Archive for the ‘Yum-Yum’ Category

With school starting back, we took the opportunity to straighten a few areas around the house for a more organized attempt at a new school year. The pantry was one of the areas haunting me. So I did what only any reasonable mother would do, I stuck my daughter on that job. What will I do when she’s grown and gone?

I’ll have a messy pantry until she comes for a visit I suppose.

Anway, after a half hour she resurfaced to inform me that we had not one or two, or even three, four or five, but six bags of dried cherries on hand. What a nice surprise. But what was I thinking? Hopefully now that the pantry is neat (at least for this week) I’ll be able to keep better track of our inventory. But what to do with all those cherries?

A number of things popped in my mind, but cookies ranked at the top of the list. Cherries with what? Chocolate chips of course. And nuts. Walnuts. Definitely.

So I began hunting for a cookie recipe that could handle the heavy load. And, once again, Dorie Greenspan’s Baking: From My Home to Yours didn’t disappoint. Her recipe for Chockablock Cookies nearly jumped off the page as the perfect place for me to start. I made a few changes, exchanging the shortening for more butter, instead of molasses, I used honey, and dropped the coconut altogether.

My kids like basic chocolate chip cookies, and with the addition of the cherries and walnuts, I was already pushing it, so the coconut was out. But doesn’t chocolate chip, walnut, cherry and coconut cookies sound fabulous? Totally trying the coconut with the next batch.

Even though I deviated from Dorie’s original recipe, the cookies turned out just fine. More than fine really. Quite tasty indeed. And they were gone in a flash. It’s a chewy cookie, with a slight crunch, and totally satisfying for that sweet tooth. This would be a fantastic cookie to have for the holidays, but I’m not waiting until then to make another batch.

Thank goodness I have more cherries.

Chocolate, Cherry, and Walnut Cookies Recipe
(makes about 48 cookies)
inspired by and adapted from Dorie Greenspan’s Baking: From My Home to Yours

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cup all-purpose flour

3/4 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 stick unsalted butter, at room temperature

1/2 cup sugar

1/2 cup honey

2 eggs

1 1/2 cup old fashioned oats

12 oz. (2 cups) chocolate chips

1 cup dried cherries, roughly chopped

1 cup walnuts, roughly chopped

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 325° F.

Line baking sheets with silicon baking mats or parchment paper.

Combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt together by whisking.

In the bowl of a stand mixer, (or large bowl using hand mixer) using the paddle attachment, beat the butter and sugar on medium until smooth, about 2-3 minutes.

Add the honey and beat for 1 minute.

Add eggs 1 at a time, beating a full minute after adding each egg.

Lower the mixture speed, add the oats and combine well.

Add the dry ingredients mixing only until just combined.

Gradually add the chocolate chips, cherries and walnuts, turning the mixer on and off quickly to combine. Or stir in the last 3 ingredients with a heavy duty spoon or rubber spatula.

Place rounded tablespoonfuls of dough onto the lined baking sheets about 1 1/2-2 inches apart.

Bake in 325°F oven for about 15-18 minutes, turning once halfway through baking time.

When cookies are done, let cool on baking sheets for a minute or so, then carefully place on cooling racks until you can safely touch them to gobble them down with a nice cold glass of milk.

Enjoy!

We all know salt is an essential nutrient, but too much of it can cause you to puff up like a toad frog. Not to mention, the more serious concern of high blood pressure that can lead to heart attacks and stroke. Moderation is important, but it’s difficult to control salt intake if we’re buying products cram packed with the stuff.

So when I was contacted about trying Boar’s Head lower sodium products as part of the Lower Sodium Challenge, I was willing to give it a try. Mainly because Boar’s Head deli products are our family’s favorite. It’s a bummer that it’s only available in a few local grocery stores, but it’s worth the extra distance to get good deli meat. Another reason to try some lower sodium options? Combined with the heat and maybe, just possibly, a little too much salt lately, my ring is a bit snug. And that doesn’t feel so good, ya know?

The low down? I was sent a $25 gift card to try out some of Boar’s Head lower sodium products. Around here Saturday is a big sandwich day, so I stocked up on some Boar’s Head lower sodium roast beef and a few other sandwich fixins for lunch. We made a simple roast beef sandwich with crispy lettuce, tomato, purple onion and some horseradish. Love me some horseradish y’all.

It was a tasty sandwich, no doubt. I could tell the roast beef was lower sodium, but then again, I wonder if I didn’t know it was lower sodium would I have been able to tell? The lower sodium content helped accentuate the flavor of the roast beef instead of covering it up with salt and other additives.

Next I’m planning on trying the lower sodium Boar’s Head oven roasted turkey and ham with my kids sandwiches. I’ll feel much better packing lunch boxes that contain less salt. And I really don’t think they’ll notice the difference.

Now, it’s your turn…

Would you like to join the Lower Sodium Challenge and try some Boar’s Head lower sodium products for yourself?

Boar’s Head is providing a Shake It Up Kit for one winner, which includes a $25 Boar’s Head Gift Card, a Boar’s Head condiment kit, and a Launch Your Assault on Salt guide. Just leave a comment telling me your favorite sandwich combo you want to try first with lower sodium Boar’s Head deli products, or choose one from these lower sodium recipe ideas from Boar’s Head.

One winner will be chosen from comments received before Wednesday, August 25, midnight PST. Winner will be announced sometime on Thursday, August 26.

I don’t know about you, but I’m looking forward to more and more no puffy toad frog days. Have a tasty week!

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We have a winner! The winner of the Boar’s Head Shake It Up Kit is…

Constance who said… “Toasted ham, gruyere and dijon on a baguette.”

That sounds yummy Constance. I’ll be contacting you about your prize details. Thanks everyone for stopping by to share your sandwich ideas. Good stuff!

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(I must let you know that Boar’s Hand kindly sent me a $25 gift card for the purchase of Boar’s Head products as well as providing the “Shake It Up Kit” for one hungry winner. I was not compensated in any other way for this post. I just like Boar’s Head.)

Pasta is one of my weaknesses. This Bacon and Tomato Capellini is no exception. It’s another recipe that I found over at Tasty Kitchen. The recipe is simple, with basic ingredients, full of flavor, and it’s an easy dish to prepare for a large group – a good alternative to standard spaghetti.

You’ll find a full recipe tutorial that I guest posted over at Tasty Kitchen. Stop by and check it out!

Have a tasty weekend!