Skinny Gluten Free Banana Coconut Bread

Having a good friend over for brunch tomorrow and I wanted to make some homemade goodies that were still...eh sorta good for me? I decided to make some banana bread with some bananas I had on the counter and I found this recipe! I made a couple changes from the original, seriously, YUM. These are sugar free (besides honey), gluten free and packed with great stuff for you.  I love this bread!

3/4 cup coconut oil

1 cup honey

6 egg whites

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

2 cups mashed bananas

1 1/4 cup Gluten Free AP flour *

1 cup Gluten Free Oats (rolled oats), pulsed in food processor to make an oat flour

1/2 cup vanilla protein powder

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon nutmeg

1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda

3/4 cup unsweetened coconut milk

1 cup unsweetened shredded coconut

1 cup mini chocolate chips

Directions:

• In a large bowl, cream the coconut oil and the honey. do not melt the coconut oil first, you want it to be solid so it acts like a butter mixing with the honey.
• Add the egg whites, vanilla and banana and mix completely. 
• Sift the flour, oats, protein powder, cinnamon, and baking soda. 
• Slowly add the flour mix, alternately with the coconut milk, to the banana mixture. Do not over mix. 
• Stir in the shredded coconut and chocolate chips by hand. Next time i make this recipe i will also add 1 cup chopped walnuts too!
• Divide the batter in the loaf pans and sprinkle with some additional mini chocolate chips.
• Bake at 350 degrees for 35 minutes. 
• Let cool in the pans before flipping out onto cooling racks. 
• Keep bread in sealed container for 5-7 days or freeze the loaves to have on hand later! Makes 4 mini loaves or 1 large loaf. 

* If you don't want to make it with Gluten Free flour, you can easily substitute 1-1 normal AP flour and rolled oats. 

Crock Pot Chicken Soup

I found this recipe on Pinterest of course, although why I didn't think of it before is beyond me. So easy. I put it together while I was cooking dinner last night, so it was perfect for a busy week night. Tasted pretty good too- comfort food without all the effort! Sorry, in all my haste to make it, I completely forgot to take pictures.

3 chicken breasts (or about 7 thighs)

1 cup carrots

1 cup onions, diced

1 cup celery, diced

1 large can of petite diced tomatoes

1, 32 oz container of chicken broth

Corn pasta

1 tablespoon oregano

2 teaspoons garlic powder

salt and pepper

1/4 cup basil, chopped

Directions: 

• Put all the veggies in the crock pot then put the chicken on top.
• Add all the seasonings, tomatoes and chicken broth, mix to incorporate. 
• Cook on low for 8 hours. 
• Options for the noodles: You are welcome to cook your noodles right in your soup, it always gives it extra flavor, BUT if you think you will have any left overs, I recommend against doing that. It will only make your noodles super soggy overnight. If you do want to cook them in the crock this is how you do it (otherwise, just boil the noodles how you normally would). 
• About 30-45 minutes before you want to eat, add your favorite noodles. I used corn penne noodles. Let cook about 30-45 minutes until al dente.
• Serve up and sprinkle with some Parmesan cheese and fresh basil!

Easy Crock Pot Turkey Breast

A friend posted a recipe for what looked like an amazing turkey breast recipe in the crock pot. Of course, when I went to make it, I couldn't find the recipe anywhere. I tried to remember everything that was in it and made this turkey recipe. Believe me, its seriously delicious! The turkey is so incredibly moist and the gravy that is makes is great - its like Thanksgiving Dinner all rolled into one.

1 (5-6 pound) turkey breast

1/4 cup orange juice

1- 14 oz can whole cranberry sauce

1- 1 ounce package of Lipton Onion Soup Mix

For gravy
2 tablespoons corn starch
2 tablespoons water

Directions:

• Let turkey breast thaw (I had mine in fridge 2 days before)
• Add turkey to the crock pot
• Mix all the other ingredients together and then pour over the turkey
• Cook on low for 8-9 hours. 
• Remove the turkey and shred or carve!
• If you want, make a BOMB gravy with the juice left in the crock pot. Simply put the juice in a pan on the stove and add 2 tablespoons of cornstarch to 2 tablespoons water to make a slurry. 
• Bring the juices to a boil and slowly add the corn start mixture. Let it cook and it will begin to thicken. 
• This gravy is great because it has a tiny bit of sweetness from the cranberry. 

Gluten Free Pumpkin Cupcakes with Vanilla Maple Frosting & Maple Bacon Crumbles

Today I really felt like baking, just one of those days where Stephen was at football, I probably should have been working out, and just felt good :) I am trying not to eat wheat or gluten (as much as possible) so I made these gluten free! I am also not supposed to be eating white sugar, but we will keep this a secret right? AAANdddd because there is bacon on them, that makes them Paleo right? :) Honestly, the ingredients list below looks really long, but these cupcakes are super simple!

Cupcakes
1 cup Gluten Free AP flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
2 large eggs at room temp
1 cup pumpkin puree 
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup light brown sugar
1/2 cup vegetable oil

Frosting
8 ounces cream cheese at room temp
4 tablespoons butter at room tempvanilla beans removed from 2 pods

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract (I used my homemade extract)
1/2 teaspoon imitation maple flavor (NOT maple syrup)
2 cups sifted powdered sugar

Topping
1/2 pound crumbled Maple Bacon

Directions:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line your cupcake tins with liners (This recipe makes approx 18 medium sized cupcakes)
• Into a medium bowl, mix the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, ginger, and nutmeg.
• In a larger bowl, whisk together the eggs, pumpkin puree, granulated sugar, brown sugar, and vegetable oil. Add the flour mixture and stir until combined.
• Divide the batter among the prepared tins and bake for 20-25 minutes until a toothpick comes out clean. Set aside and cool.
• Before cooking, cut up bacon into small pieces then fry up. Set aside and cool completely
• Make the maple frosting by using an electric mixer with the paddle attachment, cream cheese and butter on low speed until smooth. Stir in the maple flavoring and vanilla extract. With the mixer still on low, slowly add the powdered sugar and mix until smooth.

Adapted from Ina Garten