ginger carrot cake energy bites

I think it's safe to say my family officially thinks I'm crazy for making healthy desserts. They eat them every once in awhile and occasionally approve of them, but they really do have a mad love for anything containing butter, sugar, and flour. I do too, but I really enjoy seeing what I can make healthy without having it taste super overly healthy. It's like a challenge and I do love me a good challenge. My blog roll is a good mix of "normal" baking blogs and healthy baking blogs. I'm all for balance! ;) While I was reading a post earlier, I said "OOOH this shake sounds so good. With cocoa and coffee and walnuts and banana." My mom goes "Soph… Do you ever read NORMAL food blogs?" Yeeeeeeeeeeeees. 

One of my brothers' favorite healthy treats I make are those brownie energy bites and the chocolate chip cookie dough energy bites. They'd probably eat a whole batch of those things if I didn't scream and jump on top of them if they eat more than one. Just kiddingggggg… Kinda. They really love their chocolate so it's easy for them to get behind the chocolate variations of my energy bites. Not sure they'll fall for veggies in these though so I think I'll have this batch to myself. {Yusssssss.}

Okay guys. So we're getting fancy smancy up in herrrrrrrrrr. Not only are we making our own energy bites, but we're filling 'em up with spices and veggies. I promise you it's not as weird as it sounds. Dudes and dudettes! These little energy bite thingy ma bobbers give you a little oomph before a workout, satisfy your sweet tooth without busting your pants button, and taste like CAKE. Life is good. 

I seriously can't quit these things. I have SO so so so so many variations I can't wait to try out. I'm making smaller batches lately so that they're gone quicker, thus enabling me to make more quicker. Mhmmmm. Also, ya know that banana "ice cream" that's basically taking over the interwebs these days? Yah, make that and crumble one of these on top. Dessert for breakfast! 'Cuz that's just how we dooooooo. OOH!! Pssssst. I made a energy bite page for your viewing pleasure. Check itttttttttttt. 

ginger carrot cake energy bites

1/4 c. coconut flakes

1/3 c. raw nuts 

2/3 c. oats

1/2 c. chopped dates, tightly packed

2 tbsp. pure maple syrup {or honey}

1 tsp. vanilla extract

1 tsp. ground cinnamon

1/2 tsp. ground ginger

2 tbsp. milk

1/4 c. shredded carrot {about 1 carrot}

1/4 c. raisins

Place coconut flakes, nuts, and oats in a blender or food processor and pulse until a flour forms. Add dates, maple syrup, vanilla extract, cinnamon, ginger, and milk. Blend until combined. Place dough in a large bowl and fold in shredded carrot and raisins. If the dough seems too wet, you may need to add a handful of coconut or oats until it becomes the texture of a cookie dough. Roll into balls; place in a plastic container and refrigerate. Makes about 7-8 large balls. 

chocolate chip cookie dough energy bites

Yes, I still exist. Honestly, I have no other excuse for not blogging other than the fact that I didn't feel like baking slash making food for a few weeks there. I blame that on this ridic heat. Good lord, you guys, it's so hot. Considering that I'm one of those weird people who have to be like in arctic conditions in order to fall asleep at night, I'm not really loving this whole no AC thing. My solution is showering right before bed, not drying off, and putting the fan on high. A girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do! My baking schedule needed to change, so now when I feel like whipping together a batch of granola or banana bread, I have to do it at night or early in the morning. Otherwise it feels like I'm in the devil's oven by about 10 a.m. 

In other news, since I last wrote, I did this really weird thing. I joined a gym. I KNOWWWWWWRIIIGHTTT. It all happened one day when we were at the doctor's office and I heard the music pumping in the gym next door. That was all I needed. It's just something to do I guess, because most days I don't even leave the house except for going for a run or occasionally going to the grocery store. {Isn't that depressing? No life, I tell you.} So even on my boring days, I will have had gone to the gym. 

My friend and I started last week and I'm pretty sure there's been more laughing going on than actual exercising. We make fools out of ourselves and I'm pretty sure the adults there think we're insane. Seriously, we were laughing so hard the other day when our treadmills seemed to have a mind of their own. It was actually kind of scary… I looked at the panel thing and saw my speed just going up and up and up without me touching anything! If it wasn't for my ninja-like reflexes, I could have been run off the back of the treadmill and against the wall like on a cartoon. 

Every morning before I leave, I like to eat something small and carby to keep my blood sugars and energy level while I'm at the gym. Sure, bananas are all fine and good, but YO. I already eat like 5 throughout the day {I have an addiction. Now you know.}, so I'd prefer something a little different. Last week's pre-gym treat was these raw chocolate truffles. Those things are my favorite and I could shove a whole batch in my face hole in a matter of minutes if I wasn't careful. When I finished those, I wanted to come up with a new energy bite concoction. I have a million ideas in my noggin, but chocolate chip cookie dough was first up. 

If you're wondering why they look so messy, it's because I thought I would try making my own dairy-free chocolate chips using coconut oil, cocoa powder, and maple syrup. I've used this combo before and it firms up beautifully, but for some reason this time it didn't. Maybe it's because I was impatient, but they turned out more like little fudge chips. You can use regular chocolate chips, chopped dark chocolate, or other dairy-free chocolate chips. Whatever works! Chocolate mess aside, these energy bites really do taste like cookie dough. I think it was the combo of maple syrup and cashew butter, but these are LEGIT. 

chocolate chip cookie dough energy bites

1 c. oats

1/4 c. flax seeds

1/4 c. coconut flakes

1 c. chopped dates

1 tsp. vanilla extract

1/4 c. pure maple syrup

1/4 c. cashew butter

3 tbsp. dairy-free milk 

1/2 c. chocolate chips 

Place oats, coconut, and flax in a blender or food processor and pulse until a flour has formed. Add the remaining ingredients except for the chocolate chips and pulse until combined. Pour into a bowl and stir in chocolate chips. Roll into balls and store refrigerated in an airtight container. Makes about 9-10 large bites. 

salted chocolate peanut butter cookies

Moving on is something I'm really struggling with lately. I know that some people come through our lives to stay. And some are just merely passing through for the purpose of teaching us lessons and helping us to discover ourselves. But sometimes, they meld together and look like the same. You'll think someone is there for you always {the kind that sticks around.}, but it turns out they're just one of those ones that you learn something from and you're supposed to forget and move on after they've done their time.

I'm doing my best to put this all into perspective, but sometimes when you don't have much going on for you, it's hard to take a step back and see the big picture. I'm thinking of my life as a book- there's events that come and go and characters who soon fade away into the first few chapters. As much as you loved those characters or you loved those cliff-hanging events, you have to keep reading to see what happens next, regardless of who comes and goes. If you sit there thinking about how the way things COULD have turned out, you'll simply scan over the words of the present and miss out on the next big thing.

It's so so hard to let go of a friendship I thought would be a lasting one. But things change. People change. And I know I've got to move on, but I can't stop clinging to the past and the things that used to be. This letting go has been one of the hardest things I've gone through in all my years and has been in the painful process for months. I keep feeling like I'm on the mend, but if I think of or see the littlest thing that reminds me of the way things used to be, I burst into tears. This afternoon, it was a full on lay-in-my-parents-bed-in-the-fetal-position-head-in-my-hands-sobbing-my-eyeballs out. But I know I'm supposed to be learning something about myself, about life in general. So thank you to the ones who have come and gone and taught me things. I'll keep on moving. Life goes on before and after you. 

After I had my little meltdown, I dragged myself out of bed, eyes red and puffy, and decided to make some cookies. I knew it would help- it always does. I'm thankful for friends I can talk to, peanut butter, chocolate, and chunks of sea salt. And I put them all in cookies and great things happened! Errrrr waaaaaaaait. I don't put friends in my cookies. That is one thing you will not need to run to the store and grab for this recipe. You'll need them for other things, not eating. This is getting awkward.

salted chocolate peanut butter cookies {gluten & dairy free}

3/4 c. peanut butter
2 eggs
1/3 c. + 2 tbsp. maple syrup
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1/4 c. unsweetened cocoa powder
1 1/3 c. oat flour
1/2 c. gluten-free flour
1 tsp. sea salt + more for sprinkling

Preheat oven to 375ºF and grease or line a baking sheet. In a large bowl, whisk eggs, maple syrup, vanilla, peanut butter, and eggs until smooth. Add in cocoa, flours, and salt. Mix until evenly combined. Scoop onto prepared baking sheet. Press down slightly and spindle with sea salt. Bake for 7-10 minutes.

banana oatmeal pancakes

There is one thing I've been learning lately. It basically came out of nowhere, hit me on the head {ahem. figuratively speaking.} and told me I cannot depend on anyone for my own happiness but myself. Happiness is a choice that only you yourself can make. Since moving to Africa, I've seen countless people who literally have nothing. But if you met them, judging by their attitude and their beautiful smiles spanning their face, you wouldn't assume it one bit. If they can be happy when they have nothing, I can be happy too. 

It's been so difficult, finding friends, having friends, and losing friends. Over the last few months, I've learned who my real friends are and aren't. People I thought I would be in relationship with the rest of my life, people I thought would always be there for me, people that I thought I would have fun times and laugh with… They just disappeared and proved to me, all of that was nothing. My life seems to be on this big roller coaster and I can't seem to depend on anyone. I'm learning I can't sit around waiting for that one person I wish would make an effort to make me happy. Because it's not gonna come. 

I'm sharing this not because I want people to feel bad for me or give me sympathy. I like to keep my blog free of negative thoughts, but it's what's up in my life right now. And I know there are people who are going through a similar situation. And if you're one of those people, I want to encourage you because it will get better. We're put in these situations to stretch ourselves and step out of our comfort zones to become the person God wants us to be. My piece of advice is to take your time. Go slow, breathe in the fresh air, and take your time. With everything. When you're taking your time instead of zipping right through life, things seem to get better. It's just how it works. But PLEASE. Don't wait around for people to make you happy. Because as cliche as it sounds, waiting for someone else to make you happy is the best way to be sad. Trust meeeeee, I know. When you let go of all expectations you have of people, your happiness returns and all that sadness just floats away. Let stupid people be stupid people. Don't cling to them. Wait for the ones who are worth your time and don't put you down constantly. You're worth more than that. 

So while I'm waiting for some rad people to come into my life {I know they're out there somewhere!!}, I can make my own kind of happy. Happiness doesn't have to mean having all these things, having a bunch of friends, going out every weekend. It doesn't have to be like that… Trust me, I'm learning. I can find happiness instead in the still of life. Bask in the quiet mornings and lazy afternoons. Whatever that little thing is that brings a glimmer of joy to your soul- do it. I encourage you. Don't wait around for someone else to come around. Make your own kind of happy, whether that be going for a long run, eating a huge slice of chocolate cake in silence, taking a hot bath with some candles, baking a cake for no apparent reason, do some yoga. Whatever it is, go and do it. 

My kind of happy? Starting my morning off with some yoga {in my pajamas, thanyouverymuch} on the porch, making pancakes, sipping my second cup of coffee, and blogging while I take advantage of the beautiful cool breeze that blows through my windows before it turns into sweltering hot African heat. Oh, and staying in my 'jams until noon. Because I have nowhere to go. Nothing to do. But I can still be happy. All I'm gonna say is, thank you Jesus for the carby greatness that is pancakes. 

banana oatmeal pancakes

3-4 bananas, mashed

2 eggs

1/4 c. milk

2 tbsp. melted coconut oil

1 tsp. vanilla extract

3/4 c. ground oat flour

1/2 c. wholewheat flour

1/2 c. quick cooking oats

2 tsp. baking powder

1 tsp. cinnamon

In a large bowl, combine all ingredients until smooth. Scoop onto a greased skillet or frying pan over high heat. Let pancakes cook for about 2-3 minutes before flipping to the other side. Cook until golden brown and crispy. Serve with maple syrup. 

banana bread granola parfait

I'm an absolute freak about breakfast. Like a total, legit fuhhh-reeeeeak. You know those people who couldn't care less about breakfast and are like "OOOOH YERRRRRR, I forgot to eat this morning."?? I'm the absolute farthest from that person that you'll ever meet. I go to bed with breakfast on the mind. I wake up with breakfast on the mind. I workout with breakfast on the mind. It's like some sort of disease I have. OOHHHH WEEEE-AAAALLLL. 

Even though I love it, doesn't mean I get bored though. As we all know, I have the attention span of an ADHD ant, so I need to switch it up quite often. I kind of go through spurts with my breakfasts. One week all I want is oatmeal. The next is smoothies. Sometimes eggs. Toast with peanut butter, banana, honey, and cinnamon. Toast with smashed avocado and fried eggs. I love it all. Espeshhhh granola. My favorite way to eat it is with yogurt, but then I realized that dang dairy is what makes my skin get all wonky-tonk. I didn't totally give up dairy because herrroooo, it's one of my favorite foods ever. But I still eat yogurt about once a week to prevent me from opening the fridge and downing a whole container of it. It could happen. 

Anywho, this parfait is pretty dang simple. Banana bread granola- which totally tastes like banana bread. Ironic, no? It's sweet, chewy, and chunky. Mehhh jam. Layered with plain yogurt and sliced 'nerrnerrs. Now you've got yourself a banana-rama-licious breakfast! Rejoice. DISCLOSURE- Usually when I eat granola and yogurt, I just throw it in a bowl with some fruit. It's never layered and pretty like you see herrrrrr. In fact. After I finished the pictures, I just dumped it in a container to eat for breakfast the next morning. HEHHH. Classy. Oh, P.S. Combining the granola, yogurt, and banana in a bowl and letting it sit in the fridge overnight… NOT a bad idea. Like my beloved overnight oats but with a little more chew to it. Noms. 

banana bread granola 

2 c. oats

1/3 c. granulated sugar

2 tsp. cinnamon

1/3 c. mashed banana

1/4 c. honey 

1 tsp. vanilla extract

2 tbsp. coconut oil

1 c. banana chips

1/2 c. chopped nuts

Preheat oven to 350ºF and grease or line a baking sheet; set aside. In a large bowl, stir all ingredients except banana chips and nuts until evenly combined. Pour onto prepared baking sheet. Bake for 15-20 minutes stirring about 3-4 times until golden brown. Add in banana chips and nuts and transfer to an airtight container or jar. 

Parfait: 

1/2 c. granola

1 large banana, sliced

1/2 c. plain yogurt

In a small bowl or glass, layer half the granola on the bottom of the glass, half the banana, half the yogurt and repeat. 

maple flax cashew butter granola

I am seriously so easily excited, it's kinda odd but a good thing nonetheless. It doesn't take much to perk me up. AT. ALL. Bring me a cup of coffee without asking and we'll be BFFs. Text me in the morning and I'll love you forever. Give me a bar of 70% dark chocolate and I'll dance with endless jubilee. Come over with a tub of ice cream and a chick flick and I'm the happiest camper that ever roamed the lands. I'm not even gonna tell you how excited I got when I was home alone this morning and found Friends was on. Three episodes even! Boomcachowpoooow. Oh and when I found coconut oil at the store? Pretty sure my week was made. Almost two years living in a place where food trends never see the light of day sort of does weird things to a {already weird} person. 

I just got done saying how easy I am to please, but when I found the coconut oil I was thinking "NOOOOOW I just need to find nut butter other than peanut butter." Sure enough, when we were out of town yesterday, scanning the isles of the grocery store for anything awesome or American that we can't find in our little town, I found cashew butter. I'm not even going to tell you how much it cost. Let's just say my dad told me "Merry Christmas!". Which means I probably shouldn't be eating it out of the jar with a spoon like I dooooooes. ANYWAYS. I got really psyched. Last week, coconut oil, and now cashew butter? Winning at life. *fist bump, yo*  Guys, that stuff is fan-freaking-tastic. I want to cover anything and everything with cashew butter. Including my face. MMMM. 

While I'm thinking of ways to use my precious cashew buttahhh other than eating it with a spoon or smothering it on toast, I figured I'd start with granola. Because granola basically is the best breakfast food eeeeeever. I've started making my granola in smaller batches recently because I basically have no self control and if there's an overabundance of the stuff sitting on the counter, I think it my duty to shove it down my face hole. If only granola-eating was an actual paying job, I'd totally be loaded. And then I'd go back and clear off that shelf of fancy-pantsy cashew butter. 

maple flax cashew butter granola

1 1/2 c. quick cooking oats

1/3 c. puffed brown rice cereal

2 tbsp. coconut oil

3 tbsp. cashew butter

3 tbsp. organic maple syrup

1/4 c. flax seeds

1 tsp. ground cinnamon

Preheat oven to 375ºF and line a baking sheet with parchment paper; set aside. In a large bowl, mix all ingredients until evenly combined. Pour onto prepared baking sheet and bake for 15-20 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from oven occasionally {about ever 5-6 minutes}, stirring the granola around so that it doesn't burn. Let cool before removing to a jar or plastic container to store. Serve with milk or yogurt and fruit or by itself for an afternoon munchie!

salted dark chocolate almond coconut oil cookies

 So the other day while grocery shopping, my brother made this weird face as we trotted on by the health food section {i.e. a little 3 foot shelf full of gluten free flours, molasses, and xylitol. that's aboooout all. } and exclaimed with a questionable tone, "COOOOOconut oil?" I was all like "WHAAAA FOOOO!" I've been wanting to use coconut oil for um ever since I saw it making appearances in healthy recipes all over the interwebulars. So when my brosophegus spotted it I totally freaked out. Likeeeeeeeeee full on freaked. Did a little jig? Sang a little bit? Made a fool out of myself in front of the entire population of the grocery store? Why yes. Indeed I did. No shame.

Immediately my mind went all the places. Cookies. Muffins. Blondies. Cake. Where the heck am I supposed to start experimenting? There's no telling when I'll quit. Or if I ever will.  After discovering that replacing butter with coconut oil seriously didn't change the flavor or texture of cookies, there's no turning back now. I've gone to the dark side. Errr actually, the light side! These cookies kinda blew my mind. Ya know when you try to healthify cookie recipes and use yogurt or banana instead of butter? Things don't go right. Things get cakey and weird and not like how cookies should be. Cookies that are more like muffins are just not okay. BUUU-HUUUUUT. No butter here. And no muffin-y cookies. Mind bloooooooooown.I've been really wanting something to dunk in my morning cup of coffee and pretty sure these cookies couldn't be any better for the job. Nothing wrong with starting out the day with some chocolate! The fact that they're healthy and actually taste like normal cookies makes me super excited. No guilt and no surprise breakouts due to dairy!! 

salted dark chocolate almond coconut oil cookies

1/2 c. coconut oil
1/2 c. dark brown sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1 c. wholewheat flour
1 c. oat four
1/2 c. quick cooking oats
1 tsp. sea salt
1 tsp. baking powder
1/2 c. dark chocolate chunks/chips
1/2 c. raw almonds, roughly chopped

Preheat oven to 350ºF and grease/line a baking sheet; set aside. In a large bowl, whisk coconut oil, eggs, sugar, and vanilla. Mix in flours, oats, salt, and baking powder. Stir until just combined. Fold in almonds and chocolate chunks. Scoop dough onto prepared baking sheet and bake for 10-15 minutes or until golden brown. Let cool before removing to a wire rack. Recipe yields about 15 cookies.

mini peanut butter banana bread pancakes

For some reason, I'm really really really craving SUMMER. Actually, no not some reason. I have a few. For one, it's getting sunny and warm and bright in good 'ol Nam. And to me, that means SUMMER. With my school, I feel like I'm totally running out of steam and kinda half-butting it, if ya know what I mean. I don't really have any consistent time off since the school schedule here is kinda wonky. And since I have no life, it's kinda like I have nothing else better to do. But I'm really feeling like I need a break. A 3 month one. PLEASE. The only solution? SUMMER. I also want to stuff my face with only corn, strawberries, popsicles, and avocado. Dear, SUMMER, I want you. 

So I think you get my gist, I really want summer. What does this have to do with pancakes? Nothing. I just wanted to tell someone about my problems, know what I mean, jelly bean? Sorry I called you jelly bean. I do know for a fact, however, that whatever my problem… Pancakes will solve it. And so will peanut butter. Aside from the obvious chocolate and peanut butter {or my personal favorite: peanut butter and spoon.}, banana and peanut butter are basically soul mates- destined for great things. Like my pie hole. Errr pancake hole. These pancakes are super simple, and taste like banana bread! Peanut butter banana bread that is. Oh also I should mention. I'm totally that weirdo who really strongly dislikes my pancakes sweet. I like them really plain SO there's no added sweetener in this recipe aside from the natural sweetness that the mashed bananas bring. If you're not too fond of the idea, add in a tablespoon or two of honey, maple syrup, stevia, or sugar.

mini peanut butter banana bread pancakes

2 eggs

1/2 c. mashed banana {about 2 small bananas}

3 tbsp. plain yogurt

1 tsp. vanilla extract

2 tbsp. creamy peanut butter

1/4 c. oat flour

2 tbsp. wholewheat flour 

1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon

1 tsp. baking powder

In a small bowl, whisk all ingredients until combined. Place a greased frying pan over high heat. Scoop batter by two-tablespooonfuls onto greased pan. Let cook for about 2 minutes and flip to the other side until golden brown. Serve warm with extra peanut butter, sliced banana, or maple syrup. 

loaded multigrain muffins

Praise the heavens, I am finally done with that raw thing. I was technically supposed to go until Monday, but decided that if I looked at another leaf of spinach or bowl of hummus, I might cross off health food forever. A girl's gotta have her meat and muffins. I decided that was that on Sunday afternoon when I dug my face into a jumbo bowl of popcorn. Oh, my dearest, how I missed thee. Seriously, if I was stranded on an island and had to choose one food to eat for the rest of my years, it'd be popcorn. No doubt, I cannot quit the stuff. Could be worse, I guess. 

Anyways. I was hit with the baking bug and wanted to whip something up that I could grab for a quick breakfast or after my runs throughout the week. I opened the cupboards to find tons of opened, half-gone bags of nuts and seeds. SO I did what any normal person would do and threw all the stuff 'n things in a muffin. A little piece of advice: no matter what the question, the answer is "Throw it in a muffin." Those words will get ya places in life. 

As the title suggests, these muffins are loaded with all sorts of good carbs, protein, and fiber that are good for those innards of yours. Gotta keeps your innards good and healthy, amiright? They're basically one of those recipes that's like "Open the cupboard and throw every thing your eyeball sees into the bowl." Feel free to switch things up and add different kinds of nuts, seeds, grains, and dried fruit. They make a great snack or quick breakfast on the go. 

With a cup of coffee of course. I've missed my coffee. 8 days was way too long. I think my body learned how to actually function without caffeine during that time and then as soon as I could, I downed two big mugs and was seriously bouncing. off. the walls. BOUNCING. And twirling around the house singing "Augustus Gloop. Augustus Gloop." from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory which I, in fact, haven't seen in ages. I thought I might be losing my mind. Maybe. 

Anyways, muffins.

loaded multigrain muffins

2-3 bananas, mashed

2 eggs

1/3 c. honey

1/4 c. soymilk

1/2 c. ground flax

1/2 c. ground oats/ oat flour

1 c. wholewheat flour

2 tsp. cinnamon

1 tsp. baking powder

1 tsp. baking soda

1/4 c. almonds

1/4 c. sunflower seeds

1/4 c. pumpkin seeds

1/3 c. raisins

Preheat oven to 375ºF and grease or line a muffin tin; set aside. In a large bowl, whisk eggs, honey, soy milk, and banana. Add flour, ground flax, oats, cinnamon, flour, baking powder, and baking soda. Stir until just combined. Fold in nuts, seeds, and raisins. Scoop batter into prepared muffin tin. Bake for 25-30 minutes or until golden brown. 

nut & seed granola

When we were in Windhoek last week {which is the capital of Namibia- about 3 hours away from our town.}, ya know- the same time I didn't sleep on a hard hotel room floor and nearly died from a horrible cold? Yah, that time.

When we were there, we always make sure to get in some shopping because it seems like pretty much anywhere but in Otji, there's better stores. {The grass is always greener on the other side.} We quickly popped into one of the grocery stores and I was so excited to see the amount of health food they had! Seriously, nothing fancy around here- just sunflower seeds and almonds in the health food aisle at our grocery store in town.

At this one though, there were flax seeds, wheat germ, rolled oats {you can only usually find quick oats.}, puffed brown rice cereal, agave, and I even saw a sticker for quinoa although I couldn't find the actual bag which made me sad since I've heard about all it's ancient powers but never actually gotten to try the stuff.

Anyways, I basically grabbed every bag of healthy greatness in my peripheral vision and was so excited to get home and use it in my baking!

First up, I made granola. Usually when I make granola, I'm the only one who eats it. This time, my family inhaled it and it was gone within 24 hours which I found to be quite shocking since my granola jar is usually full throughout the week. It was definitely some of my favorite granola I've made in awhile so I decided to remake it, measure, take pictures, post, ya da ya da ya da.

And here ya have it, folks! Nut and seed granola. I added in some flax and sunflower seeds, wheat germ {which gives it a nice nutty flavor that I totally dig}, and brown rice cereal because I love the crunch it adds to each bite. I also used some mixed nuts we had on hand, but you can use only almonds, only walnuts, or a mix of whatever. As always, it's super adaptable and you can easily change things up according to your tastes!

nut & seed granola

1 1/4 c. oats

1/3 c. puffed brown rice cereal

2 tbsp. wheat germ

1/2 c. chopped nuts

1/4 c. flax seeds

1/4 c. sunflower seeds

3 tbsp. dark brown sugar

2 tbsp. olive oil

1/4 c. honey

1 tsp. ground cinnamon

1 tsp. vanilla extract

Preheat oven to 350ºF and line a baking sheet with parchment paper; set aside. In a large bowl, mix together all ingredients until evenly combined. Pour onto lined baking sheet. Bake for 15-20 minutes or until golden brown. Once cooled, transfer to a large jar or plastic container.

no bake trail mix cookies

The last few days, I've gone through a box of tissues and a few rolls of toilet paper. Been close to coughing my brains out. Taken numerous bubble baths. Worn nothing but pajamas and yoga pants. Spent hours in bed reading. Eaten mainly chicken soup and smoothies for my meals. And have watched tons of movies and episodes of the Office. 

In case you can't tell, I've come down with one heck of a cold. 

I felt it coming on when we were in the car driving to Windhoek for the day. That night, I was so miserable laying on that hotel room floor and didn't sleep a bit due to my stuffed up nose, congested chest, and sore throat. 

What. a. dream. 

Trust me, I love being lazy- I'm basically a professional. 

But after day one, I'm ready to not be sick in bed. It drives me CAAAHHHRAAAZAAAAAY. Not to mention, since I haven't exercised since Wednesday, I feel like a big old blob. 

Unless I want to cough and wheeze to my death, I probably won't be able to run until next week. 

I am starting to feel a lot better though. I'm still so stuffed up, but I can actually taste some of the things I eat. My energy is coming back too... enough so that I was able to climb a water tower last night. 

BUUUUUUUT that's a whole other story. 

I have also come to the conclusion that the Office is basically the best show there ever was.

In one episode when Andy said "My whole life is a freaking snot bubble!", I found it oddly hilarious and relevant. I laughed so hard.

And then had a cough attack and nearly died.

Gross, sorry.

Anyways, this post is pretty scattered, but I figured I'd end it with something appropriate to a food blog… Food!

These cookies take about 5 minutes from bowl to face hole and you don't even have to turn on the oven! The base for the cookies is honey, peanut butter, and oats- that's it. I love this combo and, I'm gonna admit, at times when I need something sweet {which is. umm. always.}, I mix those ingredients together in a bowl and eat it with my fingers like cookie dough. 

For add-ins I just grabbed what I could find out of the cupboard. Raisins, peanuts, chocolate chunks, almonds, and flax seeds. You could substitute whatever nuts, dried fruit, or chocolate you would like though- the possibilities are endless. 

no bake trail mix cookies

3/4 c. creamy peanut butter

1/4 c. + 2 tbsp. honey 

1 1/4 c. quick oats

2 tbsp. flax seeds

1/4 c. salted peanuts

1/4 c. seedless raisins

1/4 c. chopped almonds

1/2 c. chocolate chunks {or chocolate chips}

In a large mixing bowl, mix together all ingredients. Stir until combined. Roll dough into balls and place on a lined baking sheet. Press down with a fork or the palm of your hand. Store in a plastic container. 

chewy peanut butter oatmeal cookies

These cookies… Oh my gosh, these cookies are glorious. 

They were born last weekend because I needed some baking therapy. I'm not talking about going online, printing a recipe, and actually *gasp* measuring. No, I'm talking whipping out a bowl, a few ingredients, throwing them in the bowl, and mixing it all up with fork. 

It makes my soul so joyous and has the power to change my attitude from crappy to happy in seconds. 

Surprisingly, they don't even have flour or butter in them which makes them {accidentally} gluten and dairy-free! Honestly, you don't even miss it at all. In the words of my brother "They taste buttery!" My dad, who mind you, usually hates on all my healthy baked goods, loved them. I didn't say anything until he'd eaten at least 4. The whole batch was gone in less that 48 hours so I knew they were a keeper.

Of course, since I and everyone else who tasted them loved these cookies so much I decided to make them again, measure the ingredients, and photograph them. My family actually said they liked them more than last time! 

Also. If you're wondering what those pink specks are in the cookies- it's jelly from the peanut butter jar. These brothers of mine eat PB&J on the daily, I kid you not. 

chewy peanut butter oatmeal cookies {dairy-free, gluten-free} 
yields 1 dozen cookies

1 c. creamy peanut butter
2 eggs
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1/2 c. dark brown sugar
1 1/2 c. quick cooking oats
1/2 tsp. salt
1 1/2 tsp. baking powder

Preheat oven to 350ºF. In a large bowl, mix the peanut butter, eggs, vanilla, and brown sugar. Add oats, salt, and baking powder. Stir until combined. Roll dough into balls and place on a cookie sheet. Press down slightly with a fork. Bake for 7-10 minutes. Let cool before removing to a wire rack.

date & walnut oatmeal cookies

When I made these cookies, I talked to my nana on FaceTime that afternoon. She asked what I was up to and I replied with the usual "… just made cookies." When she asked what kind of cookies and I told her, she said "Oh, dates and walnuts are old person food!" It's never occurred to me, but I guess they kinda are. All the old church cookbook classics like date bread or bread pudding have nuts or dates in them. So it's obviously legit. {not.}

One of my absolute favorite treats as a kid were these date filled sugar cookies from Cub Foods. Those things were the best reward for long grocery shopping trips. My grandma {the same one I now talk to for baking advice.} used to by BOXES of those cookies just for me whenever I stayed at her house. I remember sitting at her kitchen table and eating one or two or three with a glass of cold milk. Ahh, those were the days. 

I know when it comes to nuts in cookies, you're either like "Oh my gosh, YES!" or "Oh my gosh, NO!" I'm the first. I seriously love the added crunch and flavor nuts add to baked goods. I think they make great additions to classic oatmeal raisin or chocolate chip cookies. Although they're really necessary in these cookies, if you seriously can't stand them, you could leave them out. 

These cookies are some of the best I've made in a LONG time. I like my cookies on the underdone side, so they turn out really soft and gooey. The nuts and dates go together really great in these chewy oatmeal cookies. I made the recipe completely from scratch, but I didn't tell anyone until AFTER they had one and exclaimed how great they were. 

Mission accomplished. 

date & walnut oatmeal cookies

1/2 c. butter, softened

1/2 c. granulated sugar

1/2 c. dark brown sugar

1 tsp. vanilla

2 eggs

1/2 c. all purpose flour

3/4 c. wholewheat flour

3/4 c. quick cooking oat

1 tsp. cinnamon

1 1/2 tsp. baking powder

1/2 tsp. salt

3/4 c. chopped dates

1/2 c. chopped walnuts

Preheat oven to 350ºF. In a large bowl, cream butter, sugars, and vanilla. Whisk in eggs. Add flours, oats, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt. Stir until combined. Fold in dates and walnuts. Scoop dough onto a greased cookie sheet. Bake for 10-15 minutes. Yields about 18 large cookies or 2 dozen smaller cookies.