In the last two weeks since I last wrote, I’ve barely had the time to sit down and relax.
After a weekend of saying goodbyes to the other interns from Juan’s workplace, we took the 7am bus on Monday, the 21st of December, which ran straight towards New York and dropped us off at Times Square. Between that Monday and the next when we returned to DC, we had plenty of rain but also plenty of fun, soaking in the drizzles and the vibes and charm of the Big Apple.
I’ll be posting about our second trip to NYC sometime soon, but for now, one day before 2015 ends and the new year swings itself in, I’m taking a few quiet moments to sit down and reflect.
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2015 has been so many things – joy, sadness, excitement, new life and unfortunately, death. There are so many things that I could focus on, but as we end this amazing, eventful year, I choose to focus on all the good and beautiful things that have taken place.
A year ago on 25th December 2014, I almost lost my mum in an unexpected heart attack; today she is healthier than before, and living her new retired life with gusto and a fresh can-do attitude. Juan and I also spent four amazing months living abroad in Washington DC during his internship at the Organization of American States. While we are sad to leave, we also believe and hope that we’ll be back here soon. I’ve spent time and effort developing my growing career as a freelance writer, food blogger and photographer, and give thanks that I’m now beginning to see the fruits of my labor.
There is so much abundance, so much love, and there is simply so much to be thankful for.
There is still uncertainty though; we’ll be re-locating back to Buenos Aires next week, and have to start the search for another apartment yet again. Career-wise, there are a couple of options, but I don’t know how things will pan out. In situations like these, it’s easier to doubt than to trust, to complain of what we lack instead of to appreciate what we do have.
But I’ve learnt that we usually always have more than enough; we only think we don’t. I’ve also learnt that only when we start looking at the abundance that we have in life, can we then start becoming a blessing to those who really are in need.
We started a Christmas time tradition this year – we baked cookies and made ham and cheese sandwiches and walked around DC giving out food to the homeless on the streets. We’d done something similar in Buenos Aires last year together with my friend Mechi, and we wanted to continue doing it this year.
Juan and I strongly believe in the spirit of giving, and the Saturday before Christmas, we braved the chilly winds and handed out the food to whoever wanted it. It made us feel warm and fuzzy inside.
I wanted to tell you about the cookies we made – these double chocolate almond coconut cookies – because so many of those who tried them told me how good they were. Our friend Bruna loved them so much she packed two of those in a piece of tissue to bring it back to her house.
I think the chocolate chunks in these cookies really make them shine, and combined with the chocolate almond butter and coconut flour used in the dough, these cookies are definitely a huge success. They’re grain-free, rich and crazy good. The perfect way to end an amazing year, or simply to start another one.
A very happy New Year to every beautiful one of you! See you in 2016!
Grain-free Double Chocolate Almond Coconut Cookies
- Total Time: 25 mins
- Yield: 12 cookies 1x
Description
Rich chocolate chunks in a deliciously chewy, grain-free cookie dough, made with chocolate almond butter and coconut flour, these cookies are amazing.
Ingredients
- 3/4 cup of chocolate almond butter (I used Trader Joe’s)
- 1/2 cup of cane sugar
- 2 tablespoons of melted butter
- 2 eggs
- 1/2 cup of coconut flour
- 1 teaspoon of baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon of salt
- 1/2 cup of dark chocolate chunks (or chocolate chips)
Instructions
- Pre-heat oven to 350 deg. Fahrenheit (180 deg. Celsius) and line a large baking sheet with parchment paper
- In a large mixing bowl, mix chocolate almond butter with sugar, melted butter and eggs, until well combined
- Sift in coconut flour, baking powder and salt and mix until you get a homogeneous dough
- Fold in chocolate chunks until chunks are evenly distributed
- Scoop cookie dough by tablespoon and place on prepared baking sheet, leaving 3 fingers’ of space between each cookie. Repeat until no more dough is left.
- Bake for 15 minutes or until cookies are cooked through
Notes
Adapted from this recipe
- Prep Time: 10 mins
- Cook Time: 15 mins
- Category: Dessert
- Cuisine: Grain-free
Lindsey Bomgren says
Hey pretty lady! So glad I found you through TBP — you are simply adorable. You, your blog, your cookies, your travels and beautiful life story! Can’t wait to keep following along (and make these cookies)! xo-Lindsey
felicia | Dish by Dish says
Hey Lindsey! Your sweet comment just made me smile so wide!! Thanks for dropping by..and so glad I found you through TBP too! I saw your about page and really liked what you’ve done with it!! 🙂 Can’t wait to be following your blog (fitness, recipe, spiritual life tips too!)
Carolyn says
Hi Felicia,
I’m so inspired in your fun and generous day of giving to the homeless. I want to do that exact same thing – I can hardly wait so I’ll probably be doing this on just a normal day; not waiting for a holiday. I’ve missed a lot of your emails lately but am so glad that I caught this one.
This recipe looks wonderful and can hardly wait to make it too.
I’m also thankful that I saw this email catching your news about moving back to Buenos Aires. Seems like you just arrived in DC. I’ve loved reading your adventures when you arrived. You were brave in fitting right in and moving forward in your new adventure. I can imagine you’ve been homesick quite often and look forward to being with family once again.
Even though I don’t know you and it really doesn’t matter if you’re in the states or abroad for my love of reading your blogs, for some reason a part of me feels sad that you”re leaving. Seems so funny to me ’cause it doesn’t make sense!
The best I can do is try to catch up with the many blogs I have missed in your most interesting blogs filled with adventure, emotion and love. You bear your soul in a way that makes us feel we know you as your share your life with us. Thank you for this –
Kind Regards,
Carolyn
felicia | Dish by Dish says
Hey Carolyn, our friend Mechi really inspired us to give food to the homeless back in Christmas 2014, and we thought that it’d be a great idea to do it as a yearly Christmas time tradition! 🙂 It does make the season feel more meaningful 🙂 Thank you so much for all your kind words and support, I love reading your comments and they really make me smile! Thank you for letting me share my life with you!
Love,
felicia
Grace Lim says
Hello Felicia,
I am so proud of both you and Juan for sharing your cookies with the community with Christmas Cheers and bracing the chilly winds.
Yes leaving eventful 2015 behind and move forward into a new year 2016 and make it a better year for all of us!
Blessed and Joyous New Year – 2016 🙂
Cheers,
Mum
felicia | Dish by Dish says
Happy New Year too mummy 🙂 May 2016 be the best year ever!!
Shannon says
These look delicious! Happy New Year!
felicia | Dish by Dish says
Thank you so much Shannon! Nice to meet you and Happy New Year too!