Banana Coconut & Carob Bread_vegan & GF

-taste the tropical goodness-

about every other week or so i am faced with the "dilemma" of what to do with numerous overly ripe bananas. i don't really eat bananas , unless baked into a delicious cake or muffin, what have you. so when the banana order arrives 9 to a bunch. leftovers are going to happen.

so this leaves quite the opportunity for a sugar sensitive, health conscious (to an extent) foodie freak like myself. the problem is; bananas can be used for anything. seriously. do a quick google search for banana recipes - you will be bombarded. at first they all seem to be the same - banana nut muffins, banana cream pie, banana chocolate chip bread.... yadda yadda. so anyways i ran into a recipe for banana's and coconut "bars" which made me think - yeah lets get tropical with this eh?

and here we have it - a healthy, vegan, low fat, gluten free, low GI little treat for your morning enjoyment!

BANANA COCONUT CARON BREAD (vegan, gluten free)

3 (very) ripe bananas

2 tbs molasses

1/3c unsweetened applesauce

1/4c agave

1/4c maple syrup

2c spelt flour

3/4 tsp baking powder

3/4 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

3/4c unsweetened shredded coconut flakes

1/2c carob chips

*preheat oven to 350F, grease an 8"x8" pan

*mash the bananas in a small bowl, add in molasses, applesauce, agave and maple syrup. Stir to combine

*in seperate bowl sift together the spelt, baking powder, baking soda and salt

*stir in the banana mixture, just to combine

*fold in coconut and carob chips

*pour into prepared pan

*cook for 45-50 minutes - until toothpick is clean

*let cool and slice.

Carob Chip and Walnut Oatmeal Cookies

according to josh, and every other man i've ever met: under no circumstances should raisins be included in any desert of any kind. ok

since my wonderfully pregnant neighbor moved out a few months ago josh is my main consumer. so here we are with oatmeal cookies that plea for a nice plump dark fruity dose of raisins - what do i do? i pulled out my ridiculous list of specialty health food items and the perfect answer was carob chips. they are perfect! if you aren't familiar with carob:

the carob tree sits within the legume family and creates pods that hold about 5 little beans. Those beans are what we nosh on (after some processing of-course) and they taste oddly like chocolate, but with a fruity undertone - like the offspring of chocolate and raisin. so people who are allergic to chocolate or vegan or attracted to novelty food items like me dig on this tasty little bean. evidently ancient egyptians loved it too.

add in a healthy dose of walnuts and you can tell yourself these are "a health indulgence" and eat them for breakfast.

CAROB CHIP & WALNUT OATMEAL COOKIES

3/4c + 2 tbs all purpose flour

1/2 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp baking powder

1/4 tsp salt

1/4 tsp cinnamon

1/4 tsp ground nutmeg (it has to be fresh - has. to. be.)

4 oz unsalted butter, softened

2 tbs sugar (optional)

3/4c packed brown sugar

1 large egg

1 1/4 tsp vanilla extract

1/2c carob chips

1 3/4c rolled oats (old fashioned)

1/2 c chopped walnuts

*preheat oven to 350 F

*shift together all the dry ingredients, then whisk to combine

*in a separate bowl cream the butter to a light color

*add sugar(s) and cream to light and fluffy

*beat in egg then vanilla

*gradually add in the flour mixture

*fold in the carob chips, walnuts and oats - make sure all is well combined, but do not over work the dough

* taking a heaping tablespoon full, roll into a ball and place on prepared cookie sheet

* lightly smash down the balls to about 1/2" thick

*bake 12-14 minutes to lightly browned