Samoa(ish) No-Bake Cookies

Well, it's that time again... Girl Scout Cookie season. Since switching over to the paleo lifestyle, I've managed to create my own version of the beloved Samoas with ingredients that suit my diet. Although they are not an exact replica, they're definitely a delicious substitute!

Base Cookie layer:

1/2 cup unsweetened shredded (dried) coconut

1/2 cup shelled walnuts

2.5 tablespoons melted coconut oil

2 tablespoons maple syrup

pinch of sea salt

Using a food processor, blend the shredded coconut until very fine. Add in the walnuts and sea salt, and blend again until very fine. Mix in the melted coconut oil and maple syrup until it becomes a doughy texture. 

Place dough between two pieces of parchment or wax paper. Roll out until about 1/4" thick. Place dough in the freezer until it becomes firm enough to handle. Remove the dough from freezer and use the cookie cutter of your choice to shape your cookies.

Chocolate layer: 

4.5 tablespoons cacao (or cocoa) powder

4 tablespoons melted coconut oil

2.5 tablespoons maple syrup

Be sure that your coconut oil is not very warm before mixing, otherwise the mixture will be too runny to create a nice chocolate layer. Whisk together all ingredients in a small bowl. Spoon a small amount and spread onto the base cookie layer.

(Save some of this mixture to garnish at the end.)

"Caramel" Coconut layer:

8 medjool dates

2 tablespoons melted coconut oil

1.5 tablespoons water

1/2 tablespoon cacao (or cocoa) powder

1/2 cup unsweetened shredded (dried) coconut

pinch of sea salt

Place medjool dates and water in a food processor and blend for a few seconds. Add in the melted coconut oil and continue until fully blended. Add in the sea salt and cacao (or cocoa) powder and continue to blend. Mix in the shredded coconut until fully blended - if it is too thick, add a little water and continue to mix.

Once mixed, spoon out desired amount and press down onto the chocolate layer of the cookies. 

Chocolate Drizzle:

Using the left over mixture for the chocolate layer - heat in microwave for just a few seconds until it becomes runny. Spoon a small amount and run back and forth over each cookie.

Voila! Paleo "Samoa(ish)" Cookies!

Enjoy!

Photography Credit: Aaron Homiak Homiak Photography 

A Quick Trip to the Sunshine State

I recently took a short vacation to Florida for my husband's business trip. Although much of the time was spent with him in presentations and meetings, we made sure to spend some time checking out what Florida had to offer. Our first adventure was to Blue Spring State Park to see if we could get a glimpse at some manatees!

 It was a beautiful day, but the weather quickly changed... Rain suddenly started pouring as we made a run for it to the car. While driving back to the hotel, we each received a text to our phones stating "Tornado Warning - take shelter now".. not okay! Rain quickly turned to paintball sized hail that sounded like gun shots in the car. I was in such a state of panic, I didn't even think about getting a picture of the chaos around us. As soon we got to the hotel, we turned on the TV with the news only to hear there was a tornado sighting about 5 miles from where we just were. Luckily, the bad weather only lasted a short while and we were able to get back out the next day for some more adventures. 

Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge was a great place to spend some time with the telephoto lens. There were so many birds of all different shapes and sizes (including a blue and yellow one with Goodyear written across the side of it!).. We also had the chance to grab a few pictures of a lonely alligator who quickly got agitated with us crowding his space.

 We ended the vacation with a trip to eat some lunch at Canaveral National Seashore. Although it was planned as a business trip, it was a nice little get away from winter and the chaos of our everyday lives.