summer snack: peach & oatmeal cookies

Im always on the hunt for healthy and filling snack ideas for my sweet toothed toddler. This cookie recipe is going into the vault at my house. Our usual chocolate loving household has accepted these fruit filled treats with gladness. They just make you happy.

The Goods 

• 4 cups all-purpose flour 
• (this is going to seem like a lot, but the peaches get juicy and need the extra flour) 
• 1 tbsp. baking powder
• 1 tbsp. baking soda
• 1 tbsp. cinnamon
• 1 tsp. salt
• 2 cups butter at room temperature
• 1 cups white sugar
• 3/4 cups brown sugar
• 1/2 cup maple syrup 
• 3 eggs
• 1 tbsp. vanilla
• 3 cups finely diced peaches (i didn't even peel them - cause I'm lazy like that) 
• 3 cups oats (old fashioned if your fancy) 
• 2 cups coconut (i used unsweetened)
• 2 cups nuts (optional, i opted not) 

• Preheat oven to 350°.
• Mix sugars, butter, eggs, vanilla, salt, baking powder, baking soda and cinnamon with an electric mixer until well combined.
• Stir in flour, oats, coconut (i saved a bit of the flour for the end, as i want convinced i needed it all- but i did, just combine it slowly) 
• Stir in peaches gently 
• For each cookie, press about 1/4 cup together (these are big mothers)
• Drop cookie dough onto cookie sheets sprayed with cooking spray, spacing 3 inches apart.
• Bake 16 minutes, until edges are lightly browned.
• Cool on pan 10 minutes. Remove to rack to cool.
• Enjoy!!!

These make great 'on the go' healthy breakfast or anytime snack. BONUS- packed with sneaky (mostly) goodness, have a happy and delicious day 

4 ingredients to bliss!

oh the glory of watermelon! 
my love affair with summer watermelon began in childhood and like many of us- its transports us back to those simple days with less responsibility and running wildly..
i truly love its sweet and summer like flavour and its always a hit with the kids. Then a sweet friend recently introduced me to watermelon juice (where have you been all my life)  

simple enough i set off to make a sweet summer treat for my little and with the heat we have been having it quickly turned into a healthier version of a summer slurpie (you know the 7/11 sugar OD, brainfreeze kind) 

this is simple, easy and quick- not a mind blowing test of epicurean skills- but what more do you expect from 4 ingredients! 

so here it is, makes a great cool down treat for the littles that you won't mind adding a splash (or 4) of vodka too- pretty much the perfect playdate drink! 

*also pour the leftovers (if any) into reusable popsicle moulds for an on hand watermelon freezie - (hello! thats mind-blowing)* 

enjoy! 

Watermelon Freshener 
- 1/2 diced watermelon 
- Juice of 4 limes 
- 4 cups of ice 
- 1/2 cup sugar 

(optional & to taste) 

suns out-bums out

yesterday when my little and i were enjoying the warm glow and basking in the summer sunset it really got me thinking of how precious these warm days are. 

Here is alberta, we are blessed with safe, although unpredictable weather but what we don't get for 6 months out of the year are sweet nights like this... 

What i enjoy about our provincial weather is the variety; it all makes you appreciate each change the seasons bring. 

This stirred inside me a yearning to create a summer bucket list and see it through while we have the sun on our faces and the snow in our future..No these things don't have to be expensive, it is the little things after all that matter the most

Summer Bucket List 2015 

enjoy the sunshine and make the most of this splendid summer!