Healthy Treats | Our Children Teach Us! Chocolate from the Heart!
How does the saying go?….out of the mouths of Babes!
Kids are so smart aren't they? Growing up my daughters would frequently share something which they were certain would change my life....in a positive way!
As young children their wisdom came from the latest infomercial they noticed while watching cartoons on Saturday morning. One particular morning my oldest daughter followed me into my closet and asked me if I had tried a certain facial cream which she had recently learned about. I told her no, and she promptly replied “But mom, you too could achieve amazing results overnight by using this cream!” Mind you she was only 7 years old at the time and I was in my 30’s so…hmmm I guess I already needed some emergency help? Out of the mouths of babes I guess, right?
The next infomercial wisdom she shared was the Ronco Dehydrator….and yes you all probably know I bought that!
So what does this have to do with Chocolate from the heart? Well, that too was based upon the love and advice from a 7 year old. You see her 2nd grade class was studying the heart and healthy eating! The teacher decided to share a heart healthy recipe with the class that day. My daughter felt this would be something we all needed to know about at home. That evening she shared her school work with the family; a colorful hand decorated diagram of the heart. She had written the recipe for special heart healthy cookies in the center of the heart. We proudly displayed that on the fridge for quite the while, AND the recipe became a popular cookie recipe around the Bird nest!
There have been a few changes made to the original recipe using natural sugar and nut butters, making the recipe even healthier. I shared these with our neighbors this weekend so I thought I would share with my Steemian friends as well!
The Bird family Chocolate Cookie Squares…from the Heart!
Heart Healthy Ingredients
- Organic Maple Syrup (1/3 cup)
- Almond Milk (2 tbsp.)
- Coconut Oil (3 tbsp.
- Unsweetened Shredded Coconut (1/3 cup)
- Cacao Powder (2 tbsp.)
- Gluten Free Oats (1/2 cup)
- Organic Natural Peanut or Almond Butter (1/2 cup)
- Vanilla (1/2 tsp)
The Chocolate…
Combine the Cacao, Maple Syrup, Almond Milk and Coconut Oil in a saucepan and bring to a low simmer. Stir, stir! Burned chocolate is a not what you want. Let this simmer for a minute or so.
Remove it from the heat and stir in the peanut butter, coconut and vanilla. Again…Stir!
And the Oats…
Finally toss in the oats and give this yummy batter one last stir for good measure!
Sprinkle...
Line your favorite baking sheet with parchment or grab a fun candy mold! I chose my candy mold, sprinkling coconut in the bottom of each candy slot.
Into the fridge
Without eating too much of your batter….you know you will! fill the molds with your batter. (Or if using a baking sheet drop rounded teaspoons of batter on the parchment). Refrigerate for about an hour.
Pop the cookies out of the mold and Enjoy!
I promise your kiddos will love you! (both big and small!) I would love to hear what wisdom your children have shared....from the heart!
Thanks for stopping by the Bird Nest today
And as always, blessings to you all
I am a big kiddo at heart so I know I would love these, I remember when my girls were young and having there school work and art proudly on display on either the fridge or on a cork board thingy we had
I know, we did too! I still have some of their school papers. I really cherished that stuff. In fact I think I gave my daughter that heart drawing not too long ago, lol Oh well, fun memories right? I know you would like these goodies @tattoodjay, they didn't last long at the super bowl party :) Thanks my friend!
Ohh yes they are such fun memories I wonder if their mum still has them, she used to keep them all in a box when taken down from display, I am sure the girls would like to see them, or maybe not maybe they are more fun memories to me than they would be for them
I am not surprised those didn't last long
Oh yum @birdsinparadise, a delicious chocolate treat and it's all healthy! Hubby started a Keto diet so I'm going to be trying out some of your recipes, or variations on the theme. Will be learning a whole new way of cooking!
Oh wow, so the Keto diet is okay for diabetics as well? I am hearing so much about that diet lately. I'll be anxious to hear how it goes for you, sounds like many have success with it. Your recipes will be great to try! Thanks @lizelle. Enjoy the weekend.:)
Apparently it is good for them, hubby's already using much less insulin, had a few lows so it's difficult to get the glucose levels up again, can't just sip a juice or have a fruit now! But we're learning what snacks he can have in between if he's misjudged the insulin!
Yep, another winner! I have to look for some of those candy trays. I also need to find some popsicle trays but as you might guess things are a little more difficult to find around here. These little heart healthy cookie bites look delicious @birdsinparadise.
lol, I got them at a discount store for little $$ They're nice to have around. I know it's tough to find stuff where you are, but your fruits and veggie are quite plentiful right? Hey have you tried those little paper cups with popsicle sticks to make popsicles? Or even an ice cube trays, woot that would workk :) These little cookies were gone before I could get to them, you're the best @puravidaville :) Enjoy the weekend in paradise my friend!
They are plentiful indeed. Although, in the US we have access to all fruits and veggies all of the time. Meaning, I can buy rutabagas right next to my mangoes. Here, I can only find mangoes. Oh well, they all seem to taste a little better here.
Paper cups? I’ve trays? I haven’t thought of it… if I could get an extra large ice tray, that would work. I might try my hand at a paper cup first since I have immediate access to those. Thanks you genius chef you.
THIS is so sweet! I had no idea these classics came from a heart healthy presentation when I was in second grade. Omg I love it!! 💗🥰💞 love you mama and so glad you are eating so healthy and sharing the health! Hilarious to be reminded of the infomercial 😂💜
hehe I wondered when you would see this one :)
hehe I wondered if you would see this one! I still chuckle thinking about all of the wisdom you bestowed on me at such a young age...actually you still do! I love you so much, so proud of you! I ran across the drawing not too long ago, I'm not sure if I gave it to you or still have it here. Precious treasures for sure!
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Well Mrs. Bird. I was wondering about that recipe from teacher, lol. I knew there is no one that could have healthier one than you. And delicious too!!! But the stories are lovely nevertheless, especially the one about that night cream, lol. If I only have the money now that I spent on those creams back in the day, lol. Anyway, now I just wish I could have couple of your delicious treats I am would be happy 💖😊💖
lol, I know, how many of those creams have we bought? Too many that is for sure. I have to say I laughed out loud when she said that to me. She was so earnest too. I didn't buy that cream but I did buy the dehydrator! Your little grandsons would like these chocolate treats ...and as my daughter assured me, they''re heart healthy :) Thank you my dear Lena (I'm sure your little guys have lots of wisdom to share with their amazing grandmother!)
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Hahaha, this is that kind of recipe when I eat half of the batter before filling the mold :D So difficult to resist!
Did you get that cream that would bring you amazing results over night? Lol. She is so funny :) I'm sure she was totally serious when she was telling you that.. kids are so adorable..how do you like your dehydrator? I'm thinking to get one for ages.. but somehow I'm still not convinced..
Have a good day!
You are so correct @delishtreats. I love that about kids, their honesty is so amazing. She was so earnest about her desire to share important information which would make my life better all the time, lol btw she is still like that, lol As for the dehydrator....I LOVE it. I am on my 3rd one over the years. I use it for so many things and now that I have a grandson I have to work on those fruit rollups! He will love those :) You're great with your kind comment, thank you my friend!
Tiny and tasty snacks, yep I love it! :)
Yep, just a bite is all you need :) Thanks so much @gabrielatravels, these would be great on your travel days!
I have no doubt about it! :)
Yummy!
The friends seemed to think so as they didn't last long, lol Thanks @proanima, I appreciate your kind words :)
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