2 weeks down and Chocolate Peanut Butter Cookies
Just wanted to give you guys an update! First off, be sure to check out the awesome post I did for JL’s blog: Vegan 101: Newbies Guide to Seasonal Eating and Cooking. You’ve heard this stuff from me before or read about it if you have my Spring eCookbook, but I made a fun video on how to plan a meal for spring featuring some of my fave cookbooks!
Second, my dad has now completed his 2nd week of veganism. We had a small hiccup when I came home from a dinner to find him drinking. Stupid me didn’t pour out all the alcohol in the house and boys will be boys. I’m still having a hard time getting him to exercise, even though he has a ton of energy. He went on one walk with me around the neighborhood and got on his treadmill like twice for 10 minutes. It’s funny because he has so much energy now that he’s pacing around and getting bored. Hopefully this will translate into him going outside and getting active instead of playing video games in front of the computer.
Dad was getting a bit fussy this week about my food not being what he’s used to. He said my tempeh meatloaf didn’t taste like meatloaf, to which I replied “Sorry I can’t make it taste like ground animal flesh”. That shut him up for a bit LOL. So I got him so Tofurky sausages and Amy’s burgers. I was shying away from all processed foods and oil for him, but he really wanted something familiar. And he really liked those products saying “wow it really tastes like sausage”. I think on occasion it’s fine and it’s less work for me. This whole thing is way more work than I thought it would be, cooking all his meals and cleaning.
Overall he has liked everything I’ve made and cleans his plate. I’ve been meaning to try out some Coconut Secret products that I got last year and I finally had a chance to give them a whirl. I made these delicious cookies, that have no oil and are gluten-free. They do have peanut butter, so they aren’t low fat, but at least they have no extracted oils!
Coconut palm sugar is my granulated sweetener of choice, and the coconut flour is to die for. If you can get a hold of any of the Coconut Secret products try them out! JL’s Meatless Monday post this week featured the Coconut Aminos which is super awesome for a seasoning.
Gluten-free Chocolate Peanut Butter Cookies
Makes about 15 cookies
1/2 cup coconut flour
1/2 cup brown rice flour
1/2 cup coconut palm sugar
1/2 cup cocoa powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1 tablespoon flax meal
1/2 tablespoon arrowroot
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons peanut butter
2 teaspoon vanilla flavoring
2 tablespoons maple syrup
4 tablespoons unsweetened applesauce
4 tablespoons unsweetened almond milk
Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Whisk together the first 9 dry ingredients in a medium bowl. Whisk together the wet ingredients in a smaller bowl. Pour wet into dry and combine well. Use your hands to form a dough ball. It should be firm and not sticky. With a tablespoon scoop out dough and form a ball in the palm of your hand. Place on a parchment lined baking sheet. Continue with rest of dough. Press balls lightly with the bottom of a glass. Bake 10 minutes.
Have you used Coconut Secret products before? What do you think of them?
Got any fun plans for the weekend?
First, thank you for writing such a terrific, comprehensive post for the Vegan 101 series!
Second, you have done so much in just two weeks! I know you want to get you dad moving but the changes in such order are pretty remarkable, as is! Be kind to yourself and the process.
I need to get a hold of the coconut flour– I really like the ingredients in this cookie recipe!
My pleasure JL!! It was really fun! If you try the cookies let me know what you think!
May I make a suggestion to get your dad moving more? My husband and I moved states and as English is not his first language he had a really hard time meeting new friends and making connections. I signed him up on a baseball team that met once a week…it made all the difference in the world. If there is a sport your father likes find some local teams that you can go as a spectator. Then you park and walk to the field and all that. Then as he gets into it you could see about him getting involved as a volunteer. They are always looking for an extra pair of hands to keep score or be the ref. or organize and make calls to get everyone where they need to be. it would give a project that has potential to really expand. Just a thought that worked for us…I let it be less forced and more organic. My husband felt as if he were wanted rather than him needing them. Please excuse me if there are any spelling errors.
Those look amazing!
Hey,
Glad that everything is going so well with your dad. Have you considered getting him to do 10,000 steps a day by wearing a little pedometer? A great daily goal. You could do it together!
Just a thought…
Thanks Katie and Brighde for the ideas! Love them!! We'll see if they work on him!