Heart Healthy Holiday Cookies

It's the time of year to share both baking ideas and baked goods with others. Here are some ways you can save on calories and fat while still maintaining the taste of your goods:

Prepare your cookie dough batter. Make some substitutions. For instance, for oatmeal cookies you can save on saturated fats by substituting "heart healthy" margarine for butter. To increase the nutritional value, use unbleached instead of bleached flour. Add extra cinnamon in place of some brown sugar.

Prepare your cookie sheets. Use parchment paper instead of lightly greasing your cookie sheet. This will save calories while also reducing your fat content. It does not affect the taste, either.

Shape your dough. Shape the dough into canes, bells and stockings. This is done by moistening your hands with water, picking up some dough, and placing it onto the cookie sheet. Now, shape into your preferred item.

Bake. Bake the holiday-themed cookies per your recipe instructions.

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How To Use Hazelnuts

During the holiday season, in particular, there are a variety of nuts available on the marketplace. Someone recently asked me what to do with hazelnuts. First, in order to eat them, the hazelnuts must be shelled. Don't laugh, I had some students not know this. Here are some suggestions, an excerpt from one of my popular articles:

Add to cookie batter. Use hazelnuts instead of walnuts in a variety of cookies. The hazelnuts will be chewier and less porous than the walnuts. Hazelnuts are good in the following cookies: chocolate chip, peanut butter, shortbread and Russian tea cakes. They can also be added to sugar or butter cookies for a delightful surprise. Use a half hazelnut as decoration in a thumbprint cookie.

Use as a snack. If you are not in the mood for baking, simply chop up some shelled hazelnuts and munch on them as a snack. According to the American Heart Association, hazelnuts are considered heart-healthy foods since they contain a variety of antioxidants and unsaturated fats known as Omega-3 fatty acids. They are also protein-rich food sources. Eat them in moderation, however, since they are calorie and fat-laden.

Holiday Hummus

Instead of buying processed hummus, which may contain a variety of additives, make some at home. Nothing beats fresh! The addition of dark green herbs and red vegetables will provide extra holiday color to your festivities. It's easier than you may think.

½ cup raw, unhulled sesame seeds
1 15-ounce can garbanzo beans
3 tablespoons olive oil
1 garlic clove
4 large slices roasted red peppers
salt and pepper to taste

Lightly spritz a frying pan with oil. Cook the sesame seeds in the pan over medium heat. Cook until golden brown, which will be about five minutes.

Place toasted seeds into blender. Add remaining ingredients. Blend until you reach a creamy and smooth consistency. Take a sample and adjust spices and/or oil per your liking. You may want to add some more garlic, some Italian seasoning or sun-dried tomatoes. Or, add freshly chopped parsley or basil.

Serve on your favorite whole grain bread, bagel or cracker. Use as a dip at parties. This is a great potluck dish to share with others.

Store unused portion in airtight container in your refrigerator.

NOTE: If you don't want to cook the sesame seeds, you can simply buy some already made tahini. Tahini is sesame seeds and olive oil blended into a smooth consistency.

Cheap and Easy Banana Jam

There are other ways to use those over-ripe bananas that usually go into either the garbage or banana bread. Try turning them into a delicious topping. This makes a healthy, low fat spread. Here's how...

1-2 ripe bananas, peeled
cinnamon
nutmeg

Mash the bananas in a small bowl. Add cinnamon and nutmeg per your taste. Keep mixing with fork until desired consistency is reached.

Store in a glass,covered container. Keep in refrigerator.

Spread onto toast, English muffin, crackers or bagel. You can make a peanut butter and jam sandwich for a taste treat. Dip some pita triangles into the spread.

Enjoy!

Worried about scars and/or wrinkles? try this

Cocoa butter has been shown to help diminish both scars and wrinkles according to NHL retired goalkeeper, Johnny Bower.

Enjoying Pumpkin

It's that time of year. Pumpkin and squash are in season! Here is an easy and tasty way to enjoy pumpkin other than baked goods.

You need a fresh pie pumpkin for this recipe. Cutting into them may take more work than you'd like, but the taste is well worth it.


Mashed Pumpkin
2 cups pie pumpkin, cut into chunks
garlic powder taste
1 tablespoon butter
1/4 cup pineapple with juice
3 teaspoons yogurt

Cut the pumpkin. Remove the seeds and set aside. You can clean and roast them for snacks.

Steam the cut pumpkin until tender, about 10 minutes. Cool slightly. Remove the peels and discard.

Place cooked pumpkin into serving bowl or mixing bowl. Add pineapple, butter and plain yogurt. Mash all ingredients together with a fork or potato masher. Add garlic powder to taste. Adjust the pineapple juice and yogurt to your individual taste.

Serve warm as a side dish.

Note: For a taste similar to pumpkin pie, add a mixture of cinnamon, nutmeg and ginger.

Healthy Homemade Pumpkin Spice Coffee

It's that time of the year when thoughts of pumpkin and Halloween treats come around. A favorite is Pumpkin Spice Latte. Instead of spending espresso-type prices for a cup of coffee, here's a homemade version that can be easily followed.

16 ounces water
2 Tablespoons coffee, your choice
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon nutmeg
1/8 teaspoon ginger

Pour the water into your coffee maker. Place a coffee filter into its proper place in the machine. Scoop the coffee in its compartment. Place the spices on top of the coffee.

Brew as directed. This recipe makes two servings of black, flavored coffee.

You can add milk, soy milk and/or sugar per your taste.