Cindy's Recipes and Writings

Disclaimer: I received a sample kit from Smokin O’s to try and review. I received no further compensation. All opinions are my own.

After a long winter of snowstorms, stews, and sweets, spring is the perfect time to get back to the basics – delicious, whole foods and dishes packed with fruits and veggies that are great for your overall health.

To eat a healthier diet, you don’t need to make drastic changes (unless recommended by a doctor). It’s not about denying yourself that occasional treat; it’s about taking baby steps to reduce the amount of sugar, carbs, red meats, and empty calories in your meals.

This week, I’ve joined forced with 40+ of my food blogger friends to present #RecipeMakeover. During this week, we’ll all be sharing our favorite better-for-you alternatives to unhealthy dishes. Follow along on any of the blogs below or with the hashtag on social media to find nutritious dishes that are packed with flavor.

A huge THANK YOU to our sponsors, who have made #RecipeMakeover possible! They’ve provided a number of awesome products that you can win by entering our #RecipeMakeover giveaway below.

Just follow the instructions below, and you could win the following prize pack:

• Butter-flavored coconut oil and digestive blend from our sponsor Barlean’s – Barlean’s butter-flavored coconut oil is an organic, dairy-free alternative that can be used as a 1:1 substitution for butter. Their digestive blend is an organic, vegan combination of flaxseed, chai seed, quinoa, unsweetened shredded coconut, and a proprietary pumpkin blend, that is delicious sprinkled into salads, smoothies, oatmeal, and more.
• Sampler pack of original, mesquite, and applewood Smokin O’s from our sponsor Smokin O’s – Instead of frying, choose a healthier cooking option like grilling! Smokin O’s is an innovative new product that allows you to add a natural wood taste even if you are using a propane grill, and they work great in charcoal grills and smokers too. No soaking, no mess, no wait – just delicious wood flavoring from a 100% natural product with no binders or chemicals.
• 4 flatbread pizzas from our sponsor American Flatbread – Choose from any of America Flatbread’s 15 all-natural, handmade pizza varieties, available at your local grocery store. These pizzas feature 100% organically grown wheat crusts and are topped with fresh herbs, vegetables, and cheeses (no rBST growth hormone!). They’re all-natural, with no preservatives, artificial colors or flavors, and handcrafted from scratch and par-baked in wood-fired ovens.
• 5 containers (48 oz) of ice cream from our sponsor Turkey Hill – Ice cream for a health food event? Try out their line of no-sugar-added products for a sweet treat without the guilt or their line of light ice creams, which have a rich taste with a fraction of the fat. They also have a rainbow sherbet option, which is Vitamin C and naturally low in fat. These all make great dessert options for special occasions. Turkey Hill also believes in implementing green initiatives to cut down on waste, reduce packaging, and minimize outputs into the environment.
• 15 tuna creations pouches from our sponsor StarKist – StarKist tuna pouches all have at least 13 grams of protein, and their BOLD line now includes three gluten-free varieties: Tuna Creations® BOLD Thai Chili Style; Tuna Creations® BOLD Jalapeño; and Tuna Creations® BOLD Hot Buffalo Style.
• Mueller Spiral-Ultra 4-Blade Spiralizer from blog hosts, The PinterTest Kitchen – this 4-in-1 gadget allows you to spiralize your favorite veggies, and it also has extra attachments for a juicer, mandolin and grater.

This prize pack is valued at over $200, and one lucky winner will get it all! This giveaway is open world-wide except where prohibited. A winner will be randomly drawn on April 29, at the conclusion of #RecipeMakeover, and the winner will be contact via email.

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Thank you to all of our participating bloggers. Click the links below to find out what recipes they’re cooking up for #RecipeMakeover:

The PinterTest Kitchen
• Fix Me a Little Lunch
• Rosie Discovers
• crave the good
• Zesty South Indian Kitchen
• That Recipe
• The Domestic Dietitian
• Authentically Candace
• Eat, Drink, Be Healthy!
• Body Rebooted
• Cindy’s Recipes and Writings
• Faith, Hope, Love, & Luck Survive Despite a Whiskered Accomplice
• Feeding Big
• Natural Contents
• Seduction In The Kitchen
• Everyday Eileen
• Family Around The Table
• Fairyburger
• Jane’s Adventures in Dinner
• Kitchen Counter Chronicles
• Kate’s Recipe Box
• Kelly Lynns Sweets and Treats
• Chocolate Slopes
• Little House Big Alaska
• Makes, Bakes and Decor
• 2 Cookin’ Mamas
• Meadoe Out on a Limb
• Strawberry Blondie Kitchen
• Mel Claire
• Cookaholic Wife
• For the Love of Food
• The Saucy Southerner
• Cook’s Hideout
• Two Lazy Gourmets
• Ink and Sugar
• Cookingwithsapana
• The Chef Next Door
• Sarah Cooks the Books
• Chef Sarah Elizabeth
• Frankly Entertaining
• Palatable Pastime
• Our Good Life
• The Food Hunter’s Guide to Cuisine
• A Day in the Life on the Farm

Stay tuned to see all of the delicious recipes bloggers create during #RecipeMakeover!

Courtesy of 175 Small-Batch Baking Recipes Treats for 1 or 2 by Jill Snider © 2017 Robert Rose Publishing Photos and recipes reprinted with publisher permission. Available where books are sold.

I was given one copy of 175 Small-Batch Baking Recipes by Jill Snider © 2017 to review and one copy to giveaway. I received no further compensation. Book description courtesy of Robert Rose Publishing.

Nothing beats baked goods, fresh from the oven. Many people don’t have a lot of storage space, so these recipes are perfect for baking
the amount you intend to use and enjoy fresh, with no leftovers to worry about.
The recipes in this book take the guesswork out of trying to downsize traditional recipes (which we all know, can be disastrous).
Other benefits to small-batch baking include smaller quantities of ingredients, cooking time is considerably less and clean up is a breeze!
Most of these recipes can be mixed by hand, using a whisk or wooden spoon rather than an electric mixer.
Perfect for singles, seniors, couples, small families.

Enjoy these two sample recipes courtesy of 175 Small-Batch Baking Recipes Treats for 1 or 2 by Jill Snider © 2017 Robert Rose Publishing.

Courtesy of 175 Best Small-Batch Baking Recipes by Jill Snider © 2017 www.robertrose.ca Reprinted with publisher permission. Available where books are sold.

Image credit: Colin Erricson

Peanut Fudgies, pg 64
Peanut Fudgies

These cookies are like a chewy brownie that’s loaded with chocolate chips and peanuts.
Makes 8 medium or 6 large cookies (see Tips, below)
• Preparation: 15 minutes
• Baking: 13 minutes
• Freezing: excellent
Tips
I like to chop nuts on a cutting board, using a sharp chef’s knife. You can do it in a food processor as well.
Store nuts in the freezer. They can go rancid quite quickly.
To make large cookies, drop dough by large spoonfuls (2 tbsp/30 mL). Bake for 10 to 14 minutes, as directed.
Cooled cookies will keep in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 1 week or can be frozen for up to 3 months. Thaw and bring to room temperature before serving.

• Preheat oven to 350°F (180°C)
• Baking sheet, greased or lined with parchment paper
9 tbsp semisweet chocolate chips, divided 135 mL
2 tbsp butter 30 mL
3 tbsp all-purpose flour 45 mL
1⁄8 tsp baking soda 0.5 mL
1 egg yolk 1
3 tbsp packed brown sugar 45 mL
1⁄3 cup chopped honey-roasted peanuts 75 mL
 (see Tips)
1⁄4 cup peanut butter chips 60 mL

1. In a small microwave-safe bowl, combine 6 tbsp (90 mL) chocolate chips and butter. Microwave on Medium for 1 minute, stirring halfway through, until melted. Stir until smooth. Set aside to cool.
2. In a small bowl, whisk together flour and baking soda. Set aside.
3. In a medium bowl, using a wooden spoon, beat together egg yolk and brown sugar until smooth. Stir in cooled melted chocolate. Gradually add flour mixture, stirring well. Stir in peanuts, peanut butter chips and remaining 3 tbsp (45 mL) chocolate chips, until well combined.
4. Drop dough by heaping tablespoonfuls (22 mL), spacing about 2 inches (5 cm) apart, on prepared baking sheet.
5. Bake in preheated oven for 9 to 13 minutes or until set around the edges but slightly soft in the center. Let cool for 5 minutes on sheet, then transfer to a wire rack and cool completely.

Courtesy of 175 Best Small-Batch Baking Recipes by Jill Snider © 2017 www.robertrose.ca Reprinted with publisher permission. Available where books are sold.

Image credit: Colin Erricson

page 22
Raspberry Coconut Pinwheels

This is a cheat’s way to make pinwheel cookies. There’s no rolling and cutting, unlike traditional refrigerated pinwheel cookies.
Makes 8 medium or 6 large cookies (see Tips)
• Preparation: 20 minutes
• Baking: 14 minutes
• Freezing: excellent

• Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C)
• Baking sheet, greased or lined with parchment paper
3⁄4 cup all-purpose flour 175 mL
2 tbsp quick-cooking rolled oats 30 mL

1⁄4 tsp baking soda 1 mL
Pinch salt Pinch
1⁄4 cup butter, softened (see Tips) 60 mL
1⁄4 cup packed brown sugar 60 mL
3 tbsp granulated sugar 45 mL
1 egg 1
1⁄4 tsp pure almond extract 1 mL
1⁄2 cup flaked coconut (see Tips) 125 mL
11⁄2 tbsp raspberry jam (see Tips) 22 mL
1. In a small bowl, whisk together flour, oats, baking soda and salt. Set aside.
2. In a medium bowl, using a wooden spoon, beat together butter, brown and granulated sugars, egg and almond extract, until creamy. Gradually add flour mixture and coconut, stirring well. Set aside 3 tbsp (45 mL) of the dough for topping.

About the Author:
JILL SNIDER has decades of baking experience, including 25 years as the test kitchen manager for a
major flour maker. She is also the author of Cake Mix Magic and Complete Cake Mix Magic. Jill resides
in Toronto, ON.
Food For Thought…Do you have baking tips and techniques to share for baking in small batches? I’d love to hear your ideas in a comment below!

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