Who doesn't like cookies? They're our passion from childhood to old age. We go mad for Oreos dipped in milk. Our first baking experience involves a batch of chocolate chips. Cookies see us through a broken heart or a denied job promotion. They really are our BFFs for life.
We have the Dutch to thank for this amazing invention. First called keokje or little cakes the cookie was really a tester for larger cakes. Dutch bakers put a small rounded heap of batter in oil and fried it. It then became a staple in the city of New Amsterdam when early Dutch settlers made keokjes by the dozen. The English soon picked up on their goodness and called them tea biscuits. The Scots soon followed rechristening them tea buns. There has always been a cookie in some shape or form. The Italians make biscotti(meaning twice baked )which the French took for their biscuit. The Germans called theirkeis and took cookie baking to a high art. Early Yanks redubbed the cookie cry babies (I'm guessing for the reaction that happened when you took it away from a kid) and snickerdoodles. The last is really a mix of flour cinnamon and sugar along with butter and eggs. A form of it goes back to Roman times.
America has so many different kinds of cookies. The most famous , the chocolate chip was invented by Massachusetts inn owner. Ruth Wakefield, in the early 1930's . She was either clumsy or crafty, dumping in a chopped chocolate bar into her batch of vanilla cookie dough. It was said she had run out of nuts and was looking for a substitute. Others say her elbow bumped into a candy bar,and shattered it. It then fell into the batter and history was made. That was the birth of the first modern cookie and soon became the object of desire for many. Other cookie s such as the buttery Scottish shortbread have had a longer run. That came from a medieval Scottish biscuit bread that was baked twice. Other cookies such as gingerbread was an offshoot of the Bavarian gingerbread cake, while the oatmeal raisin was a nod to Scottish bakers.
What's your favorite cookie? Are you big on Vienna Fingers or just in love with your local bakery's monster sugar cookies?Write to me and I'll put it in a future blog. You can reach me at Foodie Pantry or LIZRWRITER@aol.com. I'd love to hear from all my fellow cookie monsters out there!!!
Showing posts with label Oreoa. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Oreoa. Show all posts
Friday, July 11, 2008
Monday, June 23, 2008
Healthy Substitutes
Not too long ago I wrote about being a low fat foodie. Now once more I'll write about it again because instead of losing weight I've ballooned upwards. It is not easy loving tho e wrong food. Like loving the wrong person, it slowly can kill you.
What to do?
Try to eat healthy. Easier said than done,especially when summer is also the season of snacking. It's so easy to go to the boardwalk or state fair and let loose on a lot of fun treats. Keep the junk food frenzy down to a minimum. Share a corn dog or a frozen custard with someone. Split that cotton candy or double loaded chili dog.At these places it's hard to find relatively healthy food. Opt for the candy or caramel apple (well the apple and the nuts and/or coconut covering it aren't bad) or go for ice or lemonade.Avoid anything deep fried like Oreos, Mars bars, and even ice cream. A problem with heading to the Jersey shore is that there are all these great home made candy stores offering hand made treats. Instead of a pound of fudge , go for the quarter pound. At least you'll get the rich chocolate-y taste without one - the large amount of calories , and two - expense. Salt water taffy is only 30 calories a piece so two pieces as a treat won't hurt. There is also the sugar free kind. A lot of candy stores sell lollipops which are another fat free sweet. Go for these as opposed to those rich molasses paddles dipped in milk chocolate.
Sometimes being at home is worse than being out. There's nothing like relaxing under a favorite tree or by the pool with a snack tray at hand. The problem is you've have to say no to the chips, dips and mojitos. Besides anything too salty will make you retain water. Stick with unsalted pretzels, baked potato chips and salsa. As far as a cooling drink, think freshly brewed iced tea or lemonade. Any soda(except diet) will add calories and make you feel bloated. Also stay away from any presweetened teas. These rich drinks surely put on those summertime pounds. Candy is another no no as we all know. It may be an energy booster during these hot days when you feel lethargic. Still there are calories there.Craving sugar? Go for any kind of berry whether straw blue or black. Eat a fresh sliced peach or watermelon to give yourself a lift.
Another summertime treat to avoid are those iced coffees. Yes they're addictive but loaded with fat. If you want an iced one, forgo the mound of whip cream and syrup barristas decorate the drink with. Opt for black (which is delicious)with a lot of ice. If you need one to spike up your energy levels get the carbonated kind.
It's tough being a foodie on a diet but you can do it. I'm struggling as I write this. Luckily I've nixed the Hershey's nuggets for strawberries and a tall ice filled glass of freshly brewed ice tea. If I can do it, then you other foodies out there can do it too.
What to do?
Try to eat healthy. Easier said than done,especially when summer is also the season of snacking. It's so easy to go to the boardwalk or state fair and let loose on a lot of fun treats. Keep the junk food frenzy down to a minimum. Share a corn dog or a frozen custard with someone. Split that cotton candy or double loaded chili dog.At these places it's hard to find relatively healthy food. Opt for the candy or caramel apple (well the apple and the nuts and/or coconut covering it aren't bad) or go for ice or lemonade.Avoid anything deep fried like Oreos, Mars bars, and even ice cream. A problem with heading to the Jersey shore is that there are all these great home made candy stores offering hand made treats. Instead of a pound of fudge , go for the quarter pound. At least you'll get the rich chocolate-y taste without one - the large amount of calories , and two - expense. Salt water taffy is only 30 calories a piece so two pieces as a treat won't hurt. There is also the sugar free kind. A lot of candy stores sell lollipops which are another fat free sweet. Go for these as opposed to those rich molasses paddles dipped in milk chocolate.
Sometimes being at home is worse than being out. There's nothing like relaxing under a favorite tree or by the pool with a snack tray at hand. The problem is you've have to say no to the chips, dips and mojitos. Besides anything too salty will make you retain water. Stick with unsalted pretzels, baked potato chips and salsa. As far as a cooling drink, think freshly brewed iced tea or lemonade. Any soda(except diet) will add calories and make you feel bloated. Also stay away from any presweetened teas. These rich drinks surely put on those summertime pounds. Candy is another no no as we all know. It may be an energy booster during these hot days when you feel lethargic. Still there are calories there.Craving sugar? Go for any kind of berry whether straw blue or black. Eat a fresh sliced peach or watermelon to give yourself a lift.
Another summertime treat to avoid are those iced coffees. Yes they're addictive but loaded with fat. If you want an iced one, forgo the mound of whip cream and syrup barristas decorate the drink with. Opt for black (which is delicious)with a lot of ice. If you need one to spike up your energy levels get the carbonated kind.
It's tough being a foodie on a diet but you can do it. I'm struggling as I write this. Luckily I've nixed the Hershey's nuggets for strawberries and a tall ice filled glass of freshly brewed ice tea. If I can do it, then you other foodies out there can do it too.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
