No Bake Cookies

 

Using a few recipes, here is my "healthy" version of a no bake cookie.  

These are nice and rich!

Image from Here.

INGREDIENTS

• ½ cup salted butter 
• 3/4 cup coconut or monk fruit sugar (I like to use a combo of both)
• ½ cup milk
• 1/4 cup natural, unsweetened cocoa powder
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• ¾ cup  creamy peanut butter
• 3 cups  oats 
• 1/2 cup toasted coconut

INSTRUCTIONS 

• For the cookies, in a medium saucepan, add the butter,  sugar, milk, cocoa powder, brown sugar, and salt. 
• Set the pan over medium-low heat and bring the mixture to a boil, stirring gently for 60-90 seconds. 
• Remove from the heat and add the vanilla and peanut butter, stirring slowly until smooth. Add the oats and stir until combined. 
• Scoop about 3 tablespoons of dough into mounds on a baking sheet and pat into round balls/circles. 
• Chill cookies until ready to serve (up to 24 hours in advance). Serve the cookies chilled or at room temperature. 

Grand America Salad

I had this salad at an event at the Grand America Hotel in Salt Lake City, Utah.  I've had salads similar to this, but the roasted grapes and toasted nuts and coconut took it to an extra tasty level--do it if you have the time!

Image Credit Here

Salad Ingredients:

butter leaf lettuce
walnuts or pecans, toasted
shaved coconut, toasted
grapes, roasted (if desired)
radishes, sliced
gorgonzola cheese

Creamy Balsamic Dressing

-This dressing doesn't actually have mayonnaise, but when you blend it in a blender to emulsify the oil and vinegar it takes on a beautiful creamy look!

1/2 c. light olive oil

1/4 c. balsamic vinegar

1/4 c. honey

1 clove garlic

1 TBS dijon mustard

1/4 tsp black pepper

1/4 tsp salt

-Blend all ingredients in a blender on high for 2 minutes until emulsified (keeps dressing from separating).  

Chocolate Granola

Watch this tasty breakfast or snack disappear!

In large bowl mix together:
1/2 c. maple syrup
1/2 c. brown sugar
1/4  c. coconut or light olive oil
6 TBS Cocoa powder (prefer High Fat Dutch)
1 tsp salt
Add and stir until evenly coated:
4 c. oats
1 c. coconut
1/2 c. chopped almonds
-Prepare 11x17 rimmed sheet pan by placing a piece of parchment inside.  Lightly spray with oil.  Press mixed granola mixture into pan.
-Bake 250 for 1 hour.  Let cool in pan if you want granola to stick together in clumps.

Coconut Products

At our cooking class I shared a few fun coconut products on the market.  If you haven't tried any of these, you may want to give them a try!

This oils spray is from Trader Joes.  I use it to grease muffin tins, bread pans, cake pans, etc.

These thin little cookies from Trader Joes have a great coconut flavor.  They are great as a stand alone, or they go really well with a fruity ice cream.

I LOVE this body butter.  It smells SO good.  It is subtle which is nice for those sensitive to fragrance.  It is full of ingredients that are great for your skin, and you will feel your body such soak up this stuff!

I have heard these are addicting...so we opened up the bag at the cooking class to pass around.  I thought they were good.  With the dark chocolate they are not as sweet.

You can get these at any grocery store.  I hadn't tried them until about a month ago, but they are a fun treat!

Lindt truffles are delicious!  These coconut ones are WONDERFUL, if you like coconut that is!

COCONUT!

I just did a cooking class focusing on the wonders of coconut.  Coconut is amazing from the milk,  to the fleshy meat, to the oil.  Here is a list of the recipes that we made and tasted!  If you are a local and want to come to the next cooking class, let me know, and I'll be sure to send you the email invite.

Maple Pecan Granola
No-Bake Granola Bites (Energy Bites)
Easy Coconut Curry
Basil Coconut Curry (this one I have yet to post my altered recipe, but basically I add cauliflower, peppers and only ONE , jalapeño pepper)
Oatmeal Cookies (with add-ins 1 cups coconut and 1 tsp coconut extract)

Easter Cupcakes

We made these growing up, and now I make them with my kids.

Top your favorite cupcake recipe with frosting and coconut (to color coconut green, put some coconut in a Tupperware with a few drops of food coloring, top with a lid and shake and shake until evenly colored).  Add a few jelly beans and a pipe cleaner handle and poof you're done!