Isn't it wonderful how life just happens sometimes? Just when you find your routine, your groove, life comes and shakes it all up. I think it's pretty neat. What fun would it be if every day was the same as the last?
Such has been the case for me recently. Little bits of life have been showing up all over the place. I've found myself on a job that I was sure I would dread but actually fell head over heels in love with. It's the best project I've worked on yet. It's also kept me pretty busy and unable to tend to Keepin' It Kind as much as I would like.
Then, right as the project was ramping up, Chris threw his back out at the gym. This dose of life kind of threw a huge wrench in the middle of things as not only is Chris my husband, but he is my boss at work and Keepin' It Kind's photographer. Let's just say this little incident was a huge lesson in appreciation for Chris as I had to take on many of the day-to-day things Chris takes care of around the house in addition to taking care of him and working and then doing all the things I normally do. I had no time for recipe creation and Chris definitely couldn't handle a camera so Keepin' It Kind took the backseat for a little while.
On top of all of this, life has been showing up in the form of doing the baking for a vegan bake sale and getting bids for our upcoming kitchen remodel, using up whatever's left of my energy. The project we've been working on is wrapping up now and my brain is feeling pretty fried. I realize that none of this is terribly crazy- just the little twists and turns that life takes on a regular basis. I'm just thankful these are little twists and turns and I feel blessed that I'm here to experience them. With that said, I do feel like I need to not think for awhile. To keep things simple. Instead of bursting with recipe ideas and post topics, I'm craving things like walks with my dog on the beach, my bed, and Arrested Development marathons. Rather than keeping up with Facebook and Twitter, the only thing I feel like using my computer for is for shopping for a new duvet cover. Anything beyond this just overwhelms me. This last weekend, though, for the first time since the bake sale, I was finally in the mood for a little baking, but nothing crazy. Just plain and simple vanilla cookies.
These vanilla cookies, however, though super simple to make and containing very few ingredients, are far from plain. Each light, puffy cookie tastes like a bite of vanilla cake, but better. Bursting with vanilla flavor from a vanilla bean, vanilla coconut yogurt, and vanilla extract, these cookies are just a dream for my frazzled, overwhelmed brain. They're so delicious and addicting and the first thing I've made that has inspired me to write in about two weeks. Thank goodness Chris's back has healed enough to photograph them!
Thank you so much for all of your wonderful comments these last couple weeks and thank you so much for your support as I try to pull myself together and get life back on track. In the meantime, enjoy these cookies and this wonderful gift we call life.
Ingredients
- 1 cup vegan vanilla coconut yogurt (or soy)
- 2 tablespoons coconut oil, melted (at room temp)
- 1/4 cup maple syrup
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- seeds from 1 vanilla bean
- 1 1/4 cups gluten-free flour blend (I used Cara's)
- 1/4 cup almond flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper. Set aside.
- In a large bowl, whisk together the dry ingredients. Set aside.
- In a medium bowl, mix together the wet ingredients.
- Make a well in the middle of the dry ingredients and pour your wet ingredients into the well. Use a spoon to mix together until just combined.
- Use a tablespoon to scoop heaping spoonfuls of the dough onto the prepared baking sheets, about 2 inches apart. Bake in the oven for 10 minutes or until set and just barely starting to brown around the bottom. Let cool on the baking sheet for about 2-3 minutes before transferring to a cooling rack. Let cool completely before serving or storing in an airtight container. Enjoy!
I'll be back next week with a fun theme for the whole week. Be sure to check in on Monday!
What do you do when life throws you curveballs?
Photography by Chris Miller
Beth
Welcome back! We missed you! Sorry about all the things getting in the way, but that's how life works sometimes. These cookies look a-mazing! I can't wait to try them!
Caitlin
i've been feeling the same way recently, and i don't think my busy schedule will be calming down any time soon. the vegan chickpea is getting a little neglected, too... ;(
i'm glad everything is coming back to normal now. i know what it's like to have a husband throw out his back... no fun! but these photos are extra gorgeous. the colors remind me of greece 😉 and the ingredient list is awesome. can't wait to give these a try!
Sarah
When life throws me curveballs...I take 5 and talk to God. Man, that does wonders. And they don't seem insurmountable anymore 🙂
And, these look so simple and yummy! Can I use regular flour for the almond and gf mix? I usually have gf on hand, but I'm out.
I grind my own flour so it's kinda like AP flour, but not so bad for you! Thanks!
Andrea
Hope things are calmer around your house and Chris's back is healing. It can't hurt to have soft, fragrant cookies around to lift your spirits! The cookies sound delicious and I'm saving the recipe so I can make them soon.
Ruta
I've definitely been a ton busier lately, but nowhere near how busy you were! I hope things calm down soon, and Chris' back heals. On the other hand, those cookies look delicious! I love that they use yogurt.
Richa
I am somewhat in the same boat:) random things, house hunt, stresses.. baah.
these simple puffy cookies are what i need this weekend.. to chill and relax with hubbs and chew in our favorite park.
I hope Chris heals well and things settle down. Great to hear that you love your job! its so difficult to find one you love:)
sending you happy fun and settled times:)
Ashlee
Love a quick and simple recipe. They're often surprisingly the best received and loved. These look great!
Shira
Glad to hear things are getting a little more back on track Kristy! And that Chris' back is feeling better. Honestly, I can so relate to this post and the way you are feeling...every once in a while life just gets, well, like that 🙂 Happy to hear you are loving your new job, Happy Spring!
Liz
I LOVE love LOVE being busy, getting things done, enjoying the whole process. But, I ALSO love when it's all over, and I get to recharge by doing as LITTLE as possible so I can get ready for the next big thing. I truly relish in both sides of the equation, delighting in both the frenzy of activity and the well-deserved INactivity that follows. But, I definitely need that break to keep going with the crazy. It doesn't have to be for long, but it needs to be fairly frequent, sort of like a micro nap.
PS Congrats on the kitchen remodel. I'm totally jealous, but, I think, for all the would-be parties, it's best that I NEVER do a remodel. I spent 3 hours in the nursery today picking out mailbox flowers, then ended up not buying anything! LOL Indecisive much?? Too many choices without ample research time is (one of) my own personal nightmare. 🙂
PPS Are you at liberty to go into further detail about your project? You have thoroughyl piqued my curiosity.
keepinitkind
Hi there! I should clarify- I LOVE being busy and productive. It makes me feel alive! But when it's a constant go-go-go without any rest, I am definitely ready for a break when it's over. 🙂
The kitchen remodel is an interesting/fun/stressful thing. We rent, but our kitchen is atrocious and after living here for 3 years and mentioning to our landlord that the grout in the kitchen is cracked and letting in ants, he's agreed to remodel our entire kitchen. The catch is that we have to do the legwork, get it approved by him and his wife (who is very picky), and then live here through the remodel. It's a battle of trying to do what we need in the kitchen and know will look good, but trying to fit it into their budget and tastes. I'm very excited about it and having fun with the planning, but I'll be VERY happy when it's over. 🙂
And I can tell you more about the project we've been working on! Chris is a Location Manager for film and commercials and I am his coordinator. While he finds the locations, sets up agreements, and makes sure everything runs smoothly on the day of filming, I handle all of the paperwork, hire & schedule vendors (like porta-johns, dumpsters, tents, tables, chairs, etc.), and make sure everyone gets paid while keeping Chris on budget. I only get hired when Chris books a film that can afford me (usually he just gets 1-2 scout/assistants). He worked on the last Muppet movie, and while the sequel was filmed mostly in London, there was some LA stuff to do, which is what we just wrapped up. So yeah- that's what we do when we're not doing Keepin' It Kind. 🙂
Liz
Kristy,
Your projects with Chris sound so glamorous!! However, I used to contribute to something similar for magazine shoots, so I know it's not all fame and fortune. 🙂 How great that you get to work together; it DOES sound like A LOT of work, though. (Jim Henson was a GENIUS, and, IMHO, is unsurpassed in both his creativity and contribution to Hollywood/children/the WORLD.) It's no wonder you needed a break after all of that. (It totally didn't sound like you were NOT loving it all; I was just agreeing with you that breaks are good. 🙂 )
Regarding the remodel, that's pretty cool about your landlord. A little added stress, though, what with having a person (who WON'T be living in/using the kitchen) to approve your ideas/choices, but mostlandlords would just tell a renter to suck it up or get some ant poison. Are you going to post before and after pictures? (I'm such a sucker, especially in "everyday" persons' homes.) I relish the idea of new, clean redos, but, I loathe having strangers (ie: random dirty men) in my home; I hope you deal better with that than I do. Keep us updated!
keepinitkind
I will definitely keep you updated and trust me- there will plenty of before and after pics. 🙂
Heather
I have been feeling the same way- work has been crazy busy, I haven't totally been inspired in the Kitchen and I have been busy preparing the Garden for the summer season...once the beautiful weather arrives I find it hard to justify being inside cooking/baking/photographing 🙂 I will hopefully be back at it soon enough. So happy to hear that Chis is feeling better, a thrown out back is definitely not fun to deal with 🙁 Loving the name of these cookies, it totally made me smile when I saw the title of the recipe/post!
Gabby @ the veggie nook
Welcome back Kristy! I feel like blogging has taken a backseat to my life more often than not recently, so I understand how easily it can happen! It's important to be able to step away and tend to life when it needs it. Because we will all be here waiting for you when you come back 🙂
And I'm so glad you are because these cookies look divine!
OMG Arrested is SO SOON!
keepinitkind
Thank you, Gabby! xx
cj
What a simple, classic recipe 🙂
Esther
I tried making these and they turned out deflated and chewy rather than puffy, am I doing something wrong here?