Beginning next week you won’t be seeing many recipes for sweet stuff around here. Not to worry, it will be back come Easter time; likely with a vengeance. You’ll probably have more springtime sweet stuff than you’ll know what to do with. Just preparing you.
Next week begins Lent and that means for me, and many other people I know who honor this time of year, sacrifices will be made.
Some no longer believe in the giving up practice of the Lenten season, they choose to do something instead. I happen to be a big fan of both.
To me, giving up something as simple as dessert or chocolate, as non-religious as that might seem, helps me focus and reflect. Sacrifice makes us stronger regardless of what that sacrifice may be. Not having something I really want makes me step back and evaluate all that I have and how fortunate I am.
And I won’t lie. This time of year also helps me get or keep my healthy food intake on the right track. I like sugar, maybe a little too much. Cutting it out for a while never hurt anyone. Well, unless you count the recipients of your crabby attitude that may result when you want sugar, but can’t have it. Note to self: keeping my crabby attitude in check should probably be another Lenten promise.
Between now and next week, there is still Valentine’s Day, Chinese New Year, Carnaval and Mardi Gras. While not hear quite yet, I’m sending my short term fond farewell to cookies a little bit early.
I haven’t made peanut butter cookies in a while so I decided to try a batch with some mascavo sugar and white whole wheat flour. This recipe resulted in dense, not-too-sweet, buttery cookies that melt in your mouth with each bite. I’m adding them to my must-make-again list.
Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies
½ cup unsalted butter, room temperature½ cup natural peanut butter
¾ cup mascavo sugar
1 egg
1 ¼ cup white whole wheat flour
½ tsp baking powder
¼ tsp salt
¾ tsp baking soda
6 oz chocolate chips (1/2 a bag)
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Cream together the butter, peanut butter and sugar. Add the egg and mix until combined. In a bowl mix the flour, baking powder, salt and baking soda. Gradually mix into the wet ingredients. Stir in chocolate chips. Scoop cookies out by the tablespoon and form into a ball and flatten slightly. Place on an ungreased cookie sheet and bake for 10 minutes. Cool on a wire rack and enjoy. Makes about 18 cookies.
Good for you–I think it’s really admirable to voluntarily give up something you love that much. I don’t celebrate Lent, but giving up sugar (and refined everything) was one of the best things (and also one of the hardest things) I’ve ever done. It does become (marginally) easier with time, especially if you can find other ways besides sugar and chocoalte to satisfy the sweet tooth (and with such uber-healthy desserts, you can always feel justified in calling them “breakfast”–see, you haven’t broken your sacrifice for Lent!) 😉
I get so excited about this time of the year. Like you said- it gets me more focused and the ability to challenge myself and to make sacrifices. Good luck!
We’ll be also slowing down on sweets after this weekend. Meanwhile, these cookies are looking super delicious 🙂
I agree that giving something dear up will make you stronger. I’m looking forward to seeing more savory recipes. In the meantime, these cookies look delicious!
We also observe the Lenten Season and my kids usually give up sweets and RICE… i mean for us rice eaters that’s really a great sacrifice. I have to do it because these “sacrifices” are usually initiated by my kids! haha!
When I saw the peanut cookies in that blue box, I had this wishful thinking that it will be delivered to my doorstep haha!
happy valentine’s day!
I agree giving up something makes you stronger, but I swear time slows down during Lent.
These cookies look exceedingly tempting. It might be tough with Lent so close.
Best wishes for Lent, the cookies will be even tastier when you get back to them!
Good for you!! It takes a lot of strength to give something like that up, I think it is great! Those peanut butter cookies look pretty delicious as well!
You are a brave woman! 😉 Good for you and a good way to focus on the healthy. Your cookies look delicious–a good treat to go out on!
😉
I once gave up chocolate (which I ate at every opportunity – no exaggeration). And guess what? I managed to wean myself off them! I do still eat chocolate but I can actually turn it down. It’s no sacrifice when in the end, you gain an even greater gift.
It’s Shrove Tuesday and I have yet to decide on my Lenten vow, so thanks for the inspiration!