Goat Poop Cookies

So I sent both my brothers these cookies, one as a birthday gift and one as a pick me up care package. One of the brothers, who will remain unnamed, although he is the smellier of the two, was bugging me about their aesthetic appeal and called them goat poops. Thus, "Goat Poop Cookies" has been coined.

These cookies are very simple to make. All you need is the ingredients, two bowls (one large, one small), a fork, spoon and spatula. O and how can I forget the secret ingredient... Goat Poops...

For the people who don't know me, my family owns two pygmy goats named Shish and Kabeb, get it... Shishkebab... Goat meat... Don't worry we won't eat our lovely animals. I love them too much!

Anyways, on to the recipe inspired by PB Fingers & Kalyn's kitchen. Note that these cookies are flour-less cookies. If you are able to find gluten-free oats, then they would be gluten-free Goat Poops :)

Ingredients: 

Dry:

2 cup rolled oats

1/2 cup sugar

8 tbsp cocoa powder (raw organic is best for taste & health benefits)

1/2 tsp salt

2/3 cup medium flake unsweetened coconut

2/3 cup chocolate chips

1 tbsp chia seeds (optional)

Couple shakes of cinnamon

Wet: 

1 tbsp vanilla

2 eggs

1/2 cup coconut oil (if don't have on hand, canola will work)

Directions:

1) Mix oats, sugar, cocoa powder, salt, unsweetened coconut, chocolate chips and cinnamon in large bowl. 2) Beat egg with fork in small bowl and add vanilla. 3) Add oil to egg mixture but only if your NOT using coconut oil. If using coconut oil, heat until it becomes a liquid and then add to dry ingredients. Add egg and vanilla mixture separately. Don't add the coconut oil to the egg mixture as you don't want to cook your eggs! 4) Pour wet ingredients into dry ingredients and mix with fork. 5) Spoon 1 tbsp of cookie mixture onto oiled pan. 6) Bake in 350 F oven for 15 minutes. 7) Remove from pan and cool.

These cookies take about 20-25 minutes to prepare and bake. Soooo simple!!!

They are also great with add-ins such as pecans, or even peanut butter. I suggest adding in 1/4 cup of peanut butter and 1/3 cup of oil but I haven't attempted this so let me know how it goes!

I have honestly made these cookies 3 times in the last 10 days.... Luckily I didn't eat them all... just quite a few :)

Note: I will do a post on chia seeds in the future. Their health benefits are fantastic - they contain more omega's than flax seeds! The funny thing is that these seeds are what are used in the popular toy "Chia Pets". By the way notice the Mr. T.  Chia pet. Scott you better enjoy...

PB & C bites

So the other night I had a major hankering for peanut butter and chocolate (the craving was definitely instigated by eating Reese's Peanut butter cups the night prior, yum) so I created these delicious energy bites that are ready in 15 minutes.

Ingredients:

1/2 cup of peanut butter (I used Kraft Chunky because chunky is where it's at)
2 tbsp cocoa powder
1 1/2 tbsp pure maple syrup
1 tbsp almond milk
2/3 cup of cooked quinoa (~1/2 cup uncooked)
1/4 cup unsweetened coconut
1/4 cup raisins
1/4 cup oats
2 pinches of salt
2 shakes of cinnamon

Directions:

1) Cook quinoa: There are different techniques to cook quinoa but I have found the quickest way to do it is by placing uncooked quinoa in pot and turn burner on high (NO water). Stir frequently and only add water when the quinoa starts to make popping noises. This helps to remove the outer coating on the quinoa (or so I am told). When you add the 1 cup of water it will steam or make a sizzling noise as the quinoa is hot.  Turn the burner down to medium and let the quinoa cook for another 5-6 minutes with a lid on untill all water is evaporated. It is now very similar to cooking rice. When all the water is absorbed, fluff the quinoa with a fork and set aside.

Note: Quinoa is gluten-free grain that has a balanced set of amino acids making it a complete protein. Yay for lean sustainable energy! It is a great way to incorporate protein into baked goods. I usually replace half of the flour I use with quinoa flour (ground quinoa in my coffee bean grinder).

2) Mix peanut butter, cocoa powder, maple syrup and almond milk together in a bowl. I made my first batch without almond milk and it honestly looked like a turd.... It still would have worked though.

Note: Do not microwave your small delicious turd. I thought the peanut butter would melt with the heat but nooooo. I just ended up burning the mixture. Yes I ended up with a small smelly turd. Needless to say I threw my first trial out.

3) Add in cooked quinoa, oats, coconut, raisins, salt & cinnamon.

4) Form mixture into little balls with your hands on cookie sheet and set in freezer for 10 minutes.

5) Store in cookie tin in freezer. These are delicious cool treat that still holds together when brought back to room temperature. SOOOOO good!