Chocolate Chip Pudding Cookies

Looking for a yummy cookie?  Try a twist on a traditional chocolate chip by using pudding.  Adding pudding mix gives the cookies a lot of texture and form (look great aesthetically), in addition, great flavor.  My Mom makes A-M-A-Z-I-N-G Chocolate Chip Pudding Cookies, and here is my version of them.  We are going to some friends' house tomorrow night and I needed a dessert option that can sit in the car all day, because I don't have time to come home (in a cooler though, just in case it gets super-hot).  Cookies are a perfect solution...and who doesn't love a good cookie?  I hope you enjoy them!

Ingredients:
1 3/4 Cup All-Purpose Organic Flour
3/4 Cup Whole-Wheat Organic Flour
1 tsp. Baking Soda
1/2 tsp. Sea Salt
1 Cup Organic Butter, Softened (2 Sticks)
1/4 Cup White Sugar
3/4 Cup Brown Sugar, Packed
1 Pkg. (4 oz) Instant Vanilla Pudding

1 tsp. Vanilla Extract

2 Eggs
1 Pkg. (12 oz.) Chocolate Chips

Directions:
1.  Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2.  Combine flours, soda, and salt in a mixing bowl.  Set aside.
3.  Using your kitchenaid, or another mixer, beat together the butter, sugars, and vanilla pudding until fluffy.  Mix in the vanilla extract and eggs, one at a time.

4.  Slowly beat in the flour mixture, just until well-combined.
5.  By hand, stir in the chocolate chips (and nuts, if you choose to).
6.  Drop by heaping teaspoonful onto ungreased cookie sheet, about 2 inches apart.  Bake for 8-10 minutes.

Cool and Enjoy!

Blueberry-Banana Smoothie

A few months ago, I bought an immersion blender and have been loving it!  It's so great for making quick smoothies, blended drinks (ie margaritas), pasta sauces (ie my Healthy Tomato Pasta Sauce), soups, mashed potatoes, whipped cream, and ok...the list goes on and you get it by now.   A perfect breakfast or snack on a hot, summer day is a smoothie.  In this recipe, I used anti-oxidant-loaded blueberries and potassium-rich bananas for a sweet, creamy, delicious, healthy drink.

Ingredients:
1 Small Banana, Sliced
1 Cup Frozen Blueberries (Organic)
1/2-3/4 Cup Skim Organic Milk (or Soy Milk if you prefer)
1-2 tsp. (Organic) Agave Nectar, optional (as a sweetener--I used 1 tsp and it was perfect)

Directions:
1.  Put all ingredients in your immersion blender's mixing cup (or you can use a regular blender) and mix until fairly smooth and well-combined.  Serve immediately!

Feel free to mix it up by adding Stevia (another natural sweetener, this one no-calorie), honey, or some Flax Seeds (for adding brain-boosting omegas).  For a thicker smoothie, add a little bit of nonfat plain or vanilla yogurt.

Enjoy!

Granola Goodness

Yum, homemade granola.  This is a wonderfully healthy snack to eat by the handful for a quick pick-me-up or as breakfast cereal with milk.  You can also sprinkle some over yogurt for a tasty snack parfait (I love Greek yogurt).
This recipe uses a wide variety of ingredients full of healthy fats and nutrients..  The main ingredient, rolled oats provide you with healthy fiber and contribute to reducing your cholesterol and improving your heart health, as well as helping to maintain your blood sugar.  By adding in the walnuts and flaxseed, you also get a brain-boosting amount of DHA and EPA, the omega-3 fatty acids.  Almonds are great at reducing your cholesterol.  Basically all nuts are great for your diet, waistline, and your heart.  The optional fruit add-ins contribute some healthy sweetness, and a number of vitamins, nutrients, and antioxidants.


Ingredients:

• 5 Cups Rolled Oats
• 1 Cup Sliced Almonds
• 1 Cup Chopped Walnuts
• 1 Cup Chopped Pecans
• 1 Cup Sunflower Seeds
• 1/2 Cup Pumpkin Seeds
• 1/2 Cup Flaxseed
• 1 Cup Vegetable Oil
• 1/3 Cup Honey
• 1/3 Cup Maple Syrup
• 1/4 Cup Brown Sugar, Packed
• 2 1/2 tsp. Vanilla Extract
• 1 tsp. Cinnamon
• 1 tsp. Sea Salt

Optional Ingredients:

• 3/4 Cup Raisins
• 3/4 Cup Dried Cherries
• 3/4 Cup Dried Blueberries
• 3/4 Cup Dried Cranberries

Directions:
1.  Preheat oven to 325 degrees F.  Line two baking sheets with aluminum foil (or parchment paper).
2.  In a large bowl, stir together the rolled oats, almonds, walnuts, pecans, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, and flaxseed.
3.  In a saucepan over medium-high heat, combine the vegetable oil, honey, maple syrup, brown sugar, vanilla, cinnamon, and sea salt.  Bring to a light boil, then remove from heat.

4.  Pour hot oil/syrup mixture over the dry ingredients and stir well to combine.
5.  Spread half the oat mixture onto each baking sheet and spread evenly.  Bake for 20 minutes, stirring once half-way through the cooking time (tip: the darker you let the granola get, the crispier it will be, so you can alter the cooking time according to your preferences).
6.  Remove from oven and cool.  Optional: If you're adding in the fruit, sprinkle half of the fruit onto each baking sheet and stir to combine.  Spread the mixture back out on the baking sheet and allow to cool.
7.  Stir again once cooled to break up any large clumps.

Store in airtight containers in your pantry or in containers/freezer bags in your refrigerator to keep it fresher longer.

Enjoy!