Peanut Butter & Coconut Cookies

The past couple of days I have been having a lot of fun experimenting with ingredients I have never used for baking. Hence, all of the fun new recipes this weekend.

This is a little embarrassing, but I have never used coconut oil.... for anything! Coconut oil had been an ingredient in lots of recipes I have been wanting to try so, I decided today was the day. I bought myself some and went to work.

Peanut Butter & Coconut Cookies Recipe:

3/4 C Creamy Peanut Butter

1/2 C Softened Coconut Oil

1 C Light Brown Sugar

1 Large Egg

1 1/4 C White Flour

1 Tsp Baking Soda

1 Tbsp Vanilla

1 Tsp Salt

Instructions:

1: Gather all of your ingredients. Measure each one out to make sure you have enough.

2: In a mixing bowl combine: Peanut Butter, Coconut oil and Brown Sugar. Mix on medium speed for about 3-5 minutes until mixture is light and fluffy. Add the Egg. Mix again for 1-2 minutes.

3: Add the Vanilla, Baking Soda and Salt to mixing bowl. Mix for 1-2 minutes.

4: Add the Flour to the mixing bowl. Start mixing by pulsing the mixer, once the flour is somewhat combined, mix until dough looks well combined.

5: Scrape bowl down with a flexible spatula. Mix one more time.

6: Preheat oven to 350 Degrees.

7: Prep the cookie sheet by putting parchment paper on it or just by spraying the sheet with non-stick cooking spray. Set close by, but out of the way for a minute.

8: Un-lock the mixing bowl from the stand. Get a medium sized ice cream scoop or just use your hands and start rolling the dough into the size and shape you want. Once you have the sizes and shapes you want, place dough on the cookie sheet. Space them about 1-2 inches apart. 

9: Place cookie sheet in the oven. Depending on the size of the cookie, for Med/LG cookies cook for 10-11 minutes. For smaller sized cookies, 7-9 minutes. Make sure to NOT overcook. Burnt cookies are NEVER fun.

10: For an extra little sweetness, after the cookies were right out of the oven, I smashed the cookies down a bit and I sprinkled "Sugar in the Raw" on top.. It makes the cookies that much better.

11: I like my cookies to be cool when I eat them. So let them sit out at room temperature and the place in an air tight baggie or container and stick in the fridge, or, if you're anxious, like you should be with this recipe just eat them warm! 

Hope you enjoyed this recipe. Let me know how you liked it, and if you did anything different. I love to hear your feedback.

-Whit

Sweet Tooth: Cinnamon & Sugar Caramel Apples

One of my latest cravings has been "Apple Pie Caramel Apples" from Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory. I find them simply delicious. I could eat 1-2 a day. I mean, its an apple so its good for you right?! ;) Well, I decided to have some fun and make my own. I made them like nachos.. You can eat them with a fork or just as finger foods, either way, they are amazing. Here is what I did...

Start with a Granny Smith apple. 

Wash and Dry the apple. (make sure you dry it very well)

Slice the apple however you'd like. I just cut it into 10 pieces.

Unwrap your caramels. (That is, if you are lazy like me and don't want to make your own caramel right now.) If you do, props to you. My craving was just a little too strong to wait on making some fresh delicious homemade caramel)

Put caramels in a sauce pan over Med/High heat, stir until caramels are completely melted and in gooey/liquid form. Set aside and let it cool just a bit.

Prep your toppings. I just used white chocolate chips, melted and in chip form, and of course, cinnamon and sugar.

Dip, Drizzle and ENJOY!!!

Let me know how you like your "Apple Nachos"

 What are you favorite toppings???

-Whit

Easy Energy: Chocolate Peanut Butter energy balls

One of my cravings as of lately has just been anything with chocolate and/or peanut butter. Especially with all of the "Reese's Eggs" and all of the yummy Easter candy that is on the shelves at the grocery stores right now. So, I decided to make something that I can have. 

Chocolate Peanut Butter energy balls recipe.

Ingredients:

• 1 Cup Old-Fashioned Oats
• 1/4 Cup Unsweetened Cocoa
• 1/4 Cup Unsweetened Coconut
• 1 Handful of Dark Chocolate Chunks
• 1/2 Cup Natural Peanut Butter
• 1/3 Cup Natural Raw Honey

Instructions:

Set aside a big flat plate. 

Mix all dry ingredients in a large bowl. Add the wet ingredients. Mix well. (I found it best to just use my hands). So make sure you wash your hands good, and go at it! It gets a little messy. Just a little warning. 

Grab the plate, set it close to the bowl. 

Once the ingredients are completely combined, start rolling into small bite sized balls. Make sure to pack them tight, once rolled, place on the plate. 

Chill in fridge in an air tight container or baggie until ready to serve. 

Enjoy!!!

Let me know what you think of the recipe and what you did different.

-Whit

Juicing Part #1: Pink Love Juice

I decided I am going to start eating a little more clean. Don't get me wrong... I am still going to bake my sweets, eat my candy, drink my DC and Dr. Pepper, and all that deliciousness. I just want to make sure I am keeping healthy and putting good in my body. 

I decided that the easiest way for me to make sure I am getting all of the nutrients I need is to juice. I love Fresh juice and love trying all the new flavors. 

So today was Day #1.. I don't know how the other days will compare to todays juice. It was simply delicious. So I will give you the recipe.. It is very easy and simple.. But OH SO yummy!

Pink Love Juice Recipe:

1 Blood Orange, Peeled

5 Mandarin Oranges

5 Strawberries

Handful of Raspberries

Juice the fruits, let sit for 20 minutes-2 hours in the fridge. Stir and enjoy!!!

-Whit

fresh, delicious applesauce recipe

I haven't posted in a couple weeks, so I am going to be playing catch up on all of the new yummy recipes I have been trying/enjoying. :) This afternoon I was craving something sweet, for those of you who know me, I am doing a 40 day "treat" free challenge... So I had to come up with something that was both delicious and nutritious.

{APPLESAUCE}

Start this recipe with 4-6 Apples. (It does not matter what kind. I used Pink Lady Apples) 

 

Peel and Core apples

Cut apples

1/3 C of brown or white sugar

2 tsp of cinnamon

Dash of Cloves

 

Mix together in a sauce pan

Let it cook on Med/High heat. Covered for 25-30 minutes.

Let cool and mash with masher or puree

 

 

Applesauce Recipe:

4-6 Lg Apples, peeled and cut

1 C of Water or Apple Juice

1/3 C Brown or White Sugar

2 Tsp of Cinnamon

Dash of Cloves

This was such an easy and fast recipe. I will definitely be making it a lot more often!

Hope you enjoyed!

-whit