It’s officially been three weeks since we got back from our trip to Guatemala. Three weeks. I can’t believe it’s been that long. I feel like I got home and dumped my dirty backpack on the floor just yesterday. I feel like I was walking through the streets of Antigua wondering where we’re going to eat next just yesterday. Taking in views of volcanoes in the sun just yesterday. I’m still coming to terms with the fact that I have obligations everyday, after nearly a month of being back to the grind. Deciding which laundry joint is the cheapest and fastest to wash your ash-covered clothing is so much more fun than doing laundry in your own apartment building. On your day off. On a normal weekend.
Booo.
I know, I’m spoiled. At least I got to go there and have that great time. But trust me, that’s not enough. It’s like a crack addiction – travelling. The first time I ever went anywhere far away was when I was 16 and in school. We spent a little short of two weeks bus’ing and train’ing around France, and since then I’ve longed to pack bags and board planes. I haven’t travelled nearly as much as I’d like due to all those super fun adult things like debts and poor life choices (right?!) – but I can say I’m back on track and out of the woods, so to speak. I’m having a hard time focusing on what’s in front of me, trading it for daydreams of the next adventure instead.
The other thing that creeps up on you is age. I’m not a believer in following the norm or being on any bandwagon, but I’m sure most of you can agree that age usually brings with it mortgages, kids, and being tied down to one place – not leaving much time, funds, or energy for travelling. This is a scary thought to me. In this day and age with the cost of living rising… is it even possible to do both? I’m not convinced you can have your cake and eat it too.
What do you guys think? What’s your most memorable travel experience, and what are your thoughts on keeping up with the Jones’s vs. flying by the seat of your pants?
Chili Chocolate Cookies
3/4 cup all purpose flour
1+1/2 cups quick oats
1/4 cup cocoa powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp dried chili flakes, pulverized in a spice grinder
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 cup butter
3/4 cup brown sugar
2 eggs
3/4 to 1 cup chopped dark chocolate
(I used a mixture of flavored Lindt, Chili & Caramel Sea Salt)
few dried chili flakes to sprinkle
-Preheat your oven to 360F.
-Cream together the butter, sugar, vanilla, and salt with a paddle in a stand mixer.
-Whisk together the flour, oats, cocoa powder, and baking soda, set aside.
-Add the eggs to the creaming sugar and butter one at a time and continue paddling until smooth.
-Stop the mixer, add the dry ingredients, and turn on to low speed. Paddle until almost combined, and then add the chopped dark chocolate (preferably the two flavored Lindt dark chocolates listed above, or just the Chili one), and then mix again until everything is combined well.
-Rest in the fridge for 15 minutes.
-Scoop the cookie dough into portions about 1+1/2 to 2 TB in size, and drop them onto a prepared baking sheet. Be sure to leave 2 inches between each cookie at minimum to prevent cookie pancake! Give each one a slight pat on the top with the palm of your hand to even them out. Press any leftover pieces of chocolate into the tops of the cookie balls, sprinkle with a few additional flakes of dried chili.
-Bake 7 minutes, then rotate the tray. Bake another 5-7 minutes.
-Remove from the oven and cool for 10 minutes, then move each cookie to a wire rack and cool until room temperature.
It reminds me of pepper cookies.
What exactly are pepper cookies?!
That is the English translation of the German name. It is late now, but I will try and send you it tomorrow. 😊
This will teach me to never comment late at night when my brain has shut now. The cookies remind me of a cross between Pepparkakor which are Swedish ginger snap cookies and something I made once called mocha rounds, which were coffee, chocolate and cinnamon refrigerator cookies: adult cookies that are on the savory side. Your recipe is a more flavorful balance between the 2, and the oatmeal gives a nice texture. Sorry if I was confusing. 💖
wow.. love the addition of spice here 🙂 worth a try !
Reblogged this on The Militant Negro™.
Lovely Ashley Marie – the Lindt chocolate piece feature caught my eye. And as for travelling well I think my most memorable country is always Italy – it gets me every time and not just because of the food…..
Italy is on my list, but I haven’t been yet. I will go for the scenery… but mostly the food! Can’t lie! Thanks for reading along 🙂
They look so delicious. I look forward to giving this recipe a try when I hit my next “5 lbs down” mark!!! Please be sure to check out the blog I just launched. Trying to find as many women as possible to critique me!!!
Mandy, I Love You.
an entire year dedicated to loving oneself
Mandy’s Pledge to a Year of Self-Love
https://yearofselfloveblog.wordpress.com/2016/03/15/my-pledge-of-self-love/
Sounds amazing-good!
I wish I could travel more and live more by the seat of my pants! Whenever I watch those HGTV shows like Carribean Life or House Hunters International, I get the urge to up and move somewhere new. Giving my little one a broad international experience justifies that, right?
Sure it does! At least I think so…
Looks tasty!
Thanks Martine! Your blog is so full of interesting new things for me to check out.. I’ve been out of the loop! Must do a proper sit down read this coming weekend… Cheers!
I’ve been out of the loop too! I barely have time to post on my own blog. So I rarely visit other blogs. Last night was a treat to visit yours for a quick moment to look at your delicious looking cookies! 😉
I hear you – I’ve been busy too, it’s hard to find time to really focus on the blog or to put effort into some new photography techniques, which I’d love to do! I really enjoy that your content is so health driven. Thanks for keeping me coming back, even if it’s not as often as I’d like!
Thanks! Good luck juggling and balancing it all!!! Will try to not wait so long before visiting again!
Dito! Thanks Martine!
The photos are just amazing and cookies look really delicious!
Hi Chefkreso, Thanks!