Holiday Cookies! My favorite Molasses-Spice one…ever.

GINGER-MOLASSES COOKIES

If you want crispy, crinkly, snappy ginger cookies, these aren’t them.  But soft, chewy-cakey, velvety?  Gotcha covered.

This is my favorite spice cookie and it gets BETTER as it ‘ages’.  Make these a couple days ahead of when you want to serve them, wrap tightly, and put away for a sweet nap.  So comforting.

Pour yourself a cup of Chai tea and slip one of these beauties onto your saucer – sit back, soothe your soul, and overdose on spices. The perfect way to spend a Holiday afternoon.

Lots of photos…just cause they are so gorgeous!

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1/2 cup butter, softened

1/4 cup reduced-fat cream cheese, softened

1/2 cup Whey Low granular

1/2 cup packed Whey Low Gold

1 egg

1 tablespoon water

1/4 cup mild molasses

2 cups flour

1 tablespoon ground ginger (yes…a Tablespoon)

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon ground cloves

1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

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In a large bowl beat the butter, cream cheese, WL granular, and WL Gold until light and fluffy. Beat in the egg, water, and molasses.

In a small bowl combine the flour, ginger, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, soda, and salt. Add all at once to the butter mixture and beat just until combined. Cover and chill dough for at least 2 hours – I do it overnight so it’s very cold.

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Preheat oven to 325 degrees. If you can, use parchment paper to line a sheet with. Drop dough by a very rounded tablespoon (or 1/3 cup – seriously.  I love BIG cookies!)  onto a baking sheet and sprinkle with WL granular. Bake for 10-12 minutes depending on the size, or until just set.   (I sprinkle with granular again while they are still warm.)  If using paper, simply slide off entire thing onto a rack and cool completely.  If not, let them sit on the baking sheet for a moment to set and then remove to a wire rack to cool.

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Makes 30 cookies.

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Per Cookie: Calories 81, Fat 4 gr, Protein 1 gr, Sugars 5 gr, NET Carbs 10 gr, Sodium 11 mg

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BBQ-ready!

STOVE-TOP BAKED BEANS

These are a little different, but so good!  Not overly sweet, but with that smokey, molassesy flavor that we expect in baked beans.  They are full of complex carbs and are the prefect compliment to your BBQed proteins.

Make them ahead of time ’cause they just get better as  ”leftovers”!

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4 slices bacon, chopped OR 1/2 teaspoon liquid smoke and 1/2 tablespoon olive oil
1 medium onion, diced
1 red bell pepper, diced
Three 15-ounce cans kidney beans, drained & rinsed
One 6-ounce can tomato paste
3/4 cup water
1/2 cup crushed Pineapple ( juice-packed), UNDRAINED
2 tablespoons sugar free maple syrup
1 tablespoon molasses
1 teaspoon yellow mustard
3/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce

In a large saucepan, over medium heat, saute the bacon until crispy. (If not using bacon heat the olive oil over medium and add the liquid smoke with the beans.) Add the onions and pepper and saute until soft. Add drained beans, tomato paste, water, pineapple, maple syurp, molasses, mustard, salt, pepper, garlic powder, and Worcestershire sauce. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low and simmer, covered for 20 minutes. Remove lid and continue to simmer for 25 minutes, stirring ocassionally, until thickened. Makes approx. eight 1/2-cup servings.

Per Serving: Calories 127; Protein 6 g; Fat 2 g; Carbs 20 g; Sugar 7 g; Sodium 663 mg

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Two of my favorite things…pancakes and spices…and pears…and butter…

SPICED RICOTTA PANCAKES WITH GINGER-PEAR BUTTER

These little pancakes are not overly sweet and go great with the Ginger-Pear Butter.   A 1/4 cup Greek-style yogurt on top and you’ve got a filling breakfast that should keep the cravings at bay.

Even if you just make the butter – wow!

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1/2 cup flour
1/4 cup almond flour
Pinch salt
1 teaspoon baking powder
3/4 teaspoon ginger
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon cloves
2 eggs
1 cup ricotta cheese
1/3 cup skim milk
1 1/2 tablespoons molasses
2 tablespoons Splenda (sugar)
1 teaspoon instant coffee crystals

In a small bowl combine four, almond flour, salt, baking soda, ginger, cinnamon, and cloves. Set aside.
In a large bowl whisk together eggs, ricotta, milk, molasses, Splenda, and coffee crystals. Stir flour mixture into egg mixture just until combined. Heat a large frying pan or griddle over medium heat. Spray with vegetable cooking spray. Drop batter by rounded tablespoons onto hot pan and cook for 2-3 minutes. Flip and cook until set, another 2 minutes or so. Makes 9 servings, 2 pancakes each.

Per Serving: 130 Cal; 6 g Protein; 5 g Tot Fat; 15 g Carb; 2 g Fiber; 6 g Sugar; 116 mg Sodium

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GINGER-PEAR BUTTER

Two 14-ounce cans pears in juice
Zest and juice of one lemon
1/3 – 1/2 cup Splenda (sugar)
1 vanilla bean, split OR 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
Pinch of salt
1/8 teaspoon cardamom
1/8 teaspoon cloves
1/8 teaspoon ginger

Drain pears and puree in blender or food processor. In a small saucepan place the pear puree, lemon zest and juice, Splenda (sugar), vanilla bean, salt, cardamom, cloves, and ginger. Bring to a boil and reduce heat to medium-low. Continue to cook for 1-1 1/2 hours or until reduced and thickened. Stir occasionally. Allow to cool and store in a covered container in the refrigerator.

 

 

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