Recipe Makeover : Double Chocolate Cookies

In our house, 50% of the bananas get over-ripe before we can eat them...it's jus the way. However, lately, I have been really intentional about using (or freezing) the produce we buy and when nit comes to bananas, I've been making all sorts of things with them. This new recipe makeover is a huge hit with my family. It's super easy, vegan and gluten free...also super fun to make with little kiddos.

E. H. Fitness Recipe Makeover: Double Chocolate Cookies

(makes 12 cookies)

What you need: 

• 1 cup old fashioned or quick oats
• 2 tbsp cocoa powder 
• 1/4 tsp sea salt
• 1/4 tsp baking soda
• 1 really ripe banana
• 1/4 cup 100% maple syrup (or if not vegan, you can use honey)
• 2 tbsp coconut oil (melted if solid)
• 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup vegan chocolate chips (or your preference)

What to do:

1. Make oatmeal into "flour" by pulsing in a blender until smooth like flour (like 30 seconds)
2. Mix oat flour with the rest of the dry ingredients
3. In a separate bowl, mash a the banana with a fork (fun for kids...and adults).
4. Add the rest of the wet ingredients to the banana and blend well
5. Add blended dry ingredients to blended wet ingredients and stir until mixed
6. Fold in chocolate chips
7. Chill for 15 minutes in the fridge (it's going to be super sticky...this will make it easier to get on the pan)
8. While the dough chills, preheat the oven and line a cookie sheet with parchment paper (these puppies will stick like crazy to the pan if not).
9. Use cookie dough scoop to place dough on pan and flatten a bit with the back of the scoop
10. Bake for 10 minutes or so
11. Cool and enjoy!

Sloppy Joe Makeover (hint: it's a casserole)

Whether or not you loved sloppy joes as a kid (my husband) or dreaded them (me), this recipe is a winner all around! I've cleaned it up by replacing noodles with cauliflower rice and the loads of cheese with a sprinkle of non-dairy "cheese" and it's sooooo yummy and comforting.

E.H. Fitness Sloppy Joe Makeover

What you need: 

• 2 bags frozen cauliflower rice
• 1.5 lbs lean ground beef or ground turkey
• 1 green pepper, chopped
• 2 medium carrots, chopped
• 1 medium onion, chopped
• 1 TBSP minced garlic
• 2 tsp sea salt
• 1/2/ tsp freshly cracked pepper
• 1 tsp dry mustard (or yellow from the fridge)
• 1 can tomato sauce (15 oz)
• 1 TBSP coconut aminos (or if you don't have that on hand, Worcestershire)
• 1 TBSP honey
• 1/2 cup dairy free cheese (I like it with "mozzarella")

What you do: 

1. Pre-heat oven to 375
2. Put frozen cauliflower rice in microwave safe bowl and cook on high for 6 minutes
3. Brown the ground meat
4. Drain meat and set aside
5. In same skillet that you browned the meat, add the green pepper, carrots, onion and garlic and sauté for about 8 minutes or until the green pepper starts to soften
6. Stir back in the meat, mustard, tomato sauce, coconut aminos, honey and add 1 1/2 cup water
7. Bring mixture to a boil and then simmer for about 7 minutes
8. Mix in the cauliflower rice
9. Lightly grease an 9 x 13 baking pan and pour the mixture into it
10. Top with "cheese"
11. Bake for 25 minutes or so until the cheese is melted and the edges are brown.
12. Serve with fresh veggies!

Enjoy!