Gluten-Free Chocolate Chip Coconut Oatmeal Cookies

Boy was I craving an oatmeal cookie today! I went to Pinterest to search out recipes that looked great and using ingredients I had on hand. Recently I went to a little store here and found those Betty Crocker gluten free items such as their rice flour blend for recipes at a great price. It is similar to one I make but opted to try it anyways (hey it had recipes on the box too!). This recipe I came across just so happened to use that very box! Score! Not really knowing how they'd turn out I gave them a try. I added in some coconut for more texture and chewiness. I was pleasantly surprised how big and puffy these baked up, I loved the looks of them! These tasted fantastic too! I loved these cookies. 

Gluten-Free Chocolate Chip Coconut Oatmeal Cookies
adapted from Live Better America, makes about 33 cookies

1/2 cup butter
2 tablespoons coconut oil
2 1/2 cups gluten-free quick-cooking oats
1 cup Betty Crocker™ Gluten Free all-purpose rice flour blend
2 teaspoons xanthan gum
1 teaspoon gluten-free baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup packed brown sugar
3/4 cup granulated sugar
2 eggs
2 teaspoons gluten-free vanilla
2 cups dark or semisweet chocolate chips
1/2 cup shredded coconut

Heat oven to 350°F. In 1-quart saucepan, melt butter over medium heat. Cook, swirling pan occasionally, until butter is golden brown. (Watch carefully, as it can change from browned to burnt quickly.) Remove from heat. Beat in canola oil with whisk. Pour into small bowl; set aside to cool 10 minutes.

Meanwhile, in medium bowl, mix oats, flour blend, xanthan gum, baking powder, baking soda and salt.

In large bowl, place sugars. Add butter mixture. Beat with electric mixer on medium speed until well blended. Add eggs and vanilla. Beat until well blended. Stir in oat mixture until well blended. Stir in chocolate chips and coconut. Let dough stand 15 minutes.

On parchment paper lined cookie sheets, drop dough by heaping tablespoonfuls 2 inches apart.

Bake 10 to 12 minutes or until light golden brown (centers will be soft). Cool 5 minutes; remove from cookie sheets to cooling racks. Store tightly covered.

enjoy,

3 Ingredient Banana Cookies

We haven't been eating our daily banana lately and they just get too ripe too fast. I just found this recipe and gave it a go. Oh wow, yum! How easy are 3 ingredients? I happened to have some new Chex Gluten Free Oats to use up so this was perfect timing. They don't spread out, they hold their shape and they bake up a little bit dense and chewy and so delicious! 

Skinny Banana Cookies 
from Six Sisters' Stuff

2 medium ripe bananas, mashed
1 cup uncooked gluten free oats
1/4 cup chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper. Mix the mashed bananas and oats in a bowl. Fold in the chocolate chips. Using a small scooper, scoop up the batter and place on the cookie sheet. Bake for 12-15 minutes.

 enjoy,

Homemade Vegetable Juice

This whole juicing thing has really taken off with me. I really got the juicer because my oldest wanted it for juicing but hasn't liked any of the ones I've made. So she sticks to her smoothies. I thought I'd make juice here and there, but it'd end up being another appliance on the shelf. Well, not so! My body has taken to juicing and actually craves it now!  I'll be busy with my day and get that scent of juicing in my mind and then I'll want some. We went to a juice bar the other week and I walked in and the aroma in there "was like MY kitchen!" when I juice. I even went out and bought a case of glass jars to keep my extras in I am loving it so much.

It's only been a few weeks but I have noticed a little difference already. I have notched my belt smaller! So it's been a bonus for me as I am not juicing to lose weight (well that and taking my walks more often have helped).

So, I was thinking of more recipes to try and I've been wanting that V8 juice lately. So I looked around online and found this one. I'm sticking with more green/veggie juices since I can't have too much of the fruit juices. This recipe came out fantastic! Everything compliments each other well. I love that it made me 3 servings so I can grab one out of the fridge tomorrow.

Homemade Vegetable Juice
pinterest

6-8 small tomatoes
8 carrots, peeled
4 celery stalks
1-2 handfuls spinach
1/2 bunch parsley
1/4 small onion
1/4 beet
1 clove garlic
1 jalapeno, seeded if desired
Salt to taste

Add the salt to the jar you're juice is juicing into to help better dissolve it. Juice all ingredients and serve (I like mine chilled). Makes about 3 pints.

enjoy,