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Peanut Butter Beet Cookies

Published by Gus Baldwin

Before you dismiss these cookies. Bake them and give them to someone and ask them their opinion. 12 out of 10 people usually don’t identify the beets.

There is always that asshole with a superhuman palate that can identify the beet. I refer to these people as acquaintances.

The majority will think its raspberry or some kind of fruit. These people I refer to as clients.

I too was very skeptical when I heard of the peanut butter and beet being a good flavor combo. If you only knew how skeptical.

When someone eats their toe jam and tells you something is a good flavor combo. You’re bound to be hesitant.

But I’m always down for trying something new so here we are. Still not going to try toe jam. Call me crazy.

The first run through of these cookies was quite impressive. People loved them and of course there was that one annoying girl who knew the beet flavor immediately. The majority of the test occupants thought it was some kind of fruit of jam.

The thing I really love about these cookies is the visual aspect. They look all raspberry like and you know people eat with their eyes so maybe that’s why they think they taste raspberry.

You know like those jackasses that drink wine and you ask them if they taste the kiwi and they “totally do!”.

You can do the same here. When someone takes a bite ask them if they taste the raspberries.

I used to hate beets growing up. My mom used to buy these beets in a jar and nuke them for dinner. The whole house smelled like someone took a shit in a bucket of vinegar.

I hated those things. The crazy thing is now that I’m older. I’d try em.

When I got older and went out into the world and tried beets different ways. I find them quite delicious.

You can find beets in the produce section in a vacuum sealed package. Roasted, soft, peeled and ready to go. No flavors added or gross smells. Just good wholesome cooked beets. Perfect for the cookies here.

Something to keep in mind when cutting the beets for the recipe. The finer you dice the beets the less likely people will identify them. The larger the dice the more you’ll get a nice texture and soft piece of beet. I personally think if gives the cookie more depth and character. Try it both ways and see which suits you better.

“Risk is the only guarantee for being truly alive.”

 

PEANUT BUTTER BEET COOKIES

115g. Sugar
260g. Brown sugar
150g. Peanut butter
225g. Butter
375g. Flour
2ct. Eggs
4g. Baking soda
6g. Vanilla
250g. Whole Beets Cooked and diced medium

-cream together sugars, butter, peanut butter and vanilla until smooth and fluffy
-add eggs and mix until combined
-add flour and baking soda and mix until as dough forms
-add beets last on slow speed just until they are distributed throughout dough. You don’t want your dough red and the beets all broke up. Or maybe you do? I don’t know.

11 Savvy Suggestions to Make Summer Eating Healthy and Fun

Published by Gus Baldwin

Just because it’s summertime doesn’t mean you should take a break from healthy eating! Summers mean more picnics, ballgames and festivals full of tempting (but less than healthful) foods. But you can have your ice cream, hot dogs and fried Oreos — in moderation — by following these suggestions.

Eat Sweets in Small Portions

Sweets and fried foods are fine, in small portions. Use this as an opportunity to show kids how to form a healthy relationship with food. Denying the “good stuff” can lead to poor, unhealthy food choices down the road. So a little treat here and there won’t do any harm.

Keep Them Active

If your kids indulge in a funnel cake or waffle and ice cream sundae once in a while, schedule more activities that help them burn off those extra calories. Also, encourage kids to share the treats so everyone gets a taste but no one overindulges.

Be a Good Role Model

Be a good role model. Eat healthier foods—and healthier versions of the foods everyone loves. For example, if your family loves enchiladas, swap out the tortillas for cabbage leaves for a healthier take or try this shareable recipe that serves six people.

Eat Nutritiously While Traveling

Driving to your vacation? Pack healthy snacks to eat along the way. Scope out restaurants on your route to check out their menu options. Download apps like Around Me, Feed, or Yelp to suggest alternatives to fast-food joints. Day-tripping? Pack a cooler and bags with healthy options like fresh veggies and fruits. Opt for trail mix, popcorn, single-serve fruit cups and applesauce, yogurt, low-fat cheese, and granola. Encourage your kids to pack their own snack bags.

Make It Fun

Create a game of I-Spy for healthy foods at the grocery store. Teach older kids how to read food labels, and show all the kids where to find the healthiest foods on the shelves.

Get Their Input

Get your kids involved with meal planning. When you go to the store, suggest they pick out a new type of produce (or one they love) to work into a recipe you can make together.

Drink Lots of Water

Go easy on high-calorie drinks such as fruit juices and sodas. Instead, encourage your kids to drink plenty of water. Add flavor to water by adding fresh fruits, cucumber or mint, or a little tart juice. Mix one-third fruit juice with two-thirds fizzy water. Check out these other suggestions to enliven water’s flavor.

Plan Ahead

Summertime often throws off the usual schedules, so meal planning may not run as smoothly as during the school year. These healthy summer survival guide recipes include healthy snacks and lunch ideas that kids love and tasty treats that won’t break the calorie bank.

Buy Fresh Produce

Add summer produce to your menu! Growing time means a wide variety of fresh fruits and vegetables at the grocery store, farmers market and garden. Take advantage of this bounty by introducing new—and keeping tried-and-true favorites—tastes into your meals. Try these roasted veggie recipes for fabulous flavor.

Drink Smoothies

Have a kid who’s less than thrilled about vegetables or fruits? Try a smoothie instead. They’re perfect for hot days and make the best breakfasts before soccer camp. Different flavorful combos can cover some of your kiddo’s dairy, fruit, protein and fiber needs for the day.

Keep Healthy Snacks on Hand

Your kids might not love tomato soup, but pair a cold tomato (or avocado or carrot) soup with a salad for a light dinner on a hot, steamy summer night. Keep other easy snacks in your home like sliced or whole fresh fruits and veggies, cheese slices, string cheese, yogurt, turkey or chicken breast meat from the deli, hard-boiled eggs, pita wedges, graham crackers, granola bars and unsalted pretzels.

Summertime brings plenty of fun adventures and surprises. Incorporate summer flavors by choosing healthy, tasty foods rich in vitamins, protein and fiber. Pile plenty of color on everyone’s plates, stock up on healthy snacks that travel well, indulge occasionally in vacation treats and enjoy the season.

Photo Credit: Pexels.com

Article written by guest Dylan Foster for Healthwellwise.com

Hennessy Pineapple Upside Down Cake

Published by Gus Baldwin

Pineapple Upside Down Cake was invented back in 1956 by Marge Gillicutty in Illinois. She was attempting to make a pineapple cake when all the pineapple sunk to the bottom. Oh was Marge pissed. Then it turned out everyone at the church social loved it. Boom! Pineapple Upside Down Cake was invented. I’m guessing. Read More

Chocolate Peanut Butter Tart (That tastes like a Reese’s) and How convenience will kill us.

Published by Gus Baldwin

I like balance in life. Not my personal life in particular. My life is wacked beyond belief without a chance of ever recuperating. Kinda like it that way though.

This tart has the perfect balance of chocolate and peanut butter and my oh so favorite thing. That ingredient that you can’t put your finger on it but if it wasn’t there the tart wouldn’t taste the same. I love it when that happens.

That’s where the Jell-O Butterscotch Pudding Mix comes into play.

That’s what gives this tart the flavor of a Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup. It does make me feel like I’m getting closer to Reese’s formula.

Note to my readers: If I end up dead investigate Hershey’s or my coworkers. I’m actually being dead serious about this.

At least I think it tastes like a Reese’s and taste is all perspective. For example, you think Starbucks is good coffee. We all know it’s shit but you’ve been conditioned to like it. You’re so unique!

The unfortunate thing about Starbucks is you’re forced to like it against your will. It’s on every damn corner and in every damn airport.

You like it only because of its convenience. This is how convenience is killing us.

One of the things I do at work to pass the time is watch how people have let convenience run their life. It’s quite interesting and disheartening.

Elevators are cool and useful. The pastry kitchen at work is right beside the elevator. We are one floor down from the main level. I love to time people to see how long they’ll wait for an elevator as opposed to walking up one flight.

Eleven minutes so far has been the most. You could have been two blocks away by now had you taken the steps.

The same people that will wait patiently for an elevator for 11 minutes are the same people that go ape shit if their crappy Starbucks isn’t ready in 2 minutes.

Another thing I love. People will run like a mad fool to catch an elevator going one floor. It’s always the laziest people too. I know, I’m just as shocked as you.

I witnessed a girl wait for the elevator for a substantial amount of time. She finally gave up and walked to the stairwell. As the door was closing to the stairwell, the elevator dinged. This girl flew out of the stairwell and ran like a mad fool for the elevator.

Doors were invented shortly before the elevator. Most people have figured out how to use them. Then we put those buttons in that you hit and the door opens for you.

What happens when that button doesn’t work? If you work where I do, you panic. You keep hitting the button and getting frustrated. Start looking around to see who feels your frustration and sympathizes with you.

No one. If the button doesn’t open the door. You walk up and open it yourself. You’re not trapped. It’s that simple.

I’ve noticed that at the grocery store that I shop at doesn’t have a scale. I’ve also noticed I’m at the grocery store a lot. Anyway, if something’s $1.99 a pound. How do you know what you have? There’s no scale.

Even more troublesome. No one cares. They don’t care and even if there were a scale they still couldn’t figure out the price.

Did you see the article about clocks being changed to digital because kids can’t tell time on an analog clock?

Making life more convenient seems to be making us dumber than shit.

Convenience is killing common sense and survival skills. God help us.

Confidence is silent. Insecurities are loud. 

Peanut Butter Tart

You’ll need one recipe for Chocolate Tart Dough. This recipe makes two 11 inch tarts but the filling only makes one 11 inch Tart. Make the whole tart dough recipe because after eating the Peanut Butter Tart. You’ll want another.

Make one 11 inch tart and blind bake it off and set aside.

For the Peanut Butter Filling

1 box Jell-O Pudding Butterscotch Mix (Do Not Use Instant Pudding Mix)
200g. Peanut Butter
300g. Milk Chocolate ( I used Lindt which 3 bars will give you exactly 300g )

-scale out the peanut butter and chocolate and set aside.
-cook the butterscotch pudding according to the directions on the box
-when the pudding is ready pour it over the peanut butter and chocolate. Give it a good mix and make sure it’s smooth.
-pour into your tart shell. Set in the fridge at least 4 hours.

Dusting it with cocoa powder isn’t really necessary but I like the look. I’m all class. Until I speak. I think you’ve noticed that.

Other recipes you’re sure to enjoy! 

Taggart’s Peanut Butter Pie

Butterscotch Hennessy Rice Krispies

Butterscotch Flan (A personal favorite)