I hope you guys have had a lovely week! Gus and I are enjoying cozy oatmeal on the couch. Mr. Birch and his BFFs, soccer lovely and Gertie the Goose, say hi!
Mazen’s latest Kiwi Crate came with a recipe for energy balls, so we decided to make those together one afternoon. I used the base recipe, but I subbed in some butterscotch chips for half of the chocolate chips, added chia seeds, and mixed in optional chopped almonds. I also decided that I don’t really like eating “balls.” They tend to crumble when you bite them, so I changed the recipe to “bites” instead – little squares! We also thought the squares looked a little plain, so I heated up some coconut butter and made a frosting. They turned out SO well!
Here’s the ingredient list:
- 1 cup quick oats
- 1/3 cup honey
- 1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
- 1/4 cup chocolate chips
- 1/4 cup butterscotch chips
- 1/4 cup chopped almonds
- Sprinkle of cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon of vanilla
- 1 Tbsp Chia seeds
- Coconut butter for “frosting”
I ended up mashing the ball batter into a loaf pan lined with plastic wrap and then used the freezer to harden the coconut butter before cutting into squares.
YUM YUM. The butterscotch chips, peanut butter flavor, and crunchy almond pieces make these so good.
When we weren’t cooking, we were playing with the neighbors. I always tell Thomas that if we build a house it has to be in a neighborhood and this is why!
Other KERF meals this week: smoothie + PB toast.
A take-away salad from Cava.
A kale salad with roasted veggies plus a yogurt.
We had Plenty chicken picata with noodles and veggies for dinner one night.
Which made for excellent leftovers for lunch the next day mixed with orzo and herbs.
Another night was leftover salmon with roasted veggies (can you tell I’m all about roasted veggies and kale salads this time of year?!) with mac and cheese (more on this soon!)
Finally, I attempted to cook chopped sweet potatoes in the Instant Pot. I say “attempted” because they didn’t quite cook well enough. I did pressure cook for 15 minutes thinking since they were bite-size that they didn’t need as long, but I should have done 20. I ended up just roasting them in the oven for an extra 10 minutes to finish cooking them the next day. You win some and you lose some. I can’t wait to tell you about a big IP win next week!
Charmaine Ng | Architecture & Lifestyle Blog says
Mmm, definitely going to try the coconut bites recipe out! Perfect sweet treat after a heavy dinner! 🙂
Charmaine Ng | Architecture & Lifestyle Blog
http://charmainenyw.com
Quinn says
These look yummy! I’m always a little hesitant, though, to make energy bites because they’re so calorie dense and yet small enough that you can eat several before you realize you’re full. How do you stop yourself from eating more than a serving?
KathEats says
The struggle is real! They are probably more along the lines of a cookie than a “health food” but remember that calories are energy so whether you view them as calorie bites or energy bites the result is the same 🙂
Denise Blust Vermillion says
Kath I want to thank you for your recommendation on the Daily Harvest smoothies. I asked a couple of weeks ago if they’d be appropriate for someone who had jaw surgery. My dear friend had surgery on Tuesday and received them yesterday. She said “I was sitting crying, trying to eat some soup, when the doorbell rang. You guys are amazing, I can feel the love.” We are a group of seven that we lovingly call “The Tribe”. We met in Costa Rica on an adventure almost 2-1/2 years ago. We live all over the U.S. and when one of us is struggling, we go into action. Just because we can’t be right there doesn’t mean we can’t do something. So please know that you had a part in this, and she’s feeling much better – also because she’s wearing her flannel sloth Christmas pajamas from Old Navy, another Tribe gift. 🙂
KathEats says
Aww! So glad!!
Ali says
Are you using the IP on manual high pressure and adding a cup a water to the bottom? It seems like those should sweet potatoes have been done in just a few minutes. I looooove my Instant Pot. It never leaves my counter and never lets me down!
KathEats says
Yes I was!
Kori says
I’m always way too lazy to make balls, so I have tended to press them into a pan and make squares as well! The frosting is really the…icing on top. Bahaha. Kath, you’re always so creative, and I love your food inspiration! It’s one of the many reasons I have followed for nine years (!) now and continue to come back to KERF. Have a great Friday and weekend!
Jocelyn says
The snack bites look yummy! – Oh my goodness, the picture with the kids playing looks like a Fall day! LOL We are piled under heaps of snow here. Have a great weekend.
Colleen says
I have never made snack balls before but those bars look right up my alley! YUM!
Linda says
Hello! where is the mug from the first photo from? thank u 🙂
KathEats says
It was actually a gift so I’m not sure! It doesn’t have any markings on the bottom. It’s a campfire-style metal one.
Nicole says
Hi! Is Coconut butter is different from coconut oil?!? I should know this ?
KathEats says
Yes! Coconut butter is to peanut butter as coconut oil is to peanut oil. One is ground and the other is oil pressed out.