I’m back!!!

The past few weeks have been crazy. First I got sick, then I got sicker until finally I was bedridden for way too long. While my appetite never went anywhere, big surprise, my motivation to cook was nowhere to be found. But a girl can only eat so much soup and so many pb&j’s before enough is enough. I don’t even need to say that it’s so great to be back and healthy. Though it is usually non-existent, my sweet-tooth was out in full-force while I was sick and I couldn’t stop thinking about cookies! So, with that said, for my first post back in too long…

White Chocolate Lime Cookies

 from Have Cake, Will Travel

Ingredients:

• 1/2 c butter (dairy or non)
• 3/4 c sugar
• Zest of 1 Lime
• Juice of 1 Lime (~2 t)
• 1 t Vanilla Extract
• 1 1/2 c Flour
• 1/2 t Baking Powder
• 1/2 t Baking Soda
• 1/2 t Sea Salt
• 1/4 c White Chocolate Chips
• 2-3 T Unsweetened Vanilla Almond Milk

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line two cookie sheets with parchment paper.

With an electric mixer, cream together butter and sugar. Add in lime juice, zest and vanilla extract.

In another bowl sift together flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt.

Fold in dry ingredients to wet. Add Almond milk as needed. Fold in chocolate chips.

Scoop up a Tablespoon or so of dough. Flatten a bit but leave room between cookies as they will spread a bit.

Bake for 12-14 minutes until golden brown.

After 2 minutes, transfer to a cooling rack.

Makes ~20 Cookies

Maine or, bust?

So, I’m just going to whine for a few and then I’ll be done with it. Tomorrow marks my first day of vacation, which I’m thrilled about. I’m also supposed to be leaving tomorrow for Maine to visit my family and some friends. But my car is not cooperating with that plan. They key will not turn in the ignition. What?! So my car is currently sitting at the dealership awaiting a diagnostic test which will hopefully reveal a minor problem that can be fixed quickly. And I can get on the road early relatively early.

Puppy masks his disappointment by napping.

To take my mind off my present undesirable situation, I decided to make Key Lime Bars with a Coconut Crumble Crust. These were so easy, delicious and a perfect solution to using up my lime before I leave.

Ingredients:

1/2 cup butter, (I used butter spread)
1 cup golden brown sugar
1/2 cup all purpose flour
1/2 whole wheat flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 cup rolled oats
1/2 cup unsweetened coconut
1 14-oz can sweetened condensed milk
1/2 cup lime juice
Zest of 1 lime

Preheat oven to 350F. Line an 8×8-inch baking pan with aluminum foil and spray with PAM. In a bowl, cream together butter and brown sugar until fluffy. Add flour, baking powder and salt. Mix until everything comes together in a crumbly mixture and flour is evenly distributed. Mix in oats and coconut. In another    bowl, whisk together sweetened condensed milk, lime juice and lime zest. Use about 3/4 of crust mixture to coat bottom of pan. Press firmly so it's an even depth. Pour lime mixture on top and spread evenly. Crumble remaining oat mixture over the top of the lime mixture, covering it completely. Bake for 30-35 minutes, until golden brown.

Let cool completely before cutting into squares.