Nathan Cullen Haystacks

I guess I was feeling a little silly today. I had been thinking about making up some sort of sweet with Nathan Cullen in mind and decided on a haystack cookie with quinoa puffs. Quinoa puffs are literally little balls of puffed quinoa. These cookies are sweet, but not unreasonably sweet and good for you too! Just like Nathan Cullen. Yup, I totally just said that. I realise it’s a little silly to make cookies and name them for a political candidate and a little sillier that I almost called them “Nathan Cullen Toupee Cookies” for Nathan’s sense of humour about his hair, or lack thereof. …I’m still on the fence about the name.

“When the NDP chooses its new head on March 24, the consequences will play out for a long time. But don’t relax and think there’s plenty of time till then. February 18 is the last chance to get voting rights if you want to be a player in this historic moment. Believe me, it’s worth it. Because here’s the billion-dollar question: who can actually defeat the Tories in the next election?”

If you don’t have chocolate nut butter, I’m sure regular nut butter with some added chocolate chips or cacao nibs would be great too. It’s fun to work with what you have on hand! This time I added coconut, chia seeds and some minced walnuts.

These cookies are dangerously moreish! Here’s what I did:

Nathan Cullen Haystacks

• 1 cup Chocolate Nut Butter (I used chocolate cashew)
• 2 tbsp Coconut Oil
• 2 tbsp Honey
• pinch Salt
• 2 1/2 cups Puffed Quinoa (or other puffed cereal)
• 1 tbsp shredded Coconut
• 1 tbsp Chia Seeds
• 1 tbsp Walnuts, minced

1. Prepare two cookie sheets with wax paper.
2. In a double boiler, warm nut butter, coconut oil, honey and salt. Stir to blend and take off the heat once smoothly combined.
3. Fold in puffed quinoa and any other additions.
4. Drop spoon sized portions of the warm mixture onto the cookie sheets. Place in the freezer and allow to harden.
5. These are best kept in the freezer in a sealed container.