gogi berries | My Foodie Call

Tag: gogi berries
- King Bars. A pre-workout, post-workout, or even “sitting-on-your-couch” energy bar.
  
  Posted at 8:00 pm by myfoodiecall
  
  Jan 9th
  A healthy bar.
  
  We all know how to make and break New Year’s resolutions, right? Don’t give up just yet. This bar is worth hanging onto that new workout regimen. Although if you have already thrown in your sweaty towel, not to worry, you can still eat these from the couch.
  
  Here is a recipe that I have been making every so often for a few years now for Mr. Foodie Call. My original intention for these protein/energy bars were for him to use these as a post-workout snack.
  
  Why? They are loaded with protein. We all know about eating protein after a workout, right?
  
  Protein aids in muscle repair, yada yada yada…
  
  But Mr. Foodie Call started eating them before working out. Well it does have oats and chia seeds. Energy powerhouses. In short: Anytime of day would work for eating up these bad boys. Including your Bachelor viewing. That drama requires LOADS of energy.
  
  Insane.
  
  King Bars
  
  Ingredients:
  - 1 cup rolled oats (not quick oats, old-fashioned oats)
  - 1 cup puffed rice cereal (Plain jane, not the sugary kind. These bars are sweet enough on their own. Trust me)
  - 1/2 cup vanilla protein powder (I used vanilla soy protein from Trader Joes)
  - 1/2 cup peanut butter (or any other nut butter)
  - 2 tsp vanilla extract
  - 1/2 tsp cinnamon
  - 3/4 cup honey
  - 1/4 cup gogi berries (or raisins)
  - 2 tablespoons chia seeds (why do I use chia so much? A reminder here)
  - 1/4 tsp salt
  - 2/3 cup dark chocolate chips (get at least 60% dark chocolate for the antioxidants. I like Ghirardelli.)
  Directions:
  1. In a large bowl, mix together dry ingredients
  2. In a medium bowl mix together the honey and nut butter. Melt in microwave for 35-45 seconds. Stir in the vanilla.
  3. Pour wet mixture on top of dry and stir well.
  4. Press into a pre-sprayed pan with wet fingers, because yes, it’s sticky!
  5. Melt chocolate in microwave and spread evenly on top of the bars.
  6. Freeze for 10 mins. and cut into bars. Wrap individually. Store in the fridge or freezer. I do the freezer.
  A closer look.
  
  My dry ingredients.
  
  Stir a tad…
  
  Sticky sweetener and nut butter of choice.
  
  Combine the two.
  
  Add your gogi berries (or raisins).
  
  Next your chia. These alone will get you through the rose ceremony.
  
  Press it into your pan.
  
  Spread your melted chocolate on top.
  
  Freeze and cut.
  
  Don’t forget to grab one before your family steals them all.
  
  I wrap each in plastic wrap…
  
  Then pop them into these super professionally labeled snack bags.
  
  When to eat King Bars?
  
  Use these bars as fuel. Yes, these can be eaten whenever but ideally? Get off the couch and these are geat pre or post-workout.
  
  How to eat?
  
  Store these individually wrapped in the freezer. When you are ready to eat one, thaw it at room temp for 5 to 15 minutes, and devour.
  Posted in Snacks | Tagged chia, dark chocolate, gogi berries, oats, peanut butter
- Make friends with…Gogi Berries.
  
  Posted at 8:00 pm by myfoodiecall
  
  Nov 9th
  Have you heard the term “Superfood” when referencing a food’s nutrition benefits? “Superfoods” are as trendy as “fat-free” foods were back in the 90’s. It seems like the word “fat-free” was slapped on everything it could be…everything short of an apple. But we all know where the fat-free craze got us…. Excess sugar in our goods.
  
  Yes, Sugar overload. Anyhow, back to the labeling of “Superfoods.” On your health journey, you will most certainly come across the term “Superfood”. Really it is a marketing term to try to get you to buy and consume whatever Superfood is being touted as the next big thing. Marketing. And it works. I am guilty. However…what is important to note is that no one particular food can equate to perfect health. The key to great health is keeping a variety of whole, unprocessed foods in your life. Not focus on any one particular “Superfood.” Yes, kale is pretty much king, but make sure you do not ignore collards, spinach, romaine or any other powerful green. Again, I am guilty. I buy and consume these marketed “Superfoods.” I even have some on auto delivery from Amazon. See below 🙂
  
  Gogi Berries. A packaged Superfood. Sweet.
  
  These are the guys I am talking about. Good stuff. In a bag. Long shelf life. No worrying about buying in season.
  
  The reason I will promote this “Superfood” is because they do have pretty awesome health properties. Similar to berries, but no fuss or worrying about them rotting or going bad. No refrigerating required. Here is the deal. Before gogi berries are packaged, they are dried out almost completely and left with about 10% moisture. This gives them their chewy consistency. And although gogi berries look like little red raisins, they are not quite as sweet. But with Vitamin A, C, and Iron? Who cares. Way healthier than a raisin.
  
  My gogi berry and rolled oat cookies from a while back. See those red guys?? These are gogi berries.
  
  According to the Navitas Naturals website this is what they say about their gogi berries and their nutritional content: “Ounce-for-ounce, goji berries contain more vitamin C than oranges, more beta-carotene than carrots, and more iron than soybeans and spinach.” That’s quite a nutritional claim. I’m on board with that. What to do with these babies?
  - Keep them in your purse in place of those almonds you have been carting around for a week. Mix it up a bit.
  - Add them to your salad.
  - Top your oatmeal with them.
  - Add them to granola.
  - Blend them into smoothies.
  - Add them to your cookie recipes?? See above picture :).
  Although I am certain they sell them at Whole Foods Market, here is the Amazon link if you would like to order some from the comfort of your couch. http://www.amazon.com/Navitas-Naturals-Organic-Berries-16-Ounce/dp/B000FFLHSY
  Posted in Make friends with... | Tagged gogi berries
- Broccoli wraps that actually ROCK.
  
  Posted at 7:21 pm by myfoodiecall
  
  Aug 5th
  So these wraps were a whipped brainstorm that actually worked out fantastic. Love when that happens, and trust me, many times my brainstorms are a bust. I was in a rush, had been traveling and had to come up with a lunch idea for 9 people. We had relatives visiting that were vegetarian and this fit the bill nicely because this recipe was light, sans meat, and oh so tasty.
  
  Whole Wheat Broccoli Slaw Wraps
  - 1 package broccoli slaw
  - 1 green apple, chopped
  - 1/4 cup raisins
  - 1/4 cup gogi berries (or more raisins, don’t panic if you don’t have gogi berries)
  - 1/2 cup sunflower seeds
  - 1/4-1/2 cup Trader Joe’s Red Wine and Olive Oil vinaigrette dressing (or any kind of oil based dressing. No ranch!)
  - hummus (garlic, red pepper, plain jane will work too!)
  - 12 Whole Wheat tortillas
  Lets get started…
  
  Mix 1 package of broccoli slaw…
  
  Broccoli slaw. Doesn’t have to be Trader Joe’s brand. Walmart sells bags of these. No excuses.
  
  With one chopped green apple…
  
  For that flavor kick.
  
  Add your raisins…
  
  For a touch of sweetness.
  
  Add your gogi berries…
  
  That’s the stuff right here. So good for you. (or skip this and add more raisins)
  
  Add the sunflower seeds…
  
  For extra crunch.
  
  Add your oil-based dressing and stir well….
  
  Looks like this. You really could have a party for one and just devour this on your own. Rockin salad.
  
  Now spread a layer of hummus on your tortilla…
  
  This is roasted red pepper hummus. You pic your fave and run with it.
  
  Add your filling…
  
  Now you are in business.
  
  Fold ends in, roll, and tuck your filling as you go. Stack and serve.
  
  Don’t forget to bow after
  
  What is your favorite “on the fly” lunch?
  Posted in Meatless mealtime | Tagged broccoli slaw, gogi berries, vegetarian, wrap
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