Sugar Free Vegan Chocolate Chip Cookie + Making Date Past

After my last post on natural sweeteners I decided to modify one of my favorite cookie recipes to be sweetened with dates! I love making healthy treats for my family and myself so I am very pleased with how well these turned out. 

When using dates to as a sweetener you also get to pack your creation with fiber, potassium, iron, antioxidants and vitamin A. Dates are good sources of all those important nutrients so they are a wonderful option when looking for healthy treats for toddlers (and grown ups)!

First thing I had to do was make some date paste. I didn't have time to pre-soak my dates which I would make sure to do next time. I had to make twice as much as I needed to get my blender working effectively.  I ended up using ...

1 cup dried pitted dates
1/2 cup water

Next time I would simply soak them for 30 mins to an hour before processing in the blender or food processor.  If you are in a rush like I was this will work just fine but next time I will spare my kitchen appliance the pressure.

I blended them several times until they turned into a luscious creamy paste.

Then I turned my dates into delicious, cakey Chocolate Chip Cookies.

Vegan Chocolate Chip Cookies Sweetened with Dates

Preheat oven to 350°F

1 cup Whole Wheat Flour

2 tsp Baking Soda

1/4 tsp Sea Salt

3/4 cup Date Paste

1/4 cup Coconut Oil

1/2 cup Vegan Chocolate Chips (I use Enjoy Life Brand)

1. Mix together flour, baking soda and salt. 
2. Cream date paste and coconut oil together then add to dry ingredients.
3. Stir in chocolate chips.
4. Drop rounded teaspoons onto silicone baking sheet, non-stick pan or greased baking sheet. 
5. Bake for 20 minutes.
6. Devour.

C is for Cookie, perfect for snack time!

These cookies are thick and cakey. They have a caramel undertone thanks to the dates and a nice chewy texture. I love them warm with a glass of soy milk. 

Im just going to take a second to rave about Enjoy Life Mini Chocolate Chips!

Enjoy Life makes tons of great products but what I love is that just by seeing their brand name I know I can eat it. Their products are free from wheat, dairy, peanuts, tree nuts, egg, soy, fish and shellfish. As an avid vegan label reader I really appreciate it. Its awesome to not have to read 10 bags of chocolate chips before buying one, I am a busy mama I've got better things to do.  Not to mention there delish!

Now less reading and more healthy cookie making! 

Energizing Smoothie + Natural Sweeteners

I have a confession to make, I have a serious addiction.

Twice a day, minimum. 

The funny thing is I can't tell if its to smoothies or using my Vitamix :)

As I was cruising through my local Indigo today (and by 'cruising' I mean taking my 5 minutes to look at grown up books while Daddy plays with Zack) I spied a smoothie and juice recipe book boasting more then 100 recipes, and it was on sale! I quickly scanned the pages and noticed something awful.

Almost every recipe called for SUGAR! Plain ol' white sugar, or confectioners sugar. 

Even the smoothie that was simply orange juice and ice. I was completely shocked that someone would want to fill a nutritious and nutrient dense beverage with sugar.

I avoid most cane sugar for 2 reasons.

1. Its just not healthy- it raises blood glucose levels, suppresses the immune system and is linked to obesity, diabetes, Alzheimer's, muscular and cardiovascular degeneration. 
2. Most cane sugar processed in Canada and the United States is filtred with animal bone char. Every vegan chooses to draw their own line and for me I am not comfortable consuming this product. 

* Organic sugar is not processed in this manner


Here are some wonderful healthy natural ways to sweeten smoothies, cookies, juice or anything else that tickles your fancy.

• Dates 
• Agave Nectar
• Pure Maple Syrup
• Stevia
• Apple Juice Concentrate
• Coconut Palm Sugar
• Xylitol

Here is one of my go to smoothie recipes sweetened with dates!

Energizing Green Smoothie

4 Dates 

2 Tbs Chia Seeds

1 Frozen Banana

2 inches Cucumber 

Large Handful Spinach

1/2 Cup Non Dairy Milk ( I used Raw Almond)

*Note: if you are using a standard blender pre soak your dates in some water 1 hour beforehand to allow for them to blend completely

Add ingredients in order to blender.  If using a high speed blender start on low and progress up to high for about 30 seconds, if using a standard blender blend on high for a minute or two until the mixture is smooth and creamy.

Makes one large serving. 

Don't forget to lick the spoon. 

Organic Farmer's Market @ Riverdale Farm

I love farmers markets!

When I discovered that there is an organic farmers market at Riverdale Farm located in the heart of Downtown Toronto I was thrilled. I live a mere 15 minute walk from the Farm and my son loves to visit the wonderful animals. The organic farmers market is open from 3-7 Tuesday's until October 22nd. 

This Tuesday I filled my shopping basket with fresh, green, organic goodness. 

This corn knocked my socks off. I will be buying double triple next week. 

My  two year old son literally ate an entire cob RAW in 5 minutes.

And then exclaimed, " See, I told ya!"

He also enjoyed the free samples at the market.

Now for the haul...

Purple potatoes 

2 Summer Squash 

2 GIANT Zucchini

Rainbow Chard

Cherry Tomatoes 

3 Bell Peppers 

6 cobs of corn 

Swiss Chard

3 Cucumbers

Maple Syrup

...and one chocolate banana vegan cupcake.

The cupcake did not make it to the photo taking stage of the trip.

I should mention it was incredible. I bought it from LPK's Culinary Groove. They have a fantastic stand at the market with vegan doughnuts, cupcakes, ice cream sandwiches, brownies and more. They also have great gluten free products as well.  

Ying Ying Soy Food  also has a rockin' stand selling gourmet  flavored tofu, smokey tofu bacon, organic miso and tofu jerky. Their flavoured tofu is my favorite, it comes in a range of flavors like miso, tomato and curry to name a few. They can be eaten hot or cold right out of the pack.

Rob and Barry have a cool little stand selling some ready to eat vegan and vegetarian fare as well so if you are a hungry shopper you are in luck.

I'll post a recipie soon with my fresh organic produce! 

Fajitas? 

Fat banana pancakes anyone?

So get out there and check out fresh local produce  in your neck of the woods!