Pecan Cookies With Chocolate Whipped Filling + A Special Note To My Sisters

Spoiler: this week’s podcast features Ashlae Warner of Oh, Ladycakes. It comes out tomorrow – and it’s a GOOD one.

We covered lots of topics, and we touched briefly on the fact that she also has endometriosis. Afterwards, I realized that I hadn’t had any guests on the podcast yet that got deep into endo. Which really bummed me out. A big reason I wanted to start this website in the first place was to help other women with this condition. I pictured myself speaking at conferences, leading the charge to raise more awareness about endo, and changing women’s lives. And yet here I was not really doing that at all. Which made me even more bummed. Why wasn’t I doing these things? And then I realized that it’s because most days, I actually forget I have endometriosis. 

Five years ago, there wasn’t a moment where I could ever could forget that I had endometriosis. Headed for a hysterectomy, I was walking around in total fog. My eyes were half open all the time. I was in constant pain. And because of the constant pain, I was severely depressed. I remember at one of my lowest points I was bawling, telling my husband that it might just be easier for us to get a divorce than for him to have to continue to deal with my health issues. I wanted him to be happy. And there was no way he could be happy with me the way I was. By the way, I texted him this while on an airplane, IN PUBLIC, crying in my seat. I was a total mess. 

I felt so alone. No one in my life could understand what I was experiencing. Clearly, the dudes in my life couldn’t understand because they didn’t have the female parts that were causing me all the trouble. But my girlfriends didn’t get it either. They got their periods every month like I did. Yet they still went to work, hung out with friends, worked out, and went about their days. They wore their little panty liners, and I was walking around with three overnight pads like a diaper. Because we experienced such different things each month, I always wondered if they thought I was exaggerating my symptoms or using my condition as an excuse to not be as fun and go out. They probably weren’t thinking this at all. Again, I was a mess. 

Luckily, that person from five years ago isn’t around anymore. After changing my diet, I lost the pain. My eyes are wide open. During my time of the month, I work, hang out with friends, and go about my days like nothing (I still don’t work out during this week but am down to one overnight pad…progress!). Things have changed so much. I have changed so much. I don’t never want to forget that I have endometriosis. That pesky condition is the reason I got to change my career, start this site, and meet rad women like Ashlae. Most importantly, I don’t want to forget all my endo sisters out there. The ones that are still in pain and feel alone. The ones that aren’t in a great place quite yet.

So to you, my endo sisters: I am not leaving you behind. I hear you. I see you. I know what you are going through. And I’m going to to do a better job at helping us all figure this shit out. 

And in honor of you, I made this little treat. Actually, Ashlae made it and I just changed it up a bit. After seeing this pie on her site, I had to have it. But 1. I didn’t have a cool tart pan and 2. I only had pecans in the house…so I adjusted accordingly. Pie or cookie-style, this recipe rules. Even if you just decide to make the filling and eat it with a spoon. P.S. – I am fully aware my chocolate cream looks nothing like Ashlae’s. This new cocoa I got is SUPER light in color and may or may not have not whipped it enough. Whaaaattever. It still tastes so good. 

Before we get to the recipe, one more endo thing. I created a page that dives deep into exactly what endometriosis is, the symptoms, and the treatment. If you have a friend with endo, please share it with her. Just knowing they aren’t alone can make a big difference. If you do have endo, I encourage you to find a doctor that is open to talking to you about nutrition/holistic practices as a form of treatment. It’s not a cure. But man, finding someone to truly listen to what your body is going through is a game changer. 

Love and lots of love today, JM

Now the food…

 { Crunchy Pecan Cookie Sandwiches With Chocolate Filling } 
    adapted and also straight from Oh, Ladycakes

Cookies: 
1 cup pecans
1 cup thick rolled oats
1/4 teaspoon fine sea salt
3 tablespoons coconut oil, liquid
2 tablespoon real maple syrup

Filling: 
2 can full fat coconut milk, refrigerated overnight
2 tablespoons cacao powder
2 tablespoons real maple syrup
1/4 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Pinch of fine sea salt

Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper and set aside. In a food processor, blend the pecans, rolled oats, and sea salt into a fine meal. Drizzle in the coconut oil and maple syrup into the meal and blend just until the mixture becomes crumbly. Press the mixture flat (you can use your cookie sheet). Using a cookie cutter (or a knife if you’re good) cut into shapes. Take excess dough and press flat and cut again. Bake for 7-10 minutes until cookies are slightly browned on the bottom. Let cool.

Remove the can of coconut milk from the fridge and open (don’t shake!) Scoop out the layer of cream that has risen to the top and place it in a large mixing bowl (you can keep the bottom liquid for smoothies). Beat coconut cream with a hand mixer, on high speed, for 20-30 seconds then sift in the cocoa powder and continue mixing until combined. Add the maple syrup, vanilla extract, and sea salt, and mix on high speed until smooth and creamy (no longer than 45-50 seconds). Scoop a heaping tablespoon of the filling and spread onto one cookie. Take another cookie and sandwich it together. Fini!

Kitchen Note: The cookie tops are crunchy at first, but by day two they are more soft and have pie-crust texture. Both are awesome…but if crunchy is what you’re looking to serve up for a party, make them the day of. 

Also: Heather Crosby from YumUniverse has started a resource to help find plant-based doctors in your area (up soon). 

Looking for more sandwich cookies? DER! Try out these Almond Graham With Concord Jelly or my favorite Chocolate Chunk Ice Cream Dreams.