Healthy Christmas Sugar Cookies

You know what is my favorite kind of cookie in the world?

SUGAR COOKIES!

You know what is my favorite Holiday in the world?

CHRISTMAS!

Combine those two things and you get...

CHRISTMAS SUGAR COOKIES!

But it gets better....

Healthy Christmas Sugar Cookies

 

(Loosely adapted from this recipe)

 

3/4 cup loosely packed flour

1/4 tsp baking powder

1/4 tsp salt

1/4 tsp plus 1/8 tsp baking soda

1/4 cup sugar

1/2 tsp vanilla extract

3 tsp unsweetened vanilla almond milk

2 tbsp vegetable oil

1 tbsp unsweetened applesauce

red and green sprinkles

additional sugar

 

Mix the dry ingredients and the wet ingredients separately.  Gradually add the wet mixture into the dry mixture and stir until a soft ball of dough is formed.  Refrigerate the dough for 15 minutes.  Cover the bottom of a shallow ball with the sprinkles and additional sugar.  Remove the dough from the fridge and form into 12 balls.  Roll the balls of dough in the sprinkle-sugar mixture until well coated and place on a lined baking sheet.  Be sure to flatten out the dough balls a bit with your hand to make a traditional cookie shape.  Bake the cookies at 325 degress for 10-12 minutes.  Allow cookies 5 minutes to cool and then EAT ALL OF THE COOKIES!!!!!!!!

 

Ok, maybe you should share some...but you might not want to, especially since they are only about 60 calories per cookie!

 

Merry Christmas and May the Odds be Ever in you Flavor!  



Banana Split Oatmeal

I don't know about you, but the idea of having dessert for breakfast really lifts my spirits...especially when it is a guilt free dessert for breakfast!

Banana Split Oatmeal

 

 

1/2 cup oatmeal

1 cup water

1 small ripe banana

4 strawberries

1 packet Truvia (optional)

2 tsp mini chocolate chips

 

Cook the oatmeal according to directions.  Meanwhile, mash the banana and strawberries in a bowl and mix in the optional truvia sweetener.  Mix the banana mixture with the cooked oatmeal.  Sprinkle with chocolate chips.  Enjoy the goodness!

 

A yummy desserty breakfast with only about 280 calories!  There are just no downsides.

 

May the odds be ever in your flavor!

Fat Free Oatmeal Raisin Cookies

You know what's great about cookies?  They taste awesome!
You know what's not so great about cookies?  They are typically fattening-high-calorie-bad-for-you.
BUT
You know what's great about these cookies?

Fat Free Oatmeal Raisin Cookies

 

They are both not fattening-high-calorie-bad-for-you AND awesome tasting!

1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce

1/4 cup domino light sugar-stevia baking blend

1/2 cup brown sugar

3 tbsp egg whites

1 tsp vanilla

1 cup flour

3/4 tsp cinnamon

1/2 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

1 1/2 cups oatmeal

1/4 cup raisins

 

Mix all of the ingredients together in a medium bowl.  Spoon onto a greased baking sheet.  Bake at 350 degrees for 10 minutes.  Wait for cookies to cool and then ENJOY THE DELICIOUSNESS!

Makes 36 cookies.

 

This recipe is adapted from the oatmeal cookie recipe that comes on the back of the oatmeal container from Kroger.

 

These cookies are exceptionally scrumptious...and at only 42 calories per cookie, you can afford to have a couple....dozen??? 

 

What time is it?  Oh, I am pretty sure it is baking time!  Get to it!

 

May the odds be ever in your flavor!

 







Crispy Garlic Potato Bites

So, we all know that french fries are absolutely delicious.

We also know that hidden inside that crispy, mouthwatering, irresistible sliver of deep-fried goodness is a whole bunch of bad-for-you-calorie-filled-artery-clogging-fat!

WHY OH WHY MUST EVERYTHING DELICIOUS BE SO BAD FOR ME????

Don't worry...not everything delicious is bad for you...take this recipe for example...

Crispy Garlic Potato Bites

4 medium red potatoes (any potato would probably work)

1 1/2 tsp olive oil

2-3 garlic cloves

garlic powder

salt

pepper

Dice up the potatoes into bite-sized pieces. Cut the garlic into chunks. Place the potatoes and garlic in a medium pot filled with lightly salted water. Boil for about 7 minutes. Pour the contents of the pot into a strainer. Dump the potatoes and garlic onto a greased baking sheet and spread them apart evenly. Spread with olive oil and add spices to taste. Bake at 400 degrees for 15 minutes. Remove from oven and flip over the potatoes, add additional spices if desired. Return to oven and bake for an additional 15-25 minutes (depending on how crispy you want them).

These babies are bursting with flavor and are a great alternative to the typical french fry.

Another cool thing about this recipe is that you can mix and match different spices to make different types of potatoes!

Examples:

1) garlic, lemon juice, oregano, Greek seasoning, salt, garlic powder = Greek Potatoes

2) season salt, pepper = Simple Potatoes

3) garlic, salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, rosemary, olive oil, thyme, basil = Rosemary Potatoes!

I could go on, but I'm sure your cullinarily inclined minds get the picture.

Also, feel free to comment on any of my posts to let me know how your version turned out!

May the odds be ever in your flavor! 

 

Banana Cookies

Let's face it, we all have a dream...a dream to be able to eat an entire batch of cookies completely guilt free!  A dream to be able to eat an entire batch of delicious cookies completely guilt free. 

Well folks, I am here to announce that we are one giant step closer to that dream...

Banana Cookies

 

 

1 cup whole wheat flour

2 small ripe bananas (mashed)

1 egg white
2 tbsp unsweetened applesauce

1 tsp vanilla

1/4 tsp baking soda

1/8 tsp salt

2 tbsp light brown sugar

1 tbsp domino light sugar stevia blend

*1/4 cup dark chocolate chips

*1 tsp cinnamon

 

Mix everything together in a large mixing bowl.  Drop cookies onto a greased baking sheet and bake at 350 degress for 8 minutes. 

 

*You can pick either one to mix into the cookies...or even do both!  Just depends on your taste preference.  I did half a batch with chocolate chips and half with cinnamon and both turned out awesomely!

 

These cookie-licious wonders are only 30 calories per cookie (40 if you use the dark chocolate chips)! 

 

You're welcome in advanced!

 

May the odds be ever in your flavor!

 







Almost Apple Pie

Sometimes I just really really want some apple pie...and there are only two things standing in my way

1) The amount of time and effort it takes to make a delicious apple pie

2) The amount of calories per piece of the delicious apple pie

So what's an apple-pie-lovin' girl to do?

Answer:

Almost Apple Pie

 

 

1 apple

ground cinnamon

 

Simply dice up an apple, place in a microwaveable bowl, sprinkle with cinnamon, and microwave for one minute!

 

Voilá!  An easy, healthy way to combat the apple pie craving!

 

The hardest part is waiting for the apples to cool off...I may or may not have burned my tongue a couple of times after making this...

 

This treat is good for breakfast, snacks, and, of course, dessert! 

 

May the odds be ever in your flavor!



Low Fat Pumpkin Bars

♪ Yummy yummy yummy I've got pumpkin in my tummy and I feel like eating more! ♪

Seriously, that is what you will be singing once you eat some of these...

 

Low Fat Pumpkin Bars

 

Adapted from this recipe

 

6 tbsp liquid egg whites

A little under 1/2 cup stevia-sugar baking blend

1/4 cup applesauce

1/4 cup vegetable oil

7.5 ounces canned pumpkin

1 cup flour

1 tsp baking powder

1 tsp cinnamon

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 tsp baking soda

 

Mix all of the ingredients together.  Place in a greased 8x8 pan and bake at 350 degrees for about 25 minutes. 

 

These are crazy delicious...and addicting...good thing they are only 53 calories per square!

 

 

*NOTE:  My mother prefers to have hers with the icing...

4 ounces light cream cheese, softened

1/4 cup butter, softened

1 cup powdered sugar

1/2 tsp vanilla

(Combine ingredients, chill in the fridge for 10 minutes, spread over cooled pumpkin bars)

 

May the odds be ever in your flavor!