Cilantro Ginger Sauce

 In a blender:

2 C packed cilantro leaves

1/4 C + 1 T vegetable oil

1/2 jalapeño pepper

1" peeled fresh ginger root, finely grated

2 T lime juice

3 scallions, green part only

Rich Chocolate Frosting

This delicious frosting is easy if you plan ahead. I keep a can of coconut cream in my fridge so I can make it any time. This is Simone's adaptation of Oh She Glows 2-Ingredient Chocolate Fudge Frosting.

1 can coconut cream (I use Trader Joe's)
6 rectangles unsweetened Baker's Chocolate
3 T agave syrup (or honey)

Chill coconut cream in the can overnight.

Turn can upside down to open. Pour off liquid. Spoon 3 tablespoons from the can into a small saucepan and melt over low heat. Add chocolate and stir to melt. Add agave. (You can substitute honey, but amount may be different. Start with 2 T and add to taste.)

Cool saucepan by setting it in a shallow pan of cold water.

When contents are cool but not solidifying, put remaining coconut cream in a mixing bowl. Whip while dribbling in chocolate mixture.

Chill 3 hours before frosting. Frosted cake or cupcakes will need to be kept cool before serving.

Watermelon Ginger Frappé

At the height of summer, you buy a big watermelon. Eat a bunch of it. Let the juice run down your chin, eat all around the rind and save the most central bit for last, for it is the sweetest. When everyone has had their fill, slice the remaining watermelon into thin slices, a quarter inch or so. Cut the rind off and cut the sliced melon into pieces no bigger than 3" in any direction. Line a baking sheet with cling wrap. Lay all your thin sliced melon on the baking sheet, adding more layers of cling wrap and melon as needed, depending on how much melon you have. Freeze the melon on the baking sheet. Next day, move the melon (but not the cling wrap) to gallon freezer ziplocks and store in the freezer until you need a fancy drink.

In a blender, add frozen melon and Q Ginger until it's the consistency of a slushee. It's delicious! (If corn syrup & processed sugar doesn't bother you, make this with ginger beer. Yum!)

Coconut Snowballs

In the workplace, there are potlucks. It is a fact of the American work ethic. When you have dietary restrictions, the potluck is a minefield, peppered with conversations like this:
Me: You made a gluten-free cake?
TTBHOM*: Yes. It's a flourless cake recipe.
Me: What's the crust made of?
TTBHOM: Oreos.
Me: o_o

*Trying To Be Helpful Office Mate

So mostly I say "No, no, don't worry about me" a lot, and bring all my own food.

However, I have this one coworker who is determined to bring in things I can eat. She cares, and she's kind, and she's figuring it out. She found this recipe, and it's delicious! She found it at The Kitchn.

They were so popular at home, that they didn't make it long enough for me to grab my camera.

1 3/4 cups unsweetened shredded coconut or coconut powder, divided
2 teaspoons melted coconut oil
3 tablespoons maple syrup
2 tablespoons unsweetened coconut milk
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon sea salt

Place 1 cup of shredded coconut in a food processor along with the coconut oil. Pulse, scraping down the sides periodically, until it begins to form a paste, or at least holds together.

Add the maple syrup, coconut milk, vanilla, cinnamon, and salt and process until well combined. Add 1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons of shredded coconut and pulse until just combined.

Shape the mixture into 12 (1-inch) balls and coat with the remaining shredded coconut. Refrigerate for at least an hour** and up to 5 days. Bring to room temperature before eating. Makes 12. Not enough.

**Yeah, right. You'll just be popping these babies while you're still rolling. Yum.

My other favorite no-bake cookie is Elana's Pantry's Fudge Babies. So good!