Double Chocolate Mint Cookies

These cookies are delicious. They are peppermint patty in cookie form. Oh yes, and did I mention they're delicious?  I did? Okay, just checking. This dough freezes well. It's great to have in your food arsenal, you know,  just in case.

Double Chocolate Mint Cookies With Peppermint Icing

Cookie Ingredients:
1 1/2 Gluten Free All Purpose Flour (1/2 cup Almond flour, 1/2 cup Brown rice flour, 1/2 cup Tapioca starch)*
1/2 cup Cocoa Powder
1/2 Teaspoon Xanthan Gum
1 Teaspoon Salt
1 Teaspoon Baking Soda
1 Stick (1/2 cup) Butter
3/4 Cup Sugar
2 Eggs
1 Teaspoon Peppermint oil
12 ounces chocolate chips

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
In a small mixing bowl combine first 5 ingredients and set aside.
In a large mixing bowl cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs one at a time, beating after each addition. Add peppermint oil continue mixing.
Add dry ingredients to the wet ingredient and mix until throughly combined.
Fold in chocolate chips.
Place heaping tablespoons of dough on the parchment line cookie sheet.
Bake at 350 degrees for 10-12 minutes (Be careful not to over bake)
Place cookies on cooling rack.
When cookies are completely cool, drizzle with peppermint icing.

Peppermint Icing:

1 1/2 cup Powdered Sugar

1 Egg White**

1 Teaspoon Peppermint oil

Place all ingredients in bowl. Whisk to combine. 

*I made my own four mixture, but any GF all purpose flour should work fine. 

**For those weirded out by using a raw egg white, replace with 3 Tablespoons pasteurized egg white. 

Spring has Sprung...Maybe

Let's face it, I'm a procrastinator. Which is precisely the reason that I haven't posted in like 12234565433245984 years. Now that I've got that out of the way...


It appears that spring has sprung here in the mid south. Maybe. The daffodils are blooming, the crab apple trees are blossoming, and then there's that occasional tornado watch. It's great!  And as much as I have missed snow this winter, I have to say I have really been enjoying the warmth. And because it has been so warm I've been making smoothies. A ton of smoothies.


A few weeks ago I got a grand surprise. I had spent the weekend attending a women's retreat at the local church and when I returned the most amazing gift was waiting for me; a brand spankin' new Blendtec! It was an early birthday present form my parents. Very early since my birthday isn't until May, but I'll take presents anytime. Any. Time.


 It's one of the most amazing gifts I have ever received! Thanks Mom and Dad!

So naturally all I've wanted to make is blended things. I have found that you can make a smoothie out of just about anything. And I'm just going to leave it at that....


I've especially been experimenting with "green smoothies" which have fast become my favorite! I was a little skeptical at first. I mean, blended spinach?? For breakfast?!! Weird. But it's surprisingly delicious! And At the moment my favorite breakfast! Not to mention it is the most beautiful spring green.

Green Smoothie

1 Banana

1 Heaping spoon of Almond Butter

1 cup Coconut Milk

1 Scoop of Protein Powder (unflavored)

6 Ice Cubes

As Much Spinach as You Like

*If you prefer it sweeter, you can stevia or agave nectar

Directions: Load blender with above ingredients. Then proceed to blend the heck out of it. Enjoy. That is all. 

Now I'm off to see what other exciting things I can blend...