Grain-free coffee chocolate cookies

I love cookies. I love warm, soft, out of the oven cookies. My favorite has probably always been plain chocolate chip- and if you add coffee they are even better. Last week I made these. I would definitely make them again- and they definitely wake you up since they is some coffee in them!

I found the recipe here and changed it a bit.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Yield: 8-9 cookies

 

Ingredients

 

1 cup almond meal

1/8 tsp baking soda

3 tbsp real butter

2 tbsp raw honey

3 tsp water

1 tsp vanilla

3-4 tbsp dark chocolate chunks

1.5 tbsp ground coffee beans

Directions

1. Preheat your oven to 350
2. Mix together almond meal and soda
3. Stir in melted butter, honey, and vanilla
4. Mix the water as needed to mix everything together
5. lastly add chocolate and coffee
6. Form about 8-9 cookies on your greased baking sheet/parchment paper
7. Bake for about 10 minutes until the edges are golden brown
8. Let sit for 5-10 minutes so the cookies harden

Enjoy!

Camp Lurecrest

 Rock Climbing Wall-best view

 Chapel

 Roland with Jessi

 Jessi-best camp dog

 By the chapel

This is Camp Lurecrest. Roland and I were there in the spring (I think?) for a retreat not too long ago-- well less than a year. This is one of my favorite places in the world. This is where we started dating- where my life was transformed, and where I saw kids lives changed through the gospel. This place is so peaceful and full of God's work. There are times where I remember camp and wish I could still work there -- still be a counselor-- still develop these strong relationships that Lurecrest brings. The camp is situated in the mountains in Lake Lure, North Carolina- the fresh mountain air, the nature, the friendships, God's grace can't be beat. I miss camp. I am thankful for this place for encouraging me to live my life in a restored new way. The way that God's love in shown here and the way people respond to the gospel is powerful. I pray more kid's lives are changed and that Lurecrest will forever be a camp with strong leaders with Christ's mission in mind.

Cheesy Beef Meat Balls

Ingredients

1 lb grass fed ground beef
Shredded cheddar cheese (enough for stuffing)
1 small red onion
1 tsp oregano
a pinch of cumin
1/2 tsp cardamom
1.5 tsp sea salt
1/2 tsp pepper
1/2 tsp mustard (I used basil mustard)
1/4 tsp chili powder
1 egg
1 handful of breadcrumbs (you can make this yourself- toast your bread, use food processor)

 Directions

1.  Mix the beef with all of the ingredients, except the cheese
2. Mold meat balls into about 8-10 small balls
3. Push a hole in the ball and stuff each with cheese
4. Close the hole back up
5. Heat some real butter- over medium heat and brown the meat balls
6. Transfer the meatballs into the oven
7. Bake at 400 for 20-25 minutes until cooked through



Recipe Inspiration

«IL Patio» Севастополь

I love this Restaurant.
We went to Il Patio- in Svestapol Ukraine a few weeks ago for a date night.  It was a late(r) evening snake, we got a pizza to share. This is probably the best pizza I have ever had- the ingredients were all fresh and the crust was the perfect texture. I would definitely go back here next time I am in Svestapol! This place is definitely on the nicer side of things, but affordable with the USD.

When we walked in with these flowers the server got us a glass half full- we were confused not sure what it was for...then realized they were for the flowers!

Goat Cheese- Red Pepper- Chicken Meatballs

I love this recipe-- because I love GOAT cheese. My husband and I have made this recipe a couple of times now and I find myself craving it here and there. This is a pretty filling meal that can be paired with just a side of vegetables or a salad. I found the recipe here.

Yield 15-16 meatballs


Ingredients

3/4 cup dried breadcrumbs
2 crushed garlic cloves
1 tsp sea salt
1 tsp dried oregano
1 pasture raised egg
1/4 cup whole milk
1/4 cup roasted sweet peppers, chopped (I get mine from Trader Joe's in a glass jar)
1 1/4 lbs ground chicken
2 ounces goat cheese
1 tbsp olive oil

Directions

 

1. Preheat oven to 350 and line a baking sheet with aluminum foil

2. Put peppers in the food processor or chop finely

3. In a bowl combine breadcrumbs, garlic, sea salt, oregano, egg, milk, and peppers 

4. Now add the chicken, make sure not to over mix -- since this will make the meatballs dryer. Just mix enough so that the ingredients are well combined

5. Form 15-16 meatballs with your hands and place them onto the  baking sheet

6. Break apart the goat cheese and evenly distribute the cheese amongst the meatballs on top

7. Drizzle your olive oil on the meatballs so they turn nice and brown

8. Bake for 18-20 minutes or until your chicken is ready

 

Enjoy!

 

Catching up-- UPDATES!

Hello! I have a lot of catching up to do. I was out of the country for a few weeks and then started a new job- so things have been pretty busy around here. My family and I went to Ukraine to spend some time traveling and visiting family there- my husband's first time in Ukraine! It was a really great time and I honestly wish I could be there longer. I love the country! I also really miss my family that is still there.
It has also taken some time to get back into the normal routine of cooking at home and then we both got some weird lingering stomach aches from who knows what.

Anyway I should be back soon to post pictures of our travels, etc.

Stay tuned....


Have a lovely week,

Lilia