Cupola Clouds and Cookies

If you’re looking for a sweet, light treat to sink your taste buds into any time of the day try a Cupola cookie from Cupoladua Oven. These light, airy cookies are perfect as a snack by themselves or with a hot cup of coco. The Chai Pistachio Cupola are my favorite they are made with a base of garbanzo bean flour and egg whites, then injected with black tea, spices, and the flavor of pistachios. I have also tried these cookies crushed up and sprinkled on the top of chocolate and vanilla ice cream, WOW what a fantastic mix. The Cupoladua Oven also makes Smoked Gouda Cupola Clouds made with artisan gouda. These clouds are crunchy and very high in calcium and protein.

More Than Just a Cookie…

Carol’s Cookies are simply said—Heavenly! They were immediately pleasing to me by their generous size packed away in a cool tin. Upon opening the tin I was bombarded with an appetizing rush of sweet, tempting smells. I could tell they were well prepared and was so happy to find that they had put an ingredient list right there on the inside giving the run-down of each cookie. The ingredients are simple and the combinations make for a distinctively delicious cookie fit for a king. The Oatmeal Raisin with Pecans (pictured on top of the rest) was screaming my name so I heated it in the microwave for a few seconds and devoured. The taste was delightful and so satisfying. Plus the ingredient list was short and simple: Wheat Flour, Sugar, Brown Sugar, Rolled Oats, Pecans, Raisins, Eggs, Salt, Baking Soda and Vanilla. Those are the same ingredients I use when making Oatmeal Raisin cookies – why don’t mine turn out like Carol’s Cookies? They pride themselves on using only the finest and freshest ingredients to give you the best cookies with no preservatives added. They have other enticing choices as well: Chocolate Chip (no nuts or with walnuts), White Chocolate Macadamia Nut, Cinnamon Swirl, Milk Chocolate Chunk, Old Fashioned Sugar, Brown Cookie and Toffee Crunch Cookie.

Soft, Chewy Perfection

Those are the best words I can think of to describe Laura’s Wholesome Junk Food cookies. I can hardly believe that these rich cookies are actually a healthy treat, made guilt free using Dr. Laura’s (she is a physician) recipes that she created with her mother growing up. Each cookie that I tried had a unique and distinct flavor to it that totally satisfied my raging sweet tooth. I love that they understand the importance of being able to enjoy sweet treats without spiking your sugar, only setting you up for that dreaded sugar crash (a very addicting cycle). Laura’s WJF calls their decadent cookies “bite-lettes” and packs them with the purest ingredients like whole grains, fruits and natural sweeteners. There are six regular flavors including: Anna Banana Split, Oatmeal Chocolate Chip, Oatmeal Raisin, X-Treme Fudge, Lemon Vanilla, and Grandma’s Gingerbread. And three gluten free flavors: Charlotte’s Chocolate Chip, Better Brownie, and Cole’s Cashew. (Coming soon: Mint Double Fudge!) Now, I was fortunate and got to try the Mint Double Fudge. The combo is amazing. The perfect amount of Fudge flavor accented with a hint of mint in the same chewy, sin-free cookie format. I loved the uniqueness of the Anna Banana Split cookie—a banana flavored cookie with slivers of unsweetened coconut – yum! I did try to pick a favorite and it is a toss up between the Oatmeal Chocolate Chip (oats, chocolate chips, and a hint of orange) OR the Xtreme Chocolate Fudge (rich chocolate fudge flavor in a bite-lette). You can order these online or pick them up in stores. I was lucky enough to spot these in the bakery section of my WF’s store. I picked up another container of the Oatmeal Chocolate Chip because I have a new addiction—taking these and crumbling them into greek yogurt and freezing the concoction like ice cream—but much better!

I just wanted to mention one more thing-- Dr. Laura is coming out with a cookbook very soon and it will be exclusive to desserts and they will all be healthier versions of your favorites. Watch their website very closely for the premiere!

Maitelates

What is Maitelates? Well, I can not tell you just how to pronounce it but I can tell you it is a grown up version of a dipped cookie filled with Dulce de Leche. The Dulce de Leche is the hit of this gourmet treat, surrounded by shortbread cookies and topped with Belgian Chocolate. What did I think of these cookies? I loved them. Elegant and sophisticated all while tasting amazing. Each one was individually wrapped holding the beautifully crafted delicate cookie. The equilibrium of the creamy filling, buttery cookies and rich chocolate was perfectly habit forming.

Tastes like............. Honey! Check me for recipes!

I usually avoid honey in my recipes for a few reasons but Nature's Hollow honey tastesjust like the real deal, acts like the real deal but is made with a naturalsweetner, honey flavor and spring water. When I got mine in the mail theoptions just started flooding into my head! In my green tea, coffee,yogurt, cereal and RECIPES! Here are a few I made, they all turned outwonderful tasting-- thanks to the honey. You get a big tablespoon servingsize for a measly 21 calories, no fat, sodium and 0 effective carbs.Natures Hollow also makes sugar free jams, syrups and low carb ketchup. Oh the opportunities. Now order some and try my recipes!

High Protein Sugar Free Honey Balls (No Bake)
The first time I made these I made a big batch to supposedly be treats fora couple of days. They were SO good that they all went down the hatch sothis is for a single serving of protein balls or one big one!
1 teaspoon Sugar Free Honey
1 teaspoon Naturally More Almond Butter OR peanut butter (any nut butter will work)
1/2 scoop vanilla protein powder
1/8 cup fiber cereal
Mix together and leave in fridge a few hours until completely firm. So simple, so good!
Variations on the recipe: add seeds, nuts, chocolate nibs, sub vanilla ppfor chocolate, sub cereal for granola, add raisins or flax! The key ingredient in this recipe is the honey, it adds a sweetness and acts as a binder. If you add optional ingredients you will need to use more of the honey.

Pro-oat Cookies or Oatloaf
1 cup rolled oats
1 heaping scoop vanilla protein powder
1/4 cup carb countdown milk
1 egg (or equivelent)
2 tsp vanilla extract
1/8 cup sugar free honey
Blend wet ingredents mixing very well. Add to oats and protein powder. Stiruntil all ingredients are binding like a sticky dough, then form into miniballs and place on Pam sprayed baking sheet. Bake at 400 for about 10 minutes. Let cool and store in airtight container. You can also pour batter into sprayed loaf pan and bake a bit longer-- add some baking powder and let stay in oven until knife comes out clean.
Optional add ins: dried fruit, cinnamon, PB powder, chopped nuts MORE coming soon!