Healthier Coconut M&M Cookies

Every year, my school does this thing called "J-Term" (short for January Term) where for the month of January we just take one class. It's pretty cool... If you get a good class. This year, mine was Weight Training and Nutrition. Overall, it wasn't too bad. There wasn't a lot of work, but in some ways that was bad because there was zero structure to the class. But we did learn a little bit about nutrition, so I started looking up different healthy recipes to make. I found a lot of healthy real food, but real food gets kind of boring after a while, you know? 

Eventually I stumbled across these cookies on Imma Eat That and thought they were perfect. And because we had some lovely coconut M&M's sitting around in the pantry just waiting to be used, I made these pretty quickly one day on impulse. Impulse bakes (is that the right word? bakings? baking sessions?) are normally the best bakes, in my experience. And these didn't prove me wrong.

Super Bowl Snackage: Broncos Popcorn and Seahawks Cheesecakes

Maybe it's just me, but when you say "Super Bowl," I don't think, "Oh yeah, that's a good game of football right there. Man, can't wait to talk about all those missed passing opportunities and first downs and TDs and missed kickoff returns. Yessir, that'll be one good game. When you combine the Broncos offense with Seahawks defense, wow, that'll be a great game to watch because the passing yardage is so much and the tackling will happen so often." (that's my imitation of every football buff ever.)

I think more along the lines of: "Yay, the Super Bowl, it'll be so much fun to sit around with my family and eat yummy snack foods while critiquing commercials and watching some football." And then I'll brainstorm for about half an hour about all the different foods I'll have the excuse to make. And honestly, I don't think I'm alone in that ;)

Reese's Stuffed Monster Cookie Cups

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Some recipes are the ripe, succulent fruits of pure inspiration. (Apple Pie Babycakes) Some recipes are the product of craving (PB&J Pretzel Swirl Brownies) or commission (Pumpkin Whoopie Pies). Some recipes are made for an occasion. (Chocolate Pumpkin Cheesecake Layer Cake) Some recipes are what happens when a "What if...?" actually reaches fruition. (Childhood Sandwich Supreme Cupcakes) And some recipes happen because you have surplus ingredients lying around leftover from previous projects that you're sick of looking at in the pantry and just want to get rid of. Irritation is the mother of invention, as they say. (Wait. That's not what they say? Oh. Well. Never mind.)

These fall into the final category.

Guinness Triple Chocolate Cupcakes

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Chocolate is like that supernice kid from school who miraculously got along just as well with the jocks as the nerds as the popular kids, who seemed to fit in effortlessly to every clique just by being so friendly and easygoing and genuine. It's weird and wonderful how many different things you can pair with chocolate. Zucchini. Chili. Beets. Avocado. (All real recipes I've seen). I once made chocolate cakelettes frosted with basil buttercream. And they were delicious. Don't believe me? Just ask my highly skeptical family members who grudgingly had to admit they were into it.

That's what I love about chocolate. Well, one of the many things. It's just so versatile, so cooperative. Such a team player. Chocolate will never let you down. It will take what ever you throw at it and run with it. Spinach? Ginger? Pepper? Go for it. The weirder the better.

Today we're pairing chocolate with beer.