Healthy Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe

Self Discipline requires you to connect today's actions to tomorrow's result

Hello. Hello. Hello. I am so glad you came to visit me again. Let us take a seat and just chat.  I know, you just drove for a long time and maybe you are not in your best elements today. So you just relax. This may not be the right time to ask this, but I really have this burning question that I want to ask you. Who/ What  is the most important thing in your life that you cannot live without? What did you do with them today? If it is a thing, did you ever do something to make it grow or shine, or look attractive? If he/she is human did you give her some TLC ( tender, loving, care) today? I hope so.

I was in the supermarket today and every time I go there, I cannot help but see all these beautiful orchids' flowers that are so colorful and beautiful. They just stood there as if gallantly showing off their splendor. I just make do with admiring and browsing through them because they are  very expensive - $ 19.00 to  $ 34.00 each. As I went farther at the back of the isle, there is a one orchid whose leaves where dry and droopy. Its flowers lost its luster and it stood in the farthest isle that it can easily be ignored. I felt so sorry for the plant but when I saw the price, it was on sale for $ 2.00. I got a dilemma whether I should buy it or not. But for the price, I decided to take the risk.

When I arrive home, I placed my orchid on the side table  where it will get some sunshine. I also put some ice on its pot to water it. I was thinking, poor little thing, its life is doomed.

But I was mistaken. Look at "her" now. My little survivor orchid. She is a far cry of what she was before... look how elegantly she stood. Showing her beauty. There is pride and sense of hope in "her".These are the result of a little TLC I gave her.

 This TLC is applicable to every area in our lives as well. Have you given yourself some TLC today? Are you thinking good thoughts?  Are you making right decisions? Did you take a bath? Did you brush your teeth :) Did you give your  spouse some respect today, or you were just too busy trying to win the argument? Did you really listen deeply to your spouse? Your children, have you given them a hug before they left for school? Did you try to be patient with them?  Your colleagues, did you try to understand them? These are just few examples on little TLC that can make someone regain his/her luster. So how about today we give these freely.

So, are you feeling okey? I hope so. I want to share to you this chocolate chip cookie recipe. The texture of this cookie is kind of fibrous due to the wheat flour. But I really liked it.  If you want, you can  make this with me or you go ahead and chill as I show you how. Also check this and this for other healthy recipes.

Healthy Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe

1. 2/3 cups plus 1/2 cup wheat flour
2. 1/4 tsp salt
3. 1/2 tsp baking soda
4. 2 tbsp brown sugar 4
5. 1/4 cup walnut ( ground) 
6. 5 tbsp milk of choice ( I used vanilla soy milk)
7. 1 tsp vanilla
8. 6 tbsp cooking oil 
9. 1/4 cup chocolate chip 

Place ingredients 1 to 5 in a bowl. Mix the ingredients thoroughly using a wire whisk or spoon. Please do this because we want the baking soda to be completely mix with the rest of the ingredients.

Mix together ingredients 6 to 8 and add into the flour mixture. 

Preheat oven into 380 F

Combine the mixture using your hand. It will become crumbly but just keep on mixing and add in the chocolate chips.

Form into a small ball and flatten a little bit. Around 1/4 " thick.

Bake into preheated oven for 7 minutes and remove from the oven.

NOTE:

Let the cookies sit on the cookie sheet for 10 more minutes before you  remove from the pan. Doing this will continually cook the cookies.

Serve and enjoy.

What Happened To Miley Cyrus? - Mango Popsicle Recipe

I started my day today reading news and what popped out were Miley Cyrus' performance in the Video Music Awards. She was in a skimpy bikini, she was sticking her tongue out, and gyrating her bum closer to a fellow performer, at the chagrin of the audience. I cringe looking at the pictures and asked, " What happened to this kid?, What will her parents feel about this latest antics?"I need not look further and watch the video attached to the article to see more provocativeness in the performance.

As I was driving my daughter to school, I found an opportunity to ask her about the pictures. Fortunately, she had not seen it, as we do not have cable in the house. I started the discussion on how Miley's behaviour and the way she dressed lowered her reputation, and on how people, no matter what, initially judge character  based on what they see. Let's face it. People judge the book by its cover first. We judge people on how they represent themselves through their clothing, speech and actions. And that's what happened to me. I judge Miley on what I had seen.I know it is not right to judge her for I do not know her,but her message on that performance cannot be ignored and a very teachable moment. My daughter was very attentive about the discussion and the topic.I hope that she learned from it.

Being a parent, it bothers me when my daughter might go to a wrong path, so I always teach my children based on what they are exposed of - the media. I love dropping my daughter to school because it is in the car where I usually get her full attention; and the Miley topic is just a perfect way for her to learn life's lesson on how to represent oneself. During the discussion, she listened because Miley Cyrus is a known fixture in the society. And her behaving wildly is an opportunity for me to teach lesson on decency.

Although I do not know Miley Cyrus' parents, but I somehow knew, they are  affected on how their daughter behaved. Wild, carefree, rich, entitled  and acting crazily in the performance just to prove a point is not what I want for my children. I would rather have my children live a simple and kind life that be like Miley Cyrus.Every good parents want their children to bring something good to the world. In our prayer time, I always pray that my children will become good people in the society. So for Miley Cyrus' parents, I say a prayer to them and for Miley as well. I hope she knows what she is doing and I hope her life is not as trashy as it looks.

1 cup sliced mango
1 cup milk
1 tbsp fresh lemon
2 tbsp of condensed milk

Direction:

Put all the ingredients in the blender. And blend thoroughly.
Transfer mixture in the Popsicle mold and freeze.
Serve when it is hard.

In order to remove the Popsicle from the mold, put a warm water in a container and dip the mold until the Popsicle is loose.

Serve and Enjoy!

Mango Lassi

I cannot believe that summer was two weeks over for my children and only yesterday that we ate mango. It feels like they missed summer. In my native country, mangoes are usually the kickoff  of summer.When I went to the Asian store, I saw some mangoes that were on sale so I grabbed it right away and purchased it. My family was delighted to see a box of mango that were sitting on the counter. They relished the fruit intermittently until 10 PM, yet there were still a lot of leftover. 

The mangoes were over ripe so I made sure that I have to do something about it. I looked at my pantry and saw Knox gelatin and condensed milk . I have to make something that is reminiscent of summer. I made popsicle and my version of mango lassi. It turned out great, and the aroma of this refreshment is a reminder of my country - Philippines.

When I was in the Philippines, mangoes were abundant during the summer. I remember making different menus with mango. There was mango cake, mango shake, mango fridge cake, halo-halo,  etc. How I miss my country. It has been 12 years now, and I have never been home. I heard it has changed a lot. I always miss the sea. I lived close to the beach in Cebu City before and I did not really take advantage of the beautiful beaches it offered because I was scared I will turn dark skinned. You see, when I was in the Philippines, white skinned are considered beautiful, so I never go to beaches for fear that I will turn really dark. How I regret that. Now, I just imagine frolicking and playing with the white sand and simply relax on the splashing waves. My children had not experience running in a big ocean with white and salty sand yet  so for sure when they visit there, they will have blast.

Ingredients :

1 packet of Knox gelatin

1 cup cold milk plus 1 cup hot milk

2 tbsp condensed milk

1 cup mango

Handful of avocado - optional

Direction:

Put the knox and the cold milk in the blender and mix thoroughly with a spoon until totally incorporated.

Add the mango. Leave some for garnish later.

Blend.

Heat the other cup of milk . You can heat it for 2 minutes in microwave then add in to the blender with the Knox mixture.

Pour into a glass and let it set for 3 hours.

Serve and Enjoy!

Rocky Mountain Brownies

When Life Gets Bitter, Eat Sweets

- Me

It is not a very good day today. I haven't heard  about my clinical location yet and class starts next week. I think this is another case of promises made to be broken thing. The director told me, he will arrange my clinical location when I get done with the course but until now, no news. Looks like I will not be able to have my clinical this term.I am not sure if I want this opportunity or not but nevertheless, I am still broken hearted.  Oh well, things does not work as what we plan sometimes. I will just have to mend this broken heart. How else should I do it, bake brownies. The sayings above was knitted by yours truly. It just came up as I was writing this article. I am not sure if it is original or I read it somewhere, but I claim it as mine today.

This brownies was inspired/adapted from my favorite blogger Pinch of Yum  here . I thought, why not try it, it looks really good. Please check out her website. It is amazing. But when you do, please do not forget me, ok?
I am not a brownies fan nor a cake fan. But today is a special day because it is "broken heart day" so I made this brownies. I changed the recipe a little bit. Instead of 1 1/4 cups sugar, I change it to 1 cup. You can go lower if you do not want it to be really sweet. Then I did not include chocolate chips. But it still ,turned out great.

It was very challenging taking these  pictures . Now I believe what other bloggers say that there are non-photogenic foods. Usually, brown foods are difficult to take, they said. This took me awhile to take. It tried different angles and various lightings but these is all I got. What can I say, I am still amateur, I cannot help but get discourage. Uhhhh, not very good thing to do when I am mending my heart ache.

Ingredients:

1 cup minus  1 tbsp All Purpose Flour

1/4 tsp baking soda

1/4 tsp salt

4 1/2 tbsp unsalted butter

1/2 cup plus 1 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder

1 cup sugar

1 large egg

2 large egg whites

2 tsp vanilla extract

1/2 cup mini marshmallow

1/2 cup white chocolates

Direction:

Line 8 X 8 baking pan lined with oiled parchment paper. What I do is, I pour in a little oil on the pan then spread it around it then I put the paper.

Preheat oven to 350 F

Mix ingredients 1- 3 in a small bowl. Set aside.

Melt butter in a large pot and remove from heat when completely melted.

While the butter is still hot, add the sugar and cocoa. Thoroughly mix. It will look sticky.

Add in vanilla, egg and egg whites.Mix thoroughly.

Add in the flour mixture. 

Mix to completely incorporate ingredients.

Pour into a 8X8 baking pan. Line marshmallows and white chocolate on top.

Bake until the marshmallow melted and golden brown or when you touch the brownies, it will spring back

Serve and Enjoy!

Blackberry Pie

"With our thoughts, we make the world."

-Buddha

I did mention in my last post that I have a bunch of blackberries stock in my fridge, right? So right now, I am making a pie out of it. I  am a big fan of Paula Deen so it is just normal that I used her pie recipe. Since you have been reading this blog, I assume that you love food and you have watched food network, somehow. So Paula doesn't need a big introduction. Take note. I called her by the first name basis since she is actually close to me. Not really in a personal face to face talk basis, but a one sided kind. Where I  watch her from  afar and adore her, you know. She is I think a survivor. She has really bad experiences in her life yet she triumph out of it. you can read her life here: http://www.pauladeen.com/paula. I love Paula Deen ( Paula if somehow, somewhere you read this post, I want to meet you in person). I love her so much, she is in my I Pod's playlist. No, she did not release a singing album just the  interview. Last year, she was interviewed in a Success magazine and there was a free audio inside it. As faithful fan as I am, I downloaded that interview. The interview was so funny that I played it a million times - while driving and while jogging. Though she is embroiled with racial controversies, I am still a supporter. ( As of this writing, she was dismissed from her racial claims lawsuit. ) So here it is. Paula Deen's recipe. If you notice that the blackberry you got is sour, skip the lemon part and it will still be good.

Please skip the lemon if the blackberries you've got are sour

Although I want to make my original recipe, I am really very bad with baking so I do not have any original recipe for it. So, this recipe is adapted from food network.

Ingredients;

1)  6 cups blackberries

2)  1 cup sugar

3)   3 tbsp cornstarch

4)  1 teaspoon lemon juice

5)  1/2 teaspoon grated lemon zest

6)  2 disks refrigerated pie dough (one 14-ounce package)

7)  2 tablespoons unsalted butter, diced

8)  1 large egg

Directions"

Pre heat oven to 400 F
Toss  in ingredients 1 to 5  in a large bowl and mix together until lightly mashed. Set aside.
Get the first pie dough and place it in a pie pan
Cut the other pie dough into straight line or whatever design you prefer.
When done put the blackberry mixture in the pan lined with pie dough.
Place the diced butter on top.
Cover the mixture with the cut pie dough forming a lattice (as shown above)
Scramble egg and brush it on top of the lattice. This will result in shiny and brown look of the pie.

Bake for 40- 45 minutes or until the pie is bubbling.

Serve and Enjoy!

Blackberry Crumble Cake

To do more for the world than the world does for you – that is success.

-Henry Ford

Last week, we went to a U-pick your own orchard in Northeast Kansas. It was not a bad drive at all. It only took us an hour and half to get there. We were also blessed with little drizzle and the cloud was covering the sun so it was a perfect day to pick organic fruit. In this time of year, early August, blackberries were at its peak, so I was fully aware that is what we were going to get. At the back of my mind however, I was hoping that the owner will let us sneak in some apples. Unfortunately, we were not allowed to, so I am looking forward tis late August or early September to pick apples and peaches.

The orchard was not big at all compared to the places we went before, but this place actually yielded a decent amount of blackberries. When I saw the place, I was getting so excited. There was a giddy feeling of joy having to pick my own food rather than pick it directly in the supermarket. As I was picking, I imagined myself as a farmer and I just savored the moment of peace and quiet. I actually had the look of the farmer, since I just rolled out to bed and get in the car that morning - due to excitement to pick my own organic food.

We were able to get a decent amount of blackberries, 4 lbs to be exact, and now the dilemma began - what am I going to do with it? Well, there are actually gazillion ways on how to make use of blackberries and I opted to make this blackberry crumble.This is the first time I made this but I was not disappointed because it was really good. By the middle of the week, I am going to make blackberry pie and just freeze the rest for future use. I can make blackberry crepe' for breakfast, maybe. So here it goes. Please check the Photograph page to see the other pictures of the place.

Ingredients :

1 1/4 cup sugar

• 1 cup self-rising flour
• 1 cup milk 
• 1/2 cup butter, melted
• 2 cups frozen blackberries

Preparation

1. Whisk together 1 cup sugar, flour, and milk just until blended; whisk in melted butter. Pour batter into a lightly greased 12- x 8-inch baking dish; sprinkle blackberries and remaining 1/4 cup sugar evenly over batter.
2. Bake at 350° for 1 hour or until golden brown and bubbly.
3. Note: This recipe is adapted from Southern Living

Serve and Enjoy!