In my previous post I mentioned that this year I was searching for something sweet, but at the same time, something on a healthy side.

I judged the newly found recipes by the picture of the finished product, followed by the ingredients.

I did not even pay attention to how involved the preparation process might be. This one requires several steps.

I already shared the recipe for the Ginger-Lemon Pinwheels, and now you will get to hear about the “Black and White Striped Cookies“.

They look much more appetizing than they actually are.  I am very honest here, because once again, I expected a little lighter texture , than what this recipe produced.  I guess I am spoiled by all the other “full of butter” cookie recipes I make all the time.

These may not be flaky as regular cookies, however they are only 73 calories each!

Great  for dunking, with a cup of tea.

This recipe yields 3 dozen cookies.

Ingredients for Vanilla Dough:

• 1-1/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/8 tsp. salt
• 1/2 cup powdered sugar
• 1/4 cup butter, softened
• 1 large egg yolk
• 1-1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
• 2 Tbs. ice water

Directions for Vanilla Dough:

1. In a medium mixing bowl, place the butter, sugar and egg yolk.
2. Beat at medium speed until smooth, and creamy lemon color looking.
3. Beat in the vanilla extract.
4. In a separate bowl, using a whisk, mix flour and salt.
5. Gradually add the flour mixture to the butter mixture.
6. Beat at low speed until combined.
7. Sprinkle ice water, and beat until moist (dough will be slightly crumbly).
8. Form a 4-inch dough ball on a plastic wrap, cover and chill one hour, or until firm.

Ingredients for Chocolate Dough:

• 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa
• 1/8 tsp salt
• 1 cup powdered sugar
• 1/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 1 large egg yolk
• 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract ( I used rum extract)
• 2 Tbs. ice water

Directions for Chocolate Dough:

• In a medium mixing bowl, add butter, egg yolk, and sugar.
• Mix on medium speed until smooth and creamy.
• Beat in the vanilla (or your favorite flavor) extract.
• In a separate bowl, using a whisk, mix the flour, salt and cocoa.
• Gradually add cocoa mixture to butter mixture, beating at low spreed until combined.
• Sprinkle ice water over the surface of the dough.
• Beat just until moist.
• Make a 4-inch dough ball, placed on a plastic wrap, and chill for one hour, or until firm.

Chocolate and Vanilla Dough Assembly:

1. Lay two overlapping sheets of plastic wrap, on a moist surface.
2. Remove and unwrap the chilled Vanilla Dough, and place it on the plastic wrap.
3. Cover the dough with two additional overlaying sheets of plastic wrap.
4. Using a rolling pin, roll the dough to form a 12 x 8 rectangle.
5. Place the rolled out dough in the freezer, while you are working on the Chocolate Dough.
6. Follow the same process with the Chocolate Dough.
7. Once both doughs are firm enough, remove the plastic wrap, place the Vanilla Dough on a lightly floured surface, and cover it with the Chocolate Dough.
8. Press down gently.
9. Cut dough stack in half crosswise, to form 2 (8 x 6 inch rectangles).
10. Stack these two half on top of each other, alternating the chocolate and vanilla sides.
11. Wrap in plastic wrap and freeze for 10 minutes, or until firm.
12. Cut the dough crosswise into 6 (6 x 1-1/3 inch) strips.
13. Stack 2 strips on top of each other to form a stack, alternating vanilla and chocolate, to form a stripe pattern.
14. Wrap in plastic wrap, pressing gently.
15. Repeat same procedure with the remaining 4 strips to form 2 stacks, making 3 stacks total.
16. Wrap in plastic wrap, and chill at least 30 minutes, or until very firm.
17. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
18. Line baking sheets with parchment paper (not wax paper – it will scorch).
19. Working with one stack at a time, using a sharp knife, slice each stack to 12 slices.
20. Place them 1 inch apart on the parchment lined pans.
21. Bake at 375 F for 10 minutes.
22. Cool in pans for 5 minutes.
23. Remove from pans, and cool completely on wire racks.

The hardest part in making these cookies, was rolling out the dough between the plastic wrap, and trying to keep it in a rectangular shape.  I used some additional engineering, by trimming the uneven sides and using this dough to even out any imperfections.

It is also a time consuming process, with all this rolling out of the dough, cooling, stacking, and cooling again.

These cookies are not very sweet, and as I mentioned above, tend to be on a denser side, thus very suitable for dunking.  They remind me of Biscotti.

If you tried this recipe, or plan to try it, please chime in with your tips and comments.

TIP: This is a good recipe for Phase III of the Fat Smash Diet.

How are you doing with the Fat Smash Diet?

I am going strong, and hopefully you are still with me.

We are into the first week of Phase II, so additional foods are being introduced back into our daily menu.

Since I already have a very descriptive post of all these foods, you can just click on Phase II of the Fat Smash Diet to check it out.

Remember:

• Watch your portions
• Keep up with the physical activity
• Drink enough water
• Take your vitamins
• You will continue to drop pounds and inches.

If you need additional motivation, check out these super weight loss quotes.

You are doing great!

Hang in there, and please drop me a note about your success.

As you already know, I love trying new recipes.  Most of the time I try a recipe based on a sample I enjoyed, made by someone else.  Other times, I just try a recipe based on the ingredients, and a picture of the finished product.

This time I was looking for some “light and healthy” cookie recipes, to cater to some of my guests who are dieting, yet wish to satisfy their sweet tooth.

The Ginger-Lemon Pinwheel Cookies in this post, were one of the ones I decided to try.

The picture looked very appealing to me, and the ingredients did not call for anything out of the ordinary, so it sounded like a great choice.

Normally I only share successful recipes, but even though I was slightly disappointed with the final result of this recipe, I will share it any way, because it might appeal to someone who is looking for low calorie cookies.  Actually, I will probably make these again, and play with the recipe a little.

This recipe yields about 40 cookies @ only 81 calories each.

Ingredients for Ginger Dough:

• 1/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 1/3 cup packed dark brown sugar
• 1/4 cup molasses (I used dark molasses)
• 1 large egg yolk (save the white for the Lemon Dough)
• 1- 1/3 cups all-purpose flour
• 3/4 tsp. ground ginger
• 3/4 tsp. ground cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp. salt – (I used 1/8 tsp)
• 1/8 tsp. ground nutmeg
• Dash of ground allspice

Directions for Ginger Dough:

1. In a medium mixer bowl, combine butter and brown sugar.
2. Mix about 3 minutes, at medium speed.
3. Add molasses, and egg yolk, and beat until blended.
4. In a separate bowl, combine flour and all the spices.
5. Gradually add to the butter mixture, and beat at low speed until combined.
6. Wrap dough in plastic wrap, and chill for at least 30 minutes.

Ingredients for Lemon Dough:

• 8 Tbs. unsalted butter, softened
• 2/3 cup granulated sugar
• 1 large egg white (saved from Ginger dough)
• 2 tsp. ground lemon rind
• 3/4 tsp. vanilla extract
• 1- 1/3 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/4 tsp. salt (I used 1/8 tsp)

Directions for Lemon Dough:

1. In a medium bowl, mix butter and sugar at medium speed for 3 minutes.
2. Add egg white and beat until blended.
3. Beat in lemon rind and vanilla.
4. In a separate bowl, mix flour with all the dry ingredients.
5. Gradually add to butter mixture, and beat at low speed until blended.
6. Wrap in plastic wrap, and chill for 30 minutes.
7. Unwrap ginger dough, roll between two sheets of plastic wrap, into a 13×8 rectangle.  Dough will be quite thin (3/16 inch).
8. Chill for 10 minutes.
9. Roll the lemon dough in the same way, and chill as well.
10. Once chilled, remove the top sheet of plastic wrap from the Ginger and Lemon Dough.
11. Stack Lemon Dough on top of Ginger Dough, leaving 1/2 inch border along the long side of the Ginger Dough.
12. Remove the remaining plastic wrap.
13. Starting with the long side without the border, roll up dough tightly, jelly-roll fashion. If you do not roll tightly, you will end up with a whole in the middle of your pinwheel.
14. Seal edges (do not seal ends of roll).
15. Cover with plastic wrap, and freeze for 30 minutes.
16. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
17. Unwrap dough roll.
18. Cut with a sharp knife, into 40 slices, about 1/4 inch thick.
19. Reshape rounds.
20. Line baking sheet with parchment paper (wax paper will scorch – do not use).
21. Arrange cookie slices 1 inch apart.
22. Bake one batch at a time, for 8 minutes, or until set and slightly browned.
23. Cool on wire racks.

If anyone tried these cookies before, please share your comments.

Some of my guests actually enjoyed them, even though these cookies are on a denser side, more like biscotti, or as I call them “dunking”  tea cookies.

If you are watching your diet, you definitely would have no guilt having a couple of these, instead of any of my other ones, which are scrumptious, but not so low in calories.

TIP: This would be a good cookie for Phase III in The Fat Smash Diet.

New Year Resolutions do not usually make it to the top of my list, but I am keeping some ideas on the back of my mind.

For a while now, I have been contemplating  getting back in shape, and improving my energy level.

I am also having a guilty feeling about not sticking to my healthy eating habits, and really miss the great feeling I experienced three years ago, after completing Phase I of The Fat Smash Diet.

I finally decided to follow The Fat Smash Diet once again, so this Monday, January 9th, I am starting Phase I  – Detox.

It would be great to have some company, so please join me, and you will LOVE yourself for it.

If you never tried this diet before, please read my post about The Fat Smash Diet, to get an overview of what to expect.

This is the easiest diet for me to follow, since during Phase I, the Detox period, I am not overly concerned about giving up coffee or alcohol;  I do not care much for either one of them anyway.

This past weekend I ventured out to get my special food shopping done.  I stocked up on a lot of fruits, raw vegetables, veggie burgers, brown rice, oatmeal, plain yogurt, and new Brita filters for my tap water.

I used to purchase bottled water, but after finding out that bottled water is not regulated by the Food and Drug Administration, yet tap water MUST meet certain standards, I decided to go back to my Brita filter system.

The Fat Smash Diet regimen requires a lot of water consumption.  Probably as much as I normally should be drinking, so now I will be much more conscientious about it, and actually do it right.

What I love about this particular diet, is that all the ALLOWED foods, are my favorite any way, and even though I still love all the BAD ones, it is good for me to get away from them for a while, and cleanse my system.

It is an easy way to lose weight, and most of all, feel so much better.

I am hoping to lose at least 7 pounds, but 10 would be even better.

I know I can do it, since last time I lost 15 pounds without too much effort, and only gained back 7 lbs.

Please wish me luck, and tell me that you are joining me!

The traditional Christmas celebration on December 24th is over, but we are still in the Christmas season.

On January 6th, a Christmas Eve is observed by many Ukrainians, Greeks, Orthodox Christians, and others, who follow the Julian calendar.

Our family, here in the US, celebrates  Christmas on December 24th, since our church observes it on this date.

However, we also commemorate this holiday on January 6th, to unite in spirit, with our family and friends in Ukraine, Poland, Portugal, France, Germany, England, etc, who celebrate on this date, only .

The Kolach in this post, is complimentary by one of my readers, Marilyn K, who baked it this year for her Christmas holiday, and was kind enough to share the picture with all of us.

She did a beautiful job with this special bread.   The presentation is very creative, and festive.

Congratulations Marilyn on job well done.

Thank you for sharing.

Best Christmas wishes to all my readers, and their loved ones.

Khrystos Rozhdayetsia!  Slavite Yoho!

Christ Is Born! Glorify Him!

Merry Christmas !

Another year is passing us by, and a new one is just around the corner.

There is no better way to farewell an old year, and welcome in the NEW YEAR, than to do it with food and friends.

If you are planning such a fun gathering, and searching for some tasty appetizers, you stumbled upon the perfect site to get this information.

Since I am still dealing with leftovers from Christmas, I will not be posting new recipes this week, but will provide you with links to yummy recipes already posted.

Selection A:

• Tzatziki Dip
• Rye Bread Dip
• Hummus
• Chick Peas Vinaigrette
• Veggie Platter
• Ham Canapes

Selection B:

• Jalapeno Corn Dip
• Buffalo Chicken Dip
• Seven Layer Guacamole Dip
• Swedish Meatballs
• Texas Caviar
• Caramel Apple Dip
• Mrs. Z’s Deviled Eggs
• Pesto and Sun-Dried Tomatoe Cheese Spread
• Honey Apple Brie Bites
• Turkey Taco Ring

Selection C:

If you are looking for a more substantial food selection, in addition to the appetizers, you may want to check these out:

• City Chicken
• Chicken Paprikash
• Chicken/Turkey Tetrazzini
• Calico Beans
• Homemade varenyky/perogy
• Cabbage Rolls (vegetarian, or with meat)

I believe this list should be very helpful for you, and by next year, I should have more recipes for you to try.

Enjoy your party.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

Christmas holiday is very special to all Christians, from a religious point of view,  but also in regards to the myriad of decorating ideas many of us love to experiment with.

Christmas Tree takes the center stage in decorating the home for Christmas.

Everyone has a certain theme they follow for Christmas Tree decorating.

My Christmas Tree has a Ukrainian theme, since it is adorned with numerous handmade decorations, as well as other ornaments purchased at Ukrainian church bazaars, and ethnic arts and crafts stores.

Last year I shared my collection of angels Christmas Tree decorations, and this year you will get to see my Ukrainian ornaments.

These are ceramic ornaments with traditional Ukrainian designs, which can also be found on various embroidered  cloth items, or wood art pieces.

The shape of these two ornaments remind of a Ukrainian church dome, or steeple.

The intricate geometric pattern is very prominent in Ukrainian designs.

Aren’t these just lovely?  So elegant, yet festive, at the same time.

This ornament incorporates some of the traditional Christmas motif, hence the hand painted Holly leaves and berries.

This is my very special ornament, a contemporary version of a hand painted image of the Virgin Many, dressed  in a Ukrainian traditional attire, holding baby Jesus, wrapped in an embroidered cloth.

This ornament was created to commemorate the Millennium of Christianity in Ukraine, thus the dates 988-1988.

If you are interested in Ukrainian Christmas Tree ornaments, or other art articles, you may want to visit these websites:

SURMA GIFT SHOP – New York City

UKRAINIAN GIFT SHOP – Largest Ukrainian mail-order establishment

THE UKRAINIAN MUSEUM GIFT SHOP – New York City

UKRAINIAN STORE-YEVSHAN – Mail order store

If you still did not find what you were looking for, you can always stop at Ukrainian church bazaars, or visit their gift shops.

If anyone is familiar with other such establishments, please share them with us, and I will include them in this post.

Ukrainian Christmas Eve is not only very rich in traditional foods prepared freshly that day, and shared by the family during the Christmas Eve 12 course meatless dinner, but also myriad of traditions are practiced before and after the meal.

This holiday was a lot of fun for children in the olden day, especially village children, as they had more freedom to frolic in the straw and hay brought into the home, and strayed over the floor and dinner table.  This act was a reminder for everyone of the nontraditional environment Mother Mary and Joseph faced that night, as they were awaiting the birth of Jesus.

Once the meal was all ready, and the children announced a siting of the appearance of the brightest star, the head of the household, normally the father or the grandfather, would bring into the home a beautifully arranged sheaf of wheat, and greet the whole family with a special greeting, and place the sheaf on wheat in the corner of the dining room.

Today, we usually have a flower arrangement with wheat stalks, or a dainty, miniature sheaf of wheat tied neatly with a red ribbon, and displayed in the home.

The above displayed picture of a miniature Ukrainian Ceramic Vase with Oats stalks, is my family replica of this Christmas tradition.  the Oats were grown on my Grandfather’s farm in Europe, and brought here on my last family visit.

A sheaf of Oats, rather than a sheaf of Wheat,  was our family tradition for Christmas Eve.  The sheaf was present in our home until the Jordan Water Blessing Day (Epiphany/Theophany), after which time it was sprinkled with the freshly blessed water brought from church, and given to the farm animals to consume.  Also, the Oats seeds were pulled off the stalks on New Year’s Day, and sprinkled at relatives homes, by the youngest boy of the family, visiting and greeting them with a special New Year’s greeting, to bring prosperity, health and good luck, in the new year.  He would be rewarded with tasty baked goods, and money.

In the city, these traditions were not possible to follow, due to small living space, so a handful of hay was placed in the middle of the table, or under a freshly pressed, pure white table cloth, rather than strewn all over the floor.

Kolach, a special bread adorned with a burning candle, takes the center stage on the dinner table.  Picture of this kolach was taken at a cultural display during a Ukrainian Festival in PA, prepared by an unknown to me contributor.

On the other side of the Kolach is a dish of honey, accompanied by chunks of bread, and peeled cloves of garlic (I use chopped garlic in flax seed oil).  Our family display also includes a special Christmas Eve wafer (Oplatek), normally used by Roman Catholics to share on Christmas Eve.  These wafers  are presented to us  by members of our family who also practice Roman Catholic traditions, as this unites us all together at least in spirit, on Christmas Eve.

This special arrangement is passed around the table and shared by everyone, right after we finish our before meal prayer, and  greet everyone with a special greeting “Khrystos Narodyvsia” -  Christ Is Born, with an appropriate reply “Slavyty Yoho” -  Glorify Him.

Another very important item for that evening is the Kutia. A  whole wheat grain dish, cooked and flavored by honey, poppy seeds, walnuts, and raisins.

In the past, the head of the household, would take a spoonful of the Kutia and toss it toward the ceiling, and the more of the grains that stuck to the ceiling the more bountiful the future crop would be.  This tradition died out over the years, for practical reasons of course.

Next dish served is the Christmas Eve Borscht with Vushka.

These special traditional foods, are followed by, several different fish dishes, including pickled herrings, a must at Christmas Eve.  Next you will be served varenyky (pierogi) with various fillings, holubtsi (cabbage rolls) with rice/mushroom filling, or buckwheat filling, mushroom gravy, cabbage with beans, other bean dishes, pickled mushrooms, kompot (cooked dried fruits drink), jelled fruit dish, and a nice selection of baked goods.

Pampushky (homemade donuts), were always my mom’s favorite dessert, prepared just before Christmas Eve dinner, so they were very fresh, and absolutely delicious.

After dinner, the whole family gathers around around the Christmas Tree to sing Christmas Carols.

Ukrainians normally do not exchange gifts on Christmas, since they already received gifts from St. Nicholas on December 6th, but in the Diaspora, the children receive small gifts from St. Nicholas, and then again additional gifts are exchanged on Christmas Eve, after dinner and caroling is all done, but before the midnight liturgy, which everyone is obligated, and encouraged, to attend.

Khrystos Narodyvsia – Slavyty Yoho!

Merry Christmas!

Children can be so cute, adorable, loving, and entertaining, most of the time, but we all know that they also can have their patience trying moments.

Stressful situations surrounding the environment our children live in, can add to their behavior pattern.

Children are like little sponges, soaking up unbelievable amount of information on daily basis, not exactly understanding it all, but nonetheless, absorbing it all none stop.

Someone sent me this very interesting link to a video of a child having a temper tantrum, and how  adults should act, or react, to this situation.

I am sharing it with you all, since during the hassle, and bustle, of the holiday season stressful time, you might benefit from being informed about such scenarios.

Here are a few quotes from that article, but you should click on the link to see the video and read all the details.

Tantrums turn out to have a pattern and rhythm to them.

“Screaming and yelling and kicking often go together,” Potegal said.

“Throwing things and pulling and pushing things tend to go together. Combination of crying, whining, falling to the floor and seeking comfort — and these also hang together.”

“You know, when children are at the peak of anger and they’re screaming and they’re kicking, probably asking questions might prolong that period of anger,” said Green.

“It’s difficult for them to process information. And to respond to a question that the parent is asking them may be just adding more information into the system than they can really cope with.”

The trick in getting a tantrum to end as soon as possible, Potegal said, was to get the child past the peaks of anger. Once the child was past being angry, what was left was sadness, and sad children reach out for comfort.

http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2011/12/05/143062378/whats-behind-a-temper-tantrum-scientists-deconstruct-the-screams

After you watch the video, please share your comments, or advice, for other parents to benefit from.

While most children are awaiting the arrival of Santa Claus, many others are expecting a visit from St. Nicholas.

My grandchildren are very excited about receiving  gifts from St. Nicholas, since they also get to participate in plays and poetry recitals at our local church, and youth organization.

It makes this holiday that much more special, feeling like a star, performing on a stage at such a young age of three.

This year, my granddaughter received a Gingerbread House kit from St. Nicholas, and could hardly wait to get home, to get the project started with her mom.

She was very patient, following all the instructions from her mom, and very meticulous about positioning all the candy in the proper places ( sampling few here and there…that’s part of the fun).

She was so proud of her completed project, and so were we, so I promised that I will post some pictures on my blog.

This is the front entry to the Gingerbread house.  She was deciding on the colors and type of candy to use, and the positioning of the figures. Her mom handled the icing part.  The white base was part of the kit.

She decided on a back entry as well, including additional windows. How cute is that.  Maybe that’s grandma’s private entrance?

A side view.  As you will see, she decided to decorate the house from all sides.  Good thing there was plenty of candy with this kit.

View of the other side, and top of the roof.  Not sure what all the gum drops represent on the roof top??

Close up view of the roof with a chimney.  She was very excited about the chimney, so I needed to point it out as well.

If you are looking for fun projects to do with your children, or grandchildren, putting together a Gingerbread House is a wonderful idea.

It lets you spend quality time with them, and makes their imagination run wild.

If your children, or grandchildren are older, you may want to make a Gingerbread House from scratch.