Friday, November 18, 2011

Raw Chocolate Chip Cookies

Our oven broke a couple of weeks ago, and it took a while before we could get it fixed. In the meantime I finally got around to trying a recipe for raw chocolate chip cookies that I had come across recently on Flickan & Kakorna. I am so glad I tried them, because they are delicious! Something in between cookie dough and marzipan... Even Dave like them, which might make this the first time I made a "raw" dessert that he actually liked! The original recipe comes from Fru Fruktsallad (in Swedish), the only changes I made was to use maple syrup instead of agave, (which I realize makes them not completely raw) and to add a little maple syrup in the chocolate as well.

Raw Chocolate Chip Cookies:
1 1/4 cup raw cashews
2 tbs melted coconut oil
2 tbs maple syrup/agave/honey
1 tsp vanilla powder
1/4 tsp sea salt

Chocolate chips:
1/4 cup cocoa powder
1 tbs melted coconut oil
1 tsp maple syrup

Stir the cocoa powder, coconut oil, and maple syrup. Pour it onto a plate covered with parchment paper and place it in the freezer or fridge to set. Mix the cashews to a fine powder: use a food processor or spice mill. Add the rest of the ingredients and mix well. Chop up the chocolate and mix it in. Shape into cookies (it makes about 12) and store in the fridge or freezer. If you want these to be completely "raw," obviously use raw cocoa, etc. Otherwise feel free to just chop up some of your favorite dark chocolate instead.

Thursday, November 3, 2011

Neighborhood Pep Walk

We have been adjusting our schedule over here, trying to get some more outdoors time in in the morning, for everyone's sanity. Getting outside seems to be the only way to get the three-year-old to nap these days, and we really want him to keep doing that for a while longer. This week we did something that the girls especially enjoyed: I took them for a walk around the neighborhood, with the task to spy for positive messages. It really helped them focus and pay attention to details (while getting out of the house for some fresh air). These are some of the things we found.