NCKAA: 3 Days Until Christmas!

Self Magazine Sugar Cookies

3/4 c flour
3/4 c whole wheat flour
1/4 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp baking soda
pinch salt
4 tbsp butter, softened
1/4 c Sugar substitute
1/4 c Sugar
2 egg whites
1 tsp vanilla extract

Whisk flours, baking powder, baking soda and salt in bowl.

In another bowl, beat butter and sugars with hand mixer until light and fluffy - add egg whites and vanilla. Beat until just combined.

Gradually stir flour mixture into butter mixture until formed.

Roll dough into log and refrigerate at least 3 hours.

Cut into shapes and bake at 350 for 6-8 minutes.

Makes 40 two-inch cookies.

Nutritional Information Per Cookie: Calories: 38, Fat: 1g; Carbs: 6g, Fiber: 0g; Protein:1g
NOTE: The cookies in the photo were dipped in the glaze used for the doughnuts below.

Minty Mini-Doughnuts

Sugar cookie dough
Cooking SPray
2 tbsp powdered sugar
1 tbsp skim milk
2 medium candy canes, crushed

Heat oven to 350. Coat 2 cookie sheets with spray. Take sugar cookie dough above, cut into 4 equals pieces. Then cut each of those pieces into 16 pieces. Roll each piece between your fingers to form a 1.5 to 2-inch log. Pinch together ends of each log to form rings and place doughnuts 1 inch apart on cookie sheet. Bake 1 batch at a time until dough puffs, 5-6 minutes.

Which sugar and milk in a bowl until smooth. Dip top of each warm cookie into sugar glaze; press into candy. Let cool on wire racks.

Makes 64 doughnuts

Nutritional Information Per Doughnut: 28 calorie; 1 g fat; 5g carbs; 0g fiber; 0g protein

Finally! The search for the perfect sugar cookie recipe for the holidays is over. Self Magazine to the rescue. The doughnuts are super cute and tasty, too.

NCKAA: 21 Days Until Christmas

Oh my goodness I've been soooo busy! I'm working a part time job, finishing up classes (and that grand 20-page paper that ended up being a whopping 34 pages), gearing up for finals, entertaining visitors and trying to maintain my sanity.

Unfortunately, writing my Advent posts is getting a little sloppy - but enjoying my Advent treats isn't!Today's entry isn't a recipe - no time to cook this week and it's bringing me down - it's a collection of holiday happiness that can be eaten almost guilt free!

Pizzelle: First, if you haven't met them yet, run to the nearest store and buy a package of Vanilla Pizelles. These Italian-style cookies are a mere 23 calories each and they are bigger than the top of a coffee mug! They aren't super sweet (only 1.3 g of sugar a cookie) and are wonderful with your morning (or, in my case, afternoon and evening) coffee. Reko, the brand I bought, claims to be preservative free and has a list of simple ingredients - all words a 7 year-old could pronounce. A serving size is 6 cookies, but I find 2 to more than satisfy my sweet tooth!

Mini Candy Canes: They might be pure sugar (though according to their ingredients they are also corn syrup, peppermint oil and artificial color), but these little treats are great for satisfying a holiday craving for "traditional" tastes. Three of them is only 35 calories. That's less than 12 calories each! I bought a box of 40 for $.99 so they are also budget-friendly. I read somewhere that peppermint is a good appetite suppressor and munchie-fighter. Sure, we'll go with that since it's a plus, too.

Amaretti Cookies: I just recently (today) discovered these amazing little macaroon-esque cookies. They taste like light, crispy, cherry-flavored air. Kevin wasn't a fan, but at 19 calories a piece (Lazzaroni brand), they have a new place in my heart. A serving size is 7 cookies (130 calories), but 3 works great for a sweet shot with "fine" wine or liquers. Or, you know, as a snack. These are available at gourmet grocery stores and I've found a couple of recipes (Like this one!) that show them to pack some nut power. I haven't tried making my own yet, but you can be sure that I will when I get the time!

Gingerbread Cookies: So, my register at the store has a big can of gingersnap cookies that are free to guests as a sample. And they stare at me all day. Their spicy aroma tickling my nose ... almost as much at their nutrition info tickles my fancy. At a mere 23 calories each, it's hard to keep my hands out of that cookie can! Most gingerbread cookies are a better alternative to other cookie recipes and I've been baking it up like crazy - though I have yet to find a recipe that makes me happy enough to post here. When I do, you'll be the first to know!