Cookie-Baking Weather

A couple weeks ago, during one of our few big storms here, it was definitely "cookie-baking weather."  I enlisted C's "help" and had her measure and pour.  We had a great time together making honest-to-goodness Oatmeal Raisin Chews...minus the raisins.  (Who would choose to ruin cookies with raisins anyway?)  And, we threw in 2 cups of chocolate chips instead.

You may be saying to yourself  Hold on there!...Your daughter can eat that?  But she's diabetic.  I'm all for dispelling diabetes myths, so here we go...

Diabetes or not, a little kid needs to enjoy a cookie now and then. 

I thought I'd share one of our favorite recipes from none other than...Mrs. Fields!  When I was first married, my mom gave me a Mrs. Field's Cookie Cookbook.  I don't even bother with other recipes anymore.  Nothing has come close to her Blue Ribbon Chocolate Chip cookies.  After giving C's teacher a bag full of the sugar cookies in heart shapes for Valentines Day, she practically begged for the recipe.  I am not exaggerating when I say that these recipes are the best!

Oatmeal Raisn Chews

(But, you know...no raisins and...lots of chocolate chips!)

2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour

1 tsp. baking soda

1/4 tsp. salt

1 cup quick oats (not instant)

1 cup dark brown sugar, packed

1/2 cup granulated sugar

1 cup salted butter, softened

2 tsp. vanilla extract

2 large eggs

1 1/2 cups raisins (but don't do this!...use 2 cups chocolate chips instead.)

The oats make them healthy!...okay, maybe not.

Preheat oven to 300 degrees.

In a medium bowl combine flour, soda, salt and oats.  Mix well with wire whisk and set aside.

In a large bowl, blend sugars with electric mixer set at medium speed.  Add butter and mix to form a grainy paste.  Scrape down sides of bowl, then add vanilla and eggs.  Mix at medium speed until fully combined.

Add the flour mixture and blend at low speed just until combined.  Do not overmix.  Add [raisins] chocolate chips and blend into mixture.

Drop by rounded tablespoons onto ungreased cookie sheets, 2 inches apart.  Bake for 18-22 minutes or until cookies are light golden brown.  Immediately transfer cookies to a cool, flat surface.

Yields 3 dozen.

I believe the lower temperatures and longer baking times really set her recipes apart.  I never get a burnt batch, ever.

Oh, and the carbohydrate count = 40 grams for a 2.3 oz cookie

Enjoy!

A Dill Review

Back in the summer, there was a post about C being invited to a birthday party and the onslaught of diabetes talk that came with it.  I wrote about the "Pickle Pop lady" and how she was so convinced that they are perfect for diabetics...my daughter included.

Well, it just so happens that the owner of Bob's Pickle Pops read my post and contacted me via Twitter!  Really!!  It floored me.  He offered to send some pops for my family to try and see what we think.  Through our email discussion, he seemed very thoughtful and generous.  I took him up on his offer.  In just a few days, the pops arrived.

Now, I'm a friend of the dill pickle...now and then.  But it's certainly not my favorite treat.  I know there's practically no carbs involved, but the salt content is enough to knock your socks off.  And it's no different in the Pickle Pops.  They are simply frozen, crushed, dill pickles (like an ice pop, if you will).  One taste was all I needed to know...this treat was not meant for me. 

Now, my husband?  He ate one.  I mean the whole thing.  I said "Wow, you must like it?"

"No, not really," he told me.  I should have known...he will eat just about anything.

I offered one to C.  Her response was nearly the same as mine.  Big C wanted nothing to do with them.  I couldn't get him to even try one.  Then there was middle C.  He was my true taste tester.  I will let the following photo tell of his response.  It's pretty clear.

Unfortunately, they were a "no-go" for our entire household.  Sorry Bob!  It's an interesting and amusing concept.  However, in my opinion, people who are looking for a low calorie snack (diabetes, or not), sometimes have other medical issues which could include high blood pressure, heart conditions, etc....and I don't think the high sodium content is a healthy option.

Sugar-free Candy and Pickle Pops

Birthday parties. They are always interesting when diabetes comes along.

C was invited to a summer birthday party for a little school friend just this week. Whenever she gets an invitation, I honestly am so grateful. Recently, I was told by a mom that she was so sorry that her daughter couldn't invite C to her party because she (the mom) thought it would be too hard on C to not be able to eat the cake and candy. Yes, that really did happen and after my initial shock, I let that mom know that C is perfectly able to eat cake! Anyways...so, yes, I'm grateful now, when she gets an invitation.

This party was at Raging Waters, not too far from our house. We met outside the gates. The birthday girl's mom sided up to me and almost whispered, "I brought sugarfree candy for C."

"Thanks," I said. "But you didn't need to do anything special for her."

"Oh, I know," she said. "I just didn't want her to feel left out."

Ug...I wished the attention wouldn't be on C like this. I'm there, at the party, to try and help C blend in and be safe. I just had to muster up a little diabetes education.

"Oh, well, she can have cake," I told her. "It was so thoughtful of you to bring the sugar free candy. What's kind of funny is, C's never had any before!" I didn't want to turn down her thoughtful generosity, but I really don't want C eating stuff like that. We've even been directed by those lovely CHLA nurses, to let her enjoy holiday and birthday treats...in moderation (as all of us should) and guesstimate the carb counts as best as we can. This was decided early on after my feeble attempt in making her first and last diabetic birthday cake with Splenda...resulting in a "brick!"

So, after that little awkward moment, the party began. C had fun with her little friends. And, I must admit, I had fun on Neptune's Fury with 3 screaming little girls!

After a couple hours of water fun, we headed to the picnic area for pizza, cake and gifts. This is where more diabetes talk ensued. One of the birthday girl's grandmothers was all over the subject. She kept talking about "pickle pops." She kept insisting how delicious they are. "They're made out of crushed dill pickles, frozen like an Otter Pop. They're backed by the American Diabetes Association. They are low glycemic. Even appetite suppressant. They would be wonderful for your daughter!"

I finally clued in to the fact that she sells them! She's a distributor...you know, multi-level-marketing! Ug.

Okay...first of all, they sound disgusting (to me). Secondly, my kid can eat nearly anything she wants. And...who in the world would want to suppress the appetite of a cute little 7 year old girl?! Give me a break! Is this what D bloggers mean by "diabetes police?" I did not say any of these things out loud. I simply smiled and nodded...and put in a couple "hmms."

She's going to send me some to try. (Smiled, nodded.)

I'm glad C got to go to a birthday party, but...pickle pops? I don't think so.