Chocolate Coconut Cookies

Are you a cookie lover like me? I'm always on the lookout for a yummy cookie recipe, and this combination of chocolate and coconut is my new favorite.

This recipe calls for almost two cups of coconut in it, so you know it's packed full of coconut goodness.

These cookies were a huge hit with my grandchildren when we sat down to eat them with a cold glass of milk. This recipe is definitely one I'll me making again, especially since my family likes them so much.

Recipe for Chocolate and Coconut Cookies

Ingredients:

1 1/3 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup unsalted butter
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1 large egg
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 3/4 cup sweetened shredded coconut
1 1/2 cup milk chocolate chips

Directions:

Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper.
Sift together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt together in a bowl. In a large bowl, using an electric mixer on high speed, beat the butter until fluffy and pale yellow, about 2 minutes. Add the granulated and brown sugars, and beat until well combined, about 2 minutes. Beat in the egg and vanilla, scraping down the sides of bowl as needed.

Add the dry ingredients, and beat together until just combined. Add the coconut and chocolate chips, stir until combined.
With dampened hands, shape the dough into 1-inch balls, and place on baking sheet. Bake until the cookies are golden brown, about 15 minutes. Let cookies cool on a wire rack.

Makes about 3 dozen cookies.

Strawberry Rhubarb Crisp

Making a fruit crisp is one of my very favorite ways to enjoy the summer season.. Whether served plain, or with a scoop of vanilla ice cream on top, it's always a delicious dessert my family and I love.

While I'm not really a big rhubarb fan, I do like the unique flavor it gives to this crisp. And this was one of my favorite dessert growing up, so it has a bit of nostalgic meaning for me.

I like this dessert best when it's still warm from the oven, with that scoop of vanilla ice cream on top of it. But it's also great for breakfast. Either way, it's pretty yummy.

Recipe for Strawberry Rhubarb Crisp

Ingredients:

For the fruit filling:
1 pound fresh strawberries, cut into slices
6 cups rhubarb, cut into 1/2 inch slices
1 cup sugar
1/3 cup cornstarch
1 teaspoon lemon zest

For the topping:
2/3 cup all-purpose flour
2/3 cup brown sugar, well packed
2/3 cup old-fashioned oats
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
6 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

In a large bowl, toss together the strawberries, rhubarb, sugar, cornstarch, zest, and ginger. Place the mixture in a shallow 8-cup baking dish. Loosely cover with foil and bake for 30 minutes.

While the fruit mixture is baking, make the crisp topping. In a medium-sized bowl, mix together the flour, brown sugar, oats, salt, cinnamon, ginger and butter, until the butter is distributed evenly.

After the fruit has baked for 30 minutes, remove the foil and cover with the crisp topping. Return to the oven and bake, uncovered, for an additional 30 minutes.
Serve warm, or at room temperature. Top with vanilla ice cream or whipped topping.

Makes 8 serving.

Italian Sausage and Kale Pizza

The thing about pizza is that it's pretty much perfect anytime of the year. During spring and summer, there's even more veggies to pick from to put on top of them.

I made this really delicious pizza with my super easy pizza dough. Along with Italian sausage, I used bell peppers, red onions, kale, and mozzarella cheese.

I just really love this easy to make pizza dough, and the recipe easily doubles to make two pizzas. You can also use half regular white flour, and half whole wheat flour to give it an extra healthy boost.

Recipe for Italian Sausage and Kale Pizza

Ingredients:

 For pizza Dough:

2 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1 package all purpose yeast
1 cup warm water
2 Tablespoons olive oil
1 teaspoon white sugar
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup pizza sauce
1/2 pound of Italian sausage
1/2 bunch kale, sliced thinly
1/2 medium red onion, chopped
1 red bell pepper, seeded and sliced
1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese

Directions:

 Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
Cook sausage over medium heat, breaking it up as it cooks. Cook through thoroughly.
 In a medium bowl, dissolve yeast and sugar in warm water. Let stand until creamy, about 10 minutes. Stir in flour, salt, and oil. Stir until smooth. Let dough rest 5 minutes.

Turn dough onto a lightly floured surface and pat or roll into a round. Sprinkle with extra flour if the dough is sticky. Transfer crust onto a lightly greased pizza pan.
Spread a medium layer of pizza sauce on dough, and lay on kale, red onion, bell peppers, and sausage. Top with cheese.

Cook in the oven for 20-22 minutes.

Makes a large size pizza.

My Favorite Recipe For Cooking With Almond Milk, Easy Coconut Cream Pie

I am a member of the Collective Bias® and Social Fabric® Community. This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper amplification for Collective Bias and it's advertiser.

Ever since I discovered Silk Almondmilk a few years ago, my list of almond milk recipes has gotten longer.

I wouldn't dream of making this delicious, family favorite, Coconut Cream Pie without Silk Almond Coconut Blend. It lends a rich flavor to my recipe, and I love how Silk contains 50% more calcium than dairy milk.

I know quite a few people who are lactose intolerant, and have to drink non-dairy products. Thankfully, my family and I don't have this situation to deal with. We simply love the taste of Silk.

During the warm summer months and no school schedule, my family isn't always in the mood for a real breakfast. But I know how important it is to start out the day with something nourishing in our system. That's when I use Silk Almondmilk, yogurt, a banana, and some berries to whip up a delicious fruit smoothie.

And with the new Protein + Fiber blend, those smoothies are even more nutritious.

I drink Silk Almondmilk daily. There are always a couple of different flavors in the refrigerator, and my grandchildren love it, too.

I use it for drinking, cooking, and even making fruit-based popsicles during the summer. The kids love it, and are always asking me to make 'Nana's popsicles', which I'm happy to do.

One of our favorite summer time desserts is frozen Coconut Cream Pie. I put it in the freezer and then let it thaw out for about twenty before serving it. It tastes delicious when it's so cold, and there is never a piece left over for seconds.

The recipe is embarrassingly easy, but toasting the coconut is the secret to an unbelievably great coconut flavor.

I picked up the Almond Coconut Blend and the new Almondmilk Protein + Fiber at Safeway. They really have an amazing variety of Silk flavors to choose from.

I'm a big Safeway fan, and can't wait for the grand opening of one that is right near my house.

Like I said, this recipe is super easy to make, but the great taste doesn't reveal that. This pie is easy enough to whip up for a weeknight dessert, or fancy enough to impress your guests at a dinner party.

Recipe for Easy Coconut Cream Pie

Ingredients:

2 packages (3. 4oz. each) vanilla flavored instant pudding
2 cups Silk Almond Coconut Blend
2 cups thawed whipped topping, divided
1 cups toasted flake coconut, divided
1 8in. ready-to-use graham cracker crumb crust

Directions:

Beat pudding mixes and Almond Coconut Blend in a large bowl with a hand held mixer for 2 minutes.
Stir in 1 cup thawed topping, and 3/4 cup toasted coconut. Mix well, then pour into crust and smooth out. Top pie with remaining thawed topping and remaining coconut.
Place in freezer. Let pie thaw 20 minutes before serving.

To toast coconut, place desired amount in frying pan over medium heat. Stir frequently, and cook until toasted lightly.

Drinking #SilkAlmondBlends is a great way to enjoy a cold, delicious tasting, dairy-free beverage during the summer, and it contain no artificial flavors or coloring.

Try Silk Almond Coconut Blend, and the new Silk Almond Protein + Fiber. I'm stocking my fridge with these two great flavors to make smoothies, popsicles, and other favorite desserts.

You can find Silk on Facebook, and on Pinterest, where you can find some great recipe ideas.
#CollectiveBias

See's Candies Summer Variety Review and $25 Gift Card Giveaway

For many generations my family has enjoyed See's Candies. The way the store looks, the smells of chocolate and even the ladies dressed in the white uniforms make me smile from the memories I recall and the ones being made in that moment. Its more than a candy store to us and the summer time we go just as often as the holidays.

My son knows what he likes in See's, trying to convince him why Mommy NEEDS black licorice is tough

With my birthday being in the summer I always get a box of See's dark and milk chocolate truffles, but this year I want a box of the Summer Variety candies. I normally get the same thing each year out of tradition but after trying a box of the Summer Variety for my review I have a new summertime favorite. The use of white chocolate on nuts and caramel is amazing! The flavors of summer like coconut, apricot and lemon are in this box making it light and sweet. This box of candy is perfect for wanting sweets but not a heavy dark chocolate. My favorite is the Key Lime Pie and my son loved the Apple Pie Truffle. We also bought a few Blueberry Truffles to try and they are beyond delicious!

We ate most the candies before I got a picture :)

It would not be a trip to See's without picking up some lollipops. Even if we are going to the mall for one thing we always manage a quick stop into See's for a lollipop. See's has many Summer friendly candies that you can pack into a camping trip bag or mail to a loved one like lollipops, black licorice, peanut brittle and my son's favorite the red, white and blue sour chews.

My son also picked out a few smaller chocolates like a chocolate clown, chocolate apple and a milk chocolate candy bar for his Dad. We are always satisfied with the quality of ingredients in See's and the people who work their are always as sweet as the treats. I look forward to my birthday in July to get myself another box of Summer Variety candies.

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*Limited to US residents 18 years old and above. Giveaway starts June 19, 2014 and ends on July 3, 2014 at 12:01 am EST. Winner will be emailed and has 72 hours to respond before another winner is selected. I was not paid for this giveaway or post. The opinions on this item are 100% mine and may vary from others. The sponsor is responsible for providing the prize. I was sent a product to review for this post.