Flourless Peanut Butter Cookies

Every month, our dietician at work puts four new healthy recipes on the bulletin board for our patients to take home and try. This month, she outdid herself with this recipe for peanut butter cookies. These are great! Note: I don't have a nonstick baking sheet so I used a Silpat baking sheet liner.

Low Carbohydrate Peanut Butter Cookies

1 cup crunchy peanut butter

1/2 cup light brown sugar

1 egg

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/4 cup chopped peanuts

Preheat oven to 350 F

In a medium bowl, combine peanut butter, sugar, egg, and baking soda until well combined. Stir in peanuts.

Place dough by teaspoonfuls on a nonstick baking sheet.

Press down with a fork (dipped in water to prevent sticking) to form ridges.

Bake for 12-14 minutes, or until lightly browned.

Makes 30 cookies.

Nutrition Facts:

Serving Size: 1 cookie

Carbohydrate: 8 grams

Calories: 75

Protein: 2 grams

Fat: 5 grams

Sodium: 60 mg.

Fat Tuesday

I grew up in a neighborhood where most of the families were Catholic. We were Protestant. I remember listening to the kids at the bus stop talking about what they were giving up for Lent that particular year and I remember thinking, "I'm glad I'm not Catholic."

In recent years, I've begun to sacrifice something for the 40 days leading up to Easter. It's not because it's going to earn me Brownie points for when I get to heaven, but because it makes me more mindful everyday of Christ's sacrifice for me. Also, it seems easier to not cave in because of the reason I'm doing this.

I've been giving it some thought and I've finally decided on what I'm going to give up this year. Actually, this first one, I've given up for the past several years. I'm a little embarrassed to tell you what it is, but here goes. I'm giving up playing Sudoku on the Internet. Yes, I spend hours every year playing Sudoku. It's supposed to help keep your mind sharp, isn't it? (After my debacle Sunday morning, we know that isn't true.) So, I just played my last game for the next 40 days.

Also, this year I'm giving up (another embarrassing habit) eating chocolate chips out of the bag. I tend to go in streaks. I may not have any for a few weeks, and then I go crazy. So, I may bake with them, but I will not eat any that are "raw".

Since studies say it takes 21-30 days to break a habit, hopefully I will be free of these two addictions by Easter. But more importantly, it will make me more mindful of Jesus.

Sidenote: My husband grew up Catholic but hasn't really given up anything for Lent since I've known him, although he says he does. He tells me he's giving up what he's given up every year since the third grade--watching Batman on TV. (Even in third grade, he didn't really, truly give it up. He sat behind a chair in the living room and listened to it.)

A.M. Panic

I awoke this morning in the middle of a dream, looked at the clock, and saw it was 6:20 a.m. I panicked. I was supposed to be at work at 6:45. That gave me ten minutes before I had to leave. Impossible! (My sonic care toothbrush alone takes two minutes.) How did this happen?

I should have stopped to think for a minute. I would have realized my mistake. But no, I immediately ran to the kitchen to call my boss and inform him of the situation. I hurriedly grabbed my cell phone, went to my contacts, and dialed his number. After five rings (this was strange), he answered groggily. I explained that I had overslept and would be in ASAP. I was met with silence.....then he said, "It's Sunday."

I'm not feeling so fab today.

New Pork Tenderloin Recipe

I tried a new recipe for pork tenderloin this week. It was so good, my husband made yummy sounds. This recipe has only 11 grams of fat, so not bad.

Cran-Orange Pork Medallions

1 pork tenderloin cut into 1/2 inch slices

1/2 t. salt

1/2 t. garlic powder

1/2 t. ground coriander

pepper to taste

2 T. olive oil

1 medium red onion, chopped

1/2 c. orange marmalade

1/4 c. orange juice

1/4 c. dried cranberries

2 T. balsamic vinegar

Combine salt, garlic powder, coriander and pepper (optional). Sprinkle over both sides of pork.

In a large skillet, saute pork in oil for 3 minutes on each side or until juices run clear. Remove and keep warm.

In same skillet, saute onion in pan juices for 5 minutes or until tender. Stir in marmalade, orange juice, cranberries and vinegar. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; return pork to skillet. Simmer, uncovered, for 5 minutes or until sauce is thickened.

4 servings

Zumba Mania

A year ago, I blogged about my Zumba class. I mentioned the lady who wears the hip scarf so that she jingles when she shakes. Well, now we have two hip scarf ladies. I was next to the new lady last night. At one particularly vigorous moment, one of the coins flew off her scarf and hit me in the leg. Who would think that Zumba could be dangerous?

The veteran hip scarf lady has a new addition this year. She has pink highlights in her grey/blond hair. I must be a dinosaur, because I can't imagine what would possess a woman in her late 50's/early 60's to do such a thing. Maybe as I get closer to 60, I'll understand. If I do, I'll have to rename my blog, "Feeling Saucy at Sixty".

Pothole Paranoia

Winters in West Michigan can be a challenge. We tend to get a lot of snow due to the effects of Lake Michigan. This can be a blessing if one enjoys outdoor winter sports, but shoveling or blowing snow off the driveway gets tiring. Also, we can have temperatures above freezing during the day, and near zero at night. The thawing and refreezing makes the roads around town a nightmare to drive on.

One of the roads on my route to work is full of potholes. Last year, it made the list of "Worst Roads in the State of Michigan". I feel like I'm driving in a war zone. I still can't believe I haven't had a closed head injury due to all the jarring I've incurred. I never drive through a small puddle, because it could be a sink hole in disguise.

As the winter wears on, I learn where the worst potholes are and know to avoid them, but news ones are always appearing. It never fails, at some point during the winter, I hit one full on. And since I'm usually running late, the speed at which I hit them is not slow. I always have to have the alignment on my car adjusted every spring, but thankfully, I've never blown a tire. Who knows, maybe all this is preparing me for a new career. When I retire from cardiac rehab, I could get a job as a NASCAR driver... or a pizza delivery person.

Derby Pie Makeover

A friend gave me a recipe for Derby Pie a few years ago and it has become my "go to" dessert when I need something quick. I usually have a pie crust in the freezer (I haven't made one from scratch since home economics in 9th grade), and the other ingredients are always in my pantry.

If you look at the ingredients, Derby Pie isn't that bad for you, especially if you leave out the crust. (A typical 9" frozen pie crust has 650 calories and a whopping 42 grams of fat.) I don't really like pie crust all that much, so I decided to try baking it without it. With a little modification, it turned out great. I don't even miss it. Give it a try.

Derby Pie

6 T. butter, softened

1/2 c. brown sugar

1/2 c. sugar

1 t. vanilla

2 eggs

1/2 c. flour

6 oz. semi-sweet chocolate chips

3/4 c. chopped pecans

1/2 c. coconut

Spray 9" pie tin with cooking spray. Cream butter, sugars, and vanilla. Add eggs and beat well. Stir in flour, add chocolate chips, pecans, and coconut. Pour into pie tin. Bake at 350 degrees for 25-30 minutes or until top is golden brown. Serve with whipped cream or ice cream (low fat, of course).

If you want to use a pie crust, increase baking time to 40 minutes.