Easter is on its way in two weekends. Easter makes me think of bunnies, which make me think of carrots... and carrot cake... it's one of those cakes that seems like it's going to be healthy... I mean it has vegetables in it right?? Oh and a STICK of butter? Really a whole stick? Is that really necessary??

No no it's not.

It's Cookie Carnival time again, and yes I'm a day late... the roundup happened yesterday... booo. Seriously when did April show up?? Oh right... yesterday. Well this is my contribution, better late than never! Because seriously if you like carrot cake... you need to make these. Totally guilt free, and they taste like heaven... no exaggeration! My roomie (who is a fan of her baked goods) ate one and said this was the best yet of all my alteration creations! NO WAY?? BEST EVER?? Yes it's true! These are super moist, delicious, spiked with raisins... and the cream cheese filling... marvalous my dear!

I mean look at this bad boy?


Yup not a drop of butter or oil... and d@mn tasty! So if you can have a cookie that TASTES just as good as the bad... minus the stick of butter (800 calories, 92 grams of fat) replace it with a little carrot baby food and a little unsweetened apple sauce (I KID YOU NOT!) wouldn't you rather have the healthy one? BAM you have a tasty tasty guilt free treat.

I must admit while I was spooning the carrot baby food out of its little container, I had my doubts... I was thinking, man this smells nasty... well the birds get a treat if these suck... Guess what little birdies! You aint getting any of these! Cause I'm going to eat them all! :)

I made mine with fresh homegrown carrots from the public market here. I think it totally added to the flavor of these. Now for the recipe, print it out and go make some! You wont be sorry :)


Inside out carrot cake
adapted by stephchows, original from Gourmet | April 2004

1 cup whole wheat flour
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 (3.5 oz) container of Gerber baby food, pureed carrots
1/4 cup unsweetened apple sauce
1/3 cup packed light brown sugar
2 Tbs splenda baking blend plus 2 Tbs splenda granulated (or you can use 1/3 cup plus 2 tablespoons granulated sugar)
1 large egg
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup coarsely grated carrots (2 medium)
1/2 cup raisins (2 1/2 ounces)
8 ounces 1/3 less fat cream cheese
1/4 cup honey (good local stuff tastes the best!)

Put oven racks in upper and lower thirds of oven and preheat oven to 375°F. Butter 2 baking sheets. (I used silicon baking mats)

Whisk together flour, cinnamon, baking soda, and salt in a bowl.

Beat together carrot puree, apple sauce, sugars, egg, and vanilla in a bowl until combined. Mix in carrots, and raisins, then add flour mixture and mix until just combined.

Drop 1 1/2 tablespoons batter per cookie 2 inches apart on baking sheets and bake,
switching position of sheets halfway through baking, until cookies are lightly browned and
springy to the touch, 12 to 16 minutes total.

Cool cookies on sheets on racks 1 minute, then transfer cookies to racks to cool completely.

While cookies are baking, blend cream cheese and honey in a food processor until smooth.

Sandwich flat sides of cookies together with a generous tablespoon of cream cheese filling in between.


Chow!


Oh and check this out....
my nutritional stats for one sandwich cookie vrs making them by the original recipe...

So I mentioned a little while back that I made some peanut asian coleslaw... I realized the other day that I never posted the pictures or the recipe... so here we go! Green cabbage was on sale for crazy cheep so I bought a head having no idea what I would use it for... considering I don't like cooked cabbage... I always liked corned beef but Mom always boiled it with cabbage and carrots... BLEH! At least as a kid it was bleh.. maybe I'd like it now... note to self get recipe from Mom and make some when John isn't around :D Anyway I had a head of cabbage to use and decided to start mixing things up and come up with a recipe on the fly... Here is what I came up with!

Peanut Asian Coleslaw
1/2 head green cabbage chopped into thin strips
2-3 carrots, sliced into thin strips using a vegetable peeler
3 Tablespoons peanut butter (I use 100% natural nothing added crunchy peanut butter... ingredients: peanuts... that's it. YUM!)
2 Tablespoons low sodium soy sauce
2 Tablespoons rice vinegar
2 Tablespoons light brown sugar
Sprinkle top with sesame seeds

Chop and slice cabbage and carrots and place in a festive bowl. In a small bowl blend together peanut butter through brown sugar. (I use natural peanut butter so it gets a bit stiff since you have to refrigerate it, so I just microwave the peanut butter in the small bowl first for 30 seconds to make it easier to work with). Once your sauce is all incorporated, pour over cabbage/carrot mixture and toss to coat. Refrigerate until ready to serve, then sprinkle with sesame seeds.

This stuff tastes even better the next day after it's had time to marinate.

Chow!