Half the Fat and Less Sugar Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe

April 4, 2015 by 17 Comments

When making chocolate chip cookies from the classic tollhouse recipe on the Nestlé Chocolate Chip bag, I have long decreased the sugar and used half the chocolate chips.  Well, today I accidentally halved the butter and the egg in the recipe and guess what…..they still tasted good!  They taste different than “regular” cookies of course and the shape/texture is different, but they are still good and much less guilt inducing!

Half the Fat and Less Sugar Chocolate Chip Cookies

2 1/4 cups flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. salt
1/2 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 large egg
1 cup chocolate chips

Heat oven to 375 degrees.  Mix flour, baking soda and salt in a small bowl and set aside.  In a large bowl, beat together butter, sugars and vanilla until creamy.  Add egg and beat well.  Gradually add the flour mixture into the butter/sugar mixture.  Stir in chocolate chips.  Drop by rounded teaspoons onto ungreased baking sheets.  Bake 10-11 minutes or until starting to brown.  Cool on baking sheets several minutes and then transfer to wire racks to continue to cool.

Half the Fat and Less Sugar Chocolate Chip Cookies

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Filed Under: Dessert, Healthy

Easy Overnight Slow Cooker Steel Cut Oats Recipe – Way Better Than Instant Oatmeal!

April 3, 2011 by 1 Comment

“steel-cut-oats”

You will never go back to instant oatmeal after trying steel cut oats! I admit that I have become addicted to them – my crockpot has been getting a workout!  We have them for breakfast at least 3-4 times per week.  But there are worse things to be addicted to!  As a whole grain they are very healthy and they are a very inexpensive breakfast food.  The key to keeping it inexpensive is to buy them in bulk at your local health food store or at Whole Foods.  Yes, steel cut oats in bulk at Whole Foods are CHEAPER than buying a carton of them at Walmart.  (Only about 1/3 the price.)

This recipe is to make two large servings.  Simply double or triple the recipe for the right amount of your family.  Or, you can double or triple the recipe and store the leftovers in the fridge to be reheated in the microwave later (just mix with a little milk or water before reheating).

1 cup steel-cut oats used
2 1/4 cups water
1/4 tsp salt
1 Tbsp butter.

Place all ingredients slowcooker or crockpot and cook on low for 6 to 8 hours. (You may want to spray the crockpot with cooking spray first, but this is optional.)

Serve mixed with a little milk and sweeten with brown sugar.  You can add anything you like, nuts, dried and fresh fruit all work great.

I previously published this recipe on my healthy living blog, Jinxy Knows Best.

Filed Under: Breakfast, Healthy

Easy Healthy Sesame Chicken Recipe

April 1, 2011 by Leave a Comment

I love chinese food, but take-out can be pricey, especially for a whole family and, in general it’s not all that healthy. This version of sesame chicken, however, is easy to make at home and it is MUCH healthier than the takeout version!

Sesame Chicken the Healthy Way

1 1/2 lb Chicken Breast (boneless,skinless)
4 tbsp Honey
3 tbsp Sesame Seeds
4 tbsp Soy Sauce
2 Cloves Garlic, minced
4 Egg Whites
1/2 cup Cornstarch
1/2 tsp Salt
1/2 tsp Ground Black Pepper
2 tbsp Canola Oil
4 Scallions – sliced thin (optional)

In a small bowl combine honey, sesame seeds, soy sauce and garlic for the sauce.

In a large bowl, whisk egg whites and cornstarch together. Add chicken to the bowl, season with salt and pepper and toss until coated.

In a large nonstick skillet at medium-high, heat the oil. Add the chicken and cook 6-8 minutes or until golden and cooked through.  (If you don’t have a very large skillet, cook the chicken in two batches so that it is not too crowded – it should be in a single layer in the pan.)  Add the sauce and scallions to the skillet and mix to coat.

Serve chicken with the rice and steamed broccoli or snow peas (the veggies can be served on the side or mixed in with the sauce).

Filed Under: Asian, Chicken, Healthy

Easy Tasty Oven Baked Skin-On French Fries Recipe

March 31, 2011 by 4 Comments

Potatoes are on of the best foods to stretch your budget.  Not only are they inexpensive, but potatoes are packed with nutrients, especially if you leave the skins on! 

Ingredients:
4 medium potatoes
1 Tbsp canola oil
Salt to taste

Heat oven to 450 degrees. Scrub the potatoes well.  Cut into slices appx 1/4″ thick.  Turn the potato and cut each slice in 1/4″ as well, leaving you with 1/4″ x 1/4″ fries.  For optimal results, soak the fries in cold water for 30 minutes. (If you don’t have 30 minutes, even a 5 minute soak helps to remove excess starch which results in a crispier fry.)  Drain water and wrap potatoes in a clean dish towel to remove excess water or spin them in a salad spinner.

Place the potatoes on a baking sheet (heavy, dark colored sheets are the best).  Pour oil on potatoes and season with salt.  Toss to evenly distribute the oil.  Bake 15-20 minutes or until fries are golden brown, turning at least once.

Filed Under: Healthy, Potatoes, Side Dish