#LEAN14: vegan & gluten free cookie dough for one.

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I’m a sucker for single serving recipes.

…especially when they include two of the best words in the English language: COOKIE. DOUGH.

Needless to say, when I saw this healthier single serving recipe for vegan cookie dough on Pinterest, I knew it was one I had to try.

I made some changes to that recipe because a) I didn’t have coconut oil and b) I wanted to see how it would taste with almond flour. The result was not only delicious, but also gluten free.

Vegan & Gluten Free Cookie Dough For One

adapted from Vegan Cookie Dough For One

ingredients:

  • 1 tablespoon real maple syrup
  • 1/4 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  • 3 tablespoons almond flour
  • pinch of salt
  • 1-2 teaspoons dark chocolate chips (make sure non-dairy if strictly vegan)

Just mix the first four ingredients in a small bowl, then add the chocolate chips last. That’s it!

I was planning on using some almond milk to replace the coconut oil, but it actually didn’t need it. The almond flour soaked the maple syrup up for a perfect cookie dough consistency.

I would like to try the original recipe too, which uses regular flour, but I must say I really did love the flavor and heartiness from the almond flour. The only thing I’d say I didn’t like about this recipe is that…it didn’t make enough! Seriously, I might double it next time ;)

Vegan & Gluten Free Cookie Dough For One

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Are you a fan of single serving recipes? Do you have a favorite? (I’d love suggestions!)

snapshots.

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Let’s just put this out on the table. I kind of hate myself for how obnoxious my new phone cover is.

My “closet” is slowly but surely starting to look a bit more spring-like too.

The norm.

I could get the (create your own) market vegetable plate from Westville every single day.

I spent Saturday at my church’s first ever Relationship Seminar. It was a great day! And St. Paul’s German Church is just so beautiful (we don’t meet there on Sundays, just for special events).

St. Paul's German Church NYC

We rushed over to Elmo for a quick lunch. I turkey burger-ed it.

Elmo turkey burger

On Saturday night we went to my friend Martina’s birthday party. Having a party in an NYC apartment isn’t an easy task, but she nailed it.

Loved this idea – pour champagne into glasses filled with a bit of cotton candy. How cute!

Last but not least, today’s daily devotionals were oh so good…

Cheque Book of the Bank of Faith

Jesus Calling

(First one from Cheque Book of the Bank of Faith, second from Jesus Calling)

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What has been a highlight of your weekend so far?
Have you started switching over to a more spring-like wardrobe yet?

on sponsored posts.

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Hi hi, happy Saturday!

So I usually try to keep weekend posts pretty lighthearted, but there’s something I’ve been wanted to address lately. I’m assuming the title of this post gave it away…

I’ve gotten a bit of flack recently for posting sponsored content, so I wanted to address the topic straight up. I’m not trying to hide anything here on GML, or pretend you don’t notice it.

The bottom line is that - yes, I participate in sponsored posts. I understand that that might bother some readers (and has become quite taboo in the blog world as of late), so maybe this will help you understand a bit more why I do so.

I’ve invested over 4 years into blogging, so I think it’s understandable that I’d want to monetize it. That’s the only way I’d be able to keep up with the time commitment of blogging, actually, which is about 20-30 hours per week (maybe more? Considering how much of my daily life/routine it has become).

When I first started blogging the main way to monetize it was through ads, which I utilize as well, but these days advertising has strongly gone in the direction of sponsored content. Monica does a good job of explaining it more here.

I know some people think that blogging should remain strictly a hobby and shouldn’t be monetized at all. But for me, that’s just not feasible. Like I said before - I wouldn’t be able to make the necessary time for blogging if it were just a hobby. Even though it truly is something I love doing, I need to make sure I balance my passion with being able to support myself financially (especially living in New York).

When it comes to jobs/careers as a whole, I’m a big believer in doing what you love, so if I have the opportunity to make at least part of a living from blogging (especially as someone who is self employed) by posting sponsored content a few times a month, I am going to take it. And I’m okay with admitting that.

Do What You Love

With that being said, I want to be clear that I’m very particular when it comes to sponsored posts. I turn down dozens of offers a week - probably enough that would allow me to blog full time, as a lot of other bloggers have made the transition to. I make it a point to always be truthful about what I decide to promote, even if I am being compensated for it. Please believe me when I say that I only promote products and services that I either would genuinely want to try, or already do use myself.

I should also note that when I am compensated in any way, I will disclose it on that post in one way or another. So if that isn’t there (either an “official” disclosure, or me just saying “I got free samples”), it means I’m just posting about a product/service I like and use myself. That’s the case more often than not, as I truly love reviewing products, restaurants, recipes, etc.

Look, the last thing I want to so is turn off my readers. So for that, I will try to keep things as honest and real as possible (hence this post). I hope that you understand where I’m coming from, and that you’ll continue visiting GML.

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What are your thoughts on sponsored blog content? Does it turn you off from reading?