Eerily Similar
Many of you know that Gigi and Lulu are not the girls’ real names, but just nicknames that are based on their real names. Gigi has been “Gigi” since she was born, and Lulu has been always been my “Lulu.”
That’s why I was completely shocked when my friend Deb texted me last night and said, “You know about the Gigi and Lulu books, right?” And then I woke up this morning to a library book on my doorstep (I hope the public library doesn’t fine you for abandoning their holdings on random porches across the city, Deb).
It gets better.
Notice Lulu’s mom in this next shot.
Blogging about a vegan cookie recipe and poop, no doubt.
Here’s Pea Daddy, reading his paper in his sweater vest and glasses.
I’m not calling you a porker, honey.
There was one gross inaccuracy which both girls were quick to point out.
The real life Lulu gasped, scowled, and then ran into the kitchen and yanked at the refrigerator door chanting, “Pickles! Pickles! Pickles!” just to prove her disgust.
Then the book totally redeemed itself.
Now that’s downright eerie.
I had an eerie experience in the kitchen today as well. I recreated the one “junk food” guilty pleasure I regularly indulge in. I’m ashamed to admit it, but I love these guys.
They are not natural, they are not nutritious and they are not vegan. I’m the first to admit that they are glorified candy bars.
Ingredients: Protein Blend [Soy Protein Isolate, Calcium Caseinate, Casein), High Fructose Corn Syrup, Cookies (Wheat Flour, Sugar, Canola Oil, Cocoa Processed With Alkali, Salt, Baking Soda), Sugar, Fractionated Palm Kernel Oil, Nonfat Milk, Sunflower Oil, Contains Less Than 2% Of Natural Flavor, Nonfat Yogurt Powder (Cultured Nonfat Milk), Lactose, Cocoa Processed With Alkali, Oligofructose, High Maltose Corn Syrup, Cocoa Butter, Soy Lecithin, Dextrose, Maltodextrin, Salt, Fish Gelatin, Caramel Color.
I’m also the first to admit they are delicious.
I started eating them in law school, paired with a Diet Coke to get me through a Property Law lecture. Then when I was an associate attorney, I’d stash them in my desk drawer, eating them with a cup of coffee so I’d be properly fueled for getting demeaned by a senior partner. And now, I eat them with a cup of decaffeinated green tea, sneaking bites so the swinging pig and pickle-hatin’ mouse don’t ask for any. I don’t want to share because I don’t want them to have the Frankenfood in their growing bodies. I also don’t want to share because I don’t want to share.
So today I made some that I feel a little better about sharing.
Cookie Dough Redux Bars
Makes 8 bars
- 3 T. almond butter
- 4 scoops vegan vanilla rice protein powder (i.e. Jay Robb or Sun Warrior)
- 1/2 t. salt
- stevia to taste
- 1/2 c.- 1 c. unsweetened non-dairy milk (i.e. almond, soy, coconut)
- 1/2 serving (15 g) vegan chocolate cookies (i.e. Trader Joe’s Chocolate Cats Cookies)
- 3/4 c. vegan chocolate chips, melted
Slightly heat almond butter in a microwave safe bowl so it is easier to mix.
Add protein powder, salt, stevia and 1/2 c. milk and stir until well-combined. Add additional milk as needed to reach a cookie dough like consistency.
Chop cookies into small pieces.
Then fold cookies into dough.
Press dough into the bottom of an 8×8 pan that has been lightly sprayed with cooking spray.
Thinly spread surface of bars with melted chocolate chips.
Refrigerate for at least an hour before cutting into 8 equal-sized bars. Keep bars in the refridgerator.
The flavor is eerily similar, the texture is spot on and the bar has similar nutritional statistics (211 calories, 10 g. fat, 22 g. carbs, 15 g. protein), but without high fructose corn syrup and fish gelatin. I knew I was missing something.
All this story needs now is the girls’ stamp of approval,
and a nice, tidy ending to wrap it all up.
That’ll do, Pig. That’ll do.
Oh man! I love those bars too. Love them. I wished I would have guessed on twitter that it was your guilty pleasure food!
I’ll definitely bookmark this to try! Thanks for sharing with us.
That book is way too perfect. LOL at the mouse mom on her computer. Adorable.
that’s insane! also eerie: I was showing my sister your blog this morning (because it’s hilarious and I thought she’d enjoy it) and she asked me if those were their real names. So I explained that no, they weren’t, just nicknames but we agreed that they were really cute. And then you go and blog about it! Whaaaa?! Eerie #2: When I clicked on the rss feed to look at this post and went to comment I couldn’t because it said I was “logged in as Mama Pea.”
Umm…? But then I reloaded it and it was fine. Hooray!
i have recently discovered and fell in love with your blog!
if a mom can get her two girls to eat healthy, i think i can try a little harder to be healthy myself. thank you for the inspiration.
i LOVE the book your friend found. what a crazy coincidence! complete with a mommy mouse on the computer! i wonder if there are more in this possible “series”…
thank you for your wonderful posts, they keep me always entertained! and is it correct that you are working on a cookbook? i thought i read that a while back? or at least i hope i did!
oh mty goodness – that is COMPLETELY EERIE indeed!!!!
i’m jealous. know what has my name on it? fishing lures.
and a playboy playmate.
no adorable books.
I don’t think we have those bars in Canada, or at least I’ve never seen them, so I don’t know what I’m missing. But I must say, you recipe looks tasty, and a great way to some of the giant container of vanilla protein powder I have in my cupboard other than in smoothies
What concerns me though, is how exactly the pig & mouse mated to produce their children
That…is insanely eery! Love it!
When I found a book that had my name (“Annabelle’s wish”), it was about a calf that wanted to be a reindeer. To find a link would be a stretch (maybe i’ve always wanted to be closer to Santa…for the cookies? lol). ok, i’m stretching it. Your cookie dough bar recipe looks amazeballs!
wow! That is so impressive that you made your own! I have serious kitchen skill envy here :/
How WEIRD with the book! Oh gosh. Funny how life happens that way.
I don’t have protein powder at all. Perhaps should get some to make this delish recipe.
That is too funny! I love it.
You’re quite clearly a genius! That looks delish. We can’t get stevia here in Ireland (well I think I can buy it online but my credit card needs to be in the freezer….) as the EU haven’t sorted out their regulations on it yet. So if you couldn’t use stevia, what would you recommend?
Also I love that there are Gigi & Lulu books! Bizarrely, there is a magazine with my name on it called ‘Aoife’s Kiss’. (It’s a sort of sci fi one I think) Weird, huh? And yep ‘Aoife’ is a name, us Irish know how to throw a load of vowels at a consonant and make it stick….
That´s a lovely book, but eery in deed
I´m so going to make this bar right now! Oh wow, you´re amazing 
Have a lovely day
xoxo Mel
How are you so brilliant every day?!!!!! I love your closing line! And what a sweet book! As a random side note, my little sister (Olivia) is also portrayed as a pig in children’s literature–”pigs” must be having a moment.
That is crazy about the books, and those bars look insane. I am making them. That is that.
WOw, that is too weird!!! Now that I see those books, they do like slightly familiar but I never put it all together. So cool that a book is written after your life.
I hear those Balance bars taste like candy. I’ve never tried them but kudos to you for making your own version!
Those look AMAZING. I don’t have any protein powder though – what could I use instead?
I’ve been racking my brain on this, and I really think you need the protein powder since they are protein bars. You could try and sub maybe really finely ground oats and see how that works?
you are freakin amazing!! the pics of the girls are gorgeous.
hahaha, did lulu really run to the fridge yelling pickles, pickles, pickles? lol. that’s hilarious and a gross inaccuracy indeed;-).
Now if the girls’ nicknames were “Frog” and “Toad,” this wouldn’t be as eerie. The fact that they aren’t makes it kinda spooky!
I would totally bribe the librarian with homemade balance bars…or just keep the book and make your friend pay the “lost” fee. Either way.
Whoa! That is crazy! I love finding stuff like that though. Sort of affirming in a weird way
That is really weird, We have a board book called “Peas and Thank You” you’ve probably seen.
Those bars look delicious! I am definitely making them this weekend. I actually have never had a balance bar but am a closet luna bar addict. Nothing like taking a multi-vitamin in the form of a candy bar!
That book is pretty cool! My son Max loves that most dogs in books are named Max…that is his claim to fame. Even better if they are farting or pooping! Gotta love boys!
That IS weird! What are the odds. And as usual I’m impressed by your delicious desserts.
should you sue for copyright entitlement?
I love Trader Joes cats cookies for people! (ginger are my favorite)
I love those bars – they have them in the “healthy” vending machine here at work and I struggle because they are only 50 cents! Thanks for this recipe, I know I’ll be checking it out!
That is too funny about the books! And those bars look delicious. I know we all have ‘em but it’s always refreshing to see when another blogger has a secret food vice
What a fun coincidence! I bet the girls loved seeing their names in a book
.
The cookie dough bars look great, but I’m not a huge fan of protein powders… any ideas on what I could sub in? Do you think the bars would have the same consistency if I just made them without the powder?
I’ve been racking my brain on this, and I really think you need the protein powder since they are protein bars. You could try and sub maybe really finely ground oats and see how that works?
These look great – I too love those “nutrition energy bars” and try to avoid them. I might just have to give this recipe a go!
Oh man, that’s just too weird! I’m in school for my PreK-6 Masters, and I’ve definitely come across these books before and never made the connection. Love it! My guilty pleasure is very similar… I love the Luna Cookie Dough Protein bars. Thanks for this very similar recipe! I also made your peanut butter blondies (“Race Relations”) last week and my boyfriend and I ate them within three days (exercising serious restraint!). They’re amazing!
OMGOSH!!!!
you did it!! thank you so so much, you have no idea how much this made my day! I love those bars and will be making the right away!
You are the best Mama Pea!!
that book is too cute.. i bought all the olivia the pig books for Liv when she was little because olivia the pig is a pig version of her.. lol she loved it!!
that is so crazy about that book! how fun though!!!
and great job w/ those bars…any idea what the cost comparison is? that would be an interesting fact vs those bars bc they can be crazy expensive!
That is so darn cool!!! Seriously eerie – especially the “peas in a pod” part. I laughed about “Pea Daddy in his sweat vest.” I love it!!!
I admit I LOVE Pure Protein bars…I eat them on occasion (a few bites after dinner). I figure they’re better than Snickers? Well..um…at least I think?
Wooooooooahhhhhhhhh, that is a crazy similarity!! I’ve found some books with the character’s name “Emily” and she has brown hair and all and I think that’s pretty cool, but that isn’t anywhere near as COOL as the Gigi and Lulu book!!!!!! And the peas in a pod line really just puts in over the edge… that’s so awesome!!
I LOVE those balance bars too. Well, I did pre-pregnancy. Now I have a huge box sitting in my cabinet b/c they are a complete aversion to me right now. But this recipe looks great!! Thanks so much!!
that book = adorable
those bars = incredible!
i must make them!
1. Those bars look great!
2. That is so crazy about the book – and I love that Lulu had to defend herself with the pickle issue
What a cute book! I agree with Lulu’s disgust regarding the pickles. Everyone should like pickles!
Oh goodness how cute is that book?! Love it! Also nice work on the bars MP! I love recreating things like that. How do you like the unsweetened SO Delicious? So far I can only find the vanilla and the plain.
I haven’t drank it straight up, but it tastes fine in smoothies and recipes like this. I found mine at Whole Foods, and only bought it because it was on sale.
hahahahaha…i literally have been laughing out loud for about 10 minutes or so catching up on all your posts in front of my computer at work praying my boss doesn’t come in so i can keep on reading.
the picture of lulu with brownie squished in her mouth is my new fave. as is that tofu concoction you came up with.
and that book? i totally read that when i was little! or i remember reading it to a small child. one of those i am sure is correct.
have a fabbity fab day with the gals!
and yes, your girls WILL be BFF. they make take a break during the teenage years, but it will work itself out.
now that i have left the most rambly comment ever…LOVE YOUUU!
I remember sending you a few of those bars along with Mr. Sexy Hot
Thank you for creating a bar that looks delish AND doesn’t contain fish gelatin. It’s a win-win in my book.
What a cute book…someone definitely had some ESP when writing it!
Adorable girls? Delicious-looking recipe? Babe reference?! That could make this the best post ever. I have to get these Gigi and Lulu books from the library to read to my nieces and nephews; I had no idea! And now reading at bedtime will be just like reading blogs, so everyone is happy.
Perfect post, love it1
HOLY MOLY. I love those bars too!! I try to tell myself it’s “good” but I lie to myself!! Great job at recreating it! And it’s like that book was written for your life!
Lawsuit yes?
Whaaaat? I can’t believe that book exists!!!! The names together was crazy to begin with but then they throw in pickles and peas and a Mama mouse at her compie!?
You should buy it!
How dare you call yourself a VEGAN with all that animal cracker massacre happening up in your kitch!? The poor little chocolate cookie creatures.
(haha kidding of course)
I definitely saw that book at B&N and thought I was kind of hallucinating.
well, add another 20 years to Gigi’s face and that’s what i looked like reading that recipe
This was just so funny. I love that you love your bars especially with the caffeine.
OK…CREEPY!!
That is sooo crazy!! hahaha your posts always are awesome. Those bars look delish. I’m waiting for my sun warrior to arrive, so perhaps some bars are in my future…
A-freakin-dorable! But wherever will I get my fish gelatin now???? I’m pretty sure the USDA is *just* about to put out a study on the effects of fish gelatin on cholesterol!
that book is crazy ! I love the similarities, wow!
those bars look amazing, and I’m making them today!
You are such a beautiful, beautiful writer.
Thank you, Gillian.
your posts are hilarious and your recipes are genius!
seriously when does your book come out???? you’re fabulous
Gosh, thanks Andrea! The book will be published in August 2011. I created this page to keep you all up to date: http://peasandthankyou.com/peas-and-thank-you-the-book/
what a cute post!! those books look fantastic! Ill have to look for them in the library
your recipe looks great and I can’t wait to try something similar!
1. That book (and the similarites) is flipping adorable!
2. The cookie dough Balance Bars are my very favorite thing as well. They totally are dessert, so I somehow keep my consumption to under 1 a month, but just the best things ever!
Wow that is really crazy!
As always I loved your post and everything about your humor and style.
Love this post MP!
That book is too funny. Can’t believe how much it’s like the real L&G ?!
Your bars look divine… And looks like something this ‘savory chef’ (i use that term loosly HAHA) could handle
The only thing is, I’d have to stop myself from eating the entire pan in less than 2 days.
I was going to just write that this is my favorite post of yours ever, but that is quite a loaded statement, so I will say it is DEFINITELY in the Top 5!
It’s like that book was written for you! And I feel like this post was written for me…your fellow (semi-secret) cookie dough Balance Bar addict
YES!!
WAIT..that is soooo weird!!! What I wanna know is how that goose teacher sticks a pencil behind her…..ear…??
I will seriously be first in the freaking line for your book! I literally laugh out loud for every post. But, this is really creepy. I love that the mom is sitting on the computer!! haha! What are the odds?? I also need to make those bars. The texture looks perfect!
I just watched Babe for the first time the other night. I’m only 15 years late, but now I can finally get that reference!!
Best recipe ever!!! OMG these are amazing!! The only thing I may swap out is the cookies b/c I need to take into account gluten status but other than that…Mama Pea, Way to Go!!!!!! I know you’ve mentioned you love balance cookie dough bars and I am sure you are totally proud of this recipe! My god, you need to be
Oh my goll, I LOVE those Balance Bars too, but always am hesitant about eating them…THANK YOU for this recipe. I can’t wait to try it
I personally love the peanut butter balance bars the most!
Love the Babe quote at the end
First of all, I can’t begin to tell you how much I love your site. I’m hooked. And so is my boyfriend!
You’re girls are absolutley beautiful and so lucky to have each other. Having sisters close in age is the best (I would know I have 10 siblings).
That recipes looks out of this world. I definitely want to give it a go soon
Thank you Angela…and Angela’s boyfriend!
That is way too cool! It’s as if the book was made for your family. Love it!
Yay! I have been looking for a good protein bar recipe to take on our long bike rides… all the commercial ones are A) $$$$ B) chock full of who-knows-what. Do you think the chocolate coating would be too melty for these bars to travel well by bike? Would mixing the chocolate chips in work better for my purposes?
Julie, I kept mine in the refrigerator to prevent meltiness. I would probably mix the chocolate chips in as you suggested, or maybe just freeze them overnight so they don’t melt when you pack them to go? Good luck!
AMAZING! I just got carob chips and CANNOT BELIEVE I HADN”T HAD THEM UNTIL NOW!!! omg they are amazing and I have all of these ingredients including the rice protein powder! I cant wait to make these, probably tonight
also will use PB instead of almond butter because I have a ton of that! I will let you know how they turn out!!
I can’t get over that book, how adorable is that. You should probably just buy up the entire bookstore supply now, that book was MADE for you guys.
And I’m beyond excited that you recreated those bars. They’re delicious, no shame. Totally bookmarking your genius recipe riiiight about now.
How could you forget fish gelatin!? Geeeeze. lol. Make a note for next tme I guess.
Good job on making a healthy version! That is awesome you could make it so close without all the mystery ingredients.
OMG…this had me cracking up. You are the best. Thanks for the laugh.
Oh my, I cannot wait to make these! Eerie about the book…
I don’t have stevia… about how much sugar would you add?
It depends on how sweet your protein powder is and how sweet you like your bars. You may not need any…you’ll just have to taste and see.
that is the cutest book ever! definitely written just for your girls =) i have to admit that everytime i go to whole foods, they ALWAYS seem to have samples of balance bars… and even though i try not to buy them i ALWAYS eat the samples, and ive taken like 6 samples before – soooo yummy!!! i like your version though, thanks for the recipe… i may have to try it soon!
Wow, that book IS eerie! So cute though.
Love your healthy Balance bars. I made chocolate covered cookie dough balls around Valentine’s Day…so delicious, so NOT good for you. I will definitely be giving these a try.
I still LOVE to read your blog! Thanks for all the laughs. xoxo.
Thanks Andrea, I still LOVE to read yours too. Life is busy for us both…I understand
Yummy! Your recreation of the bars looks so good! I might have to try this one out
I agree with you..that many of the *nutrition* bars these days are just glorified candy/chocolate bars!
That book is precious…. and I’m officially beyond grossed out about the ingredients in those processed bars!
I’ve been hearing good things about your brownies Mama Pea! I’m scared to make them because I’ve been known to eat 1/2 a pan in one sitting. I need to have a plan. Love the book…it’s like a confirmation from another world that you’re doing what you should be doing with your life!
Try it with the Cookies and Cream flavor protein or Chocolate!
That book IS an eerie coincidence, especially the “peas in a pod” line. Go figure! Thanks for the recipe — may try that out now. I really always do look forward to your kitchen experiments… but I think Gigi and Lulu do more.
Let’s hope the library staff isn’t vegan. =) Deb
Did someone say Cat Cookies? I’m in.
I’ve never had that brand of bars. I do love Luna Bars though. And Cliff bars.
Just wanted to tell you again how incredible those brownies are. They were so easy to make and unbelievably good. I did add closer to 1 cup of chocolate chips so that adds to the gooiness, but I can’t believe that relatively healthy brownies are that tasty.
“properly fueled for getting demeaned by a senior partner.” LOL!
You’re such a funny writer. And I’ve said it before, but gosh dangit, it’s just so sweet that your girls love each other so much!
Crazy about the book. I have my husband laughing about Mama Pea posts now. (References to poop always make him laugh!)
“Blogging about a vegan cookie recipe and poop, no doubt.”
I just about died laughing
I wanted to try these so I used unflavored pea protein and added vanilla extract…unfortunately they were disgusting : (. I’ll stick to my chocolate powder from now on. What can I use pea protein for? I bought it because of the great health benefits I researched about but it’s not very tasty and has a weird mouth-feel. Any ideas would be appreciated! Love your “My Kind of Bar”, “cookie dough”, bean/chickpea etc. yummy-recipes. : )
Thanks!
I never could really do the pea protein straight up. I always mix it with rice protein. I like to make a “cookie dough” out of it by mixing 1/2 scoop of each with a spoonful of almond butter, stevia, salt, chocolate chips and a splash of almond milk. It’s not bad in smoothies either, but I always do half and half on rice and pea.
Thanks for the tips, I’ll have to try the “cookie dough” ball. In the meantime I made an apricot, walnut oat bar with a scant 2 scoops of the pea protein and it turned out great! : )
Congrats on your cookbook…so exciting!!!!