Happy monday-almost-tuesday! I started my morning today with a pilates class at the crack of dawn, and I stand by what I wrote about loving my monday morning routine. After class today I did some power-walking hill intervals on the treadmill. I really wanted to run, but I’m still a little worried about my hip, the pain hasn’t gone away. Maybe tomorrow?
Anyway, it’s not exactly a peanut butter day, but this is a peanut butter post, featuring two very simple recipes. The first is a scaled up version of Averie’s peanut butter cups. I used to adore Reese’s, but lately I’ve tried to refrain from eating those processed sugars. And I really wanted some good dark chocolate peanut butter cups. My co-workers and friends loved these (I made extra!)
Ingredients
- 2-3 cups of vegan semi-sweet chocolate chips (works with 2c, more would be better) or other baking chocolate, divided
- 1/2 cup peanut butter
- 2 tsp nutritional yeast
- 1 tsp salt (omit if using salted PB)
- 1 Tbsp agave nectar (optional, omit if using sweetened PB)
- 1 tsp vanilla
Instructions
- Melt half of the chocolate, either in a double boiler or in the microwave (30 seconds at a time on half power, stirring in between).
- Line a standard muffin tin with baking cups.
- Spoon the melted chocolate into a thin layer in each baking cup.
- Mix the rest of the ingredient until well incorporated. You may want to heat it up in the microwave for 15-30 seconds for easier mixing. If you're worried about them all being the same size (silly, like me!), you may want to divide your filing before adding to the baking cups.
- If your filling is thicker like mine, form into small discs and place in the center of the first chocolate later.
- Melt the remaining chocolate, and spoon or pour over the filling, forming a top layer for your 'buttercups.
- Place the baking cups carefully in a muffin tin - this helps get that traditional reese's shape. Refrigerate overnight, or at least a few hours.
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Spoon the melted chocolate into a thin layer in each baking cup.
I used my trusty spoon-and-spatula combo to help with ‘even’ measurements
Mix the rest of the ingredient until well incorporated. You may want to heat it up in the microwave for 15-30 seconds for easier mixing. If you’re worried about them all being the same size (silly, like me!), you may want to divide your filing before adding to the baking cups.
If I did this again, I would melt the filling a little more to make it easier to work with.
If your filling is thicker like mine, form into small discs and place in the center of the first chocolate later.
Melt the remaining chocolate, and spoon or pour over the filling, forming a top layer for your ‘buttercups.
Eat some at home…
or even take some to work and share with friends!
Now, for recipe number two, peanut butter!
No, really.
Ingredients
- 16oz. bag (roughly 3 cups) raw spanish peanuts
- 1 Tbsp coconut oil
- 1/4 cup golden roasted flaxseed
- 1-2 tsp. cinnamon (personal preference)
- 2 tsp. vanilla extract
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Directions: roast the nuts for about 15-20 minutes at 350 degrees fahrenheit, until just underdone. peanuts will continue to cook for a bit even after being taken out of the oven. Let stand for at least 15 minutes.
Dump the ingredients into your food processor.
Process until it forms a smooth and creamy texture – about 15 minutes, stopping occasionally to scrape the sides. Feel free to add more or less oil, depending on how dry you like your nut butters. I find this one perfect.
it filled an entire ball jar!
And there was even some left in the processor for tasting.
In other news, I’m leaving Wednesday morning for a short, 5 day vacation to San Francisco and other places around the bay area. This will be my first (ever!) touring vacation alone, and I could not be more excited. But of course there are things making me nervous: how to keep up with workouts? what to eat? what food and things to bring? Tomorrow will be packing/cleaning/shopping day.
Do you have a favorite peanut butter ‘flavor’? Or prefer it just plain and simple?
I’d love some foodie/fitness travel tips, too!
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7 Responses to Peanut Butter Mondays
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Hi, I'm Rachel! I'm a 22 year old college student in New York City with a passion for staying fit, eating well, and exploring. I'm a born foodie, but like to share an occasional workout, travel, or eco living post. Thanks for stopping by! And feel free to email me at eatlearndiscover[at]gmail[dot]com.Follow Me!
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Run Tracking
My Recent Workouts
Pilates - The only workout I can do 100% pain free.
- 04/08/13,
- Core Fitness,
- 00:30
Longest run until the half. and PDR.
- 03/30/13,
- Running,
- 11.0051 miles,
- 02:06
Recovery week over!
- 03/28/13,
- Running,
- 3.0025 miles,
- 00:32
like for real- GIMME!
Oooh I love the idea of rolling the pb up all neat for the pb cups! I also think your homemade pb sounds delicious. I love flavored pb! the best part is “cleaning” the food processor after making it. Sooo good!
My best travel tip is that if you can’t find something decent on the road, just go to a supermarket and buy a bag of lettuce and some kind of topping (prechopped veggies, egg salad, beans, hummus, whatever you can find!), then toss ‘em together for a quick, healthy meal! also I always carry salt and pepper packets.. underseasoned food is gross.
thanks for the tip! never would have though of that, but sounds awesome
Don’t worry about finding healthy food in San Francisco, there are so many hippies there (I love it!) so there are plenty of healthier options. As far as fitness, you’ll be walking a lot, so at home exercise will probably be enough to supplement that since you’re only going to be there for a few days. I joined the gym here cause it was the whole summer, but now I’m in Wales I just do my Tae Kwon Do warm up and cool down each night being that I get to walk 5 miles daily cause our hotel is so far away from the University.
I think the best part about making nut butters is “cleaning” the processor
The cups and the pb look great!
As for my favorite flavor…while I used to love funky flavors, now I usually just go for plain. Still, I’d never turn down anything cinnamon-y or honey-roasted!
the pb cups look delicious! i love nut butters & nutritional yeast
Thanks for linking up my recipe and wow, your cups look great – and that Cinnamon-Vanilla-Flax Peanut Butter sounds and looks amazing!!