Sneaky Chocolate Dip

Finally, a chocolate recipe you don't have to feel the least bit guilty about eating! I wish I could take credit for this masterpiece, but I can't. It was created and shared by my friend & fellow real food eater, Jenny. Like a chocolate fondue, you can dip whatever you want in it {she even gets her kids to dip veggies!}, but it goes especially well with fruit.

Sneaky Chocolate Dip

1 15 oz can black beans, drained

6 tablespoons cocoa powder

4 tablespoons coconut oil, melted

1 tablespoon vanilla

1 teaspoon sea salt

handful spinach

1/4 cup honey

Blend ingredients in a blender until smooth, adding water by the tablespoon until desired consistency is reached. Dip will resemble chocolate frosting when done.

Enjoy!

Best Ever Whole Wheat Banana Bread

{Adapted from this recipe}

This is the moistest, most delicious banana bread you will come across, and it's made with whole grains!! We had some very ripe bananas to use up, so I came up with a whole foods version of this classic favorite. 

Best Ever Whole Wheat Banana Bread

{makes 1 9x5 inch loaf}

2 eggs, beaten

1/3 cup whole milk

1/2 cup butter {one stick}, or coconut oil, melted

3-4 over-ripe, mashed bananas*

1/3 cup honey

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract 

2 cups whole wheat flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

pinch of nutmeg

1/2 cup chopped nuts {walnuts or pecans}, optional

*Note: Putting in 4 bananas will create a little bit of gooeyness on the bottom due to the bananas settling a bit, which I happen to love! If you don't, just use 3.

Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Coat your loaf pan with coconut oil or butter, whichever you prefer. Combine all the wet ingredients. Add the dry ingredients to the banana mixture and stir until combined, then stir in nuts. Pour into prepared loaf pan and bake for 1 hour and 20 minutes or until center is cooked through. For less fat content, you can substitute applesauce for the butter/coconut oil. And note that, as with all whole/real food recipes, it's best to use organic ingredients as much as possible.

Enjoy!

It's also my husband's birthday today. Since I haven't left the house in a couple days to buy the ingredients I was planning on getting, I had to get creative with his birthday "cake." Enter banana bread with cinnamon cream cheese frosting. It was pretty good! Happy birthday, babe. XO

I "Bless You'd" All Over Myself

{Originally published on 1/24/12}

We were driving home from preschool the other day, and my daughter, Ruby (3 years old), says to me from the back of the car, "mom, I just 'bless you'd' (i.e., sneezed) all over myself." Funny, the things kids say!! I had a good laugh about that one. Well, turns out that God can even use the silly little things kids say to do a profound work in your heart!

I've been noticing a theme in Christian messages I've heard lately, at church, on the radio, about God's love, and the fact that he loves each and every one of us for just being. Just being. Just for taking up space on the couch, at a desk, on the bus. In a prison cell, on a street corner, in an abortion clinic.

He loves us for just existing.

Not for working, doing, helping, striving, straining, succeeding, running, racing, loving, fixing, serving, changing, producing, acheiving, attempting, laboring, toiling, earning, or anything else. Just for being you. After all, that's who He created you to be! This verse in Romans talks about God's love:

For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.  Romans 8:38&39 NIV

There is nothing we could do, or not do, to seperate us from God's love, because He loves us for just being.

I've been convicted the past few days about the myriad of lies about myself that I've let creep into my subconscious, and God has started to reveal to me how they shape my view of Him and my beliefs about when and why He should love me. Or, whether He loves me at all.

If I could just..
If only I would...
If only I did...
If only I was more...
If only I had...
If only wasn't so...

Then I would have arrived. Then I would be loveable.

I realized that by allowing these thoughts to take root, I've "bless you'd" all over myself. I've covered a perfect creation with a spray of stinky spit and goopy, nasty, disease-infested snot. How's that for a visual? It's hard to see the perfect creation when you're covered in junk. In lies.

What would your life look like if you truly believed that God loved you for just existing? Would that radically rock your world? I believe that the Lord wants me to learn more about who I am in Him this year, and to hide those truths in my heart. If you are anything like me, this would be a good challenge for you, as well! I'm going to start a list below of truths from the Bible, and I'm going to continue to add to it throughout the year. It will serve as a constant reminder when times are tough and it's hard to believe. Feel free to add your own in the comments below!

Remember that God loves you for just being--don't "bless you" all over yourself today!

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.  Philippians 4:8

Why do you smile at me?

{Originally published 5/28/11}

Until December of last year when our oldest turned four, we had three little kids ages three and under. Needless to say, life is pretty crazy and busy at our house! The two oldest, Clayton (4) and Ruby (3), are the best of buddies most of the time. When they’re not able to be together, for example in the nursery at church, tantrums and difficulty ensue, mostly on Ruby’s part. Because of that, as well as the business of life and choosing to do a large majority of our outings as a whole family, we haven’t done too many one-on-one things with the kids. A quick trip here or there, but nothing major, until today.

Daddy was going to help a friend move some things, and I suggested taking Clayton with him for the afternoon. The result was painful to watch and endure, as Ruby unraveled in sobs, not understanding why he got to go and she had to stay. Clayton, on the other hand, was very excited about being able to hang out with and help his dad. As they were leaving, after she said her tearful goodbyes, I tried to explain the situation to her:

“I know it doesn’t seem fair, honey, but it’s Clayton’s turn to have some one-on-one time with Daddy. It’ll be your turn next time.”

“It’s not that they don’t love you or want you to come. In fact, I’m sure they’d love that! It’s just important for you guys to have some one-on-one time with us every now and then.”

She just kept heaving and sobbing, not able to understand. “It’s not that he doesn’t like me, I just can’t go with him this time…” I heard her explaining to her dollies in her bedroom, where she retreated after they left, like she was being punished. My heart broke for her… I went in and encouraged her to come out and finish lunch with me and that after lunch we would have some Ruby and Mommy (and Toby, as she pointed out, since he was home with us) time, and we could do whatever she wanted. I got her some juice, a treat in our house, and she wanted to sit on my lap.

With time she was able to calm down, and she articulated a thoughtful question. “Why do you and Daddy smile at me?” she asked. I was able to tell her that we smiled at her because we loved her so much, that she was our beautiful little girl and she makes us happy. I was able to focus my energy and attention on her alone, as I’m sure Daddy was doing with Clayton, and encourage and affirm her in a way that just doesn’t (and can’t, really) happen in the craziness of everyday life. In our house, as well as others with multiple children I’m sure, whoever screams the loudest gets the attention, or the consequence. But during those couple hours, I was able to spend precious time with her. She decided that we should paint our nails and watch Tangled, and that’s what we did! I don’t know if she can articulate the importance of one-on-one time, but now I believe she understands it.

I think the same thing is true about spending one-on-one time with God, our Heavenly Father and Creator. In the chaos of life, it’s easy to push it aside and not get to it as frequently as we should, but it’s extremely important for each one of us. Without it, we can be left feeling like we just got lost in the shuffle, anxious, and insecure. There is a huge facet of our relationship with Him that can only be found, learned, and discovered in those quiet moments sitting at His feet and reading His Word. During that time He is able to teach us about His life and how to live, give us wisdom that only He can, and answer our deepest and vital questions about who we are and what He has for us in this life.

“Father, why do you smile at me?”

He has an answer for us if we are willing to listen. He smiles because He created us in our mother’s wombs. He smiles because He loves us with an unconditional and unfailing love, as only a holy, perfect Heavenly Father could. Have you spent some one-on-one time with your Father today? Let Him encourage and affirm you.