Dark Almond Buddies

Andrea did it! She survived! That’s one great big Check Mark on the list of “Things To Do Before You Die” list: Have a baby in France. Baby Ira is ridiculously handsome already, which in my opinion is a rare thing for baby boys… I mean, they can be cute as in Old Man Cute, but Ira is the real-kine legit cute with out the old man face. And they’re both doing really well.

Our family also survived…. a less impressive feat than having a baby, but a feat none the less: both our girls’ b-days, cousin Chloe’s b-day, Christmas, a trip to Flagstaff, the husband had a month off school (come on, all women know having a man around the house 24/7 is ten times the work and effort than kids are…) and this was all in just a months time. Thus the near month absence from blogworld. Eden, now 2 yrs, believes that “fêtes” are daily routine and won’t stop requesting cakes, candles and cadeaux. It’s time to tell her the truth how life really works.

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Posted on January 11, 2013 by Tawny in Cookies and Candies, Desserts, Snacks and Healthy Treats 1 Comment

BIG NEWS! and Bite-size Butter Cookies, aka Sables, Gluten Free

So… as you’ve gathered, Andrea and I are both in for some big moves. We’ve been waiting all summer to announce our changes while we made decisions and plans. The husbands are both pursuing higher education, getting their Masters Degrees, so we’re being torn apart with a continent and an ocean between us. I already miss Andrea a LOT We keep saying to each other, “At least we have our blog to keep us connected!” And fate be willing, eventually hope and would love to be next door neighbors again.

So where are our husband’s educations taking us?! Drum roll please…. my family is relocating to Salem, Oregon so Phil can attend Willamette University. It’ll be interesting and worth while to be living in the gluten-free capitol of the world. From what I’ve gathered, Oregon is very friendly to people with food sensitivities and big into natural health. I’ve also heard that it’s a quirky place where “anything goes.” Hopefully it means for some crazy stories to tell.

For Andrea, and I’d say she’s the winner here, her family is relocating to Bordeaux, France! Click here to Read More

Posted on July 24, 2012 by Tawny in Cookies and Candies, Dairy Free, Gluten-Free Meals 7 Comments

Maca No-Bakes with Cacao and Coconut: Supremo-health treats

I know little snack cookie balls are appearing everywhere on the web these days, all varieties, all claiming to be healthy snacks, and tasty as can be. True most of them are tasty, but rare are they actually as healthy as they boast. My husband is a healthy-nut-guru-master, and he’s the first to warn me how “non-healthy” most of these no bake cookies actually are. It kind of takes the fun out of eating half a batch fresh after they’ve been made. I should thank him in reality for saving me from a few un-needed extra pounds on the hips.

These no-bakes, however, have a great big stamp of approval from the “health-food officer.” All the credit goes to my Mom for this one, this special cookie is her creation. Thank’s to her living gluten free for years, and being fully dedicated to having a balanced, healthy, capable body, we’ve finally found the no-bake drop cookie to feel good about. She’s been perfecting and tweaking this recipe for a long time, and it’s finally reached it’s point of perfection. With such ingredients as sucanat, cacao powder, coconut milk, and maca powder, this cookie is a mouth-full moment of bliss. (Plus the cup of granola added in the end allows for a small crunch that other drop cookies lack.) Click here to Read More

Posted on June 11, 2012 by Tawny in Cookies and Candies, Dairy Free, Gluten-Free Meals, Snacks and Healthy Treats 1 Comment

Carob Fudge, All Natural, and Fun Finds with new Products

Carob Fudge is a great treat. My mom will make a lot (especially at Christmas) and wrap individual fudge squares in wax paper and stores them in a jar! Tastes just like fudge but made with all natural ingredients.

Today I made mine with peanut butter, but my mom favors tahini. Both ways are great! Tahini (sesame seed paste) in Hawaii is like buying gold, so I opted for the cheaper version of this recipe. Let me know what your favorite is!

For those of you who are unfamiliar with carob powder, it is very similar to cocoa powder but some consider it slightly healthier and it does not contain any caffeine. For someone who is allergic to chocolate this is a great alternative. This recipe works great with cocoa as well (same measurements). Click here to Read More

Posted on June 6, 2012 by Andrea in Cookies and Candies, Dairy Free, Desserts, Gluten-Free Meals, Snacks and Healthy Treats 5 Comments

Chocoholic Solution: Triple Chocolate Cookies, GF

Eat with your Eyes. Be my guest: smell it and taste it and enjoy it.

Unfortunately I don’t have a lot of time to spend with you today, talking on and on about why I love these cookies, but I’ll be breif in saying this: they win.

My girls and I enjoyed them during our afternoon goûter . We sat outside in the shade surrounded by thousands of flowers (my father owns a plant nursery and we’re spending the summer visiting them, it’s like a mini Garden of Eden over here!) we drank some orange basil water (recipe to come soon) and satisfied our chocolate craving. It was one of those afternoons where I tell myself over and over, “Never forget this beauty, never forget the girls at this age, never forget the details of this life.” Click here to Read More

Posted on June 5, 2012 by Tawny in Cookies and Candies 6 Comments

Oooey Gooey S’mores Ice cream Bar

Oooey Gooey S’more Ice cream Bars tastes like a chunk of heaven. My mom use to make these golden graham ice cream bars for an after school snack- on a very good day! She did the same thing with rice krispy treats- which are just as amazing and freeze well (S’more bars do not freeze too well-best to make ice cream bars and eat right away).

Sandwiching ice cream in the middle of anything makes it special and covers every element in this treat of oooey and gooey to cool and refreshing! Click here to Read More

Posted on May 30, 2012 by Andrea in Cookies and Candies, Desserts, Snacks and Healthy Treats 2 Comments

Travel Inspired: Hawaiian Butter Mochi- Naturally Gluten Free

Hawaii has a lot of fascinating treats that you may not know about until you’ve ventured away from the traditional tourist destinations. Some of these specialties include Malasada’s, Musubi’s, Manapua’s and the beloved Butter Mochi!

I love Butter Mochi! It is naturally gluten free, which makes me even more fond of this discovery. You can find this local treat everywhere around Hawaii. Lucky for us, my friend Rena, who is from here, has an awesome Butter Mochi Recipe that she is sharing with us today! Rena is an amazing cook/baker! Everything I have had of hers is fantastic, and so I will probably be posting some of her recipes in the future; like her shoyu chicken-mmm to die for!

Butter Mochi is a moist and spongy cake. Click here to Read More

Posted on May 25, 2012 by Andrea in Cookies and Candies, Dairy Free, Desserts, Gluten-Free Meals, Hawaiian Grinds, Snacks and Healthy Treats, Travel Inspired 6 Comments

Au ‘Natural Caramel Balls with Toasted Pecans: No butter No Sugar

The natural caramel taste and texture that comes from this dried fruit fascinates me. Mixed with toasted pecans, and you have yourself a natural indulgent treat!

It tastes like the inside of a Turtle’s chocolate but there is only natural ingredients used, making it totally fine to eat a ‘ hundred’ of them in one sitting, and serve as a healthy snack for your kids. Click here to Read More

Posted on April 21, 2012 by Andrea in Cookies and Candies, Dairy Free, Gluten-Free Meals, Snacks and Healthy Treats 2 Comments

Lemon Cake Box Cookies with White Chocolate

(photos taken by the lovely Megumi who has her own food/fashion/photographer blog! Check her out!)

Here is a quick treat for the weekend! These lemon cookies are so quick to prepare, and take only 5 ingredients!!

This recipe was given to me by my neighbor and good friend Megumi. I made them for a birthday party the next day, and they were a huge hit!

These are little pillows of chewy lemony goodness.

The white chocolate is a surprisingly perfect balance between the tangy lemon and sweet white chocolate.

These have become one of my favorite go to recipes when I need to whip up something quick, but still want something special!

5.0 from 1 reviews

Lemon Cake Box Cookies with White Chocolate

Author: Andrea

Recipe type: cookies, dessert

Prep time: 5 mins

Cook time: 8 mins

Total time: 13 mins

Serves: 24

Ingredients

1 Box Lemon or Vanilla Cake Mix (your choice)
½ cup canola oil
2 eggs
1½ cup white chocolate chips
1 Tablespoon lemon zest ( about 1 large lemon)
1 teaspoon lemon juice

Instructions

Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees
Mix together cake mix, oil & eggs, lemon juice, and lemon zest.
Add white chocolate chips.
If you want to fancy them up a bit… roll spoonfuls of cookie dough in white sugar and then in confectioners sugar before placing on cookie sheet (This is how I like them!)
Place uniform spoonfuls on greased cookie sheet and bake approximate 8-10 minutes. (I bake 8 minutes with 1 Tablespoon Scoops of cookie dough).

Have a good weekend!!

Posted on April 13, 2012 by Andrea in Cookies and Candies 5 Comments

White Chocolate Chip Cake Box Whoopees with Peanut Butter Filling

My neighbor gave me this awesome recipe for Lemon Cake White Chocolate Chip Cookies which were a huge hit at my nephews birthday party. I don’t think any of the kids got a taste because they were inhaled by the adults before they made it to the table. I will make sure to make a posting of this variation very soon.

Cake cookies are beauties because they are so simple and quick! They are soft and chewy and you can get as creative as you like. I have heard of Carrot Cake Cookies too which might be the next best thing. I will have to try those out and let you know if they make the cut!

These ones were something my son and I created together. If you have never made Cake Box Cookies you are in for a treat. I promise these will become one of your go-to- recipes when you need to whip up a treat in a hurry but still want to impress!

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Posted on April 2, 2012 by Andrea in Cookies and Candies 2 Comments