Breakfast Toppings & Raw Cookies

Today I decided to jazz up my green smoothie! I wanted a little crunch/chew, but I also wanted my greens. Easy! Pour my drink in a bowl, add some fun toppings, and enjoy with a spoon.

Organic corn flakes (don't shoot! I know corn flakes are considered empty calories, but at least they are organic and sugar free), unsweetened coconut shreds, and cacao nibs.

YUM, YUM, and oh, so fun! I loved eating breakfast with a spoon. I know I'll be doing this regularly. Oo, my mind is buzzing with topping ideas!

I realized a few days ago that I haven't made a raw dessert in sometime. I have raw almonds in my cupboards that magically have gone untouched for over a month. This is amazing people! I'm more likely to eat nuts by the handful then wait to use it in a recipe. Something about almonds though....lately I haven't been so excited about them.  I find them a little too hard on the jaw. Maybe I should blame it on all these smoothies that are giving me no jaw exercise. Should I be concerned that only 2-3 almonds is enough to make my jaw tired?

Anyway, it was time I used them. Whats a jaw friendly way to eat almonds? Processed almonds to a fine powder and make into cookies :). Oh, yeah!
These were the best raw almond cookies I've made up until now! Coconut oil and cinnamon makes everything taste good. EVERYTHING!

I should have waited to take photos in the morning to get natural light, but I couldn't wait to dig into these as soon as they hardened, so kitchen lightening will have to suffice.

I admit, I went a little over board with the coconut oil. It ended up being a bit of waste as the oil was oozing out of the dough while I was forming the cookies. I squeezed some oil out because almonds are oily as is, but the coconut oil makes everything harden beautifully in the fridge! Oh, and did I mention it also makes everything taste good?

Ingredients 

• 1 cup raw almonds
• 1/2 cup raisins
• 1/4 cup shredded coconut
• 1 heaping tsp cinnamon
• 1 tbsp agave syrup
• 2 tbsp melted coconut oil (I'd make these again with only 1 or 3/4 tbsp)
• dash of salt

 Processed the first 3 ingredients in a food processor until everything was very fine. Had to stop and scrap down the sides occasionally.  I wanted my almonds pretty smooth so I processed for a couple of minutes. Added the rest of the ingredients and process to mix. It could have easily been mixed by hand as well. I tested the "dough" by pinching it with my fingers. I know its ready when it sticks together.
Formed into misshapen cookies. I actually wanted balls, but that wasn't working out for me and I was too impatient to let it sit in the fridge for a couple of minutes to harden.
After forming cookies, I placed them into the freezer for around 30mins while we ate dinner. I transferred the cookies to the fridge as they were already pretty hard at this point.

MMMM........cinnamon almond coconut cookies. DIVINE! I loved the taste the raisins gave off without being overly sweet.  My next challenge is to use the rest of my almonds to make almond butter!

Wish me luck!