Meatless Monday with Eat Well Meal Plans: Happy Holidays – Have a Cookie
- Dec, 18 2011
- By jennifer
Take a look at these festive cookies. Can’t you just hear the holiday music lilting in the background? You know how perfectly rich, dark chocolate pairs with bright, sweet peppermint!
This cookie leaves out the egg yolk and gets a fiber boost from whole wheat pastry flour. It’s the texture of the cookie though, that has me so full of cheer. A traditional crunch may be what you are expecting as you approach one of these treats. Then, you realize as your teeth sink soundlessly into the rich wafer, this is not a crispy cookie. This recipe produces more of a shortbread . . . a deliciously, deep cocoa shortbread. The only jolt comes from the bits of peppermint candy which decorate the top.
There are two types of unsweetened cocoa powder, natural or nonalkaline and Dutch process. Nonalkaline is the type to use in this recipe. There is an important difference in flavor and in the science of baking.
Dutch Process or alkalized unsweetened cocoa powder treated with an alkali to neutralize its acids. It is reddish-brown in color, has a mild flavor, and easily dissolves in liquid. Its delicate flavor makes it ideal for baked goods where its subtle flavor complements other ingredients.
Natural nonalkaline cocoa powder tastes very bitter and gives a deep chocolate flavor to baked goods. Its intense flavor makes it a good choice for brownies, cookies and certain chocolate cakes. Natural cocoa (an acid) in combination with baking soda (an alkali) create a leavening action that causes the batter to rise during cooking.
Enjoy and Happy Holidays!
Chocolate Peppermint Cookies
- 1 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- ½ teaspoon pure peppermint extract
- ½ teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 1 cup nonalkalized cocoa powder
- 1 egg white
- ¾ teaspoon salt
- 1 ½ cups whole wheat pastry flour
- ¼ cup peppermint candies, crushed
❷ Place the butter and powdered sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer and mix until light and fluffy. Add the vanilla extract, cocoa powder, egg white, and salt and mix until smooth. Add the flour and mix just until combined.
❸ Transfer dough onto a floured board, divide and shape into 2 balls. Flatten slightly, place in a ziplock bag and refrigerate for at least 1½ hour or freeze for 25 minutes.
❹ Remove one ball at a time to roll ¼-inch thick. Using cookie cutter shapes of your choice, cut out and place shapes on prepared baking sheets. Sprinkle with crushed peppermint candies. Bake 7 – 10 minutes, depending on size. Cool 4 minutes in cooling racks.
Be a Holiday Eating Survivor: Outwit – Outplay – Outlast
- Dec, 09 2010
- By jennifer
There is a limitless supply of suggestions out there for emerging on the other side of the happy holidays the same weight at which you entered them. Here is my offering – a template of sorts to follow on the day or days you know you will be tempted to eat some holiday goodies. Use it as often as you need to during the season according to how often you will be attending events with tempting dishes.
BREAKFAST
egg white omelet or whole grain cereal with skim milk
fruit such as cup of melon or berries to top the cereal
LUNCH
soup with vegetables and beans, meat, or fish (not creamy) or a salad with beans, meat, or fish
2 slices Wasa bread
a pear or apple
SNACK
2 Laughing Cow light spreadable cheese wedges
celery
DINNER
3 to 5 ounces fish or chicken
2 cups steamed vegetables or 3 cups salad with 1 tablespoon salad dressing
½ to 1 cup brown rice, quinoa, or whole wheat pasta
Other survival tips:
- If you need to keep high calorie treats around the house, keep them out of your sight until you’re ready to serve them. Cover them with a tea towel or tuck them away in the cupboard. Studies have shown that when food is kept out of our sight we are less likely to eat mindlessly.
- You don’t have to deny yourself those holiday favorites you’ve been looking forward to all year. You DO need to watch the portion size and number of servings you put on your plate.
- Make sure you don’t skimp on sleep. Getting at least seven hours a night can help you to control your eating and your stress – very important during this season.
- Remember, it’s not all about the food. Look for seasonal activities that don’t center around eating such as taking a walk with family members, working on a holiday craft project, or playing a game or cards.
- Keep exercise a part of your routine. Your schedule is getting crazy and it may seem easy enough to cut out your morning jog, but just say “no”. Your workout will help to decrease stress and expend extra calories.
After following these holiday eating tips you may not even find New Years resolutions necessary this year!
