Tangy Apple Salad

SERVES 4

INGREDIENTS
For the salad:
Spinach
1 tart and crisp apple (like Fuji or Honeycrisp), chopped
2 stalks celery, sliced
1/2 c red onion, chopped
1/3 c dried cranberries
1/4 c sunflower seeds

For the dressing:
2 t lemon juice, fresh squeezed
2 t dijon mustard
2 t honey
1 t balsamic vinegar
2 T olive oil
fresh ground pepper

Simple Peanut Butter Granola Bars

This recipe can easily be made "clean" because everything about this recipe was easy.

MAKES 6 BARS

INGREDIENTS

4 T crunchy peanut butter

4 T brown rice syrup (or honey)

1 1/2 c rolled oats

1/2 c dried cranberries or cherries or rasins

1 T whole-wheat flour

Nuts or seeds are optional

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. In a sauce pan over low heat, melt the peanut butter and brown rice syrup.

2. Add all the other ingredients to the smooth, melted mixture and combine until they're well blended. 

3. Grease a 9x9 pan and press the granola mixture flat with a spoon. Bake for 15 minutes. 

4. Let cool before cutting. Store for up to 2 weeks in an airtight container.

Chewy Oatmeal Chip Cookies with Cranberries

MAKES 3 DOZEN COOKIES

INGREDIENTS
1 c unsalted butter, softened
1 c packed light brown sugar
1/2 c white sugar
2 eggs
2 t vanilla extract
1 1/4 c all-purpose flour
1/2 t baking soda
1/2 t salt
3 c quick oats
1 c chocolate chips
3/4 c dried cranberries

Preheat oven to 325.

In a large bowl, cream together butter, brown sugar, and white sugar on a high speed for 3 minutes. Beat in one egg at a time then add vanilla extract. Combine the flour, baking soda, and salt, and slowly add into the creamed mixture until just blended. Mix in the quick oats, chocolate chips, and cranberries.

Drop 2 T spoonfuls onto an ungreased cookie sheet. Bake for 12 minutes.

(Almost Clean) Vegan Oatmeal Cookies

Lately I've been interested in a clean diet. The most basic rule is to cut out anything white- refined sugar and flour, for example. This can be difficult to do when you love baked goods as much as I do.

I wanted to make clean cookies, but couldn't resist adding chocolate chips, hence the "(Almost Clean)" in the title.

MAKES ABOUT 30 COOKIES

INGREDIENTS
3 c uncooked rolled oats
1 1/2 c whole wheat flour
1/2 t cinnamon
1/2 t baking soda
1/2 t salt
3/4 c maple syrup
1/2 c canola oil
1/2 t vanilla extract
2 T ground flaxseed
1 c applesauce or 1 medium banana
3/4 c cranberries (optional)
3/4 c dark chocolate chips (this was my cheater ingredient)

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Mix all ingredients in a large bowl (make sure banana is mixed in well and that there are no chunks). Place rounded spoonfuls of dough onto a cookie sheet and bake for 12 minutes. Remove from the oven and let cool for 5 minutes before enjoying.