Six days until Christmas
Comments Off on Six days until ChristmasIt’s six days until Christmas. For many, the next few days will bring a flurry of activity – juggling work, decorating, shopping, wrapping and cookie baking. The “most wonderful time of the year” can cause a lot of stress.
When I was invited to a cookie exchange, I searched the internet for recipes with no wheat flour, sugar alternatives, good fats and protein-rich. A tall order. But I found a great website for one of my batches and got creative for the other.
Pecan Shortbread Cookies
2 ½ cups blanched almond flour
¼ teaspoon Celtic sea salt
¼ teaspoon baking soda
1 cup pecans, toasted and chopped
5 tablespoons agave nectar
½ cup salted butter, melted
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
In a large bowl combine almond flour, salt, baking soda and pecans.
In a smaller bowl, mix together agave, butter and vanilla
Mix wet ingredients into dry.
Place dough in the center of a large piece of parchment paper and form into a large log approximately 2½ inches in diameter.
Place in freezer for one hour, until firm, unwrap and cut into ⅛ inch thick slices.
Place slices on a parchment lined baking sheet.
Bake at 350° until lightly golden, 7-10 minutes
Cool and serve
Makes 24 cookies
El found this recipe in Elana’s Pantry:
http://www.elanaspantry.com/10-healthy-christmas-cookie-recipes/
El’s original chocolate cherry chews
2-1/2 cups almond meal
½ cup coconut sugar (low Glycemic Index)
½ tsp sea salt
¼ tsp baking soda
½ cup unsalted butter, melted
1 egg beaten
½ tbsp pure vanilla extract
½ cup dark chocolate chips (60%)
½ cup dried cherries
Combine almond meal, sugar, salt, baking soda in large bowl. Stir in melted butter. Mix well. Add beaten egg and vanilla. Mix well. Add chocolate chips and cherries. Mix well.
Drop by teaspoon onto parchment-lined pan
Bake at 350 degree F for 8-10 minutes
Makes about 3 dozen cookies.
Enjoy!
Some helpful holiday tips:
Try to eat protein with every meal and snack – that should help stabilize blood sugar during the cookie-filled week ahead!
Need some ideas:
- add nuts and seeds or nut butters or eggs to your breakfast menu
- hummus with raw veggies, lentil soup for mid day snacks
- seafood or other lean meat protein at lunch or dinner
And don’t forget dark green leafy vegetables – boy choy, rapini, kale, romaine lettuce to name a few – you can easily add those to a soup or in a stir fry or salad. All the great vitamins and minerals in the greens will help your body cope with stress. Oh and try to stop and enjoy the holiday : )
Merry Christmas and watch for another blog early in 2013.