Saturday, November 12, 2016

Chocolate Geodes

These geodes evolved from our "Salted Chocolate Marzipan Cherry Bloops"

They were quickly gobbled up and with a pot luck to go to, I had to make more. So we did. But added more dried fruit. They look so lovely and taste delicious. They are also no bake and so easy to make. How easy? My 3 year old helped me with every step....especially the sampling.


Ingredients
- Marzipan (almonds and icing sugar, you can get this at your grocery store, bulk barn and even IKEA)
- Dried Fruit
- Chocolate chips
- Pink Himalayan salt

Directions:
1. Take about a tablespoon of marzipan and flatten out. (Try rolling into a small ball first then flattening)
2. Place dried fruit in the center and roll into a ball. Doesnt have to be perfect, after all its a geode. Place aside.
3. Melt chocolate in a double boiler
4. Roll marzipan balls though chocolate and place on cookie sheet lined with parchment paper
5. Place a piece of rock salt on top (optional)
6. Put in freezer or fridge for 10-15 minutes to set









Tuesday, November 8, 2016

Salted Chocolate Marzipan Cherry Bloops

These no bake, super easy to make 4 ingredient bloops are fast becoming popular in our household.
So simple that my 3 year old can make them too.




To add a fun and festive twist, you can soak the dried cherries in some brandy for some extra kick (which obviously makes it a no no for kids, but this way you can enjoy more of them yourself).

Ingredients:
- Marzipan
- Dried Cherries
- Chocolate chips
- Pink Himalayan salt

Directions:
1. Taking about a tablespoon of marzipan, flatten out.
2. Place one dried cherry in the center and roll into a ball
3. Melt chocolate in a double boiler
4. Roll marzipan balls though chocolate and place on cookie sheet lined with parchment paper
5. Place a piece of rock salt on top
6. Put in freezer or fridge for 10-15 minutes to set

This was a lot of fun to make and my 3 year old had a great time participating. She was able to do many steps on her own (minus the melting of the chocolate part).


Flattening out the marzipan, adding the cherry and rolling it into a ball















Sunday, October 16, 2016

Super Vegan Lactation Cookies

Ive been nursing for four years now. At the beginning I had a lot of difficulty with not having enough milk. These cookies saved me. I went from barely having enough to leaking milk virtually overnight.

Here is what I have learned over the years as to what works best for me to increase my milk supply.
1. Eating healthy fats
2. Drinking lots of water
3. Nursing (tells your body your baby needs more milk)
4. Oats and Brewers yeast.

I have relied on this recipe, for these 4 years.....but have also been tweaking it.

As a nursing mum, Ive come to realize my body needs more vitamins, minerals and better food in general especially if its also making food for a growing baby and toddler. So Ive played around a bit and added a few key ingredients that I found gave the lactation cookies a much needed nutritional boost.

Hemp Seeds: They are high in omega 3 and 6 fats. great fiber content and amino acids. They also have lots of magnesium (great for calcium absorption) and 10 grams of protein per 3 tablespoons!

Molasses: adds extra iron

Nuts and Seeds: provides more of those healthy fats as well as proteins.

So, here is the revised recipe. Hope you enjoy it as much as I (we) do.


1. Preheat the oven to 350

Ingredients:

Wet

  • 3/4 cup coconut oil
  • 1/2 cup water
  • 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
  • 4 tablespoons molasses


Dry

  • 1 cup brown sugar
  • 2 tablespoons of flaxseed meal
  • 2 cups flour
  • 2 teaspoons baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 3 cups of oats
  • 1/2 cup of hempseed 
  • 4 tablespoons of brewers yeast (you can add more to help boost your supply)
  • Nuts and seeds of your choice (you can mix them in or place them on top)

Method

2. Mix together dry ingredients
3. Mix together wet ingredients and combine
(You can add more water if you find it hard to work with)
4. Form into balls (about 2-3 tablespoons worth)
(You can also add an almond in the centre)
5. Bake for around 10-15 minutes (depending on the thickness of your cookies).

Allow to cool and if you want them to last, tell family members that these lactation cookies work on everyone....otherwise you will be making these more often.



Note: yes, I purposefully made these cookies look like boobies!