Wednesday, December 30, 2015

Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Bites

Looking for a sweet treat for you or the kiddos but want to limit the sugar overload that this season brings?!? Try this no bake, super easy, healthy and tasty recipe! The addition of flaxseeds offer a great source of fiber, which keeps you full longer and omega-3, which is important to the anti-inflammatory system in the body.
Even Santa can appreciate Oatmeal Bites. Don't forget the carrot for Rudolph and the reindeers.

Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Bites
Ingredients:
1 cup oatmeal

1/2 cup sunflower seed butter (or other nut butter)

1/3 cup honey

1 cup coconut flakes

1/2 cup ground flaxseed

1/2 cup mini chocolate chips

1 tsp vanilla
Directions:
Mix all ingredients in a medium bowl until thoroughly incorporated. Let chill in the refrigerator for half an hour.
Once chilled, roll into balls and enjoy! Store in an airtight container and keep refrigerated for up to 1 week.
Thanks to Tiana Hill from Restorative Yoga for the recipe.

Sunday, December 27, 2015

Gooey Gingerbread Cupcakes

Cinnamon, molasses, applesauce, ginger . . . you can taste the Christmas flavors in these cupcakes. Having little helpers makes it more fun. Thanks to Celia and Netti Fedele-McLeod, Sarah Holcombe and big helper, Al McLeod.
Licking the bowl is the best!
Seriously stirring the batter.
Which decorations will they choose?




Gingerbread Cupcakes

Frosting Ingredients:
1/2 cup reduced-fat cream cheese
1/4 cup light butter or light buttery spread
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1/4 tsp. vanilla extract
1/3 cup powdered sugar

Cupcakes Ingredients:
1 3/4 cups moist-style spice cake mix (about half a box)
1/2 cup egg whites or fat-free liquid egg substitute
1/4 cup unsweetened applesauce
3 tbsp. molasses
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1 tsp. cinnamon
3/4 tsp. ground ginger
1/8 tsp. ground nutmeg
Optional topping: cinnamon

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a 12-cup muffin pan with baking cups, or spray it with nonstick spray.

In a large bowl, combine all frosting ingredients except powdered sugar. With an electric mixer set to medium speed, beat until smooth, 1 - 2 minutes. Continue to beat while gradually adding powdered sugar. Beat until smooth, another 1 - 2 minutes. Cover and refrigerate. 


In another large bowl, combine all cupcake ingredients. Whisk until smooth and uniform. Evenly distribute batter among the cups of the muffin pan. 



Bake until a toothpick inserted into the center of a cupcake comes out clean, 16 - 18 minutes. 



Let cool completely, about 10 minutes in the pan and 25 minutes out of the pan. 



Spread with frosting.

MAKES 12 SERVINGS
Thanks to Hungry Girl for the recipe.

Thursday, December 24, 2015

Monkey Bread - A Holiday Tradition

Try this for a Merry Christmas Morning Treat.
Monkey bread, Sticky buns, Cinnamon rolls, whatever name you call it, these buns are delicious.

Other recipes for Cinnamon Buns in Tastes & Treasures cookbook.

Ingredients:
13.5 ounces all-purpose flour (about 3 cups)
4.75 ounces whole-wheat flour (about 1 cup)
1 teaspoon salt
1 package quick-rise yeast (about 2 1/4 teaspoons)
1 cup very warm fat-free milk (120° to 130°)
1/4 cup very warm orange juice (120° to 130°)
1/4 cup honey
2 tablespoons butter, melted
Cooking spray
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
4 1/2 tablespoons fat-free milk, divided
2 tablespoons butter, melted
1/2 cup powdered sugar
1 tablespoon 1/3-less-fat cream cheese
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions:

1. Weigh or lightly spoon flours into dry measuring cups; level with a knife. Combine flours, salt, and yeast in the bowl of a stand mixer with dough hook attached; mix until combined. With mixer on, slowly add 1 cup milk, juice, honey, and 2 tablespoons butter; mix dough at medium speed 7 minutes or until smooth and elastic. Place dough in a large bowl coated with cooking spray, turning to coat top. Cover and let rise in a warm place (85°), free from drafts, 1 hour or until doubled in size. (Gently press two fingers into dough. If indentation remains, the dough has risen enough.)
2. Combine granulated sugar, brown sugar, and cinnamon in a shallow dish. Combine 3 tablespoons milk and 2 tablespoons butter in a shallow dish, stirring with a whisk.
3. Punch dough down; divide into 8 equal portions. Working with one portion at a time (cover remaining dough to prevent drying), roll into an 8-inch rope. Cut each dough rope into 8 equal pieces, shaping each piece into a 1-inch ball. Dip each ball in milk mixture, turning to coat, and roll in sugar mixture. Layer balls in a 12-cup Bundt pan coated with cooking spray. Repeat procedure with remaining 7 dough ropes. Sprinkle any remaining sugar mixture over dough. Cover and let rise in a warm place (85°), free from drafts, 1 hour or until almost doubled in size.
4. Preheat oven to 350°.
Bake at 350° for 25 minutes or until golden. Cool 5 minutes on a wire rack. Place a plate upside down on top of bread; invert onto plate. 

5. Combine powdered sugar, remaining milk, and remaining ingredients in a small bowl, stirring with a whisk. Microwave at HIGH 20 seconds or until warm. Drizzle over bread.

Tuesday, December 22, 2015

Flourless Candy Cane Chocolate Cake

Forget the cookies. This may be what Santa wants with his milk this year.

Santa would also like the Chocolate Icebox Cake on page 80 in Tastes & Treasures.

Flourless Candy Cane Chocolate Cake
Ingredients:
One 15-oz. can black beans, drained and rinsed 

1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder 

1/2 cup (about 4 large) egg whites 

1/3 cup unsweetened applesauce 

1/3 cup canned pure pumpkin
1/4 cup Truvia spoonable calorie-free sweetener (or another no-calorie granulated sweetener
1 1/2 tsp. baking powder 

1 tsp. vanilla extract
1/4 tsp. salt 

1/8 tsp. peppermint extract
1 tbsp. mini semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 full-sized candy cane (or 3 minis), crushed

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a 9" round cake pan with foil, and generously spray with nonstick spray. 


Place all ingredients except chocolate chips and candy canes in a food processor. Puree until completely smooth and uniform. 

Fold in chocolate chips.
Transfer mixture into the cake pan, and smooth out the top. 

Bake until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out mostly clean, 35 - 40 minutes. 
Immediately sprinkle with crushed candy cane(s).

Let cool completely, about 1 hour. 

Refrigerate leftovers. (This cake tastes great chilled.) 

MAKES 8 SERVINGS

Thanks to Hungry Girl for the recipe.

Sunday, December 20, 2015

Sweet Christmas Trees made with Peanut Butter Cups and Hershey Kiss


Delightful treats and darling Thank You gifts, these will put a smile on your face as you create individual "Sweet" Christmas Trees.

Reeses come in mini, snack, and jumbo. The ones pictured here are mini and snack sizes.


Ingredients for one tree:
2 Miniature Reeses Peanut Butter Cups
1 Regular Reeses Peanut Butter Cups
1 Hershey Kiss
Melted Chocolate (your choice of color) or Icing as "glue"

Directions:
Unwrap all of your Chocolate.
Melt your chocolate according to to package directions to use as "glue".  You can melt it right in a zip-top bag and cut the corner off. Or use icing to attach the layers.

Base: Upside Down miniature PB cup
2nd layer: Upside down regular size PB cup
3rd layer: Miniature PB cup upside down
Top layer:  Hershey Kiss

Repeat with as many trees as you plan to make.
Allow to set (in the fridge) for approx 30 minutes.
Drizzle with your chocolate around the edges in a pretty pattern and sprinkle with your favorite kind of sprinkles/jimmies/non-pariels

Hint:
Refrigerate all the candy before starting because the Reeses get soft and collapse. Keep cold and only pull out 3 or 4 at a time to work on...they thaw very quickly.
They freeze well.


Thanks to teacher-chef.com for the recipe.

Friday, December 18, 2015

Melted Snowman Cookies


Use your favorite sugar cookie recipe or get a package mix and get creative. You can even use Almond Crunch Cookies page 171 from Tastes & Treasures cookbook.
It's amazing how a marshmallow and some colored icing in a tube can make the most interesting cookies!



Thursday, December 17, 2015

Happy to pose for the camera at Family Holiday Party

Tammy Frazier with mom, Delores Tomasek,
Chair Carolyn Mendoza, Norman Jean Coulter with granddaughter
Carol Vie brought 9 friends to enjoy Wizard of Oz

Patti Goss, Pat Christopherson, Aaron and Jackie Berkowitz


Ruth and Al McLeod