Easter Egg Hunts and Chocolate Coconut No-Bakes

"Oo a piece of candy!... Oo a piece of candy!... Oo a piece of candy!... Oo a piece of candy!... Oo a piece of candy!... Oo a piece of candy!... Oo a piece of candy!".....  - Family guy

 
My coworker has given up chocolate for lent, and so today...she was freed from restraint! So I made no-bake cookies to take to work :) Also, a side note... the Facebook is disabled for a while.. Don't worry! I didn't block you.. just need a break from it. So bye for now, we still have phones and email! 

I was hunting through foodgawker yesterday, (awesome site) looking for Easter egg recipes. I found naturally died eggs (with beets, carrots, cabbage, and spinach dyes), lovely cupcakes and egg nests made with butterscotch and Chinese noodles. Many egg sandwich and deviled egg recipes too.


Here were a few of my favorite finds for Easter eggs, and how to make the most of them. I wanted to try them all out..but not enough time, or appetite. Check them out!


Deviled Eggs-three different ways
Bacon, egg, pancake cups
Healthier deviled eggs using hummus
Naturally Dyed Easter Eggs
Light and Healthy Egg White Salad
Method- perfectly cooked hard-boiled eggs


My favorite method for perfectly hard boiled eggs? Bring eggs in a pot of cold water to a boil for 2 minutes. Take off the burner and let them sit for about 7 minutes. Toss in icewater, peel and eat. I like a medium cooked yolk, more on the tender, bright yellow side (as apposed to hard, pale yellow). 

Here is my recipe for no-bakes. I reduce the sugar by more than half, and reduce the amount of butter by 1/2. The coconut and milk adds a lot of sweetness and richness.


Chocolate Coconut No Bakes
3 c. old fashioned oats
1 c. medium flake coconut
1/2 stick butter
1/2 c. light coconut milk
1 tbsp vanilla extract
1 c. peanut butter or almond butter
1 tsp cinnamon
1/4 c. unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 c. sugar

1) in a saucepan, melt butter. Add milk, peanut butter, cocoa, and sugar. Mix well and add vanilla. Stir and bring to a low boil for 1 minute. Remove from heat.
2) Add oats and coconut, stirring. Drop golf-ball size cookies onto parchment, sprinkle more coconut and let cool.