Hoppy Monday everybunny!
I am so excited to announce that I am taking over the Natural Delights Medjool Dates Facebook page this week! I have a special recipe for tomorrow and I’m hosting a live chat this Thursday (1/9) at 12pm (noon) PST! The live chat will take place on the Natural Delights Facebook page, so if you have any questions about cooking or weight loss, be sure to join me!
This could be my new favorite recipe. I’m calling it right now, Spinach Chips are the new Kale Chips. Actually, I’m probably way late to this party since I remember a few readers mentioning spinach chips before haha. But man oh man are they good! They literally melt in your mouth. I’m pretty sure you’re going to LOVE these. They’re super easy to make, have a short baking time, and only 4 ingredients! What’s not to love? They’re the ultimate healthy snack!
My friend Anna Marie and I just ate the entire batch of them, so I’m not sure how well they store if you have leftovers. Pretty high change you will eat these in one sitting, but no shame or guilt, they’re actually good for you! Completely gluten-free, vegan, low-calorie, and awesome! Not to mention, packed with vitamins and minerals!
6 Facts About Spinach:
- Filled with powerful antioxidants such as vitamin C, vitamin E, beta-carotene, manganese, zinc and selenium, which combat the onset of osteoporosis, atherosclerosis and high blood pressure.
- One cup of spinach contains over 337% of the RDA of vitamin A that protects and strengthens “entry points” into the human body, such as mucous membranes, respiratory, urinary and intestinal tracts.
- One cup of spinach has nearly 20% of the RDA of dietary fiber, which aids in digestion, and curbs overeating.
- The abundance of vitamin K contributes to a healthy nervous system and brain function.
- Contains two anti-inflammatory epoxyxanthophylls; Neoxanthin and violaxanthin.
- Packed with magnesium, folate, iron, calcium, vitamin C, vitamin B2, potassium, and vitamin B6, and a great source of selenium and niacin.
Spinach Chips
Serves 1-2
2 large handfuls of spinach (I used about 1/2 the bag)
1 Tbsp olive oil
1/2 Tbsp Italian herb seasoning (I use Frontier & sometimes McCormick)
1/8 tsp sea salt, or to taste
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Massage oil into spinach until all leaves are completely coated. Add italian seasoning and salt, combine until evenly dispersed. Cover a baking sheet with parchment paper. Place leaves on the parchment paper so that they aren’t overlapping (this will allow them to cook evenly). Bake for 9-12 minutes until crispy.
Last month Natural Delights asked me if I would be a guest judge for the recipe contest at the Annual Yuma Medjool Date Festival! Me, a guest judge? WHATTT?! So cool! I love everyone at Natural Delights and I loveeee dates, so I was really excited to visit Yuma again for the festival. Brett (my lovely bunny model) also came along for the festival!
The trip started off with necessary bathroom mirror selfies (should I say us-ie?). We’re such girls.
Then we boarded the plane and prepared for takeoff.
Unfortunately our plane had different plans as our right engine started smoking! Sooooo we deplaned waited for a new aircraft.
I don’t know if I have talked about my bad luck with planes before, but I am literally always delayed, cancelled, or end up with a broken plane!
After our new plane arrived we were off to Yuma, AZ!
First cactus sighting at the airport!
The next morning, Brett and I woke up to a gorgeous Arizona sunrise and enjoyed coffee and breakfast at our hotel before heading to the festival.
We got to meet Miss Medjool! SO FREAKING AWESOME!
Brett and I had some free time to roam around the festivals so for our first stop, we explored the gallery where they had gorgeous photos of the Medjool date growers from Natural Delights.
They even had Medjool date art created by local kids! Seriously too cute for words!
Had to take a photo with the giant fork in downtown Yuma, because Im cool like that.
Brett and I made our way to the 
Our shakes were to die for! We downed them within minutes.
Standing with the recipe contest sign! Eeeeeeek!
Then it was time for the main event; the recipe contest. Look at the excitement on my face, it just screams “DATESSSSSS!”
We got to try so many incredible recipes submitted by local date enthusiasts.
And the winner wasssssss: the most incredible salty sweet cheese loaf with date and nut coating. The judges and I couldn’t get enough!
All of the Judges and the winner of the 2013 Recipe Contest!
To end an already amazing day, I did an on camera interview speaking about using dates for natural healthy sweetener in lightened up recipes! Brett and I had so much fun sampling dates from all of the vendors and getting to hangout with the Natural Delights team. It’s always a tasty and fun time visiting Natural Delights!
Greetings from my hobbit hole!
.
I love slathering hummus on my Juice Pulp Crackers!
mix the chocolate
pour evenly
freeze for 15 minutes
drop 1/2 Tbsp of 
cover and fill to the rim with remaining chocolate
freeze for 15 minues
enjoy!