Peanut Butter Power Cookies

“Power because of the daily value of fiber and protein found in the peanut butter . . .”

img_20161216_070841
These Peanut Butter Power Cookies are packed with Krema/Crazy Richard’s peanut butter . . . Oh joy! Photo © 2017 R.L. Peterson

Greetings and welcome in!

I am quite excited to share this recipe. It’s been a labor of love (for peanut butter mostly), but methinks I discovered just the right mix of ingredients.

Peanut Butter “Power”

Nearly everyone loves peanut butter especially the Krema/Crazy Richard’s brand which received an A- rating from Fooducate.

These cookies will be the hit of ANY occasion.

“Power” cookies because of the daily value of fiber and protein found in the peanut butter and Bob’s Red Mill’s wheat germ and flaxseed meal. And, because the cookies are baked on a Lodge Cast Iron griddle – what a tasty and healthy combo!

Peanut Butter Power Cookie Recipe

20170130_150814-1
In large Nordic Ware bowl, mix wet ingredients thoroughly. Photo © 2017 R.L. Peterson
20170130_151510-1
In medium Nordic Ware bowl, sift and mix dry ingredients thoroughly. Photo © 2017 R.L. Peterson
20170130_180001-1
Baked in the oven on a Lodge Cast Iron griddle – fresh and ready to devour! Photo © 2017 R.L. Peterson
pic-on-insta
Is there such a thing as too much peanut butter? Photo © 2017 R.L. Peterson

Ingredients and Instructions

In Large Nordic Ware bowl, mix together thoroughly

  • 1 Tbsp. Bob’s Red Mill Egg Replacer combined with 2 Tbsp. water (premixed in separate mini prep Nordic Ware bowl)
  • ½ cup coconut oil (softened) and 1 Tbsp. water
  • ½ cup Krema/Crazy Richard’s Crunchy Peanut Butter
  • ¼ cup Bob’s Red Mill Cane Sugar
  • ½ cup Bob’s Red Mill Brown Sugar
  • ¼ cup honey (preferably wild or raw)

In Medium Nordic Ware bowl, sift and mix together thoroughly . . . stir into above mix

  • 1½ cups Bob’s Red Mill Unbleached White All-Purpose Flour
  • ½ tsp. Bob’s Red Mill Baking Powder
  • ¾ tsp. Bob’s Red Mill Baking Soda
  • ¼ tsp. Bob’s Red Mill Sea Salt
  • 1 Tbsp. Bob’s Red Mill Wheat Germ
  • 1 Tbsp. Bob’s Red Mill Flaxseed Meal

Additional Instructions

  1. Chill dough for an hour or more then proceed to step #2
  2. Preheat oven to 375°
  3. Place Lodge Cast Iron griddle in oven and preheat for 5-8 min . . . remove from oven
  4. Roll dough into balls the size of large walnuts
  5. Place 3” apart onto preheated Lodge Cast Iron griddle
  6. Flatten with fork dipped into water . . . crisscross.
  7. Bake 10-12 minutes – until set but not hard
  8. Place onto cooling rack and serve

Makes approximately two ½ dozen cookies

Don’t hesitate – go ahead and spread some peanut butter and grape or strawberry jelly between two cookies… and LOOK OUT! Double yummy peanut butter & jelly sandwich!

“Enjoy and Keep a good thought!” Bob P.

Credit where credit is due:

All photos © 2017 R.L. Peterson

Recipe adapted from Betty Crocker’s Picture Cookbook; 1950 Edition; pp. 204

 

Advertisement

LEED Certified “Green” Smoothie

“. . . . the ‘greenest’ building is the one that is already built.”

dsc06764-4
Yep, this is one GREEN smoothie! My brother suggested I name it The Hulk – which seems fitting. However, I ran with my intuition and interest in green/eco-friendly products. Introducing the LEED Certified “Green” Smoothie! Photo © 2016 R.L. Peterson

Greetings and welcome in, my friends!

For this blog, I’ve intertwined two areas of interest- sustainability and vegan lifestyle (healthy eating). I hope you enjoy it!

LEED

LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design), is changing the way people think about how buildings and communities are planned, constructed, maintained, and operated.

Since its inception, I have been a proponent of the US Green Building Council’s LEED certification for green buildings.

US Green Building Council (USGBC), assists in defining acceptable standards for a sustainable future for humanity and the environment – and not just by advancing better buildings, but through five vital project types: building design and construction; interior design and construction; building operations and maintenance; neighborhood development; homes.

The Greenest Building

I also subscribe to the philosophy that the “greenest” building is the one that is already built. Which is why I also support the mission of The National Trust for Historic Preservation. This organization is integral in helping save and restore the nation’s historic buildings and properties in a manner consistent with sustainability.

LEED Certified “Green” Smoothie Recipe

dsc06754-1
What a line up of tasty and healthy ingredients! Photo © 2016 R.L. Peterson
dsc06760-1
Awaiting the blend. Photo © 2016 R.L. Peterson

If I remember correctly, and I’m certain that I do, my Mom couldn’t pay me to eat spinach as a kid. Ha Ha! Now, I’m eating it of my own free will. Oh, how times have changed.

dsc06757-1
Popeye the Sailor Man would be so proud. Ugh, Ugh, Ugh! Photo © 2016 R.L. Peterson

dsc06758-1

dsc06761-1
When the color of my mixture matches the 70s green color of my blender . . . success! Too funny! Photo © 2016 R.L. Peterson
dsc06763-1
Ready to pour. Photo © 2016 R.L Peterson

I doubt the USGBC will certify this drink as platinum or gold but perhaps “Green.”

Seeking a “healthy-tasting” treat . . . this is it! Not to mention it is healthy, too.

I’ve also enjoyed this drink as a substitute for a meal.

Ingredients
• 1 ripe banana, peeled and quartered
• ½ cup frozen fruit (50:50 mix of strawberries and peaches)
• ½ scoop (provided in bag) of Vega Protein Smoothie-Viva Vanilla
• 1 Tbsp. Bob’s Red Mill Flax Seed
• 1 heaping Tbsp. Krema/Crazy Richard’s Crunchy Peanut Butter
• ¾ – 1 cup (varies upon desired thickness) Almond Breeze Almond Milk-Original
• 2 cups fresh baby spinach/spring mix

Instructions
1. Add all ingredients into a blender and mix until creamy
2. Serve immediately but can be frozen to enjoy later
3. Enjoy!

Makes one generously-sized serving

Keep a good thought! Bob P.

Credit where credit is due:
Recipe inspired by runningveganrecipes
All photos © 2016 R.L. Peterson

Iron Horse Recovery Drink

“. . . especially formulated, with ‘Iron Horse’ athletes like Lou Gehrig and Lynn Alice Jennings in mind.”

dsc06741-1
The Iron Horse Recovery Drink – for athletes, blue-collar workers, or anyone seeking a cool, tasty, and vegan pick-me-up. Photo © 2016 R.L. Peterson

An iron horse is said to be coming across the landscape – tunneling through mountains, spitting and hurling cinders, and blowin’ a cloud of dreary steam with every snort. Whinnying – a neigh the likes a body ain’t ever heard!

Excerpt from ‘Balfour Comes to America,’ by R.L. Peterson

Greetings again, my friends!

I’ve woven my eclectic interest and enjoyment of trains, running, and veganism into this Zero528 blog post featuring the Iron Horse Recovery Drink recipe. I hope you enjoy it!

beaumont-ks-002-1
During the steam engine (locomotive) era, the “Iron Horse” would make a water stop at the tower (tank) enroute to its destination. Beaumont, KS. Photo © 2016 R.L. Peterson

Iron Horse Athletes

This drink is especially formulated, with “Iron Horse” athletes like Lou Gerhig and Lynn Alice Jennings in mind.

Lou’s endurance and strength earned him the nickname the “Iron Horse,” while Lynn may be alive today due to a toughness she developed in competition and a physiology built by a lifetime of running.

dsc06727-1
My personal choice for running shoes and apparel . . . Brooks! Photo © 2016 R.L. Peterson

The Iron Horse (locomotives and trains)

I’ve taken an interest in trains since my youth. As kids, our Grandpa Ralph would take my brother Dave and me track-side to watch the trains up close and personal as they “rolled by” near our childhood home in Lamoni, IA.

kcs_locomotive
Kansas City Southern (KCS) locomotive waits in a siding in Joplin, MO. Photo © 2016 R.L. Peterson

Prior to the merger which produced the Burlington Northern, the red, gray, and white livery of the Burlington Route locomotives (probably SD40-2’s) pulled the tonnage of their squeaking freight train right by us. I’m certain I must have waved to the freight conductor – what little kid wouldn’t?

rlpeterson-entry-2-001
Never attempt to drive around lowered gates. Trains have the right-of-way, and trains and cars do NOT mix. For more safety tips, please visit Operation Lifesaver. Photo © 2016 R.L. Peterson

I had the privilage of working two years as a certified freight conductor with the Union Pacific Railroad (Cheyenne to Green River, WY). And yes, I waved at many a little kid!

Click here to compare the benefits and environmentally sustainable aspects of rail vs trucking.

kingman-depot3-1
Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway depot in Kingman, KS. Photo © 2016 R.L. Peterson

Iron Horse Recovery Drink and Veganism

This Iron Horse Recovery drink is a healthy snack when coming home from a long slow distance (LSD) run, evening at the gym, or after a hard and hot day workin’ on the railroad.

The recipe is vegan – as are all the recipes on Zero528. However, some vegans might dispute the use of honey, while others might not. For all the goodness of this yummy drink, one would never imagine it was vegan.

Being vegan is a personal choice, as is not being vegan. If someone isn’t certain what being vegan entails, I simply encourage them to investigate the matter at their convenience.

“Nothing worse than pushy salesmen,” said Burt Miller on The Andy Griffith Show. I couldn’t agree with Burt more, and so I’m not one to attempt to persuade others on the sometimes sensitive topic of veganism.

Pre-race festivities at the 2016 Monster Dash in St. Paul, MN -Frankenstein and me (I’m the one on the far left), and the Wicked Witch and my Mom (far right). LOL! Mom was my good luck charm for my PR- running the 5K at 20:21! New goal…< 19:00.

For me personally, being vegan isn’t about a “diet”– it is about choices. I feel good about the choices I’ve made for me, and I feel better about myself when I consume foods which are healthy and prepared and manufactured in an ethical and sustainable manner.

In addition, I like single ingredient products; e.g., Krema/Crazy Richard’s Crunchy Peanut Butter contains ONLY peanuts.

Iron Horse Recipe

dsc06738_with_blur
Too good not to share! Photo © 2016 R.L. Peterson
dsc06734-blur
All of the ingredients ready to blend. Photo © 2016 R.L. Peterson
close_up
Drink up – like the old Iron Horse steam locomotives would’ve at the end of the line. Photo © 2016 R.L. Peterson

Methinks you’ll enjoy this drink.

It’s cool and refreshing, easy to make, vegan, and best of all it tastes really yummy.

Furthermore, it is a good source of protein, calcium, vitamin E, antioxidants, potassium, and fiber.

Ingredients
• 1 cup Almond Breeze Almond Milk-Original
• 1 Tbsp. cocoa
• 2 Tbsp. honey (not clover)
• 3 Tbsp. Krema/Crazy Richard’s Crunchy Peanut Butter
• 2 ripe bananas, peeled and quartered
• 10-13 ice cubes

Instructions
1. Add all ingredients into blender and mix until creamy
2. Enjoy!
3. Keep a good thought! Bob P.

Makes 2 servings…enough to share with a buddy!

Credit where credit is due:
Recipe inspired by runningveganrecipes
All photos © 2016 R.L. Peterson
Union Pacific Railroad, 2011. Simplifying Logistics: The benefits of rail in a multimodal shipping system.

Vegan Recipes

“The products I use and promote in my cooking, baking, and across all the varied categories featured on Zero528, are those companies whose products I would have used regardless.”

bobby-applesuace
I started writing vegan recipes at an early age… lol!

Greetings and welcome in!

This entry represents my second blog post. I hope you’re enjoying the content of my blog thus far. Yes, I know I’ve only made one entry – Ha Ha.

At your convenience, please take a moment to navigate to my Home/About page and FOLLOW my blog. This action isn’t necessary to enjoy my blog, but allows email notification of each new blog as it posts.

Speaking honestly – I do not profess to be a master chef or baker or even the creator of some new batch of magically wonderful recipes, rather, to present options for preparing recipes which I have altered and/or slightly manipulated to vegan.

The products I use and promote in my cooking, baking, and across all the varied categories featured on Zero528, are those companies whose products I would have used regardless.

A brief list of the companies whose overall sustainability mission aligns with mine, include Clif Bar, Brooks Running, and Blue Diamond/Almond Breeze Almond Milk. And, least I forget,  my new employer… L.L Bean.

Stay tuned, as many posts (w/lots of photos) are in the vault getting ready to be launched soon. Thanks for your support.

bob-p
Keep a good thought! Bob P.