Oh you didn’t know? National Public Radio is my secret obsession. I could listen to it all day, every day of the week. I’m never bored when I’m listening to my favorite programs like Fresh Air, This American Life, Democracy Now and Wait Wait Don’t Tell Me! I even have the NPR app on my iPhone so when I’m walking to work or need to finish listening to a program, I can! My day always begins with Morning Edition and I feel that Steve Inskeep is like a friend that I can’t see even though when I lived in Chicago, I would often see him and Terry Gross sipping coffee at Starbucks. And that Ira Glass. God, I love him!

So, if you didn’t know, NPR is a privately and publicly funded non-profit membership media organization that serves as a national syndicator to a network of 900 public radio stations in the US. That’s a lot of stations and a lot of people listening, right? I think NPR has a little something for everyone; news, music, writers almanac, etc, etc. This means that everyone (yes, YOU) need to help fund your local NPR station so that this stuff never goes off the air!

I used to get so annoyed with NPR when they had their annual pledge drives because they interrupted my favorite programs to ask people to denote money. Enough, I thought! But then I did my research and I realized here I am getting this free service that I take advantage of each and everyday and I should be helping out, if even 10 bucks a year. So I started donating five years ago and I feel good when I listen because I know I helped fund my favorite programs… if even a little… but every penny counts right?! So donate today! They may even say your name on the air after you call!

Okay, so let’s get to some food shall we? Last Saturday for my book club I created this little gluten-free, flour-less cookie recipe and it went over well with the girls. I wanted to make a chocolate cake but I didn’t have time so I made these cookies that taste and look like a moist chocolate cake. They have the texture of a cake but will less calories and fat since I didn’t use butter or milk. Husband approved too… I saw him eat two last Saturday night!

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Flour-less Chocolate Cake Cookies- makes 20

Ingredients:

-1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa

-1/2 cup almond butter

-2 packets of Trader Joe’s Oh! My Omega Nut mix (cranberries, almonds, pumpkin seeds etc)

-1 egg

-dash of cinnamon and nutmeg

-1 tsp baking powder

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 350.

2. Mix all the ingredients together in a large bowl.

3. Layer a baking sheet with parchment paper and scoop spoonfuls on it.

 
3. Bake for 15-20 minutes or until golden at the sides. Enjoy with some Almond Milk!

 

I don’t feel bad indulging in these yummy cookies since I eat really clean everyday. You have to indulge right? I made this vegetarian and low calorie Cabbage Soup yesterday and my freezer is full with the containers of extra soup… please let me know if you want some… I’ll seriously drop it by! I didn’t use any chicken or vegetable broth for this soup- just water, since I didn’t want a lot of sodium. Now when I get home late from teaching, there’s good food ready to go!

Cabbage Soup- makes about 4 gallons

Ingredients:

-1 small head red cabbage

-1 small head green cabbage

-1 red onion

-1 cup chopped mushrooms

-2 cups of 16 bean dry mix (Found at any grocery store)

-1/4 cup organic pearled barley

-8 carrots, chopped

-1 bunch celery, chopped

-6 oz can green chili peppers

-salt and pepper

-water

Directions:

1. Chop up all the vegetables and add everything to the largest pot you can find.

 

2. Begin to add water until all the ingredients are immersed in it.

3. Season the water with plenty of salt and pepper.

4. Cover the pot and bring to a boil.

6. When it boils, stir it up and put it on a lower setting for 60 minutes or until the veggies and beans are soft. The water will turn red because of the red cabbage! Enjoy!

 

Well that’s all for today folks! I’ve got some gardening to do and I am dead set on finishing the third book in the Fifty Shades of Grey saga… I know, I’m grinning as I type it. This is the first romance novel I have ever read and I am loving it! It’s a nice breath of fresh air from the last three books I finished! Oh! And look where I found Sugar napping yesterday… after I had already made the bed! Seriously?