Peace O Chocolate

Friday, June 24, 2011

PB Cookies

I found this recipe for 5-ingredient Peanut Butter Cookies by Claire Robinson, but changed a few things in the cookies I made.

The original recipe:

1 cup peanut butter

1 cup sugar

1 egg

1 teaspoon vanilla

sea salt

My version:

1 cup of natural peanut butter,

1/2 cup sugar (I will probably use only 1/4 cup next time)

1/4 cup of apple sauce + a sprinkle of baking powder

1 splash of vanilla

1/2 cup of oats

and of COURSE a hefty sprinkling of chocolate chips.

Teaspoon sized cookies 1" apart on tray, sprinkle with sea salt on tops of cookies.

The original recipe said they only needed 10 minutes, but I ended up baking mine (turning the cookie tray every 5 minutes) for about 20 minutes, then turning off the oven and keeping them in there for another 10.

I was REALLY happy with the results, and am curious to see how they will come out with even less sugar next time. Maybe NO sugar would be okay since I have the chips in there? Hmm...

Thursday, June 23, 2011

The shirt that became a pillow

Having major stay-at-home-mom-I-have-no-identity-of-my-own syndrome, I have been trying to get back into doing creative things to have somewhat of an outlet.

After discovering husband's shirts have teeny holes in the bottoms from his belt pulling on it when he sits, I made the decision to retire them and turn them into pillows for our soon to be office in the new house.

I'm somewhat happy with the turn-out but have a few things I'm going to change for the next 2 shirt pillows...

I stuffed it with polyester batting that my mom had for when I was going to recover her chairs. Next time I would get actual pillow stuffing so it's not so lumpy looking, and I'd stuff it wayy more for a fluffy lil pillow.

Hanna loves it, though! She's been carrying it around all morning and pushing it in her stroller. At least I have one fan!

Wednesday, June 22, 2011

Discovery

Coconut water is disgusting on it's own. I'll spare you from the details of what it reminds me of.

BUT, turns out, it's a great and healthy addition to a smoothie! This morning I added mango coconut water to a smoothie with pineapple, mango, banana, and some milk and it added a great light coconut flavor without the grossness of drinking it on its own.

Enjoy!

Thursday, April 14, 2011

Cookies!

While searching for the hidden easter egg of the day on RealSimple.com today I stumbled across this Jam Thumbprints Recipe using this sugar cookie recipe.

I altered it a bit and came up with this:

1. Preheat oven to 350F.

2. Combine the following ingredients in a bowl and squish with your hands - a spoon will simply not do!

2 1/2 cups whole wheat flour (in place of all purpose white flour)

1/4 teaspoon baking soda

Pinch of salt

3/4 cup virgin coconut oil (in place of butter)

3/4 cup sugar

1 T ground flaxseed + 3 T water (in place of 1 egg)

Cocoa powder to your liking (the necessary Cassie addition)

Splash of vanilla

Splash of vegetable oil

3. Form/squish into balls. Make a hole in the center with your finger.

4. In some of the cookie centers, put a bit o' natural peanut butter. In others, put a natural fruit jelly/preserve.

5. Bake for 15-18 minutes or until lightly browned.

They came out pretty tasty!

Tuesday, March 29, 2011

Toothpaste: For more than just your chompers!

My mom was cleaning out her kitchen gadget drawers today and pulled out these little butter or cheese knife things, I really don't know what they are.... Anyhoo, they were in desperate need of some shine.

I remembered reading that Tabasco sauce can polish silver. No Tabasco in house, so tried Frank's Red Hot -- FAIL. Then my mom mentioned that tooth paste works.. turns out she was right - it does!

Look at the difference using just a paper towel and toothpaste!