Healthy Cookie Dough Blizzard

"A healthy blizzard, Emily?" Why yes, curious reader. I did say a healthy blizzard. And I'll even top that...a healthy cookie dough blizzard. This may be my most exciting concoction EVER. May even top my healthy reeses. 

With having all of my food allergies, sweet treats are hard to come by. Everything is either gluten free or vegan. There are very few Gluten Free, Egg Free, Dairy Free...everything free (haha), treats out there. A lot of times I just make up my own. I hardly share them because I bet people will think I'm crazy with what I pass for "treats." But you know what, I think the world needs a little bit less nasty sugars and processed carbs and a little bit more whole foods. Real foods. None of this processed crap! That all seems delicious, but it really is harming your body and once you have eliminated those types of foods, you will feel so much better, promise! 

Knowing that this blizzard is made with all real food that is good for your body, you will feel that much better eating it compared to that blizzard at Dairy Queen. This blizzard is way less calories and contains less high glycemic carbs and fat.  Just to let you know though, this recipe is not low calorie, if that's what you're after. It is a great post workout treat or meal replacement. Or you could just savor half of the recipe :). Portion control is a beast sometimes, right? 

It contains more low glycemic carbs, natural sugars, healthy fats, and protein. Low glycemic carbs are carbs that take your body longer to process, making them more useful in keeping you full and keeping your insulin levels from spiking. Some low glycemic carbs are sweet potatoes, brown rice, quinoa and in this recipe, the garbanzo beans. High glycemic carbs are not the enemy, you just have to know when the right time to use them. High glycemic carbs are okay for you to eat after a hard workout. You should really only eat these types of carbs when your body needs them, like the workout. Some of these types of carbs are white rice, white potatoes, and corn. Some other [bad] ones are of course, pizza, sugar, breads, ice cream, ect. 

Okay the health lesson is over. Brennan is going to be so proud of me after reading this. He is studying functional medicine and chiropractics. He's always telling me that to cure the body, you need to start from the inside-out-- through diet, exercise, and adjustments, instead of America's trend with trying to heal the body from the outside -in through prescribing medicine and drugs. 

okeeee i'm certainly easily distracted today! Here we go. Healthy blizzard. Back on track. There are two parts to this cookie dough blizzard: the "ice cream" and the "cookie dough." 

Let's start with the cookie dough...it's very easy to whip up. Just toss all ingredients (except the chocolate chips that we will fold in at the end) into a food processor, vita mix, or magic bullet. 

Cookie Dough:

1 can of organic garbanzo beans

1/4 cup rolled oats

2-3 tablespoons unsweetened almond milk

3-4 tablespoons peanut butter 

1/2 scoop chocolate protein powder (can omit if you want)

1/3 cup pitted dates (you can also use 2 packets of stevia, or 3 tablespoons of brown sugar)

2 tsp vanilla

dash of salt

Once blended, I fold in about 1/3 cup of 85% dark chocolate chips. I usually just buy the bar and chop the chocolate into pieces. You can also sprinkle coffee granules in the cookie dough...which I like sometimes. 

Ice Cream: 

3 frozen bananas

1 tablesoon peanut butter

1/2 scoop of vegan vanilla protein powder or chocolate for a chocolate ice cream. I used chocolate. 

Instructions: 

1. Peel bananas and put into freezer. (if using a lower powered machine, cut banana into pieces for easier blending). 

2. In a vitamix or food processor, combine all cookie dough ingredients except for the chocolate, in which you fold in at the end. Blend until everything is combined. If you want a more "doughy" cookie dough, add a couple more spoonfuls of oats, until you've reached your desired consistency.

3. Once combined, transfer into a separate bowl and add in chocolate pieces/chips.

4. Take little bits of cookie dough and form into pieces. Put the pieces in a tupperware and place in the freezer. There will be a lot of cookie dough left over for later use :). 

5. Let cookie dough harden for about a half hour. 

6. Then start your ice-cream. Combine ingredients in a blender, food processor, or vitamix. It's important that your bananas are already frozen, especially if you want to eat your blizzard right away!

7. Scoop your desired ice-cream into a bowl or cup. Then take your frozen cookie dough bites and mix in and put extra on top ;). 

xo

Sweater Weather

I am not sure if our weather here in Newport Beach really qualifies as sweater weather, but we sure like to think it does :). Especially with all of these amazing and beautiful clothes coming out! So the drop in a couple degrees qualifies me to buy some cute new seasonal clothes (at least I tell myself that hehe). These clothes are from the most adorable boutique, Stitch and Feather. Gorgeous boutique nestled in Seal Beach and recently she opened a second shop in Fullerton. This full outfit is from there. I just love the maxi sweater...the long sweaters are definitely big this season. Just one of them in your closet would "fall or winter up" about everything you already have hanging in your closet. And this one isn't too heavy for us Southern Californians. And don't you love the printed pants! They are Novella Royale, also available at Stitch and Feather. Hope everyone has a fun weekend.

xo

Cheap Fall Decorations

I had a couple of questions about the glittered wheat I made for one of the Anthropologie Display Workshops recently. I decided to make a little tutorial on it. It is such an easy project that turns out super pretty and very seasonal. It would be perfect for table decor for Thanksgiving or Christmas. You can pick any glitter you'd like to customize it for your specific event. I just love gold and thought it went great with the original color of the wheat. 

All you need are scissors, wheat, spray adhesive, and glitter. 

1. Pick out the vases you'd like to use to put them in, or if you'd like to use them as party favors [pictured below]. Cut wheat to desired length.

2. Have one cardboard section your designated spraying area, and another for glittering. Don't mix these two sections, or you'll waste a lot of glitter. 

3. Take one strand of wheat and lightly misty each side. Then quickly move to glittered cardboard area and sprinkle desired amount of glitter onto the wet adhesive spray. 

4. It should dry instantly. Then just lightly tap excess glitter off the wheat. Repeat, repeat, repeat...till you run out of wheat, wheat, wheat! :). 

xo

Anthropologie Display Workshop

I just love my job. I get to play all day long! This past couple weeks have been so so busy but so fun. I've been planning and running our display workshops and other events in the store. Display workshops at Anthropologie run for a few hours...all of the ladies [and few gentlemen] help us craft holiday displays, enjoying iced tea, and fall seasonal treats. I've met the sweetest new friends! These are a few photos from our first workshop...we made those adorable pinecones out of copper. All of the ones we made went into our gorgeous holiday window display, which is all finished! It makes me so happy and in the mood for the Christmas season. Holiday time is really the happiest time of the year...especially if you work at Anthropologie ;). 

xo