Lighten Up
You may find this hard to believe, but I’m actually far more laid back than I used to be. I think Pea Daddy just gave himself whiplash nodding his head so hard in agreement. Yet I hope that for every day I take a breath on this Earth, that I’m always a work in progress. I still have a long way to go. Today’s moment when I checked myself was when Lulu cried out, “Uh oh…I got Spaghetti O’s on my blankie!”
You’d have thought she said, “Uh oh…I cut off my pinkie with a chainsaw!” with the way I reacted. Come on, Mama Pea, it’s the flippin’ Spaghetti O’s slogan. You had to see this coming.
I decided right then and there that for the rest of the day, I’d become a more relaxed Mama Pea.
A “Come help in the kitchen!” Mama Pea.
A “Feel free to invite Paul Shaffer” Mama Pea.
A “Go ahead and swap spit!” Mama Pea.
(by the way…what?! That’s almost second base!)
A “Sure, sample the chocolate chips!” Mama Pea.
A “Let’s all eat cookie dough!” Mama Pea.
A “I love your choice of facial hair!” Mama Pea.
A “Let’s just give away the best vegan cookie recipe I think I’ve ever created!” Mama Pea.
Aren’t you glad I’m so chill?
Double Chocolate and Cherry Cookies
Makes 20-24 cookies
- 1 c. fresh cherries, pitted
- 1/3 c. unsweetened applesauce
- 2 T. almond butter
- 1 c. organic sugar or granular sweetener of your choice
- 1 t, almond extract
- 1 t. vanilla extract
- 1 1/2 c. whole wheat pastry flour
- 2/3 c. cocoa powder
- 1 t. baking soda
- 1/2 t. salt
- 1/2 c. vegan chocolate chips
Preheat oven to 350.
Pit cherries. You don’t mind. You are unflappable.
Combine cherries, applesauce, almond butter, sugar and extracts in a blender or food processor and pulse until combined but still chunky.
In a large bowl, combine flour, cocoa, baking soda and salt.
Add cherry mixture to dry ingredients and stir until just combined.
Fold in chocolate chips.
Drop dough by tablespoonful onto a baking sheet that has been sprayed with cooking spray. Bake cookies for 13-16 minutes.
Oh. My. Peas. You know I don’t use that phrase lightly.
Lulu wanted her cookie on some Zoo Pals plates the girls begged for at the store. An uptight Mama Pea would have worried about the expense and the waste. Not this Mama Pea.
It seemed like a fair trade for not really getting to go the zoo today.
Yet when I brought Gigi her cookie on a Zoo Pal moose, she was disgusted that I would waste a plate on such a small snack, a snack that disappeared in about 30 seconds flat.
“Look Mom!” she explained rapidly. “I didn’t even get a crumb on it! You don’t have to waste it! Please, please, puh-leeeez put it back in the package!”
Geez, what a neurotic. Someone really needs to lighten up.
That cookie recipe sounds like my ideal cookie! Oh, and lightening is up is always something I am “a work in progress” in too…
Yeah….I totally bought those plates for myself!
Your blog is so witty and well-written. It is fast becoming my favourite to visit. I love how every post follows a little narrative. Also, everything you make looks delicious; those cookies are no exception. I better try them out before cherry season is over!
Thank you, Lauren. I’m happy to entertain
LOVE that phote of gigi and lulu “almost on second base” haha! SO adorable. you should make a “best of the peas in photos” page on your blog!! (i think i’m just in love with your children… don’t mind i’m a 21 year old student…)
Yay! There is always something to be said for lightening up. A little perspective can be a real help. And that cookie recipe sounds wonderful — fresh cherries and chocolate, oh my!
You are AMAZING. Each time I visit your blog I find new crazy sweet recipes that I make a mental note of to try. While I can’t even seem to muster the energy to try a single cookie recipe (go to store, buy ingredients, make time to bake), you make ‘em ALL THE TIME. And you have kids! (beautiful sweet children) I am floored. And totally amazed.
I’ve had those plates numerous times and niece and nephews birthdays – my husband and I always fight over the monkey one! I can’t wait to try out the cookie recipe – do you add cocoa powder and chocolate chips though? I don’t see the cocoa measurement.
Thanks, Sarah…I’ve edited the recipe to add the cocoa measurement!
I’m still chuckling about second base… and chocolate and cherries are the nectar of the gods–so glad this is a “for sharing” recipe and not a teaser…
I was just about to mention the lack of cocoa in the recipe, but you are too swift and have corrected it
I’m loving the chocolate/cherry combo right now, mostly in smoothies. But I should definitely make these cookies. Except that I’m on strike from cherry pitting. The nerves in my thumb are still whacked from the last vat of cherries I pitted. Damn cherry pitting torture device.
Secretly though, I want cherries to go on sale again so I can freeze more. Which means pit more. I’m sick.
ah love the little ones glasses : ) too cute lol!
Hey i got a kiddo giveaway today come check it out!!!
thedayjustbegan.blogspot.com
HAPPY WEDNESDAY
*always love reading your Blog : )
I used to be the same way. I have really had to work on letting stuff go. I think it is because I am a neat freak and I live with two little boys now that are the polar opposite of that. I am still working on it in the kitchen, but I am really working on letting it go this summer. I think it has actually really helped!
Have a great day Sarah!
My sister would only eat on Zoo Pals for the longest time. And if she didn’t get the right animal…oh boy.
My favorite part about vegan baking is that you don’t have to worry about raw eggs and salmonella and all that. Almost makes me just want to eat the dough raw.
You are so chill . . . cannot wait for your book to come out! Thanks to you and Paul Schaffer for sharing. (:
ahhh i loved your post yesterday regarding zoos! let me tell you – you know i am not vegan or even an animal activist kind of person – but there is something inherently wrong about zoos to me. when i see gorillas in concrete cages, it just does not seem right. then, when i went to thailand and saw the HORRIBLE animal abuses people do over there for tourism reasons (elephant rides, sedating tigers in a monastary and other horrible things), it really hit me. i don’t think i’ve been to the zoo since.
anyways, i want a cookie.
smooth transition, i know.
ok i totally had a bunch of pics like that with my sister going to second base lol….i think we found them in our teens and our brother made fun of us so much that they might have been burned, ripped up or hidden in places unknown lol….so adorable- i cant get over how sweet they are to each other!
i love that gigi is so environmental
my family uses a lot of paper/styrofoam/plastic plates,forks, spoons etc just b/c they are lazy to do the dishes. I get really annoyed and often get very speechy on them going into long rants which have become a family joke but it still continues! sigh its one of those things im giving up on them on but its good to know that the next generation is starting off strong…at least we can count on the pea generations!! 
i completely agree with u on the zoo thing! it always breaks my heart to see them all locked up and caged. im sure they arent all pampered like the cartoon Madagascar lol
Omg such a good recipe! I have made dark choc & cherry raw cookie balls about 6 mos or so ago but not recently…need to get back on that!
I love the cherry comment..pitting them. Ugh. That’s my #1 not fun task to do!
And becoming more laid back…yes in our old age (kidding!) we just get more mellow…oh and having kids, too. That will mellow anyone out…just gotta roll with those days that do not go at all as planned!
if i ever have kiddies, they’d better be as cute as yours or i’ll put them up for adoption.
Those cookies look really good, I use cocoa in EVERYTHING!~
I love the chocolate/cherry combination. Like your brownies, these would probably be gone in an instant around my house.
You have to stop making bold claims of “best ever” — because EVERYTHING you make seems to surpass your last! It astounds me.
I’m a new reader and I just have to tell you how adorable your girls are! I’m the youngest of 3 sisters and I have 3 nieces – LOTS of girls! One niece is Lyla Louise and we call her LuLu
I’m so close to my sisters so although I don’t yet have children of my own, I feel like I relate to mothers!
Love what you said about being a work in progress. I feel the same way everyday.
You might just have the most adorable children on the planet!!! I love the pictures that go a long with your stories too.
You are hilarious.
Haha! This post put a smile on my face, you tell such great stories through your writing and pictures. I hope I can be laidback too! I would totally have pulled a Gigi on this one and not wanted to have used the plates for such a small snack, hehe.
Second base? Any further and it would be illegal in 50 states. I think. Arkansas might be behind on that one.
I have some cherries I’ve already pre-pitted at home. It’s like you knew I needed this recipe.
I want one of those cookies now!! Seriously, adopt me? I don’t even need fancy animal paper plates. And I’ll happily do the dishes
the recipe looks AMAZING. Making.Those.Tomorrow.
also, I am 24 and a half and buy those plates…
so…chocolate+cherry. how could it be bad? and vegan? yes please? and can you ask Gigi if I can borrow those shades?
This recipe looks fabulous. I’ll be making it soon.
I finally got around to making your millet muffins with pumpkin instead of banana. I used about 1 cup of pumpkin. I also added 1 T of maple syrup and a few extra chocolate chips. Delicious!
I wonder if it would work to substitute 1/4 cup flour with cocoa powder (or something like that) to make chocolate muffins.
I need to take a cue from you. Every little thing can set me off some days. I think I need a cookie.
I don’t comment on here a lot, but I just want you to know that you’re amazing. You make me laugh every day and I can’t WAIT for the book!
Thank you, Lindsay. You are amazing too…and so is ketchup.
Holy crap, almond butter in cookies!? Why have I never thought about that before? those look incredible.
You’re doing good at being laid back. I’m super duper laid back and sometimes I get a little OCD about what is on my countertop. ha
Chocolate-cherry is one of my all-time favorite smoothie combos, so these cookies have my name ALL over them.
Love your girs!!! too cute
We have made cherry brownies, but now we must try cookies ; )
Well Mama Pea you’ve done it again! The fact that I am neither unflappable nor a keeper of cherries notwithstanding, I made a version of these cookies as soon as I saw them (10 am *cough*cough*). Besides no cherries I don’t measure cocoa or chocolate chips and also I’m out of every liquer/extract except kahlua but when they were done they tasted just like those honkin double chocolate cookies at quiznos and you *know* they’re not using applesauce and almond butter. Or raw cane sugar (which I’m not using after this bag’s empty–it cooks weird). I wonder if they use kahlua though. Anyway thanks!
Haha, I love it! Your girls are adorable…hey, they wouldn’t be kids if they didn’t exhaust you, right? Congrats on the cherry pitting! If that’s not true patience, I don’t know what is.
second base… you crack me up!!
I don’t even have children and I have made HUGE strides in becoming more laid back in the past year or so. I actually really love it – although in my head my ANAL self judges my new carefree self : WHAT?? you are letting that happen?
these cookies look awesome!
Your girls are always SO adorable!! I have found that the older my kids get (they are now teens!) the more I lighten up. I think it’s because I am just too darn tired!
It took me FOREVER to find a cherry pitter. I don’t know why they are so hard to find around here, but I finally got one at Target–yay! I LOVE anything cherries and chocolate!
Shoot! I came across this post a day late. I just made some chocolate chocolate chip cookies yesterday, but your recipe sounds and looks amazing with the cherries. Totally making these next time.
Oh My Peas is right!!! Chocolate and cherries is pretty much the best combo, and if these are anything like your brownies I’m sure they are absolutely amazing. I will be making these for sure!
Gigi cracks me up! That’s so cute she didn’t want to waste. A little conservationist in the making.
Whoa those cookies look amazing! I LOVE cherries in the summer.
I just wanted to pop in and say that I look forward to reading your blog each day. I love the pictures of your adorable kids and your witty posts.
I think those cookies will be the only acceptable use for the cherries in my fridge! They look fantastic, are they chewy? I can’t get enough of your blog
Awesome recipe. Don’t regular spaghetti-os have dairy and lots of evil preservatives? Is there a momma pea spaghetti-o’s recipe out there?
These are actually Trader Joe’s Organic O’s–no preservatives, organic dairy (which the girls consume occasionally), and organic pasta. Annie’s Organics also makes a non-evil version in the shapes of stars or bunnies.
That sisterly love picture is PRICELESS Sarah! Absolutely gorgeous. Also, the ‘Paul Schaffer’ quip left me laughing out loud hysterically! It’s spot on! I think she has a career as an impersonator!
I think everyone that reads your blog KNOWS that you love your family and only want whats best for them. It may come off a bit ‘up tight’ but you’re a Mom who it trying to keep the house Vegan, clean and Sane. It’s stressful and no one is perfect. We are all just trying to do the best we can! I think you are an amazing person and your family is a testament to that! Those cookies look great! I made some using the pureed cherries and chocolate protein powder a while back and nearly died. Too good. You are going to be a huge success and I plan to buy copies of your book just to show my support (and feed by bottomless pit stomach!). If I may recommend… make the cookies into either a loaf/cake/cupcake or just top with vegan cream cheese frosting/non dairy whip topping/ice cream to make into a more ‘Black Forest Cake’ type sundae dessert! Great recipe and pictures!
Barbara
so when I have kids I expect you to have a parenting book out by then…I’m so type A it frightens my bf and I! I will you need your help…in 6 years…
The Paul Schaffer comment killed me!!
Oh my peas indeed! I made these brownie-like cookies today and instantly fell into a state of chocolaty bliss
With so many bookmarked recipes to make, I rarely make a dish twice. This recipe, however, I am absolutely saving for future use!
I love Gigi’s shades. Think I could borrow them sometime?