Monday, September 27, 2010

update on the low-fat cookies!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I made cookies again with the fat-free butter this time, and...............they were so much better! Softer, and chewy..yum!

Wednesday, September 22, 2010

low-fat chocolate chip cookies!

I was craving chocolate, and I really was in the mood to bake so I decided to make cookies! But, when I cook I try to be healthy so low-fat chocolate chip cookies were decided! the reason they are low-fat is that the only fat in the cookie is the choco chips! and such a delicious fat it is! now, my dad bought fat-free "I Can't Believe It's Not Butter" but I couldn't remember if I had made cookies with that before, so I just bought some fat-free plain yogurt instead. Fat-free yogurt does give the cookies a different texture, let me explain. The cookie is chewy....maybe a difficult chew....but I still like it. If you like golden brown cookies like I sometimes do, they get a "crust" on them. I don't mind it because I am saving my body from immense amounts of butter. Fat-free yogurt is also good in cakes and such, which it does not change the texture of it. When I crave them again, I'll try the butter to see what it does! Oh yeah, I also use egg whites. I don't use whole eggs anymore, its just egg whites or egg beaters (whichever is cheaper when I shop). I know there are benefits to whole eggs, but they are just a splurge item now at the diners. I'll sometimes get egg white omelets when I go, depending on my heart attack meat choices.
But back to the cookies! I use the tried and true Nestle recipe. It's familiar and has never let me down. Always a good cookie, and there is always room for creativeness when using that recipe.

Adjusted Recipe (in order I put in bowl):

1/4-1/2 cup fat-free yogurt (I'm sorry but I forget how much I did, I think I did 1/2 cup, but you can always add more at the end!)

6 Tbsp egg whites

3/4 brown sugar (or Splenda brown sugar blend....or the hard to find Sugar Twin replacement)

3/4 white sugar (or Splenda)

1 tsp salt (or salt replacer....my dad has HBP)

1 tsp baking soda

1 tsp vanilla extract (please no imitation, it's just awful....)

2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour (its fat-free!!!)

12 oz. chocolate chips (1 bag)


Preheat oven to 375F


so the standard mixing of the ingredients. Mix the first 2. Then add the 3rd and 4th. The add all the tsp amount ingredients. Then add flour 1/4 cup at a time to incorporate. If too dry, add more yogurt; if too wet, add more flour. Then add bag of choco chips. I don't really feel like explaining in depth, because if you have never made cookies, well you need some serious help!
Bake 7-10.....keep a close eye!!!!! NOT KIDDING!


Yummy!!!!! And you can feel better about it! O, and I just saw that Hershey makes Sugar-Free chips! Well, I saw it online, so I really can't say I've seen it in stores, but I will find it!!!!!

Sunday, September 19, 2010

first couple weeks in Jax

so I am currently in FLA and I have gone to some restaurants! My dad likes to go out to dinner a lot so I don't mind obliging :-) and I did miss some of the food when I was away!

First there is the 3rd Street Diner.....on 3rd street! They are your typical diner, which is hard to find in Florida. And when I mean typical, besides being 24-7, having that tacky metallic look and a large menu.........THEY ARE GREEK!!!! Many diners in NJ are Greek-owned, and its great! You can always find great Greek food on the menus. And yes, of course I get Greek food at this place. They have an awesome Gyro!!!!
So yummy! Great combo of Lamb and Beef, and their tzatziki is sooo good! Their fries are awesome too...you can't really see them though. They are super crunchy and have a flaky outside too that is crispy. Confusing? Maybe, but so delicious! www.thirdstreetdiner.com

And then there is Clark's Fish Camp.
I don't know if you can see, but those are stuffed animals. And by stuffed, I mean animals that were hunted, and killed, and then sent to a taxidermist.....creepy. It is a little difficult to eat at times because of the menagerie of the dead things around, and they are EVERYWHERE! That's just a small portion of the restaurant. Oh yeah, there is also fried kangaroo on the menu :-( kangaroos are my second favorite animal, so I cringe. But they do have fried gator, which is really good. But I'm here to talk about the fried pickles. Fried pickles are showing up on more menus now, but they are the best at Clark's. They have the best seasoning combo on them, and are never soggy; always crispy! They also serve it with this zesty ranch sauce that compliments it so well.
www.clarksfishcamp.com