20(ish)--- Homemade Peppermint Cocoa

Hot chocolate is a winter classic, especially for kids. And, it is not a bad choice nutritionally when compared to other treats (brownies, cookies, Fruit Loops). However, it should still be a SOMEDAY food, not an EVERYDAY food and we do not want it to take the place of other healthy beverages (water).

Have you ever looked at the ingredients on a package of cocoa mix? It looks something like this (not naming names):

INGREDIENTS:Sugar, corn syrup, vegetable oil (partially hydrogenated coconut or palm kernel and canola hydrogenated plam, soybean, cottonseed and/or safflower), dairy product solids, cocoa processed with alkali, salt, cellulose gum, sodium caseinate (from milk), dipotassium phosphate, sodium aluminosilicate, mono- and diglycerides, guar gum, artificial flavors, sucralose.

YIKES!

Making your own is SO inexpensive, and you know EXACTLY what's in it! This also makes a great gift!

Homemade Peppermint Cocoa

Makes ~22 - 8oz servings

2 cups powdered sugar
1 cup cocoa (Dutch is best)
2 1/2 cups powdered milk (non-fat dry milk)
1/2 tsp salt

2 tsp cornstarch

* 1/8 tsp pure peppermint extract- per serving (optional)

Combine all ingredients (except for peppermint extract) and place into airtight containers.

To prepare cocoa, place 1 Tbsp per 2 oz boiling water into a mug and stir.

*Add 1/8 peppermint extract to each 8 oz mug for a minty addition!

Nutrition Info per 8 oz mug made with water: 95 calories, 0.6 g fat, 6 g protein, 17 g carbohydrates

20(ish)--- Fruitcake Muffins with Honey Apricot Glaze

I've never had a piece of fruitcake. I guess there are still people out there who LOVE it. It is a holiday "treat" of sorts.

I health-ified fruitcake as much as possible. No weird jelly cherries here! I also replaced some of the butter with applesauce and used whole wheat flour. The cottage cheese really makes these muffins light-- very un-fruitcake-like, but so good!

These are a great gift or a lovely addition to Christmas morning breakfast!

Fruitcake Muffins with Honey Apricot Glaze

Makes 12

1 cup whole wheat all-purpose flour
3/4 cup white all-purpose flour

2 tsp baking powder

1 tsp salt

1/4 cup unsalted butter

1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce

1/3 cup sugar

1/3 cup honey

1/4 cup apricot preserves

2 eggs

1 cup lowfat cottage cheese

2/3 cup dried apricots, diced coarsely

2/3 cup dried cranberries

1/2 cup chopped apples

GLAZE

1/2 cup honey

2 Tbsp apricot preserves

3 Tbsp lemon juice or orange juice

Preheat oven to 325 degrees. In a medium bowl, combine flour, baking powder and salt. In a larger bowl, beat butter, applesauce and sugar, then add preserves and honey. Beat in eggs. Add 1/2 flour mixture and beat to mix. Next add cottage cheese and remainder of flour mixture and continue to beat. Stir in chopped fruit and apples.

Line a muffin tin with paper cups (prettier the better). Evenly divide mixture into muffin cups. Bake for ~25-30 minutes, or until toothpick inserted into middle comes out clean. Remove from oven and let stand while making glaze.

For glaze, bring honey and preserves to a boil in a small saucepan. Allow to cook for ~2 minutes. Stir in lemon or orange juice and remove from heat.

Lightly brush each muffin with glaze. Garnish muffins with fruit (optional) and re-glaze. Allow to cool completely before storing in airtight container.

Nutrition Info per 1 muffin: 210 calories, 5 g fat, 6 g protein, 34 g carbohydrates, 2.5 g fiber

80--- Caramelized Brussels Sprouts with Pistachios

Don't give this the "yuck" face!! Brussels sprouts do not have to be the same food that your mother forced you to eat. How can you resist these cute little baby cabbages? Yes-- they can be gross when boiled to death. But, when cooked properly (as in this recipe) they can be soooo delicious. AND they are so beautiful to display on your dinner table-- very important when enticing someone to eat brussels sprouts.

My hubby even requested these for Christmas dinner! He does love his veggies (good boy), but that request was even a shock for me!!

Brussels sprouts are good for you too (who knew?). They have a lot of fiber, vitamin K, vitamin C, folate, vitamin A, magnesium, potassium, glucosinolates, etc etc etc. Some new research has also discovered that brussels sprouts contain a substance that can have DNA-protective benefits!

Do not overcook brussels sprouts!! Not only do they lose their nutritional value and taste but they will begin to emit the unpleasant sulfur smell. To help Brussels sprouts cook more quickly and evenly cut each sprout into halves or quarters and then steam them for 5 minutes.

Caramelized Brussels Sprouts with Pistachios

Serves 4

1 lb fresh brussels sprouts

3 oz thick cut pancetta. diced (optional)

1/2 cup thinly sliced onion

1/4 cup + 2 Tbsp red wine vinegar, divided

2 Tbsp raw sugar

1/4 tsp garlic powder

1/4 cup pistachios

Fresh ground black pepper

Cut brussels sprouts in half and place in a steamer. Steam over boiling water for ~5 minutes. Remove from heat.

Spray a large skillet with cooking spray and add pancetta pieces. Saute over medium-high heat until pancetta begins to crisp (if you are omitting pancetta, skip this step). Add onions and 2 Tbsp red wine vinegar. Continue to cook for ~5 minutes or until onions become soft. Reduce heat to medium and add steamed brussels sprout halves, remainder of red wine vinegar, sugar, and garlic powder. Saute for ~7-8 minutes or until vinegar thickens. Add fresh ground black pepper to taste. Transfer sprouts to a serving dish.

Crush pistachios in a coffee grinder (set to coarsest setting). Sprinkle crushed pistachios over sprouts and serve!!

Nutrition Info per 2/3 cup serving: 153 calories, 6 g fat, 9 g protein, 13 g carbohydrates, 4 g fiber

80(ish)---Pumpkin Like-a-Latte

It's that time of year when all of the coffee shops have Pumpkin Lattes...... soon to be followed by Peppermint Lattes! I have quite a "thing" for these lattes, even though I rarely drink espresso (actually, only this time of year).

Two problems with this: they are expensive ($3 a piece), and they can contain over 300 calories (for coffee? yes- crazy).

So, let's make a lower calorie, much cheaper version of our own, shall we? Feel free to use decaf coffee! I typically do not promote DRINKING your calories-- they can add up fast. But, the holidays are all about a little bit of EXTRAVAGANCE.

Pumpkin Like-a-Latte

Serves 4

3 cups skim milk

1/4 cup pumpkin puree (canned or fresh)

3 Tbsp sugar

2 Tbsp pure vanilla extract

1/2 tsp pumpkin pie spice

1 1/2 cups strong brewed coffee

Cinnamon (optional)

In a medium saucepan over medium heat combine milk, pumpkin puree, and sugar. Cook until steaming, stirring continually. Remove from heat.

Add vanilla and pumpkin pie spice and whisk until foamy.

Transfer 1 cup of mixture into each mug and then add 1/2 cup coffee. Sprinkle with cinnamon (optional).

Nutrition Info per 12 oz beverage: 126 calories, 0 g fat, 6.5 g protein, 20 g carbohydrates