I am available for speaking engagements and retreats for your ladies’ group.

References:

Latif R. Health benefits of cocoa. Curr Opin Clin Nutr Metab Care. 2013 Nov;16(6):669-74. doi: 10.1097/MCO.0b013e328365a235. PMID: 24100674.

Sang S, Chu Y. Whole grain oats, more than just a fiber: Role of unique phytochemicals. Mol Nutr Food Res. 2017 Jul;61(7). doi: 10.1002/mnfr.201600715. Epub 2017 Feb 22. PMID: 28067025.

A Simple Fresh-Milled Lemon Cake Roll

I’m using spelt today for my fresh-milled lemon cake roll. All I can say is, it’s been an adventure turning my original pumpkin roll recipe into various fruit flavored concoctions! But mastering the method to prepare this super easy 25-minute cake is worth the effort!

Just imagine all the different flavors! Check out my Dye-Free Red Velvet Cake Roll or my Low Sugar Orange Creamsicle Cake Roll for some delicious examples of ways you can make one too!

The trick for me on this recipe is adjusting the amount of spelt. I started with 3/4 cup and realized the batter was too runny, so I added a 1/4 cup hard white. I used a zucchini squash for added filling, and it may have contained too much water. Patty pan or hubbard squash may give it yellow color with less water content. I’d use whatever squash, (pineapple or banana) you have on hand.

The consistency with the extra flour looked like my original cake batter, so I went forward with that amount for this lemon cake roll. The freshness of lemon sounded so good for a summer treat for my hubby. I decided to use two in this recipe with the zest. Now, if you find this is still not enough lemon flavor, think about adding a small amount of lemon extract. It really depends on the freshness of your lemons.

Benefits of Fresh-Milled Lemon Cake Roll with Spelt

As most of you who follow my blog know, I don’t eat or recommend eating a lot of sweets. So, when I do prepare a treat for my family, I want it to be low in sugar and higher in fiber, protein, vitamins, freshness, and taste. Today, I’m using spelt to make this lemon cake roll. I’m also adding a little bit of hard white wheat.

Fresh-milled spelt is higher in lipids and unsaturated fatty acids than wheat, although lower in tocopherol (natural vitamin E) according to a comparison study done in Belgium. (1) The same study of spelt showed ” copper, iron, zinc, magnesium, and phosphorus contents were higher. Although higher in phosphorous, the phytic acid content was 40% lower in spelt than in wheat.
Now, I know some sources claim phytic acid is an anti-nutrient and it gets blamed for depleting magnesium… but let’s not forget God designed it and created it perfect. It protects the phosphorous in the seed until it’s milled. It also binds to cadmium and lead in our systems to remove these toxic metals from the body. Plus, it plays a role in lowering blood glucose, alongside the bran and germ with their high fiber and protein content. (2)

Additional benefits of using spelt for this lemon cake roll is the quality B vitamins it provides to aide hormone balance, while helping to build bones and the immune system. You can download my free pdf profile of nutrition comparison for grains when you subscribe to my website. I love sharing the benefits of everything God places in the gardens around the world to protect us and provide for our defense! He is always looking out for us, spiritually through his Word and physically through vitamins, antioxidants, and nutrients in REAL food.

I’m feeling God’s provision like a big hug today, how about you!

Fresh-Milled Lemon Cake Roll

3/4 Cup Spelt Flour
1/4 Cup Hard White Flour ((If using store bought flour keep it 3/4 cup))
3 Eggs
2 Lemons
1/2 Cup Organic Sugar
1 Pinch Stevia
1/2 Cup Squash

Cream Cheese Filling

8 ounces Organic Cream Cheese
1 Lemon (Use zest and 1/2 the juice)
1/2 Cup Powdered Sugar

Preheat Oven to 375
In a large mixing bowl, zest the two lemons, then peel them and separate the flesh from the membrane wall and place it in the bowl (This makes about 1/4 of a cup)
Measure 1/2 cup of pureed cooked squash of your choice and place it in the bowl with the lemon (Whatever fruit you use, you need a total of 3/4 cup).
Add the 3 eggs, sugar and stevia, and beat well.
Add the flour, baking soda, and salt.
Prepare a jelly roll pan with a tiny bit of oil, covered with parchment paper and a little more oil. Spread the prepared batter over the paper and bake the cake at 375 for 10 minutes.
Once the cake is done, spread a dish towel on the counter and cover with 1/4 cup of powdered sugar. Carefully place the baked cake onto the towel and gently roll. Place in the freezer 15 minutes.

Filling

Zest the 3rd lemon into a bowl, add 8 ounces of cream cheese (you can substitute 1 stick of butter in a pinch if you don't have cream cheese), plus 1/2 cup of powdered sugar. You can also add 1/4 tsp of lemon extract if you like a stronger lemon flavor. Beat well with a mixer, until it's fluffy.
Once the cake is completely cooled, unroll it and place your lemon butter cream icing evenly across the inner part of the cake. Roll again then lightly dust with powdered sugar.
Serve immediately or chill and serve later.

Well, that wraps it up nicely for this lemon cake roll recipe, my friend. I hope you invite God’s goodness into all of your baking and skip the overly processed items that deplete health. It’s easy to do one step at a time. Remember, I’m here to coach you along the way if you need individual, family, or group coaching, so just let me know on my services page. I look forward to serving you!

God bless!

References:

Ruibal-Mendieta NL, Delacroix DL, Mignolet E, Pycke JM, Marques C, Rozenberg R, Petitjean G, Habib-Jiwan JL, Meurens M, Quetin-Leclercq J, Delzenne NM, Larondelle Y. Spelt (Triticum aestivum ssp. spelta) as a source of breadmaking flours and bran naturally enriched in oleic acid and minerals but not phytic acid. J Agric Food Chem. 2005 Apr 6;53(7):2751-9. doi: 10.1021/jf048506e. PMID: 15796621.

Biskup I, Gajcy M, Fecka I. The potential role of selected bioactive compounds from spelt and common wheat in glycemic control. Adv Clin Exp Med. 2017 Sep;26(6):1013-1019. doi: 10.17219/acem/61665. PMID: 29068605.

Sweet Potato & Pecan Pancakes for 2

Sweet Potato & Pecan Pancakes for 2 are not on my mind often.

Although eating intentionally for optimum health becomes second nature when it’s incorporated into my daily routine, things happen to throw a wrench into my plans.

Like, waking up and not wanting what I made for dinner the night before as a breakfast option in the morning.

Do you ever wake up wanting bread instead of an omelet? I do!

But I didn’t have bread made. Ick…not in the mood to cook either.

Bread-making day is Thursday or Friday. However, I did have some fresh milled grain left over from Thursday in the fridge. Just enough to make 5 small pancakes. Easy and quick, is always a plus.

When I make pancakes, I always think of Abigail in the bible making preparations for the sheering of the flocks. Her husband Nabal refused to give David and his men some of the flock they’d protected from predators, and David was about to descend on Nabal’s family with some vengeance. Quick thinking Abigail, grabbed 200 fig cakes, bread, and 5 prepared sheep and set out to meet David. She fell at his feet and offered him the food. But her speech reminded him who he was, who his provider is, who his protector is, as well as his purpose:

Please forgive the trespass of your servant. For the Lord will certainly make my lord a sure house, because my lord is fighting the battles of the Lord, and evil shall not be found in you so long as you live. And when the Lord has done to my lord according to all the good that he has spoken concerning you and has appointed you prince over Israel my lord shall have no cause of grief or pangs of conscience for having shed blood without cause or for my lord working salvation himself.

1 Samuel 25:28, 30-31a

1 Samuel 25 ESV – The Death of Samuel – Now Samuel died. – Bible Gateway

I am amazed when I think of all the people, she had a hand in keeping alive that day. Yep, a quick-thinking and resourceful woman can keep many men out of trouble and benefit entire families. Speaking of benefits, there are some nice benefits for our energy levels with these pancakes.

Benefits of Sweet Potato & Pecan Pancakes for 2

The fresh-milled grain I’m using is a hard red wheat that provides a great source of protein and fiber. It also retains the original B vitamins and Vitamin E the way God intended it to be eaten (The faulty nutrition label below does not take these vitamins in account but, I assure you they are there). Manufacturing this product and separating the bran and germ to leave the white starchy protein is the bread filling store shelves.

Small growing bellies are consuming the nutrient poor bread every day and are instead filled with “enriched” synthetic vitamins. They deserve better than bleached flour enriched with synthetic vitamins and harmful preservatives.

It does more harm to kid’s cells than good, but it’s better than nothing. I served it and ate if for years before I knew better. I wish someone had shown me how to do it right the first time.

Oh, well enough lamenting… It just wasn’t in God’s timing. Like everything, He has a plan and a purpose.

Here is the simple and delicious recipe for these pancakes,

Sweet Potato & Pecan Pancakes for 2

1 Cup Hard Red Wheat (milled)
1 Egg
2 Tbsp Sweet Potato ((Precooked and mashed))
1/4 Tsp Salt
1/2 Tsp Baking Powder
2/3 Cup Vanilla Almond Milk (Unsweetened)
1/2 Tsp Cinnamon
6 Pecans (Chopped )

Preheat skillet on low while mixing ingredients
Combine the flour, salt, baking powder, cinnamon in a bowl and whisk well.
In a large measuring cup place the milk, egg, and sweet potato. Blend well with a fork. Then pour into the flour mixture and add pecans. Mix well.
Melt a small tsp of butter or oil of your choice in the skillet. Pour the batter into three small rounds in the skillet and let cook on low-medium heat until bubbles appear, and the edges of the pancake look done. Flip it over and cook another minute or two.
Serve with maple syrup.

I hope you enjoy these pancakes! Check out my ideas for extra sourdough starter too, if you want another pancake recipe. I look forward to helping you and your family get on track fighting chronic disease so leave me a message to get started with health coaching!