Beet Oat Squares

Do these taste as good as it looks? answer is Yes,only if you relish the earthy taste of beets.

My craze for beets lead to this delish squares,that I love to stock up on, to satiate the snacking appetite.For this recipe I recommend roasting instead of boiling to cook the beets ,as it retains the intense color and flavor of beets.

Recipe : Beet Oat Squares
Ingredients
1 1/2 cup whole rolled oats
2 small beets
1/2 teaspoon baking powder(alum-free)
1/2 cup fruit juice
1 Organic egg(Vegan substitute : 1 teaspoon Ener-G Egg Replacer mixed with 2 tablespoon of water)
1/4 cup Agave nectar or Honey or other natural sweeteners
1/8 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoon canola oil

Method
Roast the beets as in the recipe.Peel and puree in a food processor.
Coarsely grind the oats in a food processor or grinder.Transfer in a large mixing bowl.Combine with baking powder and salt.
Whip the egg or the egg substitute with the beet puree ,Agave nectar,oil and fruit juice until well combined.Stir this beet mixture in the oat mixture.
Line the baking pan(8x8) with parchment paper or lightly spray with oil.Spread the mixture evenly on the prepared pan.Bake at 350F for 18-20 minutes until firm to touch.Let cool slightly,score and separate.Cool completely before storing in air tight container.Can store up to a month in a refrigerator.

These are my entry for Weekend Herb Blogging 221 ,hosted this week by Cinzia of Cindystar.
Peak in other beetfull meal ideas posted.

Vegan Fiber-rich Flax Oats Almond bars

Fiber is as essential as antioxidants for a healthy diet.Fiber works with probiotics(beneficial bacteria) to clean the gut(intestinal tract) , strengthen immunity, that prevents diseases and also keeps weight under control.Read more about health benefits of high fiber.
Important fiber facts
*Daily recommendation of fiber is about 30 grams of fiber for women and little more for men about 40 grams.
*Enriched white flours, meat,dairy (milk and cheese) and eggs have no fiber whatsoever.
*Whole fruits,whole grains,vegetables,legumes are best sources of fiber.
*There 2 common kinds of fibers
1.Soluble fiber, dissolve readily in water, helps control blood sugar and lowers cholesterol levels and found mostly in citrus fruits,apples,pears,barley,legumes\lentils and oats.
2.Insoluble fiber ,doesn't dissolve readily in water ,helps prevent constipation and lowers the risk of colon cancer and found mostly in whole grains,nuts ,wheat bran and vegetables.
*Drink sufficient water along with gradual increase in fiber intake to avoid bloating.


These bars have about 4 grams of fiber per serving from flax,oats and raisins,all good source of fiber.Flax is considered a natural laxative and is also rich in omega 3s fatty acid.

The recipe can't get any simpler,few common fiber rich ingredients,mixed and baked for a delicious chewy food-on-the-go,that's not just filling but also ensuring at least a serving or two of daily need of fiber.Including these kind of high fiber,along with drinking plenty of water and including Whole grains,whole fruits and vegetables in the diet ,can help get regular and relieve constipation.And mind you any severe stubborn constipation that doesn't go away despite all changes in diet,will need medical advice.


Use 100% unprocessed Cocoa,the higher the percentage of cocoa, the better it is, and the higher it is in overall flavonoid content.
Recipe :Fiber-rich Flax Oats Almond bars with 100% cocoa
Makes 8 bars(approx. 40grams each)

Ingredients
1 cup Whole rolled oats
1 cup flax meal
1/2 cup Almond flour or meal
1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa(100%)
3/4 cup golden raisins
1/4 cup agave nectar or maple syrup
2 tablespoon fruit juice
1/8 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon baking powder(alum free)
2 tablespoon canola oil

Method
Soak raisin in cold water for 5-10 minutes.Drain all water.
Coarsely grind the oats in a blender or grinder.Transfer in a large mixing bowl.Now coarsely chop the raisins in the blender.Combine it with processed oats and rest of the ingredients until well incorporated.
Line the baking pan(8x8) with parchment paper or lightly grease it with oil.Spread the mixture evenly on the prepared pan.Bake at 350F for 18-20 minutes until firm to touch.Let cool slightly,score and separate.Cool completely before storing in air tight container.Can store up to a month in a refrigerator.

Oats Coconut Milk Pudding(Pradhaman)...No Eggs Needed.

Pradhaman in all its creamy and coconutty flavors reflects the exotic coastal state of Kerala in South India.The pudding makes the sweet side of the Sadya(big feast) served on banana leaf.Usually made with rice flakes,the whole oats seem to work just fine as the substitute for it.This delectable dessert is the creation of Madhuram at Eggless cooking,the blog with amazing eggless baking ideas,is also featured this month for Tried and Tasted event,the hostess of the month is Poornima of Tasty treats.

Recipe adapted from Madhuram's Eggless Cooking

Ingredients
1/2 cup Whole rolled oats
*1/4 cup Jaggery ,grated[available in most Asian stores)
1 cup Water
1 cup(about 4 ounce) Lite Coconut Milk
Roasted nuts and dried fruits for garnish

*If Jaggery is hard to find use 2 tablespoon brown or white sugar,or 3 teaspoon Agave nectar.

Method
In a heavy bottom sauce pan add the jaggery ,oats and water.Bring to a slow boil and cook until oats are softened.Reduce the heat and add the coconut milk,let simmer for 4-5 minutes until thick and creamy.Serve warm ,garnish with roasted nuts and dried fruits.



Food Facts
Jaggery - Healthier Substitute for Refined Sugar

Jaggery is common in South Asian desserts and Candies.Produced by boiling raw sugar cane or palm juice,jaggery does not under go additional processing hence is richer in natural nutrients.Jaggery also has several health benefits according to the traditional Indian medicine of Ayurveda including respiratory illness and maintaining blood pressure.

Blueberry Almond Butter-Oats Bar.Agave Nectar,the Low GI Sweetener

The best part of the summers are the surplus gorgeous berries,melons and stone fruits brimming in the local markets,all at affordable prices.After picking your favorite kind of berries ,how do you use up these delicate fruit with short shelf life before spoiling?I say,make preserves that can go great on a toast ,biscuits or for baking. Or enjoy them whole in a cooling yogurt smoothie ,blend it in the Nature's best drink,parfait,fruity pancakes or sprinkle over the morning bowl of cereal.


I've made bars before with whole oats,for this recipe I use ground oats and didn't use any wheat flour keeping them gluten-free bars.With crumbly texture, blueberry filling and soft almond butter topping these were totally enjoyable.You could even use mangoes or plums or which ever fruit is in season in your part of the world.

Agave Nectar,the Low GI Sweetener
I use Agave Nectar as a sweetener.Agave is extracted from the heart of the agave plant.It is a low glycemic sweetener,best suited for diabetics,as it is slowly absorbed in to the body preventing spikes in blood sugar.It is 25% sweeter than sugar,so you need less.The sweet mild taste is perfect for sweetening beverages,baking and as a multipurpose sweetener.Read more more other natural sweeteners with low GI in my post here.Agave is available in many natural food stores,I bought mine from Costco.

Recipe
Ingredients
For Blue Berry Filling
3 cups Fresh blueberries
1/4 cup water
1 tablespoon cornstarch mixed with 1 tablespoon water.

For Bottom Oatmeal layer
2 cups Whole rolled oats
1/4 cup Flax seed meal
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoon Olive oil or vegetable oil
1 Organic egg (Vegans could replace with 1/2 cup applesauce or tofu)
1/4 cup Agave or 1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup reduced fat milk or soy milk

For Top Almond Butter Layer
1/2 cup Almond butter
1/2 cup whole rolled oats
2 teaspoon Agave or 1 tablespoon sugar

*If you can't use almond butter,use 1/2 cup roasted ground almonds,blend with 3-4 tablespoon of water to smooth paste .


Method
Prepare the filling by Cooking the berries and water,until bubbly and soft,then mix in the cornstarch dissolved in water,stir constantly until thickened.Let cool.

Grind the oats used in both the layers to a coarse mixture in a food processor or blender.Grind together then measure and use separately.Approximately 3/4th for the bottom layer and rest for the top layer.

Preheat oven to 350F. Grease a 8X8 inch baking dish with oil or line with parchment paper.

Mix the bottom layer in medium bowl,whip egg or tofu with agave or sugar,then stir in rest of the ingredients.Spread evenly on the bottom of the baking dish,next spread the blueberry filling.
In the same bowl mix the ground oats ,almond butter and sugar.Spread over the blueberry filling using a spatula or with fingers.
Bake in the middle rack of the oven,for about 25-30 minutes until the top is nice and brown.Cool completely and cut in to squares.Enjoy these nutritious bars with morning or evening cuppa tea or coffee .

These bars are my entry for Heart of the Matter : Best of June's produce

A Well-balanced Chocolate Granola Bar

Don't you love such grab-and-go pick-me-up bars?.With summer around the corner ,which also means travel adventures and excursions,a well-balanced snack like such will not just save few bucks but also satisfy your hunger while avoiding the empty calories from the junk snacking.Needless to say these bar also make a splendid breakfast-on-the-go.
Last week I bought this granola cereal ,only to be baffled by its sugar content,18grams per serving,that's very sweet( nearly as much sugar as in a chocolate candy bar!).I was carried away by the alluring "all natural,low-fat,good source of fiber" catch-words of health foods on the box and overlooked the high sugar content.Now what do you do to mend such mistakes? The only fix I could think of is to make this chocolate granola bar with no added sugar and added nutrition.The result was very satisfying Well-balanced low-sugar bar ,don't you agree?
You could also try my Oats dates or Fruit Dark Chocolate & Almond Granola bars granola made with plain oats in case you don't have such sweet granola in store.Or check the variation of the same recipe with plain oats at the end of the post.

(Makes about 6 rectangular bars)
Ingredients
2 cups Granola Cereal(I used this),coarsely ground in a food processor or blender.
1/2 cup Unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 cup Brown Rice flour
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 cup nuts(Almonds or pistachios or walnuts),coarsely pulverized in a processor or grinder.
1/4 cup raisins or cranberries or cherries,coarsely chopped[I didn't use any dry fruits,the cereal was already mixed with raisins]
1 large Organic egg ,Vegans could substitute with 1/2 cup firm tofu
1/4 cup flax seed meal
2 tablespoon all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup reduced fat milk or soy milk[add a little more if the mixture is too dry]
2 tablespoon Extra virgin olive oil

*you could use 1/4 cup of brown sugar if the cereal is low in sugar(i.e <6grams).
** the brown rice flour adds a little crunch to the bar besides the nutrition.Whole wheat flour or all purpose flour can also be substituted.

Method
Preheat Oven to 350F.
Combine all the dry ingredients in a large mixing bowl.Whisk egg in another smaller bowl,mix in oil and milk.Now gradually add this to the dry mixture until well incorporated.
Spoon the mixture on to a baking pan(8X8 inches).Now is the time to score using a table knife in to required size portions.
Bake for 20 minutes .Remove from the oven;leave in the pan to cool slightly.Separate along the cuts.cool on rack,store in air tight container in a refrigerator for up to a week.

Variation with Plain rolled oats
2 cups whole or quick cooking rolled oats
1/2 cup Unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 cup Brown Rice flour
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup nuts(Almonds or pistachios or walnuts),coarsely pulverized in a processor or grinder.
1/4 cup raisins or cranberries or cherries,coarsely chopped
1 large Organic egg ,Vegans could substitute with 1/2 cup firm tofu
1/4 cup flax seed meal
1/4 cup brown or white sugar
1/4 teaspoon Baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup reduced fat milk or soy milk[or use 100% fruit juice]
3 tablespoon Extra virgin olive oil or vegetable oil


The Grab n Go Healthful bars are off to Ben's Homemade # 3 - Bars and Poornima's For the love of chocolate.

Crunchy Oats Dates Bars and Oats beauty Secret.

Did you know besides being a super healthy for heart,oatmeal is also a brilliant skin nourishing food?.During the frigid cold season,when the thermostats are running full time and air outside is dry,the skin suffers the most due to lack of moisture in the air.The best affordable remedy for dry skin is the oatmeal mask,it gently exfoliates ,nourishes and tones the skin for a smooth and supple skin.You gotta try it to believe it.Before the beauty treatment lemme share the crunchy oatmeal bar recipe with the sweet potassium rich dates,which nourishes from within the body.Its a perfect morning breakfast or snack on the go.




Ingredients
2 cups whole Oats
1/2 cup flax seed meal(its the binder ,or use 1 organic egg ,make sure the honey mixture is completely cooled if using egg)
1/4 cup Pure Honey
2/3 cup dates,chopped
1/4 cup of sunflower seeds
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoon Butter
2 tablespoon vegetable oil
1 teaspoon Orange zest
2 tablespoon Orange juice or apple juice or any fruit juice

Method
Spread the oats on a baking sheet and toasting a preheated oven at 300F,for about 10 minutes.Let cool.
Place butter,oil,honey,oil,orange juice and orange zest in a small saucepan.Heat gently ,stirring until butter has melted.Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the chopped dates,flax seed meal and toasted oats.
Spoon the mixture in to the baking pan(8X8 inches).Sprinkle the sunflower seeds on top and press down so they are lightly embedded in the surface.
Bake for 20 minutes in a 350F heated oven , until deep golden around the edges.Remove from the oven;leave in the pan to cool slightly.Using a sharp knife score the top in to rectangular or square pieces. Leave to cool completely,then cut along the marked lines.Bar can be stored in an air tight container for up to a week.

Simple enough to bake these bars are my entry for Baking for Beginners
Also try Fruit Dark Chocolate and Almonds Granola Bar


For the Oatmeal Spa Treatment at Home.

Oatmeal Morning scrub

Take about 1 cup of whole oats or porridge oats,process in a grinder,only until coarse ,do not grind smooth to a flours consistency.Store in air tight container
Every morning,take about tablespoon of the coarse oatmeal,splash water on face ,neck and lightly scrub and massage in the circular motion for a minute or two,before rinsing it all clean.Feel the change in the skin instantly.Do this regularly everyday for smoother complexion.



Oatmeal beauty mask

1 heaping tablespoon of coarsely ground oats
1 tablespoon Olive oil or almond oil
1 teapoon honey
2 tablespoon or little more of luke warm water.

Nicely combine all of the ingredients and apply all over face and neck.Lay back and relax with some soothing music playing.After about 20 minutes wash clean with lukewarm water first then with cold water.Do this at least once a week for renewing a tired and winter damaged dry skin.You could even use this as a body scrub,leave it on for 10 minutes before washing.

All you beauties out there do you have any winter skin care tip to share?

6 beauties shared their Skin care secrets:
Varsha Vipins Says "Masks made with Banana+honey is also good for winter skin"

Aquadaze says "Ever heard of oatmeal bath..where you grind the oats into a powder and sprinkle it in the bathtub? thats great for dry skin too.."

Sharmila says "For me milk cream with a little maida(all-purpose flour) works very well."

Bharti Says "If you mix in a teaspoon of sugar with the oatmeal mask, it makes a great scrub for hands/body."

Navita Hakim says "applying 1 tbsp of honey with 1/2 tsp of lemon juice on the face and keeping for 10 mins.Wash face for a fairer, smoother and visibly supple
complexion... "

Rajani Says "I actually grind oats & almonds together - makes a superb scrub"
Thank you:)

Oatmeal fruit Macaroons ...No Sugar Added?

Don't be fooled by the label "No sugar added" as low-sugar or sugar free ,especially on those easy sip juice boxes.Even without any sugar added a 7 oz juice box can have about 23 grams of sugar,how sugary is that?. "No sugar added" label only means no extra sugar has been added ,food is usually prepared using natural sweetness from fruits or vegetables,even though it could still be high in sugar.

Why is low-sugar so healthy? lesser sugar you eat the stronger the bodies immune system works.Which is why its not uncommon to see some of us end up with severe colds and flu after holiday sweet indulgences.The high sugar in the body slows\weakens the body's natural defenses(immune system) and makes the body more vulnerable to bacterial and viral infections.For an over all good health ,eating low sugar diet is vital.

For the oatmeal macaroons I used some dried tropical fruit mix.Lucky for me ,my store here sells the kind with tart dried kiwis,papaya,mangoes,bananas and pineapples.The macaroons are low in sweetness with heart healthy Oatmeal and tart and sweet bits of dried tropical fruit,just right for a holiday indulgent treat.

Ingredients
1 1\2 cup Original rolled Oats,toasted
2 tablespoon Organic butter
2 tablespoon light olive oil
1 Organic egg
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
pinch of ground cloves
1/2 cup dried fruits(I used the tropical fruit mix,already has 24 gms of sugar in one serving(1/2 cup) ,hence I added no extra sugar)
1 teaspoon grated lemon zest

Method
Line your baking sheet with parchment paper or aluminum foil.Preheat Oven to 350F.

Melt butter in a pan,add the rolled oats,oil and brown then lightly,stir constantly about 2-4 minutes.Allow to cool.
Beat egg and spices until fluffy ,stir in cooled oats,chopped dried fruit and the lemon zest.
Using a tablespoon drop the mixture on the baking sheet and about 1 inch apart.
Bake for about 15 minutes until light brown on top.Cool on wire rack.

Low sugar Oatmeal fruit Macaroons will be joining in Meeta's Monthly Mingle ,hosting the Low-sugar treats is Dee of Daily Tiffin.

Fruit Dark Chocolate and Almond Granola Bars

Nuts..Chocolate...Fruits..all in one granola bar! Its a nutritious low fat snack to relish on. The store brought Granola bars are packed with sugar usually corn syrup is used as a sweetener and binder ,but i'm using a natural sweetener and an organic egg as a glue for the bars. These are perfect to go snacks or even to go breakfast.

Ingredients needed
2cups cups old fashioned rolled oats
1/2 cup Almonds or Pecans
1/4 cup Pure honey or 1/2 cup agave nectar(natural sweetener)or 3/4 cup Splenda(artificial sweetener)
2 tablespoon Extra Virgin Olive Oil
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
1/2 cup dried fruit, any combination of apricots, cherries or blueberries
1/4 cup Dark chocolate coarsely chopped
1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
1 Organic Egg

To make this Healthy Snack
Preheat the oven to 325F.
Place the oats and nuts on a cookie sheet,toast in the oven for 10-15 minutes, turning occasionally. Transfer them in a mixing bowl and let cool for few minutes. Mix in the chopped chocolate ,cinnamon and flour

Whisk the egg in another bowl and stir in the the honey,Olive oil and salt. Add the egg mixture to the oat mixture. Spread the mixture on the baking dish(9x8 inches) lined with Aluminum foil .Press down evenly distributing the mixture. Bake for about 25-30minutes. Cool; cut into bars with a lightly oiled knife.

Almond oat muffins with Capuccino

Almond oat muffin is an excellent morning bread with combination of nuts ,dry fruits and whole oats. A smart way to add grains and fruit to your day is to make,bake and take along your own snacks rather than stopping for a bakery's high-fat goods.

Ingredients needed are
11/2 cup low fat buttermilk
2 organic eggs
3/4 cup whole rolled oats
3/4 cup whole wheat flour
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 cup almonds corsely chopped.
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 cup Olive oil
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Handful of dry cherries or cranberries
Makes about 6 medium muffins
To make the muffins
In a medium bowl,stir together the buttermilk,oats and cherries. Let stand for 15 minutes to plump the cherries and moisten the oats.

Preheat oven to 400F

In a large bowl,sift together the wheat flour,cinnamon,baking powder and soda.

To the buttermilk mixture ,add the eggs,oil,brown sugar,chopped nuts(reserve few to top on muffins) and stir just until combined

Line you muffin tray with parchment cups or spray with cooking spray. Fill each cup 3/4 full and sprinkle reserved nuts on top.

Bake for about 20minutes, until toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool for 5 minutes. Serve with cappuccino and any fresh fruit .


This breakfast combo is my entry for WBB Combi Breakfast hosted by Latha of Masala Magic

Granola Bars

Granola Bars
A healthy snack

what you'll need is
2 cups old fashioned rolled oats
1 cup sliced almonds or cashews
1/2 cup wheat germ
1/2 cup Pure honey
2 tablespoon EVOO
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
1 cup dried fruit, any combination of apricots, cherries or blueberries

To make this Healthy Snack
Preheat the oven to 350 F. Grease your baking dish with butter.
Toast the oats, nuts, and wheat germ onto a cookie sheet in the oven and toast for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Now combine the honey,EVOO,Orange juice and salt in a medium saucepan and place over medium heat. Simmer for few minutes.
Remove the toasted oat mixture. Reduce oven temperature to 300F . Mix the honey mixture,dried fruits and oat mixture in a mixing bowl. Spread the mixture on a baking dish lightly greased with butter.Press down evenly distributing the mixture. Bake for about 25minutes. When done cut in squares and when cool get them out of the dish . Relish an healthy snack.