RX Protein Bars with Nut Butter and Chia for Breakfast or Snack

*not a sponsored post

I’ve been having a little love affair with RXBar’s. I was so happy to finally find a protein bar that had just a few ingredients that were actually real ingredients. I’ve had them for breakfast when I’m in a hurry, but I mostly use them as a snack when I’m craving something sweet but want something that adds to my total daily nutrition.

It has been a goal of mine lately to squeeze as much nutritional value from my snacks as possible. I’m also trying hard to stay away from processed sugars and artificial ingredients. This is why these bars are so appealing!

RX Protein Bars use dates to sweeten, which still adds sugar, but it is sugar from a whole food and is lower on the glycemic scale. When eaten in this bar form, the protein and fiber help keep blood sugars stable. The dates are rich in fiber, potassium, and copper, and are said to promote digestive health, reduce blood pressure and fight inflammation. This is what I mean by getting nutritional value from my snacks! Plain sugar does not have these benefits, and corn syrup certainly does not!

The matte packaging is on point and you must admit, seeing the simple ingredients listed on the front is brilliant. I told my teen girls that B.S. stands for “boring stuff.” They didn’t believe me. Seeing just 4 ingredients in the list is so refreshing. Compare that to a PowerBar protein bar…brace yourself…

Seeing just 4 ingredients in the list is so refreshing. Compare that to a PowerBar protein bar…brace yourself…

POWERBAR Ingredient List:

TRISOURCE PROTEIN BLEND (SOY PROTEIN ISOLATE, CALCIUM CASEINATE, WHEY PROTEIN ISOLATE), MALTITOL SYRUP, CHOCOLATE FLAVORED COATING (SUGAR, FRACTIONATED PALM KERNEL OIL, COCOA, WHEY, NONFAT MILK, SOY LECITHIN, NATURAL FLAVOR), OLIGOFRUCTOSE (FROM CHICORY ROOT), FRUCTOSE, WATER, CANE INVERT SYRUP, PEANUT BUTTER, PARTIALLY DEFATTED PEANUT FLOUR, SOY CRISPS (SOY PROTEIN ISOLATE, RICE FLOUR, SALT), PEANUT OIL, AND LESS THAN 2% OF: SALT, GROUND ALMONDS, NATURAL FLAVOR, SOY LECITHIN, BUTTER (CREAM).

Whoa. lots of caseinates which can be rough on the stomach, and look at all of those syrups, & GMO Soy! I’m wrinkling my nose as I type.

In RXbars, there is no gluten, no soy, no dairy, no added sugars or GMO’s. They are preservative free and the protein is from eggs instead of dairy, so if you have a dairy sensitivities you need not worry! My digestive system has been reacting negatively when I have dairy, so I like that the protein is from eggs.

My one complaint about RX Protein Bars is that some of them have “natural flavor.” I never love seeing that phrase in the ingredient list, as it can mean several things and often the “natural” is not so natural. The peanut butter RXbar does not have natural flavors, so I tend to lean towards that one.

I like to doctor these bars up a bit. They are delicious on their own, but are even more delicious topped with a dollop of almond butter and a sprinkle of chia, which add even more health benefits. The almond butter acts almost like a frosting and truly satisfies when I want to eat dessert. Plus, look how pretty it is!

The bars contain 12g of protein, but by adding almond butter and chia, you up the protein to 20g! It adds more filling fiber, too!

I try to eat at least 1-2 tablespoons of chia a day. They have all eight essential amino acids and a bunch of trace minerals and micronutrients. Just 2 tablespoons of Chia has 5 times the omega-3 content of a 1/4 cup serving of walnuts, twice the iron and magnesium of a cup of spinach, as much calcium as a half-cup of milk, and more than twice the fiber of a cup of oatmeal! These little seeds are powerhouses!

Almond butter acts like a creamy frosting on these bars, I just love it as a topping! It truly satisfies when I want to eat dessert. Plus, look how pretty it is! Almond butter offers fiber and protein, just one tablespoon= 4 grams of protein!

{above image for your pinning pleasure}

RXbars are on the pricey side, but the cost is worth it to me, especially when I cut a bar in half and eat one half as an afternoon snack, and the other as an evening snack. Two for the price of one, plus I bust my sugar cravings with a nutrition-filled snack!

What about you? What are your favorite high protein and filling snacks?

What is a favorite grab & go breakfast?

Have you incorporated chia into your diet? If so, how do you like to eat it?

Interested in using dates in your cooking? Check out this Date Paste recipe. Caramel-y delicious!

Want another way to incorporate chia into your diet? —> Overnight Chia Oat Breakfast Pudding

RECIPES/ Sides/ Sponsored

8 Simple and Delicious Sandwich Thin Snack Recipes

It can be tricky to keep calories low when the urge to snack hits. I am a carb lover, and can easily over-do it when it comes to consuming too much when I’m hungry and need a snack. I’ve found that staying mindful while consuming is key to snacking in a more healthful way.

I was recently asked by Weight Watchers® to share that their products can be found at Walmart & how they have made mindful, low-calorie snacking so much easier with a variety of products. They have popcorn, string cheese and more! My new fav? Fiber-filled Oroweat® Sandwich Thins!

I picked up a couple of packages of Oroweat® Sandwich Thins from Walmart, knowing that they are Weight Watchers® endorsed and just 100 calories made me eager to get creative with them. 100 calories each means that half of one is just 50 calories! That is way lower calorie & fewer SmartPoints® than regular bread. With this sort of portion control and low calories, I feel free to top them with all kinds of goodness which makes a satisfying and hearty snack.

Keep reading for fun ways to top your sandwich thins & for a list of specific Weight Watchers® products that you can find at Walmart.

8 Simple & Delicious Sandwich Thin Snack Recipes

CREAM CHEESE & BERRIES SANDWICH THIN

Toast your sandwich thin. Spread with cream cheese. Top with your choice of berries & dust lightly with powdered sugar.

CINNAMON-SUGAR SANDWICH THIN ROUND

Toast sandwich thin. Spread with butter. Sprinkle with a cinnamon-sugar mixture. I’ve read that the perfect ratio of cinnamon to sugar is 1/4 cup cinnamon to 1 Tablespoon of Cinnamon.

PEANUT BUTTER CLOUD SANDWICH THIN ROUND

This one is delicious! Toast the sandwich round, spread with peanut butter, top with marshmallows. Pop under the broiler for just a minute, until the marshmallows puff and brown to your liking. Be careful…they burn easily!

GARLIC HERB TOMATO SANDWICH THIN APPETIZER

Spread toasted or non-toasted (I liked non-toasted for this one) sandwich thin with a prepared garlic-herbed cheese spread. Cut into triangles & top with a halved grape tomato. So delicious and makes a pretty appetizer platter!

GARLIC BREAD SANDWICH THIN ROUNDS

I made spaghetti for dinner tonight and served these garlic sandwich rounds along with it. Much healthier for you than a big hunk of french bread. Did you know these Oroweat® Sandwich Thins have 5 grams of fiber and no high-fructose corn syrup? That makes me happy.

PIZZA SANDWICH THIN ROUNDS

My teen girls gobbled these up as an after-school snack. Toast the sandwich thin, top with pizza sauce (I just used spaghetti sauce), sprinkle with cheese & stick under the broiler until the cheese melts. Top with a chiffonade of basil.

INSIDE-OUT GRILLED CHEESE SANDWICH THIN

This was so gooey and satisfying! Spread the inside of the sandwich thin with butter. Place buttered side down on a pan over medium heat. Sprinkle with cheese and top with the other buttered half. Flip when browned on one side, and cook until the cheese is melted.

I plan on using these easy snack recipes during our late afternoon snacking sessions. My kitchen is full of teenage girls every day after school who are all looking for a hearty snack, so I will keep these sandwich thins around so they can get creative themselves.

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Want more after school snack ideas?

You can find the below Weight Watchers® products available at Walmart. There is even an iBotta offer up to $4.00.

-Weight Watchers® Endorsed Jolly Time Healthy Pop microwave and pre-popped Popcorn
-Weight Watchers® Ice Cream Novelties
-Weight Watchers® Sweet Baked Goods
-Weight Watchers® String Cheese

& of course

-Weight Watchers® Endorsed Sandwich Thins (Arnold®, Orowheat®, and Brownberry®)

{Pin It}

A few other ideas for Oroweat® Sandwich thins:

Peanut Butter Banana Chia:

~Toast & spread with peanut butter. Topped with sliced bananas & a sprinkle of chia seeds.

Breakfast Thin Sandwich

~Make a breakfast sandwich–sandwich thins are great for breakfast, lunch, dinner or snack! Fry an egg within the confines of a round mason jar lid ring to make it into a round shape. Top the egg with cheese, place within a toasted sandwich thin and enjoy!

Bruschetta Thins

~Dice some tomatoes, add a bit of olive oil and a splash of balsamic vinegar. Sprinkle with a bit of garlic salt. Mix. Place on toasted sandwich thins & sprinkle with a bit of pepper.

Parmesan Pesto Thins

~Toast a sandwich thin. Spread with prepared pesto. Top with a few shavings of parmesan cheese.

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Follow Weight Watchers® On Facebook for more snack ideas!

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Weight Watchers®. The opinions and texts are all mine.

GF, Vegan & Raw/ RECIPES/ Sides

Raw Corn Chips – Jalapeno Style

by Teniel Moore–Raw Foods Contributor

I’m not going to lie. I love to snack on something crunchy…and I don’t mean a cucumber! Sometimes you just want that savory chip that you can eat on its own or dip into something delicious like — fresh salsa.

So for those of you like me that want to enjoy chips during this after-holiday season and want something that contains few whole ingredients then this recipe is for you.

* This recipe does require a dehydrator – I use an excalibur 9 tray

Ingredients:

5 cups of organic corn
1/2 cup of golden flax
Himalayan salt to taste
Jalapeno – as much as you like. I use half a small slice (optional)
Juice of a lime
1/2 yellow onion
Water
Garlic (optional)
Coriander (optional)TIP: I only ever buy organic corn to avoid GMO’s. Its foreign to our bodies and so our poor body does not now how to deal with it. This can lead to all sorts of problems down the track. So always look for foods that are non GMO. I also try to limit my corn intake even when its organic, as sometimes it can be hard on the digestive system.But once in a while its a yummy treat and we all need to have balance in our diets. Right?

Instructions:

Whiz the corn first in a high-speed blender. It will probably need some water to get it going. Add water as you need it.

Then add onion and other things like lime juice. Give it a really good mix in the blender so it’s all smooth. At least a minute in the vitamix.It should be like a paste sort of consistency. You need to spread on the dehydrator sheet quite thin & score into corn chip size triangles, dehydrate for about 4 hours then peel it off the sheet and cook it for another 16 hours or so until it Is dry.
Store in an air tight container & enjoy with some guacamole or salsa.

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So get dehydrating so you can be snacking on some wholesome corn chips as a great post-holiday snack!

Teniel Moore of Addicted To Raw

Raw Foods Contributor

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More posts by Teniel at New Nostalgia:

High Raw No Bake Oatmeal
Real Banana Balls

Raw Chocolate Slice

Do You Sprout?

Chocolate Vegan Creamy Ice Cream

Raw Chocolate Hedgehog Balls

6 Reasons Why You Should Drink Green Juice

Sugar Free High Raw Chocolate Mint Bars

Raw Gingerbread Cookies

Golden Milk

My Kitchen Staple-Sprouted Buckwheat

DIY Probiotic Coconut Yogurt
Carob Almond Joys

Asian Raw Noodles

Creamy Caramel Milkshake

Sugar Free Raw Chocolate Brownie Bites

Warming Flax Porridge

FUN/DIY/ Holidays/Parties/ HOME/ Organizing/ RECIPES/ Sides/ Sponsored/ Sweets

A Sweet Snack Mix & A Salty Snack Mix– Perfect For Your SuperBowl Party

“This shop is part of a social shopper marketing insight campaign withPollinate Media Group™ and Rubbermaid and Sharpie but all my opinions are my own. #pmedia #RubbermaidSharpie http://cmp.ly/3/8vNxcO

If I’m going to take the time to make a savory or sugary treat (or both!) that does not offer much nutrition, I’m going to have a few ultimatums.

1. It has to be for a fun reason–a get together with friends, a birthday or a party–like THE SUPER BOWL!

2. It has to make a lot of treat for a little time in the kitchen.

3. It has to be low cost.

4. It has to be easy.

5. It has to taste awesome!

Bonus points: It has to be easy to store.

These two snack mixes do all of those things…times 2!

My favorite thing about both mixes is that they have at least 4 ingredients in common–peanuts, cheerios, pretzels and bugles. It is so great to buy one bag of each of them and divide it between the 2 recipes! I love efficiency.

These mixes are perfect for feeding a crowd and munching on during a football game.

Let me tell you how I made them the perfect snack for the Super Bowl game.

I headed out to Target to pick up my supplies. I got 2 glass Rubbermaid bowls for holding the mix, a package of Sharpie Pens, and some plastic cups. I made sure I got enough cups for holding both drinks and snack mix. Again, I’m all about efficiency!

While you are at Target, make sure you use the mobile coupon service and text COUPONS to TARGET (type TARGET into the phone number section of your phone) and grab the $1 off food storage Rubbermaid coupon and the $1 off Sharpie 4 pack or larger coupon. This option will be available January 25- February 8.

I love my Sharpies! If you have been reading this blog long enough, you know I am a huge fan of Sharpie markers. I use them all the time. I love them for crafting and I use them almost daily in the kitchen to label my leftovers or write little surprise messages for girls’ lunchbox.

You probably also know I am a big fan of using glass for storage…usually I re purpose jars. I have been wanting some bigger bowls to store larger portions of soup leftovers and snack mixes. Rubbermaid glass line is the perfect solution. They completely seal with one easy touch, they lids nestle into each other for easy storage, or if you want to stack the bowls they do that perfectly, too!

I used the bright green insert from the Rubbermaid bowls — which was actually a picture of green beans– to use as a fun border for my snack tags. I thought it looked like grass which is perfect for a Super Bowl party.

I cut a piece of white card stock into a square, backed it in the green, then used Sharpie markers to embellish with a simple black and white border on top and the numbers of a football field on the bottom. You don’t have to be an artist to get crafty with Sharpie!

I used a container I found in the dollar section of Target to put my Sharpie markers in. It looks pretty to set the Sharpie markers out and let the guests mark their own cups.

Isn’t Juiper the cutest name ever? My daughter has a friend named Juniper and they call her ‘Junie’ for short. Ahh..so cute!

Some guests will use the Sharpie Markers to write the team name on their cups– in team colors of course–letting everyone know who they are rooting for.

Doesn’t that look yummy? Bugles, pretzels, cheerios, peanuts and M&M’s! Like I said, a great thing about making these two recipes at the same time is that they use common ingredients, but no one would even notice because they are such different tasting recipes.

It had been awhile since we had a fun sugar treat in the house. This is how my daughter felt about that!

Every party should have a little bit of sweet…

…and a little bit of salty!

Make sure you pick some of these cute football brownies up while you are at Target. They come in a long, thin box with a little girls face on it. Yea…that one! They make a fun, football touch to the table without having to spend hours in the kitchen, AND they are inexpensive!

If you are traveling for the party, you can just put the tags on top of the lids and use the lids as snack markers. If your party is at home, grab a couple little jars, tape a paper clip to the back of the jar, fill it with mix to cover the tape, and display your snack tag. Easy! If you love how this looks but are taking the mix to a party, take the jar and and stick the mix in and the tag on when you get there.

I bet you are wondering how these snack mixes taste?

Well, the sweet one speaks for itself. It is very sweet with just a touch of salty, crunchy with chocolate and peanuts, all covered in white almond bark. It makes a ton and both kids and adults love it.

The savory, salty mix is a unique one, and you will get asked for the recipe often. It is salty with a bit of sweet, has chili powder and curry in the seasoning which makes it stand out from your typical snack mix. It uses some fun colored potato and vegetable chips which also makes it stand out from the crowd. It is very addicting and also makes a very good amount.

What are your super bowl plans?

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Super Bowl Sweet Mix

1/2 jar (8oz) peanuts (16 oz jar)
1/2 bag(8oz) pretzels (16 oz bag)
1/2 bag (6oz) bugles (12 oz bag)
1/2 box Cheerios (8.9 oz box)
1/2 bag M&M’s (12 oz bag–use extra to make table pretty, or just eat them :))
1 lb vanilla almond bark

Mix all ingredients except for almond bark in a large bowl. Melt almond bark as package directs. Pour over mixture, mixing to coat well. Spread out onto waxed paper to dry. Break into chunks and store in airtight container. Saves well for several weeks.

Super Bowl Savory Mix

1/2 jar (8oz) peanuts (16 oz jar)
1/2 bag (8oz) pretzels (16 oz bag)
1/2 bag (6oz) bugles (12 oz bag)
1/2 box cheerios (8.9 oz box)
6 oz chips (I used Terra Chips- Exotic Harvest)
3/4 cup brown sugar
3/4 cup butter
1 tablespoon worcestershire sauce
1 1/2 tablespoons chili powder
1 tsp curry powder
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

Mix peanuts, pretzels, bugles, cheerios & chips in a large bowl.

Mix brown sugar, butter, worcestershire sauce, chili powder, curry powder and garlic powder in a small saucepan. Heat on med until sugar is dissolved.

Pour seasoning mixture over dry mix. Toss until well coated. Pour onto 2 large cookie sheets. Bake at 350 degrees for 40 minutes, stirring after 20.

RECIPES/ Sweets

Ooey Gooey Salty Sweet Mallow Popcorn

We are going to put up our Christmas tree tonight! We usually have the typical tin of popcorn to munch on while we do it, but not this year! I am making Ooey Gooey Salty Sweet Mallow Popcorn.

I’ve talked about how we save holidays, parties and special occasions to bring out recipes that are not so healthy. Putting up the Christmas tree is definitely a special occasion in our home, so bring out the sugar and butter!

This recipe is very easy to make. You simply pop some popcorn, then melt butter and brown sugar.

Like so…

Add the marshmallows.

This is where it starts getting ooey gooey good!

Take a pic of spilled marshmallows because you think the reflection in the nearby pan is pretty.

Keep stirring until it looks like this.

Spread popcorn out on parchment paper. MAKE SURE YOU REMOVE UNPOPPED KERNELS. Coverd in mallow those will become tooth breakers.

Pour the ooey goodness on and toss a bit. Mmmm!

Ooey Gooey Salty Sweet Mallow Popcorn

1/2 c. brown sugar
1/2 c. butter
1 1/4 cups miniature marshmallows or 9-10 large marshmallows
12 c. popcorn.

Pour popped popcorn onto parchment paper and spread out. Remove all unpopped kernels.

Put brown sugar and butter in a pan. Heat on low to med, stirring until sugar dissolves. Add marshmallows and stir until melted. Pour over popcorn.

Healthy Eating/ RECIPES/ Sides

Favorite Cheezy Kale Chips

Kale is a leafy green that I try to get into my body at least every other day. It is the most nutrient dense leafy green and is full of all kinds of cancer fighting phytonutrients. I use baby kale in my salads & green smoothies, but my favorite way to eat kale is to make kale chips.

I have been making this recipe like crazy lately, and find myself eating the entire pan by myself! It is a great way to get a large amount of nutrients into the body, and at the same time satisfy any cravings for a salty, cheesy, crispy, crunchy snack.

I LOVE KALE CHIPS!

Here is my favorite way to prepare them:

Drizzle a little olive oil onto baking sheet. Use pastry brush to spread out evenly.

Wash kale. There are 2 types. Curly & Lacinato. I like to use lacinato, which is this large, flat type. If you use curly kale, you can use this same recipe but just toss in a bowl with tongs to coat.

De-veining kale by taking stem out of the middle.

De-vein kale by taking out the tough stem that is in the middle. It is bitter so make sure to remove it. I just tear it with my hands.

Tear kale into pieces…or not. Whatever shape and size you desire.

Trader Joe's ingredients including olive oil and soy sauce

Have ingredients ready. You will need olive oil, soy sauce (or tamari), any type of grill seasoning, pepper, & nutritional yeast (or Parmesan cheese for non-vegans).

Drizzle about a tablespoon of olive oil over washed kale. Can use a pastry brush to coat…I just use my fingers!

Then drizzle with a 1/2 tablespoon – 1 tablespoon of soy sauce. Use pastry brush or fingers to coat leaves.

Sprinkle with nutritional yeast (or parm cheese) until coated to your liking. I use about 2-3 tablespoons for this batch. I just eyeball it.

Add about a teaspoon of grill seasoning –or any seasoning you like. Curry is good, Italian seasoning is good, but my fav is Trader Joes 21 Seasoning Salute. I used about half of what is in my palm in the pic.

After adding seasoning, use the pastry brush or your fingers to spread all together onto the leaves. Basically you are just wetting the seasonings with the oil and soy sauce. Nothing fancy, it does not need to be perfect.

Bake at 250 degrees for 15-20 minutes or until crispy. Watch closely. The time between crispy and burnt is just a couple minutes. I can usually tell when it is done by my nose. It smells really yummy when it is crisped up and done. If it is crispy, it is done. Break into pieces and enjoy. Can also crumble and use on soups and to top salads.

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Cheezy Kale Chips

3-4 large kale leaves

2-3 tablespoons olive oil

1/2-1 tablespoons soy sauce (or tamari)

2-3 tablespoons nutritional yeast or Parmesan cheese

1/2-1 tsp grill seasoning

pepper to taste

Wash kale leaves. Take large vein out of center of kale. Spread about 1 tablespoon olive oil onto pan. Lay kale leaves down on pan in single layer. Drizzle remaining olive oil onto kale, just enough to coat each leaf. Use pastry brush or fingers to spread onto leaves. Do the same with the soy sauce. Sprinkle with nutritional yeast or Parmesan cheese. Sprinkle with seasoning and pepper, then spread seasonings into the oil and sauce using your fingers or pastry brush. Bake 250 degrees or 15-20 minutes or until crispy.

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Have you ever made kale chips?

What are your favorite seasonings?

GF, Vegan & Raw/ RECIPES/ Sponsored/ Sweets

Dreamy Coconut Bites

Once a month, the first Sunday of every month, my in laws have the whole family over for what we call “Pizza Sunday.” There are usually at least 6 adult couples, who all have at least 3 children whose ages range from 3-21. It is a day my family looks forward to every month. The family fellowship is sweet and my in-laws have made their home an absolute haven for the grand kids. They have a pool, basket ball hoops, tether ball, volleyball, a play set & a nice big yard. Inside they have a pool table, pinball machine, arcade game, video games and a play room. My kids never want to leave Grandma’s house!

The adults sit around and have great conversation while we eat. We then enjoy watching the kids play and swim, sit around and relax with magazines, chatting in between pages. It is so awesome. I can’t tell you how blessed I feel to truly love and enjoy all of my in-laws.

My Mother-in-Law orders a bunch of pizzas, makes a big healthy salad, and puts out some fruit and a few appetizers. She usually has a couple different desserts, and sometimes asks us if we would mind bringing desserts. This last pizza Sunday she asked a few of us to bring a dessert to share. I know she is a huge fan of coconut, so I searched my pinboards for something sweet with coconut in it. I found the perfect recipe.

The recipe is originally called Coconut Crack Bars via Chocolate Covered Katie. I can see why…they are addicting. But I decided to name them something a little less harsh, especially since they are made with pretty wholesome ingredients. I also took the liberty to add chocolate chips to the recipe. Yum!

These are no-bake and take just minutes to whip up in your food processor. They are vegan, but were very well- received by both vegans and non-vegans in the family. If you are a coconut lover, you must try them! I will be making this recipe again and again.

Enjoy!

Dreamy Coconut Bites

1 cup shredded coconut (unsweetened) (80g)
1/4 cup honey (or agave nectar if want to keep vegan)
2 tbsp virgin coconut oil
1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract
1/8 tsp salt
1/4 cup mini chocolate chips (my fav vegan brand, dairy, nut and soy free – click here)

Combine all ingredients in a food processor. (Perhaps you can mix by hand if you don’t have a food processor, but I haven’t tried.) Squish into any small container (I used a 7×5) and fridge for an hour before trying to cut. (Or freeze for 15 minutes.) Can be stored in the fridge or freezer, for at least a few weeks.

Dreamy coconut bites and chocolate chips

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Are you a coconut lover? Here are a few more recipes from NN with coconut in them!

Coconut Crusted French Toast

Honey Whole Wheat Muffins with Coconut Butter
No Bake, No Sugar Chocolate LaraBar Truffles
Coconut Chicken (or Beef) Curry with Noodles
Raspberry Bliss Bars

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