Chocolate Covered Peanut Oatmeal Cookies

Posted on February 15, 2012 by Kara

I may have just created a cookie I like more than my old friend, chocolate chip.

Wait, wait, wait. Impossible!

But these come close.

The other day I was in the bulk section, just trying to get a c o u p l e chocolate covered peanuts in my bag of trail mix… And it’s a dispenser where you pull down a handle so inevitably I got WAY more peanuts in my bag than I wanted… I think they make these dispensers like that on purpose. You can’t even pour some back in the bin. So, I just bought all of them and decided to make a cookie out of ’em.

Just try them, okay?

Chocolate Covered Peanut Oatmeal Cookies [my recipe]

1 stick butter (1/2 C), softened
2/3 C packed brown sugar
1 egg
1 t vanilla
1 C flour
1 t cinnamon
pinch salt
1/2 t baking soda
2 C rolled oats
1 C chopped chocolate covered peanuts

Do this: preheat that oven to 350 degrees.

Cream together butter, sugar and egg; add vanilla. In separate bowl, combine flour, cinnamon, salt and baking soda.

Add dry ingredients to butter mixture. Stir in oats and then add chocolate covered peanuts!

Bake for about 12 minutes!

Overnight Oat Cookies

Posted on January 26, 2012 by Kara

Overnight Oat Cookies [My original recipe]

This is one of my favorite recipes I have ever created. There is NO added sugar, NO butter/fat, and NO dairy. You can substitute the egg for a flax egg if you wish and make the recipe vegan (also depending on your protein powder of choice).

The cookies are tasty and guilt-free! So eat up and enjoy!

Ingredients:

1/2 C steel-cut oats
1/2 C + 2 T non-dairy milk, divided (1/2 C and 2 T)
1/2 C unsweetened applesauce
2 T chia seeds
1/2 C water
3/4 C whole wheat flour
1/4 C wheat bran
1/4 C protein powder
1 t baking soda
1/2 t cinnamon
1 egg
optional: nuts, chocolate chips, raisins or other dried fruit

Prepare the oats:

1/2 C steel-cut oats
2 T non-dairy milk (or regular milk is fine)
1/2 C unsweetened applesauce
2 T chia seeds

Do this: combine all ingredients and place in covered container overnight

Cook the oats (next day):

Start by placing overnight oats with 1/2 C non-dairy (or regular) milk and 1/2 C water in microwavable bowl and cook for about 6 minutes in microwave, stirring every couple minutes.

While oats are cooking, combine:

3/4 C whole wheat flour
1/4 C wheat bran
1/4 C protein powder (I used chocolate)
1 t baking soda
1/2 t cinnamon
in separate bowl combine any add-ins: chocolate chips, nuts, raisins (I used 1/4 C of all 3)*

Once oats are finished cooking combine dry ingredients and oats along with 1 egg. Stir quickly so egg does not cook.

*chocolate chips will melt during the combining process with oats.

Bake for ~10-12 minutes or until firm.

cold day run and cookies

Posted on January 15, 2012 by Kara

Saturday night I got in bed and thought to myself, “tomorrow I will sleep in as long as my body allows!!”

Wouldn’t you know my body allowed me to sleep until around 7am. I stayed in bed for awhile and then made myself one awesome breakfast before getting ready to head to Caribou Coffee to study a bit, sip some green tea, and then get my day going!

waffle, cinnamon syrup, strawberries, blackberries, blueberries; coffee

I ran around, did some stuff and returned home to eat a really random lunch…

TJ's roasted red pepper soup, broccoli and carrots, 1/2 pita pocket and a Cutie. Very orange. Very odd.

Then… I headed outside in the cold to attempt a run. I’ve never run in the cold like this – nor did I ever think I’d try. But I was challenged yesterday to run a full marathon at the end of April and I figured I better just start suckin’ it up when the sun’s out and r-u-n. Other motivation included a hot bowl of chocolate oatmeal and baking something sweet upon return. I’ll run fast for those two things!

I actually enjoyed the run… I can’t decide if I enjoy the cold or warm weather for running more… It wasn’t so bad, like I expected!

The rest of the day I just did a lot of studying, eating those cookies, pizza, and more studying.

I did get to hang out with a few friends for about an hour later in the evening. That was a much needed break. Fellowship with friends is always a good change of pace!

oatmeal “cookies”

Posted on January 6, 2012 by Kara

These little nuggets are exactly what I’ve been searching for!

I have been on the hunt for something that is tasty and delish, while also healthy and which provides a lot of energy!

These cookies were created without any added sugar, protein powder, and lots of yummy oats. They are my favorite for the crazy sweet tooth I have mid-afternoon or later in the evening!

(not your average) Oatmeal Cookies

2 bananas
1.5 scoops vanilla protein powder (or your powder of choice)
1 t vanilla
4 T egg whites, or one egg white, or one whole egg
2 C oats
1/4 C wheat bran
1/4 C flax meal
1/2 C whole wheat flour
1 t baking powder
1 t baking soda
1 t cinnamon
pinch salt
optional add-ins (I added the first 3!):
- 1/4 C walnuts
- 1/4 C chocolate chips
- 1/2 C jumbo mixed raisins
- 1/2 C raisins
- 1/4 C pecans or other nut
- chopped dates
- cranberries

Do this: preheat oven to 350. In food processor, combine bananas, protein powder, egg white, and vanilla until smooth. Set aside. In large bowl, combine oats, wheat bran, flax meal, baking powder and soda, cinnamon, salt and flour; mix well. Add banana mixture to dry ingredients and combine; add add-ins and stir just until everything is combined. Scoop onto baking sheet and bake for ~8 minutes.

pictures to come!

Makes ~20 cookies.

full body blitz

Posted on January 4, 2012 by Kara

Hi!

How about workin’ that body real fast? I promise, no matter how you’re feeling, you’ll be glad you did!

I had an incredibly long day, so I came home and tried to complete the following three workouts as quickly as I could!

Amanda Russell’s “Hot Body Workout”

Left leg lunge and squat (50 sec work, 10 sec rest)
Sumo squat jumps (50 sec work, 10 sec rest)
Right leg lunge and squat (50 sec work, 10 sec rest)
Sumo squat jumps (50 sec work, 10 sec rest)
Low ab leg lifts (50 sec work, 10 sec rest)
Sumo squat jumps (50 sec work, 10 sec rest)
Ab get-ups (50 sec work, 10 sec rest)
Sumo squat jumps(50 sec work, 10 sec rest)
Super hero push ups (50 sec work, 10 sec rest)
Sumo squat jumps (50 sec work, 10 sec rest)

Bodyrock.tv’s Booty Challenge (as mentioned here)

Quick arm workout

10 mountain climbers (each leg)
10 lateral raises
10 side raises
10 triceps kick-backs
10 dumbell presses
10 floor jax

[repeat 3x]

watch dexter during the whole routine.

shower. study psychopharmacology instead of making the cookies you’re really craving…

it’s so snowy outside, so stay inside and workout!

Posted on January 2, 2012 by Kara

How about that for a title? Today we had our first real snow! I did make it to the gym, but surprisingly the roads were a little rough. It’s not that much snow… But if you don’t want to brave the cold or the crazy drivers, keep reading for a workout you can do in ya house.

Happy, beautiful new year!

How about this killer Florence + the Machine to inspire you to kick 2012’s butt? Make this your best year to date, okay? I’m planning to do just that.

I have a new workout for you so you can work on that resolution to workout more! Instead of a “Monday Move” you can have 20 Monday moves. Get on it!

2012 workout = 20 moves, 12 times each

[do each move for 12 reps, no rest in between, and then repeat all at least once]

right leg forward lunge
mountain climbers (12 each side)
left leg forward lunge
burpees
squats
straight leg lift and lower (lower abs)
pushups
bicycle abs (12 each side)
triceps dip
squat jumps
right arm bicep curl
laying, leg-raised scissor-kicks (12 each leg)
left arm bicep curl
floor jacks
supermans
forward/back jumps
plie squats
tuck jumps
roundhouse kick, right leg
roundhouse kick, left leg

If you want to make it challenging do the whole set 5 times (2+0+1+2)! Let me know how it goes!

I’m going to go work on improving this already delectable yummy treat.

M&M cookies (because M&Ms are my favorite)

Posted on December 20, 2011 by Kara

Part of the gifts I gave my coworkers were some pretty darn delicious cookies… Made with lots of butter. Crisco (ew, I know…). And, my favorite M&Ms! I have made a Mini M&M cookie before, which was delicious, and I’ve used this recipe to make chocolate chip cookies before… But this time I used the recipe to make M&M cookies – Christmas color style.

M&M Cookie [from Pennies on a Platter]

3/4 C sugar
3/4 C brown sugar
1 stick butter, softened
1/2 C butter flavored Crisco stick
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
1 (3.4 oz) package vanilla instant pudding (I used to sugar free 1.5 oz vanilla packages)
1/2 t salt
1 T baking soda
3 C flour
1 large bag M&Ms

Do this: preheat oven to 350. In medium bowl, mix salt, baking soda and flour. Set aside. Cream sugars and fats (butter, Crisco) until smooth. Add eggs, one at a time. Add vanilla and pudding mix. Mix well and add dry mix to wet. Finally, stir in M&Ms and drop onto cookie sheet. Bake ~10-12 minutes!

Mmm.

Not healthy. Not at all. BUT! Cookies make me happy, and sometimes happiness is worth a cookie (okay, all the time!).

I don’t have any pictures because I gave away/ate them all…