VERY VANILLA CRANILLA COOKIES

 When my aunt gave me this recipe, I SWORE she hated me! It is IMPOSSIBLE to eat just one. Well, actually, it is POSSIBLE. To eat just one BATCH at a time! 

By the way, this cookie pairs beautifully with Tazo Passion tea. ;o) If you find another great pairing, please share in the comments below.

 

CRANILLA COOKIES 

(Makes about 36 or 6 1/2 doz. small cookies)
 

Mix until smooth:

1 c. butter * 3/4 c. sugar * 2 TBS vanilla extract * 1 tsp cranberry extract (Watkins) opt.
 

Add and mix: 2 c. flour * 1 tsp baking powder * 1 tsp salt * 2 c. coarsely chopped cranberries: whole, fresh or dry * 1 c. chopped walnuts &/or combined w/ ground /crushed almonds * 1 egg * 1 c. white chocolate chips

Drop by spoonful and bake: 350* about 13 min. or Convection 325* about 8 min.

I've used just about every kind of flour you can think of to make these cookies - wheat, spelt, millet, barley, sorghum, etc., so on, & so forth - and they ALWAYS turn out delicious! The original recipe only called for 1 measly teaspoon of vanilla extract. They are craNILLA cookies, for goodness sake! You should be able to taste the vanilla. So I added MORE vanilla and white chocolate chips. 

ENJOY! BE SWEET!

SIMPLE & DELICIOUS GRAIN-FREE WAFFLES

Confession time: I am a recovering carbohydrate addict. The only reason I am 'recovering' is that my body has decided it just can't handle grain or legumes. Pain and nausea have a way of getting your attention! However, there are times that I just really crave my comfort foods. Another confession... I am a lazy cook! A good many of the gluten-free, grain-free recipes are SO involved with a MILLION ingredients. HA! Like that's happening in my kitchen!!! So, when I had a desperate craving for waffles, I searched for a grain-free recipe. This is the one that I found, and what I ended up creating. =o)

 

WEB RECIPE FOR ALMOND FLOUR WAFFLES

This makes about 7 batches with the Five of Hearts Waffle Maker. Any leftovers freeze well.

2 Large eggs

1/2 cup cream, milk, coconut, milk, or water

1-2 TBS honey
1 tsp vanilla extract

1 cup almond flour

1/2 tsp baking soda

pinch of salt

1. Blend all ingredients in a blender.

2. Pour batter in the waffle maker (check the directions of your waffle maker for the specified amount).

SARAH'S GRAIN-FREE WAFFLES

3 Large eggs

2 cups plain almond milk

2 TBS coconut sugar

1/2 cup each: coconut flour & teff flour

1/2 tsp baking soda

1/4 cup oil

1. Blend all ingredients.

2. Pour batter in the waffle maker (check the directions of your waffle maker for the specified amount). For our Cuisinart Waffle Maker I used a 1/2 cup measure.

I also sprayed the waffle maker with coconut oil spray. (Trader Joe's has aerosol coconut oil spray - happy dance!)

Since I was using coconut flour, the batter needed more liquid. (Coconut flour expands in liquid!) Now I know that teff is controversial - whether it is a grass or a gluten free grain. My stomach doesn't react to it, so I place it firmly in the grass family!

ENJOY! AND BE SWEET! ;o)

SCRUMPTIOUS GRAIN-FREE PEANUT BUTTER COOKIE RECIPE

 

Maybe this post should have been titled "DANGEROUS" instead of "SCRUMPTIOUS". I am eating ANOTHER cookie as I am writing this. ;o) They are DANGEROUSLY DELICIOUS. Cookies aren't usually much of a temptation for me, even before the wheat allergy and sensitivity to grains, but I do have a few recipes that are TOTALLY addicting. I will be sharing them over the next few weeks. ENJOY!

 

Flourless Peanut Butter Cookies 

with Peanut Butter Chips

Makes 30 Cookies

Mix in medium bowl: 

1 cup brown sugar * 1 cup crunchy Peanut-butter

 

Stir in: 1 large egg * 1 tsp. baking soda * 1 tsp. vanilla

Stir in: 1 cup Peanut-butter Chips

1. Preheat oven to 350*. 

2. Drop by spoonfuls onto Silpat or lined baking sheets.

3. Bake 10 minutes or until puffed. Do not over-bake!

4. Cool on sheets. Store in covered container.

 

 

THE TEST KITCHEN:

Just in case you don't think it makes any difference using creamy or crunchy PB - like I did on my 1st batch of cookies... It does! The creamy PB cookies stayed 'puffed' and were quite dry and crumbly. They were still tasty, you just NEEDED that glass of milk, tea, WATER! The crunchy PB cookies are soft, moist and IRRESISTIBLY delicious.

 

I also used less sugar (closer to 3/4 cup than the 1 cup that the recipe calls for) and the cookies were plenty sweet and turned out beautifully.

 

 

BE HEALTHY AND BE SWEET!

 

 

PLEASE SHARE YOUR FAVORITE COOKIE RECIPE WITH ALL OF US!

 

WHY EAT KALE? AND SARAH'S AMAZING KALE CHIPS RECIPE!

According to WebMD, Kale, also known as borecole, is one of the healthiest vegetables on the planet. It belongs to the Brassica family that includes cruciferous vegetables such as cabbage, collards, broccoli, and Brussels sprouts.

One cup of chopped kale contains 33 calories and 9% of the daily value of calcium, 206% of vitamin A, 134% of vitamin C, and a whopping 684% of vitamin K. It is also a good source of minerals copper, potassium, iron, manganese, and phosphorus.

Kale’s health benefits are primarily linked to the high concentration and excellent source of antioxidant vitamins A, C, and K -- and sulphur-containing phytonutrients.

Carotenoids and flavonoids are the specific types of antioxidants associated with many of the anti-cancer health benefits. Kale is also rich in the eye-health promoting lutein and zeaxanthin compounds.

Beyond antioxidants, the fiber content of cruciferous kale binds bile acids and helps lower blood cholesterol levels and reduce the risk of heart disease, especially when kale is cooked instead of raw.

Now, those of you who know me =) KNOW that I'm not very particular about measuring! I'm more of a dib & a dab, bit of this, touch of that, looks about right, eyeballing it kind of cook. That said, y'all should feel VERY special that I actually, well, KIND OF, measured everything out for an ACTUAL recipe with measurement amounts! =D ENJOY!

SARAH'S AMAZING COCONUT KALE CHIPS 

1. Melt in micro: 1 TBS Coconut Oil * 1 tsp Coconut Nectar

2. Add: 1 TBS Coconut Vinegar * 1-2 tsp Coconut Aminos * 1/4 tsp Coconut Extract
3. Mix wet ingredients with 1 bag Trader Joe’s Organic or about 8 c. Fresh Kale. 

4. Salt to your taste with Pink Himalayan or Red Hawaiian salt. 

5. Spread out on large Silpat and perforated tray. 

6. Bake 300* for 20 min. or until starting to crisp. Do not over-bake.

ARE YOU DRINKING ENOUGH WATER? Hint: If you are thirsty, you are probably already dehydrated!

According to Dr. Fereydoon Batamanghelidj, author of Your Body's Many Cries for Water, we do not drink enough water. The main idea of the book is that thirst is just one of many of the body's ways of indicating that it needs water. His research came as a result of serving as an imprisoned doctor in Iran. The only ‘medicine’ he had available was water.

Dr. Batmanghelidji believes that a dry mouth is not the first symptom of thirst but one of the last. In fact, as people age, their ability to recognize thirst decreases. This means they drink less and age even faster. Based on his research, he claims that hydration, or dehydration, can affect the following conditions:

1.    Asthma and allergies
2.    Obesity
3.    High blood cholesterol
4.    Heart disease and stroke
5.    Diabetes
6.    Hypertension
7.    Infection
8.    Depression and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
9.    Sleep disorders
10.    Lack of energy
11.    Addiction
12.    Osteoporosis
13.    Leukemia and Lymphoma
14.    Attention Deficit Disorder
15.    Hot flashes
16.    Gout
17.    Kidney stones

The research that I've seen says that you should drink 1/2 of your body weight, in ounces. So if you weight 150 lbs., you should be drinking 75 oz. of water a day to stay hydrated. You may need more water when it is hot, or if you are perspiring (or, for us ladies, 'glistening' ;o) ). If you are drinking excessively, you may need extra electrolytes. My go-to exercise drink of choice is coconut water. It also happens to be great for your digestion! Also, REMEMBER, caffeine is a diuretic. Drink responsibly and Be Savvy, Be Serene, Be Successful, and Be Safe!

How do you stay hydrated in these extreme temperatures? 

Please share your favorite tips!

HAVE A FABULOUS 4TH! Be Safe!