Making Healthy Choices Monday

Every Monday we will post a tip helping everyone to make healthy choices when eating and buying food.

Tip #1

Buy as many whole grain foods as possible, and make sure the package says 100% whole wheat. By law, if the package says 100% whole wheat then it is. There are many brands that make sliced whole wheat bread. Other foods such as hamburger buns, pasta, pancakes, and tortillas don’t always come 100% whole wheat, but buying the whole grain, grain, or whole wheat blend is better than the white flour version. Take a look at the ingredient list; if the first ingredient is whole wheat flour it’s a good buy. 

Do you have any healthy eating ideas? Email then to: lookwhatscookingtoday@gmail.com and we'll post them!

Strawberry Poppyseed Salad

2 heads romaine lettuce, washed and torn
5 strawberries, sliced
Small bunch green onions, diced
1 cup almonds, toasted
3 strips bacon, cooked and crumbled
½ apple, diced

Toss salad ingredients together and serve with poppyseed dressing. Serves 4.

Thick and Moist Sugar Cookies

1 1/2 cups sugar

2/3 cup butter

2 eggs, beaten

2 tablespoons milk

1 teaspoon vanilla

3 1/4 cups flour

2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

Cream sugar and butter; add eggs, milk, and vanilla. Sift dry ingredients together and beat into creamed mixture, combining thoroughly. With hands, shape dough into a ball. Wrap and refrigerate 2 to 3 hours or overnight until dough is easy to handle.

Grease cookie sheets lightly. On floured board, roll half of dough at a time, keeping remaining dough refrigerated. Cut into desired shapes with cookie cutters.

Place cookies half an inch apart on cookie sheets. Bake at at 375 degrees about 8 minutes or until a very light brown. Remove to racks to cool.

Makes about 6 dozen cookies.

Picnic Brownies

“Our favorite home-made brownies.”

4 ounces baking chocolate (can also use 12 tablespoons cocoa powder and 4 tablespoons vegetable oil)

1 cup butter (not margarine)

2 cups sugar

2 teaspoons vanilla

1 teaspoon salt

4 eggs

1 3/4 cups flour

2/3 cup walnuts, pecans, or almonds (optional)

1 cup chocolate chips

1. Grease two 9 inch round pans. 

2. In top of a double boiler or microwave-safe bowl, melt chocolate and butter.

3. In medium bowl, mix sugar, vanilla, and salt; add to melted chocolate mixture and blend well. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Add flour and mix well. 

4. Divide batter equally into prepared pans. Spread evenly and sprinkle top of each with nuts and chocolate chips.

5. Bake at 350 degrees for 25 minutes. Do not overbake. Allow to cool completely before cutting. Run a knife around  edges and cut into pie-shaped pieces. 

Makes 16 brownies. These brownies are called picnic brownies because they travel well.

Big Peanut Butter Cookies

“ We love making these cookies very large. If you do this cook for about 11 minutes. It’s fun to drizzle them with melted chocolate too. Since this recipe does make so many cookies, you can roll some of the dough up and freeze for a later use.”

5 1/4 cups flour

2 teaspoons baking soda

1 teaspoon salt

1 cup butter

3/4 cups shortening

1 3/4 cups sugar

1 3/4 cups brown sugar

4 eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla

3/4 cup peanut butter

1. In a medium bowl, mix flour, baking soda, and salt; set aside.

2. In a large mixing bowl, cream butter, shortening, sugar, brown sugar, eggs, and vanilla. Stir in peanut butter. Add flour mixture and stir until well blended.

3. Drop dough by tablespoons onto cookie sheets. Using a fork dipped in flour, flatten each cookie slightly in a crisscross patter. Bake at 350 for 8 to 10 minutes or until slightly golden around the edges. Do not over bake.

Makes 5 dozen 3-inch cookies.

Apple Spice Cake

2 cups sugar

1/2 cup butter or margarine

4 cups grated apples, about 4 medium apples

2 eggs

1 cup nuts

2 cups flour

2 teaspoons baking soda

2 teaspoons cinnamon

1 teaspoons nutmeg

1/2 teaspoons salt

Cream butter, sugar with a mixer. Beat in eggs. Add apples, then add dry ingredients. 

Pour into greased 9x13 inch pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 40 minutes, or until done.

Caramel Sauce:

1 cup brown sugar

1 cup thick cream

5 tablespoons butter

Boil in a double boiler for 3 minutes and pour over cake.

Oh Henry Bars

1 cup sugar

1 cup light corn syrup

1 cup creamy peanut butter

1 cup chopped salted peanuts

3 cups crispy rice cereal

1 cup chocolate chips

1 cup butterscotch chips

1. In a heavy saucepan, bring sugar and corn syrup to a boil. Remove from heat and add peanut butter, peanuts, and cereal. Stir well and press into a greased 9x13 inch pan.

2. Melt chocolate chips and butterscotch chips together in a small saucepan or in the microwave. Spread over top of peanut butter mixture. Cool and cut into bars.

Makes 2 dozen small or 1 dozen large bars.