Almond Chocolate Cookies

We are almost half-way through our healthy snack month. My overdramatic children claimed I was killing them with all the raisins, carrots, hard boiled eggs, peanut butter, trail mix, etc. So to prove my point that healthy food can taste good I did some research for some low carb cookies. These have the benefit of being made with almond flour - lots of tasty goodness with protein, fiber, low carb content, Vitamin E and omega 3s.



RECIPE:
3/4 c butter, room temperature
1/2 c sugar
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla

1 c almond flour
1/4 c whole wheat flour
1/2 cocoa powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp baking powder

DIRECTIONS:

Preheat oven to 325 degrees and line cookie sheets with parchment paper.

Combine the first set of wet ingredients in one bowl. In another bowl combine the second set of dry ingredients. Blend the two mixes together till dough forms. Using your hands roll dough into balls and place 3" apart on cookie trays. Bake 15 minutes and allow to cool before eating.

REVIEWS: 3 thumbs up. I think the butter I used (which has oil in it to help it spread) was too much for this recipe and made the cookies crisp and flat. The taste is delicious and the kids loved them. We will be making them again.

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Healthy Snack Month

While I'm a vegetarian, the rest of my family is not. They do, however, eat vegetarian 80% of the time. Sounds so healthy, right?

But we are snackers. And even vegetarian snacks (like brownies and cookies - I LOVE to bake!!!) are not good in excess. So this month, we are trying our hand at different types of snacks and forgoing the cookies, cakes and candy (even the 100 calorie type).

My criteria for this list was for the snack to have fruit, veggies or non-meat protein and be under 150 calories. I needed something that would fill them up for ballet or acting class so they wouldn't be starving when dinner rolled around.

Here is the list:

1 tbsp PB with 4 club crackers
1 tbsp PB with celery sticks
2 tsp PB with 1/2 apple
1 Egg - hardboiled or scrambled
1 oz box of raisins
1 c blueberries
1 medium pear
1 cup pineapple
2 cups carrots
1 cup baby carrots with 2 tbsp hummus
1/2 cup cooked rice
3 cups cherry tomatoes
4 mini rice cakes
1/2 c frozen orange juice, eaten as a sorbet
2 cups raspberries
1 cup grapes
1/2 medium cantaloupe
15 strawberries with 1/4 cup cool whip lite
5 strawberries and 1 tbsp of chocolate chips
2 lite cheese strings sticks
1 babybel cheese round with 4 club crackers
20 roasted peanuts
60 goldfish crackers
40 classic style pretzel sticks (the small matchstick kind)
1 nature valley granola bar
1/2 bagel
2 sheets of graham crackers
3 cups of air popped popcorn (no salt/butter)
round tortilla chips (amount depends on brand) and 1/2 c all natural mild salsa (40 cal)
1/2 cup fruit juice
1 cup vegetable juice
1/2 c canned mandarin oranges
1 package of instant oatmeal
3 Amy's Cheese Pizza Snacks
1/2 c frozen yogurt

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Crock Pot Applesauce

10 large apples, peeled, cored and sliced/diced (or enough to fill your crock pot 3/4 of the way full; I only used 8)
1/4 c - 1/2 c sugar
1/2 c water
1-2 tsp cinnamon (optional, I like cinnamon)

Place all the ingredients in the slow cooker and place on low for 8-10 hours. After fully cooked, mash apples with hand mixer or stick blender. Leave apple chunks if desired. Refrigerate.

Reviews: YUMM-O! Everyone loves it. I used a variety of apples - Granny Smith, Red Delicious and Gala because that's what was in the house.

Other Ideas - replace water with cider

Keeping: Freeze or process pint jars in a boiling water bath for 15 minutes to can for later use.

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Meatless Mondays

Who needs meat when you can make gorgeous treats like this...


you need phyllo (let it thaw in the fridge over night)
cheese (i used mozz/parm/feta)
I used fresh basil and some italian seasoning
tomatoes thinly sliced (roma is my fave)


Brilliant colors and textures... meat cannot compare



I'm not the vegan one, I really do adore cheese



When using phyllo, keep it covered. I used melted butter in between the layers. olive oil would work. Even spray oil would work, you just have to have some fat sticking the sheets together. I also put a little cheese mix in the middle after I did a few layers.



Place the veggies and herbs you like on top. Sprinkle on cheese mixture.



These cook pretty fast so don't go start another big project or anything. Look at the flaky goodness!



So Yum!  These are just perfect cut into tinyish square appetizers



~Venus

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