Raw Chocolate Carrot Peanut Butter Cups

For the chocolate:

• 1/4 cup cocoa powder
• 1/4 cup coconut oil
• 2 tsp raw honey

Place all ingredients in a small bowl and mix until smooth and well blended.  Because coconut oil melts easily, do not use a mixer.  You do not want the coconut oil to melt because it will separate from the cocoa powder when setting up.

Place 8 mini cupcake wrappers in a mini muffin pan.  Spray with cooking spray, I like Organic Olive Oil Spray, and then coat bottoms and sides with chocolate.  Place in the freezer for 15ish minutes until set.

Next, get your carrot peanut butter from earlier and press a dab into each cup.

Lastly, top off with a bit more chocolate.

Freeze for 15ish more minutes so the chocolate can set up, then enjoy!

Because the coconut oil makes the chocolate so soft, I recommend storing in the freezer or fridge to prevent melting.  These turned out very rich, more like a truffle than a peanut butter cup, which is good because you can only eat one at a time!

I had a bit of leftover chocolate, so I also made these Mounds Bar Truffles.  I tried to eat a Peanut Butter Cup and a Mounds Bar Truffle at the same time, but I couldn’t.  My Mounds Bar Truffle is sitting in the freezer waiting for me to eat it later.

This day as not been good for my weight loss goal, but has fulfilled my urge to create candy.

Yum!

Peanut Butter

• 1 1/2 cups dry roasted peanuts
• 1 tbsp raw honey
• 1 tsp salt

Straight off, this has got to be better than store bought peanut butter, because there is no added oil.  Anyhow, I started by putting these ingredients in my food processor.  Actually, I started by trying to use the food processor attachment to my immersion blender.  When that started to overheat, I moved it to my Ninja.  When that started to overheat, I tossed what I was working on and went to bed.  That was about 3AM this morning.  When I woke up, I was obsessed with peanut butter, so I put everything in my Kitchen Aid Food Processor and nailed it.

The peanut butter goes through several states as it is processing. First, a thick, crumbly paste:

As it becomes smoother, it balls up:

Finally, it smoothes out and and becomes a thick tasty peanut butter.

I had the fiancé try it – he approved.  I could eat it by the spoonful.  This made about a cup of peanut butter.

Next, I wanted to figure out how to make a “better for me” peanut butter.  Years ago, a friend of mine went on one of those health retreats.  When she came back, she said that the peanut butter they served at breakfast had carrots in it and she couldn’t even tell.  I started digging around online for a recipe.  I could not find one, so I made up my own.

Carrot Peanut Butter

• 1 cup dry roasted peanuts
• 1/2 cup steamed carrots
• 1 tbsp raw honey
• 1 tsp salt

Again, put everything in the food processor and let her rip.

This recipe processed much more quickly.  First, we had the crumbly pasty phase.

It skipped the ball phase and went straight to the perfect creamy peanut butter phase.

I had the fiancé try this one too.  He asked if I spiced it differently, but would never have guessed that I added carrots.  Had I told him prior to his tasting, he would have been prejudice against it, but since I did not he enjoyed it.

This made about 1 1/2 cups of peanut butter.

To me the primary difference is in color.  The carrot version is a bit on the orange side, but that is really the only evidence of carrot.

For my Weight Watchers friends: Store Bought Creamy Peanut Butter is 3 points plus per tablespoon, my regular peanut butter above is 2 points plus per tablespoon and my carrot peanut butter is 1 point plus per tablespoon.

BOOM!  Better for me peanut butter!

I’ve actually had this dress for a couple of fall seasons, but the shape and buffalo check just seem to live on, which I am completely OK with!

I believe that pockets can make or break a dress!  Without them, where am I supposed to put my badge, credit card and hands at work?

This season, I am mad for stacked bracelets.  The more the merrier, I say!

Dress | Jessica Simpson, Tights | Assets for Target, Belt | Banana Republic, Boots | Minnetonka Moccasin, Jewelry | Tiffany & Co. and boho|punk

One weekend early in the summer, I was staying at my parents house and my mom told me about her new nighttime beauty process, which was to clean her face with oils.  She had me examine her skin very closely, and it was perfect and beautiful.  When we were getting ready for bed, she came into my bathroom and said, “You should try it; we’ll do it together.”  I’ve got to be honest, I was nervous because my skin is so oily already, but my mom and I have the exact same skin.  So I gave it a shot, and then she mixed up a 3 oz bottle for me and I promised to give it a 2 week try.  At the end of the 2 week trial period, I was sold!  I wish I had taken before and after pictures, but I didn’t really go in as a believer.  Never again will I stop with this as my nighttime beauty process, so you’ll just have to trust me on this one.

At this point, you must be wondering what we are using. Below are the steps to mixing up an Olive Oil skin cleanser.

• 3 oz bottle
• Funnel
• Olive Oil
• Castor Oil
• Tea Tree Oil or Essential Oil of your choosing

The mixture that I use is 50% Olive Oil and 50% Castor Oil.

Then add about 20 drops of the essential oil of your choosing; I like Tea Tree because it is good for acne prone skin.  Even before this, I was putting Tea Tree directly on pimples to dry them out.

Shake before each use.  Pour about a quarter size amount of the oil mixture into your clean palm and massage into your face for about 2-3 minutes.  Run your water as hot as your hands can stand and get your wash cloth very damp.  Place hot, wet wash cloth over your face until it cools, repeat 2 – 3 additional times.  This acts as a steam facial, really allowing the oils to deep clean your pores.

If your finding that your skin is oily or still breaking out, try using more Castor Oil in your mixture.  Or if your skin is much drier, try increasing your ratio of Olive Oil.  Since my mom taught me about this, I’ve done a lot of research.  Google “Olive Oil Cleansing Method,” you’ll be amazed by what you find.  Even acne.org is on board!

Some of these sites will say that you do not need to use a moisturizer; my Mom and I both still do.  I like BeautiControl’s Defend & Restore Night Cream.

Go on, give it the old 2 week try.  I promise, you’ll be impressed!

Glasses | Prada, Shirt | The Limited, Dress | American Eagle, Shoes | Target, Jewelry | Tiffany & Co. and boho|punk, Eye shadow | After Midnight by BeautiControl