I woke up Friday with every single finger and toe crossed because the unit was overstaffed by one nurse and I was the first on the list to get a "holiday." So as long as nobody called in sick, my phone was set to ring between 4 and 5 am with happy news. I’ve never looked forward to a pre-sunrise call more.
At 4:45 I got the blessed call and by 4:50 I was back asleep.
I took full advantage of the free day and slept in, but once I woke up, I set right to work making Friday completely productive.
I baked cookies and prepped salad dressing.
Both were my contribution to Thanksgiving numero dos.
I also let my digestive system rest and thus return to a semi-normal state. And then I went on a run. It was a much needed day off.
These cookies were made up as I went along. I figured coconut snowballs were appropriate now that Thanksgiving had passed. Even though it’s not snowing in Los Angeles doesn’t mean I can’t embrace the season, right? Right. For the record, I don’t miss snow (or sub-freezing temps) in any way, shape, or form.
They sorta look like snowballs. And since I make such a concerted effort to keep this blog PC (<–sarcasm), I figured I should name my holiday treats with something non-secular. Also, coconut clouds don’t sound as fun. So snowballs it is!
Coconut Snowball Cookies (vegan)
Ingredients:
- 1 cup shredded coconut
- 2 cups all purpose flour
- 1/4 cup turbinado sugar
- 1 tbsp baking powder
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 cup coconut butter (I made this by blending 4 cups of coconut flakes in the food processor)
- 1 1/2 cup water
- 1/2 cup almond milk
- 1/4 cup agave nectar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
Directions:
If you don’t have coconut butter, make your own by pulsing coconut in a blender or food processor until it’s no longer dry and flakey.
It will take a while, but have patience.
It took me ~ 4 cups of flakes to yield 1 cup of butter (but if you use shredded coconut it will probably be more like 3 cups).
I continuously scraped the sides down between pulsing and eventually it got wet (like butter).
I combined this cup of coconut butter with the rest of the wet ingredients (the last 5 in the ingredients list). In a separate bowl I mixed all the dry ingredients (the first 6 on the ingredients list).
Then I mixed the wet and dry together.
Once combined, I stored the bowl in the fridge for ~10 minutes to get the dough cold and hard (this prevents the cookies from being too soft and flattening out…thereby making them more ball shaped after baking).
Then I scooped large spoonfuls – molded into balls – on a sprayed baking sheet and baked them for 15 minutes at 350 degrees.
The recipe yields 20 cookies.
They look like snowballs, but I wouldn’t waste them on your enemy. I’d stuff my own face first.
And I did.
I tried two (as poison control) before packing the rest up to take with me on Saturday.
As for the kale salad…
The dressing was the deal maker. The recipe is straight from Chef AJ’s book, Unprocessed, which she sent me after I oohed and ahhed over the salad last month.
I stored the dressing in the fridge overnight which meant the flavors were all harmoniously blended the next day. I tasted a few spoonfuls at was completely delighted at the outcome.
I added it to the kale and tossed it all together right before we hit the road.
By the time we arrived at my Great Aunt’s house the dressing had broken down the thick lettuce a bit making the kale softer (aka more texturally palatable).
I thought it was fantastic, but my G-ma didn’t like it one bit.
First of all, I basically had to threaten her just to get her to try it. She took maybe 1.5 leaves. And after she tasted it I asked if she liked it and she emphatically responded "no!" Oh well, you win some, you lose some.
I could have eaten the entire bowl myself. I think the dressing is stellar and I plan on using it as a marinade in (non-kale) future dishes.
*I do think the salad would have tasted better had it been stored in the fridge, but space was limited and I didn’t want to stress out my Great Aunt.
The dinner spread was almost the same size as the dessert spread.
But once again, the babies were really the highlight of the day.
Me & Ivy!! Ivy was definitely the most coveted…and she is such a happy kiddo too.
She didn’t even mind getting passed from person to person.
I also got to see my sister. Reunited and it feels so goooood.
The whole family!
We had to take numerous group photos since her length of stay in the US is a constant wild card. [shhh, don’t tell my parents]
My cousin made a valiant effort to get a family photo, but I have about 400 outtakes that are way more hilarious.
Most of the food was non-vegan, but I did have my own kale salad and my mom’s roasted veggies…followed by some delicious coconut snowball cookies.
All tuckered out.
What a beautiful family! I love baking on surprise days off — I almost always make it mandatory when I get a snow day. It’s so satisfying! I had to work really hard to get my mother in law to try kale, but after a few times of having her try it, she finally likes it! I’m loving that last photo — what a cutie!
Wow – what a scrumptious post with such gorgeous photography.
Nice to see all the yummy healthy food and I am dying to make those coconut cookies. (making coconut butter in food processor – genius)
Lovely blog – adding you to my links!
Happy Monday
🙂
You look so genuinely happy in all the photos – and the baby is adorable!
Babies always steal the show. Gahh, how adorable is Ivy?!
Awww Ivy is such a cutie! No more babies in my family until my generation starts having them. It could be awhileeee
I love these family photos! Its been awhile since we were ALL together!
well, I thought the Kale salad was great. Thanks for bringing it! The photos are great also. (they made me realize that the Bruce Willis look will be short-lived for me.)
you still have enough hair to put that look off a few years…
the “die hard” look can wait.
im lucky to have others making grandkids – takes the pressure off me.
i know!! her smile is so dang cute.
thanks!
Haha I wish I had two thanksgivings! Looks like a great time with family! And I should move to CA, I’m not loving Chicago winter weather…
I loved the part about your grandma refusing to try the kale salad! We’ll get to them stubborn folk some day, right? 🙂
Looks like you all had a wonderful family dinner together. Gotta love the babies. The food can taste like crap as long as cute kids are around to love on… or at least some cute puppies 🙂
Thanks for the coconut cookie recipes. Those look awesome. Although I’ll probably much try anything if you tell me there’s coconut in it.
Have a great Monday!
great family pics! you have such a beautiful family
You look good with a baby on your hip!
Kyle looks pretty comfy with one too!
mmm snowball joy, these look awesome. My Grandma never wants to try any of my creations either… this lady takes her oatmeal with cream, sugar AND butter, and cooks EVERYTHING in LARD. ew.
Well, I may not have liked the kale but I thought the cookies were great, and as someone else mentioned if the kale salad had had coconut in it, I probably would have loved it. Wonderful to have the whole family together and we will all try to hang on to Laura for awhile. Love, G-ma.
Elise, I can just hear your grandma saying “no” to the salad…and it makes me laugh!! Imhave to agree, coconut makes just about anything taste better.
And my daughter, now that she’s working nights in L&D, never gets those calls anymore. I’m sure she wishes she did, though, every once in a while. Instead, she gets extra hours on days like 11-11-11, when moms want special birthdays for their babies!
And what fun is it to have the whole family together?!?! We managed to do the same with ours…between my son getting off work and my daughter having to go to work! Holidays can get complicated, so what a blessing when you can get the whole family together.
Thanks for all your great ideas and recipes. I’m nowhere near vegan, not even close to vegetarian, but I’m inspired and motivated by your blog to eat better than I have in the past. So thanks!!
Enjoy the rest of the holiday season!!
How cute is that picture of you and Ivy?! And how cute is the name Ivy?! Love the family picture too, I can definitely see the resemblance 🙂
I’m going to a “cookie party” on Sunday where I have to bring cookie dough…I’m thinking coconut 😉
Omg and I just saw the comment from your grandma. Can I join your family please?
Oh, I forgot to say that you all look great…especially your grandma!!! And, yes, very cute little ones!!!
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thanks jan.
its great that your family was also able to get everyone together.
my g-ma is a special one isnt she? 😉
hell yes.
hmmm…coconut and kale huh?? not so sure about that one. glad you liked the cookies 🙂
The cookies look delicious! Just wondering…did you use sweetened or unsweetened coconut?
beautiful family!
unsweetened.
thanks sarah!
aww…thank you!!
here’s hoping!