Yummy Gluten-free, Grain-free Breakfast Bars!

GLUTEN-FREE, GRAIN-FREE BREAKFAST BARS

• 1 ¼ cup blanched almond flour
• ¼ teaspoon celtic sea salt
• ¼ teaspoon baking soda
• ¼ cup grapeseed oil
• 1/8 cup pure molasses 
• 1/8 cup of pure organic maple syrup
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• ½ cup unsweetened shredded coconut
• ¼ cup pumpkin seeds
• ¼ cup sunflower seeds
• ¼ cup almond slivers
• ¼ cup of crushed pecans
• ¼ cup of crushed walnuts
• ¼ cup of chia seeds
• ¼ cup raisins or dried cranberries

1. In a small bowl, combine almond flour, salt and baking soda
2. In a large bowl, combine grapeseed oil, molasses, maple syrup, & vanilla
3. Stir dry ingredients into wet
4. Mix in coconut, seeds, nuts, chia & dried fruit
5. Grease an 8x8 inch glass or ceramic baking dish with grapeseed oil
6. Press the dough into the baking dish, wetting your hands with water to help pat the dough down evenly
7. Bake at 350° for 20-25 minutes
8. Serve!  If bars seem to crumble easily, you can add slightly more oil & molasses.  I just cool and keep bars in the fridge and they stay together just fine.

Makes 12-16 bars

Modified recipe from Elena's Pantry ....http://www.elanaspantry.com/

Dr. C's Spinach Berry Smoothie

photo courtesy of www.freedigitalphotos.net

 Spinach Berry Smoothie Recipe

• Approximately 1 cup ice cubes
• 1 ripe banana (frozen sliced works best – slice and freeze your ripe bananas for smoothies)
• 1 cup frozen organic berries (blueberries are my favorite!)
• 1-2 cups organic spinach leaves or other leafy greens
• 1 scoop of Thorne Research Vegalite Vanilla protein (pea-rice combo)
• 1-2 TBSP of finely ground flaxseed or Chia (I use Salba)
• 1tsp ground cinnamon powder
• Optional sweetner: 5-10 drops of pure liquid stevia for desired sweetness.  
• Enough water, coconut milk, almond milk, or rice milk (no dairy, please) to cover all the other ingredients – more or less depending on thickness desired.   

*use water for lower calorie option OR ½ water and ½ coconut milk or almond milk

For my smoothie, I also add 50billion cfu's probiotic, 6grams of l-glutamine powder and free amino acids.

Process everything in heavy-duty blender until you get thick velvety smooth milkshake and enjoy!

Makes a great breakfast or post-workout meal!