Chocolate Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookies – No Butter & No Flour! What?!!

Like many of my girlfriends, I have a weakness for peanut butter.  Combine that with chocolate and you’ve got a match made in heaven.  Last week, my peanut butter and chocolate cravings were getting a little out of control.  I bought a bag of six from Whole Foods and wolfed them all down within two days.  Now I know I’m pregnant and I did pass my glucose test but I felt like I needed to make a healthier option.  I came across this recipe as I was browsing online.  I was skeptical as to how they would taste seeing that it was flourless and made without butter.  I gave it a go anyways and I’m so glad I did.  It was one of the most delicious and satisfying peanut butter and chocolate chip cookies I have ever had!  Not only were these a ‘healthier’ option, but they seriously took little to no time to bake!  That’s a huge bonus for me as patience is not exactly my best virtue. Since these were such a huge hit when I shared it with family and friends, I figured I’d share the recipe here on the blog as well. =)  Hope you enjoy them as much as I do!  nom nom nom!!!

Ingredients

• 1 cup creamy or chunky peanut butter (not natural)
• 2/3 cup packed dark brown sugar
• 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla
• 2 large eggs
• 2/3 cup rolled oats (gluten-free if desired)
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 2/3 cup chocolate chips

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F
2. In small bowl mix together the oats and baking soda; set aside.
3. In a large bowl beat peanut butter, brown sugar, eggs and vanilla with an electric mixer until smooth, about 3 minutes. Mix in dry ingredients with a wooden spoon, then gently fold in chocolate chips.
4. Roll cookies into 2 inch dough balls and place onto cookie sheet 2 inches apart, then BARELY flatten the top of the cookie with your hand. The dough should be pretty sticky so if you find this method annoying, simply use a cookie scoop to drop the cookie dough onto the prepared baking sheet. The cookies may not be as round in shape and perhaps a bit thicker, but that’s okay, they will still be delicious.
5. Bake cookies for 9-11 minutes and remove when edges barely begin to turn a golden brown. The cookies may look a little underdone, but they will continue to cook once you remove them from the oven. Cool for 2 minutes on the cookie sheet then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely. Repeat with remaining cookie dough. Makes 16-20 cookies.

27 Weeks!

So I came across an article in the paper this week that titled “A woman’s brain shrinks 9% during pregnancy.”  At first, I totally refuted it but then something happened this week that made me think otherwise.  I often have my students do a popsicle run at the end of the school day which basically is running laps and earning popsicle sticks per lap.  At the end of the run, I get all the kids to put all the popsicle sticks in a box and we count how many laps we ran as a class.  Each week we try to surpass last week’s score.  This week, as the parents were watching their kids come into the class with their popsicle sticks, I shouted out “boys and girls, please put your popsicle sticks in this blue basket and get ready for home time.”  About 5 seconds later, I looked down at the basket and realized it was actually GREEN!!  I instantly corrected myself and slapped myself on the head.  Luckily, I have really awesome parents in my class that approached me and assured me it was pregnancy brain and that it really does happen.  LOL.  I mean, how embarrassing for me to get my colours wrong and I teach Grade one!!  Oh well, at least now I’m more of a believer of pregnancy brain. ;D

Pregnancy Update:

How far along? 27 Weeks

Baby is the size of a:  Rutabaga!

Total weight gain: 12 lbs

Baby is a:  Girl!

Stretch marks? Nope.  I really haven’t been very consistent with putting bio oil or tummy cream on.  I should probably start it up again…the belly is definitely getting bigger.

Sleep:  The crazy dreams are back this week.  They are the most ridiculous, most outrageous dreams I’ve ever had in my entire life.  There was one where I had a very heated argument with this woman who was trying to get rid of my Dad’s collection of movies for no reason.  Boy, did I give it to her…I think I added a couple of hand gestures in there as well to show her my angst!  lol…weird dreams!!

Best moment this week:  Going to our 3D ultrasound appointment!  The room was very comfortable and I was seated right in front of a big screen TV while the technician worked the ultrasound on my belly.  The best part was we got to see our baby girl’s face!  She was so active during the entire process.  She yawned, kicked and punched me inside all within the 20 minute appointment!  She even held her foot up to her nose at one point too.  We are so in love with her already and can’t wait to meet her in person.  =)

Worst moment of the week:  I’ve been really clumsy lately.  This week, I accidently dropped my husband’s laptop on our hardwood floor!  I don’t know what hurt more…the laptop or the floor.  I felt so bad about it and kept apologizing.  I thought he was going to freak because he loves his gadgets but instead, he actually said it was okay and that these things happen.  I’m so thankful that I have a husband who can keep calm during times when I’m stressed.  This trait will come in handy in the future for sure…especially when I go into labour! eeek!  We also found out that our little baby girl is currently breech.  Hopefully she eventually turns for a natural delivery.  Otherwise, it will be a C-section for me.  Either way, as long as she’s safe, I don’t mind either method.

Have you told family and friends:  Yes!

Miss Anything?  Travelling!  All the students in my class are telling me where they’re going this summer (Hawaii, Mexico, Disneyland, etc) and I told them “guess where I’m going this summer?  The hospital!”  Wonder if they get my sarcasm yet…lol

Movement:  Oh yeah!  She was caught red handed too on the 3D ultrasound.  We actually saw her making a fist and then giving me 5 good punches.  Busted!!

Food Cravings:  We had a lot of sushi this week (nothing raw) but I’m not sure if that was a craving or just because it was a sunny week and we didn’t want anything hot.  I definitely could still go for burgers and fries at any given time of the day.  I also had a huge craving for peanut butter this week and so I made a batch of peanut butter chocolate chip oatmeal cookies one night and devoured about 3 of them before bed.

Anything making you queasy or sick:  Nope.

Have you started to show yet?  For sure!  People now look at me in the face and then my belly right after.

Belly Button in or out?  In, but getting shallower each day.  I’m still totally creeped out by my belly button.  ugh!

Wedding rings on or off?  On

Happy or Moody most of the time:  Happy! =)

Looking forward to:  Planning the baby shower with my amazing girlfriends.  They also planned my bridal shower and stagette four years ago!!  How time flies!! =D

Chevron

Wow, am I really six and a half months preggers now?  It’s crazy to think time has gone by so fast and I’m already in my final trimester. =)  The students in my class are so sweet.  They’ve been writing letters to the baby, drawing pictures of my growing belly and giving her tons of hugs throughout the day.  I seriously feel I have the best job in the whole world!  Hope you’re having a splendid weekend so far!  Thanks for dropping by to check up on me.  Cheers!

Pregnancy Update:

How far along? 26 Weeks

Baby is the size of a:  head of lettuce!

Total weight gain: 11 lbs

Baby is a:  Girl!

Stretch marks? Nope.  Honestly, I really don’t care if I do get them though…it’s not like I’m a supermodel and need to be in a bikini a few weeks after giving birth.

Symptoms:  I’m starting to feel more tired at the end of the day.  Naps are an absolute necessity at the moment.

Sleep:  Pretty good this week.  The only thing is I can’t seem to sleep in on the weekends anymore.

Best moment this week:  My childhood friend and I have an annual Mother’s Day tradition where we basically double date and take our moms out for high tea.  This year was just like every other year except I also felt like it was my first soon to be mother’s day as well.  I received many sweet texts from dear friends that wished me a happy soon-to-be mother’s day and even my hubby took me out for brunch and got me a little gift.

Worst moment of the week:  I woke up one night this week and literally felt like I wanted to barf.  Good thing my hubby was still awake to help me out.  He brought me tums, water, and a bag in case I actually needed to use it.  It was so weird because I haven’t had any morning sickness at all since the beginning of my pregnancy.  We later figured out that it was probably because of the very rushed dinner we had that night, combined with watching spiderman 2 in ultra AVX that brought up some nausea and indigestion in me later on.  I have so much sympathy for the moms out there that have morning sickness throughout their pregnancy.  Holy moly!  I don’t know how I’d be able to do it. Kudos to the moms that went through months of that!

Have you told family and friends:  Yes!

Miss Anything?  Travelling!  My hubby and I go to Europe every summer but this year, it’s all about our baby girl.

Movement:  Oh yeah!  This girl loves to practice her karate kicks in me everyday!

Food Cravings: The burgers and fries cravings came back full force this week.  I had burgers and fries about 3 -4 times this week!  What is going on?  Oh, and my appetite has seemed to increase tenfold…not only do I devour my own meal but I end up eating some of my husband’s meal afterwards too.  Needless to say, I’m one hungry preggers at the moment.  lol.

Anything making you queasy or sick:  Nope, except for that one night after the Spiderman 2 movie.  ugh…

Have you started to show yet?  For sure!  We went to Earls for dinner this week (and yes, I had burgers and fries) and the three  hostesses at the door were asking me how far along I am and how my pregnancy has been so far.

Belly Button in or out?  In, but getting shallower each day.  I’m still totally creeped out by my belly button.  ugh!

Wedding rings on or off?  On

Happy or Moody most of the time:  Happy! =)

Looking forward to:  Our 3D ultrasound coming up next week!