Chocolate Brownies

Ingredients

• 1 cup butter, melted & cooled
• 2 tablespoons oil
• 1 1/4 cups sugar
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 4 eggs, room temperature
• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
• 3/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup all purpose flour
• 1 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1/4 cup chocolate chips

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
2. Lightly grease a 9x9 square baking pan with cooking oil spray and set aside.
3. Combine melted butter, oil and sugars together in a large bowl. Add the eggs and vanilla extract and whisk together until light in color.
4. In a separate bowl combine flour, cocoa powder and salt. Gently whisk the ingredients together.
5. Pour the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients until just combined. Do not over beat.
6. Fold in half of the chocolate chips.
7. Pour the brownie batter into the baking pan.
8. Add the rest of the chocolate chips on top.
9. Bake for 25-30 minutes.

These brownies are moist and decadent. Perfect for those days that you're craving a chocolate brownie.

Strawberry & Nutella Mini Pies

Ingredients

• 1 package pre-made pie crusts
• Nutella
• 1 cup strawberries, diced
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• 1 tablespoon cornstarch
• 1 egg
• 1 tablespoon water

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
2. Place the diced strawberries in a medium bowl. Mix in the sugar and cornstarch and set aside.
3. Unroll the first pie crust on a clean counter. Cut out as many hearts as you can and place them on a cookie sheet.
4. Smear the center of each heart with 1 teaspoon of Nutella. I recommend microwaving the Nutella so it is easier to spread.
5. Add a spoonful of strawberry filling to each heart.
6. Unroll the second pie crust. Cut the same number of hearts as you did the first time.
7. Place the heart on top of each pie and line it up as best as you can.
8. With a fork seal the edges of each heart.
9. Take a toothpick and poke small holes in the top to allow venting during baking. 
10. Whisk egg and water until the mixture is a light yellow.
11. Use a pastry brush to lightly coat the top of each pie.
12. Bake for 12-14 minutes or until lightly golden.

This is such a cute and festive dessert to make for Valentine's Day.

Paleo Coconut & Banana Cookies

Ingredients

• 3 cups almond flour
• 1/4 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
• 3/4 cup coconut sugar
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 egg
• 1 egg white
• 1 banana, mashed (1/2 cup)
• 1 cup finely shredded coconut, unsweetened
• 1 cup walnut pieces

Instructions

1. Whisk together in a large bowl; almond flour, baking soda, salt and cinnamon. Add walnuts and coconut and stir into flour mixture.
2. In a bowl use a beater to cream together butter and coconut sugar. Stir in mashed banana and mix until well combined.
3. Add flour mixture to wet ingredients and stir until incorporated.
4. Place the cookie dough in the refrigerator for 45 minutes.
5. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
6. Scoop cookie dough into balls and place them on a cookie sheet.
7. Bake for 12 - 15 minutes until golden.

This is one of my favorite ingredient combinations. It reminds me of a nice summer vacation. 

Frozen Peanut Butter & Chocolate Chip Dates

Ingredients

• Peanut Butter
• Chocolate Chips
• Dates

Instructions

1. Cut the dates 1/3 of the way. Remove the pit from the dates if necessary.
2. Add a small spoonful of peanut butter and two chocolate chips into each date.
3. Place them in the freezer.

With just 3 ingredients this makes a nice dessert for you to enjoy throughout the week.

Homemade Guacamole

Ingredients

• 3 avocados
• 1/2 onion, diced
• 2 tomatoes, diced
• 1 garlic clove, minced
• 1 jalapeno, diced (optional)
• 2 limes
• cilantro, chopped
• salt

Instructions

1. Place the onion in a bowl and add the lime juice. Mix together and set it aside for 30 minutes.
2. Mash the avocados with a fork.
3. Once the onion is ready, throw it in to the avocado mix. Add the rest of the ingredients; tomatoes, garlic, jalapeño and cilantro.

It's an easy recipe that is ready in no time. Enjoy the guacamole with your favorite tortilla chips.