Thursday
Aug122010
Guest Post: A Little Christmas Cheer
August 12, 2010
Hi there :) I want to sincerely thank you ALL for the continued well wishes/thoughts/prayers/etc. I know I keep saying it, but it has meant the world to us. I love this food blog community. So much love and support. The comments you all have left, from my last post, have brought tears to my eyes.
thank.you.
And now a special surprise. I am so completely honored to have a guest post from the amazing Mama Pea. She is an inspiration to me in so many ways. Her kitchen creativity, hilarious personality, blunt honesty, amazing family, and unbelievable mothering skills, impress me on a daily basis. :) Thanks again MP!!!
....
Hi, Edible Perspective readers!
I'm Mama Pea from a little blog called Peas and Thank You.
Ashley's taking care of some family business, so I offered to put up a post on her behalf to tide you over until she comes back. My photos aren't as sharp, my prose isn't as classy, my recipes may or may not be as edible (I've had her nut butters...oh. my. peas.), but I'll try to do you and her justice.
Let me start by saying, "Merry Christmas!"
I was cleaning up the kitchen this morning, trying to figure out exactly how and why applesauce ended up in my coffee cup when my daughter Gigi started yelling, "Our neighbors think it's Christmas! They are putting up Christmas decorations!"
I tried to think of who in our neighborhood might still have their Christmas lights up, but lucky for me, that old lady four houses down moved out a year or two ago. Come to think of it, she may have died. R.I.P., Mrs. Weedy McEyesore.
Sure enough, though, when I looked out the window, I realized that Gigi spoke the truth. This time.
They sure did deck the halls. And we fa la la la la-ed...
la la la la-ed.
One of the first things I think of when I think of Christmas, aside from what my credit card's interest rate is, how I will bribe Lulu to sit on Santa's lap this year and that whole birth of our Savior thing, is Mexican hot chocolate.
I wooed Pea Daddy with it our first Christmas together.
We'd been dating a few months and since we were attending law school in my hometown, I felt it was my duty to introduce him to all my rituals and traditions (well, maybe not the ones about waxing my upper lip or reusing sports bras...not that I do that, Honey).
One of my family's Christmas traditions is to drive through a huge light display in a neighborhood that just so happens to be about a mile from where we live now. Of course, you have to listen to Christmas music while driving through, and you have to drink a hot beverage from the best coffee house in town.
It's no Starbucks, and I mean that in the best possible way. Come December, I want to turn my nose up at a Gingerbread Latte, run to the Governor's Cup and order a Mexican Hot Chocolate, just like I made Pea Daddy do that night eight years ago.
I was happy to share something I loved with him at a time when he hadn't seen the less glamorous, more human (and flatulent) side of me yet. (I still don't know who let that "goose" loose in my room during what may still be one of the most embarrassing moments of my life.) I was even happier when he said that he loved the the spicy, rich, chocolatey drink. And I was overjoyed when he said that he loved me. Still am.
I'm pretty sure he'll stay married to me if I keep making some of our best food memories into cookies.
Mexican Chocolate Cookies (vegan)
Makes 12-18 cookies
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Melt chocolate in a double boiler or in the microwave and set aside.
Use restraint to keep from eating this.
Combine flour, cinnamon, baking powder, salt, chili powder and pepper in a large bowl.
Using a hand or stand mixer, cream vegan margarine, sugar and vanilla. Add chocolate and continue to mix until combined.
Add in dry ingredients, a little at a time, until fully incorporated.
Scoop dough by rounded tablespoonfuls onto a cookie sheet.
Press dough into rounds (as with most vegan cookies, the dough will not spread while cooking).
Bake for 8-10 minutes, until cookies are set, but not hard. Allow cookies to cool on pan for at least a minute before transferring to a cooling rack.
Dust cookies with powdered sugar before serving.
My little sugar plum fairies could hardly wait for them to come out of the oven.
They tasted like Christmas...
if Christmas was a bit spicy for little tastebuds. She just wanted to lick the powdered sugar "snow" off of the top.
Oh well, more for Pea Daddy (think he'll notice the "glaze" on Lulu's leftover one?). 'Tis the season for giving.
thank.you.
And now a special surprise. I am so completely honored to have a guest post from the amazing Mama Pea. She is an inspiration to me in so many ways. Her kitchen creativity, hilarious personality, blunt honesty, amazing family, and unbelievable mothering skills, impress me on a daily basis. :) Thanks again MP!!!
....
Hi, Edible Perspective readers!
I'm Mama Pea from a little blog called Peas and Thank You.
Ashley's taking care of some family business, so I offered to put up a post on her behalf to tide you over until she comes back. My photos aren't as sharp, my prose isn't as classy, my recipes may or may not be as edible (I've had her nut butters...oh. my. peas.), but I'll try to do you and her justice.
Let me start by saying, "Merry Christmas!"
I was cleaning up the kitchen this morning, trying to figure out exactly how and why applesauce ended up in my coffee cup when my daughter Gigi started yelling, "Our neighbors think it's Christmas! They are putting up Christmas decorations!"
I tried to think of who in our neighborhood might still have their Christmas lights up, but lucky for me, that old lady four houses down moved out a year or two ago. Come to think of it, she may have died. R.I.P., Mrs. Weedy McEyesore.
Sure enough, though, when I looked out the window, I realized that Gigi spoke the truth. This time.
They sure did deck the halls. And we fa la la la la-ed...
la la la la-ed.
One of the first things I think of when I think of Christmas, aside from what my credit card's interest rate is, how I will bribe Lulu to sit on Santa's lap this year and that whole birth of our Savior thing, is Mexican hot chocolate.
I wooed Pea Daddy with it our first Christmas together.
We'd been dating a few months and since we were attending law school in my hometown, I felt it was my duty to introduce him to all my rituals and traditions (well, maybe not the ones about waxing my upper lip or reusing sports bras...not that I do that, Honey).
One of my family's Christmas traditions is to drive through a huge light display in a neighborhood that just so happens to be about a mile from where we live now. Of course, you have to listen to Christmas music while driving through, and you have to drink a hot beverage from the best coffee house in town.
It's no Starbucks, and I mean that in the best possible way. Come December, I want to turn my nose up at a Gingerbread Latte, run to the Governor's Cup and order a Mexican Hot Chocolate, just like I made Pea Daddy do that night eight years ago.
I was happy to share something I loved with him at a time when he hadn't seen the less glamorous, more human (and flatulent) side of me yet. (I still don't know who let that "goose" loose in my room during what may still be one of the most embarrassing moments of my life.) I was even happier when he said that he loved the the spicy, rich, chocolatey drink. And I was overjoyed when he said that he loved me. Still am.
I'm pretty sure he'll stay married to me if I keep making some of our best food memories into cookies.
Mexican Chocolate Cookies (vegan)
Makes 12-18 cookies
- 3/4 c. dark chocolate chips
- 3/4 c. whole wheat pastry or white whole wheat flour
- 1/2 t. cinnamon
- 1/2 t. baking powder
- 1/4 t. salt
- 1/4 -1/2 t. chili powder
- few grinds of cracked black pepper
- 1 c. organic sugar
- 1/3 c. vegan margarine
- 1 t. vanilla
- powdered sugar for dusting
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Melt chocolate in a double boiler or in the microwave and set aside.
Use restraint to keep from eating this.
Combine flour, cinnamon, baking powder, salt, chili powder and pepper in a large bowl.
Using a hand or stand mixer, cream vegan margarine, sugar and vanilla. Add chocolate and continue to mix until combined.
Add in dry ingredients, a little at a time, until fully incorporated.
Scoop dough by rounded tablespoonfuls onto a cookie sheet.
Press dough into rounds (as with most vegan cookies, the dough will not spread while cooking).
Bake for 8-10 minutes, until cookies are set, but not hard. Allow cookies to cool on pan for at least a minute before transferring to a cooling rack.
Dust cookies with powdered sugar before serving.
My little sugar plum fairies could hardly wait for them to come out of the oven.
They tasted like Christmas...
if Christmas was a bit spicy for little tastebuds. She just wanted to lick the powdered sugar "snow" off of the top.
Oh well, more for Pea Daddy (think he'll notice the "glaze" on Lulu's leftover one?). 'Tis the season for giving.
tagged Family + Friends, Recipes, cinnamon in chocolate, vegan
Family + Friends, Recipes, cinnamon in chocolate, vegan
Reader Comments (35)
Hubba, hubba! Those cookies look delicious!
Hello & Merry Christmas? Really? Well it gave you an excuse to make those delicious looking cookies. Mmmmm. Nice guest post.
A sweet memory and a beautiful recipe to boot! "Glaze" indeed. . .
Oh Sarah, I just adore you! (and Ashley) You and PD are too cute for words. I love the old school pic and your sweet memories. If these are anything like your brownies then maybe I shouldn't make them in fear that I'll eat the whole batch. Spicey chocolate is my fav. And WHY are their Christmas decorations?!
I guess I should have cleared that up! They were having a garage sale...and someone actually bought the life sized snow globe! Gigi and Lulu were sad to see it go :(
Ash, you're so lucky to have the love and support of so many, especially friends like Sarah. I am sending you and Chris all the love, support, faith, and care that I can. You both are in my thoughts and prayers
Those cookies sound deeeelish!
Haha, love this post. Hang in there, Ashley and Chris! Thinking of you!
Lol funny as always. I'm gonna give this recipe a shot....if Xmas is august means chocolate cookies, I think I can handle that!
You are so funny - definitely adding you to my reader STAT!
Your girls are absolutely beautiful! I think they take after their mommmy!
Yummy! Can't wait to try them out! Thanks :)
once again - epic recipe from Mama Pea. You are the best! For many reasons. :)
Ok Momma Pea, very nice guest post. Ashley will have to tell you about our Christmas molasses cookie recipe that is a longstanding tradition in our family. Last year, she tried to improve it, but it's a work in progress. Nice to see you. Her Dad, Jeff.
Oh my those cookies look gooood! Love the snow topping and I think my two little ones would love baking them with me!
The Christmas decorations are hilarious! And Mrs. McWeedy!. This is an amusing post.
Ashley - keeping you and Chris in my thoughts and prayers.
Mama Pea - thanks for this delicious looking recipe and your hilarious commentary!
thanks to Mama Pea - i found your blog Ashley, and wish all the best to Chris. hang in there, and lots of good vibes are being sent your way!!!
Ashley WILL have to tell me about that recipe. And by "tell me about it," I mean bake me a batch. I'll take the "unimproved version." Nice to see you too, Ashley's dad ;)
Those cookies look amazing! Most people I talk too [outside of the food world] don't understand that when you combine chocolate and chili powder the result is phenomenal. Out of this world good. I will have to try those cookies over the holidays!
Hahah. How funny I just write you about guest posting -- must be Mama and I are on the same wavelength. This is ADORABLE. I love that recipe, too. Chili powder and chocolate go famously together!
Love it! Looks delish! Also love that you are helping a great friend!
Ashley--hope you and Chris are doing better!
Mama Pea--love you and your recipes! Great guest post, these sound excellent. I love how you develop recipes out of great stories/traditions.
Love the guestpost, anything Mama Pea ever posts is amazing! These cookies look so good!!!!!!
Ashley I LOVE your blog, and actually always read it, you have amazing recipes and photos as well : ) xoxo
I love reading Peas and Thank You! I really enjoyed your guest post - LOLing about your neighbors and cutie-pie daughters. :-) Thanks for the recipe too!
Best wishes to you, Ashley. I love your blog and I hope your husband gets better quickly. I also love the show of support from Mama Pea! Healthy living bloggers rock :-)
Mexican Hot Chocolate is the only way. Early Christmas is the perfect reason to make these.
So sweet of you to help Ashley out :-)
Oh man, you have me dreaming of Christmas now. It's my favorite time of the year!
I am moving from San Diego to Oregon this year, so i am hoping for my first ever white Christmas (or at least wet Christmas)!
Mmm these look SO yummy! I love chocolate with cracked black pepper in it!
Ashley I am so very sorry for what you're going through. My prayers are with you and your family!
Sarah..this is so ironic. Once I did a guest post for someone, and the post was Chocolate Mexican Wedding Cookies. Vegan & GF. That's crazy that your guest post is choc mex cookies. It's voo-doo. Kidding :)
They look great!
Hugs to both of you this weekend!
Those cookies look SO good! Ashley, I hope everything looks up soon. :-)
Ashley, I am so sorry to hear you are going through a rough time. Just know your blog friends are here for you!!! Love your blog and Mama Pea these cookies sound amazing!! xoxo
I'm sorry about your family emergency. Rough times are never fun, but you'll come through it stronger than ever. I don't know if you believe in God or not, but he's always with you, especially during times like this. Keep shinin', everything will work out :)
[...] been saying this for a year now and not once have I even attempted to recreate them. Enter this guest post from Mama Pea, I could no longer avoid making these [...]
[...] After a bit of searching, I can upon Mama Pea‘s recipe for Mexican Chocolate Cookies. [...]
so did you ever figure out WTF was up with the snow globe?
great recipe, i have a feeling the boys are going to get these soon.