recipes – make ahead

double chocolate espresso chip cookies

06/06/2013 by Annalise · 1 Comment

Chocolate, chocolate and more chocolate. And a bit of espresso beans. Because coffee just makes everything better, am I right?

You can leave the espresso beans out of these cookies if you’d like. But personally I never skip a chance to add a little coffee into my life!

These cookies are incredibly gooey, rich, chewy and just plain delicious. Chocolate-lovers heaven. One cookie goes a long way, so this recipe will serve a crowd, or feed your freezer beautifully!

(You do know how well cookies freeze, right? If you didn’t… now you do! Cookies are amazing freezer-treats. They pretty much even improve with a bit of time in the freezer – in an airtight container, of course -, getting chewier and more flavorful as the cookies rest. Perfect for last-minute company or a special treat for yourself. 5 minutes or so on the counter, or a few seconds in the microwave, and they are as good as new – if not better!)

Ok, so now I have a question… for my own curious mind. Do you love chocolate?

I think you know what I’m asking…

I like chocolate just fine. But I don’t usually crave it and if there are other options, it’s just not going to get first place in my life.

But some of you… some of you live for it. And there is something about chocolate-lovers that just makes my heart smile. Don’t ask why. Because I really don’t know. I just think it’s so sweet! (No pun intended! Ha!)

So, how do you feel about chocolate? Love it? Hate it? Like it just fine, but don’t care either way?

Feed my curiosity please!!

double chocolate espresso chip cookies

Ingredients

1 cup butter, melted & slightly cooled*
1 1/2 cups sugar
2 large eggs
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon salt
2/3 cup dutch-processed unsweetened cocoa powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
2 cups flour
2 cups dark or semi-sweet chocolate chips
2 cups chocolate-covered espresso beans, or other type of chocolate chips

Directions

*If you haven't already melted your butter, do it now before you start assembling everything else and place it in the fridge for a few minutes while you gather your ingredients.

In a large mixer bowl, beat together the butter & sugar until fluffy, about 3-5 minutes. Beat in the eggs, vanilla & salt until smooth, and then beat in the cocoa powder and baking soda until combined.

Mix in the flour until just combined and then stir the chocolate chips and chocolate covered espresso beans, if using.

Place the dough in the fridge to chill for about 30 minutes.

Preheat the oven to 350ºF while the dough chills. Line several baking sheets with parchment paper.

Scoop the dough out onto the parchment papers, using a medium (about 1 1/2") scoop, placing the dough about 2" apart to allow for spreading room.

Bake for 10-12 minutes, until the cookies are just set and no longer shiny. Let the cookies sit on the baking sheets until they are firm enough to move to a cooling rack, and then cool completely. Store in the freezer for best results!

http://sweetannas.com/2013/06/double-chocolate-espresso-chip-cookies.html

www.sweetannas.com

Filed Under: recipes, recipes - cookies and bars, recipes - dessert, recipes - desserts, recipes - freezer, recipes - make ahead ·

healthy peach berry crumble smoothies

05/27/2013 by Annalise · Leave a Comment

These smoothies are a healthy meal in and of themselves. All the sweet, luscious flavor of a summer-fruit smoothie and a juicy, peach berry crisp, without any of the guilt.

Dairy-free, sugar-free, and flavor-FULL!

(By the way… if you’re on the Fast Metabolism Diet like I was, this is a Phase 3 breakfast or lunch!)

Chia seeds and coconut oil give you the healthy fats your body craves, and no one (ahem, toddlers!) will ever know there are fresh greens packed inside their treat!

((Commence the silent cheering so as not to wake the house-full of sleeping kiddos!))

I don’t know about you, but my kids just don’t really eat too many green foods willingly. And any way I can sneak more good-stuff into their tummies is a good thing!

chocolate chip cookie dough brownies, perfected

05/25/2013 by Annalise · Leave a Comment

You may have seen these on here before. A version of them at least.

I first posted this recipe a few years ago, but since then I have perfected my homemade brownies and I just decided these needed a bit of a makeover. For the better, for sure!

Rich, fudgy, dark chocolate brownies, topped with a layer of decadent (egg-free!) chocolate chip cookie dough and a sweet chocolate glaze.

These brownies are very, very rich, so cut them small, but really… is there anything wrong with that?

picnicking with buffalo chicken salad sandwiches & kettle chips

05/20/2013 by Annalise · 108 Comments

Spring is here! Spring is here! Spring is here!!!

What does that mean? Fresh air flowing through open windows, sunshine warming faces and arms… and picnics!

We are blessed to have a beautiful backyard to enjoy, and goodness does food just taste better outside, ya know?

Also, packs of messy kids are much more easily hosed off outside and crumbs are food for the birds, so no clean up for me.

WooHOO! I love picnic weather!!

I don’t love eating the same foods over and over and over again though, so I am always trying to come up with new, fun, ‘outside’ food recipes.

These buffalo chicken salad sandwiches are a perfect blend of spicy, creamy, comforting, and delicious. Much easier to eat outside than a plate full of wings, with all the fiery flavor you love!

Shredded chicken and diced celery are tossed in a creamy blue cheese and buffalo sauce dressing, and piled on a bed of romaine on a chewy ciabatta bun. Hot or cold, this sandwich is heavenly on a springtime picnic!

Feel free to make this salad ahead… it will keep in the fridge for at least a day or so! Sandwiches and chips are always a favorite combo, and they are often on the menu since my family loves them so much.

crazy healthy good chocolate chip pan cookie

05/13/2013 by Annalise · Leave a Comment

Ok, maybe not super healthy, because this does have sugar in it. But even that sugar is organic, and part of it good-for-you coconut palm sugar!

What does this cookie not have? Flour, eggs, butter… seriously. I know. Stop it already, right?

This cookie sounds crazy. Almost horrible. But so crazy that it is worth trying, if only just to say you did.

(Yep, that’s why I tried it. My friend kept talking about it, for like – years, and I thought she was just a tad bit nutso. But I also got tired of wondering why she kept talking about it and so, maybe just a little to shut her up if it was not good, I tried it.)

And you know what? I am so glad I finally tried it!

And you will be glad you tried it… and your friends and family will never know it’s so healthy, I promise!

I tested this out on myself, my husband, my kids, and even my father-in-law… and everyone agreed that it does not taste one bit healthy.

Crazy, huh?

Ok, so what makes it so healthy, besides all that stuff that’s not in it? Beans. Garbanzo beans (aka Chickpeas. They are the same thing.) to be exact. Lots of beans. And some apple sauce. Weird, weird stuff. So weird, you have to try it to believe it.

Seriously. GO make this cookie. You won’t regret it!!

crazy healthy chocolate chip pan cookie

Ingredients

3 cups garbanzo beans (2 cans, drained and rinsed)
1/2 cup old fashioned or quick cooking oats
1/4 cup applesauce
3 tablespoons coconut oil
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons baking powder
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
1 cup shredded or flaked coconut (either sweetened or unsweetened is fine)
1/2 cup Wholesome Sweeteners organic coconut palm sugar (can substitute for more brown)
1 cup Wholesome Sweeteners organic dark brown sugar
1 cup chocolate chips
(optional: additional chocolate chips and coconut for sprinkling on top)

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350ºF. Grease a 10" cast iron skillet, or a 9x13" baking dish, and set aside.

In a large food processor, combine all ingredients except the chocolate chips and pulse until well combined.

Dump the dough into a large bowl and stir in the chocolate chips. Spread everything into the prepared baking dish and bake for 35-40 minutes, until golden brown around the edges.

Let sit for 10-15 minutes before serving... with a scoop of vanilla ice cream on top if you want to really trick your friends, I mean... be decadent!

http://sweetannas.com/2013/05/crazy-healthy-good-chocolate-chip-pan-cookie.html

www.sweetannas.com

Recipe adapted from Chocolate Covered Katie