Happy Earth Day!
The Earth Day Network has a goal of A Billion Acts of Green, and it got me thinking of what I can do above and beyond what I already do, today and ongoing.
I am happy to live in an area where recycling has always been the norm. Back in college I was vacationing in… three southern states, and remember being shocked at the lack of recycling – even of the basics like aluminum cans and newspaper. It’s a huge eye opener, and I shudder to think one day we will have a real life Idiocracy on our hands – mountains of landfill.
I could go on and on about how the foreshadowing of Idiocracy scares me, but that is a whole other blog.
today my pledges include:
- walking to meet my sister for dinner this evening.
- spending very little time on the computer today, television will be off.
- spend much of my time outdoors to take advantage of natural light and conserve our electricity.
- start planning my vegetable garden – I hope to be planting soon!
These Earth Day chocolate peanut butter cups were inspired by
the world cupcakes Kris made last week – aren’t they so cute? I thought they were a great idea!
Earth Day Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups
makes 12-14 depending on wrapper size
1 bag chocolate chips (trader joes dairy free)
1 bag white chocolate chips (vegansweets)
1/2 cup peanut butter
food color (seelect is vegan + gluten free)
Melt chocolate in double boiler or microwave. Fill candy cups 1/3 full, coating the insides of the wrapper to the top. Cool in fridge until set. Spread a spoonful of peanut butter almost to the edge of the wrapper. Melt white chocolate, reserving 1/3 for final step. Pour white chocolate over peanut butter layer, smoothing and covering completely. Return to fridge to cool. Separate remaining white chocolate into two bowls, coloring one green and one blue. For the last layer, swirl greens and blues to make earth shapes.
first layer chocolate, all the way up the sides:
second layer peanut butter, almost to edges:
third layer, white chocolate covering completely:
unwrapped:
yum:
Heidi also had a great post about Earth Day, including quotes and links – there is a lot of good in her post!
My favorite? Every Day is Earth Day.
What can you do today (and every day!) to celebrate Earth Day and help protect our planet?
{ 103 comments… read them below or add one }
Oh my gosh, these are AWESOME!!! Seriously, one of the coolest things I’ve seen in awhile.
thank you, Liz!! seriously, coming from you, that is a HUGE compliment that makes me happy!
you are SO creative, I love these and I love your blog!
TOO cute. Seriously.
thanks, Anna!
I haven’t seen it yet but Ryan refers to our “Idiocratic” nation often. He always talks about Brawndo.
YES – Brawndo – the next time he says something about Brawndo, you should say to Ryan “it’s got what plants crave” <– (talking about electrolytes)
now that I think about it, he probably says it already, right? it's a funny movie, but the potential for some of the things actually happening is kinda scary! 
you should see it for a laugh, though. just you, no kids! 
too cute!
Happy Earth Day!
I think those are great things to do. I am hoping the weather clears up so I can get outside and enjoy nature. But she’s being cranky ;0
Of course you would come up with the prettiest thing for Earth Day. I think about your Pi creations constantly. These cups are so pretty!!
ah, thank you, Leanne!! I’m still thinking of my Pi pies, too!
Kristina these are adorable!!!
We have been making an effort to turn the TV, lights, appliances, etc OFF as much as possible. And instead of going out on Friday night (which we usually do) we’re staying in for dinner and taking a nice long walk!
thanks, Holly!
sounds like you guys are on top of it with awareness! as much as I like going on a date with (my!) Jason, staying in and making dinner is nice! and I LOVE our walks! 
XXO have a great week!
These are too cute. Can I just send you my address?
thanks, Evan!
yes, I’ll send these in exchange for some Evan Brownies!
Love this, Kris! I am working on using less paper towels. Billy and I go through way too many of them. But we are better about recycling now, and think that’s a huge part of the “solution”. I love that you will walk to dinner tonight. I hope you have nice weather! I’m off to ride my bike to yoga.
paper towels is one thing I try to be better with also… I have two cloth kitchen towels “in circulation” at any given time, and launder them more frequently and use them often. I hope you had a wonderful weekend and have a fabulous week, my friend!
p.s. I emailed you, too, but I linked to your post and used a photo of your delectable treats! The Earth icing is pretty incredible.
well, thank you, my dear. you are always welcome to use a photo! <3 thank you for sharing!
Girl, you’re beyond talented!! I vote that you have your own cookbook one day
well, THANK YOU, Lauren!! I certainly like that idea! <3
You are so flippin’ cute!
aw, thank you, Liz!!
hope you have a fabulous week!!
I can see the U.S.!
People are crazy about recycling in Germany (in a good sense) – seperating five different kinds of trash is standard on almost every household.
I will continue *not* to have a car …
And I’d love to garden some day! From planning to planting – just a little difference in letters, but a big difference in pleasure! (Forgive me my platitudes. 
)
XXOXO !
Noooooooooooo! It ate me!
NOOOOO ! not you!
Trying it again!
I can see the U.S.!
People are crazy about recycling in Germany (in a good sense) – seperating five different kinds of trash is standard on almost every household.
I will continue *not* to have a car …
And I’d love to garden some day! From planning to planting – just a little difference in letters, but a big difference in pleasure! (Forgive me my platitudes. 
)
Happy Earth Day!
hello, friend, and SORRY you were spammed
I do not know why…
anyway, it is good to hear Germany is well versed in recycling… and I admire those who go without a car. I rarely use mine, walking or biking to do things, at least THIS time of year when it is NICE
planning to planting – glad you liked that one !! I cannot wait to get my garden started!
I hope you have a wonderful week, Kath!!
omg. how in the hell did you manage to create a map of the world on a pb cup? do you have like the smoothest, calm hand EVER?
haaa… not really! I suppose I sometimes have patience, though!
So pretty! Love it
thanks, Gina!
Oooh man. I am drooling. Those look DELICIOUS, and I love how simple the ingredients list is!! You are TALENTED- it really DOES look like the Earth! Happy Earth Day!
thank you so much, Emma!
these were fun to make, and I always strive for a SIMPLE ingredient list! I hope you have a fantastic week!
Those are so cute! I am with you, I try to make every day Earth Day! We compost and we realized recently that we recycle more than we have trash. I think every little bit helps! Have a great one and enjoy dinner with your sister!
thanks Sarena! you are SO right – every little bit helps! I LOVE the weeks that we have more recycling – some weeks we have one very small trash bag!
Umm…you’re like extremely creative! That looks so pretty! How long did that take?!
thanks, Susan! there were several steps, so that took a little bit, but yeah, the final layer with shaping the North Americas it did take some time!! I made 14, and it was probably an hour and a half all together?
Those are soo cute! And a great idea to add white chocolate instead of more dark chocolate on top.
thank you, Geanna! I’m not generally a big white chocolate fan, but they do look great with all the layers, and the flavors were great!
These are SO cute – what a fun idea and great job on the details
thank you, Rachel – some look better than others, but I’m happy with how they turned out!
hope you have a fabulous week!
oh my gosh! THose are so stinkin cute! I love them! And all those layers look so delicious too. Great job!
weee!
thank you!! I had a great time making them, and YES they’re delicious! you can’t go wrong with chocolate and peanut butter! 
Have a great week, Heidi!
Oh and thanks for the shoutout lil lady! You’re too sweet!
anytime! thanks for the inspiration!
I love it! Tasty looking and my word are you an artist. Talent all around.
thank you, Victoria!! finally my art school is paying off
they really were fun to make! have a great week!!
These are fantastic! Happy Earth Day everyone!!
Oh my gosh, how adorable! Really, really creative, great job!
so glad you like them – they were SO fun to make and everyone loved them this weekend… I think I have ONE left ! have a great week!
Oh, my. Those look almost too amazing… Anyone who puts together chocolate and peanut butter is my hero. Yum!
Happy Earth Day!
heee! thanks, Kris!
they were super fun to make, and yeah, you really cannot go wrong with the classic chocolate and peanut butter, right? happy earth day to you, have a great week!!
These are, without question, the cutest things I’ve seen all week. I just shrieked and told Daniel he had to come to the computer and see them!!
He agreed. Super cute idea!!
aw, thanks Andie! I love that you showed to Daniel!
they were really fun to make and we’ve all been enjoying them all weekend!
Holy cow. These are incredibly cute.
thanks, Janetha! they were pretty fun to make!
Love the design! These look delicious!
thank you, Taylor! you can’t really go wrong with chocolate and peanut butter, you know?
that is so cute!!!
thank you!!
At first (quick!) glance, I thought these were cupcakes. I was so excited to read further and see the full recipe behind them. Um…yum!! PS: I have a fun giveaway going on right now…stop by and check it out!
thanks! they would work as cupcakes also, you could easily do this with frosting!
These are so perfect for Earth Day! Great job!
thanks, Tracey!! they ended up being a big hit!
These are incredible!!
hey, thanks, Katojo!
These look incredibly good and they are so darn cute!
thanks, Maryea! they are pretty tasty
and were really fun to make!
Absolutely brilliant, Kristina! FYI for all–Lowe’s is giving away a million trees tomorrow to celebrate Earth Day. Go to Lowe’s to get your free tree!
xo,
Shirley
thank you, Shirley! they were fun to make! I hope others read this and went to get their free tree – what a great thing!!
What a great idea!
thank you, Stefani!
Beautiful earths!
I generally do lots of earth-friendly stuff…but I’m going to plant microgreens this weekend in celebration of earth day
thank you, Lisa!
I had fun making the earths!
I hope you had a great time planting today!!
Those look so yummy! And totally cute.
thanks, Aimee!!
Ahhhhhhhhh I love them!! Tasty AND cute!! Seriously SO CUTE!! I love all your Earth Day ideas! I’ve been working on using less plastic baggies and more reusable containers. And I can’t wait till we move because I will be instituting a garden again… I miss growing veggies so much!
the earths were VERY fun to make!
and YES to gardening!! I can’t wait to start mine this year!! I hope you have a fantastic week, my friend!! XXO!
How cute! I love how you made each one actually look like North & South America! Where do you get your short paper cups? I hate using the big ones when I’m not making cupcakes.
I live in the south as you know and it really is amazing how many people are in the dark about recycling. I actually just started recycling in the last year when I canceled my trash pick up. Now I just run by the trash/recycling center on my way to work!
yeah, I tried… some look better than others, but they were fun to make and everyone loved them!
the short paper cups I found at my local specialty baking and candy shop – I bet they can be found in the candy supply at Michaels or another craft store?
recycling – yeah… the three states I visited in college included Tennessee and Virginia… it really blew me away that they threw away their newspaper!
So Cute!! I saw them on TasteSpotting.
Hi Tami! thank you, and thanks for stopping by and saying hello! have a great week!
SO creative! These look delicious and and so cute! Nice job!
thank you!! they were really fun to make.
thanks, Miri!
These are ADORABLE! Happy Easter to you and Basil!!!
happy Easter to you and Cara too!! <3
If we all made these types of pledges, the world would be a better place. Hope you had a great Earth Day and I love the peanut butter cups. Very festive!
yes, I agree, Gwen! nobody should ever think the small things do not add up – they definitely do! have a great week!!
You are so frickin adorabe with those pb cups!!! Did Basil get a doggie friendly one?
For me, I don’t turn on the lights unless I have to. I love it staying lights out longer so I can leave the lights off when I go to work and don’t have to turn them on until 7P or so.
aren’t they fun? Basil had plenty of peanut butter as I was making these…
I love having natural light instead of using indoor lighting too! our current house has two great skylights for that, but some weirdly placed windows, so sometimes I find myself in the dark! 
I love the cakes!!! Never really got the idea of Earth Day but it has produced some amazing images. I found this great video of our planet! Hope it will inspire you to do your share to keep it this way!
Here is the link to the video:
http://thewritefuture.typepad.com/the-write-future/2011/04/earth-day-2011.html
Also some great pictures at National Geographic today
thanks for sharing the video – it’s beautiful!!
What are you doing for Earth Day? Check out this video of Earth Day tip advisers I saw on YouTube and you might just learn a thing or two from them: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WNdRz5L1TP8
these are TOO cute! so creative, and I love that you can pull off dairy free and they still taste and look good! great job!
wow, these are beautiful! I love the detail, they ARE Earths! very realistic, I love them!
very inventive, I love the realism. every day should be earth day <3
these are TOO cute!! you are talented, these are actual maps on there!
thank you! these are so fun to make, I have some unique flavors coming up for Valentines…
Love the idea. Where do you find the papers to use. They are obviously smaller then cupcake papers.
hi Dorene, for all of my peanut butter cups I use these short candy wrappers. I find these in the candy making section at Michaels, a craft store in our area. (all craft stores with candy/baking sections should have something similar?)
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