Rochelle's Pumpkin Cowboy Cookies

I firmly believe that everyone needs a treat every once in a while.  For me, it's the "once in a while" that does me in.  I really really like sugar.  Such a hard thing to give up.  Now that I am not diabetic anymore, it is really hard to make myself stay away from the sugar.  I keep trying, and trying, and trying.  I'm doing really well with exercise, averaging 8-10 miles of walking or running a day, but the sugar . . . I do love it.  

You probably think this post is going to be for a low sugar low calorie treat.  I'm sorry.  You're wrong.  This is about one of my favorite yummy treats.  I know.  Cruel.   How about this.  I promise that I will produce some nice, healthy, low calorie, diet friendly, diabetic friendlier recipes in the next few weeks.  :)  For now, enjoy this fun treat, but only eat 2 and then give the rest away.  Your neighbors will like you, and you will still get to enjoy a little bit of the sweet life.  :)


Here it is. Rochelle's Pumpkin Cowboy Cookies
1/2 c butter (do not sub margarine)
1/2 c shortening. (Can use all butter but will stay softer with the shortening)
1 c sugar
1 c brown sugar
2 large eggs
2/3-3/4 cup pumpkin purée. (I used fresh so don't ask me the can size but its probably that amount that is always left over after you make a pie. Lol). You could also sub a jar if baby food sweet potatoes or yams.
Cream and beat everything til it looks silky like creamed honey butter

Add
1/2 t baking powder
1 t baking soda
1 t salt
1 T vanilla
1 t cinnamon
1/4 t cloves
1/4 t allspice
Pinch of ginger

Cream until light and fluffy

Add

2 1/2 c flour ( go ahead and make the 1/2 cup whole wheat. Then you can pretend these are healthy.)
3 c granola type cereal. I like the great grains pecan).
Or
2 c old fashioned oats

Also add 1 bag butterscotch chips
1 bag semi sweet chips.

Or
1 c craisins
1 bag white choc chips.

Bake 350 for 10-12 min.

Fresh Spring Rolls

I love Pad Thai Fresh Rolls.  They are Ah-Mazing!  They are also really diet friendly.  I like diet friendly.  You get to eat a lot of food for not too many calories.  It's a definite win.  They don't make fantastic left-overs, so if you make them, you should plan to eat them, or just know that tomorrow they will be good- but not great.  They aren't difficult to make, but they do take some time.  If you have a spouse that likes to spend time with you in the kitchen- or you are looking for a good date idea, these would be fun to make together. :)

I'm going to give an ingredient list, but you put in what you like.  These are adaptable to suit your tastes.

Fresh Rolls
1 pkg. rice paper wrappers (look in the Asian foods section of your local grocer)
1 pkg of mung bean noodles (these are dry in the Asian foods section)
2 carrots peeled and julienne cut
1 cucumber peeled, seeded and julienne cut
4-5 large leaves of lettuce Chopped (try romaine)
4-5 pieces of cooked bacon, cut in half and then sliced into thin strips
1 green onion
1 small bunch cilantro or mint leaves
1 avocado

Sauce
2-3 Tbl. Rice vinegar
2-3 Tbl. Sesame Oil

1 Tbl. Soy Sauce
1 Heaping Tbl. Peanut butter
2 tsp. honey
1 Tbl. brown sugar
1 Tbl. minced garlic
dash of red pepper flakes

Method

Place the bean noodle in a bowl of cold water for 10 min.  Then drain and transfer to a bowl of hot water for 4-5 minutes, Drain.  (I do the soaking while I'm chopping my veggies.)

Line up all your ingredients on the counter assembly style.

Place hot water in a bowl.  Next to that place 2 paper towels.  Take your rice papers out of the package.  Take the first paper and dip it into the bowl of water.  Don't wait for it to get soft.  If you do, it will break when you try to fill it.  Just dip it in and set it on the paper towels.  Now place a few pieces of mint or cilantro on the bottom 1/3 of the paper.  Add some carrots, cucumber,  bacon, onion, and the noodles. Now you add the  lettuce and the avocado.  Fold each side in and then roll the paper around the ingredients.  (Think of wrapping a burrito).

Set on a plate and do the next one.  You can really only do one at a time, because you don't want wet rice paper waiting around for you.  It would get too soft.  This recipe should make about 12, so that is four servings.

For the sauce:
Just combine all the ingredients and wisk.  Taste it.  If you need more sweet add sugar or honey.  If you need more salt, add soy sauce.  You can use fish sauce, but I don't usually have that on hand.  :)

For fun you can crush some peanuts to serve with the rolls.  You dip first in the sauce, then in the peanuts.  It's super yummy.  :)

Taco Salad Too

 

I know that I have already posted my favorite Taco Salad recipe, but I thought I would add another that I also enjoy.  

Taco Salad
1lb. ground beef (Or Turkey or chicken- whatever makes you happy)
1/2 fajita seasoning packet
1/2 ranch seasoning packet
2 Tbl. Ketchup (I know, back with the ketchup, but this is a kid friendly recipe)

Cook your meat till it's all nice and brown. Drain. Add 2/3 cup water and the seasoning packets and ketchup. Cook until the liquid has reduced. Set aside.

Shred a head of Romain Lettuce and place in bowl. Add any of the following:

Tomato
Black Beans/kidney beans
green onions
1 c. cheddar cheese
1/2 c. pepper jack cheese
1 can corn, cooked and cooled
1 avocado

I also added some "Mexican" rice. Meaning, I had cooked rice in the fridge, so I added some salsa to it and heated it up and added it. Honestly delicious.

I also had pity on my family. I took 1 bag (the size you put in sack lunches) of Doritos. I crushed them and added to the salad. I mean the small bag- the really small bag. This is supposed to be healthy but easing a family into it is easier than all that change at once. ;)

Mix it all up and serve. Makes a delicious salad, and not delicious leftovers, so if you want left overs, keep everything separate and allow people to load their plates buffet style. :)

Asian Chicken Salad

Asian Chicken Salad

2 large chicken breasts
your favorite Asian marinade. I used Yoshida's Sweet and Savory
Marinade for 24 hrs. Don't skip this step!

After 24 hrs. cut into bite sized pieces and cook on the stove top.
toward the end of the chicken cooking, I added water chestnuts. I am not sure if they should be eaten straight out of the can, so I cooked them.

While the chicken is cooking I put some Olive oil (I have also used wok oil and it is yummy) in a pan and heat it. Then I throw in some raw almonds. (By some, I mean 3 1/2 of my handfuls. I have small hands. That is the best measurement I can give you.)

I sprinkle with garlic powder, onion powder, kosher salt and pepper and a few dashes of paprika. You might be able to skip the paprika. I like it. I cook until golden and shiny. (Okay, I taste one.)

When done, set aside.

Dressing: (I realize the quantities aren't precise- but the fact that I remember them all is a miracle, so go with it.) :)

about 1/4 cup rice vinegar (this is the most important ingredient and no other vinegar will work)
about 3 Tb. soy sauce
about 2 Tb. Honey
1 tsp ginger (or less)
You can add some orange juice, I'd say 2-3 Tb.

Wisk together and set aside.

When ready to eat lay your lettuce in a bowl, add all the yummy veggies that you want, carrots, snow peas (okay I hate snow peas, but Seth likes them) green onions etc. Peel and slice oranges and lay on top and then add your almonds. Now put your meat over the top, (and your water chestnuts obviously). Give your dressing another quick wisk and drizzle over the top.

Delish. 

I also serve with some chow mein noodles, because everyone seems to like that. :)

Cheeseburger Salad

Cheeseburger-Salad

A fun recipe for you.  I have some friends who have tried it, and their boys now ask for it.  Yup!  That's boys asking for salad.  I'm telling you, this is good stuff, and sooooo easy!

Seriously, this is more a guide than a recipe. Its sort of 'a little of this, a little of that' in nature. I'll tell you how I did it, and you can make it work for your family. :)

1 lb. ground beef or turkey
1 small or 1/2 large yellow or white onion
cook together in a frying pan

When the meat is done add:
About 3 Tbl. Ketchup
about 1 Tbl. Mustard (yellow prepared mustard, just the plain stuff)
about 1 1/2 tsp pickle juice (Dill)
Cook and stir and taste. If it needs more of anything add it. don't get it too wet though.

To your lettuce add:
3-4 pickles chopped
1 large tomato chopped
1 avocado chopped (I LOVE avocados! I use them for everything!)

Put your hamburger (or turkey) mixture on top. Add about 2 cups of Med. cheddar cheese grated.

You can serve with some home-made croutons.

I served with Ketchup on top, but you can use thousand Island or Ranch or nothing. The meat has plenty of flavor. I actually think some french fries or potato chips would be tasty, but I am not advocating it. lol.

Cheeseburger-Salad