Almond Butter, Dark Chocolate & Coconut Cookies

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Almond Joy CookiesThe way I see it, there are 2 ways to deal with rainy snowy days.  You can order a pizza, put on your jammies and watch an old movie or you can bake cookies.

Today I’m going the cookie route.

When it’s gloomy out and you might be feeling a little gloomy yourself, you don’t want crazy, fancy cookies.  Save the macarons, cutesy cut-outs, and sandwich cookies for another occasion.  We’re looking for classic: crisp, crackly exterior with a chewy center.  Chocolate?  Good idea.  Peanut butter?  Maybe if I had some…let’s try almond butter instead.  Chocolate and almonds. Might as well toss in some coconut and go for an Almond Joy sort of thing.

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Date, Coconut & Pecan Quinoa Muffins

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Date, Coconut & Pecan Quinoa Muffins

Now let’s get one thing straight; when it comes to muffins, I hardly discriminate.  I like ’em all, from dense and cakey to light and delicate, most every muffin has its time and place in my world.  But, if you’re going to press me for my favorite weekday version, it is, without a doubt, the humble quinoa muffin.

Why, you ask.  Why some dowdy quinoa muffin when I could be biting into a fluffy blueberry-buttermilk beauty?  It’s like choosing some mousey brunette over a blonde bombshell pageant queen.

Because quinoa muffins have got substance, integrity, loyalty.  They’ll coax you out of bed with the promise of deep, nutty-grainy deliciousness and fuel you all through the first half of the day.  They’re not going to merely flirt with you in the morning only to flake out on you halfway to lunch.

If you’ve been coming around here since the beginning, you probably already know about my affection for quinoa muffins.  I’ve been known to hide squash and apples in them.  This time around, I’m thinking quinoa muffin meets granola with big chunks of dates, copious coconut curls, and plenty of pecans.

Coconut, Date & Pecan Quinoa Muffins [Read more…]