These cookies are great for a snack, after dinner sweets, morning energy boost (when you're low on fruit), etc. These cookies are sweet and loaded with nutrients. Last time I made these, I was able to take leftover cookies with me to class and they were the best snack for that needed morning or afternoon class energy (when I didn't have time to make smoothie to bring with).











I couldn't really find any vegan coconut butter cookie recipes so I halved and altered KP's "best vegan chocolate chip cookies" and made these with the addition of coconut butter.
Most vegan cookies use coconut oil, which is still good. However, I think using coconut butter is better as it comes with more nutients (a bit less fat) 2 Tbsp of coconut butter is 20 grams, while 1Tbsp of any oil is about 14-16 grams fat.

For this recipe I used

dry
1/2 cup flour + 1 to 2 Tbsp quick oats (or more flour)
1/8 tsp pink him sea salt
1/4 tsp cinnamon (optional)
1 TBSP Flaxseed (can use more)
1/2 tsp sodium-free baking powder (I highly recommend Hain brand)

wet
1/4 cup and 2 Tbsp organic raw/turbinado/coconut sugar
2 to 3 Tbsp coconut butter (how to make coconut butter)
3 to 4 Tbsp almond/coconut milk

mix dry and wet

then add:
1/2 tsp Bragg raw apple cider vinegar
1/2 tsp vanilla

I use 1.5 to 2 Tbsp vegan chocolate chips (photographed chocolate chips are from Trader Joes).

Makes 9 cookies (measured with tablespoon).

The company known most for it's vegan butter products has expanded over the years to now offer other condiments, boxed meals, and snacks. Earth Balance's vegan-version of the popular cheese crackers has been out for a while, and I recently tried them. But of course, the box is now gone (eaten within a few days, oops).

I have been told that these squares are more like cheese-its than the actual cheese-its (and the person who said this is not vegan, who recently had the original snack). To me, they taste like the perfectly light and crisp combination of Ritz crackers and Cheddar cheese. That is the most accurate way for me to describe it.

Whenever I go to Kroger, I end up with more vegan junk food than I do at my Whole Foods...
Yet when I shop at Walmart, I get affordable organic fresh and frozen produce and very little vegan junk (even though Walmart now carries So Delicious Ice Cream). It's nice that healthier alternatives to junk are expanding. It may not be super healthy, but at least these alternatives are a lot better than the original junk that they emulate. They offer a start and an option to worse snack foods.

A lot of people ask and wonder why there are now so many vegan/healthier versions that try to emulate the taste and likeness of popular junk foods. The reason for that is because a lot of these vegan products have had to step it up due to criticism of not being similar enough to the actual non-vegan meat/dairy items. So for people trying out or transitioning to healthier eating or veganism, those products can be helpful as a temporary substitute to what they are or were used to.
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The deliciousness...




It's summertime which is the perfect time to cool off, stay hydrated, and keep the vitals lifted especially with climate change, heatwaves and trying to keep the electricity bill low. So, here's a smoothie that is perfect for the summer and wellness.



Ingredients used in this smoothie:

• 1/4 - 1/2 cup baby kale
• 1.5 cups frozen mango
• 1/2 cup organic frozen cherries
• 3/4 cup org. frozen berries
• 1-2 frozen bananas

On a television-related talk-show note, my favorite comedian Wanda Skyes was recently on the Ellen Show as she is promoting her stand-up tour, which I hope to see when she comes to Atlanta. Anyway, I came across this video of the two in what I could only wish would become a new show called "White & Black." Basically, if this were an actual show, I would definitely watch it.