Chocolate chunk & cashew cookie bar

It is hard to wrap my brain around that September is already here. Kids are back in school in a few days, Ocean is starting high school! CRAZY. She will be learning to drive in a few months!! She has been bugging about a VW van...she wants one. Fitting I suppose for a vegan girl named Ocean.

Yesterday Leeluu wanted to make cookies and pulled up a chair to the counter, hoisted all the ingredients up. Funny girl. She even asked if we needed `this` (apple cider vinegar). I think it's great that food plays a huge roll in my children's lives. It makes me smile.

We decided to make cookie bars. I have never made them before, it is basic a cookie recipe that I added a bit of almond milk. Pressed into a 9x13 cake pan. They turned out really well. I think I will make more without nuts, and maybe add some seeds and dried fruit and such for school lunches.


3/4 cup vegetable shortening
3 tbsp peanut butter ( or cashew!)
1 cup brown sugar
2 tsp vanilla
2 tbsp ground flax seed- mixed with 6 tbsp of warm water
2 cups flour
1/2 tsp sea salt
2 tbsp almond milk
1 tsp baking powder
1 cup chocolate chunks
1 cup cashews- toasted

Preheat oven to 350.
Lightly grease a 9x13 cake pan
With a mixer beat shortening with sugar.
Add vanilla, and flax.
Mix together flour,salt, baking powder.
Pour a little bit in at a time, until well mixed.
Add milk, and beat until dough consistency.
Stir in chocolate and cashews.
Press dough firmly into pan, and bake for 25 minutes.