Ingredients:

• 4 medium-sized ripe bananas
• 1 ⅔ cup rolled oats
• ¼ cup nut butter (can be substituted for your choice of oil) 
• 1 ⅔ cup ground almonds
• 8 tablespoons maple syrup
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• Pinch of salt
• ⅔ cup chocolate chips / flaked coconut / chopped nuts (optional)

Instructions:

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F. 
2. Peel the bananas and place them in a small bowl, then use a fork to mash until you get a smooth paste.
3. Add the nut butter, maple syrup, cinnamon, salt, ground almonds, and oats to the same bowl.
4. Mix well, adding a tiny splash of milk if it’s looking too dry.
5. Leave the mixture for 10 minutes to allow the oats to soak. 
6. Transfer the mixture into a baking tin lined with greased baking paper. 
7. Scatter over the chocolate chips, coconut, or chopped nuts and press them down into the batter.
8. Bake in the oven for around 20 minutes until golden brown. Allow to cool before cutting into squares.

The post These Banana Oatmeal Bars Aren’t Just for Breakfast appeared first on thedancingcucumber.com.

Bananas

Rich in carbohydrates and potassium, bananas will provide you with extra energy while also facilitating muscle growth. What’s more, no prior preparation is needed. Pop a banana into your gym bag to eat whenever you feel that craving for some extra nutrition.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Costco Canada (@costco_canada)

Corn Flakes

Because cereal is a high source of carbohydrates, it can actually help you during your muscle recovery after your workout. It’s also high in fiber, helping to regulate your digestion.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Kellogg's (@kelloggsus)

RXBAR Protein Bars

When it comes to getting the energy you need to go the distance, there is perhaps no better workout snack than a protein bar that has been engineered for this specific reason. RXBAR protein bars are filled with natural ingredients, making them a healthy and effective source of energy.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by RXBAR (@rxbar)

The post Workout Snacks to Provide You With an Energy Boost appeared first on thedancingcucumber.com.

Spicing It Up

It’s become popular to begin making and manufacturing flavored sunflower seeds—achieved by adding a flavoring or spice mix to the exterior of the roasted shells, which in effect “seasons” the interior of the seeds.

The premise of this idea is that the flavors contained in these spice mixes will impart a certain food or sauce’s flavor upon the toasted crunchiness of sunflower seeds. It’s an idea that works fantastically well!

Utilizing It Well

Some of the most popular flavors you will see on store shelves include ranch dressing, dill pickle, barbecue, and chile lemon. Between spicy, salty, tangy, and sweet—there are a boatload of options to choose from

Have you tried flavored sunflower seeds yet? What is your favorite flavor?

The post Flavored Sunflower Seeds Are All the Rage appeared first on thedancingcucumber.com.

Normal caviar might have those connotations, but there is a special type of caviar from the American state of Texas that will totally change your concept of this food!

Texas caviar is a no-frills, easy-to-prepare dip that takes an ingredient that looks like caviar and combines it with vegetables and a vinaigrette dressing to make an addicting snack.

Black-eyed peas are a common thing to find in Southern cooking, and they are the star ingredient used in Texas caviar. These savory, slightly nutty peas are the base and the flavor that dominates the dip. Oh yeah, and their black “eyes” are what gives this dish its name due to their resemblance with caviar!

Other things you can expect to find in this delicious dip include black beans, corn, onions, green peppers, lime juice, tomatoes, olive oil, and red wine vinaigrette. More and more people have also begun using avocado in this dip, which gives it a new twist!

The most common type of chip to dip in Texas caviar is tortilla chips, whose crispy character pairs perfectly with the dip’s other ingredients.

Have you tried Texas caviar before? What did you think?

The post Texas Caviar is a Great Tortilla Chip Dip appeared first on thedancingcucumber.com.

Snacking can be tough on a Keto diet, but these options are great for an afternoon pick-me-up while you’re at work or at school.

Almonds

Almonds are rich in calories via their high content of healthy fats and proteins, containing minimal carbohydrates. I love popping a handful of almonds in my mouth when I need a bit of energy, making it one of my top options.

Beef Jerky

Beef jerky is another protein-rich option that contains zero carbohydrates. Snacking on just a couple of pieces of this popular dried meat option gets my stomach satisfied and takes away any afternoon blues I might be feeling.

Celery and Nut Butter

If you can make your own nut butter using peanuts, almonds, or any other option you might like at home without extra sugar—or if you can find it at the grocery store—I love the boost this snack gives me when eaten on just a small piece of celery.

The post Keto Snacks Which Are Perfect for an Afternoon Pick-Me-Up appeared first on thedancingcucumber.com.

If you’re using a pumpkin’s flesh for a recipe or a decorative Jack-o’-lantern, you will probably be removing its seeds before doing so. Don’t throw them away! Instead, roast them in your oven following this recipe to make a delicious snack.

Ingredients

• Seeds of one pumpkin, washed and cleaned
• 1 teaspoon salt
• ½ teaspoon black pepper
• ½ teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
• 3 tablespoons butter

Instructions

First, you will want to remove the seeds from your pumpkin, separate them from the “gunky,” fleshy material that will be sticking onto them, and clean and drain them in a strainer.

After this, preheat your oven to 400 F.

Next, melt three tablespoons of butter and set aside in a small bowl. Add the salt, black pepper, garlic powder, and Worcestershire sauce to the butter and mix.

When the pumpkin seeds have dried, put them into a large bowl and drizzle the butter and seasonings mixture over them. Toss gently with a wooden spoon to ensure that the liquid covers all of the seeds.

Line a baking sheet with parchment paper, and place the pumpkin seeds on top. Roast on the top rack of your oven until the seeds are slightly brown. This should take somewhere between 5 and 15 minutes.

Wait for them to cool and store in an air-tight container. Enjoy!

The post Roasted Pumpkin Seeds are an Easy Fall Favorite appeared first on thedancingcucumber.com.

Ingredients:

• 1 bag bowtie pasta
• vegetable oil
• 1/2 cup grated parmesan
• salt, pepper, and seasoning to taste
• marinara sauce

Instructions:

1. Bring a pot of salted water to boil and cook bowtie pasta for around 8 minutes, until al dente. Carefully drain it.
2. Get a deep skillet and pour some vegetable oil in it. Turn the stove on to medium heat and heat the oil. When it starts simmering, add around 1 cup of the cooked pasta, making sure it’s all in one layer.
3. Cook pasta until it becomes gold and crispy. You’ll need around 2 minutes per side. Take out and drain on paper towels.
4. Season with parmesan, salt, pepper, and other seasonings you love.
5. Repeat in batches until you have no more pasta.
6. Serve with marinara sauce.

The post Have You Tried Making Pasta Chips? appeared first on thedancingcucumber.com.

Structured Meals

Fight the urge to snack all day long and make sure you’re having three meals per day, approximately at the same time every day. Eat your breakfast, lunch, and dinner, just like you normally would.

Healthy Snacks

Make sure you always have your favorite fruits and veggies at hand because they make great snacks for when you’re hungry between meals or just bored. Other great options include nuts, dried fruits, seeds, etc.

Portion Snacks

If you don’t want to give up on your favorite snacks, never eat them directly out of the bag. Instead, portion them into smaller containers so you know exactly how much you are eating.

The post How to Not Overeat During Quarantine appeared first on thedancingcucumber.com.

It’s not surprising that cheap and delicious processed foods are one of the biggest obesity factors today. We all know we shouldn’t eat them, but that’s easier said than done. The fact they are so tasty surely doesn’t help, but did you ever stop and think that they were designed like that on purpose?

Not all foods are the same. It’s difficult to overeat a salad, but it’s practically guaranteed you’ll overeat if you have a big bag of chips in front of you. No natural foods are as addicting as those made by humans, and it’s the synergy among their key ingredients that makes them like that. 

Foods that have the right proportions of sugar, salt, fat, and carbs — at least two of those groups — activate the parts of your brain responsible for pleasure and basically act like some drugs. They keep your brain wanting more, which is just what the manufacturers want so you’ll keep buying their products. Companies invest huge amounts of money to find just the right formulas, and you should know it’s not completely your fault that you can’t stop eating certain foods.

The post Some Foods Are Designed to Keep You Wanting More appeared first on thedancingcucumber.com.

Here are a few great reasons why you need to try masala dosa. You can have it for breakfast and even as a main course. It originates in India and is mainly prepared with potatoes or preboiled rice.

The Ingredients

Masala dosa is made from rice, lentils, potatoes, methi and curry leaves. It’s also usually served with a few sauces, which include chutneys and sambar. It’s a delicious mix that tastes different with every bite. So you won’t get tired of the burst of spices.

Healthy Dish

Masala dosa is nowhere near junk food. It’s considered one of the healthiest dishes in India. It’s concocted using a fermentation hailing from south India. It’s packed with a filling mix of potatoes, spinach, beets and more veggies and is perfectly filling if you’re in a hungry mood.

Use Your Hands

Traditional masala dosa should be eaten with the hands, just like the locals do in India. Make sure to wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water before consuming. Eating with your fingers helps you to pick up all the bits and pieces and truly immerses you in the Indian food eating experience.

The post Masala Dosas are a Flavorful Indian Dish appeared first on thedancingcucumber.com.

Ingredients:

• 4 medium-sized ripe bananas
• 1 ⅔ cup rolled oats
• ¼ cup nut butter (can be substituted for your choice of oil) 
• 1 ⅔ cup ground almonds
• 8 tablespoons maple syrup
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• Pinch of salt
• ⅔ cup chocolate chips / flaked coconut / chopped nuts (optional)

Instructions:

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F. 
2. Peel the bananas and place them in a small bowl, then use a fork to mash until you get a smooth paste.
3. Add the nut butter, maple syrup, cinnamon, salt, ground almonds, and oats to the same bowl.
4. Mix well, adding a tiny splash of milk if it’s looking too dry.
5. Leave the mixture for 10 minutes to allow the oats to soak. 
6. Transfer the mixture into a baking tin lined with greased baking paper. 
7. Scatter over the chocolate chips, coconut, or chopped nuts and press them down into the batter.
8. Bake in the oven for around 20 minutes until golden brown. Allow to cool before cutting into squares.

The post These Banana Oatmeal Bars Aren’t Just for Breakfast appeared first on thedancingcucumber.com.

Bananas

Rich in carbohydrates and potassium, bananas will provide you with extra energy while also facilitating muscle growth. What’s more, no prior preparation is needed. Pop a banana into your gym bag to eat whenever you feel that craving for some extra nutrition.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Costco Canada (@costco_canada)

Corn Flakes

Because cereal is a high source of carbohydrates, it can actually help you during your muscle recovery after your workout. It’s also high in fiber, helping to regulate your digestion.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Kellogg's (@kelloggsus)

RXBAR Protein Bars

When it comes to getting the energy you need to go the distance, there is perhaps no better workout snack than a protein bar that has been engineered for this specific reason. RXBAR protein bars are filled with natural ingredients, making them a healthy and effective source of energy.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by RXBAR (@rxbar)

The post Workout Snacks to Provide You With an Energy Boost appeared first on thedancingcucumber.com.

Spicing It Up

It’s become popular to begin making and manufacturing flavored sunflower seeds—achieved by adding a flavoring or spice mix to the exterior of the roasted shells, which in effect “seasons” the interior of the seeds.

The premise of this idea is that the flavors contained in these spice mixes will impart a certain food or sauce’s flavor upon the toasted crunchiness of sunflower seeds. It’s an idea that works fantastically well!

Utilizing It Well

Some of the most popular flavors you will see on store shelves include ranch dressing, dill pickle, barbecue, and chile lemon. Between spicy, salty, tangy, and sweet—there are a boatload of options to choose from

Have you tried flavored sunflower seeds yet? What is your favorite flavor?

The post Flavored Sunflower Seeds Are All the Rage appeared first on thedancingcucumber.com.

Normal caviar might have those connotations, but there is a special type of caviar from the American state of Texas that will totally change your concept of this food!

Texas caviar is a no-frills, easy-to-prepare dip that takes an ingredient that looks like caviar and combines it with vegetables and a vinaigrette dressing to make an addicting snack.

Black-eyed peas are a common thing to find in Southern cooking, and they are the star ingredient used in Texas caviar. These savory, slightly nutty peas are the base and the flavor that dominates the dip. Oh yeah, and their black “eyes” are what gives this dish its name due to their resemblance with caviar!

Other things you can expect to find in this delicious dip include black beans, corn, onions, green peppers, lime juice, tomatoes, olive oil, and red wine vinaigrette. More and more people have also begun using avocado in this dip, which gives it a new twist!

The most common type of chip to dip in Texas caviar is tortilla chips, whose crispy character pairs perfectly with the dip’s other ingredients.

Have you tried Texas caviar before? What did you think?

The post Texas Caviar is a Great Tortilla Chip Dip appeared first on thedancingcucumber.com.

Snacking can be tough on a Keto diet, but these options are great for an afternoon pick-me-up while you’re at work or at school.

Almonds

Almonds are rich in calories via their high content of healthy fats and proteins, containing minimal carbohydrates. I love popping a handful of almonds in my mouth when I need a bit of energy, making it one of my top options.

Beef Jerky

Beef jerky is another protein-rich option that contains zero carbohydrates. Snacking on just a couple of pieces of this popular dried meat option gets my stomach satisfied and takes away any afternoon blues I might be feeling.

Celery and Nut Butter

If you can make your own nut butter using peanuts, almonds, or any other option you might like at home without extra sugar—or if you can find it at the grocery store—I love the boost this snack gives me when eaten on just a small piece of celery.

The post Keto Snacks Which Are Perfect for an Afternoon Pick-Me-Up appeared first on thedancingcucumber.com.

If you’re using a pumpkin’s flesh for a recipe or a decorative Jack-o’-lantern, you will probably be removing its seeds before doing so. Don’t throw them away! Instead, roast them in your oven following this recipe to make a delicious snack.

Ingredients

• Seeds of one pumpkin, washed and cleaned
• 1 teaspoon salt
• ½ teaspoon black pepper
• ½ teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
• 3 tablespoons butter

Instructions

First, you will want to remove the seeds from your pumpkin, separate them from the “gunky,” fleshy material that will be sticking onto them, and clean and drain them in a strainer.

After this, preheat your oven to 400 F.

Next, melt three tablespoons of butter and set aside in a small bowl. Add the salt, black pepper, garlic powder, and Worcestershire sauce to the butter and mix.

When the pumpkin seeds have dried, put them into a large bowl and drizzle the butter and seasonings mixture over them. Toss gently with a wooden spoon to ensure that the liquid covers all of the seeds.

Line a baking sheet with parchment paper, and place the pumpkin seeds on top. Roast on the top rack of your oven until the seeds are slightly brown. This should take somewhere between 5 and 15 minutes.

Wait for them to cool and store in an air-tight container. Enjoy!

The post Roasted Pumpkin Seeds are an Easy Fall Favorite appeared first on thedancingcucumber.com.

Ingredients:

• 1 bag bowtie pasta
• vegetable oil
• 1/2 cup grated parmesan
• salt, pepper, and seasoning to taste
• marinara sauce

Instructions:

1. Bring a pot of salted water to boil and cook bowtie pasta for around 8 minutes, until al dente. Carefully drain it.
2. Get a deep skillet and pour some vegetable oil in it. Turn the stove on to medium heat and heat the oil. When it starts simmering, add around 1 cup of the cooked pasta, making sure it’s all in one layer.
3. Cook pasta until it becomes gold and crispy. You’ll need around 2 minutes per side. Take out and drain on paper towels.
4. Season with parmesan, salt, pepper, and other seasonings you love.
5. Repeat in batches until you have no more pasta.
6. Serve with marinara sauce.

The post Have You Tried Making Pasta Chips? appeared first on thedancingcucumber.com.

Structured Meals

Fight the urge to snack all day long and make sure you’re having three meals per day, approximately at the same time every day. Eat your breakfast, lunch, and dinner, just like you normally would.

Healthy Snacks

Make sure you always have your favorite fruits and veggies at hand because they make great snacks for when you’re hungry between meals or just bored. Other great options include nuts, dried fruits, seeds, etc.

Portion Snacks

If you don’t want to give up on your favorite snacks, never eat them directly out of the bag. Instead, portion them into smaller containers so you know exactly how much you are eating.

The post How to Not Overeat During Quarantine appeared first on thedancingcucumber.com.

It’s not surprising that cheap and delicious processed foods are one of the biggest obesity factors today. We all know we shouldn’t eat them, but that’s easier said than done. The fact they are so tasty surely doesn’t help, but did you ever stop and think that they were designed like that on purpose?

Not all foods are the same. It’s difficult to overeat a salad, but it’s practically guaranteed you’ll overeat if you have a big bag of chips in front of you. No natural foods are as addicting as those made by humans, and it’s the synergy among their key ingredients that makes them like that. 

Foods that have the right proportions of sugar, salt, fat, and carbs — at least two of those groups — activate the parts of your brain responsible for pleasure and basically act like some drugs. They keep your brain wanting more, which is just what the manufacturers want so you’ll keep buying their products. Companies invest huge amounts of money to find just the right formulas, and you should know it’s not completely your fault that you can’t stop eating certain foods.

The post Some Foods Are Designed to Keep You Wanting More appeared first on thedancingcucumber.com.

Here are a few great reasons why you need to try masala dosa. You can have it for breakfast and even as a main course. It originates in India and is mainly prepared with potatoes or preboiled rice.

The Ingredients

Masala dosa is made from rice, lentils, potatoes, methi and curry leaves. It’s also usually served with a few sauces, which include chutneys and sambar. It’s a delicious mix that tastes different with every bite. So you won’t get tired of the burst of spices.

Healthy Dish

Masala dosa is nowhere near junk food. It’s considered one of the healthiest dishes in India. It’s concocted using a fermentation hailing from south India. It’s packed with a filling mix of potatoes, spinach, beets and more veggies and is perfectly filling if you’re in a hungry mood.

Use Your Hands

Traditional masala dosa should be eaten with the hands, just like the locals do in India. Make sure to wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water before consuming. Eating with your fingers helps you to pick up all the bits and pieces and truly immerses you in the Indian food eating experience.

The post Masala Dosas are a Flavorful Indian Dish appeared first on thedancingcucumber.com.