We’re a snackin’ family, is all.
Paddle Boating – August 2019
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Pre-parenthood (and now grand-parenthood), my visions of mealtime were saccharine at best. Small heads gathered around a table, small hands folded in prayer. Three courses at the ready, three times daily. We’d pass the bread. We’d bless the cook.
It is this, on rare occasions, but mostly it's not. Mostly it's folding chairs on the patio, the slicing of salami, the fishing for an olive, the halving of apples. Other times, the tumbling of produce into a backpack and sneaking away for special visits, like the one last weekend to visit my son and his family.
A slapdash meal on the paddleboat
For the latter, and for the curious, here are a few we've been packing:
Sometimes, loving your family well means throwing a bunch of ingredients into a blender and turning it on high. Fifteen minutes later, finding everyone is fed and happily distracted with cinnamon under their fingernails.
And finding you are, as well.
Behold, the winning recipe – perfectly moist, perfectly chocolatey
The Most Addictive Blender Muffins
Ingredients
- 2 bananas
- 1 apple, peeled, cored, and chopped
- 1 cup peanut butter (or almond butter)
- 6 dates
- 2 eggs (large or XL)
- ¼ cup cocoa powder
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 1 ¼ tsp baking soda
- pinch of sea salt
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 375° F
- Blend all ingredients on high for 2-3 minutes. Fill a dozen cupcake liners with the batter
- Bake for 18 - 20 minutes
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It turns out, if you try something enough times, if you return to the whisk (or the paper, or the track), you might somehow wind up with something lovely to share.
A healthier cookie your grandmother might even smile over. At the very least, one for the times when everybody's a bit edgy, and blood sugar is low. A taste of these will perk them right up.
Your challenge, and mine?
Lace-up the sneakers. Unearth the recipe. Call an old friend. Dust off the cello. Open the Word doc. Schedule the appointment. Make the extra effort.
It might taste unfortunate
But in good time? Delicious
Salted Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookies
Ingredients
- 1 cup rolled oats
- ⅓ cup gluten-free baking flour (can sub for regular all-purpose flour, although most often, when making these, I'll use oat flour)
- ¼ cup natural sugar (Sugar in the Raw or Turbinado)
- 1 tsp baking powder
- ½ tsp baking soda
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- Pinch sea salt + more for sprinkling on top
- ½ cup peanut butter (creamy or crunchy, but choose one that's on the liquidy side)
- ¼ cup coconut oil (melted but not hot)
- ¼ cup + 2 tbsp unsweetened applesauce
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- a handful of butterscotch chips, optional, but delicious
Instructions
- Directions:
- Preheat oven to 350F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Whisk your oats, flour, sugar, baking soda & powder, and sea salt in a mixing bowl. Add in the rest of your ingredients and fold in with a spatula.
- Use a spoon or scoop to line up your dough onto the baking sheet and form into cookie shapes. Use the spoon to gently press the cookies down, then sprinkle some sea salt into the tops of each.
- Bake for 10-15 minutes and let cool on a rack before eating.
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Until a few months ago, neither one of my kids owned a mixer. And yet: my son's sweetheart decided to take up baking. After years of avoiding dessert, declaring a time-out from sugar, of craving salty over sweet at first glance, well? It appears they've changed their mind.
Is this newfound hobby just a phase? Short answer: nope
For the novice bakers out there, here’s all she needed to dip her oven mitts into the world of cake. A mug. I kid you not, and she's made me a convert. Such a nice fix when I’m looking for something cozy and celebratory in that we-made-it-to-the-end-of-the-day kind of way.
Heads up that it's not going to be the best cake you've ever eaten, but it's warm and tasty and does the job just fine.
Here’s to licking the batter, every last bit of it.
(I’ve made several variations of this recipe, but the PB & J version below is the one I keep coming back to)
PB & J Mug Cake
Ingredients
- ¼ cup peanut butter
- 1 Tbsp brown sugar (or natural sugar)
- 1 egg
- ¼ tsp baking powder
- tiny pinch of salt
- 1 Tbsp jelly
Instructions
- In a 12-ounce mug, whisk peanut butter, brown sugar, egg, baking
powder, and salt together until smooth. - Plop in the jelly, swirling it into the batter with a knife.
- Microwave on high for 45 to 60 seconds, or until it's just set.
— — —
I've been making these little gems all summer long. Simple/easy/so tasty.
They're such a great snack, paired lovingly in these parts with movie dates, smaller appetites, or simply those prone to dropping half on the ground for the puppies to inhale in a split second
(Just us?)
Peanut Butter No-Bake Freezer Cookies
Ingredients
- 1 cup almond flour
- a drizzle or two of honey (or maple syrup)
- ½ cup peanut butter (or any nut butter will be great)
Instructions
- Mix all of the ingredients and shape into balls
- Press each ball with a fork to make the pretty criss-crosses
- Sprinkle with sea salt and put them in the freezer for a few minutes. Thaw and enjoy!
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Don't forget; it's always a good idea to have some energy balls on hand. Just in case the day is a little rough (a preemptive strike never hurt anyone)
(A favorite recipe from the site that I've made over and over and over again. For other variations on the healthier Peanut Butter Ball theme, the original post is .. right this way)
Peanut Butter Protein Balls
Ingredients
- 1 cup peanut butter
- ½ cup + 2 Tbsp rolled oats
- ½ cup sesame seeds, ground
- ½ cup sunflower seeds, pulsed a couple of times in the food processor or chopped
- ½ cup protein powder
- 3 Tbsp cocoa powder (or carob powder)
- ⅛ tsp salt if using unsalted nut butter
- 1 Tbsp chia seeds
- 3 Tbsp unsweetened coconut
- 2 tsp vanilla
- ¼ cup + 2 Tbsp honey (or maple syrup)
Instructions
- Mix together peanut butter and honey.
- Stir sunflower seeds and remaining ingredients into peanut butter mixture, adding more honey, as needed, for consistency.
- Roll into balls using about 1 Tablespoon for each.
- Refrigerate or freeze
— — —
Beyond these, of course, we’re not shy about toting around a sack of produce here and there. Just yesterday, I pulled a bag of cherries out of my purse, and if that isn’t the good life, I suppose I don’t know what is.
Enjoy!
xoxo
15 Comments
I love that your posts gives us some backstory before introducing the recipe. It’s little things like that that set you apart from the blogs that just post recipes all day. It’s fun to know where someone comes from!
I have been looking for what to make with peanut butter so the cookies and the muffins are right up my street. I don’t like peanut butter on its own but I love it in cakes and biscuits. Bookmarked this to try some out
These all look incredible. I’m always looking for simple and healthy snack ideas that we’ll all enjoy, so I’ll be trying something of these at the wekeend! 🙂
I would really try baking the salted peanut butter oatmeal cookies. Been meaning to try oat flour.
My go-to “blender health muffins” recipe is this:
1/2 cup of mashed sweet potato (or canned pumpkin in a pinch)
1/2 cup mashed banana (I sometimes substitute my applesauce/spinach blend for extra veggies)
1/4 cup nut butter
2 eggs
cinnamon or add-ins are optional
Put it all in the blender until smooth – pour into mini muffin tins and cook at 375F for 18-20 minutes.
I usually double the batch and freeze (I only have ONE picky toddler in my household) and she loves them. Who doesn’t feel like a success when their toddler gets veggies (sweet potato counts right?) for breakfast!!
Lots of yummy ideas here! Love the sound of the mug cake and the protein balls would be perfect for my son for an after swim snack! Will definitely try some of these, thanks for sharing.
I was gifted a couple of packets of dates (don’t ask) and I wondered what I’d be able to use them for. I’ll have to give your blender muffins a try
Hummus! No particular brand or flavor, and Laurel Hill tortilla chips. We also love the Newman’s Own Habanero Lime salsa. It tastes homemade but isn’t too hot. Thanks for sharing the ideas, Ali. I look forward to trying something new. Have a great rest of this beautiful fall day!
Lately, I’ve been snacking on my grandmother’s spinach dip. I can make it in my sleep, I usually already have all of the ingredients on hand, and I get to think about my Granzanne (her cool grandma name) when I make it. xx
OMG! I just made the blender muffins with my two-year-old who is transitioning from 1 nap to no naps most days. This was the perfect afternoon activity for us both. An impromptu tea party followed! I just love this little space on the internet. I always leave encouraged and/or inspired. xo
With the change in seasons I feel the need to explore more flavors and add more things to the house hold menu, I am sure I am not alone in this. I think we need to try SALTED PEANUT BUTTER OATMEAL COOKIES next! Thank you!
My whole family is obsessed with muffins, so I can’t wait to give this recipe a try! They look so delicious!
I tried the muffin recipe converted to loaf form as part of my batch cooking for this week. It was supposed to last all week and didn’t make it past the 2-hour mark. Hubby announced that we have officially found our special occasion dessert. Thank you so much!
I’m all about almonds (raw) and pistachios (lightly salted). I have almonds in the car, at home and at work. Otherwise, I keep a variety of crackers, chips, cheeses, fruits, veggies, and hummus on hand to grab and go. Oh, and frozen Go-gurts; they’re packed with sugar but at least there’s some calcium in there too. = )
Oh my goodness this is peanut butter heaven! I’m loving the sound of those blender muffins!