#freezable

Big, Soft & Chewy Tahini-Olive Oil Chocolate Chunk Cookies 

Servings: 12 big cookies
Prep: 15 min + chilling time 
Cook: 12 min
Total: 27 min

STUFF
⅓ cup (80 grams) tahini
½ cup (100 grams) extra virgin olive oil
½ cup (100 grams) brown sugar
½ cup (100 grams) sugar
1 tablespoon (20 grams) honey or agave
1½ teaspoon vanilla
½ teaspoon cinnamon
¼ teaspoon instant espresso powder
¼ teaspoon fine sea salt
1 large egg (60-65 grams)
½ teaspoon baking soda
1½ cups (200 grams) all-purpose flour
5.3 oz (150 grams) chopped chocolate, at least 55% cocoa
Some sea salt flakes for topping

STEPS
Transfer olive oil, tahini, sugars, honey, vanilla, cinnamon, espresso powder and salt to a bowl and beat with your electric mixer or a whisk for 1-2 minutes until sugar is almost dissolved.

Add the egg and beat for 1 minute until creamy.

Combine the flour with the baking soda in a small bowl and add them to the olive oil/tahini mixture. Mix gently with a spatula until almost combined.

Reserve some pieces of the chopped chocolate and mix the rest with batter.

Using an ice cream scoop, scoop 12 cookies and place them on a pan or a large plate, the one next to the other.

Place the chocolate pieces you have left on top of each cookie, cover with cling film and refrigerate for 3-4 hours or overnight.

Preheat oven to 356°F (180°C) and line your pan with baking paper.

Roll each cookie into a ball and transfer to the pan, leaving about 2-3 inches distance between each cookie.

Sprinkle cookies with some sea salt flakes and bake for 11-12 minutes. The cookies will puff up a bit.

Take the pan out of the oven and tap it 2-3 times on the counter for the cookies to deflate and settle. This will give them a bakery-style look.

Let them cool for 5 minutes and transfer to a rack to cool completely. Eat!

NOTE
Don’t omit the cinnamon or espresso powder (also known as espresso instant coffee). You can’t taste them, but they make a difference! Use good quality instant coffee granules if you don’t have espresso powder.

Use your favorite chocolate bar instead of chocolate chips (chopping the chocolate will produce both big chunks and trimmings each of which flavors the cookie in a different way). The result will be so much better!

Reserve some pieces of chopped chocolate to place on top of each cookie for a better look.

The dough will be soft. To get big, fat cookies you’ll have to scoop them and chill them in the fridge for several hours before baking (I do this overnight). After chilling them, you can freeze them and have them ready to bake for when in need.

When you take the cookies out of the oven they’ll be puffed-up. Tap the pan on your counter 2-3 times and you’ll immediately see them transform into bakery-style cookies!

These tahini and olive oil cookies will keep fresh for 3-5 days, stored in an airtight container at room temperature.

Slow Cooker Green Lentil Curry

Servings: 6
Prep: 5 minutes
Cook: 3-4 rs (high) or 6-8 hrs (low)

STUFF
½ tsp onion powder
½ tsp garlic powder
1 tsp turmeric
½ tsp ground coriander
1 tsp curry powder
1 tsp cumin
1 ¼ tsp salt
6 oz can tomato paste
2 cups green lentils, uncooked & rinsed
3 cups water
14 oz can coconut milk, full fat
2 cups leafy greens (spinach, baby kale)
Kielbasa, optional
Cilantro and/or green onions, for garnish
Greek yogurt and avocado, for serving

STEPS 
In the slow cooker, combine onion powder, garlic powder, turmeric, coriander, curry powder, cumin, salt, coconut milk, tomato paste, water and green lentils.

Stir to combine, cover and cook on High for at least 3 – 4 hours or on Low for 6 – 8 hours. About 1 hour before lentils are done, stir in the coconut milk.

Once done, stir in leafy greens until they are wilted. Serve hot and garnished with cilantro, scallions, and optional meat.

NOTE
To make it in Instant Pot: add onion powder, garlic powder, turmeric, coriander, curry powder, cumin, salt, green lentils, water, coconut milk and tomato paste. Do not stir! Cover, set pressure valve to Sealing and press Pressure Cooking on High for 25 minutes. When done, do Quick Release to release the pressure by turning the valve to Venting. Stir in leafy greens until wilted and serve.