Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Dip

"This stuff is awesome! It's like eating peanut butter frosting!" Jack, my co-worker, said as he popped a second bite of the peanut butter cookie dough dip in his mouth.

"So you really like it?" I asked him as I was gearing up to break the news to him.

"Definitely."

"GOOD!" I clapped my hands. "Because now I'll tell you what's in it."

Jack's face froze.

"It's got dates that have been soaked to release their sweet juiciness... and garbanzo beans. And natural peanut butter!"

Jack's face started to lose color, "I can taste the beans now. I feel like I've been hoodwinked."

"You cannot taste the beans," I said, rolling my eyes at him. "It's awesome. You loved it. It's OK to admit it."

He rolled his eyes at me and admitted that he would never have known this dip was actually healthy if I hadn't told him. Tee-hee!

This deliciousness passed the Jack test. You will seriously never guess the base of this dip is protein and fiber packed garbanzo beans. For reals.







Peanut Butter Cookie Dough Dip
recipe adapted from Chocolate Covered Katie

1 15oz can of garbanzo beans (also called chick peas), drained and rinsed
1 1/4 cup pitted dates
1/2 cup water
2 tsp vanilla extract
1/3 cup peanut butter
1/3 cup mini chocolate chips

Place dates in a small bowl and cover with water. Let sit for 6-8 hours (or overnight).

In the bowl of a food processor, place the dates and liquid. Process for 30 seconds. Add garbanzo beans, vanilla extract, and peanut butter and process until very smooth. Spoon mixture into a bowl and stir in chocolate chips.

Serve with apple slices, cookies, or just eat straight up outta the bowl!

--- 4 Weight Watchers Points Plus per 1/4 cup serving ---

Betty White Was In My Kitchen And She Knows My Grandmother

I heard laughter and jovialness coming from our kitchen, so I decided to investigate.

Frankly, I was bit perturbed that fun was happening and I wasn't part of it.

I rounded the corner and peeked into the kitchen.

My father was standing next to my grandmother, who had her arm around the shoulder of another older woman whose face I couldn't see. Clearly, my grandmother dropped by for a surprise visit with this woman. My dad said something funny that sent the rest of the people in the kitchen - my mother and my aunt (her sister) - into hysterics.

I slipped into the kitchen and stood behind my mom.

I finally caught a glimpse of the woman.

It was Betty White.

In our kitchen.

Brought by my grandmother.

I was all kinds of shocked and excited.

I tried to look and act calm, but inside I was shouting "BETTY WHITE IS IN MY KITCHEN!! BETTY WHITE IS IN MY KITCHEN!! AND SHE'S WITH MY GRANDMOTHER!! MY GRANDMOTHER KNOWS BETTY WHITE!! HOW DOES MY GRANDMOTHER KNOW BETTY WHITE?? HOW DOES BETTY WHITE KNOW MY GRANDMOTHER??? THIS IS AWESOMEEEEEEEE!!!"

I whipped out my iPhone and tried to take a stealth photo to put on Facebook, but I just couldn't make it happen. I felt nerdy. I felt like I was invading the moment. And I didn't want to miss being in the moment. So I just held my phone in my hand and went back to laughing. I don't even know what we were laughing about. But my grandmother and Betty were laughing so hard they were crying.

And then I felt something on my arm. I looked down to see what it was.

And I woke up.

Hmph.

Just a dream.

I'm thinking I need to lay off the Golden Girl reruns and Coke Zero before bedtime.

Or it was a message that I need to start being in the moment more with family and friends, and the second I get distracted by something and turn my attention to the distraction, the moment will go away.

Or my grandmother has been holding out on us all these years, and she really does know Betty White. My grandmother knows everybody.

Eh...it was probably the Coke Zero.

Family Celebrations

March is a busy holiday/anniversary month in our family. My aunt's birthday is the 15th, my brother's birthday and my grandparent's anniversary is the 19th, and my uncle's birthday is the 24th. Whew! My grandparents are celebrating their 35th wedding anniversary, so we had the family at our house to celebrate my grandparent's milestone and the March birthdays. There was an over abundance of food, lots of laughter, babies, and a whole lot of family love going on.