For those of us who are gluten-free and/or vegan and need to find good baked goods to enjoy while everyone else is pigging out on the "regular" stuff, this is recipe is for us.  And all of my friends who AREN'T gluten-free or vegan totally enjoy these treats as well.  I was at my friend Debbie's house when she made these for her first time, and we both discovered our new favorite cookie.  Even if you don't have time to make the icing, these cookies are great all by themselves.  But we highly recommend the full experience.  And yes, they do taste like my favorite Girl Scout Cookie, Thin[k] Mints.  Enjoy!!!

It’s that time of year again.  Sure, you tried to give up the enriched wheat flour, the partially hydrogenated oils, and the inverted sugars… but we all know what happens when those adorable girls show up at your door with boxes of Girl Scout cookies.  Are you sure you can resist the allure of thin mint bliss?

Well, thanks to Rawdorable chef Shannon Marie, you won’t have to.  Check out mission “Chocotastrophy,” her personal challenge to create raw vegan versions of the 5 top selling Girl Scout cookies: Thin Mints, Samoas (Carmel Delights), Tagalongs (Peanut Butter Patties), Do-si-dos (Peanut Butter Sandwiches), and Trefoils (Shortbread Cookies).

Do it yourself: What a combo of words!  In Spanish: "hazlo tu mismo".  Remember self is the only thing we are, now.

Ever since I learned cooking from my mom Lalit-Amma when I was 9 or 10, I have secretly wished to break the rules and guidelines to come up with my own "specials." They included mixing and matching fruits and vegetables, various grains instead of one, and of course, raw foods.

When I came to work for Cafe Gratitude in December of 2006 as the payroll and accounts payable manager, my adventurous self ( inspired by my mom and the great American spirit of freedom and independence) was energized to recreate some of my mother's recipes with a touch of "BAM!"

At Cafe Gratitude, we go out of our way to support businesses that share our mission:

Crafting nutritious whole foods locally and in the most environmentally sustainable way possible.

That's why we are proud to offer a delectable selection of Coracao's signature chocolates this holiday season.  These sweet treats are as dense in minerals and micronutrients as they are in 'Yum!'