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Double Chocolate Banana Bread – Vegan, GF, and Refined Sugar Free

September 15, 2019 by Gina +

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I’ve been a a bit of a bread making kick lately. But this one, this chocolate banana bread, tops the list. Cacao in the filling gives it a lovely chocolate flavor without being too sweet. Then the chocolate chips mixed in get melty, which is the best part.

I love a slice for dessert, with some peanut butter drizzled over. Name a better combo! It can also be a great breakfast with some yogurt, granola, and berries. Bonus, I use cacao, which a powerful antioxidant. I use AP gluten free flour and just a little maple syrup, which keeps it free from refined sugar. Healthy and delicious, double win!

3 ripe bananas, mashed
1/4 cup maple syrup
1/2 cup coconut oil
1/4 cup nut butter – I use peanut butter
1 tsp vanilla
1 cup all purpose gluten free flour
1/4 cup cacao powder
1 tbsp chia seeds
1 tbsp ground flax
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp cinnamon
1/4 cup chocolate chips + more for topping if wanted

Preheat oven to 350.
In a medium bowl, mix all the wet ingredients.
In another bowl, mix the dry ingredients, except the chocolate chips.
Gently mix the dry into the wet, until just combined.  Stir in the chocolate chips.
Pour batter into a greased bread tin.  Top with more chocolate chips if wanted, which I highly suggest.
Bake for 45 minutes.
Cool and enjoy!  Stores in the fridge for about 5 days.  You can also cut it into slices and freeze.  Best served warm.

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Filed Under: Breakfast, Desserts, Recipes Tagged With: banana bread, cacao, chocolate, chocolate chip, gluten-free, healthy, peanut butter, refined sugar free, vegan

Crispy Chicken Parmesan Pasta with Burrata 🍝 My w Crispy Chicken Parmesan Pasta with Burrata 🍝

My whole family loved this dinner and it will absolutely be on repeat. The combination of crispy chicken, marinara-coated pasta, creamy burrata, basil, and Parmesan is so simple but so good.

Ingredients#
2 large chicken breasts sliced in half horizontally
1/2 cup flour
2 eggs beaten
1 cup panko breadcrumbs
1/4 cup Parmesan
1 teaspoon garlic powder
Salt and pepper
8 ounces pasta
2 cups marinara sauce
1 ball burrata (or 2 if you want)
Fresh basil
Extra Parmesan

Instructions

Cook the pasta. Season the chicken and bread with flour, egg, and panko mixed with Parmesan. Air fry at 400 degrees for 10 to 12 minutes until crispy. (Or bake at 425 for 18 minutes) Warm the marinara and toss with the pasta. Assemble bowls with pasta, sliced chicken, a little more Parmesan, burrata, and basil. 

Save this for your next easy dinner idea.
The higher protein breakfast everyone in my house The higher protein breakfast everyone in my house loves

Make sure you’re following @gina_gibson_cooks for easy healthier recipes and save this one. I promise you’ll love it. 

They’re packed with protein from eggs, sausage, cottage cheese, and cheese.

Ingredients:
1 lb breakfast sausage
4 eggs (scrambled)
1 egg (mixed in)
1/2 cup cottage cheese
1/2 cup low-fat shredded cheese
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp garlic powder
Salt + pepper

Cook the breakfast sausage in a skillet until browned. Push to one side and scramble 4 eggs.

Add sausage + eggs to a bowl with 1 more egg, cottage cheese, shredded cheese, flour, baking powder, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Mix until combined.

Scoop with a 2 tbsp scoop onto a parchment-lined baking sheet.

Bake at 375°F for about 18 minutes, or until golden. Makes about 15 biscuits.
A cheesy, hearty, high protein taco skillet taco s A cheesy, hearty, high protein taco skillet taco skillet. Made with simple ingredients you probably already have. It bakes in the oven for an easy, hands-off dinner and comes together in under 40 minutes.

1 lb ground beef
1 small yellow onion, diced
1/2 cup uncooked white rice
1 cup blended cottage cheese
1 (15 oz) jar salsa
1 cup shredded cheddar or taco cheese blend
1 package taco seasoning
*chips, sour cream, avocado for topping and scooping

Preheat oven to 375°F. In an oven-safe skillet, cook ground beef and onion on medium heat until beef is browned.

Stir in taco seasoning. Add salsa, cottage cheese, the rice, then 1/2 cup water. Mix well.

Cover tightly with foil and bake for 25-30 minutes

Remove from oven, top with cheese. Serve with sour cream, avocado, and plenty of chips for scooping

Save this for your next quick dinner night.
2 lb chuck roast, multiple dinners — mashed potato 2 lb chuck roast, multiple dinners — mashed potatoes the first night sandwiches after that

The sauce is the real star here. Savory, rich, and packed with flavor from the miso, garlic, soy sauce, and ginger.

2 lb chuck roast
Salt + pepper
1 tbsp olive oil
2 tbsp white miso paste
2 tbsp soy sauce
1 tbsp rice vinegar (or apple cider vinegar)
1 tbsp brown sugar or honey
1 tbsp fresh ginger, grated
3 cloves garlic, minced
1½ cups beef broth
1 tsp sesame 

Mashed potatoes, for serving

Season the chuck roast well with salt and pepper. Heat olive oil in a Dutch oven or heavy pan and sear the roast on all sides until deeply browned.

In a bowl, whisk together the miso paste, soy sauce, vinegar, brown sugar, ginger, garlic, beef broth, and sesame.

Pour the sauce over the roast, cover, and braise at 300°F for about 3 to 3½ hours until the beef is fall apart tender.

Remove the meat and shred or slice it. Simmer the sauce on the stovetop for 5–10 minutes until thickened and glossy.

Serve over mashed potatoes and spoon all that sauce right on top.
Unlocking summer. I’m so ready and these @bloomsup Unlocking summer. I’m so ready and these @bloomsupps Ricket blasts are getting us there. Limited time. What’s your fave poolside or beach bev?!

#giftedbyoom
#bloompop
Lemon Butter Shrimp Bowls with Cilantro Lime Rice Lemon Butter Shrimp Bowls with Cilantro Lime Rice 🍤

This might be one of my favorite easy dinners lately. The buttery garlic shrimp, blistered tomatoes, cilantro lime rice, and salty feta all work so well together

You’ll need 
1 pound shrimp
1 pint cherry tomatoes
2 tablespoons olive oil
3 tablespoons butter
3 cloves garlic minced
juice of 1 lemon
2 cups cooked rice
1/4 cup chopped cilantro
juice of 1 lime
crumbled feta for topping 
salt, and pepper.

Cook the rice and mix with chopped cilantro, lime juice, and a little salt. Add olive oil to a hot skillet and cook the cherry tomatoes until blistered and softened. Push the tomatoes to the side of the skillet, then add butter, garlic, and shrimp. Season with salt and pepper and cook until the shrimp are pink and lightly golden. Squeeze in the lemon juice and mix everything together with the tomatoes. Spoon over the cilantro lime rice and top with feta.

Save this for an easy weeknight dinner and follow @gina_gibson_cooks for more easy family meals and Dinner Diaries 🍽️
Crispy Chicken Parmesan Pasta with Burrata 🍝 My w Crispy Chicken Parmesan Pasta with Burrata 🍝

My whole family loved this dinner and it will absolutely be on repeat. The combination of crispy chicken, marinara-coated pasta, creamy burrata, basil, and Parmesan is so simple but so good.

Ingredients#
2 large chicken breasts sliced in half horizontally
1/2 cup flour
2 eggs beaten
1 cup panko breadcrumbs
1/4 cup Parmesan
1 teaspoon garlic powder
Salt and pepper
8 ounces pasta
2 cups marinara sauce
1 ball burrata (or 2 if you want)
Fresh basil
Extra Parmesan

Instructions

Cook the pasta. Season the chicken and bread with flour, egg, and panko mixed with Parmesan. Air fry at 400 degrees for 10 to 12 minutes until crispy. (Or bake at 425 for 18 minutes) Warm the marinara and toss with the pasta. Assemble bowls with pasta, sliced chicken, a little more Parmesan, burrata, and basil. 

Save this for your next easy dinner idea.
The higher protein breakfast everyone in my house The higher protein breakfast everyone in my house loves

Make sure you’re following @gina_gibson_cooks for easy healthier recipes and save this one. I promise you’ll love it. 

They’re packed with protein from eggs, sausage, cottage cheese, and cheese.

Ingredients:
1 lb breakfast sausage
4 eggs (scrambled)
1 egg (mixed in)
1/2 cup cottage cheese
1/2 cup low-fat shredded cheese
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp garlic powder
Salt + pepper

Cook the breakfast sausage in a skillet until browned. Push to one side and scramble 4 eggs.

Add sausage + eggs to a bowl with 1 more egg, cottage cheese, shredded cheese, flour, baking powder, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Mix until combined.

Scoop with a 2 tbsp scoop onto a parchment-lined baking sheet.

Bake at 375°F for about 18 minutes, or until golden. Makes about 15 biscuits.
A cheesy, hearty, high protein taco skillet taco s A cheesy, hearty, high protein taco skillet taco skillet. Made with simple ingredients you probably already have. It bakes in the oven for an easy, hands-off dinner and comes together in under 40 minutes.

1 lb ground beef
1 small yellow onion, diced
1/2 cup uncooked white rice
1 cup blended cottage cheese
1 (15 oz) jar salsa
1 cup shredded cheddar or taco cheese blend
1 package taco seasoning
*chips, sour cream, avocado for topping and scooping

Preheat oven to 375°F. In an oven-safe skillet, cook ground beef and onion on medium heat until beef is browned.

Stir in taco seasoning. Add salsa, cottage cheese, the rice, then 1/2 cup water. Mix well.

Cover tightly with foil and bake for 25-30 minutes

Remove from oven, top with cheese. Serve with sour cream, avocado, and plenty of chips for scooping

Save this for your next quick dinner night.
2 lb chuck roast, multiple dinners — mashed potato 2 lb chuck roast, multiple dinners — mashed potatoes the first night sandwiches after that

The sauce is the real star here. Savory, rich, and packed with flavor from the miso, garlic, soy sauce, and ginger.

2 lb chuck roast
Salt + pepper
1 tbsp olive oil
2 tbsp white miso paste
2 tbsp soy sauce
1 tbsp rice vinegar (or apple cider vinegar)
1 tbsp brown sugar or honey
1 tbsp fresh ginger, grated
3 cloves garlic, minced
1½ cups beef broth
1 tsp sesame 

Mashed potatoes, for serving

Season the chuck roast well with salt and pepper. Heat olive oil in a Dutch oven or heavy pan and sear the roast on all sides until deeply browned.

In a bowl, whisk together the miso paste, soy sauce, vinegar, brown sugar, ginger, garlic, beef broth, and sesame.

Pour the sauce over the roast, cover, and braise at 300°F for about 3 to 3½ hours until the beef is fall apart tender.

Remove the meat and shred or slice it. Simmer the sauce on the stovetop for 5–10 minutes until thickened and glossy.

Serve over mashed potatoes and spoon all that sauce right on top.
Unlocking summer. I’m so ready and these @bloomsup Unlocking summer. I’m so ready and these @bloomsupps Ricket blasts are getting us there. Limited time. What’s your fave poolside or beach bev?!

#giftedbyoom
#bloompop
Lemon Butter Shrimp Bowls with Cilantro Lime Rice Lemon Butter Shrimp Bowls with Cilantro Lime Rice 🍤

This might be one of my favorite easy dinners lately. The buttery garlic shrimp, blistered tomatoes, cilantro lime rice, and salty feta all work so well together

You’ll need 
1 pound shrimp
1 pint cherry tomatoes
2 tablespoons olive oil
3 tablespoons butter
3 cloves garlic minced
juice of 1 lemon
2 cups cooked rice
1/4 cup chopped cilantro
juice of 1 lime
crumbled feta for topping 
salt, and pepper.

Cook the rice and mix with chopped cilantro, lime juice, and a little salt. Add olive oil to a hot skillet and cook the cherry tomatoes until blistered and softened. Push the tomatoes to the side of the skillet, then add butter, garlic, and shrimp. Season with salt and pepper and cook until the shrimp are pink and lightly golden. Squeeze in the lemon juice and mix everything together with the tomatoes. Spoon over the cilantro lime rice and top with feta.

Save this for an easy weeknight dinner and follow @gina_gibson_cooks for more easy family meals and Dinner Diaries 🍽️
Crispy Chicken Parmesan Pasta with Burrata 🍝 My w Crispy Chicken Parmesan Pasta with Burrata 🍝

My whole family loved this dinner and it will absolutely be on repeat. The combination of crispy chicken, marinara-coated pasta, creamy burrata, basil, and Parmesan is so simple but so good.

Ingredients#
2 large chicken breasts sliced in half horizontally
1/2 cup flour
2 eggs beaten
1 cup panko breadcrumbs
1/4 cup Parmesan
1 teaspoon garlic powder
Salt and pepper
8 ounces pasta
2 cups marinara sauce
1 ball burrata (or 2 if you want)
Fresh basil
Extra Parmesan

Instructions

Cook the pasta. Season the chicken and bread with flour, egg, and panko mixed with Parmesan. Air fry at 400 degrees for 10 to 12 minutes until crispy. (Or bake at 425 for 18 minutes) Warm the marinara and toss with the pasta. Assemble bowls with pasta, sliced chicken, a little more Parmesan, burrata, and basil. 

Save this for your next easy dinner idea.
The higher protein breakfast everyone in my house The higher protein breakfast everyone in my house loves

Make sure you’re following @gina_gibson_cooks for easy healthier recipes and save this one. I promise you’ll love it. 

They’re packed with protein from eggs, sausage, cottage cheese, and cheese.

Ingredients:
1 lb breakfast sausage
4 eggs (scrambled)
1 egg (mixed in)
1/2 cup cottage cheese
1/2 cup low-fat shredded cheese
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp garlic powder
Salt + pepper

Cook the breakfast sausage in a skillet until browned. Push to one side and scramble 4 eggs.

Add sausage + eggs to a bowl with 1 more egg, cottage cheese, shredded cheese, flour, baking powder, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Mix until combined.

Scoop with a 2 tbsp scoop onto a parchment-lined baking sheet.

Bake at 375°F for about 18 minutes, or until golden. Makes about 15 biscuits.
A cheesy, hearty, high protein taco skillet taco s A cheesy, hearty, high protein taco skillet taco skillet. Made with simple ingredients you probably already have. It bakes in the oven for an easy, hands-off dinner and comes together in under 40 minutes.

1 lb ground beef
1 small yellow onion, diced
1/2 cup uncooked white rice
1 cup blended cottage cheese
1 (15 oz) jar salsa
1 cup shredded cheddar or taco cheese blend
1 package taco seasoning
*chips, sour cream, avocado for topping and scooping

Preheat oven to 375°F. In an oven-safe skillet, cook ground beef and onion on medium heat until beef is browned.

Stir in taco seasoning. Add salsa, cottage cheese, the rice, then 1/2 cup water. Mix well.

Cover tightly with foil and bake for 25-30 minutes

Remove from oven, top with cheese. Serve with sour cream, avocado, and plenty of chips for scooping

Save this for your next quick dinner night.
2 lb chuck roast, multiple dinners — mashed potato 2 lb chuck roast, multiple dinners — mashed potatoes the first night sandwiches after that

The sauce is the real star here. Savory, rich, and packed with flavor from the miso, garlic, soy sauce, and ginger.

2 lb chuck roast
Salt + pepper
1 tbsp olive oil
2 tbsp white miso paste
2 tbsp soy sauce
1 tbsp rice vinegar (or apple cider vinegar)
1 tbsp brown sugar or honey
1 tbsp fresh ginger, grated
3 cloves garlic, minced
1½ cups beef broth
1 tsp sesame 

Mashed potatoes, for serving

Season the chuck roast well with salt and pepper. Heat olive oil in a Dutch oven or heavy pan and sear the roast on all sides until deeply browned.

In a bowl, whisk together the miso paste, soy sauce, vinegar, brown sugar, ginger, garlic, beef broth, and sesame.

Pour the sauce over the roast, cover, and braise at 300°F for about 3 to 3½ hours until the beef is fall apart tender.

Remove the meat and shred or slice it. Simmer the sauce on the stovetop for 5–10 minutes until thickened and glossy.

Serve over mashed potatoes and spoon all that sauce right on top.
Unlocking summer. I’m so ready and these @bloomsup Unlocking summer. I’m so ready and these @bloomsupps Ricket blasts are getting us there. Limited time. What’s your fave poolside or beach bev?!

#giftedbyoom
#bloompop
Lemon Butter Shrimp Bowls with Cilantro Lime Rice Lemon Butter Shrimp Bowls with Cilantro Lime Rice 🍤

This might be one of my favorite easy dinners lately. The buttery garlic shrimp, blistered tomatoes, cilantro lime rice, and salty feta all work so well together

You’ll need 
1 pound shrimp
1 pint cherry tomatoes
2 tablespoons olive oil
3 tablespoons butter
3 cloves garlic minced
juice of 1 lemon
2 cups cooked rice
1/4 cup chopped cilantro
juice of 1 lime
crumbled feta for topping 
salt, and pepper.

Cook the rice and mix with chopped cilantro, lime juice, and a little salt. Add olive oil to a hot skillet and cook the cherry tomatoes until blistered and softened. Push the tomatoes to the side of the skillet, then add butter, garlic, and shrimp. Season with salt and pepper and cook until the shrimp are pink and lightly golden. Squeeze in the lemon juice and mix everything together with the tomatoes. Spoon over the cilantro lime rice and top with feta.

Save this for an easy weeknight dinner and follow @gina_gibson_cooks for more easy family meals and Dinner Diaries 🍽️

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