Healthy Chocolate Chip Cookies

 

Healthy Chocolate Chip Cookies

 

     These cookies have very quickly become one of my favorites when I want something sweet but not full indulgence. The ingredients include lots of healthy (and yummy!) alternatives to traditional cookie ingredients such as whole wheat flour and oats and flaxseed meal. It sounds a bit odd for a dessert, but trust me- they're delicious!

 

Ingredients:

3/4 c. whole wheat flour
3/4 c. + 2 T old fashioned oats*
1/2 t. baking soda
1/2 t. salt
1/4 c. + 2 T. peanut butter
1/4 c. butter, softened
1/2 c. flax seed meal
2 T + 2 t water
1/2 t. cinnamon
1/4 c. sugar
1/4 c. brown sugar
1/2 t. vanilla
1 egg
1/2-1 c. chocolate chips**
1/2 c. chopped walnuts

*I sometimes substitute half quick oats 
** Try adding butterscotch chips or peanut butter chips. mmm!

Directions:
1. Combine whole wheat flour, oats, baking soda, salt and cinnamon in a bowl.

2. In a second bowl, mix together peanut butter, butter, sugars, vanilla, flaxseed meal and water until creamy. Mix in egg.

3. Gradually add in flour mixture. Then, add nuts and chocolate chips.

4. Spoon onto baking sheet in tablespoon portions. These don't rise much, so you can really fit a bunch on a single pan.

6. Bake at 350F for approximately 12 minutes.


Recipe adapted from Created To Be His

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Garlic Chicken recipe

     Just a simple recipe to share with you today! I took notes from traditional garlic chicken recipes, and then created my own (more simplified) version. Enjoy!

ClipArt image used with permission per CC license. Copyright by Machovka.

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Simple Baked Potato Lunches

      Baked potatoes have become a frequent lunch option in our home. They are nutritious, budget-friendly and quite simple to prepare. The fun of baked potatoes is that they are a blank canvases that can be made to taste differently each time depending on the toppings. Varying the toppings keeps them from becoming boring. 

      Potatoes can be cooked in the slow-cooker, microwave and oven. I personally prefer using the oven. This method also has the added benefit of aiding in heating our downstairs in the colder months. In warmer months, I find it better to  use the slow-cooker to keep down energy costs. 

      The versatility and cost-effective nature of these meals also make them great for serving guests. Have some fun with the creation of a baked potato bar. You cook the potatoes and provide the basics of salt, pepper and butter. Ask your guests to bring their favorite toppings. It's a fun little way to mix and match the different topping offerings, and perhaps try something new! :)

Baked Potato (oven)
1. Preheat oven to 350 degree. 
2. Wash potatoes thoroughly.
3. Using a fork, poke holes all around the potato to allow steam to escape.
4. Drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with coarse sea salt.
5. Wrap in aluminum foil.
6. Bake for about an hour or until soft. Note this time is for one to two potatoes. If you're cooking more, then you may have to increase your time.
7. Remove from the oven and allow to cool enough to handle.
8. Cut in half and add your desired toppings!

Toppings We've Enjoyed:
- salt, pepper, butter
- sour cream and chives
- cheddar cheese and bacon
- red onion, bell pepper, black olives (all finely diced) and monterrey jack cheese 
- shredded chicken, diced tomato, mozzarella cheese
- finely chopped broccoli and cheddar cheese
- chili and cheddar cheese
- eggs (as in an "Idaho Sunrise")

 What are some of your favorite toppings for a baked potato?

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Homemade Applesauce

     Applesauce is so simple to make that it has dropped off my grocery list completely. Homemade applesauce is also much healthier than the store bought variety which contains high levels of sugars, including high fructose corn syrup. This post will focus on making homemade applesauce for serving, and a second post later will provide instructions for canning it for enjoyment during the off-season. 

While applesauce can be made with some spice like ginger or cinnamon, I prefer to keep mine fairly basic by letting the apples be the predominant flavor. Certain apples are naturally sweet, and so by selecting these varieties I can reduce the amount of sugar I need to add. A great chart for selecting apples can be found at Pick Your Own. When we have apples in the pantry, it's usually Galas which work well for sauce as well as eating. For my husband and I, I will use about 2-3 apples to make sauce. (The following instructions are for two servings, and so you may need to make adjustments to the quantity if you're serving more people). 

Peel and cut the apples into small pieces. The smaller the pieces the faster they will cook. 

Place in a pot and add about 1/4 c. of water. (The amount doesn't have to be precise. You're not boiling the apples like you would potatoes. The water is just to get the pieces cooking.)

Continue cooking until the pieces easily mash with a fork. For chunky applesauce, use a potato masher to blend. For smoother sauce, a Stick Hand Blender  is wonderful. (I rather like the chunks of apples, so I just get it mostly smooth.)

If you wanted to add sugar, cinnamon or any other flavors then add them now. Whether you add additional flavors or not, the final step is to simply chill and then serve. Enjoy!

Up Next: Canning Homemade Applesauce

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Roasted Chickpeas

      Chickpeas (aka Garbanzo beans) are a great source of protein and fiber. When seasoned and roasted, they make a delicious and healthy snack! To save time, you can slide a pan of these in the oven along side another dish that is already baking. Enjoy!

Linked up at: A Mama's Story, The Alabaster Jar, The Modest Mom Blog, What Joy Is Mine, The Better Mom,  Growing Home, Time-Warp Wife, Cornerstone Confessions, Growing Home, Time-Warp Wife

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Favorite Green Smoothie

    I typically reserve smoothies for the warmer weather days, but this particular green smoothie is so good that it's worth drinking despite the freezing cold winter weather. Smoothies are a fantastic snack or at times breakfast option for something quick and packed with nutrients. 

Favorite Green Smoothie:

1/2 c. yogurt *

1 banana

2/3 c. almond milk

1 T. peanut butter

1 T. flaxseed meal

1 t. honey

6 greens cubes**

2-3 drops vanilla extract

Combine all ingredients into the blender and blend until everything is well incorporated. Enjoy!

Notes:

* Make your own yogurt! The process is simple and is more economical than buying it. 

** I like to keep my greens frozen and ready to go in the freezer. I place a bag of greens into the blender, and then add enough water for them to come together well. Then, pour into two ice cube trays and freeze. Each smoothie will use about six cubes. This way I always have greens ready to go, since they're frozen I don't need to add ice cubes which eventually waters down the drink, and they incorporate better into the smoothie since they've already been broken down once before. 

For easy clean up, add some water and a tiny squirt of dish soap to your blender. Turn it on and it will clean itself. This is so much easier than trying to clean by hand around the crazy sharp blade piece. 

Linked up at: What Joy Is Mine, The Better Mom, A Mama's Story, The Alabaster Jar, Far Above Rubies, Growing Home, Time-Warp Wife, Women Living Well, A Wise Woman Builds Her Home, Deep Roots at Home, Raising Homemakers, We Are THAT Family

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