Whole Wheat Chocolate Chip Cookies

So I was watching TV the other day when they this recipe came up. I haven't tried it yet, but I will today. Another tip that I have heard is to mash up cooked white beans and use it in place of shortening or butter. What I would do is reduce the white sugar in half and replace the other half with more brown sugar, just under 1/2 cup of the mashed beans and 1 Tbsp. low fat tub margarine.

Whole Wheat Chocolate Chip Cookies

Ingredients:

• 1 1/8 cups whole-wheat pastry flour
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup butter, room temperature
• 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 egg, room temperature
• 6 ounces chocolate chips
• 1/2 cup chopped pecans

Method:

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Combine flour, baking soda, and salt in a bowl. In the bowl of a stand mixer, combine butter, brown sugar, and vanilla extract. Using the paddle attachment beat until creamy and fluffy. Beat in egg. Gradually add the dry ingredients and mix well. Still in chocolate chips and nuts. Drop by spoonfuls onto ungreased cookie sheet. Bake 10 minutes. Remove from baking sheet and let cook on a wire rack. Makes about 20 cookies.

Whole Wheat Homemade Pan Pizza

This past week I had a lot going on with my extended family. One night I made some cousins dinner. I did not have a lot of time, but I wanted to make something tasty, homemade and easy. So I came up with this.

Homemade Pan Pizza
2 1/4 tsp instant yeast
1 1/2 C warm water (about 110 degrees)
3 1/2 Cups whole wheat flour
2 tsp kosher salt
1/2 tsp white pepper (I used regular pepper and it was fine)
1 scant Tbsp honey
1 Tbsp olive oil
1/2 - 1 Cup tomato or spaghetti or pizza sauce
1 1/2 cups cheese - I used a little monterrey jack, cheddar, and mozzerella
Toppings that you like

In a large bowl, combine the yeast and water. Stir to dissolve the yeast and allow the mixture to rest for about 5 minutes. Sift about half of the flour into the mixture and blend until smooth with your hands. Add the salt, pepper and honey and mix to blend. Sift in remaining flour and mix to blend.
Lightly flour a flat surface. Turn pizza dough on to board and knead for 3-5 minutes. The flour should feel smooth and the ingredients completely mixed. Place the dough inside a slightly oiled large bowl. Cover with plastic wrap and let rest in a warm place until doubled in volume.
Heat oven to 400 degrees.
Melt butter in the bottom of two 8-9 inch round pans.
Gently press on the dough and divide into 2 parts. flatten each part and place in the 2 pans. Press dough to edges of the pan. Poke middle area of crust with a fork. Brush dough with a little olive oil before adding 2 large spoonfuls of sauce to the top and spread to cover crust as desired. Spread the top of the pizza with 1/2 cup of cheeses or as much as you want before adding desired toppings.
Bake for 7-10 minutes and remove from oven. Lift out of pan and cut.

Nutty Whole Wheat Pancakes

So I need to apologize for not posting for the past month. I had a lot going on with my little boy's first birthday party and just a lot going on. This past weekend, one of my best friends, Aubre came over and I made my whole wheat pancakes for her and my dad. She was at an event all day and texted me in the afternoon saying that she hadn't had anything else to eat and she wasn't hungry. So today's recipe is soooo easy and healthy. It takes about 15 minutes from start to finish and really fills you up!

WHOLE WHEAT PANCAKES

1 1/4 Cups whole wheat flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
2-3 egg whites
3 Tbsp applesauce (or a large mashed banana)
1 tsp Vanilla
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg or cloves
1 1/2 tbsp crushed pecans (or whatever nut you may like)

Mix ingredients and pour on to griddle in pancake sized puddles. Top with whatever makes you happy.
My favorite topping suggestions:

Fruit flavored yogurt
Applesauce and strawberry slices
your favorite jam
peanut butter and powdered sugar
syrup
fresh fruit