We’ll be visiting the farm of a dear friend tomorrow and I needed to make some treats to take along with us. I thought of Dorie Greenspan’s Apple Cheddar Scones. But I was craving something sweet and yummy and I only had a little bit of time on my hands. After flipping through some blogs I settled on a quick, easy and (sort of) healthy cookie on 101cookbooks.com

I made some modifications to suit what I had on hand and my sweet tooth, and unhealthy need for cookies with texture, has been satisfied. The child proclaims them A+ as well.

Cocoa-Nana White Chocolate Chunk Cookies

3 large, ripe bananas, well mashed (2 cups)
1-1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 cup Olive oil
2-1/3 cups rolled oats
3/4 cup almond meal
1/3 cup coconut sweetened flaked coconut
3/4 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon Kosher salt
3 teaspoons dark cocoa powder (I used Black’s Organic)
1 teaspoon baking powder
4 ounces white chocolate chopped

Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees and line a cookie sheet with parchment or use a silpat

1. mash the bananas, oil and vanilla in a large bowl.
2. Combine the dry ingredients (sans white choclate) in a seperate bowl.

3. Stir the dry into wet ingredients until combined
4. Fold in the white chocolate

5.Drop by rounded spoonful onto your cookie sheet…about ping pong ball, bite sized drops.

6. Place in the top third of the oven and bake for 15 minutes…do not overcook!

These are delightful, I will HIGHLY suggest you make a double batch and share them with someone you love

Have a wonderful Friday and do something delicious! (Like make a batch of cookies!)

Colleen

www.foodwineartdesign.com

PS. It seems my uber favorite chef (you are reading the sarcasm in that right?!?!? I think it’s pretty evident from posts on this blog how I feel about Rachel Ray) is opening a new restaurant! WOOO WOOO! And it will feature, what else? BURGERS! Here’s the link Isn’t it enough that I am getting like a gazzillion emails each week from readers who want to know what I think about her pet food?  (No, please don’t buy it. It’s made by  Dad’s, so just save yourself the money and buy that if you want  to feed an economy brand-of course I don’t recommend that either).

I think my head just exploded again.

I was mentioning to a reader that homemade Orange Liqueur was amazing, she pointed out that I didn’t have it posted here…I could have sworn that it was SORRY! So here it Judy, thanks for pointing that out!

Homemade Orange Liqueur

Indgredients:

1-1/2 cups sugar
1 cup water
1/2 cup grated orange zest
1-1/2 tablespoons fresh squeezed lemon juice
1-1/2 cups 80 proof vodka

Bring the sugar and water to a boil and dissolve into a simple syrup over medium heat.  Stir to keep from scorching. Remove from the heat and allow to cool until it is just warm to the touch

The syrup into a clean 1 quart (or larger) jar with a tight fitting lid. Add the zest, juice and vodka. Cover and shake well.

Store in a cool dark place for a month. Shake weekly.

After a month, pour liquid over cheesecloth into a clean jar, discard the solids. Filter again into the liqueurs final container by pouring through a fine sieve or strainer.

This is AMAZING when kept in the freezer and served ice cold!

Enjoy! And if you would like to search for more recipes for cordials, liqueurs, brandies and wines that you can make at home, visit me at the farm! www.farmatnanticokecreek.com

Have a great Thursday and do something delicious! (like make Orange Liqueur!)

Colleen

www.foodwineartdesign.com