Tag Archives: children’s snack

Baking, Cooking, Health and Nutrition

Need a pick me up? Try the Bliss Poppers!

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Have you ever been to a Brazilian birthday party and tasted “docinhos”?  No? Do not worry, today I’m bringing you the infamous Brazilian treat to your kitchen. Literally translated into little sweets, docinhos range in a variety of flavors.  From chocolate, coconut, to fruit flavors. The “brigadeiro” or the chocolate kind is by far the most popular and the genesis for this post.

Your favorite Vedic Master has been experimenting in the Bliss Balance Health test kitchen with an assortment of energy snacks for myself, husband, and children. My husband and I will usually eat things just because they are good for us, but add kids to the mix and taste becomes super important! A healthier version of docinhos was the perfect solution for my family and yours too! Thus, I bring you the Bliss Popper!

Interesting enough, “energy balls” seem to be popping up on social media sites. Embracing the trend, I created a couple of unique versions with full flavor combinations.

So what is in an “Energy Ball” aka Bliss Popper?

Dates are a very under appreciated treat.  And in our house, they are used in multiple ways for cooking and acting as a base ingredient for many recipes. A little side note, I have even turned a couple of people into “date addicts”.  But alas, lets get back to the Bliss Popper.  Dates have a pure organic taste of sweetness and wonderful texture that makes them very easy to substitute for sugar.  Dates are the base of my poppers. Nuts and nut butter are also added to help with texture and increase protein and healthy fats. I recommend almond butter. Completing the organic mix for the base are coconut flakes and cacao powder. These ingredients are essential in their Brazilian counterparts. As your taste dictates, experiment with the options I provide.

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You can also play around with toppings to roll the “docinhos” . My favorites are cacao powder, cacao nibs, goji berries, and coconut. Feel free to come up with your own!

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Ingredients:

Base

1 cup of dates

1 cup of almonds

1/4 cup of almond butter

Version I add…

2 tbs of cacao powder

2 tbs of water

1/4 cup of coconut flakes

Version II add…

1 tbs of maca powder

1 tsp spirulina

2 tbs of water

1/4 cup of coconut flakes

In a food processor blend all the ingredients together. Roll them into balls, add more water if necessary. Roll them with your favorite topping and enjoy!

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armenia@blissbalancehealth.com

864 551 5731

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Receita em Português

Ingredientes:

Base:

1 xícara de tâmaras

1 xícara de amêndoas

1/4 xícara de manteiga de amêndoa

Versão I adicionar …

2 colheres de sopa de cacau em pó

2 colheres de sopa de água

1/4 xícara de flocos de coco

Versão II adicionar …

1 colher de sopa de pó de maca

1 colher de chá de spirulina

2 colheres de sopa de água

1/4 xícara de flocos de coco

Em um processador de alimentos misture todos os ingredientes juntos. Rolar em bolas, adicione mais água se necessário. Cobrir com sua cobertura favorita!

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Cooking, Health and Nutrition

It’s Pumpkin muffin time!

pumpkin muffin

Beautiful colors, aroma, and once a year flavors are all converging on my favorite season, Fall! Fall is absolutely my favorite season and I look forward to it every year! During this week’s grocery trip I was happily surprised to find that pumpkins were displayed beautifully at the market I shop at. Of course I grabbed a couple of them and was excited to use them right away!

Fall may not be my whole family’s favorite season, but pumpkin most certainly is a family favorite. My husband’s all time favorite dessert is pumpkin pie and my kids just love the pie and the muffins I usually make. After the kids brought home awesome progress reports, I decided that they earned this season’s first treat. Welcome back pumpkin muffins!

I am always looking for healthier alternatives my for children’s snacks as well as for myself, these muffins are exactly that! They are great for afternoon snacks and no one would tell the difference between these super natural and healthier muffins than the ones from the grocery store that are loaded with processed ingredients. As with most my recipes, these muffins are also free of animal products, making them a good choice for those who have removed milk ingredients from their diet. They are also gluten free.

So what is so nutritious about these muffins? Pumpkins are full of antioxidants, dietary fiber, and is one of the least caloric vegetables ( 3oz contains 26 calories and no saturated fat). Pumpkin is also a great source of complex B vitamins, and minerals such as copper, calcium, potassium, and phosphorus. The combination of spices help to regulate blood sugar and boost digestion. The flaxseed, coconut oil, and chocolate provide a dose of healthy fats that are essential to the proper distribution of vitamins and minerals throughout the body. When you’re feeling a little adventurous, dark chocolate chips can be added to increase your healthy fats and increase distribution of vitamins and minerals throughout the body.  Today, I’m feeling adventurous!

Is your mouth watering already? Let’s find out how easy these are to make!

pumpkin muffin

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups of brown rice flour (1 1/2 copo de farinha de arroz integral)

1 1/2 tsp of cinnamon ( 1 1/2 colher de chá de canela)

1 tsp ginger ( 1 colher de chá de gengibre em pó )

1/2 tsp of nutmeg (1/2 colher de chá de noz moscada)

1/8 tsp clover (1/8 colher de chá de cravo)

1 tsp baking soda (1 colher de chá de bicarbonato de sódio )

1/4 tsp of baking powder ( 1/4 colher de chá de fermento)

1/2 tsp salt (1/2 colher de chá de sal)

2 Tbs of flaxseed mixed with 6 Tbs of water (2 colheres de sopa de farinha de linhaça misturada com 6 colheres de sopa de água )

1/2 cup of melted coconut oil (1/2 copo de óleo de coco derretido)

1/2 cup of coconut sugar (1/2 copo de açúcar de coco ou mascavo)

1/2 tsp of vanilla (1/2 colher de chá de baunilha)

2 cups of pumpkin puree or 1 15 oz can of pure pumpkin (2 copos de pure de abóbora )

1/4 cup of dark chocolate chips (1/4 copo de chocolate meio amargo)

1/4 cup walnuts (optional) (1/4 copo de nozes)

In a medium bowl mix the first 8 ingredients together. Make a well in the center and add the flaxseed mixture, oil, sugar, coconut oil, vanilla, and pumpkin puree. After mixing the wet ingredients in the center, mix them with the flour mixture. Add the nuts and chocolate chips if using and mix well. Fill muffins pans 3/4 of the way with dough and sprinkle some extra chocolate chips on the top. Bake for 15-18 minutes or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean. Enjoy!

Em uma tigela média misture os 8 primeiros ingredientes juntos. Faça um buraco no centro e adicione a mistura de linhaça, óleo, açúcar, óleo de coco, baunilha e purê de abóbora. Depois de misturar os ingredientes no centro, misture-os com a mistura de farinha. Adicione as nozes e raspas de chocolate e misture bem. Preencha muffin pans três quartos do caminho com a massa e polvilhe algumas raspas de chocolate extras no topo. Asse por 15-18 minutos ou até que um palito inserido saia limpo. Aproveite!

Meditation – Yoga – Ayurveda

http://www.blissbalancehealth.com

armenia@blissbalancehealth.com

864 551 5731

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