The holidays are fast approaching, and I’ve tried to get a head start on my holiday baking. If you’re anything like me, your baking time is limited to the time when your kids nap and after they go to bed, so this year, I’m trying to keep it simple.
I was going to make my usual chocolate chip cookie recipe and add Christmas Smarties to them, but instead, experimented with a double chocolate cookie recipe- and I am so happy that I did, let me tell you.
It was super easy and took no time at all.
If you know anything about me, you know that chocolate is one of my favourite things in the world next to red wine and coffee. The fact that there are many health benefits associated with dark chocolate is a bonus.
Chocolate is full of phytonutrients, antioxidants and polyphenols that may help to reduce blood pressure, prevent strokes, prevent cancer, and even enhance our vision. I’m talking about chocolate containing at least 70% cocoa though, not milk chocolate or white chocolate. This is good news for dark chocolate lovers like me.
Double Chocolate Cookies
Super easy to make holiday cookies that I seriously whipped up during naptime!
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup butter
- 1 1/2 cups packed brown sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 2 large egg whites
- 6 tbsp maple syrup
- 4 tsp vanilla
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 2/3 cup cocoa
- 2 tsp baking soda
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 2 cups holiday smarties (or white chocolate chips, mint chocolate chips or butterscotch chocolate chips)
Instructions
- In a large bowl, beat butter and brown sugar together until you reach the consistency of wet sand
- Beat eggs, egg whites, maple syrup and vanilla in to mixture until smooth
- In a medium bowl, combine flour, cocoa, baking soda and salt. Add to sugar/egg mixture and stir by hand until almost combined
- Add in Smarties or chocolate chips and stir until combined
- Drop spoonfuls on to parchment paper-lined baking sheets and bake for 12-14 minutes, until just set around edges and soft in the middle. If you want them soft and chewy, don't over-bake.
- Enjoy!
If you want to go one step further, you could package 8-10 cookies in these cool Santa bags that you can get at Ikea and bring them to family and friends during the holidays:
Adapted by Julie Van Rosendaal’s “Inside Out Chocolate Chunk Cookies” from her One Smart Cookie cookbook
![[EASY SLOWCOOKER RECIPE]🥘
Now that my 3 kids are back to school, and activities are in full swing, it’s SO important as a busy mom, that I have nutritious and easy-to-prepare dinners ready to go on weeknights. I often turn to my slowcooker, because I can toss the ingredients in after school drop off and not worry about it for the rest of the day! Even better? When the slow cooker meal is so delicious that my kids devour it!🙌
I love that this recipe makes 6-7 servings, so that we can make it last for two meals. You can also double it to make it last longer, and freeze the leftovers for future busy nights!😉
[AD]As a dietitian, I also love that this recipe is nutritionally balanced, and contains Canadian-raised chicken! And I’m excited to feature it here to help celebrate National Chicken Month👇
Slow Cooker Chicken Ragu Recipe
INGREDIENTS
• 2 chicken breasts (boneless, skinless)
• 1/2 large onion (sliced)
• 1 small fennel trimmed and sliced
• 2 garlic cloves (sliced)
• 2 tbsp fresh rosemary (chopped)
• ½ tsp garlic powder
• 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1 tsp kosher salt
• 1 tsp black pepper
• 1.5 cups chicken broth
• ¼ cup red wine
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• I 28 oz can San Marzano Tomatoes
• 1 tsp red wine vinegar
• 1 15 ounce can chickpeas, drained and rinsed
• 1/3 cup basil leaves
INSTRUCTIONS:
1️⃣Add onion, garlic, rosemary and oregano to the slowcooker
2️⃣Season chicken with salt and pepper, then add to slowcooker
3️⃣In a medium bow, combine broth, red wine, and red wine vinegar and then pour over the chicken
4️⃣Add the can of San Marzano tomatoes to the slow cooker
5️⃣Cook for 8-9 hours on low or 4-5 hours on high
6️⃣Open the slowcooker about 20 minutes before it’s done, and add basil and chickpeas, and stir. Put the lid back and cook until timer ends.
7️⃣Serve with a ladle, over rice, quinoa or pasta (optional) and top with grated parmesan cheese
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#nationalchickenmonth #chickenfarmersofcanada #easyrecipes #slowcookerrecipes #momlife #easymeals #chickenrecipes #happykidshappymom #freezermeals #workingmom](https://www.sarahremmer.com/wp-content/uploads/sb-instagram-feed-images/119736783_167659101603367_7764966945213793325_nfull.jpg)
Very interesting info!Perfect just what I was looking for!