TO DIE for macaroons!

I've been wanting to make these macaroons since I received Laura's Wholesome Junk Food Cookbook in the mail. I've always had excuses like, oh it's going to take too much time, and I lack the energy. Well I lacked the energy today, but my desire to try these cookies overcame the lethargy.

Several positive things to say about this recipe:
1. It only took 20 minutes, including baking time.
2. If you're weird about calories, the worst thing for you is ONE tablespoon of sugar. Make it all-natural evaporated cane juice, and really you just shouldn't be worrying at all!
3. These are super delicious

Recipe:
Breakfast Macaroons
2 egg whites
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1/4 tsp almond extract
pinch unprocessed sea salt
1 tbsp evap cane juice
1 1/2 tsp agave syrup
1 1/2 tsp maple syrup
1 1/2 tsp melted coconut oil
3/4 - 1 c finely shredded unsweetened coconut

Preheat oven to 300 F and grease a cookie sheet. Take all ingredients except the coconut and mix with an electric mixer until soft peaks form.
Add the coconut slowly using a spoon and folding it into the mixture until the consistency gets slightly thicker. Then use a tablespoon and scoop the mixture on to the cookie sheet. It yields 12 macaroons. Bake for 12-15 minutes.

Voila!

Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Granola Bars

This recipe is from "the wholesome junk food cookbook" and is my second recipe I've tried. Glad to say this recipes are so simple and straightforward.

I decided on this recipe because I haven't had a granola bar since becoming gluten-free. It's really hard to find a good energy bar that is 1. tasteful and 2. along the lines of a granola bar.

First and foremost, if you're eating gluten-free make sure your oats are certified gluten-free. I use Bob's Red Mill Gluten Free Whole Grain Rolled Oats. There's a lot of mixed feelings about oats, but I'd rather be safe than sorry. Secondly, the chocolate I use is also certified gluten-free. A lot of people say you're fine if it's 70% cocoa or higher, but I just find gluten-free chocolate like Enjoy Life Foods Gluten-Free Chocolate Chips.

Ingredients:
5 c rolled oats
1/2 c pumpkin seeds
1/2 c raw sunflower seeds
1/4 c evap cane juice crystals
2 tsp unprocessed sea salt
2/3 c honey
1/2 c expeller-pressed oil
3/4 c chocolate chips

Preheat the oven to 325F
Line a 14x11 shallow pan with parchment paper and grease heavily. (This is where I went wrong and didn't grease enough so the bars stuck to the paper) You can use butter or cooking spray.
Combine the oats, seeds, cane juice, and salt in one bowl.
Combine the honey and oil in another bowl and mix.
Pour the liquid mixture into the dry and mix.
Put the mixture onto the prepared pan and firmly pat down making sure it's all even.
Bake in the oven for 30 mins, turning the pan every 10.

When finished, take out of oven and sprinkle the chocolate chips. The granola bars will look like they're not hard, but don't worry. When they cool off they'll harden together. Allow to fully cool and then cut as desired.

Review:
Simple to make. Packed with energy waiting to be unleashed! I liked the fact that after I ate this I didn't feel funny, like I sometimes do after eating a store-bought bar. I feel like I'm really getting something good for me and flavorful at the same time.
I'm reiterating here that I didn't grease the paper enough so it stuck, so we're just peeling off granola here, it's still delicious. Use grease!

In the oven

Recipe Review

I'm excited to say that I am going to be writing gluten-free reviews from Laura's Wholesome Junk Food Cookbook! I received my cookbook in the mail last week, and have only managed to make one recipe so far. More will come soon! Everything looks so delicious, I want to try it all.

This cookbook is all about having your cake and eating it too. You don't have to eliminate junk food from your life, you just have alternate a few ingredients with more natural, wholesome and equally tasteful ones.

As I skimmed the book, I realized a lot of the recipes take no time at all to put together. Which is great for a fast-paced lifestyle like mine.

So here goes, my first try:
Honey Almond Protein Bars
I chose this recipe because I LOVE peanut butter! I carry it in my purse most of the time so I always have a quick snack on hand.

You'll need:
1/2 c unsweetened shredded coconut
1c any nut butter, I used peanut butter ( suggest crunchy, for the texture)
1/3 c honey

It was so simple! Take the peanut butter and honey, mix together in a bowl. In a separate bowl put the coconut, allowing enough room to roll the peanut butter/honey mixture. Put some oil on your fingers, just enough so that the peanut butter won't stick to your fingers and roll out little balls. Take each ball and roll it in the coconut. Put on parchment paper and store in the fridge for an hour so they harden. You can keep them in the fridge or put them in a container in a cool dry area.

Note: I added dried cherries/blueberries/cranberries to the nut mixture and it tasted divine!

Cookie Review

I'm doing something a little different today. A cookie review.

I find it awfully hard to find cookies that combine great texture, taste, and shelf-life. It seems that without gluten things just aren't as good.

Here are three cookies, no baking involved, that I just adore.

1.















I believe I purchase this for $4.99, give or take. Depends on the grocery. I'm a whole foods junkie!
It's just like eating an oreo, only greater, because it's gluten free!

2.













This is a two-for-one deal. WOW baking is amazing! These cookies are moist and delicious. I haven't tried the other flavors yet, but I can guarantee Oregon Oatmeal and Snickerdoodle are well worth the price. They're $7.99 at Whole Foods, which seems exspensive, but I'm just amazed at the texture and shelf-life on these!

3.














Lastly, I recently purchased this cookie and I'm still baffled as to how great it tastes and the nutrition behind it. It cures my chocolate cravings in just one bite. There's also a hint of fruit in each bite-lette. This cookie was around the $5.99 price range at whole foods.

Ice Cream Sandwiches!

This is a real simple recipe!

Get yourself a box of the Betty Crocker GF Chocolate Chip Cookies

































1 Egg
Stick of Softened Butter
Tsp Vanilla Extract

Make the cookies as directed.

Now to make your Ice Cream Sandwiches.
You can do this part after you have made sure the cookies have completely cooled or the following day.

Take out some ice cream and let it soften. Ten minutes is about the amount of time you need to let it sit out. The ice cream should be soft enough that you don't have to use pressure to get a scoop. Take two cookies about the same size and put them face side down. Fill with ice cream and close together. Wrap in wax paper and put in the freezer for at least half an hour. Giving it enough time to harden.

Voila!