Birdseed Cookies

There's a cute little coffee shop in my hometown and they make some amaze-tastic seed cookies. This recipe is based off their crazy good cookies. If you're all like, "Ugh, why would I want a bunch of seeds and millet in my cookies?" I will tell you that you know nothing, Jon Snow Dear Reader. People are straight up obsessed with these little guys. No joke.

These cookies kind of remind me of no-bakes. Chock-full of seeds, millet, oats, peanut butter, coconut, and chocolate chips, you won't want to toss these to the birds. Trust me. Every time I make them, I'm hounded on when I'm going to post the recipe on Produce On Parade. Well...here you go! 

Birdseed Cookies

Makes 50 cookies

--Notes-- This recipe makes a lot of cookies, so feel free to halve it if you're so inclined. Also, I know these measurements are obnoxious...just go with me.

• Wet:
• 1 Tbsp. ground flax seed
• 2 Tbsp. water
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 1/2 cup + 2 Tbsp. agave nectar (or maple syrup if you're super rich)
• 1/2 cup + 2 Tbsp. olive oil (or coconut oil if you have a trust fund)
• 1/2 heaping cup creamy peanut butter (no palm oil please!)
• 1 Tbsp. sesame oil
• 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
• Dry:
• 3 1/2 cup old-fashioned oats, dry
• 1 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 3/4 cup unsweetened shredded coconut flakes
• 1 cup hulled sunflower seeds
• 1/2 cup millet, dry
• 1/4 cup sesame seeds
• 1/4 tsp. salt
• 1/4 tsp. ground cinnamon (optional)
• 1 cup vegan chocolate chips
• End:
• 3 Tbsp. fresh water

Start by mixing together the ground flax seed and water in a small bowl. Set aside.

In a large mixer bowl, combine the wet ingredients. Add in the combined flax and water. 

In a separate large bowl, combine the dry ingredients

Slowly add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients while mixing on low, until just combined. 

Add in the fresh water and mix until well combined. The dough should hold together well and not be wet. It might even be a tad crumbly, and that's okay. 

Preheat oven to 350 F. Form into half balls and place on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. I use a tablespoon to do this but a little ice cream scoop with a release arm would be perfect, alas, I do not have one. The dough can be a bit sticky. The cookies will not spread at all when baked. 

Bake for about 10 minutes, or until they start to turn golden brown around the edges. Remove from oven and allow to rest on the pan for a minute or two before transferring to a cooling rack.

Try not to let any animals, birds or otherwise snatch them up! Store in an airtight container. 

I'm so great, I even calculated the nutritional information for you! Normally, I do not do this, but I was so curious I just couldn't help myself. Don't worry, the only not-s-good calories come from the brown sugar, agave nectar, and chocolate chips. Just, don't go eating five at once. 

I love this song. The musician, Zach Sobiech, recorded it as a way to express his battle with cancer (osteosarcoma), in which he only had one more year to live. He died at age 18 in May 2013. 

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My Favorite Deodorant - Death By Lavender Review & Giveaway

That's kind of a big deal; to be my favorite deodorant. A deodorant has to be pretty damn sweet to get that title. I might one of those obnoxiously super moderately quasi clean people. You know, always needing to have an excessive amount of shampoo lather when washing my hair (how else will I know it's clean?!) Also, I have a very keen sense of smell. I enjoy a good fragrance as much as the next person, but if it's overpowering or disagrees with me...I'll get a headache. As if that isn't enough, I am particularly persnickety about deodorant. I'm a Mammographer and that means I'm on my feet a lot during the day not to mention it's actually pretty physically demanding! There's a lot of lifting, crouching and moving about. In addition, I run for an hour each day on my lunch break. No one wants a stinky, sweaty mammographer all up their breasts face. Trust me.  I've only permanently changed deodorants three times in my life. I first used Secret, then Dove, and most recently, Ban. I never changed the smell. It has to be a solid too, none of that goopy gel-like stuff. Ick! Wet underarms? No, thank you. It has to go on smooth and even and it can't get all encrusted in my shirts, or causing staining. It must have good scent and last all day. The list, shockingly, goes on and on. Sadly, I only discovered the cruelty inflicted upon animals from the product testing of deodorants when I went vegan. Funny how that happens, huh? I decided there was absolutely no way I would vote for animal cruelty with my wallet by purchasing from these big brand companies that were not cruelty free...no matter how stinky it made me!

I researched and researched cruelty-free deodorants and I finally settled on one brand that had pretty good reviews, compared to others. I won't name names. It was only used it a handful of times. It didn't really keep me very dry and it didn't have any deodorant power at all. So, I ended up getting Ban. I read that they don't test on animals but I still was kind of leery about the controversy over the negative health implications of using deodorant/antiperspirant with sketch ingredients. Most conventional deodorants:

We all know that cosmetic and toiletry companies around the world are pulling triclosan and parabens from their products, which is great news. As for aluminum, there happens to be a lot of controversy over it's potential to cause cancer. There hasn't been any research to absolutely support that the build of aluminium in the body from extended use of an antiperspirant causes breast cancer. Also, more research is needed to determine whether or not aluminium from antiperspirants could be contributing to alzheimer's disease.

However, as a mammographer and someone who deals with a family member with alzheimer's, I can say that using a deodorant made solely from coconut oil, carnauba wax, arrowroot powder and baking soda is no skin off my back. For more information from The National Cancer Institute regarding the toxicity of aluminium, click here. 

So, if you're looking for a non-sketchy deodorant that goes on a like a typical deodorant, will keep you absolutely so fresh and so clean, and that's also vegan and cruelty-free...search no more! Without further adieu, here is my North Coast Organics Deodorant review!

North Coast Organics Deodorants 

There are three varieties: Revolver, Naked and Death By Lavender. 

The travel size is 0.35 fl oz for $3.49 and the full size is 2.5 fl oz for $8.99. It's a little spendy, but it's not something I would go back to conventional deodorants over. I love that they come in recyclable and reusable containers. Also, the labels are printed with vegan ink on 100% Tree Free and Fair Trade Certified Paper.

I expected to be a little sweatier than I would be if I was using a conventional deodorant/antiperspirant. This deodorant is not an antiperspirant and I'm okay with not that. I only noticed myself sweating a little on a few occasions. One time involved a skull radiography exam, an orbits/nasal bone exam, and when my boss informed my co-worker and I that we'd have to start working evenings and Saturdays. Bye, bye blog. Not, not really, but we should probably start a petition right?

My contact with North Coast Organics told me that he thought of the idea to start the deodorant line as an alternative for patients with cancer because they cannot use antiperspirants when undergoing radiation. What a great guy, eh? Who wouldn't want to support that?!

Bottom Line

Did I like this deodorant enough to become my coveted (or...maybe not so much) deodorant of choice? Yes, indeed! In fact, I think it's so awesome I'm going to get some for my lavender-loving friends! I can't get enough of the Death By Lavender!

I like to keep my little lavender lovely in this cute bowl with my synthetic pearls and (vegan) makeup brush. Of course, I'll need to get the regular size!

Giveaway

For 15% off North Coast Organic's wonderful products, use promo code POP2014 on their website. Also, they are generously gifting two lucky readers one travel size set of Revolver, Naked, and Death By Lavender, like you see above.  

a Rafflecopter giveaway Coffee sipping to:[soundcloud url="https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/113324557" params="color=ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_artwork=true" width="100%" height="166" iframe="true" /]

*DISCLAIMER*  PRODUCE ON PARADE IS A PERSONAL BLOG WRITTEN AND EDITED BY MYSELF AND TODD ONLY, UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED. OUR REVIEWS ARE COMPLETELY BASED ON OUR OWN OPINIONS OF THE PRODUCT REVIEWED. WE ARE NOT PAID TO WRITE POSTS. THESE PRODUCTS WERE SUPPLIED TO US AS GIFTS BY THE COMPANY TO TEST AND REVIEW. OTHERWISE, IF WE MENTION A COMPANY BY NAME AND THERE IS NO DISCLAIMER AT THE BOTTOM OF THE POST, WE ARE MERELY WRITING ABOUT SOMETHING WE LIKE, PURCHASE AND/OR USE. THE FACT THAT WE DO RECEIVE A PRODUCT AS A GIFT TO TEST AND REVIEW, WILL NEVER POSITIVELY INFLUENCE THE CONTENT MADE IN OUR POST.

Thai Coconut Curry Soup

Soup. I make a lot of the stuff.

It's just such a great way to woof down a bunch of veggies...and such a delicious way. Plus, there's so many options and customizations. Also, who's going around not liking soup?! That's like someone saying they don't like music. It's just implausible. If someone tells you that they don't freaking love soup...they are not to be trusted. I warned you.

A creamy, coconut based soup full of fresh veggies with a strong Thai influence thanks to cilantro, ginger, curry and lemongrass. A soup that's perfect for those January blues.

At least the states have snow. It's cold again here in Alaska, but we now have no snow to speak of after our little chinook! Not even one lousy, nasty snow berm in the median. It's that dire. 

Thai Coconut Curry Soup

Serves 10

• Aromatics:
• 1 Tbsp. coconut oil
• 1 medium yellow onion, diced
• 1 Tbsp. curry powder
• 2 Tbsp. red curry paste
• 1/2 tsp. turmeric
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 Tbsp. fresh ginger, minced
• 1/2 Tbsp. fresh lemongrass paste (or half a stalk)
• Veggies: 
• 1 small carrot, thinly peeled and chopped in half
• 1 red bell pepper, diced
• 10 oz. fresh white mushrooms, sliced
• 3 oz. fresh fancy snow peas, cut in half diagonally
• Broth:
• 8 cups vegetable broth (I used my homemade broth!)
• 2 14 oz. canned full-fat coconut milk
• 3 Tbsp. brown sugar
• 1 Tbsp. worchestershire sauce
• 1 Tbsp. soy sauce
• 1/2 tsp. crushed red pepper
• 1/2 Tbsp. miso paste
• Conclusion:
• 20 oz. firm tofu, drained and diced
• 2 limes, juiced
• handful of fresh spinach
• 1/2 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
• 2 green onions, thinly sliced

In a very large soup pot, heat the coconut oil over medium flame. Add the rest of the aromatic ingredients and saute until the onions begin to brown, about 5 minutes.

Meanwhile chop up the veggies. Add the veggie ingredients to the pot and saute until the carrots begin to soften, about 8-10 minutes. 

Next, add in all the broth ingredients, except for the miso paste. In a small cup, add about 1/2 cup of the warm broth and stir in the miso paste, until dissolved. Now, add to the pot and stir to combine.  

Turn the heat up to medium high and allow to cook for another 5 minutes, but do not allow it to boil. Once thoroughly heated, turn to low and add the conclusion ingredients. Allow to cook just long enough to heat the tofu. 

Serve hot and topped with extra chopped cilantro, mung beans or even a few crushed peanuts!

It was a frustrating day at work and nothing short of upsetting, so I'm listening to:

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And keeping in mind...

 

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