Aunt Nancy’s comforting trail mix

homemade comforting trail mix

My very, very, very best friend S brought this when she visited last. It’s her aunt’s recipe and is usually reserved for special occasions or times when comfort food is in order. I got lucky and received a jar just for running a half marathon. It didn’t last the weekend.

Ingredients:
2 cups almonds
light corn syrup (about 2 tablespoons)
1 teaspoon vanilla (feel free to use more!)
1 cup dark chocolate chips (or semi sweet, or a mix of your favorite chocolates if you prefer. I’d avoid milk chocolate or white alone, it’s just too sweet)
1 cup dried cherries

Directions:
Stir almonds in a bowl with some light corn syrup and vanilla. Bake at 300° on a parchment lined cookie sheet for about 20 to 30 minutes, until they get a hard coating. Let cool. Then mix in a bowl with chocolate chips and dried cherries. Put in a jar and screw the lid. Avoid shaking once in the jar, the hard coating cracks. Not that I learned from experience or anything.

My opinion:
Like I said above, this didn’t last the weekend. It’s amazing. Don’t be surprised if friends and family start requesting this as a gift.

Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Party Dip


I love cookie dough. And chocolate chip cookie dough is my favorite. I also know all about salmonella and the dangers of eating raw cookie dough. Now that one of my very dear friends is expecting (Congrats again!), I had to find a way to indulge in cookie dough. I found this recipe on Pinterest and modified it a bit.

Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups Garbonzo Beans
1/8 tsp Salt
1/8 tsp Baking Soda
2 tsp Pure Vanilla Extract
1/4 cup Almond Butter, No Stir (or peanut butter for a peanut buttery taste)
1/2 cup Light Brown Sugar
1/3 cup Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips
1/4 cup Skim Milk
3 tbsp Oatmeal

Directions:
Add all the ingredients except the chocolate chips in a food processor and blend until smooth. Remove from processor and add to serving bowl. Mix in the chocolate chips. Serve with graham crackers or graham cracker sticks.

My opinion:
Even though I know it isn’t real cookie dough, it’s close enough! I’m really tempted to make this for an upcoming party and not tell anyone it’s mostly healthy and see what happens.