"'Tis the season to be jolly" with sweets galore! From candy canes and cookies to cakes and pies, this is the time of year when good eating habits go right out the window. Before you stuff your face with holiday treats, consider some home-made options! Home-made cookies can be the tasty treats you want with a bit of healthy goodness and portion control. Plus, nothing says love and caring like something made at home.  

Home-made cookies are all about flavor! Check out our recipe for Puerto Rican Meringues. These cookies are deeeeelicious and a bit healthier than your average store bought cookie. You can even make them ahead of time and store them in airtight containers with wax paper or parchment paper between the layers for your holiday party or family dinner. Make your meringues even healthier by adding fruit, nuts, applesauce, molasses or even whole wheat flour. 

Puerto Rican Meringues are as light as a cloud and not messy. They have a hint of lemon and use a few simple ingredients.

Ingredients:

• • 4 egg whites
  • 1 pinch salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar
  • 1 1/3 cups sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon grated lemon zest

Preparation: 

1. 1. Preheat the oven to 275 degrees. Line baking sheets with parchment paper.
   2. In a large clean glass or metal bowl, whip the egg whites with salt and cream of tartar until they can hold a soft peak. 
   3. Gradually sprinkle in sugar while continuing to whip the mixture to stiff peaks. 
   4. Fold in the lemon zest. 
   5. Drop heaping spoonfuls of the mix onto the prepared baking sheets.
   6. Bake for 35 mins in the preheated oven, or until they easily peel off the sheet. 
   7. Cool on wire racks, then store in an airtight container at room temperature. 

With these tasty treats, you can stop worrying about your diet and focus on the joy of loving, caring and sharing. After all, that's what the holidays are all about. 

Happy Holidays from our family at Harvest Home Farmer's Market to you and yours! 

Cranberry-Orange Nut Cookies

Recipe

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 cups whole-wheat pastry flour
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 cup chopped walnuts
• 1/2 cup chopped dried cranberries
• 1 cup plus 3 tbsp sugar, divided
• 1/2 cup smooth, unsweetened applesauce
• 1/4 cup canola oil
• 1 tbsp freshly grated orange zest
• 2 tbsp orange juice

Preparation:

• Whisk flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt in a large bowl. Stir in walnuts and finely chopped cranberries.
• Whisk 1 cup sugar, applesauce, oil, orange zest and juice until smooth. Make a well in the dry ingredients and pour in the wet ingredients. Mix until well blended. Cover with plastic wrap and chill for 30 mins.
• Preheat oven to 350°F. Line baking pan with parchment paper. 
• Put the remaining 3 tbsp sugar into a small flat-bottomed dish. Roll the dough into 1 1/2" balls, then roll in sugar to coat. Place 2" apart on the baking sheet.
• Bake the cookies until barely golden brown, 12 to 15 mins.
• Cool on the pan for 1 min; transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

Holiday FUN, Taste and Health

Tips

• Cookie Share Party with your family or friends. Kids love to help make cookies & are happy to tell everyone,
  "I made these." It's a festive way for busy neighbors to gather, have some fun & get ready for the holidays.

• Nuts Add Extra Crunchy Taste & Health. Almonds have more calcium than milk; pecans have vitamins
  A, B & E plus lots of minerals you need.

• Cut The Calories with Applesauce
  & Up the Taste
  • One egg = ¼ cup of
    applesauce
  • Oil or butter: Use the same amount of applesauce instead
    of the oil or butter (IE: 1/4 cup
    of applesauce = 1/4 cup of oil
    or butter).

• Replace Either The Eggs OR The Butter & Oil in Your Cookies with Applesauce
   
  • Crispy Cookies: Use
    applesauce in place of eggs or use applesauce to replace ½ the butter or oil. 
  • Soft, Chewy Cookies: Use applesauce to replace the eggs or all the butter.

• More Cookie Delights
  • Orange Spice Molasses
    Cookies from Eating Well
  • Ginger Crinkle Cookies from Eating Well

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU!

Comment below, follow up on social media and join our mailing list for healthy recipes and tips on how to prepare your meals!