Lunch Bunch Healthy Holiday Treats

We had a fun time today at our Lunch Bunch with lots of delicious healthy holiday treats! I know it is a busy time of year for people so I appreciate all those who were able to come.  For those that couldn't, we missed you and hope you'll join us next month.  And for those that couldn't make it, feel free to link up at the bottom if you have a healthy holiday treat that you want to contribute!

As a group today we decided that from now on we will meet on the second Thursday of each month.  I probably won't get our photos and recipes loaded onto the blog until later that evening so plan on  linking up on the second Friday of each month.

We also decided that next month we are going to focus on recipes that use beans or legumes since that was something some of us wanted to learn how to do a little more.  So start playing around with some recipes to dazzle us with for next month!

And now, here are the recipes from today!

Ginger Cookies

3/4 cup coconut oil

1 cup agave

1/4 cup molasses

2 eggs

3 1/2 cups whole wheat flour, finely ground

1 1/2 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

2 tsp cinnamon

2 tsp ground cloves

3 tsp ginger

1 tsp nutmeg

Cream together the coconut oil, agave and molasses.  Add eggs and mix well.  Add all dry ingredients and mix well.  Roll into small balls and bake at 375 for 6 minutes.  Cool and enjoy!

Melodi's Almond Butter Squares

3/4 cup almond butter

1/3 - 3/4 cups honey {to taste}

1/4 cup vanilla whey protein powder

Combine almond butter and honey together in small pan and melt on stove.  Add protein powder.  Press into an 8x8-inch pan.  Cool.  Cut into squares.

Pear Crisp

6 cups sliced unpeeled fresh pears
1/4 cup frozen apple juice concentrate, thawed
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
3/4 cup old fashioned oats
1/4 cup whole wheat flour
1/3 cup packed brown sugar
1/4 cup butter
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
1/4 tsp ground ginger

Heat oven to 375.  Spray 8x8-inch square glass baking dish with cooking spray.  In medium bowl mix pears, apple juice concentrate and 1/2 tsp cinnamon until well mixed.  Spread in baking dish.

In same medium bowl, mix remaining ingredients until crumbly.  Sprinkle over pears.

Bake uncovered 25 to 35 minutes or until pears and topping are golden brown.

Pecan Pie Squares

2 cups pecans, ground

30 medjool dates {or 60 california dates}

1 1/2 cups shredded, unsweetened coconut

1/2 tsp salt

1 tsp cinnamon

1/2 cup pecans, chopped

In a food processor, or high powered blender, grind dates into a paste.  Combine with ground pecans, salt, cinnamon and coconut in food processor until smooth and doughy.  Knead chopped pecans into dough.  Press pecan mixture into 8x8-inch pan.  Cut into squares and enjoy!

No Bake Snowballs

1 cup natural peanut butter {without added sugars/oils etc}

1/2 cup honey

1/4 cup brown rice syrup*

2 1/2 cup brown rice cereal*

1/2 cup oats

1-2 tbsp chia seeds*

finely shredded coconut to roll balls in

Mix everything together except for the coconut.  Roll the mixture into balls and then roll in coconut

* you can find these ingredients at most health food stores

Christmas Water

Water

Limes

Cranberries

Ice

Fill decorative container with water and ice.  Add sliced limes and fresh cranberries. 

Now here's your chance to link up with your own delicious holiday treats!