WIAW | Vegan Lactation Cookies | Featuring Blue Diamond Almonds

May 20, 2015 by Lindsay Ingalls 7 Comments

WIAW | Vegan Lactation Cookies | Featuring Blue Diamond Almonds
Disclaimer: This post is sponsored by Blue Diamond Almonds.

It seems that everyone we know is either pregnant for the first time or second time or are just having their babies. Today I am meeting up with an old friend who just had baby boy #2 and since I believe that if you visit with a new mama in the first 4-6 weeks postpartum that you must bring food and/or do something to help around the house. That being said I decided to bake cookies because who doesn’t love cookies and I may have wanted a few for myself.

WIAW | Vegan Lactation Cookies | Featuring Blue Diamond Almonds While these are lactation cookies you don’t have to worry if you eat them you won’t suddenly start lactating it just means they are filled with ingredients that help mamas milk supply. All it means for you men, kids and non-breastfeeding women is that you’ll be enjoying some nutrient dense cookies that are really good anytime of the day. I actually think they would be the perfect breakfast cookie.

This recipe was inspired by How Sweet Eats Lactation Cookies, which you could always veganize if you wanted (I have and they are insanely amazing). So why didn’t I just make How Sweet Eats? Well they are a little higher in fat and sugar than I was interested in this time around. Although I think she is spot on to add the chocolate chips and if I had any I would have added them as well. Either way I think these are yummy and fingers crossed so does my mama friend.

Dark Chocolate Almond Lactation Cookies

Ingredients:

3 cups old-fashioned rolled oats
1 1/2 cups unbleached organic all-purpose flour
5 tablespoons brewers yeast
3 tablespoons ground flaxseed
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 super ripe medium bananas
1 cup coconut sugar
14-15 sticky medjool dates (if yours are not soft soak them in warm water for 20 minutes before or sub 1/2 cup coconut sugar)
7 tablespoons Earth Balance
2 teaspoons vanilla
1/3 Blue Diamond Oven Roasted Dark Chocolate Almonds, chopped
1/3 cup coconut flakes
1/3 cup chocolate chips (optional)

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350F.

In a large bowl whisk together the oats, flour, brewers yeast, flaxseed, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon and salt.

In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle beat the bananas and dates together until mashed. Add in the Earth Balance, coconut sugar and vanilla and beat until creamed together.

Slowly add in the dry ingredients and beat until just combined. Then stir in the almonds and coconut flakes.

Scoop out 1-inch balls of dough and place on a cookie sheet and bake for 10-14 minutes or until golden on the bottom. Remove from the oven and allow to cool for 5 minutes on the baking sheet.
WIAW | Vegan Lactation Cookies | Featuring Blue Diamond Almonds

WIAW | Almonds That Taste Like Churros

April 22, 2015 by Lindsay Ingalls 6 Comments

I usually go for a savory nut because that’s just the type of girl I am but as soon as I tried these I fell in love. Instantly they brought me back to my childhood and the many Disney trips my family took together and those hot churros you could get at all the parks around Disney. Seriously friends these taste like a Disney World churro. So maybe it’s the nostalgia talking or maybe it’s the fact that they taste so good that I just loved me some Blue Diamond Honey Roasted Cinnamon ALmonds. blue diamond almonds - honey roasted cinnamon
You know how I mentioned that they tasted of those hot churros? Well to make them taste even more like that I like to put them in a microwaveable dish and heat for 20-30 seconds. They come out all warm just like a hot churro. Some might say they taste like cinnamon roasted nuts, you know the warm ones you can get at theme parks, farmers markets, special events, etc and why I do agree my instant thought was those churros.
blue diamon honey roasted cinnamon
On the downside Edith loved these nuts as well and she loved them so much that she decided to lick her hand and stick it in to grab up all the honey and cinnamon flavor. Needless to say once she was done doing that we had to toss out the remainder of the container because ….well you get it. I guess I’ll have to buy myself a new container or rather buy one for me and one for her…and maybe one for Neil too.

Is there a food the takes you back to your childhood?
This post is sponsored by Blue Diamond Almonds.

Recipe | Nutty Honey Chocolate Bites | Blue Diamond Almonds

August 27, 2014 by Lindsay Ingalls 10 Comments

This post is sponsored by Blue Diamond Almonds. As always all opinions are my own.

I’m back in the kitchen and it feels great! The past two months have been a little chaotic and I haven’t really been inspired or in a position to really work on any new recipes. Yesterday however I made it back into the kitchen and I brought Edith with me.

Blue Diamond Almonds- Honey Roasted Vanilla - photos

I really want Edith to love cooking as much as I do and I also think that having her in the kitchen and being apart of the process makes her more interested in food and healthy eating. As you can see she is also learning how to become a food blogger with her Cabbage Patch camera. I’m thinking I need to find one of my old point and shoot cameras or maybe an inexpensive kids digital camera for her so that she can take real pictures – any recommendations?

Anyways we headed to the kitchen to make a snack for the week. Now you might be thinking chocolate as a snack? YES! These bites are filled with yummy and healthy ingredients like oats and almonds and just a little chocolate to make them a treat as well as a tasty snack. I used Blue Diamond Honey Roasted Vanilla Almonds in this recipe because a. they are super tasty and b. I thought they would be amazing with chocolate. Check out the recipe below and then head to the kitchen right away and MAKE THESE they are seriously insane!

Blue Diamond Almonds- Honey Roasted Vanilla

Nutty Honey Chocolate Bites

Inspired by Annie Eats

INGREDIENTS

2 cups old fashioned oats
½ cup unsweetened shredded coconut
1-6oz container of Blue Diamond Honey Roasted Vanilla Almonds
½ cup creamy unsalted almond butter
½ cup honey
¼ cup coconut oil
¼ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
¼ cup dark chocolate chips
¼ tsp. Himalayan pink salt

Blue Diamond Almonds- Honey Roasted Vanilla - photos

DIRECTIONS

Place oats in the bowl a food processor fitted with the s-blade and process until it is small coarse pieces. Add the almonds and coconut and pulse 15-20 times until finely ground. Transfer to a large mixing bowl.
Add the almond butter, honey, coconut oil, cocoa powder, and chocolate chips to a small sauce pan and heat over medium heat until the mixture is smooth and the chocolate chips are completely melted. Turn off the heat and stir in the salt. Pour the mixture into the bowl with the oat-almond mixture and stir together until everything is evenly mixed.
Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and pour out the mixture. Top with another sheet of parchment and roll out into a square or circle that is 1/4-1/2 inch thick. Place in the freezer for 1-2 hours until set and then cut into squares. Store in an airtight container the fridge or freezer

Blue Diamond Almonds- Honey Roasted Vanilla - bites

OUTTAKES

Edith enjoyed helping me make these tasty treats but she is only two so she is easily distracted by other things like putting stuff on top of her baby brothers head. At least he didn’t seem to mind!

Blue Diamond Almonds- Honey Roasted Vanilla - outtake

Summer Entertaining with Blue Diamond // Antipasto Plate with Almond Cheese Stuffed Peppers

July 21, 2014 by Lindsay Ingalls 3 Comments

Disclaimer: This post was sponsored by Blue Diamond Almonds. As always all opinions are my own.

Neil and I have always enjoyed entertaining whether it’s a pizza party, a potluck or our annual pumpkin beer tasting dinner. My favorite time to entertain however is during the summer when the days are longer, the sun is out and there is little need to do much cooking. I prefer to whip up some salads, grill veggie burgers and of course set out a few snack plates to start off any gathering.

I am particularly partial to antipasto platters because there is little work involved for me and they just look beautiful. I head to the grocery store pick up a few varieties of olives and various other antipasto bar items including peppers (hot and sweet), artichokes, roasted garlic, marinated tomatoes and basically anything else that looks good. I will finish off my platter with toasted bread, pita chips, crackers and hummus. Since I don’t like to do everything store bought I usually add in my own little treat and this time I made almond cheese stuffed peppadew peppers.

What you’ll need for the almond cheese:

One 6oz tin of Whole Natural Blue Diamond Almonds, soaked in filtered water overnight
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 tablespoons nutritional yeast (this provides the cheesy flavor)
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1 tablespoons sweet white miso
1 tablespoon water
salt and pepper to taste

Simply toss all of the ingredients in a high speed blender or food processor and process until smooth and then stuff your peppers and enjoy!

Share you summer entertaining tips below! One of my top tips is to keep it fresh and simple so that you can also enjoy the party!

Blue Diamond Almonds| Red, White & Blue Smoothie Bowl

June 30, 2014 by Lindsay Ingalls 5 Comments

Disclaimer: This post was sponsored by Blue Diamond Tastemakers. As always all opinions are my own.

It’s almost the Fourth of July! Are you ready for cookouts, fire works and parades? Well why not start the celebration with a yummy 4th inspired smoothie bowl filled with lots of delicious things to get your celebration weekend started off on the right foot.

Red, White and Blue Smoothie Bowl

Serves 3-5 (depending on how hungry you are)

Ingredients:

5 frozen bananas (you could always use fresh ones as well or a combo)
2 cups frozen mixed berries
1-14.5oz can of lite coconut milk (or other milk of your choice)
Blueberries
Raspberries
Blue Diamond Toasted Coconut Almonds
Honey or Agave Nectar
Coconut Flakes
Granola of your choice

Instructions:

Place bananas, frozen berries and coconut milk in a high speed blender and blend and until smooth. If you are using all frozen fruit then you may need to stop and scrape down the blender a few times to help it out.
Pour/scoop into bowls and top with a sprinkle of granola, lots of berries, a sprinkle of coconut flakes, a drizzle of honey or agave nectar and as many Blue Diamond Toasted Coconut Almonds as you desire.

The big question: what does the toddler think?? SHE LOVED IT. I swear she ate more then we did and kept asking for more and more almonds!

How are you celebrating the Fourth? I think we are going to lay pretty low and just relax as a family!

Naturally Lindsay

blue diamond