Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars {Gluten Free/Grain Free}

 Good evening friends! Currently watching NC State being awesome in the tournament. GO PACK!  I really need to quit making goodies for myself. But experimenting is fun so I don't want to stop. Can't stop, won't stop! I hope everyone had a fun filled St. Patty's day! DB and I went to Chicago and got to hang out with some awesome peeps. Drank too many bloody mary's but what else is new? 

Anywho, I'm sharing this delectable treat with you because I had a few peeps ask for it so I guess they can give it a try and let me know if it is really worth while ;) Also, I just want to say that I am really bad at measuring. I'm pretty sure I didn't even measure this besides the baking powder. But you can trust me, right?? I promise I will do better next time!

Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars 
{Gluten Free/Grain Free}

1 1/2 c. almond flour (I made mine with raw almonds)

1/4 c. + 2 Tb. for topping unsweetened shredded coconut

1 tsp. baking powder

Dash of salt

1/4 c. coconut oil, melted

1/4 c. grass fed butter, melted

1/3 c. almond butter

1/4-1/3 c. honey (depending on sweetness)

2 eggs

1 tsp. vanilla

1/2 c.+ 2 Tb. for topping chocolate chips (could be Paleo depending on the type you get)

Directions:  Preheat oven for 350 degrees and grease an 8x8 pan with some oil/butter.  To make the almond flour from scratch, place almonds into food processor and grind until it becomes a fine powder.  

From there you can add the remainder of the dry ingredients into the processor and pulse a few times.  Add in the melted coconut oil, butter, almond butter, honey, eggs, and vanilla. Blend until combined.  From here mix in the chocolate chips.  Place dough evenly in the dish, top with the remaining chocolate chips (~2 Tb.) and a handful of shredded coconut (~2 Tb).  Place into oven and bake for about 25 minutes.  Let the bars cool. Please do this or else they will fall apart. (I guess more broken ones would mean more for taste tests?? ;)

ENJOY!

Well HEYYYYY! Sugar Abatement...

Post Paleo Challenge: Sugar hates me. It's a good thing I guess...

But instead of boring you with some sob story about my sugar nonsense (I'll save that for another time) I will give you a chocolate chip cookie recipe & chia pudding recipe that you may want to try. Because we all need a treat once in a while. Am I right??!!

Chocolate Chip Puff Balls

(Notice I called them "puffs" because they turn out a bit puffier and softer than normal cookies, but still delicious)

1/3 c. amond butter, smooth

2 eggs

2-3 Tb. honey 

1 tsp. vanilla

1/2 c. almond flour

1/4 c. coconut flour

1/2 tsp. baking powder

1/4 tsp. baking soda

dash of salt

1/3 c. chocolate chips of your choice 

Directions: Preheat the oven for 375.  Combine all wet ingredients (almond butter, eggs, honey, vanilla). Then add the dry ingredients besides chocolate chips. Once combined fold in chocolate chips. Place by rounded tablespoon onto a greased or parchment paper covered baking sheet. Bake for 10ish minutes until slightly golden brown.  Let cool and enjoy.

*Note:  These are not super sweet. I am very sensitive to sweet now, and we are trying to take things down a notch in this household. Therefore, with baked goods I usually half it but try to make sure I even out the recipe based on the sugar reduction. Also, you can you use any chocolate chips you want. I usually use dark chocolate that I chop up or cocoa nibs but whatever should be fine :) These are gluten free and can be paleo depending on the chocolate you get.

 If you noticed in the picture above there is some weird looking goop. Yeah, that's chia pudding but don't worry it's mighty fine!

 Chia Coconut Pudding

1 c. coconut milk (or other milk if you want)

1 tsp. vanilla

1/2-1 Tb. honey or a few drops of Stevia

1/4 c. chia seeds

dash of cinnamon

Directions:  Place all ingredients into a small mixing bowl and stir until all chia seeds are coated, making sure they do not clump together.  Cover and place in refrigerator until set.  Stir and enjoy. 

This can be eaten with some bananas or other kind of fruit for breakfast or dessert! You can also take out the honey or stevia in which the pudding is still fab. I put a few pieces of dark chocolate on top because I wanted to :)

Alright, that's it for now folks! Enjoy this (silly) snow!