Chocolate Maple Almond Butter

Sometimes people think I'm wierd.

Actually it's more than sometimes...

it's like a lot.

It might be that when it comes to picking a restaurant, everyone looks at me because I'M usually the picky one.

And then when we finally agree on a restaurant, I'm giving the waiter a run for his tip because I am practically creating my own item on the menu.

Ya...I'm one of those people.

Although...maybe it isn't those restaurant outings that make me look weird. I mean, there are lots of picky people who like their foods prepared a certain way, right??

But if it isn't about the restaurants, then what is it?

It could be that I buy Organic Vegetables and some Organic Groceries.

Because if I buy Organic...

That means I am a tree hugging organic hippy born again vegan freak right?

(**note**Been called all of the above)

But if the reason that I buy organic vegetables and groceries is because I like my foods made with out chemicals, don't want to eat foods that may be contaminated with e-coli or salmanella, enjoy supporting local farmers, think animals deserve to eat grass, and care about what I put into my body because I believe it's a temple...

Is that so bad?

But if it isn't the restaurants OR the Organic groceries than what could it be?

Well maybe it has something to do with the fact that when I am in the kitchen I am most likely cooking with "abnormal" ingredients.

Things like, "whole grains, almond/soy milk, flax seeds, and vegetables." Then to top it off, I am secretly throwing avocados into pudding, adding beans into mashed potatoes, rarely cooking with butter, licking a tub of hummus, eating tons of goat cheese, and continuing to sneak pieces of chocolate every 5 minutes.

Now, maybe, just maybe...I am starting to understand why people think I am so wierd.

Not just wierd...

A "Tree Huggin' Organic Born Again Vegan Freak" weird...

But I am here to say this...

For a freak...I eat Dang Good Food =]

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Chocolate Maple Almond Butter

Ingredients:

2 Cups raw almonds

3 TB 100% pure maple syrup

2 TB 100% pure maple syrup

1 tsp cinnamon

dash of salt

Melted together: 1 TB coconut oil with 1/2 cup dark chocolate

Recipe adaped from: Edible Perspective & Ohsheglows

Directions:

1. Pre-Heat oven to 325

2. Place a piece of parchment paper on a baking sheet and pour almonds on top.

3. Coat almonds with 3 TB of maple syrup.

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4. Bake in the oven for 15 minutes, stirring every 5 minutes so they don't burn.

5. Once done, remove from oven and let cool for about 10 minutes. (You can even just eat these as a snack! =])

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6. Once they are cooled, place almonds in a food processor.

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7. Now this is the part that requires a lil patience =]. Start to blend the nuts together. For a while your just going to get fine crumbs, but keep blending.

8. Scrape down the sides of the bowl to keep it moving smoothly.

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9. Pretty soon those crumbs will start to look nice and creamy!

It will go from this,

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To this,

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10. Once it turns into BuTtA', THEN it is time to add the rest of the ingredients.

2 TB maple syrup, cinnamon, melted chocolate + coconut oil, and a dash of salt.

11. Combine all the ingredients into the food processor until creamy.

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12. Place in a sealed container, such as an old peanut butter glass jar.

Use on top of toast, sandwhiches with jelly, on oatmeal, ice cream, on cookies, in baked goods, on top of marshmallows, on your finger...

You get the idea.

I used to be obsessed with peanut butter.

Until now...

I'm ALL about that creamy delciousness!!

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(spoonful ONE of THIRTEEN)

Now if you will excuse me...

I'm going to go sit out side hugging a tree while eating a jar of Chocolate Maple Almond Butter.

And if I feel like it, you may hear me sing...

KOOMBYAAA MY LOOORDD...

KOOMBYYYAAAA!

Happy Thanksgiving 2010

Happy Thanksgiving =]

I truly love the spirit of today. I have so much to be grateful for. God has truly blessed me.For starters;This boy  man.

Yes, he ALWAYS looks this sexy.

He's perfect. Yes, perfect. He does so much for me, it makes me look like I'm one lazy butt.

Second of all;

I'm grateful to have gotten pregnant.

Feeling that little angel inside of me everyday was such an amazing blessing.

Of coarse, it wasn't too bad that I ate like an elephant, slept like a bear, and acted like a monkey sometimes =]

Third;

I am grateful for epidurals and amazing nurses.

All which kept me sane safe, and helped me bring one of the greatest blessings in the world...

My baby!

I never thought one little human being could bring so much joy and happiness into my life.

She's melted my hubby's heart.

She's been patient with me when I stick flowers, bigger than her body, on top of her head.

She let's me dress her up and buy her the latest baby fashions. All the while mommy is wearing sweat pans and maternity shirts stained with breast milk and spit up. That's pure love people, pure love.

This has been ONE of the greatest years so far. Thank you for following along with me on life's journey!

Happy Thanksgiving day!

Now go get fat

Baby's First Halloween 2010

Name that movie? =]

Well another halloweeny came and gone, but this year it was EXTRA special! We had a very special babe-ster to share the holiday with.

This year we got serious with our pumpkin carving...

Serious enough with special carving glasses.

I know, seriously so cool.

Spooky talent? I think so =]

And then it came time to play dress up! The babe-ster went as a kitty (MeOw)

And the hubby and I went as parents...

We've got spirit!

Such a sexy family!

That's her kitty face.

And this is her "mommy hold me all day" face.

Hope everyone had a safe and Spooktacular Halloweeny!

My First Baby is here!

So the time finally arrived...

It had been a long 9 months, and I am happy to say that my little baby girl is currently snuggled in my arms.

Hopefully this is a GOOD enough excuse as to why I have been M.I.A. on the blogger lately.

Forgive me? =]

Ok so I'm sure you want to hear the story right?...

if not, well then "THE HECK WITH YOU!"...jk

Ok so here I am a few days before my precious angel arrived. I look happy...but deep inside, I WANTED the baby OUT! =]

Ok so funny story. A couple days before I went into labor, I was walking around the mall with my husband, when we went into Barney's New York and there was a worker who kept staring at us. He had an extremely thick accent, and he looked at me and said, "your having a girl." And I said, "why yes I am!" And then he said, "I predict you will have her on thursday." All i could think of was...creeeepy..

Ok so fast forward to Wednesday and I went to the beach and walked for a hour plus (I was really determined.) Then I came home and walked on the treadmill. (did i mention i really wanted to have that baby) My due date was friday so I was hoping it would happen soon. Ok so wednesday after I had walked like a million miles, I noticed I was bleeding. It was minor so i figured it was nothing. But I must admit, I had never been so excited to be bleeding...(sorry gross)...but I knew that meant labor was near.

Ok so on Thursday my grandpa came down with my cousin to keep me company. I had been quite bored waiting around for my baby girl, and I had scrubbed the kitchen floor so much it was close to wearing off! I didn't feel so great that day, in fact I felt weird. For one I had to go to the bathroom every 5-10 minutes because there was just so much pressure. Then I started to get really crampy, and it was super uncomfortable. I started thinking, hmmm it can't be...But then they got stronger, and they got closer and closer together. So I started timing these pains, and they were exactly 4 minutes apart. All the sudden I wanted it to stop. I decided right then that I wasn't ready to give birth. Obviously too late. SO I called the hubby and he RUSHED home (he was super excited), he threw me in the car, no joke, and we were off. I told him, "you know dear, I am not going to give birth in the car. We have time." What I was really thinking is, "if you don't slow down over these darn speed bumps and turns I am going to scream!"

As soon as we got to the hospital I was dilated to a 4 and 80% effaced. They made me walk for a half hour while they got my room ready, which by the way was my FAVORITE part of labor....NOT! As soon as that torture was over we got in our room and the nurse asked if I needed anything, and guess what I said? EPIDURAL! I am kinda a baby when it comes to pain.

Here I am, lovely as ever. Waiting for the epidural....patiently...

After the epidural, I felt great! Unfortunately I couldn't even move my feet, but HECK, I didn't care! I didn't want to feel a thing! But just my luck, I was soo numb, that they had to turn off the epidural JUST so i could push. I was very upset...very mad..and I let the nurses, doctors, hubby, family, and patients on the same floor know it!

After 19 hours of labor, and 1 1/2 hours of pushing...

The greatest blessing in my life.

I am still iffy on whether I want to go private on the blogger or not. I have TONS of cute photos, and stories, but I don't like posting stuff about my child when anyone can look at my profile. But I also LOVE to share stories about my baking adventures. I don't really know what to do. But if you read my blog, and want to continue to follow it, leave me your email in a comment JUST in case I decide to go private.

I'll be back shortly, I have a baking adventure this weekend. CUPCAKES!! WOO HOO!

p.s. Did i forget to mention the creepy guy from Barney's was right?