Test Day

i was supposed to spend today with my mom but she was feeling under the weather, so i spent some time in the kitchen instead. i have been wanting to try a couple of recipes. i did 3 today and 2 turned out well, 1 did not.

i made my first attempt at a larabar. i'm not sure how many of you have tried larabars but they are so good and only a few ingredients. plus, i can pronounce all of them! my favorite is cashew cookie. seriously the only ingredients in it are dates and cashews. it sounds so easy yet its so good. i tried to make a chocolate chip cookie version of a larabar. it contains just dates, cashews, vanilla extract, and chocolate. yum! it's still a work in progress but i was pleased with the first results.

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Chocolate Cookie Bar
(serves 3 - 170 cal per bar)

1/3 c pitted dates
1/2 c raw cashews
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
2 tbs grain sweetened chocolate chips

chop dates in a food processor until finely ground into a paste. remove and place in bowl. add cashews into processor and process until finely chopped. add cashews to bowl of dates. pulse chocolate chips in processor until roughly chopped. add to cashews and dates. add vanilla extract and mix with hands until incorporated.
shape into a long log in between two sheets of plastic wrap. refrigerate for 30 mins, then cut into 3 pieces. wrap each piece tightly in plastic wrap and store in fridge.
recipe can be doubled or tripled to make more bars.

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the next recipe i did was a disaster and i won't even bore you with my failed attempt at a raw chocolate chip cookie recipe i found online. however, i did make an espresso ricotta creme that was delicious! it was very creamy and it felt like i was being bad and cheating even though i wasn't. i'll take it! i adapted the recipe from giada de laurentiis, one of my favorite food network chefs.

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Espresso Ricotta Creme
(serves 6 - 200 calories per serving)

1 (15oz) container part skim ricotta cheese
1/2 c agave nectar
1/2 tbs instant espresso
1 tsp vanilla extract
cocoa powder

blend all ingredients together in a food processor for at least a minute until well blended. distribute among 6 ramekins and keep in fridge until ready to eat. just before serving, dust with cocoa powder.

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