Christmas Cookies!

Posted on December 10, 2012 by seboisen

My mom and I had our very first Christmas cookie bake-a-thon! After nine different varieties, 550 cookies and 8 hours I would say it was a sweet success! Hope you can find a recipe to enjoy this holiday season. Time to spread some sweetness and love!

No Bake Peanut Butter Truffles, Peanut Butter Stars, Molasses, Peppermint, Coconut Date Balls, Pistachio-Cherry, and Almond Crescents.

Charlee just kicked up a leg and monitored the mess

I caught Trey sneaking a cookie in the garage
The cookie recipes are below:
I start with my classics (always a hit): Aunt Pam’s Molasses Cookies and The Best Ever Peanut Butter Kisses
No Bake Peanut Butter Truffles
Serves 80 (1 truffle each).| Source: Hy-Vee Seasons Holiday 2012.
All you need:
1/2 c. Hy-Vee butter
2 c. Hy-Vee creamy peanut butter
3 c. finely crushed Hy-Vee toasted rice cereal (about 10 cups uncrushed)*
2 c. Hy-Vee powdered sugar
1 (24 ounce) package almond bark
All you do:
In a large microwave-proof bowl, melt butter on high power for about 60 seconds in microwave. Stir in peanut butter until smooth. Mix in crushed cereal and powdered sugar. Refrigerate for about 20 minutes or until well-chilled.
Line 2 baking sheets with wax paper. Roll cereal mixture into 1-inch balls and place on prepared baking sheets. Chill in refrigerator for 1-1/2 hours or in freezer for 30 minutes.
In a medium microwave-proof bowl, melt half the almond bark according to microwave directions on package. Keeping one baking sheet chilled, use a fork to dip balls from one baking sheet in melted almond bark to coat, shaking off any excess. Place coated balls on cooling rack set over waxed paper. Repeat with remaining almond bark and cereal balls. Let cool until coating is hardened. Carefully remove truffles with spatula. Store in a covered container in the refrigerator.
*For best results, pulse cereal in batches in a food processor fitted with a metal blade.

Dipped Chocolate Peppermint Cookies
Serves 56 (1 cookie each)| Source: Hy-Vee Seasons Holiday 2012.
All you need:
1/2 c. Hy-Vee butter, softened
1 c. Hy-Vee granulated sugar
1 Hy-Vee large egg
1 tsp peppermint extract
1 1/4 c. Hy-Vee all-purpose flour
1/2 c. Hy-Vee baking cocoa
1/4 tsp Hy-Vee baking soda
1/4 tsp Hy-Vee baking powder
1/4 tsp Hy-Vee salt
2 (11 ounce each) packages white chocolate chips
1/2 c. crushed peppermint candies (about 16)
All you do:
In a large bowl beat butter with electric mixer until creamy. Add sugar; beat until well mixed. Beat in egg and peppermint extract.
In a small bowl stir together flour, cocoa, baking soda, baking powder and salt. Gradually beat flour mixture into butter mixture, beating well after each addition. Divide dough in half. On plastic wrap, shape each half into a 7-inch long log. Roll up in plastic wrap and tuck under ends. Freeze at least 45 minutes or refrigerate at least 1-1/2 hours.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Unwrap and cut logs into 1/4-inch slices. Place 1 inch apart on ungreased cookie sheets. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes or until light brown on bottom. Cool.
Melt white chocolate according to package directions, being very careful not to overheat as this will cause chocolate to be very thick. Dip cookies into melted chocolate, scraping off excess on side of bowl. Place on waxed paper. Immediately sprinkle with crushed peppermint candies. Cool until firm. Store in a covered container at room temperature or in refrigerator.

Pistachio-Cherry Jumbles
Serves 36 (1 cookie each)| Source: Hy-Vee Seasons Holiday 2012.
All you need:
1 1/2 c. Hy-Vee flour
1 (3.4 oz) box Hy-Vee pistachio pudding mix
1/2 c. Hy-Vee sugar
1 tsp Hy-Vee baking powder
1/4 tsp Hy-Vee salt
1/2 c. Hy-Vee unsalted butter, melted and cooled slightly
2 tbsp Hy-Vee vegetable oil
2 Hy-Vee large eggs
1/2 c. Hy-Vee skim milk
3/4 c. Hy-Vee roasted, salted pistachios, chopped
2/3 c. Hy-Vee dried cherries or cranberries, chopped
All you do:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
In a large bowl, stir flour, pudding mix, sugar, baking powder and salt. Stir in butter, oil, eggs and milk until smooth. Stir in pistachios and cherries.
Drop by rounded teaspoons onto parchment-lined baking sheets. Bake 10 to 12 minutes or until edges are golden.

Merry Christmas!
Until next time…
Look good, feel good, do good
Sara B.

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas

Posted on December 19, 2011 by seboisen

Well…not really, no snow and it was in the 50’s last week with thunderstorms. Well if the weather wont cooperate the kitchen will! There’s not too much healthiness going on with this post…just a lot of joy…Christmas joy! I do appreciate making and tasting good Holiday treats so here are a couple I like to share. You may have seen on last year’s Tis the Season post!

Aunt Pam’s Gingersnap Cookies
Ingredients:
2 C flour – I used about 1/2 white whole wheat flour
1/2 T ground ginger
1 T fresh grated ginger is the secret ingredient
2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp cinnamon
1/4 c molasses
1/2 tsp salt
3/4 c butter
1 c sugar
1 egg
sugar for bowl
Instructions:
Measure flour, ginger, soda, cinnamon, and salt into sifter. Cream butter until soft and gradually add sugar. Beat in egg and molasses. Sift dry ingredients over creamed mixture, blend well. Form mixture unto balls and roll in granulated sugar. Place on ungreased cookie sheet 2 inches apart (they spread quite a bit). Bake at 350F 12-15 minutes or until they are slightly browned, rounded, and cracked on top. Cool thoroughly before storing.

Benefits of ginger:
Ginger aids in relieving nausea. Ginger has an anti-inflammatory effect and aids in muscle recovery……your excuse for having a cookie post workout 😉

Peanut Butter Chocolate Kisses
Ingredients:
1 3/4 c. flour – I used about 1/2 white whole wheat flour
1/2 c. sugar
1/2 c. brown sugar
1 tsp. soda
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 c. butter
1/2 c. peanut butter + I tend to use slightly more (maybe 1/4c) to make doughy cookies
1 egg
2 tbsp. skim milk
1 tsp. vanilla
Instructions:
Combine ingredients. Roll into balls, roll balls in sugar. Bake on cookie sheet at 350 degrees for about 8 minutes. Top with chocolate kiss immediately upon removal from oven. Place in hot oven for 2 more minutes (don’t forget about them!!!) This helps glue the kiss to the cookie.

This year I added a new cookie to the line up…you’ll have to check back to get the recipe!

What’s your favorite holiday cookie?

Until next time…
look good, feel good, do good
Sara B.

Product Review – PB2

Posted on March 14, 2011 by seboisen

A couple months ago I pick up some PB2 in the HyVee health market section. I was intrigued by this powdery substance that claimed to taste like peanut butter. Now, I am kind of a peanut butter snob…in fact, J and I love pb and cottage cheese so much that we have a saying…”what peanut butter doesn’t go on, cottage cheese does.” SO TRUE!

So here’s what the website has to say:

It’s what’s not in PB2 that makes it so good for you. For starters, our special process removes 85% of the fat calories without the chemicals typically used in producing reduced fat foods. Something else you won’t find in PB2 is preservatives. What you will find is natural roasted peanut flavor that’s also available in a rich chocolate variety.

PB2: Powdered Peanut Butter

Ingredients: Roasted peanuts, sugar and salt.

Serving size: 2 Tablespoons (12 grams)

Servings per container: 15

Amount per 2 Tablespoon serving (when mixed with water):

Calories: 45

Calories from fat: 13

Value and % Daily Value*

Total fat 1.5 g 3%

Saturated fat 0 g 0%

Trans fat < style="font-size:180%;color:#663300;">PB2 fudge and Oatmeal Cookies

Ingredients:

2 cups: Sugar

1/2 cup: Milk

1/2 cup: Butter (can use Land O Lake natural or other healthier spread)

4 Tbsp: Cocoa

1/2 cup: PB2

3 cups: Quick cooking oatmeal

2 tsp: Vanilla

Instructions:

Mix sugar, milk, butter and cocoa in saucepan. Allow mixture to boil for 1-2 minutes. Remove from heat. Add all other ingredients. Drop on wax paper and freeze.

I made these the day after that big snow storm last month and let them cool in the drifts.

Besides the cookies I have added PB2 to smoothies and oatmeal and find it to be pretty tasty however, it will not be replacing my good ol‘ natural peanut butter on toast.

Until next time…

look good, feel good, do good

https://davissportsnutrition.com/

‘Tis the Season…

Posted on December 15, 2010 by seboisen

For cookies!
So this isn’t exactly a “healthy” recipe post, but it is a yummy one!
Sunday I got into the baking mode and set out to share some holiday spirit by whipping up J and I’s favorite Christmas cookies.
A key to keeping your health in check….sharing with others!

Aunt Pam’s Gingersnap Cookies
Ingredients:
2 C flour – I used about 1/2 white whole wheat flour
1 T ground ginger
fresh grated ginger is the secret ingredient, I added about 1 tsp – may add more next time for a stronger flavor
2 tsp soda
1 tsp cinnamon
1/4 c molasses
1/2 tsp salt
3/4 c butter
1 c sugar
1 egg
sugar for bowl
Instructions:
Measure flour, ginger, soda, cinnamon, and salt into sifter. Cream butter until soft and gradually add sugar. Beat in egg and molasses. Sift dry ingredients over creamed mixture, blend well. Form mixture unto balls and roll in granulated sugar. Place on uncreased cookie sheet 2 inches apart. Bake at 350F 12-15 minutes or until they are slightly browned, rounded, and cracked on top. Cool thoroughly before storing.

Benefits of ginger:
Ginger aids in relieving nausea…these would have been great about 5 months ago when I was going through first trimester queasiness.
Ginger also has an anti-inflammatory effect and aids in muscle recovery……your excuse for having a cookie post workout.

Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies
Ingredients:
1 3/4 c. flour – I used about 1/2 white whole wheat flour
1/2 c. sugar
1/2 c. brown sugar
1 tsp. soda
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 c. butter
1/2 c. peanut butter – I tend to use slightly more (maybe 1/4c) to make moister cookies
1 egg
2 tbsp. skim milk
1 tsp. vanilla
Instructions:
Combine ingredients. Roll into balls, roll balls in sugar. Bake on cookie sheet at 350 degrees for about 8 minutes. Top with chocolate kiss immediately upon removal from oven. Place in hot oven for 2 more minutes (don’t forget about them!!!) This helps glue the kiss to the cookie.

What’s your favorite holiday cookie?

Until next time….
spread some JOY
and look good, feel good, do good…
https://davissportsnutrition.com/