The Mason Jar Cookie Company

Balance is something that is super important to me. I eat "healthy" food the majority of the time, but I absolutely indulge in treats here and there. And if we are being honest, cookies are like my absolute favorite treat or dessert. 

So when I heard about The Mason Jar Cookie Company, I was SO game. They sell mason jars filled with all the dry ingredients necessary to make the cookie flavor of your choosing. They come in the cutest packaging with easy step by step directions. They also have a ton of different mixes. Whether you want something traditional or for a specific event or holiday, they've got you covered with their creative flavors.

I got two different flavors, Blueberries and Cream and Oatmeal Chip Cookie, and made the Oatmeal Chip Cookies this weekend. They were super easy to make. I poured the contents of the jar into a bowl and mixed it together with my hands, declumping any clumps. I mixed together the other ingredients, butter, vanilla, and an egg, in a separate bowl, and then I combined the two bowls, mixing thoroughly with my hands. 

Next I just scooped tablespoon-sized cookie dough balls, and arranged them on a greased baking sheet. The mix should yield 24 cookies, but I may or may not have been a bit heavy handed with my scoops. So I ended up with 18 bigger cookies. 

Next I tossed the pan into a preheated oven for 12 minutes, and I had myself some seriously delicious cookies. 

I followed their spacing recommendation but didn't take into account that I made my cookie dough balls much bigger than a tablespoon, so my cookies cooked into each other. But they were easily separated with a spatula and still absolutely delicious. 

I wanted to eat them all, but I decided to be nice and shared them with my family. They were a HUGE hit! Everyone loved them. They were the perfect combination of an oatmeal cookie and a chocolate chip cookie. 

So would I recommend The Mason Jar Cookie Company? Uh duh! Not only are the jars adorable, but the cookies are absolutely delicious! The directions are easy to follow, and they could make a baker out of the person in your life who won't step foot in the kitchen. They'd honestly be such a wonderful gift  for any occasion or just a good buy when you want to treat yourself. Definitely go check them out here!

20 PB&J Recipes That'll Have You Skipping the Sandwich

You guys, it's National Peanut Butter and Jelly Day! Yes, you read that right. The day adults and kids alike can enjoy because, lets be honest, who doesn't love PB&J? 

Growing up, PB&J was a staple in my house. It was packed for lunch as a kid, and I think I actually craved it more as I got older. The comfort of the salty peanut butter mixed with sweet jelly, nothing really compares. So, clearly, today is a day to celebrate! And what better way to do that than with a roundup of some of the most delicious and mostly non-traditional PB&J recipes I could find courtesy of some of my favorite blogging babes!

A Twist on the Traditional

Peanut Butter and Jelly Toast by EATS2KNOW

For You Oat Lovers

Photo by Food Parsed

Peanut Butter and Chia Jelly Overnight Oats by Leah's Plate

Peanut Butter & Jelly Overnight Oats by Running in a Skirt

PB&J Overnight Oats by The Curly Cucumber

PB&J Overnight Oats by Food Parsed

Shakin' Things Up

Photo by Paleo Crumbs

PB and J Smoothie Bowl by Nutrition Starring YOU

P.B. & J Smoothie by Paleo Crumbs

PB & J Protein Shake by A Fit Philosophy 

On to the Baked Goods

PB&J Muffins by Kay the Fitness Foodie

Healthy, Gluten Free, & No Sugar Added "Grown Up" PB&J Tarts by Southern In Law

Gluten & Dairy Free PB&J Oat Muffins with Homemade Chia Seed Jam by Crumb On.

Other Breakfast Options

Photo by Emilie Eats

Gluten Free Peanut Butter and Mixed Berry Waffles by All Roads Lead to Healthy 

Peanut Butter and Jelly Stuffed Pancakes (Vegan + Whole Wheat) by Emilie Eats

Snacks, Sides, and Other PB&J Fun

Photo by A Whisk and Two Wands

PB&J Hummus by A Whisk and Two Wands

Low-Fat PB & J Bites (Vegan, Sugar Free, Gluten Free) by Healthy Helper 

PB&J Stuffed French Toast Skewers by rachLmansfield 

Did You Think I'd Forget Dessert?

Photo by Love Me, Feed Me

PB&J Frozen Greek Yogurt Bark by Athletic Avocado

Paleo Almond Butter and Jelly Fudge (Vegan, Gluten Free) by Fitful Focus

PB&J Cups by Love Me, Feed Me

Healthy PB&J Frozen Yogurt by Let's Get Living

Cocoa Couriers

Last week I had the pleasure of receiving my first Cocoa Couriers box. I intended to post about the box when I received and opened it, but then I thought it made more sense to wait until I tried each of the chocolates inside. So here we are a week later, and I have taste tested each of them. It was a tough job, but someone had to do it! All jokes aside, it just seemed like it made more sense so that I could give a full recap of my experience.

Before I get started on the actual product, I'm sure some of you must be thinking, "But chocolate's not healthy!" Firstly, I am a HUGE believer in balance. I do not restrict myself, and I think most foods are okay in moderation. That being said, good quality, high in cacao, dark chocolate actually is healthy. I didn't eat all of these bars in one sitting. I didn't even eat one bar in a sitting. That really isn't how it's meant to be enjoyed. The main point is that a few pieces of good quality chocolate are far from bad for you (and arguably they have added health benefits). These specific bars are all made from good quality cacao and have minimal ingredients. I'll give you a bit more background.

 Cocoa Couriers is a monthly box subscription that delivers organic, fair trade chocolate right to your door. The bars are all hand made by small companies from around the world. So why does it matter that they're fairly traded? The majority of the world's cacao comes from South Africa and is sourced through conglomerates that pay farmers very little for their crops. This small amount of money leads to high amounts of illegal child labor. The makers featured in Cocoa Couriers boxes all source their cacao from other sources and some work directly with the farmers. The farmers are paid a premium, and the makers receive a higher quality bean resulting in a rich, flavorful chocolate. Now onto the box. 

So when I received my box, I opened it (obviously). It was beautifully wrapped, and had four different chocolates inside along with a monthly selection card.

This card breaks down each chocolate inside. It gives you a quick, basic 3-term description over on the left (i.e. Dark, Fruity, Strong). To the right it lists the maker, chocolate bar name, factory, bean source, longer description, and pairing suggestions. I love good quality, dark chocolate, but if I'm being honest, I don't know much about it. Having all of this information, especially a pairing guide, is really valuable for someone like me. 

So now onto the chocolate...

Brasstown Blueberry was the first bar that I tried. I don't love throwing around the word favorite, but it was probably my favorite.  It was the highest percent cacao of the four, and I just really love darker, high cacao chocolate so that may be a bit biased. It was a rich dark chocolate with hints of sweet from the blueberry pieces, and it was 100% delicious. On the back it has a little blurb about the company, lists the cacao source, and has a (short) ingredient list. I didn't listen to the pairing recommendation (why I do not know because I love merlot), but I instead just ate some of it alone. This may be against craft chocolate etiquette, but I also used some in a waffle recipe. They were AMAZING, and the chocolate was the star.

Next was Madecasse Toasted Coconut. Just look at that thing! It speaks for itself. Also high in cacao, this chocolate was delicious. Can you really go wrong with chocolate and coconut? The back of the package has a large section about Madagascar, the source of the cacao and the coconut. The creators of the company were peace corps volunteers there, and they fell in love with the people and the country. They started making this chocolate as a vehicle for social impact which is pretty darn amazing if you ask me. There's also the nutriton info with (again) minimal, recognizable ingredients. I've only had a little piece of this so far,  but I think I will follow the pairing instructions this time and have some with a nice red tomorrow. 

The third bar was Dick Taylor Black-Fig. The chocolate bar itself was so beautiful, I almost felt bad breaking off a piece. But then I ate it and didn't feel bad anymore because it was SO GOOD. It was the perfect combination of a little bitterness form the dark chocolate and sweet, delicious figs. The back contains a little blurb about the company, the sources of the cacao and figs, and a very short, recognizable ingredient list. I'm tempted to save this one for St. Patrick's Day, as it pairs with an Irish/craft stout (yum).

And finally we have the Raaka Mint + Nibs bar. I don't know if everyone loves the mint chocolate combo as much as I do, but this bar is really to die for. Such a delicious combo, and the taste is perfectly smooth. The back talks about how their chocolate is made, this specific bar, and the farmers they partner with and why. There's also a nice, short ingredient list. This one pairs well with coffee and hot chocolate, so you know that will be happening ASAP.

So how did I enjoy my experience with cocoa couriers overall? I honestly loved it. If I could picture what I'd want out of a chocolate bar box, they literally nailed it. Every bar is so different, yet so desirable. I also love that it's all organic. You can read and recognize every ingredient in every bar and find out exactly where the ingredients came from. Plus knowing that they're fairly traded and that farmers are being fairly compensated is a great thing. I think this box is perfect for anyone who loves chocolate, wants to know where their food is coming from (which should be everybody), and believes in supporting good, quality companies. I would absolutely recommend Cocoa Couriers, and if you're interested in trying a box, feel free to click here.

I'm Running a Half Marathon?!

Growing up I seriously SUCKED at running. I couldn't even run a mile. I dreaded that time of year when we would have to run the mile in gym class. It was embarrassing, and I hated sweating. Really, I hated working out in general, but running was like the ultimate hell. 

College came, I gained the freshmen (at least) 15, and as a result I actually started to get into working out a bit. But all I really did was cardio, specifically the elliptical. Towards the end of college I started running with one of my roommates from time to time. The endurance I gained from the elliptical somewhat translated into running short distances. My heart could handle it, the legs not so much. But I built it up a little over time, and perhaps we ran a mile or two at a time. 

Post-college I joined a gym and started running on the treadmill here and there. I signed up for a couple of 5ks, never running the whole thing, but I probably could have. I could definitely run like 3 miles...on a treadmill.  

In the summer of 2014, I decided I wanted to really get into running. I don't know why exactly, but it was a challenge. It was something I had never really been able to do well. Plus it was a way to exercise without necessarily having to go to the gym. 

I started running outside every few days building up from 3 miles to 4 to 5 and improving my time. I really ran a lot that summer and fall. I tried to keep it going even as it got cold. I headed to the dreaded treadmill, but it got the best of me. I slowly started to avoid it, and fell of the bandwagon. Every so often over the past year or so (especially in nice weather) I would run. I could still do about 5 miles depending on sleep, eating, etc.

Over all of this time half marathons have come into my head. I've seen people sign up for them. I've thought, hey, maybe I could actually do that. But then I'd shove that idea right back where it came from. But one day I randomly got to talking with my friend, Jocelyn, who has actually run a half marathon before, and we threw the idea around. But then, in typical fashion, I avoided it.

Last week I turned 27, and I decided that this is the year I'm going to challenge myself. I texted my friend, and we actually signed up for a half marathon. I filled out the form, sent it in, and paid the money. There's no going back now. 

At first I was excited, and then the OH SHIT moment hit. How am I going to run 13.1 miles? Is that physically possible for me? I'm 8 weeks out and starting a 10 week training program 2 weeks late. Can I do this? What do I eat? Do I have to drink/eat while I run? What if I have to go to the bathroom? I start googling EVERYTHING which leads to more panic. And then I stop.

Breathe. I can do this. I couldn't even run a single mile, and now I can run 5+ at this point. I have 8 weeks which is basically 2 months. I can already run more than the max run on the first 2 weeks of training.

I went out for a run on Saturday, and ran 6 miles and felt like I could keep going. I CAN DO THIS. I think. I'm honestly still a bit panicked, but I think I might be able to actually do this. This is my first full week of training with 7 additional weeks to follow and then the big day. 

I'm nervous but excited. I just don't really know exactly what to expect or what I should do leading up to and during it, but I am all ears. I would love love LOVE to hear any advice, stories, anything about your experiences with half marathons, marathons, 5ks, running in general. Comments are SO welcome below, or feel free to shoot me a message!

Farm to Gold Ghee

I was somewhat recently introduced to Ayurveda, an ancient system of holistic healing from India. I only learned some of the basics, but I always love to hear about different ideas on holistic health. Right around the same time I came across Farm to Gold Ghee. Ghee is a big staple in Ayurveda, so it almost felt like I was meant to give it a try. 

A brief little blurb about ghee - ghee is a healthy fat made from butter. It is cooked to remove all the milk solids, water, and impurities, leaving a lactose-free, casein-free, shelf stable cooking oil. It is great as a cooking oil or as a spread on anything really. For more info about ghee, specifically Farm to Gold Ghee, click here.

So I decided to give this ghee a try. I started using it in the place of olive or coconut oil. I cooked vegetables, eggs, French toast, you name it in this ghee. So what did I think? It was wonderful! It seriously opens up a whole new world of taste! Sauteed veggies were now infinitely better. Fried eggs were so tasty! It really truly added a whole new, delicious flavor dimension. 

Who would I recommend ghee to? Everyone honestly. It is delicious, and I really can't imagine someone not liking it. It's paleo-friendly, lactose-free, and just overall healthy. The only people who wouldn't want it are vegans because it is still an animal product, but it is the perfect fit for most ways of eating out there. I really recommend giving it a try!