Omg! These cookies!

My kids just got home from school. They were starving so I cut up fresh peaches for them and got a few hard boiled eggs out too. But then I let them try my brand-new chocolate chip cookies! They absolutely positively 100% loved them! 

Now.....rewind back to last night. I woke up in the middle of the night thinking about dates. Haha silly, the edible kind. Not the nice kind with a man. What I kept thinking about in the middle of the night was that dates are so stinkin good, so sweet and I wanted some! It had been a while since I had the chance to sink my teeth into some sweet dates. Then I thought how I'd like a chocolate chip cookie that I could eat and 100% feel good about. I also wanted to create a treat that I could feed my kids that would put only good, clean nutrients in their bodies. You may be wondering why I would wake up in the middle of the night thinking these things. It is rather strange but I do have my reasons. The biggest one is that over the weekend I was totally grossed out in my pantry. I was getting quinoa to make and prepare for the week when something red caught my eye. A sucker (or lollipop if you are from the North) was dropping its disgusting liquid all over my beautiful painted and clean walls. I pulled the nasty red sucker off of the wall (yes, it was stuck there and even still had a wrapper on it!) and called my children in to see the mess. I began talking about junk food, trash food and unnecessary foods. Candy is just that to me. 100% unnecessary. I'd rather my kids have ice cream or one of my cookies any day of the week instead of worthless candy. But please note that I am not one who won't let my kids trick or treat because candy is so nasty (no offense if you are like that though..... Power to ya!) Instead I take the higher route and educate my kids. This is their world. I am only going to be able to hold their hands and lead their way and make their paths for so long. They have to know how to make their own decisions. Secretly and openly I truly rejoice each time my daughter takes a bite or 2 of candy or junk food and puts it down or saves it or gives it to someone else. Kids are born being able to moderate themselves in every way. We as parents just have to enable them to use their instincts as well as what they have been taught about leading a healthy life. 

So..... That was the longest way ever of saying that my daughter looked up at me after my "candy is gross" speech and said, "If this sucker doesn't help us grow or get stronger in any way then why would we want to eat it?" I rejoice my friends and dear readers! That's it! "Great Scott!" as Doc says in Back to the Future. That's it! Think and remember that and that's all we need to know!

Make these clean, tasty cookies and you will feel good before, during and after your experience!!!

"Are You Kidding Me Cookies"

3 ripe avocados 

36 dates (I used Sunsweet brand but Trader Joes Medjool dates are my norm)

2 eggs

1 t pure vanilla extract

1 t baking soda

1 t baking powder 

1/4 t sea salt

1 3/4 C almond meal

1/4 C coconut flour

1 Cup mini chocolate chips (I used Lily's brand dark chocolate because they are sugar free, soy and dairy free. I wanted my niece who is lactose intolerant to be able to have these!)

Directions:

Oven 350*. Oh my gosh....Start by smiling super big! This is amazing! Then mash avocados. I just threw mine in the trusty Ninja. Add all of the pitted dates. Be SURE there are not any pits! Mix well. Add eggs and vanilla. Set aside. In separate bowl mix all dry ingredients. Combine the avocado power mixture with the dry ingredients. Once it's all combined fold in your chocolate or you could add raisins or dried chopped apples too! Bake for about 9-11 minutes or until they are set but soft in the middle. Let them cool a few minutes on the baking sheet to set further. Enjoy and do the happy dance each time your child bites into this crazy good cookie for you are giving her/him nature's candy!

Tell me what you think!!!! As you can tell I'm crazy excited about my new creation!

Mash Avocados:

Add dates and mix again:

Add eggs and vanilla:

Mix dry ingredients:

Add chocolate chips or no sugar added dried fruits:

Eat & enjoy! They won't last long!

Guess what......? None of the ones with chocolate chips lasted long enough for a picture! I'll add more pics when I make these again! 

UPDATE: these cookies are awesome make ahead dough balls! If you know me you know that I always have cookies of any kind balled up and frozen ready to bake in case friends or neighbors come over to hang out! I freeze in individual layers in Pyrex dishes. 

Berry Amazing Chia Jam

Howdy! 

How is the weather in your neck of the woods? The weather here in the low country has been divine. With highs in the low 80s and lows in the high 60s it's been absolutely ideal weather for cookouts, beach and pool. I love my neighborhood pool so much. It's such a great place to go to swim, play with the kids and watch them all play together. But here in this neighborhood it's more than that. It's a place where we as neighbors all come together to catch up. We find out about local activities from each other. We meet new neighbors who have moved here from all over the country and we share good workouts and recipes. Yes, sitting around the pool and giving out recipes is so awesome! 

Last weekend I met some awesome new friends/neighbors and got to see many I had already met before. I love when the topic starts slowly morphing into a discussion about dinner and favorite foods and things our kids will and won't eat. I was so excited to meet and talk to a new friend who said her 8 year old son will eat anything and loves healthy foods. I think Dean (my 8 year old) said something about wanting my Berry Amazing Chia Jam and that got us all into a jammin good chat about my family's favorite condiment (is jam a condiment? I don't even know but it's too cool to call it just plain food). Berry Amazing Chia Jam is my family's favorite way to have chia seeds and the sweetest fruit of the season, strawberries. The recipe is so easy that I call it crazy easy! 

Emily at Tresses Hair salon asked if I sell it. Definitely, Emily! I'll make this just for you any time! It's fun to make but even more fun to eat! Kids love it too and they are getting a great big dose of protein and fiber and healthy carbs from the berries. My little princess adds a few tablespoons of Jam to her plain Greek yogurt. My oldest spreads it on his almond butter sandwiches and my middle dude eats it straight out of the jar like its goin out of style. Yes friends, it's THAT good! Try it! Tell me whatcha think!

Berry Amazing Chia Jam

2 bags of frozen or 2 lbs fresh strawberries (works well with cherries, raspberries and blueberries too!)

4T freshly squeezed lemon juice

6 T chai seeds

The tiniest pinch of salt

Directions:

Put fruit in large sauce pan and put over low-medium heat. Stir constantly until the fruit has made its own juice and softens dramatically. This happens sooner and easier with frozen fruit and frozen fruit can sometimes even be cheaper than fresh so I tend to go with the frozen for the jam. Once the fruit is nice and soft get out your potato masher and mash the fruit up. We like chunks of fruit in our jam so I mash well but leave lots of chunks. Add the lemon juice, chia and pinch salt. Stir constantly! It's worth it! (Work your outer thighs while you stir and slowly swing leg out to the side 20 times on each side. Repeat until this step is complete. You're welcome. Now your legs will even get some love.)

Stirring constantly, let the whole mixture come to a slow boil. Let boil and cook for 5 minutes or until it starts to firm up a bit. (Now work inner thighs while you stir during this step!)

Pour into containers or jars to share. Put in refrigerator to cool. Enjoy, smile and do your happy dance that your family is eating one big bundle of healthy love! 

Mash strawberries!

Add your power chia and lemon juice and a dash of salt:

Stir baby stir!!!!! 

After boiling for 5 min funnel into cute jars:

Told ya they were cute!

Put some crazy adorable stickers on the lid. Give as a gift to some "berry good teachers"!!!!!! Save some for yourself!

Want to buy some? Contact me and like me on Facebook!

Notes to my Kids

Hi and Happy Mothers Day! 

Yesterday was my birthday and today is Mother's Day. I am so thankful that my sweet children had lots of loved ones help them treat me like a queen this weekend. They bought me jewelry, made me pottery gifts, wrote cards and painted pictures. They also tried really hard to be on their best behavior and succeeded...... Most of the time. I just finished writing their thank you cards. I always write their thank you cards first. Do you know why I write my children thank you cards? Well, the biggest reason is that I have absolutely no hesitation to call them out and point out when they are out of line. So, when they do great things and create memories and kind, thoughtful gifts for me I figured I should let them know that they did a great thing. I wanted you to know about this in case your kids may be deserving of a nice thank you note written just for them. I clearly remember life as a kid. At times I know they feel like they are always being told what to do. I know they also get corrected often. Writing special notes to your children is a good way to tell them that they did something nice and good that made you feel special. Share the love. It's part of overall happiness and healthfulness. Happy Mothers Day to all of you hardworking, caring, thoughtful Mamas. You are the example for your children. Be a good one for them to follow. Show love each day. 

❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤