Make it Last
I love savoring a good cookie with a cup of tea in the evening.
Or crumbling one on top of a smoothie in the morning. Why can’t you have cookies for breakfast?
I’m definitely a savorer. The experience of eating for me is something I like to take my time with, which is somewhat ridiculous as a person that always has a lot of things going on at once, like simultaneously coloring ponies, praising pooping in the potty and folding laundry.
I think that’s why when I finally get the chance to sit down and have a meal, I draw the process out. It hasn’t always been that way. There’s a story circulating around my family, generally told when I’m espousing the benefits of a meat free diet, that at the age of three, I had a penchant for stuffing an entire McDonald’s cheeseburger in my mouth at once, and with alternating index fingers, poking back in whatever portions of bun tried to escape. Yet some time around the age of six, I learned the art of making a good thing last. My talent: making an entire Jolly Rancher stick last for a 78 minute drive to the beach.
That was the best $.25 my parents ever spent, as it kept me from arguing with my brother about where his spot in the backseat ended and mine began and also impaired my ability to sing along to the Lionel Richie cassette my parents were inevitably playing (note that slobbering on hardened sugar was my talent and not carrying a tune).
I like others to also savor their food, especially if what they’re consuming is a result of my own labor. I’ll never be that mom that says, “Just eat it!” when my child is methodically taking all the letters of her name out of her alphabet soup, one by one. I am the person, however, who scolds her husband for popping an entire cookie is his mouth at once and mumbling, “Guuwwwhd cuuuckus,” which I’m pretty sure means “good cookies.”
That my friends, is not only poor manners, but a gross understatement. These cookies may not be intended to be one-bite wonders, but they are incredible.
Tropical Nut Oaties (inspired by HEAB’s Maple Nut Oaties)
- 1 c. old fashioned oats (I used White Pine Muesli, which is simply oats, dried apricots, raisins and dried mango)
- 1 c. unsweetened dried coconut
- 1/4 c. apricots, chopped
- 1/4 c. almonds, chopped
- 1/2 t. coconut extract
- 1/2 t. vanilla extract
- 1/2 c. almond butter
- 1/2 c. agave
- 1/2 t. salt
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Put oats and coconut on a cookie sheet and oven toast for 5 -7 minutes, turning several times until golden brown.
In a large bowl combine remaining ingredients and toasted oats/coconut mixture. Mix well and refrigerate for 10-15 minutes.
Scoop dough onto ungreased cookie sheet using a melon baller, mini ice cream scoop or tablespoon measuring spoon.
Bake cookies for 10 -12 minutes. Allow cookies to cool for one minute before removing from sheet and then compress balls while transferring to a cooling rack.
Oh. My. Peas. These are fantasmic. Pea Daddy took three to work with him, which meant they lasted exactly three bites. It may be time to implement my other strategy for getting things to last longer (not coaching “think about baseball, think about baseball“). That strategy: HIDING.
Yeah, he’ll never look there.
Now if I can just figure out what agave is (I’m sort of new here) then I am going to make these! They look wonderful!!
Hi Jill, agave nectar is a sweetener that can be found in the natural foods section of most supermarkets. It’s an almost clear syrup from the agave plant that is lower on the glycemic index that sugar. You could also sub real maple syrup if need be!
Welcome back!
Hoping to meet up at the end of the month!
Hey Tiff…I’m swamped, but have been meaning to email you. Looks like it’s a go. I’ll write soon!
Haha, i needed some laughs before i call it a day. Your posts never fail to bring a smile to my face! Your jolly rancher story is so funny because i used to do the same thing with Altoids. I could make them last entire plane rides, days of antique shopping with my dad, and even a full night! I used to eat like a tin a week… How did we get to be so healthy? I say you should hold some sort of contest and have those cookies be the prize! Like… who can sing every word to the Lionel Richie cassette? (my parents had the same one, along with Guns and Roses) My mom and dad are the odd couple.
Great job on the oaties! I would have doused the whole thing in maple or agave, flooded it with cinnamon, and popped it into the freezer and made bars. You are amazing breaking out the melon baller! and making perfect balls the day after a vacay. Wow.
Oh an the White Pine mix sounds heavenly!
Happy weekend Pea Family!
Fantastic hiding spots. It made me realize there are all sorts of places I could stash cookies where my guy would never notice…dishwasher, dresser drawers, linen closet…oh wait, I *HAVE* hidden cookies in the linen closet. Huh.
I don’t think I’d get more than one bite from them – they are tiny! I might even pop two in my mouth at the same time if I make them today.
the cookies look lovely! simple, wholesome, delicious. i think i will make them my sunday project
The oaties look great! You hiding those oaties reminded me of my parents hiding Easter eggs…haha.
Those look awesome! I bet they taste even better
Haha, no one but you would find it near the cleaning supplies
Those cookies do look good! I love recipes where I have *or can easily get* all the ingredients :> I like to savor food tood…and I’m wondering if it’s a guy thing to shovel it down. My dad is the fastest eater known to man!
i love you and your hidden cookies.
and why can’t most grocery stores carry unsweetened coconut!? what’s the deal! why is it SO HARD.
Absolutely nothing wrong with cookies for breakfast
haha…you always astound me with your creativity in your posts. loves it. and those tropical oaties. even though i live alone, those wouldn’t last 3 days in my apartment.
p.s. jolly ranchers rule.
I have to hide anything and everything I don’t want my family to devour…I haven’t thought of the bathroom cupboard though! Thanks for the suggestion!
You have me debating how many foods I can add cookies to and get away with it;)
You know I’m a fan of hiding.
Hawaiian inspired Oaties. Yum yum yum Mama Pea!
I’m all for savoring my meals as well. Drives me crazy when I’m enjoying breakfast and my phone rings or someone knocks on the door. Can’t you see I’m eating people?!?
Your cookies look fantastic…I am going to need to find the muesli that you used! You are such a busy bee…the Energizer Bunny in disguise! Have a great day
Oh Jessica, you have NO idea. I don’t know how I am getting it all done. I need another vacation.
The cookies sound wonderful. I’ll have to try them soon. Thanks Mama Pea (and your little helpers too, of course)!
And happy weekend
Your oaties look like the Nature Valley granola bites, only 100 times better. I need to try that recipe asap!
I wake up 2 hours before work so I can leisurely enjoy and savor my breakfast.
Those look awesome! I must admit I am not great at savouring meals – a multi-tasking, busy lifestyle usually means eating food ridiculously fast. It’s hard for me to slow down when I’m at a dinner out so I don’t lick my plate clean before everyone else has finished their starter! I made a version of Oaties too and they’re a huge fave in my family. It’s satisfying to come up with a recipe that everyone in the house likes and is still relatively healthy!
I LOVE IT!!! The cookies look scrumptious and I can see why you’re hiding them. I’m the same way about savoring meals – perhaps this is why I, too like ginormous salads chocked full of veggies. They last a lot longer!
Hi Hayley! I feel like I owe you an email or a phone call or something. I think we have much to catch up on…can God give me a few more hours in a day instead of taking one away?!?
YUMMMMMM
I made these cookies and they were sooo awesome. I’m trying to not eat the whole batch in one day. The only change I made was putting in dried cherries instead of apricots.
Definitely will be making these again, so yum.
I’m so glad you liked them! There are only 3 lonely cookies left in our house!!!
Glad you’re back! Love the hidden cookies
I love your hiding place there. That wouldn’t be a good place for me since Hunni does the cleaning but the oven might work since he doesn’t cook
i just love your writing style mama pea. you always crack me up. even at inappropriate times like in the office when i’m not supposed to be reading blogs. oops
those cookies would have been ingested as batter at my house and wouldn’t have even made it to the oven (maybe b/c i don’t have an oven here in japan) =]
These look awesome! Do you think they would work with peanut butter instead of the almond butter?
This requires a list:
1. I was a Jolly Rancher stick addict when I was a youngin’
2. Savoring meals? Oh you bet! I wake up early just to savor my breakfast and then end up rushing out the door to class because I take too long.
3. Those oaties look perfect! I may have to bake some up!
4. Regarding your comment on my blog, you’re not allowed to apologize! You’ve been busy being a mom AND on vaca. Sawyer hasn’t been on LOST in a while so you’re not missing much of him unfortunately.
LOVED the losing the label post. You are totally right and I have been trying to enjoy life and food more and not stress about it
Oh, how I’ve missed you! It seems we’re both back from vacations now, and so alas, back to the real world! I caught up on all the posts I missed, and while I don’t have time to comment on everyone (stupid job and responsibility!!!) I just wanted to say how right you are about not being so hard on yourself in that last post about everything being raw/vegan. I just spent a week visiting both sets of grandparents, and let me just say, that was tough! The meat industry was waaaay different back then, and yet they fail to see how it has changed and therefore don’t understand “this vegetarian thing”.
I let a little caution go with the wind, and really enjoyed myself. French Onion Dip on Lays Potato Chips? Not in my house, but at Grandma’s, it was in my tummy! (And yummy, might I add.)
Regardless, with my new job I’m starting this week involving up to 50% travel, I know I’m going to have to step off my high (vegan) horse occasionally and live it up. Packed Vega and Larabars aside, I can’t control everything. That’s what I learned this week.
So glad you had a nice trip! I loved your pictures and am so happy you got to have a nice vacation with the family!
Can’t wait to try those cookies too, by the way!
mmm, those oaties look delicious. i hope that when i have kids i can feed them as nutritiously as you do – you’re such a great example
Oh my girl, those little tropical oaties look fantastic!
Amazing recipe, Mama Pea!
Lovely pics, as always
Have a great week!
OMG. hahahahahhaha. I love how you hide the foods…I do that with my..peanut butters.