let’s get cooking

This morning I am no longer finding sticky spots on arms and icing hanging from my kids’ mouths.  I have recovered from the overt amount of sugar I consumed (not much in the grand scheme, but more than I am accustomed to.)  Aside from jerky and granola, these are not commonly consumed items in our house.  We honestly believe that processed sugar is not good for you and we eat it sparingly.  At the holidays I try to have alternatives available for the girls.  One example of our “healthier” (though still very sweet and not a common treat) cookie would be these:

Gluten-free Peanut Butter Cookies 

• 1/2 cup peanut butter (we use the natural kind that is only peanuts and salt, it makes a difference in the final product)
• 1/2 cup Rapadura
• 2 eggs, beaten

That’s it.  Just mix it all together and bake at 350 for 12-14 minutes.  Easy as can be and not my original recipe, though I have no idea where it has come from.  Still, though, look at the sugar to other ingredients ratio…not the best.  If you are wanting better check out THIS post from The Nourishing Gourmet.  She is having a nourishing sweets and treats carnival today and I know there will be a bunch of great recipes that I will try for the holidays.  You see, when it gets to this part, I’m tuckered out.  I’ve planned meals, homeschooled the kids, tried to keep order in the house, and taken care of family.  When it comes to making more desserts, changing recipes around with healthier ingredients takes so much time and often wastes food supplies.  It’s just not something that I am in a position to do right now.  Kudos to you ladies that will post all your tasty findings!

Back to what we baked yesterday.  These will go in boxes sent to family, they will be served at my parents’ restaurant (minus the one’s my kids did…those are kept separate), and will be served to family as they visit for the holidays.  I started a batch of jerky…not your common Christmas baking item, I know, but I am sending boxes to a couple brother’s-in-law.   It will still need to dry.  I am also planning to make a huge batch of granola.  It takes about three days to make and I’m procrastinating…just being honest.  If anyone would like recipes other than the healthier two I linked to, please comment.

holding her favorite recipe, obliviouse to the chocolate dripping down her chin

The first recipe I attacked was Liz’s favorite, Chewy Chocolate Cookies.  A chocolate cookie with oats and chocolate chips that is drizzled or dipped in white chocolate.  A very rich, sweet cookie.  They also are fairly easy to make and look very pretty on cookie trays.

awaiting their white chocolate drizzle...I need a baking rack like this, yes?

We also helped mom with the old standard, sugar cookies.

Liz and Jane creating their masterpieces

Iced of course

CeeCee illustrates why the girls' cookies were kept separate

And sprinkled

Brie being very careful with the sprinkles

We also baked a few date-nut pinwheels.  This is the one recipe that I think I could alter to be a bit healthier.  They are a brown-sugar cookie dough (fairly dry) that is rolled flat, spread with a date-nut filling, rolled and sliced for baking.  I am lacking of picture of these, sorry about that.  The first batch mom made the other day she tripled, but didn’t triple the sugar.  To me they taste better (don’t tell mom or grandma!)  This is why I am thinking I could alter them and still be please with the flavor.  Can you imagine, an old family favorite with 1/3 the sugar tasting good…shoot, it could be even better with the natural sweeteners.  Ok, I have now convinced myself to get the recipe written down and see what I can do with it.

I mentioned my truffles the other day, they are rolled and awaiting a dip in chocolate and drizzle of prettiness. 

This mixer is currently cranking out a quadruple batch of Eggnog Log dough with the easy of melted butter...I need one of these too!

Another half-finished item is a quadruple batch of Eggnog Logs in the fridge waiting to be rolled out and baked.  These are a buttery little cookie that is frosted with a sweet butter-rum icing and topped with fresh nutmeg.  I’ll be sure to post pics of all the final products when they are, well, finished.

Oh and how could I forget Forest’s Chex Mix?  It’s a Christmas standard.  He usually makes about 6 batches for my mom.

This was all done at my parent’s restaurant.  With all those dozens of cookie sheets, 3 ovens, baking racks, endless measuring spoons and spatulas I should be able to get it all done, right?  Please consider my road-blocks, so to say:

• four little girls running loose in a business
• four little girls wanting to “help”
• my dad needing to make 50 or so pies to feed a local factory their Christmas dinner this week (oven hog…just kidding dad, I know we were in your way!)
• Chex Mix takes a long time and the whole convection oven
• still needing to eat meals, potty breaks, etc.

It was a full day, I wish I had finished more, but in the end all I have left is to dip truffles, baked the Eggnog Logs, and get started on my granola.  Not a bad deal considering all that we got done.  Besides, the girls had a blast helping Mamaw and Papaw as well as icing their own sugary creations!  Look for final product photos in the next few days.

(I have no idea why all this is in bold, but the more I try to fix it the worse it gets…started with one line, now the whole thing!)