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Finding balance with food, movement, and community for my (dairy-free) family.

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Thursday, April 5, 2012

No-Bake Bird's Nest Cookies

In an effort to expose my dairy-free kids to fewer chemicals, I decided that rather than relying on suckers, jelly beans, and peeps laden with food dyes and highly refined sweeteners, this year we would celebrate Easter with homemade candies and treats.

I had hoped to make a dairy-free healthy version of the chow mien noodle bird's nest cookies that one sees this time of year.   My first thought was to make them using homemade pretzels, but the homemade pretzels turned out to be impractical--to say the least.   I spotted this recipe for No Bake Thumbprint Cookies  from Whole Foods Market and thought I could ditch the jam, replace it with peanuts or dried berries and called it a bird's nest.

However, after making them, I realized they just weren't sweet enough to be appealing to my kids . . . or even to me . . . without the sweetness of the jam center.  I'm all about reducing sugar, but, still, if we're using it as a stand-in for jelly beans and suckers we can't get too carried away.

The end result of my modifications still relies primarily on fruit--dates and an orange--for its flavor and sweetness, but I added cocoa and honey to sweeten it up a notch.

No-Bake Bird's Nest Cookies

3/4 cup pitted dates
3 cups rolled oats
1 1/2 cups smooth almond butter
1/2 cup shredded unsweetened coconut
zest and juice of 1 orange
1/4 cup honey
1/3 cup cocoa powder
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon salt

Directions:

Step 1:  Cover dates in warm water; soak for 15 minutes.  Reserve 1/2 cup of soaking water.  Drain rest of soaking water.  

Step 2:  In a food processor, pulse oats until coarsely ground.  Remove and set aside. 

Step 3:  Place dates and 1/2 cup of reserved soaking water in food processor.  Process until smooth.

Step 4:  In a bowl, combine coarsely ground oats, pureed dates, and all of the remaining ingredients.  Work with your hands to thoroughly combine.  

Step 5:  Roll dough into 36 balls, placing them on parchment paper.  Use your thumb to make a depression in the center of each dough ball.  Add peanuts, dried cranberries, or other dried berry as egg-look-alikes to the center of each nest.   Chill at least one hour before serving

I haven't officially served these to my children yet as they are being reserved for Easter, but my toddler was up while I was mixing the dough and repeatedly begged for "bite! bite!" so I think they will go over well.  



Monday, April 2, 2012

Roasted Brussels Sprouts and Carrots

We've been enjoying roasted vegetables at our house this winter.   The older kids prefer the roasted cauliflower and cabbage, but my toddler loves the roasted carrots in this mix--so much so that he'll eat all of his and then try to raid any lingering in his siblings' bowls.


Roasted Brussels Sprouts and Carrots

8 oz Brussels sprouts
8-16 oz carrots
1-2 Tablespoons olive oil
1/2-1 teaspoon salt

Directions:  
  • Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
  • Trim ends off each Brussels sprout and slice in half.
  • Peel and julienne carrots.  
  • Place carrots and Brussels sprouts in a baking dish and toss with olive oil and salt (I honestly never measure, just sprinkle, drizzle and toss). 
  • Roast in the oven for 35-40 minutes, stirring once, until vegetables are tender when pierced with a fork and some edges are beginning to brown. 

Check out these other roasted vegetable recipes: