Tuesday, August 21, 2012

Day 81: Vegan Banana Cookies and Cooking Matters Teen Makeover Challenge

The end of our summer has proven to be a lot busier then I anticipated. Vacations, Out of town weddings (fun!), the start of soccer practices for the boys and gearing up for the dance team's first football games have occupied a lot of time. Working in time to blog has been difficult. But not to worry, The cookies are still being baked daily!

After attending the first Cooking Matters Blogger Event, I was sold on what a great organization this is. I vowed to help in any way I could. One of the classes Cooking Matters offers is geared towards teens. The teens learn about nutrition and basic cooking skills. Their final class is a team competition.

Each team was required to plan a menu that is balanced, prepare it and serve it. I was lucky enough be a judge for this event.

Immediately the teens impressed me. Most of the kids had NEVER cooked in their life. After a few short weeks they had great knife skills and were creating delicious, healthy well thought out meals.



I still have trouble creating the perfect omelet. However these teens mastered this breakfast favorite!




Each group did a wonderful job. The winning team made a Black Bean Veggie Burger (from scratch) and paired it with Homemade Sweet Potato Fries and A Sparkling Fruit Juice Beverage and for dessert, a Greek Yogurt Fruit and Granola Cup.
The kids were very proud of the meal. As they served us you could see the pride on their sweet faces.

This was a very special opportunity for me. It was once again a great way to see first hand the fantastic work Cooking Matters Michigan is doing in our community!!
This program's success depends on volunteers. So why not Share Your Strength and volunteer?
You can find opportunities on the Cooking Matters Michigan blog. To keep up to date on the fantastic work they are doing you can also follow them on twitter at @cmdetroit or "Like" them on Facebook

One of my friends from Cooking Matters Michigan, Vani, sent me a wonderful Vegan Cookie Recipe. It was quick, easy, and full of goodness!






(Adapted from Banana Date Oat Cookies by Jenny Mason)
3 Large Bananas
1 1/2 cup Raisins
2 Cups of Rolled Oats
1/3 cup of Olive Oil
1 teaspoon Pure Vanilla Extract
1/2 Cup Chopped Walnuts
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
In a large bowl, smash bananas.
Add raisins, oats, oil, vanilla and walnuts. Mix well.
Let the batter sit for about 15 minutes (I put it in the refrigerator to prevent bananas from browning).
Place spoonful of batter on to parchment lined cookie sheet.
Bake for 20 minutes or until brown.
Remove to a wire rack to complete cooling.
Store in a ziplock bag in the refrigerator.


Don't forget to like the Cookie A Day Challenge on Facebook and Follow @cookieaday on Twitter to keep up to date on the cookie of the day.





Monday, August 13, 2012

Day 80: Chocolate Cookies with Peanut Butter Chips

The classic flavor combination of chocolate and peanut butter has been a favorite around here for a long time. Noah seems to be the most loyal to this flavor combo. Maybe it stems from his peanut butter obsession or maybe that the kids just knows what he likes?!

So it was no surprise that Noah requested a Chocolate and Peanut Butter Cookie. Luckily, Recees' has the perfect peanut butter chips to accomplish such a task. I halved this recipe so it would only make a little over a dozen cookies.



Printable Recipe
Zip List
  • 1 cup flour
  • 1/4 cup plus 1 Tbs Cocoa Powder
  • 1/2 tsp baking soda
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 1 stick of butter
  • 1 cup of sugar
  • 1 egg
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 1 cup peanut butter chips
  •  

    Preheat oven to 350 degrees
    Sift flour, cocoa powder, baking soda and salt together; set aside.
    Cream butter and sugar together.
    Add egg and vanilla, mix well.
    Slowly mix in flour mixture.
    Stir in peanut butter chips.
    Place on baking sheet and bake 8-10 minutes.
    Cool on cookie sheet for 1 minute, remove to cooling rack.
    Enjoy!



    For the most up to date cookie happenings follow The Cookie A Day Challenge on Facebook and Twitter and Instagram. You will get sneak peek into whats to come, and even be able to vote for your favorite cookies :)

    Tuesday, August 7, 2012

    Tuesday Cookie Recipe Link Up

    It's time again to link up your posts!


    1. Follow The Cookie A Day Challenge on Facebook, Twitter and Google Friend Connect (located on the right side bar)


    2. Grab The Cookie A Day Challenge Button and place it in your post or sidebar help to spread the word. This hop will be open EVERY TUESDAY :)
    The Cookie A Day Challenge



    3. Link up your post by following the Linky Tool instructions


    4. Comment on my post after you link up so I know where to find you so I can follow back


    5. Hop around to the other blogs and please leave comments :)


    Monday, August 6, 2012

    Day 79: Brown Sugar Cookies

    As one might imagine, I go through a lot of baking supplies. I have been trying to stock up whenever I go to the store. A bag od chocolate chips, eggs and butter...lots and lots of butter!

    I was about to make the cookie of the day when I pulled open my baking drawer to see that I was out of sugar!  Wanting to use ingredients I already had I came up with this Brown Sugar Cookie.

    Much to the delight of the boys, they turned out soft, chewy and perfectly sweet!



    Printable Recipe
    Zip List
  • 6 TBS Butter
  • 1/2 Cup Brown Sugar
  • 1 tsp Bourbon Vanilla
  • 1 Egg
  • 1 Cup Flour
  • 1 tsp Baking Soda
  • 1/2 tsp Salt
  • 1/4 tsp Cinnamon
  • 2 TBS Brown Sugar (to cover dough)

  •  

    Cream together butter and brown sugar
    Add vanilla and egg.
    Sift together flour, baking soda, salt and cinnamon.
    Slowly add to the dough mixture.
    Refrigerate for 30 minutes.
    Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
    Shape dough into a ball and roll into 2 TBS of brown sugar.
    Place on parchment lined cookie sheet.
    Bake for 8-10 minutes.
    Cool on cookie sheet for 1 minute.


    Remove to cooling rack to complete cooling.
    Enjoy!
    **These cookies are best stored in an air tight container**


    


    Thursday, August 2, 2012

    Day 78:No Bake Chocolate Mint Treats

    Every so often I come across a new product I can't wait to make a cookie with. This was one of those times!

    Look at what Kraft came out with:



    Seriously! I am a huge fan of the chocolate and mint flavor combo and I clouds wait to use this for the COD.

    When I came home from the store I held the bag out for the boys to see. All three jumped up and shared in my excitement.

    So we got to "No-Baking".
    Simple recipe, delicious result.

    No Bake Chocolate Mint Treats




    • One bag of Kraft Jet Puffed Chocolate Mint Marshmallows
    • 1/3 Cup Butter
    • Special K Cereal
    • Green chocolate for decoration (found at baking supply stores)

    In a large saucepan over medium-low heat, melt butter.
    Add marshmallows, stir occasionally until melted.
    Remove from heat and add cereal.
    Using a teaspoon place dollops of mixture onto parchment paper.
    Cool.
    Melt chocolate in the microwave, drizzle on top.
    Enjoy!


     
     

    Get Mooving Giveaway Winner!!!

    Wow! You guys are fantastic! Thank you to everyone that entered The Cookie A Day Challenge's first giveaway.

    The winner is....Tami Stasko!

    Tami, please email me your information so I can send out your prize. Congratulations!!






    Wednesday, August 1, 2012

    Day:77 Peanut Butter and Honey Greek Yogurt Cookies

    When I create a family favorite cookie I feel like a ROCK STAR!!! This sadly, was not one of those moments.
    When Noah was about four, we noticed that he was starting to develop seasonal allergies. We tried some over the counter allergy medications, but nothing seemed to help. I hit the internet to research some natural alternatives. To my surprise, honey topped the list. By consuming local natural unpasteurized honey it is believed that the body will build up an immunity to the pollen in the area. We gave it a try.

    Getting a four year old to take teaspoons of natural honey wasn't easy. We ended up "tricking" him by making peanut butter and honey sandwiches for lunch. Those he ate! It's funny, how food favorites can start. Peanut butter and honey sandwiches are still one of his favorites.

    He was requesting I try to make a peanut butter and honey cookie. Done!

    I liked the idea of using a natural sweetener in this cookie. My plan was to use honey Greek yogurt. Tart and sweet, nothing wrong with that! So I thought...

    As this recipe developed I had to make some adjustments because of the dough consistency. However once it was complete, it was bad. Really bad. Like, the boys wouldn't even eat them bad!! I will spare you the recipe attempt. Noah's picture below pretty much sums this one up.

    I was attempting to keep this cookie flourless and sugarless. I guess it is back to the drawing board on this one!