Pumpkin Protein Fudge Bar Recipe

As promised yesterday, here is the deliciously

 healthy recipe for my Pumpkin Protein Fudge Bars

Pumpkin Protein Fudge Bars

created by Snacking Squirrel

1 can pumpkin puree

1/2 cup peanut butter

1 packet instant oatmeal

(or 1/2 cup dry oatmeal)

3 scoops protein powder

3 plain or unsalted rice cakes

1-2 packets stevia powder

1/4 cup unsweetened carob chips

(or dark chocolate chips)

1 pinch ground cinnamon

1 pinch sea salt

Directions: Step-by-step instructions below 

All the ingredients you'll need

Farmer's Market Organic Canned Pumpkin Puree

Step A: spoon the whole can pumpkin into a bowl

Step B: add a pinch of cinnamon on top 

Organic Rice Protein Powder, Cafe Caramel Flavoured

Any protein powder works: soy, rice, whey, etc. 

and any flavour works: plain, vanilla, chocolate etc.

Step C: add in 3 scoops of protein powder

(measures out to be approximately 1/2 cup)

Step D: sprinkle in 1-2 packets of stevia sweetener (or a

few drops of liquid stevia), depending on desired sweetness

Step E: add the peanut butter (or other nut butter) 

and a pinch of salt (unless using salted peanut butter)

Step F: vigorously mix together with a spoon for a couple minutes

Hey, it's pumpkin protein frosting!

Nature's Path Hemp Plus Instant Hot Oatmeal

Gluten Free: use un-contaminated oats instead

Sugar Free: stick to plain unsweetened oatmeal 

Step G: pour in the oats and blend together

Now is a good time to taste the batter to see if 

you need to add more stevia to make it sweeter

Plum-M-Good Organic Rice Cakes

Unsalted multigrain, brown or white rice works too

Step H: crush/crumble the cakes into the batter with your hands

Step I: mix well before adding the unsweetened carob or chocolate chips (optional)

Step J: continue stirring until blended together

Step K: use a non-stick pan or line a baking sheet with parchment 

paper and spoon batter (2-3 Tbsp) on top, forming into rectangular bars 

I like to add a little water on top of the pan before laying down the

 parchment paper; This helps the paper stick to the baking sheet better

Step L: pop them in the freezer for 30 min or 

let them sit in the refrigerator for a couple hours

After spending time in the freezer

Step M: peel one of the fudge bars off to eat 

and plate, refreezing the rest for future snacking

One of them looked lonely so I took two instead :)

View from underneath

Okay, so they may not be the typical butter and sugar fudge we're used to, 

but you can bet these are much more satisfying! And pretty damn good :)

High in Protein, Low in Fat, Diabetic-friendly, Unbaked, Gluten Free and Vegan

Makes 10 Bars

Pumpkin Protein Fudge Bars

High Protein, Low Fat, Stevia Sweetened, Unbaked, Gluten Free, 

Vegan, Delicious and Healthy Pumpkin Protein Fudge Bars

Freshly made a couple minutes ago :)

Check back here tomorrow for the recipe

Colder Weather, Warmer Meals and Stevia Sweetness

With the sudden drop in temperature and a sudden increase in my cravings

 for warm comfort foods, it definitely feels like the beginning of November

For example, the colder it gets the more my Roasted

 Squash Bowls look more like this and less like this

1/2 large Kabocha Squash/Japanese Pumpkin

 roasted in a 400 Fahrenheit oven for 1 hour

Stuffed with Stir-Fried Beet Greens, Spinach, Green 

Beans, Kale, Onion, Edamame and Organic Lean Beef

And liberally coated with a variety of Brown, Yellow and Dijon Mustards

And for those of you who have yet to try Roasted Kabocha

 Squash, I can't stress enough how much you need to get on that!

Once you try it, you will be thanking me :)

Although I don't need anymore stevia since my last package arrived, 

I found a new company/product at the store and had to test it out

ORGANIC Lifestyle Sweet & Natural Stevia Packets

"1 packet provides the sweetness of 2 teaspoons of sugar"

It's true, stevia is incredibly sweet! I use it all the time, 

and if you were to check inside my bag, you'd find a lofty

 stash I carry with me for whenever I grab a tea or coffee

"It's made with rebiana, the best tasting part of the stevia leaf"

Zero Calories, Fats, Sodium and Carbohydrates, with 1 gram of Fibre

A lot of people complain about it tasting bitter, but that bitterness quickly

 dissipates when dissolved into food or water (unless consumed raw)

I found this particular flavour, "Natural", to be really 

bland. I regret not buying the "Caramel Delicioso" flavour!

Diabetes Friendly :)

Now all I need is a piping hot mug of tea!