Walnut Goji Flourless Chocolate Chip Cookies...to get you through this cold, wet, slushy winter and to say THANKS!
Ingredients:
1 large egg (or egg replacer equivalent to 1 large egg makes these vegan!)
1 cup almond butter (at room temperature)
1/2 cup sugar
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1/4 cup goji berries (aka wolfberries aka gou qi zi)
1/4 cup chopped walnuts
1/2 cup semi sweet chocolate chips
Now, a bit about these amazing ingredients!
Whole eggs are nourishing to our lungs, heart and kidney. They supplement qi and blood, nourish the yin and clears heat. We recommend you use eggs from pastured hens, which are different from cage free or free range hens. Pastured means that the chickens have a chance to run free in the grass on a farm, the way a chicken likes it. This makes the chickens happier and the eggs more nutritious.
Almonds nourish the lungs, large intestine and spleen. They are moistening and rich in many important vitamins and minerals. You can even make your own almond butter for this recipe by soaking raw almond overnight, draining and rinsing them and popping them in a food processor.
Goji berries can be found here at The Vital Compass, but also in many grocery stores. They are rich in protein and benefit the liver and kidneys. They are often used in herbal formulas to benefit the eyes as well as the liver and kidney yin, which can regulate life and sleep cycles.
Walnuts are a Chinese herb, too! They benefit the kidneys and are known to give your brain a boost.
Chocolate can even be good for you! In moderation, chocolate is a pleasant stimulant and boosts dopamine in the brain, stimulating feelings of pleasure and satisfaction. We recommend chocolate from Equal Exchange, an awesome Coop with true free trade agreements with their farmers.
1. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F and line two baking sheets with parchment paper, silicone mats, or grease with butter or coconut oil.
2. In a medium sized bowl, whisk egg or egg replacer until beaten.
3. Mix the almond butter into the egg
4. Mix the sugar into the egg & almond butter
5. Add the baking soda, vanilla and sugar and mix well
6. Scoop the dough, using fingers or a spoon onto your baking sheets. The dough should be about 1.5 tablespoons worth. Press each dough ball gently with the back of a spoon or fingers. Add extra goji berries, walnuts or chocolate chips to the top!
7. Bake for 10 minutes. Yes! Only 10 minutes.
8. Remove from the oven and let cool. on the baking sheets, for an additional 10 minutes. Use this time to do something nice for yourself like take a walk, drink some water, or give yourself a mini foot massage.
9. Eat! Try to not eat all of these in one go, but if you do remember the health benefits above. Guilt was never a great digestive anyway.
