I’m having a blast at the new Mediterranean grocery store right down the street from my house. The place is always packed, and the prices are way better than most grocery stores. Since it’s a heavily trafficked store, I know the turn-over is great. Fresh, fresh, fresh!
I picked up some fresh tahini (if I told you the price, you would slap yourself—no more $18 tahini at Whole Foods, thanks!) with the intent to make hummus. For some reason, all I can stomach for breakfast lately is hummus, vegetables, a hard-boiled egg and a glass of milk. It’s weird, but I’m going to ride it out because it sounds healthy. I will admit to stepping into Whole Foods long enough last week to grab their flyer. I’m hooked on the money-saving recipes in their monthly flyers, however ironic they may be (I have a recipe for saving money: shop somewhere else. I kid, I kid. I love WF). Anyway, a recipe for sesame chocolate chip cookies made with tahini jumped off the page. Why have I never thought of this? Then, I sawTahini Swirl brownies on Pinterest and just about died. Those are next, my little pretties.
I’m not about to claim this to be a healthy cookie. People ask me all the time about how I eat. It’s the most personal question I can think of, and it’s really best if you just come to my house for dinner so I can show you. I would say the diet I align with most is the Mediterranean diet. But, I have a strong love for Mediterranean foods, too. One of my New Year’s resolutions is to make more Indian food at home. I couldn’t quite define my eating habits until this month’s Rachel Ray magazine. Gabriella Gershenson wrote an article entitled ‘The New Mediterranean Diet’ that captures the foods from the entire coast that touches the Mediterranean Sea. Not just southern Europe anymore, her definition includes north Africa, the Middle East and a slip of Asia. Now, THIS is how I eat. I eat lots of lean proteins, vegetables and whole grains, but with heavy North African spices and Middle Eastern Flavors. And if I don’t have some variation of Asian food once a week, you can find me in the fridge with a spoon in the red curry paste jar. (Don't try that).
Maybe it doesn’t bother you to not be able to clearly expound upon your diet, but it was making me fret. I felt like I was dodging the question with my vague answer: ‘oh, I eat mostly healthy, but I do shove a cupcake in my pie hole on the reg'. Or, is it pie into my cupcake hole?
The one way my diet unmistakably differs from the Mediterranean diet is dessert (duh!). While the new Mediterranean diet touts dessert to be strictly dried fruits and nuts, I’m all GIMME THE CHOCOLATE over here. I eat lots of dried fruits as snacks, not dessert. This leaves plenty of room for a warm chocolate chip cookie.
If you’ve never cooked with tahini, try it! It’s just pureed sesame seeds—you know, the ones on your hamburger bun? They’re nutty and slightly sweet. And they’re gloriously gooey in chocolate chip cookies. Let’s do this!
Delicious chocolate chunk cookies flavored with tahini. About tahini: The brand I use is 100% natural tahini. The only ingredient is sesame seeds. No salt. Nothing but ground toasted sesame seeds.Tahini Chocolate Chunk Cookies
Ingredients
Instructions
Notes
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
8
Serving Size:
1
Amount Per Serving:
Calories: 152Total Fat: 10gSaturated Fat: 4gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 6gCholesterol: 32mgSodium: 105mgCarbohydrates: 13gFiber: 1gSugar: 9gProtein: 3g
Abby @ The Frosted Vegan says
i still haven't dipped into the tahini in baked goods situation, but I'm sooo ready to try it!
Chrissy says
I love ethnic markets as well. The first time I bought ginger from one I thought, "So THIS is what fresh ginger is!" I'm intrigued by these- can't wait to try them!
Ginny McMeans says
These look just great! I love tahini in my baked goods and this also seems perfect.
cheri says
I love tahini in baked goods, it adds such a great flavor and these cookies look amazing. I eat very well most of the time as well, but when it comes to chocolate........
Norma | Allspice and Nutmeg says
Yum! I know the tahini gives them a nice nutty note.
julia says
I am so intrigued by the tahini! I have never tried that but it sounds wonderful!!
Becki @ Bites 'n Brews says
The Mediterranean Diet also insists upon a glass of red wine every day with dinner. Don't forget that!
Samantha @FerraroKitchen says
I LOVE tahini...mainly because I grew up on it..haha And we also shop at the Mediterranean market too because it's way cheaper in a lot of things. Funny, I work at WF and some things are crazy expensive but some arent if you get the sales..lol I need to make tahini cookies...And where did you get those gorgeous plates!!!?
Christina Lane says
haha! let me reiterate again how much I love Whole Foods, Samantha. I go there for stress relief. having a bad day? Whole Foods makes it all better. It's my therapy.
I do agree with you--some things are totally reasonably priced. especially the 365 brand.
Bad news about the plates--they're my grandmother's. I inherited them years ago. I wish I had a better source for you. They say 'Johnson Brothers Holland' and 'made in England' on the bottom. I'm sure they were super cheap back in the day. Try Ebay?
xo,
Christina
Leigh says
I had to laugh when I looked at the plates and saw they were the first set I ever owned. I got them when I bought a set of really good pots from a door to door salesman. My son bought me a suit set of pots so I gave them to my nephew who is using them while away at collage. Anyway, the table ware was a throw in when you bought the pots. We are talking over 40 years ago!
Jessica @ A Kitchen Addiction says
I never know what to do with the last bit of tahini! Such a great idea to make cookies with it! Love it!
The Domestic Rebel says
I love Whole Foods, but everything priced there makes my soul weep. I also have no idea what Tahini is, but it sounds like an exotic island where I would like to go and eat these cookies on the beach. You're invited, btw.