Tag: vegan

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Heaven Sent in a one-by-one Inch Cocoa Coconut Ball 2016 vegan revamp the 1920s Mounds Candy Bar

The last time I was asked if I had any request from the grocery store my reply was, “Yes! Hershey’s  Unsweetened Cocoa Powder from the baking section.”

I’ve become smitten making anything and everything made sweet with that unsweetened staple. The powdery product is so potent with caffeine after consuming just half of a teaspoon in any fashion makes me feel as though I just threw back three shots of bucci and have the energy to walk a puppy, clean the house and write a fluffy dining feature about whatever strikes my fancy. Enjoy an extra kick if you chase one of these magic Mounds Candy Bar-like concoctions with the Cuban espresso.

Mounds, made by Hershey’s for nearly one-century, consists of a “filling” made with shredded coconut enrobed in dark chocolate. The package contains about 260 calories, 30 grams of carbohydrates and 10 milligrams of caffeine plus 24 grams of sugar. The processed sugar will undoubtedly give any overzealous eater enough power to swim like Diana Nyad through a pool of jellyfish and sharks before collapsing in a sugar coma on the nearest beach.

(You can read more about this determined woman here in my 2013 interview where she was pulled from the ocean while swimming the Florida Straights).

Back to the task at hand. Grab your favorite mixing bowl and first stir these ingredients together and microwave for 45 seconds.

  • 1/2 Cup of Brown Sugar
  • 2 T of Dark Cocoa Powder
  • 2 T of Water
  • 3 T of Coconut Oil
The mixture will bubble.
The mixture will bubble. Once this happens stir in these ingredients next.
  • 1 Cup of Rolled Oats
  • 1/2 Cup of Shredded Coconut
  • Pinch of Salt
  • 1/2 Teaspoon of Vanilla
  • 1/3 Cup of Peanut Butter
    For the 1/3 C of Peanut Butter I used creamy for half of the third and filled the rest of the measuring cup up with this PB2 Powdered Peanut Butter. Made with peanuts, salt and sugar this stuff is so easy to use, especially in smoothies, and has 85 percent less fat.
    For the 1/3 C of Peanut Butter I used creamy for half of the third and filled the rest of the measuring cup up with this PB2 Powdered Peanut Butter. Made with peanuts, salt and sugar this product is so easy to use, especially in smoothies, and has 85 percent less fat.

    Drop onto a cookie sheet lined with waxed paper in one-inch balls and sprinkle with more shredded coconut flakes. I used Bob’s Red Mill Unsweetened Shredded Coconut. The entire process takes about twelve minutes.

    The batch makes 20 cookies.
    The batch makes 20 cookies.

Just as Mounds was marketed in the 1970s as “Indescribably Delicious” these 2016 Cocoa Coconut No Bake drop cookies; an adaptation of the Minimalist Baker’s version, which contain almond milk instead of water, are made mainly with old-fashioned rolled oats. This batch in particular is laced with a powdered peanut butter to make them, once again, indescribably delicious.

For the next round I’m adding an ingredient to turn this healthy, heavenly treat into Almond Joy.

Josie is an award-winning journalist and former TV anchorwoman. She grew up on Coastal Ohio and knows many of the nooks and crannies which make the region so spectacular.
Josie is an award-winning journalist and former TV anchorwoman. Lately her luxe lifestyle consists of caring for a Labrador Puppy in Coastal Ohio and adding healthy twists to long-time favorites in the kitchen.
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Pancakes PUH-LEEEEASE! a new take on the Sunday morning staple

I remember the first time the smell of Betty Crocker’s Bisquick Original Pancake and Breakfast Mix wafted through the house. All of the females representing my Kindergarten class from Shupe Elementary in the uncharted Coastal Ohio town of Amherst (now population 25,000) had stayed the night to celebrate my sixth birthday.

The evening was an out-of-control blow-out on Elyria Avenue. One might reflect this evening was a precursor of what was to come.

Over one dozen young ladies showed up, sleeping bags in tow, with Holly Hobby, Strawberry Shortcake, ET, or the Care Bears beaming on top of the zippered stuffing. They were also toting gifts. One of which happened to be a Barbie Doll wearing a striking fuchsia one-piece to accentuate her over balanced body.

The calendar read the “early 80s” and life was grand.

We spent the evening jumping on the bed and feeding the family dog popcorn made in the Wear-Ever Popcorn Pumper. One of my classmates peed her pants in the excitement of the evening and we never crawled into the sleeping bags and closed our eyes.

When the sun arose to alert us blurry-eyed young ladies we had survived our first sleep-over together with my stay-at-home mom, (who had just reached the ripe age of twenty-seven) she made all of us initial pancakes on a stand-alone electric griddle. I wouldn’t take the time to use a fork, add butter, or pour maple syrup on top. I just grabbed the “J” and the “K” like a cookie and ate the fluff full of oil, egg and butter.

To this day, I’ve never ordered a stack of pancakes. The thought of sticking my fork into a pile of “goo” with sugar poured on top makes my stomach churn. My palate prefers egg white omelets made with fresh vegetables and eggs that aren’t from an actual animal.

With a side of fruit!

But, something this past week, maybe its from following Amy Weinstock’s new blog, “Earth To Amy” where I’ve seen all of the “goo” can be replaced with alternatives.

Maybe its because for the first time since age eleven I’m living again by my South Eastern European family and I feel as though I’m not alive if I’m not eating a pastry for two of my three main meals of the day.

This week I revisited that box of Bisquick in the back of the cupboard. I opened the box and made a couple of quick alterations.

  •  1 C of mix
  •  2/3 C of coconut milk
  •  2 T of coconut oil
  •  2 “eggs” = 2 T corn starch mixed with 6 T of hot water

Mix those ingredients together and heat more coconut oil on a hot griddle. Pour the batter and soon the sweet smells of Betty Crocker Pancakes without egg, milk, or vegetable oil will be transported through the kitchen.

IMG_6316 (1)

Perhaps, transporting one to another time. Pick a topping such as Wholesome! Organic Pancake Syrup, sprinkle fresh fruit on top, and you have yourself a pancake party.