Crisp Sugar Cookie

Continuing to share whole grain cookie recipes...

My favorite cookies are peanut butter or chocolate but I  also enjoy a simple buttery sugar cookie.  This is a recipe I received from a friend years ago.

1 1/4 cup sugar
1 cup butter, softened
Cream well.

2 eggs
Add and beat well.

1 tsp cream of tartar
1 tsp baking soda
2 1/2 cup whole wheat flour
1 tsp vanilla
Add and mix well. Chill for 1/2 hour. Roll into small balls. Bake at 350 degrees for 9 minutes.

Whole Grain Cookie Tip

I've been sharing some of our favorite cookie recipes this month.  These aren't fancy holiday recipes but just simple drop cookies.

I've been adapting some of these recipes to make them just a wee bit more healthy. That usually includes replacing shortening with butter and adding whole grains. They still contain sugar and aren't really health food but I'm at least making an attempt. We will be eating enough rich food over the holidays without me making it at home, too.

A reader sent me her tip for using more whole grains. She said I could share it with you if I didn't use her name. I've learned so much from her, that I wish she'd start her own blog!

I keep a mix of different grains that I grind myself to use instead of all whole wheat, in anything except yeast breads. I use some wheat, brown rice, millet, amaranth, quinoa and sometimes rye, barley or oats. I grind it all together, putting the tiny grains on top of bigger ones to keep from plugging up the grinder. We especially like the brown rice in baked things like cookies as it has a good grainy taste. White rice gets gritty when ground. I feel it is healthier to use a wider variety of grains than just wheat and oats.

After reading this several months ago, I ground some millet and amaranth together and have kept it in the freezer.  When baking cookies, I would replace about a third of the whole wheat flour with the multi-grain mixture. I honestly couldn't tell a difference in taste. I'm hoping to do some more experimenting. If you have a grain grinder, give it a try. Some of these alternative grains are more expensive but very nutritious.

If you use some alternative grains in baking, I'd love to hear your tips.

Book Review - His Word in My Heart

I knew I wanted to share this book with you, when I had only read the first chapter. Since then, I've read His Word in My Heart at least two times but I've hesitated to write about this book, because I feel like I should be living it out first.

But this book is so good, that I can't wait until I get my act together before sharing it with you.

In His Word in My Heart, Janet Pope shares her desire to know God better. As a busy mom with young children, she was frustrated at her lack of time to study God's Word. Desiring God's power in her every day life, she clung to the God's promise to "give unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him." 11 Peter 1:3 But how to get to know God when you can't squeeze in time for Bible reading and prayer?

Don't worry, Janet's answer wasn't hiring a nanny or getting up at 4:00. But it was memorizing Scripture. By choosing a verse each day and spending a few seconds throughout the day reciting the verse, she saw her mind transformed by the power of Scripture.

I guess what I liked most about this book was that it was firmly within the realm of possibility. It was something I can actually do. It  takes motivation but not super human strength or brains - neither of which I have. Reciting a verse was something that could be done in the midst of a busy day, while brushing teeth, changing a diaper, or washing dishes.

Janet gives ample encouragement, practical tips, step by step helps, and personal testimony of the benefit of knowing God's word. This book made me very grateful for all the Scripture that my parents and teachers taught to me as a child and has propelled me to be more diligent in teaching Scripture to my children. I still haven't been doing much personal Scripture memory but I have been reviewing some of the verses I had memorized in the past and hoping to get some new Scripture started soon.

I would rarely use the description "life-changing" when speaking of a book, as I believe only the Bible truly has the power to change lives. But if by reading His Word in my Heart, you are inspired to commit God's Word to memory, you truly may find this book life changing.

I highly recommend this book. I can't think of any better book to read as you begin a new year. In fact, the copy I'm reading is my mom's but I plan to get my own copy just to share with friends. So if you know me in real life, please ask to borrow this book!

And for those who have asked about my health - I think I'm totally 100% better. I couldn't believe that a cough could hang on for so long but I'm delighting in good health once again. The morning that I woke up able to breathe deeply without hacking out a bunch of gunk, I was so excited, I stayed in bed an extra ten minutes just delighting in the simple joy of breathing! Now that I quit coughing, my rib cage is able to heal as well. Thanks for your prayers.

Peanut Butter Cookies

Peanut butter is one the favorite food at our house, coming right behind chocolate. Any cookie that combines peanut butter and chocolate is a true winner.

Since these cookies have real butter, instead of shortening, and whole wheat flour, I can pretend they are good for us. Of course, they still have sugar but you could probably substitute Sucanet if you wanted.

Peanut Butter Cookies


1 1/4 cup brown sugar
1 cup peanut butter
1/2 cup butter
Cream together.


2 eggs
Add and beat together.


2 1/2 cup whole wheat flour (or white flour if you prefer)

1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
Add and stir well.


1 1/2 cup chocolate chips
Stir in.
Shape into balls, place on baking sheet, smash gently and bake for 9 minutes at 350 degrees.
 
Variations:
For extra peanut dose, use peanut butter chips.

For peanut butter blossoms, omit the chocolate chips in the dough. Roll dough in balls. Bake for 8 minutes. Push unwrapped Hershey kiss into center of cookie. Bake 2 minutes longer.

Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookie

In the great debate over which is best chocolate chip or oatmeal - my vote is for whichever cookie is in my mouth. But, to me, the perfect compromise is this recipe. The oatmeal is blended so is not overpowering yet adds great texture.

I've shared this recipe before but it truly is the cookie I never tire of. It makes a huge batch which is perfect for sharing. There is lots of great cookie recipes around this time of year, but I rarely make fancy cookies. Tried and true favorites like chocolate chip work for me!




1 1/2 cups butter, softened
1 1/2 cups sugar
1 1/2 cups brown sugar
Cream butter and sugar together.

4 eggs
Add eggs and beat well.

3 cups whole wheat flour
5 cups oatmeal (blended until fine)
1 tsp salt
2 tsp baking powder
2 tsp baking soda
Blend in dry ingredients.


2 cups chocolate chips
2 cups chopped nuts (optional)
Stir in chips and nuts. Bake at 350 degrees for about 10 minutes.

Chewy Oatmeal Cookies

After sharing the monster cookie recipe, a reader asked how to substitute peanut butter for a child who has a peanut allergy. Since peanut butter is such a big part of monster cookies, I have no idea how to make them without it. I'd probably just make a good oatmeal cookie and add chocolate chips and M&Ms.

I love oatmeal raisin cookies and have tried many recipes. This one, slightly adapted from Mennonite Girls Can Cook, is my current favorite. I know it sounds picky to use to different types of oats. You can do as you like but I've tried numerous variations and this combo is my favorite texture. These cookies are actually rather sweet, and I may further adapt them by decreasing the sugar.

Chewy Oatmeal Cookie

1/2 cup butter, softened
1 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup white sugar
2 eggs
2 cups old fashioned oats
1 cup quick oats
1 cup whole wheat flour
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
1 tsp cinnamon
1 cup raisins (you can use dark or golden raisins, craisins, currants, or a combo)

Beat butter and sugars. Add eggs and beat well. Add dry ingredients. Stir in raisins.
Place on baking sheet and bake at 350 for 10 minutes. Do not over bake.

Free E-book - Glorious Coming

We are enjoying  Ann Voskamp's Advent devotional. We did something similar last year in December and really enjoyed focusing on the real meaning of Christmas.

You can get your own free copy at Holy Experience. You'll need to subscribe either for email or a feed reader to receive the download. But you'll never regret receiving Ann's words in your in-box each day.

While you are there, check out the Manifesto for Joyful Parenting. It is hanging at my sink and working conviction on my heart.

My brother-in-law registered a complaint at my recent lack of posting. I feel no need to apologize since I never claimed to make blogging a priority. But I don't want anyone thinking his brother's wife is slacking - so here is a few photos of what is keeping me away from the computer.

Homemade soap.


Cookie baking.


Canning venison.

But mostly, I'm still in recovery mode. I stay on my feet until afternoon nap time (my usual computer time) and collapse on the couch. Each day I feel a tiny bit better but I'm still coughing. On the weekend, a coughing spasm must have cracked a rib. Now, with each cough, I double over and think of dying. (And no, I'm not sharing photos.) I thought I had a high pain tolerance after four un-medicated labors. Maybe I need to reevaluate.

I do have a stack of cookie recipes sitting here. So I will be back, just not today.