CHOCOLATE BLACK BEAN SMOOTHIE

CHOCOLATE BLACK BEAN SMOOTHIE
You would never know there are black beans in here. So good. Even Abagail would drink some of it.

I doubled the recipe.  We all had plenty with some leftover.  I added cooked oatmeal to the leftovers and added some more spinach for breakfast the  next day.  Yum!  I think pumpkin would be a really good addition to this as well.

Put all the ingredients in a blender

1 frozen banana
1 cup frozen cauliflower (you can use fresh but it might not completely blend up as well) - I used spinach because I didn't have any frozen cauliflower
1/2 cup black beans
1-2 medjool dates, pitted (didn't have any on hand so used some blue agave maybe 1 T)
1 cup almond of other plant based milk
1 T hemp seeds or flax seed meal or chia seeds
1 T cocoa powder (I used dark)
1 tsp or less of cinnamon

Can sprinkle cocoa nibs over the top if desired.  Could also top with dairy free spray whip as well but not necessary.

LEVAIN BAKERY

Fun post to read about cookies:
http://www.modernhoney.com/levain-bakery-dark-chocolate-peanut-butter-chip-cookies/

LEVAIN BAKERY DARK CHOCOLATE COOKIES
I enjoyed reading the post about these cookies.  Abagail is on a real kick about making cookies all by herself.  These were a little hard for her to do by herself so I helped a little.  They are seriously so yummy!  The dough is really good too.  It will be a long time until we make them again because they are so yummy!  I couldn't stay out of them.  We didn't have quite enough peanut butter chips so used some semi sweet chips.

A copycat recipe of everyone's favorite Levain Bakery Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Chip Cookie. It will knock your socks off!

Author: Melissa Stadler, Modern Honey

Recipe type: Cookies

Serves: 8

INGREDIENTS

• 1 cup Cold Butter, cut into small cubes
• 1 cup Brown Sugar
• ½ cup Sugar
• 2 Eggs
• ½ cup Dark Baking Cocoa
• 1 cup Cake Flour, sifted 
• 1½ cup All-Purpose Flour
• 1 teaspoon Cornstarch
• ¾ teaspoon Baking Soda
• ½ teaspoon Salt
• 1⅓ cup Peanut Butter Chips

1. Preheat oven to 410 degrees.
2. In large bowl, cream together cold butter and sugars until light and fluffy, about 4 minutes. Add eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition.
3. Add cocoa, cake flour, all-purpose flour, cornstarch, baking soda, and salt and stir until combined. Stir in peanut butter chips (or can substitute chocolate chips).
4. Chill dough for 10 minutes.
5. Separate dough into large balls and place on lightly colored cookie sheet. Lightly press on top of dough to smooth out. They are bigger than you think! You will fit 4 cookies on one large cookie sheet. The dough makes 8 extra large cookies.
6. Bake for 8-11 minutes or until golden brown on the top. Let them rest for at least 10 minutes to set.

LEVAIN BAKERY CHOCOLATE CHIP CRUSH COOKIES

http://www.modernhoney.com/levain-bakery-chocolate-chip-crush-cookies/

Yum!  We made 12 big cookies.  We didn't add the walnut, but I really wanted to because I think it would make them even better.

• 1 cup Cold Butter, cut into small cubes
• 1 cup Brown Sugar
• ½ cup Sugar
• 2 Eggs
• 1½ cups Cake Flour*
• 1½ cups Flour
• 1 teaspoon Cornstarch
• ¾ teaspoon Baking Soda
• ¾ teaspoon Salt
• 2 cups Chocolate Chips
• 2 cups Walnuts, roughly chopped
• *can substitute all-purpose flour for cake flour

1. Preheat oven to 410 degrees.
2. In large mixing bowl, cream together cold cubed butter, brown sugar, and sugar for 4 minutes or until creamy.
3. Add eggs, one at a time, mixing well after each one.
4. Stir in flours, cornstarch, baking soda, and salt. Mix until just combined to avoid overmixing. Stir in chocolate chips and walnuts.
5. Separate dough into large balls and place on lightly colored cookie sheet. They are bigger than you think! You will fit 4 cookies on one large cookie sheet. The dough makes 8 extra large cookies.
6. Bake for 9-12 minutes or until golden brown on the top. Let them rest for at least 10 minutes to set.