Barefoot Bloggers: Walnut Toffee Oatmeal Cookies

Somehow, after days and days of floods, New England has broken open into one gigantic green bud. There are a few crocus here and there that managed to stick around with all the rain, but for the most part everything is waking up to Spring again. You can hear birds chirping as if they're sighing - chirp chirp ahhhhhh. It's a lovely day.

To make cookies. Ok, I have to admit, I was a little thrown off with this recipe. Who makes cookies in April, I thought? But then I remembered all the moms and dads who have children on spring break, and how they're probably running around houses right now driving their parents crazy because they've eaten a few too many Peeps over the last week and may or may not have an amphibian in their pocket. Parenthood. Chirp chirp ahhhhhh.

I only had Tuesday night to bake the cookies, after a yoga class and as all my other projects were getting finished up. It was absolutely lovely, too - cool enough to keep the windows open, light a candle, replace the television for some chill music. My fiance stretched out on the couch to do some reading, and while the cookies were baking, I found a way to join him. It was probably the most perfect evening we've had in a while, in my opinion. Somehow I credit the Barefoot Contessa for that one.


I made a few changes to this recipe. For one, I replaced the pecans for roasted walnuts, I used Heath toffee chips instead of raisins, and finally, I replaced the white flour with WW flour and a half cup of flax.


The texture of these cookies is off the charts. They're chewy and gooey while retaining an exterior that holds up to being packed in lunches, man-handled by children. The toffee melts and leaves in the cookies a syrupy crater that is framed by whole oats and deliciously fragrant walnuts. These cookies are perfect, they're divine, they are swoon worthy.


The full recipe is here, and I want to thank all the other Barefoot Bloggers who baked along with me this weekend.

Namaste.

Rainy Day Coconut Lentil Soup

All of the rain that has been attacking Massachusetts and Rhode Island made me think of this Rumi poem, intended to help us understand that sometimes unexpected, unwelcome visitors do have reason.

Every morning a new arrival.

A joy, a depression, a meanness,

some momentary awareness comes

as an unexpected visitor.

Welcome and entertain them all!

Even if they’re a crowd of sorrows,

Who violently sweep your house

empty of its furniture.

still, treat each guest honorably.

He may be clearing you

out for some new delight.

The dark thought, the shame, the malice,

meet them at the door laughing,

and invite them in.

Be grateful for whoever comes,

because each has been sent

as a guide from beyond.

(Rumi, "The House Guest," translated by Coleman Banks)

Massachusetts is under water. Rhode Island is almost gone completely. During the little breaks in the rain, you can hear birds chirping louder than usual - as if they are so happy to be able to turn their beaks to the sky and shout at the sun without the fear of drowning. We have little sprouts growing on the windowsill, and I can only imagine how long I'll have to wait before planting them outside. Wouldn't want to watch my lettuce, beans, and cherry tomatoes be washed away.

So yesterday my practice consisted of a 20 minute YogaDownloads.com sequence for the backside, as I'm still dealing with sciatica that is leftover from my days as a marathoner. YogaDownloads is a great tool, and I feel that the 20 minute sequences are perfect when you have a rushed day ahead of you. 20 minutes is, for whatever reason, so much more reasonable than an hour when you are still working through the coffee pot in the morning.

I had meetings downtown, and the tops of all the buildings in Boston were hidden in this fog and drizzle. Instead of taking the bus home, as I usually do, I rode the T and stopped at the market for ingredients for this soup. My grocer didn't have any red lentils, but everything else was prety standard.

It was underwhelming, in my opinion, so I kicked it up with some Tabasco and extra cilantro. I can't explain in words, however, the joy of toasting curry powder on a rainy day. After dealing with a crowd of sorrows, it is like a new delight to surprise and rejuvenate you.

Namaste.

Coconut Lentil Soup

1c yellow split peas
1c lentils
7c water
1 carrot
3T grated ginger
3T lemon juice
2T curry powder
2T butter
1t cumin
1 bunch of green onions (8-10)
1 small can of tomato paste
1 14-oz can of coconut milk
salt and pepper to taste

Rinse lentils and peas together in a large bowl until water runs clear. Drain and place in a soup pot with the water, covering. Bring to a boil, then simmer for up to 2 hours, adding water if necessary to keep the beans and lentils hydrated. I let mine simmer for about an hour and a half, but they could have used more time. Just keep adding water.


Over low heat, toast curry powder and cumin until fragrant. In a saute pan, add butter, green onions, and ginger, stirring until cooked through. Add cumin/curry powder mixture to this, and once incorporated, add to soup along with carrot, coconut milk and tomato paste. Stir often, because the lentils and peas will tend to coat the bottom of your pot, and you don't want it to burn.

Simmer for at least 30 minutes, to allow all vegetables to cook through completely. Add cilantro, S&P, and hot sauce. It's filling and delicious, healthy and nutritious, perfect for a rainy night.