Raw Vegan Almond Butter Cookies

So did you enjoy your weekend?  What were you up to?  Fill me in on everything!

Remember Saturday morning when I tried to go to a yoga studio but was locked out?   Well Sunday morning I took a class hot 75 minute power yoga class at the gym I’m teaching at, and it was awesome!  Sweaty, vinyasa, flowing fun & bliss.  I loved every hot hanumanasana second.

Sunday as a family, Scott, Skylar, and I went to the Artfest of Scottsdale.  It was so much fun walking around looking at the handcrafted and one-of-a-kind pieces of art ranging from glass to sculpture to paintings.  Didn’t buy anything, but it was fun to kick tires and be impressed.  Did you do anything fun?

So now that it’s time to gear up for another week, hopefully one filled with Thanks & Gratitude, I’ve created a great recipe that you can make in 10 Minutes, and more than likely, with everything you already have in your cupboard and really impress your friends-n-fam on Thanksgiving.  But before I get to the recipe, I’m glad you enjoyed the Highlights of the Week Post.

Everything from
Raw Vegan Peanut Butter Cups

to Vegan Chocolate Turtles

to Kale Salads

to Vegan Espresso Drinks were covered

But let’s talk about my new recipe!!!

Averie’s Raw Vegan Almond Butter Cookies-5 Minute Recipe (Gluten & Soy-Free)
1/2 c Flax Seeds.  Grind them well.

Then Add
2/3 c Almond Meal (this is Almond Flour kids.  Ground Almonds.  Many names, same thing.  You can buy it in the pre-ground state or grind your own almonds)
3 Tbsp Maple Syrup (if you are hung up on keeping this totally raw, use 6 Tbsp Agave instead and omit the Maple)

3 Tbsp Agave
2 Tbsp Almond Butter
2 Tbsp Coconut Oil
Optional: 1/2 Tsp Vanilla, Almond, or Hazelnut Extract
Yields: Approximately 16 Silver-Dollar Sized Cookies or 4 “big cookie”-sized cookies

Here’s what the Process Looks Like:
After your grind the flax seeds, combine all the rest of the ingredients in your VitaLove, Food Processor, Magic Bullet, or you can even make this entire by hand.  Simply use pre-ground flax seeds and pre-ground almonds (almond meal) and you don’t need to break out a single appliance.

After everything is incorporated

Take out your Cookie Dough and form Cute Cookies (or balls, or patties, whatever works for you)

I thought the cookies were looking a little naked…

Optional other Garnishes & Tweaks include: 
Dusting with carob, cocoa nibs, or coconut flakes
Smearing more nut butter on top
Substituting a different kind of nut butter for the Almond (i.e. Peanut, Cashew, etc.)
Adding Dried Fruit to the Mixture or as a Garnish on Top
Adding 2 Tbsp of Cocoa Powder to the Batter to Create Chocolate Almond Butter Cookies 

Lots and lots of options…

And after I got done making them, I wrapped the cookies up into pairs for lunches and snacks.  If I had anywhere to go on Thanksgiving, I’d bring these as a Hostess Gift rather than the standard Planters Salted Nut Mix or a lame floral centerpiece type of gift.

So not that you probably care because you’re totally fixated like a dog in heat on those Almond Butter Cookies, but, I did also make a couple great salads over the weekend.  This one had Mixed Greens, Cukes & Zukes, Orange & Yellow Peppers, Carrots, Tomatoes, B.S., and I dressed it with the Juice of 1/2 orange, agave, EVOO, and cracked black pepper.

And this pile of rabbit food was a little salty.  From all the Dulse Flakes that is.  Greens, Cukes & Zukes, Orange & Yellow Peppers, Carrots, Tomatoes, and I dressed it with Homemade Vegan Slaw Dressing.  The sweet tangy-ness of the dressing, the cool cucumber vibes, and the salty dulse flakes was a great combo!

After I ate my veggies for dinner…
…it was time for dessert and a few Raw Vegan Almond Butter Cookies went down like buttah.  Almond buttah that is.

I really hope you make these cookies because they are fast, easy, no exotic ingredients were used, they’re chewy, melt-in-your-mouth and just delish!  Not to mention, raw, vegan, and gluten & soy free.  Success!

Yoga Today is Astavakrasana (8 Angle Pose)

Tip of the Day:  If you’re feeling stressed out about “getting everything done” or making the perfect meal, or rushing around to 3 different markets for the “right ingredients”, ask yourself if in a week, or a month, or a year, will you care?  Will anyone else care?  Will anyone remember?  The answer is probably a resounding No!

So rather than get all stressed out and worried about small potatoes like whether your napkins match the tablecloth or that you’re not making everything from scratch, or that your outfit won’t be as cute as your sister-in-laws, or whatever it is…,just take a deep breath, take a step back, and give yourself permission to let a few things slide.  No one else will likely notice and you’ll be a more more relaxed & happy person!  Ahhh, sigh, breathe, let it all hang out….now that’s better.

What are you going to let slide this year as we go into the holiday season?  For me, I am not over-cooking & stressing about trying to cook it all. Meaning, it’s just me, Scott, and Skylar.  So rather than making too much food and obsessing about food that will never even get eaten, I picked a handful of key recipes & dishes and am focusing my energy on those few things and letting everything else slide.  What are you giving yourself permission to let slide this season? 

Stay Tuned For Vegan Thanksgiving Desserts…