{Dishes: No-Bake Nutella & Oat Energy Bites}

Happy Wednesday my loves.

First, HUGE SALE ALERT!! Our absolute favorite shoes for our little lady are on sale today!! Freshly Picked have been my first choice from day one, the comfort to the fact that they actually stay on and are soooo dang adorable are beyond reasons to splurge. But with a 25% off I am thinking I need to stock up on a few for Zoe and a couple for baby showers coming up. Don't walk, run!

Now onto chocolatey hazelnut goodness. We are huge fans of Nutella in our house. AKA the chocolate sand-which that my two-ager loves to eat for any meal with fruit and veggies on the side... And well let's be honest here, I love to eat her leftovers..

So I knew that when I started playing around with some healthy-ish treat recipes for our family sweet tooth it had to include the gooey chocolate hazelnut spread. I have also been increasing my miles on the treadmill which means I find myself always needing an energy boost in the late afternoons.

I took my no-bake cookie recipe that I have made a dozen times for Zoe (with bananas, oats and honey) and added some ingredients that are great for everyone but not. The surprise was how flippin good these things were. OMG. Now is I could only control myself to one or two, I'd be golden.

love this towel!

let's be honest this is how I bake/do anything on the regular.

Nutella thief!

INGREDIENTS

3/4 cup Nutella - DELICIOUSNESS

2 cups Oats- Filling, whole-grain, full of fiber and so much more.

1/4 cup Flax Seed- High in Omega 3, full of antioxidants and vitamins.

1/4 cup Chia Seed- Full of Iron, Omega 3, and even more vitamins and minerals.

1/4 cup Wheat Germ- Boosts immune system, full of nutrients.

1/4 cup Hemp Seed - balance of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, which promote cardiovascular health.

handful of tart dried cherries (coconut flakes or any other dried fruit works so well, just chop to make it easier for little mouths to chew)

RECIPE

In the bowl of the mixer add all ingredients. Combine with paddle attachment or a spatula if you aren't using the mixer.

Mix well. If too sticky add more dry ingredients such as oats.

Place in the fridge for about 30 minutes. Remove from fridge, scoop out some dough and roll into a cookie or ball. (If hands become too sticky rinse hands and continue)

Place cookies in an airtight container or zip lock bag in the fridge or freezer for a quick and easy healthy snack.

A MUST for summer months when you don't want to bake but are still craving something sweet and on the healthier side. And I am proud to say that this was adult and toddler approved. And for us mama's this is perfectly paired with your afternoon coffee or better yet that play date glass of vino!

xo

Natalie

PS don't forget about the Freshly Picked sale, happening today!

#dishes

{Dishes:Tacos de Papa}

We are big, actually huge, Mexican night fans over here. From tacos, to quesadillas, mexican black bean soup, taco bowls and simply guac and chips. It's easy to put together, never ever boring and makes everyone in our house happy.

But sometimes you just have to try something new and with a non meat eater over here it may as well be a vegetarian something...

And these tacos right here are going directly on the monthly rotation because, OMG delicious. Easy, can be prepped ahead of time and thrown in the over when the hubby gets home (or guests) or can be reheated perfectly. I mean if that is not winning what is?

This organic olive oil spray from Target is EVERYTHING.

And of course I had to taste taste test without the hot sauce with Zoe and then another with... The things I do for you guys.... ha.

Ingredients

3 medium/large sized sweet potatoes

( + more if you have a toddler like mine that can devour an entire roasted sweet potato)

12 corn tortillas

1 cup crumbled cojita cheese

3 tbsp shredded jack

2 tbsp olive oil + spray for the tortillas

1 tbsp red wine vinegar

2 tsp cumin powder

2 tsp onion powder

3 tsp garlic powder

1 tsp dried sage

1 tsp mustard powder

2 tsp dried oregano

2 tsp (more for more spice) paprika

2 tsp brown sugar

2 tbsp adobo (from chipotle in adobo sauce) *optional on how spicy you like it

2 tsp kosher salt & pepper

12oz organic canned black beans

Optional Toppings

Radishes

Cilantro

Avocado

hot sauce

Recipe

Preheat oven to 400

Line baking sheet in lightly oiled parchment paper and set aside

Cube potatoes and place in a bowl (I keep peel on potatoes but both ways works.)

Add oil, salt, pepper, vinegar, cumin, oregano, paprika, onion, mustard powder, garlic powder, sugar, sage, adobo sauce onto the potatoes.

***I like to mix all the herbs + spices in a small bowl before adding to potatoes***

Toss until well covered.

Spread potatoes on baking sheet in an even layer (I added some cherry tomatoes that were a day shy of being thrown out b/c that is how I roll...)

Roast for 30 - 35 minutes until they are brown and crispy.

Let them cool.

****this can be done ahead of time*****

Place tortillas in a baking dish and carefully assemble stuffing in whatever order you'd like.

Mine went like this:

Black beans + sweet potatoes + cojita cheese + sprinkle of shredded jack

Stack them close enough that they keep themselves upright. 6 fit perfectly in mine.

Toss in the over for about 10 minutes at 400 or until crispy brown.

These can also be fried (which is the traditional way) but I kept it light so my calories go to the margs I will be having!

Top with any taco toppings you prefer and if you are anything like me, a sh*t load of hot sauce and devour immediately.

Soooo sooo sooo good.

Prepare with my infamous guac or along side this yummy enchilada bowl or this delicious black bean soup. But please please make sure that some sort of tequila is included in your menu... ha!

XO

Natalie

PS how is this rainy gloomy week going by so slowly??? Is it Friday yet??

#dishes #cbmhonestthings

{Dishes: Shortcut Carrot Cake}

We've found ourselves back from vacation on Easter weekend feeling all sorts of yuck. Mainly because the weather was gross and we took a 6am flight home that had us all grumpy by 12noon, but this could not stop me from a chance of making one of my mamas favorite cake's. I have made this one from scratch but needed something ALMOST homemade to please a crowd and easy on a tired mama. In come these amazing Pillsbury Purely SIMPLE cake and frosting mixes. They may not be organic or 100% natural but they do not disappoint, are hard to mess up and omit some unnecessary ingredients that most boxed cakes have. So for you mamas with little time, in need of something to keep the little entertained with or simply not big bakers, then pick these up and try this delicious cake, I promise it'll impress.

My little bunny always wanting to sit on the counter and stealing veggies.

This face... Is EVERYTHING.

All you have to do is follow the cake box instructions but before pouring batter into the cake pans (I chose two 9 inch rounds) fold in 3/4 cups of finely chopped carrots. Cocunut flakes or maybe even walnuts would be delish here too! Evenly distribute into two pans and bake till your toothpicks come out clean. About 30 minutes for my ovens. I've made two boxes = 4 layers for a bigger crowd and a much better side view of the cake... lol

For the frosting you follow the directions and after beating on high for 30 seconds (the last step) fold in 3 tbsp of finely chopped carrots. If you want to add more carrots, which I have done and prefer, it will get too watery but you can fix that by adding powdered sugar until till it's the right consistency. (as an example I added 1 cup to a different cake and used about 1 cup of powdered sugar to balance)

Frost and decorate with more shredded carrots or if you're like me and always have a stash of dried flowers (and eucalyptus) for oils then carefully cut the steps and go to town with a little decorating! It looks so "Spring" and was even better devoured with vino after dinner yesterday. I have yet to spill the beans to my mom that it wasn't completely homemade, sorry mami!!!

I have gotten a few emails from mamas/ladies asking for simple but yummy desserts to please guests this spring. So here it is! A MUST TRY.

And if we are being completely honest here, I totally had intentions of making this on vacation and sharing before Easter buttttt I didn't get to it... I was to busy drinking vino while the babe napped... ;)

As always share your pics when you try these recipes!!

xo

Natalie

#dishes