Dog Days of Summer, Sunflowers, and Cookies

Minnesotan’s love to talk about the weather. I suppose that it is really no surprise, to anyone who has lived in Minnesota for any length of time, as you have probably had the experience of wearing a winter coat in the morning, a light jacket at noon, and a bathing suit by late afternoon! That is weather in Minnesota, something to talk about. My favorite time of year is the Dog Days of Summer, it is the time of year, when time actually seems to pause for a moment, and heat is your constant companion.

Dog Days of Summer are also when the Sunflower, unique, beautiful, and tasty blooms and starts to tower above the rest of nature, with it’s beautiful yellow face. Just recently on my shopping trip to Trader Joe’s, I noticed Sunbutter on the shelf and decided to give it a try. Being made from my favorite flower, I felt it had to be amazing. I must say, I was not disappointed, a little sweeter than almond butter and a bit milder than peanut butter. In other words, simply perfect.

What to do with this simply perfect Sunbutter? Perhaps just a simple dip for apples, or in your morning smoothies, then It came to me cookies….I do so love cookies! I decided to modify a recipe from one of my favorite web sites, Elana’s Pantry. Her recipe is Peanut butter and Jelly Cookies, they are so simple, yummy and quick. I hope that you will enjoy this slightly different version of Elana’s cookies.

Things you will need:

1/4 cup of Coconut oil
1/2 cup of Coconut sugar
1 egg
1/2 tsp of Almond extract
1/2 cup of Sunbutter
1 & 1/2 cups of Almond flour

*Optional, but recommended your favorite fruit preserve.

Combine the first 5 ingredients in a mixing bowl and using a hand mixer until well blended. Then slowly add the almond flour, again until well mixed.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Scoop 1 Tablespoon of cookie mix onto cookie sheet, creating small balls and pressing a thumb print in the center(for fruit preserve).

Bake approximately 7 minutes. Remove from oven and when slightly cooled, place fruit preserve in cookie center and ENJOY!

Laura Ocampo is co-owner of Power & Finesse Fitness.  She is a 4th Dan in Shotokan Karate, Yoga Instructor 200hr & 500hr, and is creator of Yoga-Bells™.  You can find her at http://www.powerandfinessefitness.com and contact her at powerfinessefitness@gmail.com.