Healthy and Sane

Entries Tagged as 'baking'

Sugar overload – a cookie swap party in full gear

January 10th, 2010 · 28 Comments · Cooking Light, baking, dessert

Wowza – I had a lot of sugar today!! It’s no secret that I LOVE sugar, so let’s just say today was a very good day ;) [No calorie counting - will resume that tomorrow.]

My morning started with baking some cookies for a cookie swap party later in the afternoon, hosted by Shannon. Choosing a recipe for a blogger party was a tough job – do I go healthy? indulgent? fancy? simple? So many decisions! At the end, I decided that we’ll be eating so many cookies, a lighter recipe may be welcomed. Cooking Light’s espresso crinkle cookies got great reviews online, so I stopped over-analyzing things and got to work.

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Of course I had to taste 1 fresh out of the oven ;) Not bad. I wasn’t blown away but Adam approved them + after making 45 cookies, I kind of had no choice but to bring them.

When I got to Shannon’s, I couldn’t believe the spread! I knew we’d have 11 guests (which means 11 types of cookies), but each one was more gorgeous than the other. My heart was racing just thinking about all the cookie deliciousness I was about to consume. Mmm, cookies :mrgreen:

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Yeah, like I said, the spread was no joke! I’ll do the pictures do most of the talking here – every.single.cookie was absolutely amazing!!! Yes, I’ve tried them all by now. :oops:

Tina’s butterscotch choc chip bars. So many chocolate and butterscotch chips. Yum!

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Shannon’s maple bacon toffee oatmeal cookies. The bacon was very subtle – these were just good oatmeal cookies, with a little secret ingredient :grin:

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Bridget’s chocolate almond orange macaroons (Ooh, I guess I haven’t tried these yet. I’ll let you guys know how they are once I finally do!)

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Adrienne’s lime meltaways – yep, these lime treasures were definitely melt-in-your mouth delicious!

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Kelly’s choc chip orange cookie dough truffles – loved the orange twist!

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My espresso crinkles. Everyone seemed to enjoy them after all. Maybe I was overcritical. :???:

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Kerstin’s chocolate peanut butter bar – OMG – soooooooo amazing. They had dense peanut butter base with pretzel and Whopper pieces inside, all covered in chocolate. I could easily eat the whole tray if left with them in a room all alone. :lol:

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Nicole’s lemon almond cranberry crescents – such light, sophisticated little bites.

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Rebecca’s break-up bars – shortbread base, caramel and milk chocolate. I believe the word I used was “sick.” These were everyone’s favorites.

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Mary Kate’s black & white cookies – a classic cookie perfectly executed.

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Savory spread (courtesy of our host)

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Salmon mousse with cucs and crackers

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Wholly guacamole guac + salsa + TJ’s chips

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Mini quiches with pears, walnuts and gorgonzolla

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Chai infused almonds

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Bacon chips (I purchased from Foodzie)

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Bloggers in action. It was funny – I’ve been out with bloggers on several occasions, but we were really not holding back on picture taking this time :lol:

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Cookie tasting…

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Many questions were tough!

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The party was so much fun!! Cookies + blogger friends = match made in heaven. :cool:

After the party, I headed straight to my parents’ house to unload some of the cookie loot. Look at all these cookies!!!

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My parents of course had lots of wine and food for us.

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And my mom even made cake!! Yeah, apparently I haven’t had enough sugar quite yet ;)

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I wasn’t too crazy about this one (my mom was testing out a new recipe) so she brought me an old favorite – gorka!

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Oh yeah, I had a tiny bit of rice pilaf with chicken wings just to say I had “real” dinner. :lol:

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Pink sparkling wine – yeah, life sure was sweet today.

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I am in a serious sugar coma. I left some cookies with my parents and took the rest home. I’m bringing the whole container straight to work tomorrow morning. I promise, I’ll be a good girl. :cool:

Which cookie would you have tried first?

P.S. Let me know if you’d like a recipe for any of these. I can find out for you. :)

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Starting the year right

January 4th, 2010 · 20 Comments · baking, breakfast, chicken, salad, snacks

The second long weekend in a row has come to an end and now it’s time to go back to work in the new year. I want Monday to be the beginning of a better year – I want to come in earlier, be sharper/less distracted while also remembering that it is only work after all. It’s so easy to get wrapped up in things, get frustrated, turn to food. This year will be different. 2010 is going to rock!! :cool:

So on this Sunday morning, I decided to make a yummy breakfast. Ever since seeing Lauren of Healthy Food For Living featuring her maple-cranberry muffins with goat cheese filling, I couldn’t stop thinking about them. I happened to have all the ingredients on hand (plain goat cheese and cranberries, which I mixed together for the filling) so it was fate really ;)

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The batter was a little on the sweet side, so I’d probably cut down on maple syrup a little next time. Would I need to replace the volume with something else? This is where I usually screw up things! :oops:

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I love the surprise in the middle! SO good!!

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[231 calories]

WORKOUT

The breakfast was a bit on the smaller side because I wanted to hit the gym asap. At the gym I ran 4.15 miles (at varying speeds and inclines) + .35 mile walk, then jumped on the stairmaster for 10 minutes and completed the workout with a 10 minute rolling sesh. Great workout! :D

LUNCH

Mixed greens, grape tomatoes, brussels sprouts, cauliflower, tzatziki, baba ganoush + water

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How do you like my fancy cup? Hehe :lol: Our dishwasher is leaking so we’re trying to minimize dishes. This is the only thing I think I can get away with on the blog. The salad was fabulous – the tzatziki and the baba ganoush replaced the dressing, I just took a bit at a time with some lettuce and juicy tomatoes. Yum! :grin:

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[229 calories]

SNACKS

I could eat pickles all day long, I swear!

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Nature’s Pride 12 grain toast with avocado

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[140 calories]

POKER TIME!

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I was the first one out, losing $20 :( Thank goodness I brought a Cooking Light magazine to entertain me :D

I brought some snacks + dinner to entertain me as well ;)

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[62 calories]

DINNER

Leftover pasta alfredo with roasted asparagus, which I’m so happy I brought with me because the boys ordered pizza!

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+

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[Total 496 calories]

This PURE chocChip trailmix bar was pretty yummy, although slightly too sweet (I think dates provide sufficient sweetness so they could cut down or eliminate agave nectar). The cacao nibs added a really nice crunch! :)

MORE SNACKS

When we got home I totaled up my calories for the day and realized I still haven’t eaten enough. So I went for some cookie dough…

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I have yet to try these little cookies baked :oops:

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[180 calories for 2]

Still not enough calories. :???: I wasn’t hungry but I grabbed a little pack of roasted almonds, which at 210 calories put me right in my sweet spot.

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Total calories consumed: ~1530

Back to work! How are you starting the New Year?

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Temptations at work, temptations at home

December 30th, 2009 · 14 Comments · Ellie Krieger, baking, breakfast, chicken, dessert, salad, snacks, yogurt

Things I was tempted with at work, but stayed away from due to an unknown amount of calories…

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Things I had a much harder time resisting at home…

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Chocolate peppermint bark cookies I made for our New Years party tomorrow (recipe found here, originally discovered through CNC)

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So I cut myself a piece. I had to know what they tasted like before serving them to my guests, no? ;)

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[~177 calories]

I made half a batch topped with crushed candy canes and half with walnut pieces. The walnut pieces side is so me with my nut and chocolate addition. This is one buttery “cookie.” I think our guests will enjoy them.

I also made Ellie Krieger’s lemon icebox bars from her new cookbook So Easy, which my husband got me for Christmas (recipe can also be found here). They are this week’s CEiMB recipe hosted by Playing House. Unfortunately my bars did not set! They are delicious lemon cheesecake mush. I’m going to need to find a creative way to serve them tomorrow. No bueno as of right now :(

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[150 calories]

Aside from sweet temptations, today went pretty well. It did feel different, counting calories and not grabbing a snack “just because.” I guess that means it’s “working.” I’m not going to celebrate just yet. It’s been 1 day, and I won’t be counting on New Year’s eve. I am excited about continuing this into 2010. Those holiday pounds will be gone in no time, and my self-esteem should come back with those lost pounds. *Fingers crossed!* Here is what the rest of my eats looked like…

BREAKFAST

Nonfat yogurt with 1/2 mango, 1/2 pear, 1/2 persimmon + a handful of Kashi GoLean cereal and pecan halves

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So many gorgeous colors!

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[308 calories]

LUNCH

Leftover risotto with cauliflower, tomatoes and walnuts

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[~449 calories]

Still creamy and delicious! :)

WORKOUT

During lunch hour today, I took a 40 minute boot camp class called SHRED, then jumped on the elliptical for 17 minutes. The entire time I felt pretty out of shape. Those extra pounds are really affecting my performance. I’m excited to change that! :D

SNACKS

Power bran muffin + tea

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And a sweet fresh apple

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DINNER

Dinner was kept on the lighter side because I knew I wanted to taste each of the sweet treats. It was a mish-mosh of things, all combined into a giant salad. The goat cheese tied them all together.

Chicken, mushrooms, olives and diced tomatoes (all from leftover chicken cacciatore), roasted brussels sprouts (from last night’s dinner) over mixed greens, topped with goat cheese and dressed with lemon juice

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It was actually pretty awesome. I love warm salads like that! :grin:

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[~271 calories]

Approximate total for the day: 1646 calories (I’m trying to stay in the 1500-1650 range)

So that’s today for ya. Thank you all for you support on my previous post. It means a lot to me that my readers really care about me. Hopefully a thinner Elina is a lot happier and thus more inspirational. One more day left in 2009. Can you believe that?!!

Happy New Year to all of you! I’ll hope to see you back here in 2010!!!!!!! :mrgreen: :cool:

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Baking, walking, singing, eating

December 28th, 2009 · 17 Comments · Boston, Eating out, baking, breakfast, restaurant reviews

Hi bloggies! Is everyone back from their Christmas weekend travels? It was quieter than usual around the blog world, which I thought was a good thing. Hopefully everyone spent time with their families and/or friends and got some quality R&R. I can’t believe it’s time to get back to work already. Time flies when you’re having fun! ;)

I started my last weekend day with a little baking project. I ended up with 5 new cookbooks for Christmas, and I’m dying to put them all to use. I found out about Baking with Agave Nectar by Ania Catalano during my last Cleaner Life Challenge, when I eliminated all refined sugars from my diet (did you follow my blog then?). The idea of baking with agave really interested me, and my first recipe from the book, amazing black bean brownies, was nothing short of amazing.

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This Sunday morning I chose this recipe from the book for power bran muffins. I’ve been craving warm breakfast lately, and there is only so much oatmeal a girl can eat. These muffins are little power houses with not only whole wheat flour but also wheat germ, wheat bran and flax. I used a mix of different dried fruit (cherries, raisins, cranberries, blueberries) and added walnuts. I also subbed 2T of oil with nonfat yogurt but I think I’ll use the full amount of oil next time – they were tiny bit dry.

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Adam and I both liked them :)

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WORKOUT

In the afternoon, I decided to hit the gym. I am slowly getting back into running on the treadmill and am looking forward to getting back to my half-marathon fitness level. I did 3.5 miles on the treadmill+ 30 mins on the elliptical on Saturday. On Sunday I was itching to get on the treadmill again and ran/walked for 5 miles. It’s getting easier! :)

SNACKS + LUNCH

After my workout, Adam and I rushed to the grocery store. I munched on some sample fruit at Whole Foods. So juicy!

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… and lunch was a bunch of stuff from their hot bar – chicken tikka masala, basmati rice, garlic broccoli, mushrooms and roasted peppers. SO good!!

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MOVIE TIME

I haven’t seen a movie in the theaters in ages! Yesterday some of my girlfriends went to see the musical Nine. Have you seen it? It was one weird movie. I can’t decide if I liked it or not. The entire time I was watching it, I kept on thinking I wanted more of it and that it was a little too strange, but by the end I was somehow “into it.” ;)

DINNER

We saw the 4:15 show, so after the movie the girls and I were ready to eat. A thai restaurant, Montien, was right around the corner. I was really excited – it’s been ages since I’ve had thai!

I started with a glass of Seven Oaks cabernet savignon. It was pretty atrocious – waaay too sweet. I had a few sips and gave up.

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As I was looking through the menu, a craving for papaya salad hit but I didn’t see it. I asked the waitress if they made it and she gave me the “thai menu” (as opposed to the American version) that included papaya salad. I decided to also order something else from it – I wanted authentic thai!

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I certainly got authentic! The salad was SO spicy – it was burning hot! I loved the taste but could do with slightly less heat. I ate about 1/3 of it (all I could handle).

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For some extra protein, I also got the grilled squid with sweet & sour chili sauce appetizer (also from the thai menu).

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The squid was very fishy and the sauce was too sweet. It did help to counteract some of the spiciness from the salad. Once I realized how spicy the papaya salad was, I also ordered some steamed brown rice to absorb some of the heat. Everyone else really enjoyed their meal (I tried a few things – the green curry was my favorite!). This is a good “secret” spot in the theater district. All the other pubs in the area are always packed and I think the food there is nothing to write home about. I wouldn’t hesitate going back to Montien again if I’m in the area! :D

DESSERT

I can’t go a whole day without dessert. After coming home, I grabbed the last of the seven layer bars we took home from the Christmas dinner.

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… and then had about 8-10 dark chocolate covered cherries from my Christmas stocking :D

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Yummy yummy.

I’m still fighting a cold. Hopefully it goes away because I sick of my runny nose, and we’re hosting a New Year’s Eve party so I have to be on top of things! Speaking of NYE – any fun plans? I still can’t believe it’s almost 2010! Doesn’t that sound futuristic? :lol:

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Cookie Sunday

December 14th, 2009 · 10 Comments · Cooking Light, Eating Well, The Best Light Recipe cookbook, baking, dessert

I think this weekend marked the beginning of the Christmas season for me. It started with Adam’s holiday party at Blue Ginger on Saturday night, and was followed by a major cookie baking session with Coco and her friend Signe on Sunday. We were baking machines… and I’m not going to lie – Adam and I have been doing some good ol’ holiday indulging with all those sweets around the house. They are just SO good… and hey, tis the season! ;) Oh man, we’re going to be in so much trouble…

We started with this recipe from Eating Well for lemon squares. I know these are traditionally a summer dessert but I got a strong craving for them in the morning and decided to listen. Don’t worry, there are more traditional holiday desserts coming up, but you don’t want to miss this one!

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Sweet and tart – we all loved these little guys! Note: we were getting impatient so I cut the first few after just an hour of setting. They were sticky and hard to get out of the pan, although delicious nonetheless. Upon cooking for a longer period, the squares were much easier to produce.

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While I was whipping up the lemon squares, Coco and Signe took over the whole grain oatmeal peanut butter Christmas cookies (recipe can be found here). These are basically soft peanut butter cookies with an added chewiness from the oats and a chocolaty burst of the (Christmas colored!) M&Ms (we used dark chocolate M&Ms).

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I loved loaded cookies and these were great! Except for the M&Ms, all the other ingredients are wholesome so you can gobble up with a little less guilt (especially if you can keep portion control to reasonable levels… I can’t!)

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The last cookie of the night was a traditional sugar cookie. Coco sent me a link to a yummy sounding sugar cookie recipe, but I just couldn’t use 14 tablespoons of butter the recipe called for. Instead I dug out my trusty cooking bible for lighter traditional recipes – The Best Light Recipe cookbook. I had a feeling their sugar cookies would be a hit, and with just 5 tablespoons of butter, I was willing to give it a chance (quite the difference, no?). Our batter made only 15 cookies, instead of 24, but we thought they were the perfect size… and boy, where they delicious! I can’t even imagine a more indulging tasting sugar cookie. They were rich and perfectly chewy.  14 tablespoons of butter?! No thanks, I’d rather have a second cookie!! :lol:

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These were rolled in sugar before baking. They sparkled. Gorgeous!!

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The sugar cookie recipe can be found here.

So fun! An abundance of desserts all around me definitely puts me in the holiday spirit. Back to the gym tomorrow :mrgreen:

What’s your favorite cookie recipe? If you bake during the holidays, do you go for the full fat recipe or try the lighter version?

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