Coconut Butter Archives - Strength and Sunshine

Almond Joy Quinoa Flakes

June 3, 2014 by Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine 87 Comments

Happy Quinoa Flake Tuesday?! Yea, we will just go with it. I’ve had this recipe written up and photographed months and months ago. Which also means those photos were really bad and taken in the owrst possible lighting. Thus, I complete re-did the recipe and re-photographed and I think it looks a lot better and even tastes better! But really something about chocolate and coconut is always a winner no matter what, right?Just one of the combos you can never go wrong with. Like coconut butter, cinnamon, and a Japanese Sweet Potato. Or smoked paprika and plantains.

Some other great combos? Apples and nut butter. I really can’t place my finger on a specific nut butter or apple since that always changed for me. I just finished up a jar of Peanut Butter Company’s Crunchy Original. I would pour a gallon of cinnamon on the butter, mix it around and slather it on apple slices. So good! But I also just picked up another jar of my favorite Cinnamon Raisin PB from Wild Friend’s.

And another great combo? A can of Tuna fish and Thai Coconut Curry Hope Hummus! So splendid! But don’t forget to add a gallon of veggies to that too, and cashews! “Asian” power bowl and its laziest and finest 😉 The craziest combos are always the best though, like beans with mashed avocado, smoked paprika, nutritional yeast, and Dijon. If I had even though of eating crazy combos like this a few years ago, I would have fainted. Most of the things I eat I think most people would run the other direction, unless of course you are a foodie or blogger. We all eat weird stuff, am I right?

What’s not that weird though, is these Quinoa Flakes. I am pretty sure everyone has either had a Mounds or Almond Joy sometime in their life. If not, shame on you (even I have had those candies, and that is saying something!). The only thing about this “Almond” Joy is that it is healthy and nourishing, not sugary and well…bad.

Almond Joy Quinoa Flakes

Ingredients: (serves 1)

+ 1/3 Cup Quinoa Flakes (or 1/4 cup buckwheat cereal!*)

+ 2/3 Cup Water

+ 1 Tsp Coconut Butter

+ 1 Tsp Almond Butter

+ 1/2 TB Unsweetened shredded Coconut (plus more for garnish)

+ 2 TB Unsweetened Cocoa Powder

+ 3-5 Drops Liquid Stevia (optional)

+ Raw Unsalted Almonds (to garnish)

Directions:

+ In a microwave safe bowl, combine quinoa flakes, cocoa, and unsweetened coconut. Mix. Then add the water (optional stevia) and stir to combine.

+ Microwave on high for 2 minutes. Remove (safely, it is hot!). Then stir in the coconut butter, top with the almond butter, sprinkle more coconut on top and place a cute almond in the middle!

+ * If you want buckwheat cereal, use the 1/4 cup of buckwheat, but increase the water to 3/4 cup and microwave for 3 minutes and 30 seconds.

I really am glad the lighting is better now that the sun rises so early in the morning, so when I make my breakfast I can photograph it without it being in total darkness. But the sad thing is I lost my sweet spot in my room since my AC is in the 1 lowly window I have. Now Instead of a bright sunny summery room, it is dark and gloomy all day. Really sad, but it gets super hot up there so an AC is a must! You know, a good combo would be a room made of windows and central air 😉 That would be lovely!

So tell me:

+ What is your favorite food combo as of late?

+ What is/was your favorite candy? I always had a thing for Almond Joys and Mounds, as well as Junior Mints (frozen!), and gummy bears (frozen too!).

*Recipe linking up for the week! Allergy Free Wednesdays, #RecipeFridays, #RecipeOfTheWeek, #StrangeButGood, Gluten-Free Wednesdays, Healthy Vegan Fridays, Real Food Friday, Gluten-Free Fridays, Tasty Tuesdays, , Gluten-Free Tuesday, Savoring Saturdays, #Foodie Friday, Real Food Recipe Roundup!*

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Coconut Peanut Quinoa Flakes

April 16, 2014 by Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine 71 Comments

A fun flavor combination for a quick & easy healthy breakfast recipe! Coconut Peanut Quinoa Flakes are gluten-free, vegan, and done in the microwave. A bowl of pure plant-based protein and healthy fats to fuel you all day long!

***This post has been updated in May 2016. Original writing stands***

Have you ever wondered why peanuts are called peanuts? Peanuts aren’t even nuts! They are legumes (thus, not acceptable on the Paleo diet, haha!). They are in the class of lentils and peas and grow underground as opposed to say the almond or cashew which grow on tress, hence the category of tree nuts. That is why you can be deathly allergic to peanuts and no other nut…because peanuts are not actually nuts. They are edible seeds that grow in an enclosed pod. Legumes are the most concentrated source of protein in the plant-based world. They are great for heart health due to their monounsaturated fats and contain tons of antioxidants that are said to even rival those of fruit.

Plus, peanuts are the most popular nut in the U.S., making up 67% of our nut consumption. Really, who doesn’t love the classic PBJ? I am pretty sure you haven’t had a childhood if you have never eaten a mom-made PBJ for lunch. It just has to happen. But PBJ isn’t the only wonderful peanut creation. How about just snacking on them whole by cracking open the shell? Or simply taking a spoon and digging into a jar of cinnamon raisin peanut butter? Or pairing it with chocolate? Yea, you know you love it, don’t deny it! But the fun doesn’t stop there! How about peanut flour? I love peanut flour and use it all the time in smoothies, pancakes, sauces, cookies, bread, as a natural protein powder, and this recipe I’m sharing today.

1/4 Cup has 16g of protein! That is crazy awesome! And all it is is ground roasted peanuts. It is so versatile and so delicious in baking and can be replaced for a grain flour pretty easily. They even say it can help ease peanut allergies when used in tiny doses each day to build up a tolerance. Peanut Power! It gives you the staying power you need for a great start to the day so of course I had to use it in Quinoa Flakes. And I made it even more fun by adding coconut, another awkward nut/not-really-nut. They complement each other perfectly, almost as good as chocolate and peanuts…almost 😉

Coconut Peanut Quinoa Flakes

Coconut Peanut Quinoa Flakes

Author: Rebecca Pytell
Cook Time: 2 mins
Total Time: 2 mins
Yield: 1 1x
Category: Breakfast
Cuisine: American

Scale

Ingredients

Instructions

In a microwave-safe bowl, combine the quinoa flakes, peanut flour, coconut butter, shredded coconut, stir to combine. Add the water, coconut stevia, and extract. Stir again until everything has mingled together.
Place the bowl in the microwave and cook on high for 2 minutes. Safely remove, stir, and top with peanuts, peanut butter, and additional shredded coconut.

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1

Recipe Card powered by

There you have it. A protein packed breakfast. Quinoa + Peanuts + Coconut = Protein Satisfying Heaven! So why do we call peanuts, peanuts? Well, I really have no idea but we also call them goobers, goober peas, groundnuts, earthnuts, monkey-nuts, and pinders. Where did all those names come from? I have no idea either. But here is a fun fact: Many years ago I used to have a beautifully blue- violet Beta Fish. I fell in love with him at the store one day and had to get him. And what did I name this beautiful fishy? Goober. Yes, I named my fish Goober <3

So tell me:

+ Why are Peanuts called peanuts? Do you call them peanuts or use one of their other names?

+ Do you name you pets weird names? Yes, I do. My first hermit crab’s name was Haty and my current hermit crab’s name is Spongebob (I was a young child when I got these so don’t judge 😉 Well, you can, because I love them!)

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Aloha! Quinoa Flakes

March 26, 2014 by Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine 41 Comments

Aloha! Don’t you wish you lived in Hawaii or on some tropical island. Or if you are like me, don’t you wish you could even just vacation there! I have never ever been to a tropical paradise. I’ve only been down the East Coast. That means I have a lot of traveling to do in the next decades of my life.

The sun, the warmth, the beautiful sea breeze. And that clear blue water! Amazing. Those are only some of the perks of a beautiful tropical island, but we can’t forget about the food! Basically I feel like islands are fruit growing kingdoms! Pineapples, papayas, coconuts, kiwis, mangoes, just to name a few of the common ones! Serious sweet deliciousness all around. And what about those fruity cocktails they serve up poolside? Well I really wouldn’t know, haha, but I do love a virgin pina colada or banana daiquiri 😉 That’s why I decided to make a tropical pina colada inspired breakfast! Aloha! Quinoa Flakes. Pineapple and coconutty sunrise goodness in a bowl. A perfect way to take yourself out of these cold dark mornings and transport yourself to an island paradise! Just close your eyes and it will work, promise 😉

Aloha! Quinoa Flakes

Ingredients: (serves 1)

+ 1/3 Cup Quinoa Flakes

+ 2-3 TB Crushed Freeze-Dried Pineapple

+ 1 TB Coconut Butter

+ 1/4 Tsp Coconut Extract

+ 1 Tsp of Fresh Pineapple Juice

+ 2/3 Cup Water

+ Some Unsweetened Shredded Coconut (to top)

Directions:

+ In a microwave safe bowl, combine the quinoa flakes, pineapple, extract, juice, and water. Mix well.

+ Microwave on high for 2 minutes. Safety remove and add the coconut butter and mix it all together. Then just top with some shredded coconut and wallah! Tropical Paradise! (If you want to get feisty…and are 21 or older 😉 I think you should add a tiny drop of rum to the mix!)

See those cute little pineapples? Frieda’s sent them to me in my last month’s produce box. They are called Zululand Queen Baby Pineapples and are grown exclusively in South Africa (not a tropical island…but…)! And these little guys are where I got my fresh pineapple juice for the recipe from 😉 And the inspiration!

So tell me:

Have you ever been to a tropical island or destination?

Favorite fruity frozen cocktail? There is this wonderful seaside restaurant down in Wildwood, NJ called Boathouse. They make the most delicious virgin banana daiquiri! Haha, I haven’t had it in a few years, but I remember it was awesome 🙂

*Recipe linking up for the week! WIAW, Allergy Free Wednesdays, #RecipeFridays, #RecipeOfTheWeek, Ricki Heller’s Wellness Weekend, #StrangeButGood, Gluten-Free Wednesdays, Healthy Vegan Fridays, Real Food Friday, Gluten-Free Fridays, Tasty Tuesdays, Whole Food Fridays,Gluten-Free Recipe Round-Up!*

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Creamy Chocolate Coconut Buckwheat Cereal

March 20, 2014 by Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine 80 Comments

There’s nothing like a decadent, but healthy breakfast recipe for creamy chocolate coconut buckwheat cereal to wake your body up! Gluten-free, vegan, and quick in the microwave, you’re guaranteed to have a fantastic start to the day!

***This post has been updated in May 2016. Original writing stands***

Finally, the day has come where I share with you my love affair of Bob’s Red Mill’s Creamy Buckwheat Hot Cereal. I have been using this as my go-to hot cereal in place of quinoa flakes for awhile now because I just can’t seem to get enough. Don’t get me wrong, I still love my Quinoa Flakes and will always be the QF Queen, but this buckwheat is life changing. (P.S. Did you see Ancient Harvest’s new and improved website! I was so excited to go on the other day and see the new design. It is so much more user-friendly now! And best of all they gave their Quinoa Flakes there own page spotlight just like they deserve.) Anyway, back to the buckwheat. All it is is organic whole grain buckwheat milled to cereal cooking size. It is so delicious! It’s also filled with crazy amounts of phosphorus, potassium, calcium, protein, and iron. Perfect mineral filled breakfast in my book.

I use this buckwheat cereal exactly as I would quinoa flakes. So all of my recipes for quinoa flakes could be used with buckwheat cereal and vise-versa! But, I need to give you a buckwheat cereal recipe to begin with! I can’t believe it took me this long to get it up! Without further adieu here is the latest and greatest hot breakfast cereal combo on Earth! (Yes, I went there!)

Creamy Chocolate Coconut Buckwheat Cereal

Creamy Chocolate Coconut Buckwheat Cereal

Author: Rebecca Pytell
Yield: 1 1x
Category: Breakfast
Cuisine: American

Scale

Ingredients

1/4 Cup of Creamy Buckwheat Hot Cereal
2 TB Unsweetened Cocoa Powder
1 TB of Raw Coconut Butter (not oil!)
Dash of Cinnamon (optional)
3/4 Cup + 2 TB Water
1 TB of Unsweetened Shredded Coconut (to top)

Instructions

In a microwave safe bowl, combine the buckwheat cereal, cocoa powder, cinnamon and ¾ cup of water, stir to combine.
Cover the bowl with a paper towel and microwave on high for 90 seconds. Stir, and microwave again for another 60-90 seconds.
Remove the bowl carefully (it is really hot!), add in the extra 2 tablespoons (or more) of water. Stir, then stir in the coconut butter and sprinkle the top with the shredded coconut!

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1

Recipe Card powered by

This is the most creamy buttery chocolaty goodness I have ever put in my mouth! The buckwheat is creamy to begin with (hence the name), but the addition of the coconut butter just brings it over the top. It tastes like cake (just not as sweet!). I could eat this every morning, it is so good! I am forcing you to try it! My mouth is watering just thinking about the deliciousness! The flavors of the buckwheat, cocoa, and coconut butter just work so well together. It really is a magical experience. I lick the bowl clean…really I do! And you will too, trust me 😉

So tell me:

+ What is your latest and greatest breakfast combo?

+ Will you give this baby a try? I am imploring you too! And when you do I want you to come back here and tell me how much I was right 😉

By the way…Happy First Day Of Spring! Woohoo! I have been able to go out of the house with out my heavy winter coast the last two day! So exciting 😉 But I am still wearing two sweatshirts, haha.

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Power Monday #36 Why Our Bodies Need Fats

March 10, 2014 by Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine 19 Comments

Happy Monday guy! I have to say I am a little sad that it is dark again in the mornings 🙁 I had to make a recipe I was testing out Saturday morning so I could have a tiny bit better lighting then I would have if I had made it Sunday. (I can’t complain though, because now I have more time and better lighting to take better photos of my dinner recipes! Woohoo! I guess I do like the longer “days” actually, but I like it best when it is bright in the morning and night!) That will just mean that it is that much closer to SUMMER! It is even kind of getting warmer! 50 degrees on Saturday! I was even able to go outside to take a few pictures without feeling the need to die. That is a win 😉 I also had a pretty nice weekend. Getting lots of work done, lots of good cooking…and wait for it…PSPs! Yes! They were back at the grocery! I thought they were gone until the season started back up. But on my way over to the special sweet potatoes where I though I would grab some white sweet potatoes, I almost fell on the floor when I saw a whole basket of PSPs! Believe me when I tell you I stocked up! $11 later (but a little less thanks to some Frieda’s coupons!) and I have enough PSPs for at least 2 weeks…maybe, haha 😉 So you can say my weekend was made at that moment!

Here is a sneak peek at that good cooking I was talking about, in case you missed it on Instagram 😉

O yes. Deliciousness right there! Sometimes weekend baking does the soul good. It also pleases the tummy 😉 And now we commence to the Power Monday portion of this post.

I bet you guys are sick of me talking about my new obsession with all things having to do with healthy fats. Well I have more for you today! When I say that Arman’s Spill It Sunday’s theme for the week was fats, I new I had to do something special for Power Monday and link-up! (For the first time!). But before I get to the Spill It questions, I think we should clear up the everlasting stigma that fats still have.

Here is the low down. Fats will not make you fat, period. The low-fat/fat-free craze needs to die. When processed products are made and promoted to be low or free of fat that usually means they are loaded with sugar, sodium, refined carbs, and calories to make up for the taste loss. Not to mention these types of products will leave you unsatisfied and hungry minutes later. That is how the companies keep their customers coming back for more. However, there are some fats you should stay away from. They include: Trans-Fats and high doses of unbalanced Omega fats and saturated fats. I am talking about things like packaged processed foods (muffins, cakes, chips, etc.), margarine, fried foods, candy bars, high fat meats, etc. Foods that include trans-fats raise your bad cholesterol and put you at rick for heart disease and other health problems. Saturated fats can be bad in excess (but they goes for anything). You should limit these but do not need to fear things like coconut which contains a good about of saturated fat. These fats are natural and not hydrogenated or man-made. So what fats should you eat? Well here, take a look 🙂

Those are all beautiful foods that you should NOT fear! I repeat, do NOT fear the fat! Monounsaturated, Polyunsaturated, and Omega-3s are gold mines for the body! Good healthy fats promote mood and hormone regulation, give you energy and decrease fatigue, help maintain a healthy weight, give you beautiful skin, hair, and nails, lubrication for body and blood cells, lower bad (LDL) cholesterol, promote cognitive function, and reduce inflammation! That being said, don’t eat only fats. Your need to balance everything out! You also need to balance your fats. Don’t eat only coconut or only almonds. You need a balance of all the good fats to gain the health benefits! So next time you reach for that reduced fat peanut butter (full of sugar and lacking healthy fat potential), stop, turn, and grab that all natural full fat peanut butter instead 😉

Now for the Spill It Sunday Questions!

1. What is your favorite fat source?

As of two weeks ago it has become coconut butter 😉 But I think my tried and true favorite forever and ever would be raw unsalted nuts!

2. What is your favorite nut? What is your favorite nut butter?

This is an unfair question. I <3 all nuts (except walnuts). Walnuts just have a weird taste. But if I had to really choose a favorite nut it would be raw unsalted cashews eat cold right out of the fridge 😉 Favorite nut butter?! Wow, I think I would say almond butter but also sunflower seed butter!

3. What fat receives unfair flack? What fat is most overrated?

Not really sure on this one. But I know a lot of people (who are not bloggers or foodies) really fear eating to much nut butter. That is just silly 😉 I think the most overrated fat(s) is oils. Like olive oil. Oils are great, but I don’t want my veggies coated in an oily stir-fry. I stir-fry dry 😉

4. Link up a favorite recipe embracing fats (it can be your own or another bloggers!)

O man, I have a ton of recipes I have made over the last few weeks that would be perfect for this question! Except I have yet to post them :/ So I will link my Raw Cashew Butter, Pistachio Encrusted Coconut Lime Chicken, and how about some Smoked Paprika Turmeric Crusted Salmon 😉 O and one more thing…PSPs + Fat Source = Heaven!

Micro-Baked PSP with Coconut Butter and Cinnamon <3 (Yes, this was for this weekend!)

Micro-Baked PSP with Cinnamon Raisin PB and more Cinnamon <3

5. What is YOUR perception of this macronutrient?

I wouldn’t say I was ever “scared” of fats, I just didn’t embrace them. They just didn’t seem to cross my mind much. A few years ago though I saw how I was totally lacking in healthy fats, like really lacking. And slowly I have increased my love for fats and now I would say (besides veggies) they are my favorite food group <3

6. What benefits do FATS play in YOUR personal eating habits?

They are so good for my body and taste absolutely amazing. I always say, a birthday “cake” for me would be an apple with nut butter (just with a candle on top)! I have been really focusing on healthy fats the last few weeks as they are an easy source of calories as well. I have been trying to incorporate them into every meal and snack. They are calorie dense and nutrient dense which is just what my body needs right now as I try to regulate my health and gain some weight <3

So tell me:

What is you favorite healthy fat?

Were you ever or still are a victim to the low-fat/fat-free media craze?

(Sources for this post: HelpGuide.org and UMIM.edu)

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