Beauty Pirate Hippie Cookies with a silicone baking mat demo

I seriously don't know how I ever lived (or at least cooked) without these things. If you like to bake, do yourself a favor and get some of these bad boys.



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Trust me, you don't wanna make my Hippie #Cookies without a silicone bake mat. #bakingwizards #oatmeal #oceanspraycranberries #chiaseeds

A photo posted by Julie Ann Keene-Roppolo (@thebeautypirate) on Aug 13, 2015 at 7:46

So I make these on a regular basis for my sweetie to take to work. For years he took granola bars, but those are really just glorified candy bars full of corn syrup. Now if we run out he harangues me for the next batch. I start with a basic recipe and tweak it to add different goodies :-) This is super nutritious and filling- they get him through the day and now his co-workers always try to gank some off of him- I'm starting to get requests from his starving co-workers who work too hard to get a break.

These take no time at all to whip up and while I do call them cookies, they're more like a soft chewy granola bar.

Ingredients:

3 ripe bananas (this is a great way to use up bananas that have gotten too squishy)
2 cups rolled oats
1/3 cup fruit sauce (apple sauce for example. I made a batch with homemade pear puree once that was AMAZING!)
1 TSP vanilla extract
2 TBSP chia seeds
1/2 cup dried fruit - these are great with cranberries or tart cherries!

Preheat oven to 350 and mix everything together, smashing up the bananas first. Use a silicone baking mat or parchment paper. These are STICKY! Put them on the cookie sheet by spoonfuls and flatten them just a little bit. Cook for about 25 minutes or until the edges crisp a bit. They won't become overall crispy.

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Did You Know Vitamin D Deficiency Can Cause Hair Loss?

If you’re removing more hair from the drain than usual, you may want to take a closer look at your diet: Having low levels of vitamin D and iron could be playing a role in your thinning locks. 

Researchers at Cairo University found that women who were experiencing hair loss also had lower levels of iron and vitamin D2—and hair loss only got worse as the levels dropped. 

“This is the first time vitamin D’s possible role in hair loss has been highlighted,” explains Rania Mounir Abdel Hay, MD, a dermatologist at Cairo University, and co-author of the study. “It might regulate the expression of genes that promote normal hair follicle growth.” As for iron: Low levels may inhibit an essential enzyme that has been associated with hair loss in mice. 

Aim for a minimum of 600 IU of vitamin D per day, 800 IU if you’re over 71 years old. While it can be difficult to get enough vitamin D in your diet, salmon packs 450 IU per 3-ounce serving, and fortified milk and orange juice has 115 to 135 IU. And consider a vitamin D supplement, which has more than just healthy hair benefits: It could prevent heart disease, cancer, and bone fractures.

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I think what people need to realize is that these aren't gummies like Haribo Gummi Bears, they aren't candy. I guess I am just so used to eating fruit snacks that are on the healthy end and aren't marketed as candy, so the consistency and texture was exactly what I expected. They are softer than candy Gummi Bears. The flavor is yummy without having an overly sweet flavor (again, not candy.) I think they're very tasty and most certainly are a delish alternative to choking down your typical vitamin horse pill. So many people have a problem swallowing pills, so these are perfect for them. I swallow pills all the time, but I definitely prefer a yummy option!

We actually keep these with my Beauty Bursts and both nibble one of each after dinner like a snack that's healthy! With the huge vitamin D deficiency that comes with due sunblock diligence, Vitamin D is a must have supplement, and this is my new go to!

Here's a very thorough breakdown on vitamin D from Web MD

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