Carrot Walnut Bread

This carrot bread has no sugar and no oil. Naturally sweet dates and applesauce give this quick bread the light amount of sweetness it needs and keeps it incredibly moist. Plus, with 2 cups of carrots in one loaf, this bread makes a great healthy snack or dessert for anyone.

Carrot Walnut Bread
1-8" loaf plus 2 mini loaves or 6 muffins

1 1/2 cups date paste*
1 1/2 cups carrot puree*
2/3 cup unsweetened applesauce
1 tbl ener-g egg replacer whisked together with 1/4 cup water until frothy
2 tsp vanilla extract
3 cups whole wheat flour
1 tbl baking powder
1 tsp salt
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp ground ginger 
1 cup toasted walnuts, roughly chopped
1/2 cup shredded carrots 

To make date puree- Soak 2 cups of pitted, dried dates in hot water for 30 minutes (or less if you have a really powerful blender). Drain the soaking liquid and add the dates to a blender along with 1/2 cup (fresh) warm water. Blend for a few minutes until it forms a smooth puree.

To make carrot puree- Blend 2 cups chopped carrots with 1/4-1/2 cup hot water until completely smooth.

Preheat the oven to 350.
Combine the date puree, carrot puree, applesauce, egg replacer and vanilla in a bowl to combine. Add the flour, baking powder, salt, cinnamon and ginger. Stir to combine into a thick batter. Stir in the walnuts and shredded carrots.
Pour into a greased 8" loaf pan and bake for 40 minutes-1 hour or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

Salted Banana Bread with Olive Oil & Dark Chocolate

A couple days ago a friend mentioned she was eating banana bread made with olive oil, dark chocolate and salt. Immediately I made a vow that I too would be eating that same bread as soon as possible. Everything about it sounded so right, how could I not go home and make my own batch?
My favorite part of this bread is the coarse salt sprinkled on top. It has that pretzel-salt like quality that tastes so good when paired with sweet flavors.

Banana bread made with fruity extra virgin olive oil, rich dark chocolate chunks and sprinkled with coarse sea salt.

Salted Banana Bread with Olive Oil & Dark Chocolate
1 loaf
3 large or 4 small ripe bananas
1/2 cup almond milk
1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
1/4 cup water
1 tbl finely ground flax seeds
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 cup all purpose flour
1 cup whole wheat flour
3/4 cup packed organic light brown sugar
3/4 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup dark chocolate chunks or chips
1 tbl coarse ground sea salt

Preheat the oven to 350. Grease a loaf pan.
Beat the bananas until fully mashed. Add the almond milk, olive oil, water, flax and vanilla. Beat for 3 minutes. Add the flours, brown sugar, baking soda and salt. Beat until just combined. Add the chocolate chunks.
Pour into the loaf pan and sprinkle the top with coarse sea salt.
Bake for 40-50 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean.