Yummy Chocolate Treats (sugar-free) by my friend Wendy Jones

1 cup melted cocunut oil (you can find it at health food store or sprouts but I buy it in large container at Costco)

1/2 cup cocoa powder
2 Tbs. Xylitol or other natural sweetener) I used Blue Agave Syrup found in health food section at Frys
2 scoops vanilla protein powder
1/2 cup shredded unsweetened coconut
1 cup chopped almonds

mix all together and spoon into mini muffin pan. Put in refrigerator (not freezer) for an hour. Pop out and store in Ziplock bag in fridge when you have sugar craving and a burst of protein.

Enchilada Soup from the Kitchen of Maralee Powley

Here is the soup I was telling you about!   Good luck it is really yummy.  you can always add more red pepper if you like it a little spicy.

3 Tbsp  butter
1/2 large onion
6 oz diced green chiles
28 oz tomatoes
6 oz cream cheese
1 14 oz can of chicken broth
1 1/2 c half and half  (I actually use milk)
4 tsp lemon juice
1/4 tsp garlic
1/4 tsp red pepper
1/4 tsp cumin
1/2 tsp salt
tortilla chips
1/4 c green onions
1 1/2 c. grated Monterey Jack cheese

Saute onion in butter until tender.  Add chilies and tomatoes; cook 8 to 10 minutes.  Add cream cheese; stir until melted.  Add chicken stock, milk, and spices, and lemon juice.  Stir together and bring soup to desired temperature.  Serve with tortilla chips, onions, and cheese on top.


When I make this I often use fresh tomatoes and put them in the blender to chop them up so there are no chunks.  I experiment with how many tomatoes that takes.  It does not have to be exact.  I rarely use the green onions as garnish  because I do not have them.  I also add a can of black beans, cooked chicken, and corn to my soup.  All my kids love this. 

Pumpkin Bread

2 C flour
1 C brown sugar
1 T baking powder
1 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp nutmeg
1/8 tsp ground ginger or ground cloves
1 C canned pumpkin
2 eggs
1/3 C shortening
1/2 C chocolate chips

In a large mixing bowl, combine 1 C of the flour, the brown sugar, baking powder, cinnamon, salt, baking soda, nutmeg & ginger or cloves.  Add pumpkin, milk, eggs & shortening.  Beat with an electric mixer on low speed until blended, then on high for 2 minutes.  Add remaining flour, beat well. Stir in chocolate chips.  Pour batter into greased 9x5x3 inch loaf pan. Bake in a 350 oven for 60 minutes or until toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean.  Cool for 10 minutes on a wire rack.  Remove from pans, cool thoroughly on a wire rack.  Wrap and store overnight before slicing.  Makes 1 loaf.

Hints: I always double or triple the recipe and make a few loaves.  You can also make in muffin tins, just adjust the baking time to 25-30 minutes.  You can always add a few more chocolate chips too!

Chocolate Chip Cookies

1 cup butter, soften
1/2 cup sugar
1 1/2 cups brown sugar
2 eggs
1 tbsp vanilla extract
3 cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp salt
1 tsp baking soda
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
2 cups chocolate chips

Preheat oven 350 degrees.  Cream butter, sugar and brown sugar until creamy. Add eggs and vanilla mix until all incorporated.  Add  flour, salt, baking soda, baking powder mix minimally with mixer.  Stir in chocolate chips with a spoon.  Drop on cookie sheet.  Bake ~ 10 mins-- Do Not over bake! Take out when still look slightly undone.....there is nothing worse then a hard chocolate chip cookie!!

Whole Wheat Bread

5 cups hot water
7 cups whole wheat flour
1 c gluten flour
2 tbsp yeast
2 tbsp dough enhancer
Mix for 2 minutes in a bosch; then add
2 tbsp salt
2 tbsp lemon juice
2/3 cup oil
2/3 honey
Mix for about 30 seconds then add 5-7 cups whole wheat flour (until side of bowl starts becoming clean)
Knead for 10 minutes
Then divide into 4-5 loaves (I get 5 loaves each 1 1/2 pds)
Let rise 30-45 minutes
Bake 350 for 25-30 minutes in a preheated oven

Pumpkin Spice Lollicakes

PUMPKIN SPICE LOLLICAKES

(eyeball design optional)

 1 Spice cake mix
1 C pumpkin puree (canned)
4 eggs
1/2 c oil
1/4 c water
1/4 t of clove
1/4 t of nutmeg

1/4 t cinnamon

Mix this all together and bake in a 9 x 13 cake pan at 350 for 35 mins. or until completely done.
Meanwhile make some cream cheese frosting ( I just used the Better Homes and Garden's which is...)

CREAM CHEESE FROSTING

6 oz cream cheese

1/2 C butter (softened)

2 t vanilla

4 1/2 C powdered sugar

Mix cream cheese, butter and vanilla until smooth.  Add powdered sugar gradually.

When the cake is done, and cooled just a bit, but still warm, crumble it into a bowl and add about a cup to cup and a half of frosting and mix with electric mixer or kitchen aid. You want it doughy, not crumbly. Once it is cool enough to work with, shape into whatever size ball you prefer. Put in the fridge or freezer to chill them well.

Melt white dipping chocolate (like the disks or white chocolate chips) in a pyrex or glass bowl in the microwave, and dip the cold cake balls in the chocolate. Place on parchment paper.

For a cute factor, when all the balls are covered in white chocolate, dye the leftover chocolate a light orange.  Put it in a zip lock bag and snip a tiny hole in the corner.  Drizzle orange chocolate across each ball several times creating fun lines.  You can then insert a lollipop stick in the bottom!

Lemon Drop Cookies

2 c. sugar

1 1/2 cup butter flavored shortening

3 eggs

2 tsp. vanilla

1 tsp. lemon extract

4 c. flour

1 1/2 tsp soda

1 1/2 tsp baking powder

1 tsp. salt

Finely chopped zest of one lemon

1 (6-oz) package lemon drops

2 c. powdered sugar

juice of two lemons

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In mixing bowl, cream sugar, shortening, and eggs; add flavorings. Stir in dry ingredients, lemon zest, and crushed lemon drops (I crush them in my blender). Roll into balls, flatten slightly, and bake on parchment lined (if you don't use parchment, cookies will stick to pan) baking sheet for 10 to 12 minutes. Let cool slightly on pan for a couple of minutes. Make a glaze by mixing powdered sugar with lemon juice. Brush glaze over cookie tops. Let cookies cool completely.

Makes 4 to 5 dozen cookies.