Cashew Butter & Fig Toast

It seems everywhere I turn, there is a toast craze going on! Avocado toast has become a permanent fixture on many restaurant menus. I love avocado toast and could eat it every day but I decided to do a take on the classic peanut butter and jelly flavor combination. I used cashew butter and fresh figs and the results were incredibly delicious! I also topped it off with a drizzle of honey and Maldon sea salt to give it that sweet and savory flavor combination. During the summer months, I am always looking for easy breakfast and snack ideas, and this one is perfect!

Since the fig season here in California is rather short, I couldn't resist these when I saw a fresh basket at my farmers market. I have been adding them to everything from this toast, to salads, to cheese plates.

If you are doing any upcoming entertaining, you could to set out a "toast bar" for people to make their own. A basket of rustic bread, and all the fixings make it not only a cute display but also such an easy and delicious menu item. 

I started by slicing up a rustic loaf of bread and lightly toasting it. From there, I spread an even layer of the cashew butter and topped it with the sliced figs, honey and Maldon sea salt. It comes together in minutes!

Of course as I was just getting in the zone of shooting this blog post, our puppy woke up from her nap and quickly discovered that she wanted to be my little "helper" in the kitchen! ;) I might not have ended up getting all the shots I wanted for this post but the silver lining was that we had so much fun even if I had to tell her to get off the table a million times! 

I would love to hear if you make this toast recipe or if you want to share any of your favorite toasts recipes! Be sure to comment below or on my Instagram. Enjoy! 

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Cashew Butter and Fig Toast Recipe

Ingredients:

• Loaf rustic bread (or favorite bread)
• Raw cashew Butter
• 3-5 fresh gigs, sliced 
• Raw honey
• Maldon sea salt

Directions:

1. Slice loaf of bread in 1 inch thickness and lightly toast. Spread an even layer of cashew butter, followed by a layer of sliced figs. Top with a drizzle of honey and maldon sea salt. Serve and enjoy!

Almond Butter Chocolate Chunk Banana Bread

Do you ever look over at your fruit bowl and see your bananas start to get just a little bit brown? And then choose to ignore them so you can bake something with them? I hate to admit I do this more often than not. I have made a lot of baked goods with bananas in them (remember these?), however I had never tried putting almond butter in the batter before. What a game changer! Combined with chocolate chunks, the flavor and texture is amazing. You are going to want to let your bananas get brown just so you can make this recipe! 

I cleaned up the ingredients for this bread so that it fits most allergy restrictions, and you don't have to feel bad about eating it. To insure each bite has that amazing chocolate flavor, I used my favorite semisweet chocolate chunks. A good quality chocolate makes a big difference in this recipe. 

When my husband got home from work the day I made this, he walked in the door saying how amazing the house smelled! After dinner we enjoyed a few too many slices of the bread for dessert and had some for breakfast the next morning. This bread did not last long in our house! In fact, I see some bananas on our counter that are turning brown and I am thinking of making another loaf. It's that good! 

I hope you give this recipe a try and enjoy it as much as we do! Be sure to let me know how you like it below or on my Instagram. Happy baking :) 

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Almond Butter Banana Bread Recipe

Ingredients:

• 1/3 cup real maple syrup
• 1/2 cup almond milk
• 1 egg
• 2 tsp. vanilla extract
• 3 cup overripe bananas, mashed (about 1 cup)
• 1/4 cup coconut sugar
• 1 1/2 cup extra fine almond flour
• 1 1/2 tsp. baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup chocolate chunks
• 1/2 cup creamy almond butter

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease a 9x5 inch loaf pan and line with parchment paper. In a mixing bowl, combine the maple syrup, almond milk, egg, vanilla, banana, and coconut sugar until well combined. Beat in the almond flour, baking soda and salt until just combined.

2. Stir in the chocolate chunks. Now take the almond butter and add it to the batter in teaspoon full size dollops and then gently swirl it into the batter. Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan and sprinkle with chocolate chunks if desired...you may also now push in a few extra teaspoons of almond butter too!

3. Place loaf pan on a baking sheet and set in the oven. Bake for 50-60 minutes, or until center is set. If the top begins to brown (mine did after about 45 minutes), tent the bread with aluminum foil. Remove and let cool for at least 30 minutes before cutting. Bread will keep (covered) for 3-5 days. Serve and enjoy! 

* This recipe was adapted from this original recipe.

Grain Free Freezer Waffles

A guilty pleasure in our house is definitely waffles. Another guilty pleasure in our house is when my husband grabs a bagel with cream cheese as he is running out the door for work. In an attempt to come up with a breakfast solution for something fast with healthier ingredients, I turned to Against All Grain's new cook book, Meals Made Simple. The book offers a grain free freezer waffles recipe. Score! 

I decided to give the recipe a try and not tell my husband that they were a healthier version of the norm before he ate them since that hasn't gone well in the past. To my surprise, he loved them and would never have guessed they were grain free. The ingredients are simple and clean, and you can find all of them either in your local health food store or on Amazon. 

These waffles taste exactly like the waffles we are used to. They are light and fluffy with a great texture. They are a great solution if you are looking for a quick breakfast or a recipe to make ahead if you're hosting brunch. 

Besides the amazing taste of the waffles, I think the best part is that my husband can pop one in the toaster oven as he is heading out the door and forego the bagel and cream cheese. Whatever your reason might be for trying these, I highly recommend picking up a copy of Meals Made Simple and trying them!