Peanut Butter Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies

I'm always looking for new ways to use the amazing THRIVE Peanut Flour.  And I'm always looking for an excuse to make cookies ;).  It's a pretty great combination!  Plus this is my 100th Blog Post at THRIVEing With Nilla!  So why not celebrate with some delicious cookies!?!

So I adapted a recipe I had and came up with something a little bit new -- and THRIVEalized! 

These were so yummy -- both before baking and after!  (I love cookie dough like no other...  Which is why I love love love THRIVE Whole Egg Powder!  No raw eggs, so I can eat the dough guilt-free while pregnant!!!

PEANUT BUTTER OATMEAL CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES
1/2 cup butter or margarine, softened
1/2 cup THRIVE Shortening Powder (plus 2 tablespoons water)
2 tablespoons THRIVE Whole Egg Powder (plus 4 tablespoons water)
1 teaspoon THRIVE Pure Vanilla Powder
3/4 cup white sugar*
3/4 cup brown sugar*
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 cup THRIVE Peanut Flour
1 3/4 cup all-purpose flour*
3/4 cup whole wheat flour*
1 cup oats*
1/2 10-ounce bag chocolate chips (or to your preference!)

Cream together butter, THRIVE Shortening powder and 2 tablespoons water.  Add sugars and cream until well-blended.  Add THRIVE Whole Egg Powder + 4 tablespoons water and THRIVE Pure Vanilla Extract Powder.  Mix until well-blended.  Add remaining ingredients except chocolate chips.  Check dough.  If it is too dry, add additional water 1 tablespoon at a time until it reaches cookie-dough consistency.  When dough is all mixed, gently stir in chocolate chips.

Bake at 350 for 9 minutes.  Allow to cool on cookie sheet about 5 minutes, then move to wire rack to cool completely. 

*Denotes other ingredients available through THRIVE Life.

I took these to my book club my book club meeting last night and received several compliments, so I am counting it a success!  The peanut flour is not strong, especially once the cookies are baked, so the peanut flavor is definitely understated, but still there.  I might play around with the recipe some more in the future and see what happens when I add a little more peanut flour ;).  Because I do love chocolate and peanut butter together!

In other fantastic news...  There are even more reasons to celebrate!  THRIVE Life just announced a hosting promotion going on between now and the end of May!!  Party hosts have a chance to receive an additional $75 in free product in addition to the regular host benefits for parties with at least $600 in sales which are held between now and May 31st!  It's a great time to host a party and earn bonus freebies, so if you've ever thought about it...  Think about it some more -- and then contact me at THRIVEingNilla@gmail.com to book your party!

Happy THRIVEing!

Peachy Strawberry Smoothie

Today my wonderful sister-in-law hosted a THRIVE party!  It was lots of fun, and I got to meet some great ladies!  I loved that they had so many questions and were so interactive and involved in the whole event.  It makes for a great time!

One lady discovered that her young son -- who she says is her picky eater -- loved the fruits and veggies for snacks!

Another lady is excited about all the gluten-free options THRIVE offers, because of her husband's diet restrictions! 

I'm always excited when THRIVE Life can help other people in a variety of ways -- just as it has helped me!

As part of the party, we enjoyed a Peachy Strawberry Smoothie :).  Due to Nilla error (that would be me...), the smoothie at the party wasn't as awesome as the practice one I made at home.  The first time I made it, I forgot to add the THRIVE Simply Peach Drink Mix!  So I made a second batch -- and didn't blend it long enough (I so need one of those awesome high-powered blenders!  I obviously don't know how to work one!) so there was more ice chunks than I would have preferred :/...  But when I made it at home, I really enjoyed it -- even without any banana (and you know I love my bananas in my smoothies!)

So here it is: 

PEACHY STRAWBERRY SMOOTHIE
1/2 cup hot water
1/2 cup THRIVE strawberry yogurt bites
1 tablespoon THRIVE Simply Peach drink mix
1/2 cup THRIVE strawberries
1 tablespoon milk*
1 1/2 cup ice

Combine all ingredients except ice and let rehydrate 3 to 5 minutes.  Add ice and blend until smooth.

And as for my less-than-stellar ability to actually make it well at the party...  Well, you live and you learn!  I'll be better prepared next time :).

Reaping the Benefits

In July, I hosted my own Launch Party as I stepped into the exciting world of a THRIVEing Life.  I was nervous, but excited.  Choosing to do my first party with friends made me a little more calm...  I figured they all knew me and could tell me where I might be able to improve with sharing the wonderfulness that is THRIVE.  And I knew all them, so I figured it'd be less daunting for me that way.  I had a lovely little group of 6 people (one of whom is the awesome Rebekah who is responsible for first introducing me to THRIVE in 2012 and who also helped me become a consultant :)).

Last week, I finally decided to place my host benefits order.  I have to say, I love having extra time to think about what I want to order with my benefits!  I don't have to be in a rush and figure it out in a week's time.  I can take up to 3 months, if I want to!  It gave me a chance to really decide what items I wanted in my home store -- for free and half-off!

And yesterday evening, the UPS man brought the biggest smile to my face when he dropped off my two hefty boxes full of THRIVE!!  I was so excited, I had to open them immediately and unpack!  And my toddler must have felt the excitement in the air too.  Because she was by my side, helping me unpack!  Clearly she knows the good stuff when she sees it ;).

So what did I get?  Well, I'll show you!

For FREE I got:

#10 can THRIVE Seasoned Chicken Slices

Iodide Tablets (for 72-Hour Kits)

3 Pouches Emergency Water

3 THRIVE Catalogs (not pictured)

2 Pantry Cans Garden Fresh Salsa

#10 Can Chopped Spinach

#10 Can Sweet Potatoes

The retail value of these items is $183!!  I got them for free!!

For half-off retail, I got:

2 #10 Cans Peas

1 Spice Can Cilantro

#10 Can Cauliflower

#10 Can Taco TVP (textured vegetable protein -- great for meatless meals!)

#10 Can Potato Chunks

1 Pantry Can Chicken Salad Mix

#10 Can Strawberry Yogurt Bites

#10 Can shortening Powder

Pantry Can shortening Powder (I think I added this on accident?)

#10 Can Simply Peach Drink Mix

1 THRIVE Express Creamy Garden Vegetable Chowder

This is a $210.00 value, and I paid $105!

So I got all of this:

...And I paid $105 plus shipping!  And, I didn't even use all my half-off benefits, simply because I wanted to keep my shipping cost at or below $21.  So I forfeited some of the half-off benefits.

I am still so excited about everything I got for hosting one party!!!  The benefits of hosting really are amazing! (I'm a visual person, so it helps me to actually see to fully appreciate :)).

And anyone can host -- whether to have a live party or a virtual one where you collect referrals from people who are interested in ordering!  So if you would like to start building your home store fast, hosting a party is the way to go!!!  Contact me at THRIVEingNilla@gmail.com if you're interested in hosting!  And don't forget, the August Virtual Party Mystery Host will have the opportunity to reap their own fabulous benefits -- just because they place an order!  So get your order in by tomorrow to have a shot at it :)!

Single Serve Brownie Using THRIVE!

Do you ever have a craving for something yummy and chocolatey?  And maybe you want to bake a batch of brownies or something to satisfy it?  But then you know you'll eat the whole batch...

Well, last night, I discovered a solution!  A single serve brownie -- in a mug -- in the microwave!  Super easy, minimal clean-up, and no overindulging :).  A brownie for now...  And a brownie for later.  And always warm!

Here's how you can make it happen:

1/4 cup THRIVE fudge brownie mix
2 tablespoons water

Add ingredients to a microwave-safe mug and stir.  Microwave 30 to 40 seconds or until top of brownie is set.  Top with any additional yumminess you want to (like caramel sauce, peanut butter, chocolate chips...).  And enjoy!

Mine was still gooey and warm.  And maybe did this twice...

I'm pretty excited about this super-easy one-serving brownie in a mug thing.  I see some no-fuss after-the-baby-is-in-bed-and-hubby-is-still-at-work dessert yumminess for me to enjoy!

Plus, if you don't want just a single serving, you can always whip up a batch of brownies in no time with this awesome mix -- everything is already in the mix, including eggs!  Just add water!  And the shelf-life is 20 years unopened (1 year opened)!

And don't forget!  Only one more week to place your orders and have the chance to be the August "Mystery Host" and receive all the host benefits!!!  Contact me at THRIVEingNilla@gmail.com to place your order by the 21st and get the Q price on everything!

August Virtual Party Mystery Host!

So I have decided to try something new!  Between today and August 20th, I will collect orders.  I will not place the orders until the 21st of August.  On the 21st, I will randomly select one order, and the purchaser will be the designated host for my August Virtual Party!  That means anyone who places an order between today and August 20th could get all the host benefits, just by placing an order!!

I am including links to the August specials and the Fall price list!  The specials for August are amazing -- all in celebration of 5 Years of Home Parties!!  If you love the pineapple, now is the time to stock up!  It is one of the Q-pon items for the month! 

Don't forget to send me your email address so I can keep you informed of the awesome THRIVE specials as soon as I know them!

Contact me at THRIVEingNilla@gmail.com to get these deals on building your home store!