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      Because Maddy tries hard to stick to a vegan diet, when I cook for our family I try to be conscious about including things that she can eat in the menu, but it isn't always easy for me to come up with vegan ideas other than salads! For example, last night we had company over for dinner.  The main dish was a family favorite chicken enchilada casserole.  (I posted a crock pot version of it here.) So, that wasn't something she could eat.  I also made a cabbage salad that had onions, almonds, mandarin oranges and ramen in it.  It was delicious and definitely vegan, something she could eat.  For dessert we had pumpkin pie, so she couldn't eat that.  I wasn't sure if everyone liked pumpkin pie, so I decided to make No-Bake Cookies as an option.  But, as I started to make them, I realized that I had used all of the canned milk when I made the pies.  What I did have was canned coconut milk, so that got me to thinking that I could turn this recipe vegan for Maddy's sake, plus it would be something everyone else could enjoy as well. 
     I substituted the milk with coconut milk, the butter with coconut oil and I added a cup of coconut into the mix.  Maddy buys herself vegan peanut butter.  I don't know what makes peanut butter not be vegan, but I do know it has less sugar in the vegan variety.  But, I used regular peanut butter.  I didn't want to use up all of Maddy's pricey stuff, but if you are died in the wool vegan, that is an option.  Also, you could substitute coconut sugar for the regular sugar.  We didn't have enough for this recipe.   The cookies came out softer than regular no bakes, and even though there is a lot of coconut products in there, there isn't a strong coconut taste.  But, everyone enjoyed them and I hope that you will as well! 

Vegan Coconut No-bake Cookies

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     A while ago, I went on an Oatmeal Cookie quest to find a recipe that my husband would find to be as good as his grandma's.  I don't know that I ever accomplished that magical feat, but my husband was really happy to get to eat a lot of Oatmeal Raisin cookies for awhile.  
     The other day, I was thinking that I should make him another batch.  I was tempted to put chocolate chips in them because that is how I like them.  But, I also like raisins as well.  Then, I came across these! 

     I actually used my favorite Browned Butter Oatmeal Raisin Cookie recipe, and just substituted the chocolate covered raisins for the regular raisins.  It did change the texture of the recipe a bit I think.  The raisins weren't as prevalent as in the regular recipe.  What you get are these bursts of sweet surprises as you eat the cookies. 

     In case you don't want to go back to my old post, where there is a pdf of the recipe, I am going to post a printable version here! I hope that you enjoy it as much as we did.  I told my son, who is serving a mission in Africa, about this recipe.  He asked me, "Why didn't you think of those before I left?"  Ha Ha!  I promised to make him some when he gets home! 

Chocolate Covered Raisin Oatmeal Cookies

Here are more Chocolate Covered Raisin Options:

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Our baby girl (PH calls her Baby Puppy, which my mom doesn't like, but she doesn't understand how much he loves dogs, and therefore, it is a term of endearment) is three weeks old today. Every day I stare at her in wonder. She is changing so quickly and it makes my heart hurt a little because these precious days are going so fast. On the other hand I'm also grateful because breastfeeding has been a battle royale for us.
I have been experiencing the joys of having flat nipples and nipple shields don't work. At least they don't for me. they move around and come off so she ends up with a shield in her mouth and nothing else. I also tried a nipple everter, which works except it expresses milk that gets everywhere and that is annoying. However, on those rare occasions she has latched she tries once and then gives me a look that says, "why have you done this to me?" then she goes to sleep and doesn't eat. Most nursing sessions have ended with us both in tears. Her crying because she is still hungry, and me crying because I am in pain, and feel like a failure as a mother.

I personally am not ready to give up the ghost and switch to formula. (I am not judging anyone in a similar situation who has switched, or if you just started with formula from the get go. Although I know the nutritive properties of breast milk are better for baby, I am from the fed is best camp. You have to do what is right for you and your baby, and it is none of my business what that decision is. Just as long as you are feeding your little one.) This flu and RSV season have been horrible. We just heard on the news last night about two more deaths from the flu, and three children who live in our same county have died from the flu. So I am determined to give her breast milk at least through this RSV season, while I keep us quarantined in the house.

Because of this struggle I have become a pumping warrior. Every time she eats (from a bottle) I pump. I have been trying so hard to do everything I can to increase my milk production so I can start storing breast milk and get ahead of our little eater.

I take my daily vitamin every morning along with two fenugreek capsules. I eat oatmeal with flax seed, and I put brewer's yeast in my morning shake and chug it. Of course, I am trying hard to stay hydrated. In all of this effort I have been able to get back into baking a little more with lactation cookies.

I mean, I don't know if you've ever had brewer's yeast, but it tastes like vomit. I personally do not enjoy that flavor, and somehow, when I put it into these cookies the vomit taste goes away, and I have something that will increase my milk production, AND taste delicious!

Of course, I had to come up with a version that included pumpkin.

These cookies are moist, soft, and pumpkiny. They don't taste a thing like brewer's yeast, they taste like fall, and happiness. If you're looking for a way to boost your lactation, these cookies are the perfect solution. Pop a couple every day and watch your milk production increase!

Pumpkin Oatmeal Lactation Cookies