Chocolate Chip Cookies
This past month I was in Nicaragua, working with Natural Doctors International in their permanent medical clinic in the small town of Los Angeles on the island of Ometepe. The organization provides free medical care to anyone in need. I find it difficult to fully capture the amazing spirit of this organization. They see patients day in and day out with all kinds of illness- diabetes, kidney stones, malnutrition- and do everything they can to cure or aid in recovery. I was lucky to work in the clinic for a week, during which I assisted both doctors during appointments, conducted physical examinations and shadowed the resident psychologist. The patients I saw during this time were the most kind and appreciative people, despite overwhelming poverty and adversity in their daily lives.
It was a great reminder that happiness comes from within and not from material possessions. I come back with a renewed appreciation for the comforts and luxuries of home.
Working in the clinic renewed and reaffirmed my choice in becoming a naturopathic doctor. It felt good to help others who so desperately needed it; I can't wait to help people every day.
Now that I'm back and ready to cook, here's my favorite recipe for chocolate chip cookies. I made these a few days before I left and damn! They are soft, gooey, and so delicious. They are only six ingredients and are so easy to throw together.
INGREDIENTS
1 large egg
1 cup almond butter
½ cup brown sugar
1 tsp baking soda
½ tsp vanilla
½ cup dark chocolate chips
pinch of sea salt
INSTRUCTIONS
Preheat oven to 375 F. In a medium bowl, beat the egg. Whisk almond butter, vanilla and sugar with the beaten egg, then add baking soda and salt and whisk. Fold in chocolate chips. Drop teaspoons of batter onto a greased cookie sheet. Bake for 6-8 minutes and transfer to a cooling rack. The cookies will be very soft coming out of the oven.