Lemon Sesame Crackers

I've already mentioned here how I love the Thrive books, and how the recipes have become staples in our house.  But I've also told you I don't follow directions very well... So here is a recipe for an easy cracker, that works as a snack, or something to have with a salad for some crunch.

The original recipe is called "Lemon Rooibos Cracker", but I didn't have all of the ingredients that it called for on hand. I'm all about sort of following the gist of the recipe, but using what I do have in the pantry.  A trip to the grocery store is just too far...and my kids would just complain, I'm sure you know how much fun that would be. 

Here is my version of the crackers based on what I had on hand, and the next time  it will probably change again. These crackers hold up very well in an open container in the fridge. when I'm craving a slightly salty snack with some crunch, it's easy to reach for one of these, and be satisfied. 

Original recipe:
(from Thrive: The Vegan Nutrition Guide to Optimal Performance in Sports and Life)

1/4 c almonds
1/4 c pecans
1/4 c sesame seeds
3 Tbs fresh lemon juice
1Tbs lemon zest
1 Tbs coconut oil
1 tsp ground rooibos
1/2 tsp agave nectar
Sea salt to taste

Makes 2 servings.

My version: (I literally jotted it down as I went along)...

Lemon Sesame Crackers
1 c walnuts
1 c sesame seeds
1 teabag of yerba mate
2 tsp Agave nectar
1 tsp chia seed
2 Tbs coconut oil
zest from 1 lemon
juice from 1 lemon

Makes almost 40 crackers.
*adding or omitting the yerba mate is not a deal breaker for this recipie

Pulse.  Press.  Bake.  Eat....

*To be more specific....

Step 1: scrape the zest from one lemon, and squeeze the juice of it into the food processor. 
 

Step 2: grab the Yerba mate, and cut open 1 tea bag. Empty into the food processor. {what the heck is Yerba Mate? I'll explain below}. 

Step 3: add the walnuts, sesame seeds, agave syrup, chia seeds and pulse until it forms a paste. 

 

Step 4: spread mixture on a cookie sheet, and press it down as flat as you can. I just used the heel of my hand {you could use a rolling pin}. Score the crackers with a pizza cutter before baking. 

 

Step 5: Bake at 300 degrees for about 20 minutes, or until the crackers look browned. I used my pink sea salt grinder to sprinkle a little salt over the top as soon as they came out of the oven.  I took these out at 18 minutes to be exact.

Enjoy! They have a nice hint of lemon, and taste great.  Store them in an open container in the fridge. I hope you give them a try.

 

*What is Yerba Mate? It's in more than a few recipes from the Thrive books, which is how I was introduced to it. It's actually a 'tea' from South America, which is made by steeping the leaves of the plant in hot, but not boiling water.  It contains a natural caffeine which varies in strength which is determined if it's a male or female plant. In this case, the female plants are a little less 'high strung' as it's the males with the higher caffeine content.

 

There are many benefits to yerba mate, some of which are high antioxidants, help in digestion, and a natural boost without the let-down usually associated with most 'caffeine fixes'.  Of course, as with anything there are risks to any long term love affair with anything herbal.  There is plenty to read on the topic. 

 

I added this to my crackers because I had it on hand, but you can use it or not without affecting the flavor of the crackers.  Read more about yerba mate here and here. 

 

 

 

Have a great day!

{Jenn}

Prepare the Pantry

We've all heard the saying, "If you eat the way you've always eaten, you'll look the way you have always looked".  I'll take it a step further and say if you eat the way you've always eaten, you will never know the health that is waiting for you.  I have never felt better since changing my eating habits.  I know it sounds hokey, but I'm completely in tune with my body and how different foods affect me now.  When you clear out all of the junk...actually allowing yourself to feel hungry, you can tell right away what your body does and does not want in it. 

When you eat clean, the cravings you had in your former life of eating whatever you wanted, whenever you wanted to~go away.  It's like your brain had the craving switch flipped off. 

I wouldn't have believed it either if I hadn't experienced it for myself.  You owe it to yourself to give this "clean" lifestyle a shot.  Make your goal to eat this way 80-90% of the time.  That's what I do.  That way you can eat pizza with your kids on Friday night if you so choose, because you know you will only have a little since you are eating so many veggies to fill you up.  I don't deny myself anything, and I think that's why this works so well.

And I'm not always perfect....sometimes, like while on vacation {not like I just came back from vacation or anything.....choke, choke} I fall off the wagon a bit, and eat dips I normally wouldn't {with fresh veggies}...or snack on cracker packs {I was on the beach!} just because they were easy to grab...and I feel the repercussions.  Mainly the uncomfortable stomach bloating that comes from eating crap.  Now that vacation is over, I'm getting back to zero, and my body is breathing a sigh of relief.

The first thing you need to do when setting yourself up for success is to clean out the pantry, and fill it with new items.  Yes, I still buy a few things the kids want, but stop buying the cookies and regular potato chips...they will call your name {they talk to me too} and you may not have the power to ignore the siren's call {I don't give myself extra temptations}.  You will find you use these new items a lot, and you will be able to make substitutions easily when you need to.  I'm a Bob's Red Mill fan, so you will see me use lots of their products, and you can find them at most grocery stores or online.  I am a big fan of Newark Natural Foods {in Newark, DE}, and get most of my products there.  By changing what you eat, your kids will follow suit.  You can still make chocolate chip cookies, but know that they are not going to be a 'chips ahoy', okay?  Your kids will deal.  Mine are on board, and no one is suffering {or at least they realized complaining wasn't getting them anywhere with me...ha!}.

Don't let this list panic you.  You don't have to go out tomorrow and spend a fortune.  These are just my staples, and I will be posting some recipes soon which will include these ingredients.  I'm not paid for any of these opinions, and the brands I use are just my favorites. 

 

Oats~this super big jar gets filled and re-filled constantly in our house.  We always keep a large amount on hand.  Not only for oatmeal, but to add to bars, thicken shakes, make {healthy} cookies or even mix with our apple breakfast "cereal" if it needs to get beefed up a bit, or heated up {it just tastes better w/oats if it's warm}.

Shredded Coconut~I love using this in my bars, and I add it to my morning cereal as well.  This coconut is NOT what you'd buy in the grocery store near the chocolate chips.  That is the sweetened kind, which is junk!  This is unsweetened, and shredded...it's a must-have for me.

Walnuts, Almonds~I use nuts in many different ways.  I always buy nuts in the baking aisle in BJ's because they have large bags of unsalted nuts.  If you are always snacking on salted nuts, you will feel bloated and get way too much salt.  I try to buy walnut pieces {they're coarsely chopped} and sliced almonds, since they are easier to eat without breaking a tooth.  I use them in my bars, add them to my breakfast cereal, blend them to make flour, or even to make crusts for tarts.  It's the healthiest way I get fats into my diet.

Maca Powder~a slightly nutty flavored powder of the {you guessed it} maca root.  It's an excellent source of B-12, balances hormones, and gives an energy boost without caffeine.  I add it to the morning cereal concoction, to soups, dressings for salad, bars....it's also known to increase libido, especially in men.  You can thank me later, ladies.

Ground Flaxseed Meal~I buy the organic, ground flaxseed because that's the best way for our bodies to absorb the nutrients.  Otherwise it would just pass through your system. It's rich in Omega-3 fatty acids, high in fiber, and is high in lignans which balance hormones, especially in women.  It goes rancid easily, so keep in the fridge.

Dates~I use dates as a sweetener and as a binder in my bars, as well as chopped in our morning cereal.  There are so many good reasons to add dates to your diet...mainly for their high fiber content, the vitamins and minerals they contain, and how quick they can give you an energy boost when you need it.

Blue Agave~I use this instead of white sugar.  It has a low glycemic index, meaning it has less of an effect on blood sugar. It is way sweeter than sugar, so only small amounts are needed.  I use it in my bars, cookies, or drizzle over oatmeal.

Hemp Protein Powder~an excellent source of plant based protein that is super rich in minerals, essential fatty acids, and amino acids. So basically you will be in a great mood while getting the nutrition your body needs.

Hemp Seeds~these have a great, mildly nutty flavor, and are great sprinkled on salad, or in yogurt.

Almond Milk~I use almond milk for everything from drinking, adding to our morning "cereal", moistening bars, and to mix with my Vega powder for a meal replacement.  I buy unsweetened for most of my needs, but I also buy "original" which is lightly sweetened.  My kids all love the vanilla and chocolate options, and the added health benefit of getting extra dairy out of their systems has been amazing...Forget about the milk campaign that tells you 'milk does a body good'....I'll follow up with that at some point in a future post.  Promise.

Chia Seeds~This is a MUST HAVE for me.  I could go on and on about the benefits of chia seeds in your diet...and I'm sure I will at some point.  I drink them in water with a squeeze of lemon or lime {aka, "chia fresca"} using a straw...you will thank me when you don't have tiny seeds stuck to your face if you drink them without one.  You can also sprinkle them on salads, add them to bars, or make "puddings" with them, since the seeds create their own gel when soaked in water. 

In a nutshell, chia seeds are high in fiber, they contain Omega-3 fatty acids, they're gluten free, stabilize blood sugar, and can help "clean out your insides"...absorbing and getting rid of toxins in the body....keeping the pipes clean.  They do not go rancid, so you can keep them on the counter, unlike flaxseed.

Nutritional Yeast~a new addition for me, it is a great way to add minerals and protein to your diet.  It's also gluten free.  Sprinkle it on popcorn, veggies....really anything you would normally add cheese to.  It has a cheesy/nutty taste, and packs a great nutritional punch.



Nutritional Yeast



Yerba Mate~this tea, rich in antioxidants, enhances your ability to focus, and have sustained energy during physical activity.  It contains caffeine, but doesn't have the same let-down response you might have from drinking coffee or a soda drink.  I use this by cutting open the tea bags, and adding it to homemade sports gels I make for my husband during races {thank you, Brendan Brazier of Thrive}, or training. I've also added it to homemade sesame crackers, another Thrive recipe. 

I'll follow up with recipes soon.  Until then, have a great day!

{Jenn}