No Bake Energy Bites

Normally, the battle to eat health food is a losing battle. The siren call of sweet treats is steady and constant. But with these little no-bake energy bites, you get the best of both worlds! These chewy little cookie bites are packed with so many good-for-you things, with a few chocolate chips...but, hey! Chocolate is good for you, too, these days! 

No Bake Energy Bites [click to print]
Makes about 24 bites


1 c. oatmeal
1 c. coconut flakes
1/2 c. peanut butter
1/2 c. chocolate chips
1/2 c. ground flaxseed
1/3 c. honey
1 tsp. vanilla
1 tsp. cinnamon

Combine all ingredients in large bowl and mash with your hands until everything is well combined. Chill for 1 hour. Scoop into 1" balls and enjoy! Store in airtight container in fridge for up to a week...if they last that long!


Source: Slightly adapted from Smashed Peas and Carrots

Sweet Sixteen: Bar Cookies

After so much cookie cuttering, dough ball rolling and batter scooping, I still crave something sweet...but a little less time intensive. Take a look at this week's photo round up and bake a batch. Cut them into small squares for a crowd or cut a big bite for yourself!

Row 1: Snickerdoodle Blondies, Molasses Spice Bars, Coconut Macadamia Nut Bars, Cranberry Lemonade Bars

Row 2: Cookies and Cream Cheesecake, Nutella No Bake, Chocolate Peppermint Sticks, S'mores Brownies

Row 3: Kitchen Sink Cookies and Bars, Chocolate Peppermint Bark, Key Lime Bars, Italian Rainbows

Row 4: Peanut Butter Caramel Shortbread Bars, South African Munchies, M&M Sugar Cookie Bars, Cookie Bar Trees

Creepy Crawly Cookies

I can't believe September is over already and we're already into the holiday season! And yes, Halloween most definitely counts as part of that. I'm so excited! I already know what I'm gonna be for Halloween, but I can't tell yet. Shh, it's a secret! 

But since I'm sure you're dying to know, here's a hint: I have a history of awesome. Two years ago, I was being eaten by a snake. Then last year, I was a Tornado. And that's my sister being a cute flower.

So while you wait with baited breath to find out how I will be cleverly disguised this year, get excited with some Halloween deliciousness!

I decided to start off this sugar-filled season with one of my all-time favorite treats. Gummie cookies. You may recognize them as no-bakes, but in my house they were always Gummie Cookies. My mom's gramma always made them and everyone called her "Gummie", hence the name. These aren't just any ordinary Gummie Cookies, though. These are creepy, crawly Halloween Gummie Cookies. Oh, yeah, these are spiders!

Before you make the cookies, you'll want to make the spider legs...you'll need a few packs of Pocky Sticks, found in the Asian/Ethnic section of the grocery store or online, and 1/2 bag of chocolate chips. Each box of pocky sticks makes about 6 spiders, each spider having 8 legs. Melt the chocolate chips in the microwave in 15 second intervals, stirring between nukes. Once the chocolate chips are melted, put them in a ziploc sandwich baggy and snip off a small corner. This is your glue. Cut pocky sticks diagonally in half and glue together with a dab of melted chocolate. Allow legs to harden.

Gummie Cookies   [click to print]

1/2 c. butter (or margarine)

1/2 tsp. vanilla

1/2 c. peanut butter

4 T. cocoa*

2 c. sugar

1/2 c. milk

3-1/2 c. oatmeal (quick)

Melt margarine. Add all but oatmeal. Stirring constantly, bring to a boil and boil for 1 minute. Stir in oatmeal. Drop on wax paper (or cookie sheet). *Note: If you prefer plain peanut butter gummie cookies, my personal fave, just leave out the cocoa powder!

While cookies are still warm and soft, insert 8 previously assembled appendages into each body and chill. Add eyeballs; you can use candy eyes or little dots of brightly colored frosting. Here I opted for the frosting peepers. Eat up before they crawl away!

Source: Inspired by Not Martha