Carrot Cake Cookies

I made these for my sister's cookie party and LOVE THEM!



Carrot Cake Cookies
• 1 cup packed light-brown sugar
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1/2 pound (2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature
• 2 large eggs, room temperature
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
• 2 cups old-fashioned rolled oats
• 1 1/2 cups finely grated carrots, (about 3 large carrots)
• • 1 cup raisins

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line two baking sheets with Silpat baking mats or parchment paper, and set aside. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, combine sugars and butter; beat until light and fluffy, 3 to 4 minutes. Add eggs and vanilla, and beat on medium speed until well combined.

2. In a large bowl, sift together flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger; stir to combine. Gradually add flour to butter mixture; mix on a low speed until just blended. Mix in oats, carrots, and raisins. Chill dough in refrigerator until firm, at least 1 hour.

3. Using a 1/2-ounce ice-cream scoop, scoop dough onto prepared baking sheets, leaving 2 inches between cookies. Transfer to oven, and bake until browned and crisped, rotating pan halfway through baking to ensure even color, 12 to 15 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack to cool. Repeat baking process with remaining dough. Once cooled completely, use an offset spatula to spread about 2 teaspoons of cream-cheese filling onto a cookie. Sandwich together with a second cookie. Repeat with remaining cookies. Store in an airtight container for up to 3 days in the refrigerator.

Cream Cheese Frosting


• 8 ounces cream cheese, room temperature
• 8 tablespoons (1 stick) unsalted butter, cut into pieces, room temperature
• 1 cup confectioners' sugar
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract


Place cream cheese in a medium mixing bowl. Using a rubber spatula, soften cream cheese. Gradually add butter, and continue beating until smooth and well blended. Sift in confectioners' sugar, and continue beating until smooth. Add vanilla, and stir to combine.

Oatmeal Protein Smoothie

This is a yummy shake which is easy to make in a pinch.
Ingredients

• 1/4 cup dry uncooked oatmeal
• 1 Tbsp natural nut butter- peanut, soy, cashew, almond or nut butter of your choice
• 1 scoop protein powder, vanillia is best
• 1 Tbsp honey
• 1 Tbsp flax seed
• 1 cup milk- skim, almond, goat, soy, rice, or milk of your choice
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon
• Ice

Method

Puree all ingredient, adding ice to adjust consistency of smoothie.

Can also add 4 Tbsp raw unsalted sunflower seeds added.

(From the Clean Eating Cookbook.)

Flour's Famous Banana Bread

This banana bread recipe is to die for enjoy!
Ingredients
1 2/3 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup sugar, plus 2 tablespoons sugar
2 eggs
1/2 cup vegetable oil
3 1/2 bananas, very ripe, mashed
2 tablespoons low-fat sour cream
1 teaspoon vanilla
2/3 cup walnuts, toasted and chopped (I normally leave this out)
Preheat oven to 350°F. Sift together first four ingredients. Beat sugar and eggs with a whisk until light and fluffy. Drizzle in oil. Add bananas, sour cream, and vanilla. Fold in flour mixture and nuts. Pour batter into a buttered 9" x 4" loaf pan and bake for 45 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Makes 12 servings. Lower-fat version: Reduce oil to 1/4 cup, add 1/4 cup unsweetened applesauce (260 calories, 9 grams of fat).

Honey Glazed Garlic Chicken

This recipe is awesome, easy, and quick! It's great for a night that needs a dinner real quick!

Ingredients

2 5oz raw chicken breasts

1 tbs honey

1 tbs balsamic vinegar

1 chopped shallot (or I used 1 c minced onion)

2 minced garlic cloves

1/2 tsp dried basil

1/4 tsp peper

Directions

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Place chicken in a foil-lined baking pan. In a liquid measuring cup add honey, vinegar, shallot (minced onions), garlic, basil and peper. Pour mixture over the chicken. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes.

Cookie-rific ice cream freeze

Ingredients:
5 ounces light vanilla soymilk
1/4 c fat free vanilla ice cream
1/2 pack of 100 calorie packs of oreo or grasshopper thin crips
1 tsp Coffee mate Fat Free French Vanilla powdered creamer, disolved in 1 ouce warm water
2 no-calorie sweetner packets
5-8 ice cubes
Optional: Fat Free Reddi Whip

Directions:
Place all ingredients in blender. Blend on high for 45 to 60 seconds. Pour and Enjoy.

Makes one serving and only 160 calories!

snazzy strawberry scones

Ingredients
3/4 c regular oats (not instant)
1/3 c Bisquick Heart Smart baking mix
3/4 c of strawberries (can use blueberries, peaches, or any other fruit desired)
1/3 c light vanilla soymilk
1 tbs brown sugar (not packed)
2 tsp butter
1/2 tsp baking powder

Directions

Preheat oven at 400 degrees.

Combine dry ingredients with butter and mix well. Add milk and stir. Then fold berries into the batter.

On a baking pan sprayed with nonstick spray, divide batter into 4 mounds (leave room in between them cause they'll expand.)

Bake for 10 minutes.
Makes 4 servings.
Best part it's only 120 calories per scone!

Amish Friendship Bread

This recipe was given to me by a friend at work. We love cinnamon in our house, so this recipe is a perfect fit for us. Do not use a metal bowl or utensils. These starters also freeze very well. They day you pull one out of the freezer, that is day one and start again from there.

Amish Friendship Bread

1 cup Vegetable Oil

1 cup Sugar

2 cups Flour

3 Eggs

1 large Vanilla Pudding Mix — Instant

1 teaspoon Cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon Salt

1/2 teaspoon Baking Soda

1/4 teaspoon Baking Powder

1/2 cup Milk

Day 1- Receive starter from a friend (usually in a gallon ziploc bag)
Day 2- Mix bag while closed with hands (open bag slightly to let air out, close again)
Day 3- Mix bag while closed with hands (open bag slightly to let air out, close again)
Day 4- Mix bag while closed with hands (open bag slightly to let air out, close again)
Day 5- Add 1 cup sugar, 1 cup flour, 1 cup milk to existing bag
Day 6- Mix bag while closed with hands (open bag slightly to let air out, close again)
Day 7- Mix bag while closed with hands (open bag slightly to let air out, close again)
Day 8- Mix bag while closed with hands (open bag slightly to let air out, close again)
Day 9- Mix bag while closed with hands (open bag slightly to let air out, close again)
Day 10- Add 1 cup sugar, 1 cup flour, 1 cup milk
Put 1 cup of starter in each of three containers (gallon ziploc bags).
Give 2 away to friends and keep one. This will begin their Day 1.

For Amish Friendship Bread
You will have about 1 cup of batter left besides the 1 cup you have saved for yourself. To the remaining batter add vegetable oil, sugar, flour, bakingpowder, baking soda, eggs, milk, vanilla pudding mix, cinnamon, and salt. Beat until well blended. Add one cup raisins, chocolate chips or nuts, if desired.Grease 2 loaf pans well, and sprinkle with cinnamon sugar, coating bottom well.Turn batter into pans, and sprinkle remaining cinnamon sugar onto tops ofloaves. Bake at 325 F degrees for one hour. Also works well in a bundt pan or a 9X13 cake pan.