Gingerbread Almond Butter - for the win!

When I was addicted to sugar, my blood sugar used to drop and spike all day every day. I could feel it my bones and in my brain. Terrible feelings. When I started eating clean, those swings basically disappeared and I felt like a normal person for maybe the first time ever. Every now and then, if I wait too long to eat or get out of line with my eating (too much sugar), it will happen. BUT, I have a new solution.

Let's rewind, shall we? At my last job before becoming a stay-at-home-mom, I used to go home for lunch and hit the gas station on the way back to the office; I would grab a candy bar; a 44oz DIET* soda; and some chips or another snack. Awesome, right? THAT way, if I reached that moment of blood sugar desperation I was...prepared? Now that I think of it, it was more of an "armed and dangerous" scenario. 

Now I know that if my blood sugar drops or if I just have a "need to eat" moment, a much better choice is to grab some protein! Hardboiled eggs are often my go-to, but I don't always have them ready. If my blood sugar has dropped - ain't nobody got time to boil eggs. SO, I like to have some type of natural almond or peanut butter around. Usually a spoonful brings me right back into the atmosphere and all is right again. 

The trouble with natural nut butters is this...they are seriously pricey. SERIOUSLY. I am guilty of paying $10-$12 a jar for a fancy blend. That's not really frugality, friends, which is what I aim for at the store. 

The good news is this - if you have a high-powered blender or food processor, making your own nut butter is easy! I want to share a recipe with you that I made a test-batch of earlier today. 

This recipe is meant to mimmic our favorite molasses cookies; our family loves these, but they aren't super good for you. This almond butter is a pretty tasty alternative, much healthier, too!! I am guesstimating measurements, below. Please adjust to your needs and taste preferences.

Gingerbread Almond Butter

• 1 cup roasted almonds (I roast mine for 3-4min at 350 on a cookie sheet)
• 1/4 cup fractionated/liquid coconut oil**
• 1-2 TB organic molasses 
• 2 TB pure maple syrup
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp ground cloves
• 1/2 tsp ground ginger
• 1/2 tsp sea salt/kosher salt

Follow your manufacturer's directions for making nut butters in your food processor or blender. YouTubing videos may be helpful if you've never made homemade nut butter before. It's a trial and error process and requires patience - but it is so worth it in the end!

That entire bag of almonds, at Costco, was around $13. So far I've used them in a few batches of sesame cookies, this batch of almond butter and there's still plenty left. I think this DIY almond butter will be more delicious, nutritious and cost effective than anything you can get at the store.

Now for the asterisks...

*Diet soda. I drank diet soda every day for many years - through my teenage years and into adulthood.  I would be doing you a big disservice if I didn't share this info with you. It may not be confirmed as a carcinogen - but there are plenty of other reasons to avoid it. Read on to learn more. I have experience with all of these symptoms and can vouch that this isn't media sensationalism. Switch out your soda for water, tea or 100% fruit juice. 

**Liquid coconut oil/FCO is not the same as the solid coconut oil you probably buy (not the kind I buy and use for everything from makeup remover to recipes and household cleaners); FCO stays liquid! You can use traditional coconut oil in this recipe, but the consistency will not be as nice and it will solidify in some temperatures (like the fridge). I know the health benefits of FCO are probably not as great, BUT, it's my preference. I don't like my almond butter to get...funny. 

K? 

Just FYI, I used my Vitamix 5200's dry container to mix up this batch. Use of the tamper was required. YouTube Vitamix nut butter for more detailed instructions and demo videos. I ain't no pro, the kitchen is just my favorite room in the house. 

We fixed the glitch, with a fabulous green smoothie.

We fixed the glitch. 

One of my favorite lines from office space. My husband and I quote that movie all the time.



In this post, I'm not referring to a glitch in the payroll system; I'm referring to a glitch in our kids' diets. You see, half of them (sometimes 75% of them) aren't down with the veggies. They get pushed to the side, covered up or tossed on an unsuspecting sibling's plate.

The other day, as I was taking a leisurely stroll through Costco with only two children in tow, I saw that the Zico coconut water was $4 off. I've tried coconut water before, and honestly, not impressed. However, I have heard how glorious it is in smoothies and wanted to give it a fair assessment. So, as you do at Costco, you make a commitment when you buy one of their ginormous bargains.

I was really happy to see that one serving of coconut water has as much potassium as a banana. I have super restless legs during pregnancy (annoying) and supposedly, potassium helps alleviate that. Win win. I ran some test projects through our Blend Tec and was VERY HAPPY that three of our children (one wouldn't try) LOVED the result. So, here it is...

(This makes a few decent servings)

• 1.5 c Zico coconut water
• 2 bananas
• 1-2 cups frozen pineapple
• 2-3 cups raw organic spinach
• 1/2 cup raw oats (optional)

Combine all and blend until totally smooth! 

I like smoothies with oats, but some people may not prefer that flavor or consistency. To me, that makes it a meal as opposed to a snack.

I have been making green smoothies for about four years now, but nothing has set them off as much as adding coconut water! Also? Our eight, four and two years olds approve and ask for more! That makes this mama's whole foods heart happy! I love it and it will be a staple on our shopping list from now on.