someone put bourbon in the pie

each year, me and a few special people head to Chicago to go to the Renegade Craft Fair. our time there is the welcoming of fall we all crave.  needless to say, each year i become inspired by all of the inventive people in the world. this naturally results in me buying many thing i clearly need. this year i found something that inspired more than a crafty outlook for fall, it inspired the baker i know i secretly am. Chicago's very own slice of brilliance, PIEBOX.

i mean how was a girl supposed to resist the wonderful image a piebox brings to the world!? and because i bought a box for it, and i hate to do things half heartedly, i made a pie. 

...and what does one do with a freshly baked pie and the most perfect home for it... take pictures you say? why of course! 

oh yes. the pie tasted delicious, thanks to this recipe from A Beautiful Mess Blog

xoxo

cordelia 

crumbs from my summer

summer is coming to an end, and while i love fall it makes me a little sad to say good bye to the sunshine, heat, pool and smoothies.  with a trip only a few days away i wanted to share a few bits from my summer favorites. by the time i'm return home it will be back to school and my final semester of college! woohoo!

it's always little pictures like these that make me remember how much i love life.  i try to never forget to appreciate the small stuff. i need to start slowing down to enjoy the little things so that all the big bad things don't take over my memories.  

-cordelia.

pictures: 1.2.3.Nutella Cookies. 4.Date Smoothie 5.6.Nutella Coffee Chiller

   

Sunday.

Enjoy each day as it comes.  Do not expect too much or do to little.  The time we have on earth is precious, making the most of it requires balance of work, rest and play. Happy Sunday! 

1.farm fresh eggs. 2.cinnamon iced coffee. 3.reading with my lady. 4.re-decorating my room. 5.getting new chairs for my dining room. 

Summer Food Obsessions

This summer I am looking forward to eating fresh blueberries from the farmers market,

getting eggs fresh from the farm, 

& scrumptious macaroons for garden parties with friends. 

One of my goals for the summer is to bake without using added, processed sugars.  I am looking for some healthy options for dessert like the unbelievably delicious frozen banana 'ice cream' recipe seen here

Have you heard of any delicious desserts?  I'd love to know what makes your sweet tooth craving disappear.

-cordelia-

Vegan/Gluten Free Chocolate Cherry Cookies

First off, I must say I am not vegan or gluten free.  I am simply someone who enjoys being healthy.  I choose healthy options when they are given but if there is no other choice I will choose to eat food.  I really just love food.  The girls I nanny for are both vegan and when I bake I try to keep it gluten free, hence Vegan/Gluten Free Chocolate Cherry Cookies.

 Meet the girls, and Mandy. (the cat)

 Here are the ingredients I used. (I forgot the agave in this picture) 

 My favorite part of these cookies is the sea salt.  I added a bit on top which gives it a sweet salty taste.

Ingredients:

2 3/4 cups of whole wheat flour (I used all purpose gluten free flour)
1/2 tsp sea salt
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 cup unsweetened coco powder (I used raw cacao powder)
1/2 cup grape seed oil
3/4 cup agave nectar (I used organic raw blue agave)
1 tbsp organic vanilla extract
1 cup chopped dark chocolate (I used vegan carob chips)
1 cup dried cherries (In a hurry I accidentally grabbed cranberries in this batch, not bad)

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F
Line 2 large baking sheets with parchment paper
In a large bowl combine flour, salt, baking soda, baking powder and coco powder.
In another bowl whisk together grape seed oil, agave, and vanilla.

Fold wet into dry mix and combine thoroughly.  Add cherries and chocolate

Spoon the dough into table spoon size balls onto the cookie sheets.  Press down balls and flatten (this is when I added a sprinkle of salt).  Leave about 2 inches between them for baking room.  Bake for 10-15 min or until tops are dry and cracked.

ENJOY!

PS if you are vegan, for more yummy recipes check out
Waking Up Vegan