The Contents Of My Cookie Jar

Like most of us , I m still getting back into the swing of things post holidays. While I'm getting organized ( and yes I am applying to jobs !! ) here's another recipe.

After careful consideration and hemming and hawing , when my MIL asked me what I would like for Christmas, I decided.

A cookie jar.

My glass covered cake stand I received from her for my birthday is wonderful and I love it but I wanted something specifically for cookies. And my MIL delivered . An awesome , cookie jar that seals.

Of course an empty cookie jar is just a sad thing. Almost as sad as an empty wine rack , so I made cookies and of course I went to my current favorite source for classic recipes , Martha.

Martha Stewart's Ultimate Chocolate Chip Cookies - My Way ( altered)

2 cups white organic flour
1 1/2 cups whole wheat organic flour
1 1/4 tsp baking soda
1 1/4 tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt

1 1/4 cup becel light
1/2 cup white organic sugar
1/2 cup organic brown sugar
1/2 cup pure maple syrup
2 large organic eggs
1 tbsp pure vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups chocolate chips

For the original unaltered recipe that involves a lot more sugar ( yes it's possible), real butter and all white flour , click here.

Martha also advises you use a hand mixer to incorporate but I would rather use power of the arm.

Cream together becel , sugars and maple syrup. Add eggs one at a time. Add vanilla.

Mix together dry ingredients and slowly incorporate into sugar mixture. Combine well and fold in chocolate chips. Use a large ice cream scoop or tbsp and drop by spoonful on an ungreased cookie sheet.

Bake at 350 for 12- 16 minutes.

NOTE: These cookies take much longer than other cookie recipes I have used but the product is a beautiful cookie that reminds me of a homemade yet healthier Chips Ahoy

Day of Eats and Dinner For One

I think this is my first day of complete eats. Not completely sure, but anyways, this is everything I ate today.

I started with Starbucks Dark Roast something or other , brewed with love by the bf and added Hazelnut Coffeemate and sweetner.


And then took various pictures of it , rather than drinking it.



Lunch/breakfast, was this luscious bowl of oats.

In the Bowl:

1/2 cups Bob's Organic Old Fashioned Oats ( yey i got more. Steel Cut oats are NOT the same)
3/4 cup of water
1/2 a banana save a few slices for on top
pinch of salt
dash of vanilla

I was not lazy this time and cooked it on the stove top . I cooked most of the banana save for the slices on top, with the oats.
It made ALL the difference.
Stove top oats are so much better. I do hate washing the extra dish/pot though.

I topped these oats with a few fresh blueberries, some Blue Diamond Almond Butter and a couple slices of banana, and some PC Omega 3 Granola.


Blue Diamond Almond Butter is not my favorite but I am trying to eliminate nut butters before I purchase even more, and it's ok for oats. Definately not spreadable.
These oats were soooo creamy and delicious, yet chewy and not liquidy and such which i hate !

I purchased these items yesterday at the teensy health food store at the mall.

Vega Wholefood Smoothie packet, and a Berry Crush and Acai Energy drink packet . I love the berry one for after yoga or mid lecture. Even though I only have about 4 lectures left before I' m done school !
I also grabbed a Banana Larabar.



Loved it.

So far I love : Coconut Cream, Pb and J and Banana .
Hate : Cocoa Chew, Apple Pie, Cherry Pie

While making dinner I "made" Banana Soft Serve in my sad excuse for a blender.

It may be a ghetto blender but it crushes ice and it never lets me down.

Random Fact : No appliance in my house ever has near the correct time.

I missed the part where the banana is meant to be frozen?

So i blended for nothing and then when i realized it was far too easy , it was too late. Its in the freezer now but I am doubtful.

I even had frozen banana in the freezer but I guess my head was just not in it.

This was dinner.

2 tortillas , folded in half for sturdiness.

1 :

pasta sauce : vine ripened tomatos, garlic, onions, mushroom and spinach w/ marble cheddar and spinach

2: PC organic salsa w/ marble cheddar and spinach

And on the side the other half of the batard (?) from last nite's dinner, spread with i cant believe its not butter light and garlic powder pre toast over bake.

It was gooey. I could not manage to eat it all unfortunately .

What's your favorite dinner for one?

Vegan For Lent

I know what you're thinking.

That dish pictured above , looks amazingly healthy AND delicious . You're probably also thinking that it looks a little too healthy for me to be posting about it ;)

You're right if you voted that dishes like that are not my usual fare. Dishes like these are not really my friend Trae who I've dubbed Mama 's , usual fare either. But for lent , her and one of her girls decided to go vegan.

Yeah they are crazy and they live in an area that is pretty proud of beef, but that is besides the point. While I am all for vegetables and eating healthy , I just couldn't figure out what she was planning on eating .

To shut me up and reassure me that she's not dining on carrot sticks with the children , she's sent me some pictures of her trials with vegan cookery thus far and I thought it would be something fun and interesting to have on the blog. Food pics are always good :)

Oh and if you're curious , that above dish , is mixed baby greens, avocado , sunflower seeds topped with balsaimic vinegar and Nature's Seasoning. Note: I had never heard of Nature's Seasoning prior to this post and had to use google. :/

Mama tells me this is sugar snap peas, mushrooms, onions that had been sauteed and cooked in olive oil and some more of that Nature's Seasoning . Mama loved it but said it shrunk down so much it fit into a small cereal bowl ?!

I hate that . I also hate cooking rice because I can never make the correct amount. It is always too little or too much .

Last but not least we have the glory that is sweet potatoes!!

Loooove these. And so simple. Mama , baked these with olive oil and some brown sugar. They look amazing!

That's all I've got.Until I cook something :)

-A

Not Taco Hell

For dinner tonight, I choppped up some of these :

Sweet onions, tomatoes-on-the-vine, lettuce and baby spinach.

I was seriously wanting soft tacos. I fear the evil that is Taco Hell so i went to the grocery store for some fresh tortilllas and used these ingredients from home :

Mexican rice, extra lean ground beef cooked w/ a PC taco seasoning packet ,Kraft Mexican Cheese ( i have yet to see organic or "natural" versions pop up at the stores I frequent ) and some Newman's Own Original Salsa.

I've heard amazing things from so many bloggers about Newman's Own products. I don't see many of their products at the stores I shop at but they do have a whole shelf in the Mexican section! Has anyone tried the Mango salsa? The Blackbean?

I slapped together a "wrap" as I call it with some rice , sour cream and the cheese. I am not one for vegetables on my wraps or soft tacos as I do not like the idea , taste or feel of warm lettuce and I really hate raw tomatoes and onions.

What is your favorite mexican make at home food?

Favorite salsa or salsa recipe?

Peanut Butter Cookies, Altered

My bf is obsessed with my peanut butter cookies. I have made a million cookie recipes but this is the one he requests EVERY week .After making a vegan almond butter cookie recipe at Christmas ( it was A-MAZING!) I thought I would try to "lighten" this recipe up without it being noticeable. I 'll post both the original recipe and the altered.

Please to be ignoring that beautiful wallpaper. THankfully its only on the wall that is mostly hidden by my fridge /stove/cupboards.




Peanut Butter Cookies Original Recipe

1 1/2 cups flour
1/2 cup white sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup butter or marargine
1/2 cup peanut butter
1 tsp baking soda
pinch of salt
1 tsp vanilla
1 egg
You can of course add peanuts or chocolate chips if you want.

Cream together sugars , butter and peanut butter. Add egg and vanilla.
Combine flour, salt, baking soda .
Slowly stir into creamed sugar mixture.
When combined , add chocolate chips and such .
Roll into small balls and place an inch or so apart. Flatten with a wet fork.
Cook at 375 for 8 minutes or until edges are golden and top looks almost cooked. Remove from pan immediately and let cool.

Altered recipe

1 1/2 cups flour
1/2 cup maple syrup
1/4 cup white sugar
1/2 cup becel light
1/2 cup kraft natural peanut butter
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla
1 tsp baking soda
pinch of salt

Same method as before but cream the maple syrup along with the sugars and butters.


-A

Pop and Crunch - Pop Chips Review

Wow these Pop Chips were a long time coming! I can't even count how many contests I entered trying to get my paws on these guys.


I gave up on my chance at glory and when I saw these on sale for 2.49 at Shoppers Drug Mart the other day , I had to get some.

I was tempted to get a flavor but ended up getting Original because to be honest I am a plain jane. My absolute favorite chips are Lays Original but I try to healthy it up a bit and go for the Baked variety. Hea-ven!

The bag of Pop Chips tells me that they are not fried OR baked. Intriguing.



Upon first crunch , I was very surprised. I was expecting something similar to Crispy Mini or Quakes for the Americans ( i think ! ) , Snack A Jacks for the UK-ers. What I got was a chip that reminded me of a Muncho if you 've ever had one.

Incredibly salty and full of flavor. They also are kinda greasy.


The Pop Chips weren't greasy but they had the flavor of a chip that might have be fried. I kinda wished I had gotten BBQ or something because I am not a big fan of Munchos and these REALLY reminded me of it.



All in all though , if you're looking for healthy alternative to chips for dip related purposes I would snag a bag of these. If you want to eat them on their own and you adore Munchos , also buy them. If you do not enjoy the food that is Munchos , no.



-A