Chocolate quinoa power breakfast cookies



Wow, Mom, did you know I'm good for your health?

Pet lovers have always known that cats and dogs were good for their health but now research backs that belief up. The long-term benefits of owning a cat include protection for your heart. Over the 20 years of one study, people who never owned a cat were 40 percent more likely to die of a heart attack than those who had. (Does that mean cats are better than dogs, Mom?)

(Well, Bailey, it is something to gloat about.) But another study showed that dog owners had a significantly better survival rate one year after a heart attack. And, overall, pet owners have a lower risk of dying from any cardiac disease, including heart failure.

I'm helping Mom stay well too!

(Yeah, Bailey, we pull Mom all over the place but that must be good for her. And sometimes we curl up at her feet when she's doing office work. That probably makes her feel good too!)

Chocolate quinoa breakfast bars

Pets aren't the only thing good for your health. Chocolate can be good for you too!  Studies show that eating chocolate, primarily dark chocolate, may contribute to improved cardiovascular health. Packed with natural antioxidants, dark chocolate and cocoa sit in the same good-for-you category as green tea and blueberries.

With that in mind, who can resist Chocolate Quinoa  Power Breakfast Bars?

(suitable for ACD-maintenence unless omitting applesauce; replace with pumpkin or squash puree for ACD-phase 2)

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 cups quinoa flakes (or substitute gluten-free rolled oats)
• 2 T. chia seeds
• dash of salt
• 1 tsp. cinnamon
• 1 tsp. gluten-free baking powder
• stevia
• vanilla stevia (no alcohol)
• 1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
• 1/4 cup cacao powder
• 2 T. cacao nibs
• 2 scoops chocolate rice protein powder
• 1/4 cup fresh blueberries
• 1/2 cup chocolate almond milk
• 1 T. tahini
• Optional: chocolate glaze made from 3 T. melted coconut oil combined with 2-3 T. cacao powder and vanilla stevia to taste

Directions:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees
• Put 1/2 cup quinoa flakes, chia, cinnamon, cacao powder, salt, stevia, protein powder and baking powder in a coffee grinder and grind until it resembles a coarse powder.
• In a medium bowl, combine ground quinoa mixture with 1/2 cup unground quinoa flakes (or oats). Add cacao nibs.
• In a small bowl, mix tahini with chocolate almond milk (unsweetened) and applesauce. 
• Mix together the quinoa mixture with tahini-almond milk-applesauce mixture.
• Add more almond milk if necessary to bring the dough together.
• Stir in fresh blueberries
• Scoop batter onto a sprayed cookie sheet.
• Bake 15 minutes.
• Cool slightly and glaze with chocolate coating if desired
• Makes 3 (2-cookie) servings.

Not in the mood for chocolate? Try these breakfast cookies instead: http://catsinthekitchen.blogspot.com/2012/04/quinoa-blueberry-breakfast-cookies.html

Contributed to: http://www.dietdessertndogs.com/2012/07/05/wellness-weekend-july-5-9-2012/