COCONUT CUPS

Um, yes please! Once again my friend Mindy shoved an unbelievable treat in my mouth during a quick visit to her house. I showed up Saturday morning to drop off some hand-me-downs for her wee little boy. I was raving about the coconut coffee I was drinking which, thank god, must have triggered her brain to pull out some pure heaven that was nestled in her freezer. My world exploded when she reached in and pulled out these frozen cups of layered coconut, almond and chocolate. They were beautiful, silky smooth, and immediately in my mouth. After one it was a done deal. I got home and made a batch. 

I can only hope my sons grow out of their clothes quicker so I can continue making these Saturday morning drop-offs. 

INGREDIENTS:
1 1/3 C Unsweetened Coconut Flakes
1/2 C Unrefined Coconut Oil, softened/melted
1/4 C Honey1 t Coconut or Vanilla Extract
1/2 C Dark Chocolate Chips
36 Whole Almonds

Using a 12 cup muffin tin, fill each cup with 3 whole almonds. Mix coconut flakes, coconut oil and honey in a bowl. Spoon mixture into cups covering almonds and filling cup about 1/3 full. 

Place muffin tin in freezer for 30 minutes until mixture is frozen.

In a small sauce pan melt chocolate chips. I added 1/2 T of coconut oil to keep chocolate smooth.

Once your coconut mixture in the freezer is ready spoon melted chocolate over each cup. 

Put your muffin tin back in the freezer for another 30 minutes until the chocolate topping is frozen. Don't worry, it doesn't take too long before you can bite into these lil' cups of pure goodness. Enjoy!

COCONUT PUMPKIN MIX

 

I have a dear friend that has a delicious habit when she comes to my house. Just about every visit she shows up with some type of food. I'm talking almost ALWAYS. Even when it's a visit where no food has been spoken of that we would potentially be partaking in. Yes, she still brings something. I love it! She is the one in fact that got me hooked on making my own granola. She showed up during a random visit with a baggie filled with home baked hippie crunch. That whole weekend I scarfed through it with my morning coffee. I was hooked. So this weekend she showed up with another ziploc of goodness filled with a coconut pumpkin mix. Oh. My. Lord. It is so delicious! I've been sprinkling it on my greek yogurt and am officially out. I'm heading out first thing to buy a bag of coconut flakes and all hell's gonna break loose! 

I added a few things to the original recipe my friend gave me because I HAVE to put vanilla and Chia seeds in everything. The below recipe is a tad different but the heart of it is the same.

COCONUT PUMPKIN MIX

STUFF:

1C Pepita Seeds

1C Slivered Almonds 

2C Shredded Unsweetened Coconut Flakes (Not shredded, flakes)

1T Chia Seeds 

1/2C Canned Pumpkin

1/4C Honey 

1T Coconut Oil 

1/2t Cinnamon

1/2t Vanilla

GIT 'ER DONE: 

Preheat oven to 300 degrees. Warm coconut oil, honey, cinnamon and 

vanilla in a small pan. Add canned pumpkin. Mix all other ingredients in 

mixing bowl. Pour warmed wet ingredients over nut/coconut mixture and 

mix well. Line cookie sheet with parchment paper and bake for 40-55 minutes.

WEE BALLS OF ENERGY

So yea...these are ALL over the internet so I'm not coming up with anything magical and new here. But, I seriously go through these little balls almost as much as my family pumps through Sriracha. So I will post them because they deserve as much praise as my own children. That is how awesome they are.

I hate measuring when it comes to cooking so I'm guesstimating portions for you. And honestly these guys go over best if you flavor them to taste. You need them in your life and they need you so just add what you need to make sure you love them. Love cinnamon? Then add a whole honkin' more. Hate Sunflower butter? Then use Almond butter. Etc. Feel free to adjust.

Here are some of the tasty treats you get to dump in your mixing bowl:

(Wet ingredients that hold her all together)
1/2 C Sunflower or Almond Butter
1/3 C Honey
2 t Vanilla
1 t Coconut Oil

(Dry ingredients)
1 C Raw Oats
1/2 C Coconut Flakes
1/4 C Ground Flax Seeds
2 T Chia Seeds
2 t Cinnamon
1/4 C Pecans, Walnuts or Sunflower Seeds
Dried Cranberries
Dark Chocolate Chips

Simply mix all the above goodness together. Add more of anything that seems lacking.

Once everything is mixed form into small balls. Drop them into a container, each layer divided by wax paper. Refrigerate.

These have become a staple for me every morning at work before I start designing for the day. Pair them with your favorite coffee and you will move mountains with the energy they generate. I love these wee balls of energy! I hope you do to.

TOMATO PIE CAFE

Hands down the best slice of tomato pie ever. Period. And that concludes this post. 

Best slice of tomato pie ever located at:

Tomato Pie Cafe

23 North Broad Street

Lititz, PA, 17543

THE SMELL OF CHRISTMAS

During my parent's visit this Christ my mom asked to name smells that trigger a memory. One of the smells I mentioned was one that just screams Christmas. That smell was from when I was little and my dad would open the box to our Christmas decorations. The smell of musty, mold caked ornaments packed tight for twelve months would waft through the air with a vengeance. I loved that smell that would leave me sneezing up until Easter. Regardless it's a fond memory that was always topped with hot chocolate, peppermint sticks and the smell of my mom's pumpkin pie. I love Christmas right down to the very last detail which includes the smell. Our Christmas decor boxes are slowly gaining that aging smell of Christmas past but with that we bring in our own traditions. These little marshmallow hot chocolate stir sticks were a hit and will make the tradition list of must haves from here on out.