Snickerdoodles

Growing up I loved snickerdoodles.  I started cooking and baking at an early age and these were probably the first cookie that I mastered.  As an adult I still adore these cookies and now that I have children of my own they are even more fun to make with my "helpers". I will admit we do eat more dough than usual and I still sneak one half baked cookie out of the oven and eat it with a spoon!  Oh happy childhood memories.  This version of the recipe is much lighter than the one I started out with and lacks nothing as far as taste goes, enjoy!

Recipe Modifications

• used pasuerized eggs 1/4 cup
• used fleishmann's unsalted margarine
• chilled the dough for 30 min - 1 hour before rolling
• used 2/3 white sugar instead of 3/4 cup
• added extra flour tablespoon at a time to compensate for margarine and less sugar
• added extra cinnamon to rolling mixture
• baked for a few extra minutes.  Our dough was colder and cookies slightly bigger,  I like them chewy center and crisp outside
• used parchment paper and no cooking spray

Ingredients

3/4 cup granulated sugar

2/3 cup light brown sugar

1/2 cup butter, softened

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1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 large egg

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour (about 6 3/4 ounces)

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/3 cup granulated sugar

1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

Cooking spray

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Recipe

This recipe comes from my favorite source Cooking Light. Not diet food, but food that is conscious of health without losing any flavor. Food for life!

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Homemade Graham Crackers

A few months ago our friend Stephanie posted on facebook that she made homemade graham crackers.  I of course was intrigued and asked for the recipe.  Who doesn't like graham crackers!  And Stephanie is an awesome baker so I knew the recipe would be good.  This weekend was the perfect time to make these.  We had good friends in for the day and two almost 2 year olds, one almost 4 year old and one just five year old to help bake and taste test them.  These are fun and surprising with few ingredients but all these great flavors come out.  And they are much healthier than the store bought varieties.  I didn't feel guilty at all giving them to the girls after breakfast today to dunk in milk ;-)

Recipe Modifications
I was unsure on this recipe so I followed it without modifications the first time through.  I made these in the food processor with a chopping blade instead of the dough blade, oops!  Next time I'll use the right blade.  If you don't have a food processor use a normal mixer and just cut in the chilled butter.  You can use a pastry cutter or two knives to cut the butter in.  I'll also roll them thinner and bake for 12 versus 15 minutes.  If you make them thicker they still taste awesome but puff up a bit more than traditional graham crackers.

Ingredients
1 Cup Whole Wheat Flour
1 1/2 Cups All Purpose Flour
1/2 Cup Dark Brown Sugar, packed
1/2 Tsp Salt
1 Tsp Cinnamon
1 Tsp Baking Soda
1/2 Cup Butter, chilled & cubed
1/4 Cup Honey
1/4 Cup Water

Recipe
I really enjoy the easy, natural and healthy approach www.weelicious.com takes to cooking and baking. It's hard to imagine anyone browsing through and not finding something they want to make!
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Oatmeal, Chocolate Chip and Pecan Cookies

We made these on Sunday afternoon.  The girls are getting cabin fever from the cold Ohio winter this year.  So Cadence asked daddy what would you like me to bake you?  He wanted chocolate chip cookies.  A quick search and these sounded so good!  They are absolutely a keeper and we will be making again.  They aren't even that bad for you as far as a cookie goes.  The next time I make them I might even reduce the sugar more so I can steal a few more cookies ;-)

Recipe Modifications

• Added 1/4 cup white sugar instead of 3/4 cup
• Added 3/4 cup brown sugar instead of 1/2 cup, will try 1/2 next bake
• Used pasteurized real egg product instead of egg, 1/4 + 1/8 cup
• Used regular chocolate chips instead of the mini chips
• Made cookies 2 tbsp, making 18 instead of 3 dozen

Ingredients
1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour (about 5 1/2 ounces)
1 cup regular oats
3/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/3 cup butter, softened
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 large egg
1/4 cup chopped pecans, toasted
1/4 cup semisweet chocolate minichips

Recipe

This recipe comes from my favorite source Cooking Light. Not diet food, but food that is conscious of health without losing any flavor. Food for life! 

Click Here for Recipe