Healthy(ish) Sweet Potato Bread

healthy(ish) sweet potato bread

Today, I’m thankful for my wonderful, loving, supportive parents and boyfriend.  If it weren’t for them, my life would be completely different (and not in a good way).  I’m truly blessed.  If words could explain what my heart feels for these awesome people, I’d gladly write them down, but words could never do my feelings justice.
So, here are pictures, since they’re supposed to be worth 1000 words. ;)

happy family mom dad daughter

happy three person family

young happy couple

couple at sigma phi epsilon formal

couple smiling in front of pretty flowers on a summer day

laughing couple at college homecomign

Another thing I’m thankful for is this healthy-ish sweet potato bread.  If you’re still looking for a bread for Thanksgiving dinner, this is the one.  It’s a perfect addition to a hearty dinner.

up close photo of sweet potato bread

downward view of sweet potato bread

Healthy(ish) Sweet Potato Bread
Author: 
Prep time: 
Cook time: 
Total time: 

 

Ingredients
  • 1 cup whole wheat flour
  • 1 cup white flour
  • ¼ cup sugar
  • ¼ cup honey
  • 1¼ tsp baking powder
  • ½ tsp baking soda
  • ¼ tsp salt
  • 1 tsp ground cinnamon
  • ¼ tsp ground cloves
  • ¼ tsp ground nutmeg
  • 2 large eggs, preferably organic
  • 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
  • generous 1 cup sweet potato puree (bake a large sweet potato at 400°F for about 1 hour or until soft, peel & mash flesh)
  • ¼ cup greek yogurt or Kefir
  • ½ cup low-fat milk (I used Silk Pumpkin Spice soymilk)

Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Lightly coat a 9 x 5 inch loaf pan with canola oil baking spray.
  2. In a medium bowl, whisk together the dry ingredients.
  3. In a large bowl, whisk together the remaining ingredients (eggs through milk).
  4. Add the dry ingredients to the wet, and stir just until moistened.
  5. Pour batter into prepared loaf pan and bake until a toothpick inserted into the center of the bread comes out clean, about 50-60 minutes.
  6. Let bread rest in pan for about 10 minutes, then turn out onto a wire rack to cool completely.

 

healthy sweet potato bread photo

Extra Fudgy Healthy Brownies

fudgy healthy brownies

I’ve been having a little bit of writer’s block the past few weeks, and it still isn’t fully healed.

So, instead of telling you all what I’ve been up to lately, I’m just going to show you pictures and hope you can forgive me.

Also, here’s an extremely fudgy and weird brownie recipe I whipped up.  I saw a “red velvet brownie” recipe made with beans and I just went all out and added avocados.  I guess if you weren’t made about the writer’s block, this recipe might make you mad.  But don’t let it.. I promise it tastes a million times better than it sounds.  The lack of flour and replacement of beans and avocados makes these brownies so fudgy it’s ridiculous.

 

funny cat drinking blue moon beer

He loves Blue Moon.

 

cute dessert crafts

Crafts.

new kindle 36

New toy.

breakfast: bananas with yogurt, protein powder on toast with peanut butter

Yummy eats.

homemade shrimp tacos with side salad

iphone 8-6 034

iphone 8-6 032

iphone 8-6 030

21st birthday rumchata shots

Her 21st birthday.

cute couple in manhattan

extra fudgy brownies made with avocados

7-18 212

7-18 187

7-18 177

7-18 166

stacked healthy fudgy brownies on pretty plate

Extra Fudgy Healthy Brownies
Adapted from: Munchin’ with Munchkin 

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup red kidney beans
  • ½ cup avocado
  • ½ cup cocoa powder
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • ½ tsp almond extract
  • ¾ tsp baking powder
  • 1/8 tsp baking soda
  • 1/4 cup applesauce
  • 1/8 tsp salt
  • 1 cup brown sugar
  • 2 eggs
  • ¼ cup chocolate chips

Directions:

  1. Preheat oven to 350.
  2. Spray an 8×8 inch pan with cooking spray. Set aside.
  3. In a food processor, puree kidney beans and avocado. Transfer to a large bowl.
  4. Add remaining ingredients and mix by hand until smooth and fully combined.
  5. Fold batter into the greased pan.
  6. Bake for 35-40 minutes, turning the pan halfway through.
  7. When the brownies are done, test them with a toothpick. You want some batter to cling to the toothpick. Do not over bake.
  8. Let cool completely.
  9. Cut and enjoy.

Healthy and Hearty Oatmeal Cookies

5-12 392

I eat my fair share of unhealthy desserts, but sometimes, I get on health kicks and even my desserts have to be healthy (doesn’t happen very often).  This was one of those times.

Most of the time when I try to make healthy desserts, they taste like crap… but these actually turned out really well.  The honey and little bit of brown sugar somehow gave them just enough sweetness and the chia seed added a nice crunch.  These are yummy treats for snacks and/or breakfast.

What’s your favorite healthy dessert?

 

391bfeab-d915-4a87-9bd2-fe617f99c340wallpaper

5-12 413

 

5-12 388

5-12 383

5-12 356

5-12 347

Healthy and Hearty Oatmeal Cookies
Adapted from: Food 

  • 3 tablespoons coconut oil
  • 1/4- 1/2 cup brown sugar (depending on taste)
  • 1/4 cup raw honey
  • 1 egg
  • 1 tablespoon water
  • 1/2 cup ap flour
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 1/2 cups rolled oats
  • ¼ cup chia seeds
  • ¼ cup raisins

Directions:

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
    Spray a cookie sheet with nonstick cooking spray.
  2. Using a mixer with the paddle attachment, mix together the oil, brown sugar, honey, egg and water thoroughly.
  3. Sift together the dry ingredients then stir in the oats. Add the dry ingredients to the wet and mix. Add any additional ingredients you’ve chosen.
  4. Drop by heaping teaspoonfuls onto the cookie sheet. Bake 12 to 15 minutes. Cool on a wire rack.

5-12 382