Healthier Peanut-butter Cups

I know, I know, more food! That's all I have been posting about recently! I admit it, I have been cooking a lot. I should probably switch it up a little and do some sewing or crafting or something, but this seems to be where my interests and the warm weather have been pushing lately, so I'm just going to go with it until it's too hot to cook anymore.

Here are some delicious "healthy" Peanut-butter Cups that I made! I used this recipe from The Nourishing Gourmet and altered it a bit. I also found this recipe for The Nourishing Gourmet's PB cups after I had made mine.

for my recipe I used: 

• 1 1/3 cup Natural Peanut-butter (no sugar)  
• 1/2 cup Coconut Oil 
• 1/4 cup Honey
• 1 teaspoon Vanilla extract 
• Pecans 
• Large Dark Chocolate Chips

1. Melt the coconut oil, honey, and peanut-butter in the microwave on low heat until just melted. 
2. Then whisk it well, and added the vanilla extract.
3. Set the oven to 200 degrees, and place 4 chocolate chips in the bottom of each cup of a mimi muffin pan.
4. Place pan in the oven for about 1 minute until chocolate is just starting to melt (watch carefully, chocolate burns quickly!)
5. Remove pan from the oven, and pour peanut-butter mixture over the chocolate in each cup until half full.
6. Gently place 4 chocolate chips or pecans on top of the peanut-butter mixture in each cup. 
7. Place the pan in the freezer for about 1hr until the PB cups are frozen.
8. When they are frozen remove the PB cups from the pan by poking a knife down the side of each cup.
9. Makes 48 PB Cups. 
10. Store in the freezer, and enjoy as a frozen treat!

We loved these PB Cups! I thought they really hit the spot for the after dinner craving for something sweet. Having one or two was also very satisfying and did not leave you feeling like you wanted to come back and eat the whole bag in one sitting (the way some sugary treats do). They were not as sweet as the regular kind, so if you want them sweeter simply add more honey or sweetener of your choice.

Beef and Mushroom Burgers

 Here is a recipe I made the other day. It turned out so yummy the kids had three helpings!

Beef and Mushroom Burgers

By: http://bananasbread.blogspot.com/ 

 Ingredients:

• 1 lb Baby Portabella Mushrooms 
• 2 slices Whole Wheat Bread 
• 1-2 Eggs 
• 1 lb Ground Beef
• 1/2 cup Diced Onion 
• 2-3 tbsp Flax Seed Meal (optional)
• 1-2 tbsp Oregano 
• 1-2 tbsp Basil 
• 1tsp Garlic Powder
• Pepper to taste (about 1tsp) 
• Salt to taste (about 1 1/2 tsp)
• 12 Whole Wheat Rolls   

1.  Put bread in the food processor, pulse until ground. Then turn to "On" and add mushrooms.
2. When the mushrooms are chopped add the egg, and pulse until the mixture is combined. 
3. Pour the mushroom mixture into a bowl and add the remaining ingredients, mix well. Refrigerate the mixture until ready to use. 
4. Form the mixture into patties and grill about five minutes on each side, or until done. 
5. Serve on WW rolls with Spring Mix greens and your toppings of choice.
6. Makes about 12 medium burgers. 
7. Enjoy!