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cathubbard@hotmail.com
Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Toffee Cookies – Yes, this is a mouthful, but my gosh are these some fantastic cookies. My friend Carol that is in my book club is this AMAZING baker. She is also one of the sweetest people in the world because every month at book club she makes an amazing dessert of the birthday girls choosing.
One of the favorites is her Oatmeal Raisin Cookies, which are divine. The only problem is that my boys aren’t fond of raisins, so I put my own spin on these. I added toffee bits and milk chocolate chips to turn these into something sinfully decadent. In the case of my toffee bits, I used a package of Chocolate Nips and crushed them with my mallet to get coarse chunks. See below:
Whether you use Nips, toffee bits, Heath or whatever…these are dynamite!
Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Toffee Cookies
Ingredients
1c. butter
1c. brown sugar
1c. white sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp. vanilla
1 1/2c flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. salt
3 c. quick cook oatmeal
At least 2 c. of chocolate chips, toffee bits, coconut, candied fruit, raisins, currants-whatever you wish (I used a box of nips, crushed and 1 heaping cup of milk chocolate chips)
Directions
Beat butter and sugars together. Beat in eggs, vanilla and then dry ingredients. I use small ice cream scoop and bake on parchment paper. Bake 10 min. at 350 degrees. Do not overbake. The secret of this cookie is to remove it from the oven while still soft. Enjoy!
I am still on my kick of trying to eat a bit more clean and healthy. I will say that I am feeling really good and I am sure that the additional fruits, veggies and reduction of refined sugar may have something to do with it. 🙂
So, I had a craving – a really, really big craving for potato soup. Normally laden with butter, cream, cheese and all sorts of other fabulously rich items, I knew that my normal recipe was not going to be what I was looking for, however I had an idea…
I bought these giant and I mean giant potatoes from Costco. One potato could easily serve 2-4 adults. Don’t believe me – check it out:
Anyways, I decided to bake it, then scoop out the pulp and puree that with some chicken stock. Sautee some onions ahead of time and add a few spices and it I have to say, that it is a pretty darn good alternative when you are trying to eat a little cleaner. This could also easily be made into a vegetarian version by using veggie stock instead of chicken stock. Of course I did top mine with some scallions, low-fat plain greek yogurt and some bacon – because you can’t have potato soup without it (in my humble opinion any ways. :))
No Guilt Potato Soup
Server 4
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 – 2 lbs baking potatoes, baked in the oven until soft (I baked my giant potato in a 400 degree oven for about 75 minutes)
- 2 cups chicken stock
- salt & pepper (to taste)
- additional spices (I used a little garlic powder, onion powder & cayenne and just sprinkled it in until the soup tasted good to me
- Garnishes – top with scallions, low-fat plain greek yogurt, bacon and/or cheese
Once pureed, add salt, pepper and seasonings to taste. Top with garnishes and enjoy this warm, delicious soup.
I was in Ulta the other day browsing for nothing specific when I cam across a new line of cosmetics from the Kardashian sisters. I have to admit that I do watch the Kardashians. I love their hair, makeup and clothing and well, as far as mindless, trashy tv goes – it is pretty awesome. I didn’t know that they were coming out with their own line of cosmetics, but when I saw this nude lip set, I decided to give it a go. Let me start by saying that I am a nude lip junkie. I probably have close to a hundred lipsticks and the better part of them are some sort of nude.
What drew me to this product was that it was a liner, lipstick and gloss all in one. The retail was $14.99 and Ulta had a buy one get one 50% off deal going so I decided to try the mascara out as well – more on that in a later blog post. I have to say that I there are aspects that I really like this product. I got the “In The Nude” shade and it really is the perfect nude. I found with this product you really need the set to achieve the perfect nude lip as the liner and lipstick are both very matte and the gloss is very sheer. Here is a picture of what my lips looked like:
I have to start this post by stating that this shake is NOT as delicious as a chocolate shake that will make you forget that amazing, smooth flavor that only sugar and fat can bring. However, I will say that this shake is a pretty darn good alternative when you are trying to shed a few pounds and will definitely feel you up for many hours. Definitely a go to in my arsenal of healthy recipes when I am trying to shed a few lbs.
Healthy Protein Shake
serves 1
Ingredients
- One scoop protein powder (for this recipe, the protein powder I use is 100 calories per scoop – I also used chocolate for this recipe, but any flavor would work)
- 1/2 frozen, ripe banana (if you don’t have a frozen one, no worries a fresh one will work also :))
- 1 cup cold water
- 1/2 cup crushed ice
- 1 T. light peanut butter (I used a brand called Better N Peanut Butter that I found at Trader Joe’s. I should also add that this should be called, “Better N No Peanut Butter At All” because it has 50% fewer calories, but isn’t as dynamite as the real thing)
Directions
Place all the ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth & frothy.
200 calories, 2 grams fat & 15 grams protein*
*Please note that protein comes from my protein powder that I used, which was the GNC Be Buff brand. I used chocolate, but couldn’t find that variety online. Click here for the link to the vanilla bean.
The new year is approaching and I am so excited for 2013! All the possibilities and the chance for a fresh start. As I began writing this I was thinking about why there are new years resolutions and promises for fresh starts? After all, we could start fresh any day – what makes January 1st (or 2nd :)) that different?
- One 18.25 box of cake mix, any flavor (for the variety in the photographs I used Devil’s Food, but have made them with yellow cake mix and they are dynamite)
- One 15 oz. can of 100% pumpkin puree
