Tonight we opened up our mailbox to the most amazing surprise! Coconut bread from one of our dear sweet neighbors as a little Christmas treat. I’ve never really heard of coconut bread before or tried it but it was AMAZING. My husband (who hates coconut) even tried it and loved it. So tasty. Of course I missed the chance to take a pic before we finished it off so I guess that’s as good of an excuse as any to go ahead and make it myself. For now here is the recipe as written by my dear neighbor Kelly.. More pics coming soon! 

A chocoholic’s dream – dark chocolate with sea salt and a touch of whip cream in one (or two) amazing, little bites. Perfect for a party or just a light evening dessert. These things are amazing!

Ingredients:

• 15 mini phyllo shells (1 package), thawed if frozen
• 1/4 cup low fat milk
• 1 tsp salted butter
• 3/4 cup dark chocolate chips
• 1/2 tsp vanilla
• a sprinkle of sea salt (per bite)
• fat free whip cream

Instructions:

• Preheat oven to 350ºF.
• Place phyllo shells on a sheet pan and bake until lightly crisp, about 5 minutes.
• Meanwhile, in a small saucepan over high heat, heat milk and butter, stirring occasionally, until milk boils and butter melts. Reduce heat to low; stir in chocolate and vanilla extract until combined.
• Let chocolate mixture cool slightly, about 2 to 3 minutes; evenly divide among cooked phyllo shells. Sprinkle tarts with sea salt; chill until filling sets, about 10 minutes. Top each tart with whipped cream before serving.

Original recipe available here.

My husband and I are officially trying to lose the baby pounds. As an avid baker and dessert eater I’ve had to find some healthier alternatives that satisfy those dessert cravings but don’t pack on the pounds. Here is one of my favorites:

No Bake Oatmeal Peanut Butter Balls

• 3 cups old fashion or quick oats
• 1/2 cup chocolate chips
• 1 1/4 cups crunchy peanut butter
• 3/4 cup honey (use local honey if possible)
• 2 teaspoons vanilla

Directions:

1. In a large bowl, mix everything together
2. Form into 1″ balls and place on a baking sheet.
3. Put them in the refrigerator for 15 minutes and voila…they’re done!
4. These can then be put into zip lock bags or containers to store in the refrigerator (or freezer for longer term storage). Enjoy!

Original recipe available here.