In summer, we often gather with good friends and food. I was tempted by this chocolate chip cheese ball recipe, so I made it to share at parties. It is sweet and can be served as a dessert or in an evening appetizer buffet.
Chocolate chip cheese ball
1 8 ounce package 250 g
cream cheese
1/2 cup butter 125 mL
1/4 teaspoon vanilla 1 mL
2 tablespoons brown 25 mL
sugar
3/4 cup icing sugar 175 mL
chips
3/4 cup mini chocolate 175 mL
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3/4 cup pecans, finely 175 mL
chopped
an assortment of graham crackers, biscotti, thin chocolate wafers or vanilla wafers.
Beat softened cream cheese, butter and vanilla until creamy. Slowly add sugars until blended. Stir in chocolate chips.
The mixture will be soft and must be placed onto a piece of plastic wrap, formed into a ball and refrigerated for at least one hour. Roll the ball in pecans. Serve with wafers.
Source: For the Breasts and the Rest of Friends, Women working together for a cure.
Using the same cookbook, our niece made these decadent and delicious brownies for my sister and brother-in-law’s 40th anniversary party. To say the brownies were popular would be an understatement. We devoured them.
Specially good brownies
Base:
2 cups white sugar 500 mL
1/2 cup cocoa 125 mL
4 eggs, slightly beaten
1 cup margarine, melted 250 mL
2 teaspoons vanilla 10 mL
11/2 cups walnuts, chopped 375 mL
11/2 cups flour 375 mL
dash of salt
Mix all ingredients together, adding flour last. Spread on a greased and floured large cake pan or cookie sheet. Bake for 20 minutes at 350 F (180 C). It will look under-baked.
Filling:
1 cup margarine 250 mL
2 tablespoons corn syrup 25 mL
11/2 cups brown sugar 375 mL
1/4 cup flour 60 mL
1 can sweetened condensed 300 mL
milk
Combine all ingredients in a double boiler and cook until thickened. Stir well until smooth. Spread over brownie base and return to oven for five minutes. Cool and frost with chocolate icing.
Chocolate icing
8 ounces cream cheese, 250 g
softened
4 cups icing sugar 1 L
1/4 cup butter, softened 60 mL
2 teaspoons vanilla 10 mL
1/2 cup cocoa 125 mL
Put all ingredients in mixing bowl and combine with an electric mixer, then beat until light and fluffy.
Knowing that our family would make sure we had lovely chocolate treats at the party, I opted for a perhaps less popular, but still very tasty and nutritious peanut butter granola bar.
Peanut butter granola bars
Most granola bars are laden with oil and sugar but this less sweet version features honey and protein-packed peanut butter. They make a great recess or coffee break snack and are easy for kids to make, with a little help.
1/4 cup honey 60 mL
1/4 cup peanut butter 60 mL
1/2 teaspoon vanilla 2 mL
11/4 cups quick-cooking oats 310 mL
(not instant)
1/2 cup raisins 125 mL
2 tablespoons chopped nuts, 25 mL
coconut or sunflower seeds
2 tablespoons sesame seeds 25 mL
Combine honey, peanut butter and vanilla in a small microwaveable bowl or measuring cup. Microwave on high for 45 seconds or until melted. Stir thoroughly.
Combine dry ingredients in a large bowl. Add peanut butter. Pat into an ungreased eight inch (20 cm) square pan and bake for 15 to 20 minutes at 350 F (180 C) until golden. Cool completely before slicing into bars.
Makes 16 bars.
Variations:
Stir in two tablespoons (25 mL) of powdered milk, coarsely ground flaxseed and/or wheat germ. Any dried and chopped fruit (cranberries, dates, apricots) or chocolate chips can be substituted for the raisins. These bars are also great crumbled and sprinkled over ice cream, yogurt, breakfast cereal or fruit salad or served as a granola mix.
Source: Straight A’s College Cookbook, Quick Cooking for 1 or 2.
Healthy eating
As we age, we become more aware of keeping ourselves healthy. Our bodies often give us little hints that remind us to look after our health.
As consumers, we are bombarded with information about what to eat to be healthy, fit and full of energy. Who do we trust?
Canada’s Food Guide to Healthy Eating is a reputable guide for us to follow at any age. It was designed to provide direction on healthy eating. It is based on the following principles:
- Enjoy a variety of foods.
- Eat more vegetables, fruits, cereals, breads and other grain products.
- Limit salt, alcohol and caffeine and reduce the amount of fat you eat.
- Achieve and maintain a healthy body weight by enjoying regular physical activity and healthy eating.
The guide is available from Health Canada at www.healthcanada.gc.ca/foodguide.
The average healthy adult female 51 years old or older needs to eat seven servings of vegetables and fruit per day, six grain products, three milk products and alternatives and two meat servings and alternatives.
For a male 51 years or older, the numbers are the same with one more serving of grain products and meat and alternatives. Although we think we are eating healthy most of the time, it is helpful to monitor our diet.
The Canadian Cancer Society suggests that eating five to 10 servings of vegetables and fruit per day can help reduce your risk of cancer, heart disease and stroke.
One-half cup (125 mL) serving of broccoli, carrot, cauliflower, peppers, and potatoes are considered one serving, whereas it takes one cup (250 mL) per serving of cucumber, lettuce and spinach.
One serving of fruit would be one apple, banana or pear, 1/2 cup (125 mL) of blueberries, fruit juice, 10 grapes, two slices of pineapple, eight medium–sized strawberries or one cup (250 mL) of watermelon. One serving of dried fruit is one-quarter cup (60 mL).
Make a habit of including one or more servings of vegetables or fruit at each meal and during snack times. Certain foods that are rich in calories, fat, sugar or salt should only be enjoyed occasionally.
For more information, tips and recipes, check the website www.5to10aday.com or call 888-939-3333.
While waiting in an office recently, I came across a pamphlet, The Plate Mate, a tasty guide to healthy eating, which is produced by a team of registered dieticians at the Dairy Farmers of Canada.
It has a wheel that you can move around to show what you have eaten that day. I turned the wheel to mark the foods and amounts I had eaten the day before to see what food groups I was short of and what foods I needed to be sure I was eating.
Once we are aware of what we are eating, we will make a change. The same applies to exercise. We may think we are active, but when we monitor how much activity we do each day, we can make the necessary changes to improve our endurance, maintain flexibility and build strength.
Diet and exercise can and do play an important role in our health. Take responsibility for your health today. Check out the website www.naturallyunique.ca.
Barbara Sanderson is a home economist from Rosetown, Sask., and one of four columnists comprising Team Resources. Send correspondence in care of this newspaper, Box 2500, Saskatoon, Sask., S7K 2C4 or contact them at team@producer.com.
