Coffee Banana Chia Bites

I have been challenged! In a good way... All that know me, know I like a challenge :) So here it is... a nut-less, egg-less, gluten-free, no dairy, no soy, vegan, on-the-go, breakfast, snack, anytime, easy... metabolically efficient recipe! That's a mouthful ;) I couldn’t help but strip it down to the absolute essentials. The "less = more" graphic design principle is in my bones and never to be extricated. This is good news for those of you who like simple and easy to make recipes. My design friends know what I'm talking about here! And wait, one more thing... I love coffee. Yes, even as a kid before I was introduced to the morning cup-of-joe, I would order coffee ice cream or a coffee soda at the local ice cream stand. Again, my friends know what I'm talking about here! Love the buzz. Let's do this! The best time to make this recipe is in the morning or just after you have brewed that pot of coffee. This way you have your coffee ready and you can be sipping a cup while you whip these up. The ingredients for these scrumptious protein-packed bites, begin with three ripe bananas. Then come a few essentials you may already have on hand -- chia seeds, plant-based protein powder, baking powder and baking soda. Easy right? The consistency of these bites are gooey on the inside with a crusty outer. I think of these as more of a chewable smoothie. The vanilla plant-based protein powder and the banana make these sweet tasting.

Enjoy!

Prep time is 10 minutes, cooking time is about 50 minutes. Makes 8 bites (squares) Here's how to do it: Ingredients - 3 medium size bananas - 3 scoops Plant-based Protein Powder (I use Thorne VegaLite Vanilla) - 1/4 cup Chia Seeds - 1/4 cup Coffee - 1 1/2 tsp Baking Powder (I use Bob's Red Mill brand) - 1/2 tsp Baking Soda - 1/2 cup Boiling Water

Instructions Preheat oven to 350 degrees and line a baking loaf tin with parchment paper then set aside.

Boil water and add it to the chia seeds in a small bowl. Let sit while seeds absorb the water.

In a large bowl mash the bananas with a fork until smooth. Add baking powder and soda and mix together. Add in the chia seeds to the mixture and stir until all the seeds are blended throughout. Add the protein powder and coffee. Mix until the powder is absorbed. Scoop the batter into the parchment paper tin and smooth with a spatula. Bake for about 50 minutes. The top of the loaf will turn dark brown in color. Remove from the oven and allow to cool. Remove parchment paper and slice down the middle. Then slice into 8 squares. 1 square:

CHO = 13g

PRO = 11g

Fat = 3g

Fiber = 4g Metabolically Efficient: YES

Ratio: 13:11 = 1:1