15 | May | 2011 | Live. Learn. Love. Eat.

I hope that you are having a great weekend! I know we are! The rides came to town this weekend, which is a big deal for our small town and something this motorcycle momma had been waiting for a long time.

Rides are such a big deal to kids! Autumn kept reminding me all week before going off to school, “Don’t go without me!” When the day finally came, they were just beaming and repeatedly asking is it 5:00 yet? Even I wanted it to be 5:00 already!

This was also Kesa’s fist time going on any rides. I can’t believe how grown up she is getting! Craig and I both thought that she wouldn’t like it at all. Her first ride was ‘The Crazy Train’.

She didn’t look too impressed to me. Autumn however, appears to be in her glory!

I was surprised that despite that unimpressed look on her face, Kesa loved The Crazy Train and begged for more. So it was on to ‘the boatie ride.’

Then the tanks.

And the swings.

Finally, we all went on the faris wheel. Autumn with Craig and me with Kesa. It was so sweet. Kesa liked to be way up high.

We had a lot of fun and then it was time to go home and have a movie night. Craig and I watched The Guardian with Kevin Costner and Ashton Kutcher. I really like that movie! The girls had fun watching The Parent Trap and of course we all had to have a snack. Since it has been so cold out these last few days (and because I am an addict) cookies it was!

I have been on a healthy cookie kick these days coming up with recipes that are delicious and nutritious to feed my family and my growing baby. I think that growing up with a mom that always bakes homemade cookies is something that they will never forget. I love baking and they love ‘helping’, even if that only means eating the cookie dough and licking the spatulas. These are memories I will always treasure!

Anytime Almond Cookies

A perfect sweet treat that you can feel good about having anytime!

Makes 24 cookies

Ingredients

2 cups unsalted roasted almonds (plus 24 for garnish)
2 cups whole wheat flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon fine sea salt
2/3 cup pure maple syrup
2/3 cup sunflower oil
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350°F and line two baking sheets with parchment paper. Place the 2 cups roasted almonds in a food processor and process until coarsely ground. Remove the ground almonds from the food processor and place them in a medium mixing bowl. Add the flour, baking powder, baking soda and sea salt. Sift the dry ingredients together then add the maple syrup, sunflower oil and vanilla. Mix until combined.

Roll the cookies into walnut-size balls and drop onto the baking sheet. Press the cookies down slightly with your hands then place a whole roasted almond into the center of each cookie. Bake for 8-10 minutes, until very lightly browned.