Wow. What an amazing discussion we had going on in the last post! I haven’t gotten a chance to respond to a few that I wanted to but hopefully I get that chance tonight when a certain 18 month old is asleep.
I was really excited about the new site that launched after prop 37 did not pass. The GMO Inside. Check it out and sign up to find out how you can continue to push through to fight against the big food companies! I just signed this petition to urge the Obama administration to require FDA labeling on food that contains GMO’s. Long shot but worth trying! I also found out that San Juan Island County in Washington State had over 60% of voters supporting Initiative 2012-4, which bans the propagation of genetically modified organisms in San Juan Island County. Woot Woot! My wheels have been turning about getting my own movement going. I will keep you posted on that one! I also saw something about trying to get the entire state of Washington GMO-free but can’t find the site right now. It’s all happening!
In other news, we had a decent weekend. We laid kind of low Friday and Saturday. Mike went to the Eagles game Sunday with about 8 friends—which meant Ella and I got a GIRLS day with the house ALL to ourselves! Except we took advantage of the nice weather and walked around suburban square to shop and get lunch!
We split a salad at Sweet Green. This is one of my favorite salad places. Everything they make is fresh and in season from local farms. Ella is a romaine fiend, so I ordered a mix of romaine and raw kale with avocado, sunflower seeds and baked kale chips crumbled in. It was loaded with other veggies too: sweet potatoes, cauliflower & cucumbers (in a cucumber-basil dressing)! All Ella’s favorites. She housed it. The people around us were amazing seeing an 18 month old shovel raw kale into her mouth. She doesn’t discriminate between her greens. Ella also loved the fresh buckwheat bread that they give you too. Good stuff.
I also made milk and cookies this weekend. Very, very yummy milk and cookies. Healthy, guilt-free milk and cookies!
I’ve been wanting to try this peppermint extract I picked up from whole foods last weekend. I’m sure many of you have seen and salivated over Lori & Michelle’s Protein Thin Mint Cookies. I felt inspired by them…and because I didn’t have any ingredients on-hand (I haven’t bought protein powder in a couple of months) I improvised and played off of their recipe and my raw almond butter cookie balls.
I knew I had to make something that was single-serving because otherwise it would be quite possible that I’d eat a cup of almond butter in one day. That would not be too great for my belly.
These cookies hot the spot.
I made them two ways, with the same ingredients. It’ all about whether you soften the coconut oil and almond butter or not.
So you can make balls:
Or cookies:
Chocolate Peppermint Almond Cookies with Sea Salt
Grain-free, gluten-free, sugar-free & vegan
Inspired by: Protein Thin Mint Cookies
ingredients:
- 2 Tablespoons raw almond butter
- 1 Tablespoon carob powder (or cacao, unsweetened cocoa)
- 1 Tablespoon ground flax or almond meal
- 1/2 Tablespoon coconut oil
- 1/4 teaspoon peppermint extract
- 15 drops of liquid stevia (or 1/2-1 Tablespoon of sweetener of choice)
- a pinch of sea salt
directions:
If you want to make flatter cookies soften the almond butter and coconut oil (not completely liquid, but soft). Add the remaining ingredients and use a cookie scoop to place on wax paper, they should mold into a cookie shape and sprinkle sea salt on top or in the batter. Stick them in the freezer for 10-15 minutes. Eat immediately or store in the fridge.
If you want to make “balls” make sure the almond butter is chilled and add coconut oil that is only slightly soft, not melted but not hard and firm. Add the rest of the ingredients and roll into balls and follow the directions above.
I also made the most DELICIOUS milk! I am a big fan of cashew milk (so delicious and loaded with magnesium), but do not make it enough. I love hemp milk for it’s flavor and nutrient-powerhouse. So I decided to combine the two!
It was like a dream in a Vitamix.
I added some vitamin D drop and probiotics to Ella’s sippy cup with this and she seemed to really enjoy it as well!
Raw Vegan Cashew-Hemp Milk
ingredients:
- 1/2 cup cashew, soaked for 6 hours
- 1/4 cup hemp seeds (no need to soak but I have)
- 3 1/2-4 cups filtered water (I use 4 cups)
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- a pinch of cinnamon
- a pinch of sea salt
- stevia or dates, to taste
directions:
You do not need a nut milk bag for this recipe! Simply soak the cashews (and hemp if you like) overnight or for at least 6 hours. Add all of the ingredients to you Vitamix or high speed blender and blend on high. Done. It should stay in the fridge for 3-4 days. It will need a good shaking every now and then because it will separate!
Hope you enjoy! I am headed back out to work….
Talk Soon,
{ 17 comments… read them below or add one }
Love that cookie recipe! I love anything chocolate mint right around the holidays and I love that they are Paleo too!
Yes, me too! Thanks!
yum! i switch from pumpkin spice stuff to either choc-peppermint or gingerbread during this time
i am the same way about prob being able to eat 1/2c-1cup almond butter if it’s masked in a dessert haha, my eyes are bigger than my tummy but wow i cannot imagine how much of a stomach ache i would have?! i think my ‘record’ over the course of the day is around 5 tbsp and i felt pretty stuffed!
Been there, done that…tummy was NOT happy! My mouth was, but my tummy ached. Since Michael doesn’t eat that stuff I am on my own. Serious portion control hahaha
Thanks for the cashew milk recipe. I love making things at home. This will be something that I try in the future.
you would love it!
Yum the cashew hemp milk looks wonderful. Will try it out. You’re right about the gmo fight, we have to keep going and as my lecturer in nutrition college said, it’s the grassroots and small changes that will have the ripple effect. Monsanto really want to pounce everywhere in Europe, I hope they lose their power worldwide.
Yes,yes they will! We need to stop them!!!
Let me know how you like it!
Yum! I’ve been all about the no bakes lately
It’s so easy ans quick!
Oh yum! Both these recipes look amazing!! Love it. I’ve been so obsessed with peppermint lately. I’ve been wanting to make a recipe with peppermint but can’t eat apples and am hoping pumpkin and peppermint go well together instead…so unsure I want to actually try though ha ha. I’ve got to try making that hemp and cashew milk! Sometimes hemp milk can be a little strong, but I bet it pairs so nicely with the cashews.
Pumpkin and peppermint??? Hahaha more power to you if you try that one! I won’t knock it until (you) try it
Yes the hemp and cashew milk goes great together! I think you would love the cookies too!
yay for a nonpumpkin recipe ! (dont get me wrong im obsessed with pumpkin) it just feels more christmasy and these are so easy n look soo good i cant wait to try them thanks
Hahah..yes, I am a little “over” pumpkin recipes now! I am SO ready for the holidays!
I’ve been meaning to make some cashew milk for a while, so I soaked some cashews last night as soon as I read this post! I made the milk this morning and added some cocoa powder, coconut oil and plain protein powder. It came out really good! Smooth chocolatey flavor but light at the same time!
Thanks for two great recipes!
I have to try those cookies too! I don’t have any almond butter, so maybe I’ll try it with sunflower seed butter
You should definitely try mixing it with the hemp! It’s so delicious and nutritious
Not sure how sunflower seed would go over in this recipe? Because it’s not as savory as almond butter…but if you try it let me know!
yay! glad we could help inspire you and your cookies look perfect!
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