My Bribery & Chocolate Cashew Cookies

My two year old soon to be three, Bella, is in the midst of potty training. Though such a topic may be taboo on a food & fitness blog it is tied in with today's recipe. You see we've been talking about the potty with Isabella for quite some time. Getting her to commit to the porcelain thrown has been a LONG haul. My mother says it is all pay back.  Apparently the apple does not fall far from the tree as I was the same way. Resolved to get this potty thing down before she is three I've resorted to bribery. My daughter gets a "treat" every time she uses the john. This can range from anything to dried dates, organic gummies, and her favorite cookies. Today's recipe post is inspired from Lifting Revolution. The original recipe is delicious, but when I baked these tasty  bites they became melted gobs. So I modified and tweaked the recipe a bit to make it  more of a cookie.

Trail Mix Cookie Bars (gluten free, dairy free)

Don't you just love snacks that taste good?! When I first started eating a clean whole foods diet I thought my life would forever consist of baked chicken breast and steamed broccoli. Wrong! I thought I would be deprived of sweet treats and have endless sugar cravings after kicking the white stuff habit; sugar that is. One of the hardest and easiest transitions for me was giving up white sugar. After I stopped eating it, baking with it, and buying packaged foods with sugar and corn syrup I did go through a detox. I got through this by increasing my intake of fresh fruit and using more natural sugar alternatives like honey. Dried fruit especially dates and raisins can really help you satisfy  your sweet tooth craving without giving in. What made this process easy was the positive reaction I felt in my body, my clearer skin, and also being cavity free for the last two years! Today's recipe is a great snack to stash in your purse, carry along for road trips, or feed your hungry toddler after you pick her up from school. 

Power Cookies

Today’s recipe is a cookie, but it packs a powerful nutritional punch and is gluten free and dairy free. Speaking of punches the husband and I were knocked out with a nasty cold this weekend while our two year-old has been running circles around us. Oh parenthood. Perhaps these cookies will provide healing and rejuvenation; probably not, but they are a great treat.

Power Cookies

1 cup of certified gluten free oats ground up in food processor

2 cups of blanched almond flour

1 TBS baking powder

¼ cup honey

¼ cup coconut oil melted

1 cup of cooked, peeled, mashed, and cooled sweet potato

1 tsp vanilla extract

1 tsp of pumpkin pie spice

½-1cup of sesame seeds

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper. I used my Exopat Matfer to bake my cookies on. Place coconut oil, honey, potato, vanilla extract, and pumpkin pie spice into Blendtec, food processor, or blender then process till smooth. Tip: measure out your oil first and then the honey in the same measuring cup because the honey will slide out easily due to the oil. In a separate mixing bowl combine, ground oats, almond flour, and baking powder. Mix to combine. Add the sweet potato mixture to the flour mixture and stir to combine.  Place sesame seeds into a cereal bowl. Scoop dough with a cookie scoop or tablespoon and then form the dough into 1 inch balls with palms of your hands. Next roll ball to coat in sesame seeds and place on baking sheet. Repeat till cookie sheet is filled then bake for 25 minutes or until golden brown.

Today’s Workout Blip:

I skipped my HIIT and cardio session yesterday and today’s full-body and circuit with cardio due to this wicked cold. Sometimes your body has got to rest! I’m hoping to get back to the gym tomorrow and definitely by Monday.

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Have a wonderful RESTFUL weekend. Until next time stay strong and carry on!

Brooklynn