Holly Smoothie Bowl

 I never posted this back at Christmas time, I think I forgot with everything that was going on.  Now, looking back at the pictures I kinda think I was waiting for SNOW.  But, no snow and then days past and I forgot.  So, because of my crazy day today I'm posting this yummy bowl... I'm past wanting the snow now.  But, I'm still paying off Christmas so... What the heck, I'm posting this!  Oh, my humor is SO BAD! Have a great day!

So... I guess this is Christmas in February!

 Ingredients:

1 cup Kale

1 cup spinach

2 pears

2 celery spears

2 tablespoons Barlean's Swirl (you can use any flavor)

1 tablespoon Flax seed ground

Method:

Blend all together and serve.  I used cranberries rolled in Stevia powder. 

Yummy!

 

Pepparkakor (Gingersnaps)

Traditionally speaking Swedes have gingersnaps (Pepparkakor) all year long (usually I just buy them), but at Christmas time it's kinda fun to make them.  I always make them in the shape of little gingerbread men and women but they can also be made in the shape of hearts or pigs.  I think I'll stick with the gingerbread men just for my traditional needs.

 Ingredients 

7 oz. brown sugar

7 oz. white sugar

7 oz. dark corn syrup

3/4 cup water

10 oz butter

2 tablespoons ground cinnamon

2 tablespoons ground ginger

2 tablespoons ground cloves

1 tablespoon baking soda

2 lbs flour (You can use rice flour if you prefer not to have wheat)

Method

Heat the brown and white sugar along with the corn syrup and water in a pot. Add the butter and let it melt.  Stir in spices and baking soda.  Then mix in the flour until you reach a smooth consistency.  Place dough in the refrigerator to cool for at least 3 hours, over night is best.  Then take the dough and knead it on a large cutting board, adding flour (or rice flour) if it gets sticky.  Roll it out and cut into your desired shapes and bake at 350 for 10 minutes.  Cool on a rack and decorate to your liking. 

I purchased these cool edible pen pictured below.  They are great to have around!

Cute Gingerbread men.

These are great to have around and make decorating easy!

Chocolate Bark with Benefits

This is the easiest thing in the world to make...CRAZY EASY!  Yet, it's one of my favorites because I can get so creative with the toppings I put on the Chocolate bark.  In the picture here I actually made two separate kinds of chocolate bark.  I made some where I broke it into pieces once it was hardened and the other I placed in small circles before drying.  This made it easier to tell the different kinds apart,  and the kids knew which one they liked better.  Easy Breezy!

Ingredients:

4 Ghirardelli Chocolate Bars (2 Semi-sweet & 2 100% Cacao Unsweetened chocolate baking bars)

1 bag of Crystalized Ginger

1/4 cup Raw slivered almonds

1/4 cup Raw Pistachios

Pink Himalayan sea salt

Spectrum's Warrior Vitality Blend (My new favorite addition to things)

Method:

Place 1 semi-sweet and 1 100% Cacao chocolate bar in a microwavable container (something that has a pourable spout). Microwave until melted but, not bubbly, usually 3 1/2 minutes. Then pour chocolate onto a parchment lined cookie sheet with sides.  Sprinkle any or all the above listed toppings on top and set in cool place to harden (Refrigerator would be fine as well). I used the Almond's on one batch and the Pistachio's on another.  I also sprinkled the Spectrum Warrior Blend on the batch with the Pistachio's because I thought it looked a little more festive together.  In years past I've purchased lemon and orange rind to make the chocolates even more colorful.  Get Creative...I've even purchased spicy nuts from Whole Foods and placed those on top to give the Chocolate a little kick!  Happy Holiday's!

A new favorite to get Creative with!

A Closeup picture:)

Holiday Butterballs with Benefits

Yes, you're reading this right!  My butterballs have benefits!  I've taken my girlfriends Mother's recipe and decided to change it up a bit.  I mean it's the holiday season and I know I'm going to eat things I usually don't eat.  So, I decided why not make the cookies a little more healthy and add some much needed protein while I'm at it!  This was actually much easier to do than I thought and it really didn't take long to get the amounts perfected like I thought it was going to take.  So...here you go!  They are Yummy!

Tiffany's Holiday Butterballs with Benefits

 Ingredients:

2 cups Bob's Red Mill Brown Rice Flour

1/4 cup Organic Sugar

1/2 teaspoon Salt (I used Iodized Salt...it's important)

1 1/4 cups Organic Nutiva Buttery Spread (Melted in microwave...don't allow to bubble)

3 teaspoons Vanilla Extract

2 Tablespoons Sun Warrior Blend Protein Powder (I used Vanilla flavored)

 2 cups chopped/crush Walnuts

 

 Topping:

1 cup Powdered Sugar

Mix in a colored decorative sugar if you would like (I used silver & gold pictured below)

Method:

Preheat oven to 375.  Mix the first six ingredients together with a hand held mixer, then stir in the walnuts.  The consistency of the dough should be crumbly (don't be alarmed)!  Take a quarter size(or slightly larger)  amount of the dough and press together until the dough sticks together, then place on a top of of a cookie sheet that is lined with parchment paper (you could a heavily buttered pan, but this way is not only cleaner but adds no more calories).  Place in preheated oven for 15 minutes.  As soon as you remove the cookies from the oven place in a bowl that holds your powdered sugar mixture (you can just use the powdered sugar if you would like...I just wanted to add color), then remove from your powdered sugar and place cookies in a container suitable for either the freezer or refrigerator.  They keep well in the freezer and I actually like them cold.  Enjoy...These are SOOOO YUMMY!

The flour and butter used

The Consistency of the dough

Here they are before going into the oven

The colored sugars I mixed into the powdered sugar to add a bit of color

And Yes, I was wearing my St. Lucia Wreath while doing this and making dinner! Just getting into the spirit:)

Completed and ready to eat.....

I'll guess I'll go back to the store for more ingredients....These are dangerous!!!

ENJOY!