Healthy Christmas Cookies

Okay, maybe not the healthiest… but much healthier than other versions. The Pistachio Cookies with Fennel are a good source of Vitamin C (thanks to the fennel). What’s more, the pistachio nuts are enriched in antioxidants and feature essential fatty acids, said to be useful for reducing cholesterol. Pistachio nuts are also believed to be a good source of B Vitamins, calcium, iron and selenium. The second recipe for Dark Chocolate Cookies is low in fat. In fact, the major source of fat in the recipe comes from the almonds, which provide “good” fat. In addition, almonds contain fiber, protein, … Continue reading →

How to Have a Choco-licious Christmas

Have you ever experienced the decadence of a chocolate molten lava cake? The devilishly good treat is comprised of a miniature cake with a hidden warm chocolate center that oozes out like lava from a volcano when pierced with a fork. It is sinfully delicious and now I’ve discovered a way to replicate the magic in a cookie. While I can’t take credit for creating the recipe (I got it from a holiday cookie swap), I can definitely attest to its phenomenal taste and ease of preparation. Ditto for another holiday classic that I traditionally prepare this time of year—-Chunky … Continue reading →

Coconut Candy Cane Cookies and Mega Chocolate Delights

It’s the eighth of December… how’s your Christmas cookie baking coming along? My sister-in-law just called to tell me that her kitchen resembles Mrs. Field’s, but not in a good way. The countdown to Christmas is on and if you haven’t already chosen the sweet treats you plan to lovingly prepare for family and friends, then you’ve come to the right place. I’m about to share two of my all-time favorite Christmas cookie recipes. The first recipe for Coconut Candy Cane Cookies was voted best holiday treat at the TV station I used to work at. Unfortunately, I wasn’t the … Continue reading →

A Dinner Made of Chocolate: Chocolate Chicken and Chocolate Cherry Cookies

This Halloween your kids will likely haul in enough chocolate to eat for breakfast, lunch and dinner. As undesirable as that may sound (to you, not them) there is something to be said for meals featuring the popular sweet treat. The following recipes incorporate chocolate, but one is a bit more nutritious than the other. The Chocolate Chicken Mole recipe uses bittersweet chocolate to complement the cinnamon, peanut butter and chili powder that are also featured in the dish. The flavorful combination is then poured over chicken breasts to yield an incredibly moist and delicious bird. The second recipe for … Continue reading →

Autumn Recipes: X is for X-shaped Chocolate Cookies

Yeah, I know, it’s not very autumnal. But you try coming up with foods that begin with the letter X and then combine them to create an edible creation. There was xanthareel, a yellow eel used in medicinal foods, and xanthan gum, which is produced from the fermentation of corn sugar (it’s commonly used as a thickener in foods such as yogurt, sour cream and salad dressings), but neither struck me as the basis for family-friendly recipes. So, I got a bit creative and went for another interpretation: X-shaped treats. The following recipe for playful chocolate cookies molded in the … Continue reading →