Catherine Farquharson is a photographer. She is my favourite photographer. Not only does she take outstandingly gorgeous photos that make me want to put other people’s baby and wedding photos on my wall, but she had a birthday party in the park, and that makes her an eco-hipster too. She appropriately called it a ‘Parknic‘.
We all brought treats. There were two-bite brownies and cupcakes. There were crustless sandwiches. There were scones. There was a giant cooler of gin and juice. We played ping pong and and bocci ball. It was like we were simultaneously European, five years old and retirees.
I brought high fibre, healthy cookies. I always bring high fibre healthy cookies. They are how I show my love.
I have cut back on my baking for personal reasons (read- it is environmentally unfriendly to buy new clothes when your not so old ones are a wee bit snug) so any opportunity I have to bake for someone else, I do. I love the process. As I have mentioned, playing in the kitchen, mixing up ingredients, experimenting with flours, music playing… it’s a meditation for me. I put good energy into the food I make which has yet to result in any bad energy disasters. I suppose this is kind of like how Catherine puts good energy into her photographs and as a result her photos and the subjects in them always look beautiful.
I have a tendency when I am getting my picture taken to drop my chin and put on a big fake cheeky smile. When Catherine did my head shots, she kept saying to me “Chin up, mouth closed”. So when she pointed her camera at me, while I sat at the picnic table at her Parknic, I did my best to follow her advice. And, if I do say so myself, she does know what she’s talking about. Why pay for headshots when all you really have to do is get invited out with Catherine!
Despite the fact that I write a healthy cooking blog, I still get a little nervous about bringing my healthy creations to public events where they will be consumed side-by-side by treats that have real sugar, fluffly white flour and butter. The Chocolate Cookies For Catherine, however, were a hit. Not too sweet, definitely satisying, with just enough chocolate to hit that chocolatey spot. And the beatiful photo of the cookie- I took it myself. A cookie for Catherine must be accompanied by a fine photograph of said cookie.
Chocolate Cookies For Catherine
1 cup flour (buckwheat, sorghum, brown rice are all good options, if gluten is not a porblem, go with spelt)
1/4 cup organic, fair-trade cocoa powder
1/2 cup coconut oil
1/4 cup apple sauce
1/2 cup sucanat (unrefined cane sugar)
1/2 of a large or 1 small banana (mashed up)
1 tsp vanilla extract
3/4 cup chocolate chips
1/2 cup almond meal (grind in food processor or coffee grinder)
2 Tbs flaxseeds, ground
1/2 tsp baking soda
pinch of sea salt
1/4 cup raisins (optional)
- Preheat oven to 350
- Pull out two bowls
- Mix the dry ingredients in one, and the wet in the other. Save the chocolate chips for later. Easy enough yes?
- Then mix the wet and dry together.
- Add in the chocolate chips and optional raisins.
- Roll dough in golf ball size balls and place on well oiled or parchment paper lined baking sheet.
- Press each cookie ball down to flatten slightly.
- Bake for 12-15 minutes, until they feel dry on top.
- Allow to cool on a cooling rack (or sneak a couple still hot from the oven)
PDF 
Facebook
Flickr
LinkedIn
Twitter
RSS
Youtube
iTunes
Those sound and look delicious! I’m a sucker for new cookie recipes to try
Way to go for the gluten free goodness!
Those cookies sound wonderful. I want to make them.
I have a question for you. I know that coconut oil has a ton of saturated fat in it but it also has very good things. Do you worry about the sat fat at all? I’ve read such conflicting info on it so I’m a little confused.
Love your blog and check it daily.
Mmm, these sound delish!! I love the pic of you! (and of the cookie too
Well, if this isn’t the sweetest message to start the day to, I don’t know what is. I’m flattered and honoured and humbled. Thank you, Meghan!!!!
Those cookies, by the way, were the heavenly refuge from the junk-food chaos. They were the first step on land after being at (sugar) sea. They were DIVINE.
Those sound so yummy!
fantastic picture of you… looking better ever day! cookies look jummy! (I have Dutch friends, and I love their pronounciation/spelling of ‘yummy’)
[...] photographed by me, my photography, my parknic, and the cookies she made to bring to my party. Check out this lovely piece. And my goodness, try the cookies, they are [...]
The cookies were good, I can also vouch for that. But do you never have baking disasters? I recently tried to make bread with coconut flour and it was BRUTAL!!
Meghan- yum. Torturing me with these!! Why don’t companies make cane-sugar & gluten free chocolate chips? I swear, I alone, would keep them in business!
Catherine sounds lovely and you look beautiful in the photo!
ummmmmmmmm – yes, I have
Coconut bread is delicious.. I had it different places in the caribbean… the best on Little Corn Island (Nicaragua), also in Bocas del Toros (Panama)… mind you, I don’t know how it’s made, and if it’s made only with coconut ‘flour’
They sound absolutely supreme, and look equally delectable! I’ll have to give these a try soon!
I’m not familiar with sucanat, is it easy to find at health food stores in Toronto?
Amanda- You should be able to find sucanat in any health food store. Alternatively, you could always use honey or agave, maple sugar or any other natural sweetener you fancy.
That is a lovely photo of you, but all your photo’s show you as a beautiful woman.
The cookie looks and sounds delicious. I love eating cookies and sweet things vicariously – in my imagination ! – on your blog !! Thank you for the sweet thought.
Jill B.
These sound fantastic! What a tasty and healthy cookie. I’m definitely bookmarking this for future baking.
Could I make these with raw cacao? I have some in my fridge an dI am all out of cocoa. I think these would be okay for me right?
true I will use honey and skip the chocolate chips maybe.
I want to make something to take over to my grandparents house this weekend so that I will have a healthy choice when dessert time comes around
[...] is Catherine Farquharson, photographer extra-oridnaire! You’ve met her before here. Catherine is the talent behind that photo up there in my site masthead and Catherine is a brave [...]
Wahouuu i love this pic of you! You look great! The lighting and colors look amazing!
I’ve taken this recipe, and have done something like this: http://www.bakerella.com/mix-things-up/
as a gift for a friend’s birthday!
I mixed up the wet stuff, then put it in a little jar that sits inside the big jar, and then has all the layers around it, and put the whole thing in the fridge until I “deliver” it tonight. Then she just needs to mix the dry ingredients, and add everything from the jar.
I made a label for it, and included ingredients (with my own variations) and a link to your blog
Hope it goes over well, and thank you for providing the recipe!
I’ve taken this recipe, and have done something like this: http://www.bakerella.com/mix-things-up/
as a gift for a friend’s birthday!
I mixed up the wet stuff, then put it in a little jar that sits inside the big jar, and then has all the layers around it, and put the whole thing in the fridge until I “deliver” it tonight. Then she just needs to mix the dry ingredients, and add everything from the jar.
I made a label for it, and included ingredients (with my own variations) and a link to your blog
Hope it goes over well, and thank you for providing the recipe!
Kelly Happy Texan- I don’t spend a moment of time worrying about the sat fats in coconut oil. They are the best kind we can get, and like all fats (aside from trans and hydrogenated) are needed in the diet. Here is my info on coconut oil: http://meghantelpnerblog.com/2009/03/22/rub-on-a-little-oil-coconut-oil/
Ever heard of coconut bread Vanessa? Didn’t think so.
CoconutGal- Now you have me wondering… wonder if it is possible to make chocolate chips from scratch.
Try them with the cacao let me know… In your case though- the sucanat and chocolate chips aren’t the best idea- keeping off of all sugar.