Sunday, July 4, 2010

Weekend & Vegan Almond Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies

Friday night: Dinner our with Mandi (with a Martini):

P1090158

and Bryan at Liberty Tap Room. I got the Hawaiian salad sans chicken plus avocado

P1090161 Saturday morning: Taught Body Step then off to brunch. J got the red, white, and blue parfait (minus the blue, as he isn’t a blue berry fan) and I got my same old:

P1090162 P1090163

Saturday Afternoon: We went to the pool with Mandi & Bryan and then I spent the rest of the day catching up around the house and baking. First up, Vegan Almond Butter Chocolate Chip cookies for my cousins for their birthdays. I used 1 tsp vanilla vs.. 1/2 tsp vanilla & 1/2 tsp almond extract:

P1090164

P1090168

So yum. I also made up some granola for my Dad and Mandi & Bryan:

P1090173

For dinner, Josh & I fired up the grill again. I put some London Broil in this marinade for him and then cooked up some sweet potato & carrot and white potato foil packets. The veggies were covered in a little oil and this spice (disclaimer: Garlic & Herb Mrs. Dash that the company sent me for free to try).

P1090179

The outcomes: 

P1090187 P1090182

We also had big bowls of water melon (I topped mine with yogurt and granola too):

P1090171

Now we’re headed up to my Aunt & Uncle’s house for a BBQ/Birthday party. I am bringing a simple appetizer, fruit, nuts, cheese & Dr. Krakers:

 P1090191

HAPPY FOURTH!!!!!!

I have a feeling Frank, like Murphy, will spend most of today sleeping ;)

P1090190

52 comments:

Jessica @ How Sweet said...

Happy 4th of July girl!!

Unknown said...

Happy 4th of July! Those cookies look SO good!

Tiffany @ The Chi-Athlete said...

Happy 4th, honey bunny!

Jessie (Bites and Pieces) said...

That Hawaiian salad looks delicious! So do the cookies of course. :) Have a very happy 4th!

Kelsey Ann said...

Mandie and a Martini haha love it, she goes very well with that ;)

amazing that u got some delicious baking in! and chocolate chip COOKIES non-the-less! <3

Unknown said...

happy 4th :) everything looks delicious here, but i'm off to check the recipe for those cookies!

Stacey said...

Happy 4th of July, gorgeous appetizer platter. Those are some amazing looking cookies.

Melissa @ For the Love of Health said...

Everything looks so good, Erica! :-) I always enjoy your food photos!

Molly said...

Um, I'm seriously making those cookies. Right. this. second. They look amazing!

lynn said...

gorgeous platter you're bringing! happy 4th!

Megan D said...

Officially saving this cookie recipe! They look great! And the parfaits look so pretty as well. I love the sleepy puppy photo! How cute are sleeping dogs?!

tam said...

Those cookies look delish! Hope you've had a fun weekend x x

Jessica said...

Happy 4th!!!! I love that platter - you absolutely cannot go wrong with fruit cheese & crackers!

Those cookies look really yummy too.

Nicole @ Geek Turned Athlete said...

Happy Fourth!! It looks like you have the eats down! Your parfaits always look amazing. ;)

Ally's Sweet and Savory Eats said...

Those cookies look amazing!

Lauren said...

Sounds like a great 4th weekend! The vegan cookies sound awesome. I actually baked a vegan dessert this weekend too! Girl, you would have been so proud of me! ;)

Enjoy the rest of your weekend love.

Faith @ LovelyAsCharged said...

You know, I'd never have thought to put almond butter in cookies. Why not I'll never know...but you can bet I'll be doing it soon!

Averie @ Averie Cooks said...

oh those cookies look divine!!! What lucky friends who get to partake :)

Have been thinking about you this weekend and sending happy vibes your way :)

Have a super 4th (what remains!)
xxo

BroccoliHut said...

Beautiful appetizer plate!! Can I come to your next party?

Vicky said...

I hope you had a great weekend!!

Anonymous said...

I have never been to a restaurant that serves brunch like that. It just always looks so great on your blog. Your smile looks great too; happy 4th- happiness being key
Katherine

CaSaundraLeigh said...

A Hawaiian salad sounds heavenly..I might have to recreate something like that for work! And I love how you always make granola for gifts--so thoughtful + healthy!

stephanie @cookinfanatic said...

I love that fruit/cheese platter, yum!

Jessica said...

Happy 4th to you! Hope you had a great weekend!
I love that you make your own granola, and also that you bake for other people so often.

K from ksgoodeats said...

Your salad from Friday sounds delightful! I hope you guys had a great Fourth!! Is Frank afraid of fireworks? My poor puppers always go into hiding when they hear them. Our chocolate lab used to climb onto someone's lap and start shaking, haha! Poor thing!

Hope you had a lovely holiday filled with plenty of those amazing vegan cookies :)

Lindsay @ http://pancakesnpajamas.blogspot.com/ said...

Hey Girlie! Can you believe it took me a second to get who J is!?!? My brain must be having some delays from all of the excitement. The crowd at PP was insane last night. It was seriously a sea of people walking down the street. Molly is passed out in the middle of the living room! :)

Krista said...

I love Mrs Dash products! My cupboard is filled with spice blends including the one in this post. My hub has high blood pressure so it's great the these have no added salt. :)

Sounds like you've been having some fun! I'm gonna check out the cookie recipe, although if I get caught with the oven on in this heat my hubby might kill me! LOL!!

Heather said...

Those cookies look ridiculous!! YUM!
Hope you had a good 4th - stay cool!

Beth @ DiningAndDishing said...

Happy Fourth to you too! I am loving the look of those cookies! Makes me hungry :)

She-Fit said...

Happy belated 4th of July!
Those cookies look A-Mazing! I have to make these today. . . good thing I have the day off :)

Paige (Running Around Normal) said...

Happy fourth of July! Glad you were able to still sneak your brunch parfait in:)

Paige (Running Around Normal) said...

Happy fourth of July! Glad you were able to still sneak your brunch parfait in:)

HEAB said...

Erica,
You are always baking the best goodies for others. Those chocolate chip cookies look like little round balls of love. I want your salad with avocado and your yogurt parfait..OK, the granola and cheese/fruit plate looks really good too. Hmm, definitely time for some lunch!

So sad you guys couldn't make it to Nashville, but it looks like you had a good weekend! Will you be here anytime this Fall? I hope so!

fittingbackin said...

Happy 4th! Those cookies look amazing! Sounds like a super fun weekend with great food and great friends!

Lot-O-Choc said...

oh wow those cookies look so good, hope you had a good 4th of july.

Autumn @Good Eats Girl said...

Sounds like a great 4th!! Your parfaits look amazing!

Julie said...

happy 4th (belated) girl!! i'm inviting you to next years bbq but ONLY if you bring those cookies, your parfait skilz and and snack plate that looks like that :) you're such a good guest! slash hostess haha

Esi said...

Hope you had an amazing weekend!

Miz said...

we rocked our 4th like it was the 1950s :)

little neighborhood parade and a steam train ride.

and no martinis.

mama needed a martini after---does that count? :)

Naomi(Onefitfoodie) said...

haha omg frank!!! what a cutie pie! sounds like you had a perfect weekend!! I told you in perspn and I still will tell you via the internet that I want that i want to try that parfait!!! it always looks so darn good!

I am so glad you had a nice fourth!!

xoxoxo

The Blonde Duck said...

I hope you had a good 4th!

Pining for Pinterest said...

I hope you have a wonderful week!!

Maria said...

Glad you had a nice weekend. Wish I had your parfait for breakfast right now:)

Anonymous said...

I've gotta try that cookie recipe!

Angharad said...

I know what I'm eating if I ever come to Charleston - those parfaits just sound so good right now in this heat! Hope your party was great!

Bridget said...

Hope you had a great long weekend!! The Frankster would be dying in the heat up here, its ridiculous!
Those cookies look soooo good, I'll have to make them once it's not so hot anymore. theres no way I'm turning the oven on :)

Anonymous said...

happy belated 4th to you girlie :D

those cookies look killer! i would have been all over them - i bet there were a huge success!

Vicky said...

I just wanted to let you know that I really like your blog, so you have been granted the Sunshine Award! you can go to my blog to see the link!! Enjoy the rest of the week!

Michelle said...

I love body step :)
And that dog is adorable!!

Anonymous said...

Those cookies look delish!! Any tips for GF conversion?? I would just trade out the flour for GF baking mix :-)

I LOOOOVE cheese and fruit as an appetizer/dinner/dessert!! I just recently tried Almond Cheez and was pleasantly surprised! (dairy/gluten free, and vegan) Ever tried it!?

~Alyssa

Priyanka@thehealthydiary said...

The chocolate chip cookies look so good.Love your little pug!

Maytina said...

I love the way your cookies hold their shape! Cute! I'm a huge fan of granola with yogurt and fruit, especially when it's too hot to even think about turning on the oven.