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Vermont Maple Pecan Cookies

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By: The editors of Relish magazine

The word “cookie” is a corruption of the Dutch koekje, meaning “little cake.” But cookies are not a Dutch invention. Cookie-like confections date to 7th-century Persia, not coincidentally one of the first regions to cultivate sugar cane. As sugar spread, cookies followed. In the United States, successive waves of immigrants have contributed to our collective cookie jar—a heritage that’s unique even by name, since most English-speaking countries call them “biscuits.”

Speculation has it that many cookies were accidental byproducts of cake baking when bakers tested the temperature of their ovens with small bits of batter. Fanciful cookie shapes date to Medieval Germany, where gingerbread was a high art strictly regulated by guilds.

One of the most famous cookies, the Toll House Cookie, was invented in 1930 by Ruth Wakefield, proprietor of the Toll House Inn in Massachusetts. Hoping to devise a chocolate sugar cookie, she chopped bar chocolate into her batter, expecting it to melt. It didn’t. She subsequently licensed her recipe to Nestle.


Vermont Maple Pecan Cookies

These addictive cookies are certain to be the hit of any bake sale or cookie swap. Hearty oats and shredded coconut provide a chewy texture while toasted pecans add crunch. Tightly covered, these cookies will keep 1 week, although they seldom last that long.
3          cups old-fashioned oats
1          cup shredded unsweetened coconut
2 2/3    cups all-purpose flour
1          teaspoon salt
1          teaspoon ground cinnamon
2          cups packed light brown sugar
1          cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter
1/2       cup maple syrup
2          tablespoons light corn syrup
2          teaspoons baking soda
1/4       cup boiling water
1          teaspoon maple flavoring
2          cups chopped toasted pecans

  1. Preheat oven to 300F degrees and position racks in the upper and lower thirds of the oven. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
    2. Combine oats, coconut, flour, salt, cinnamon and brown sugar in a large bowl; whisk to blend.
    3. Combine butter, maple syrup and corn syrup in a medium saucepan. Heat over medium-low heat until butter melts, stirring occasionally; remove from heat.
    4. Combine baking soda and boiling water, stirring to dissolve. Add to maple syrup mixture, stirring well. Add maple extract. Stir into dry ingredients. Add pecans; stir well.
    5. Place 1/4-cup size balls of dough on baking sheets, 3 inches apart. Flatten balls slightly.
    6. Bake 18 to 20 minutes, until golden brown and set, rotating positions halfway through the baking process. Cool on the baking sheets 5 minutes; transfer to a wire rack to cool completely. Makes about 2 1/2 dozen cookies.

Recipe by Julie Hession

Photo by Mark Boughton Photography / styling by Teresa Blackburn

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EDIBLES

Recipe of the week

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A Comfort Food Favorite for Football Nights

(Family Features) With football season in full swing, it’s time to break out game day favorites that get the crowd on their feet. This Bison Barbecue Meatloaf may not be a traditional tailgate item, but it’s a perfect way to bring the family together for weeknight games.

Visit Culinary.net to find more game day dishes.

Bison Barbecue Meatloaf

Recipe courtesy of “Cookin’ Savvy”
Servings: 4-6

  • 1 pound ground bison
  • 1/3 pound hamburger (optional)
  • 2 tablespoons mesquite seasoning or barbecue seasoning
  • 1 egg
  • 1/2 cup barbecue sauce

Glaze:

  • 1 cup barbecue sauce
  • 2 tablespoons brown sugar
  1. Heat oven to 350 F.
  2. In bowl, mix bison; hamburger, if using; seasoning; egg; and barbecue sauce. Place in loaf pan.
  3. To make glaze, mix barbecue sauce and brown sugar. Spread over meatloaf.
  4. Bake 45 minutes.


SOURCE:
Culinary.net

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EDIBLES

Save time and money with this 2-for-1 family meal

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(Family Features) One of the easiest ways to save money in the kitchen is avoiding food waste. Save that leftover chicken for this quick, creamy Chicken Spaghetti that can feed the entire family with enough leftovers to freeze and enjoy next week.

Since you have to cook once, you might as well make enough to double dip to save money, time and trouble. Find more family meal inspiration by visiting Culinary.net.

Chicken Spaghetti

Recipe courtesy of “Cookin’ Savvy”
Servings: 4

  • 2 pounds spaghetti noodles
  • 1 box chicken broth
  • water
  • 3 cups chopped, cooked chicken
  • 2 tablespoons garlic powder
  • 1 tablespoon onion powder
  • 1 can (10 ounces) cream of celery
  • 1 can (10 ounces) diced tomatoes and green chiles
  • salt, to taste
  • pepper, to taste
  • 1/2 block pasteurized cheese
  • shredded cheese or Parmesan cheese (optional)
  • French bread (optional)
  • salad (optional)
  1. In large Dutch oven, cook spaghetti noodles in chicken broth and water. While noodles are cooking, add chicken and let water reduce until almost gone and noodles are moist.
  2. Turn off heat and add garlic powder, onion powder, cream of celery and diced tomatoes with chiles; add salt and pepper, to taste. Cut cheese into chunks and add to Dutch oven. Mix well and cover Dutch oven with lid, about 5 minutes.
  3. Serve spaghetti with shredded cheese or Parmesan on top, if desired. Serve with French bread and salad, if desired.

Tip: Leftovers can be placed in disposable aluminum pan and covered with foil. Freeze up to 1 month. When ready to eat, heat oven to 350 F and bake 30 minutes with foil on then 5 minutes with foil removed. If dry, add 1/2 cup chicken broth during final 5 minutes.


SOURCE:
Culinary.net

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EDIBLES

3 smart ways to support brain health

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(Family Features) Staying healthy goes far beyond physical activity. If you’re laying out a path toward healthier living, keep your brain’s fitness top of mind. As the command center of the body, it influences every aspect of life and requires healthy stimulation, nourishment and adequate rest.

Consider a few key suggestions from the experts at the Mayo Clinic to keep your brain sharp:

Satisfy Cravings with Healthy Foods
You can establish a strong foundation for brain health by consuming healthy, whole foods such as whole grains, fish, legumes and healthy fats, plus an abundance of fruits and vegetables, including grapes and leafy greens. Research suggests grapes help maintain a healthy brain. In a human study of elderly subjects with mild cognitive decline, UCLA researchers found consuming 2 1/4 cups of grapes every day preserved healthy metabolic activity in regions of the brain associated with early-stage Alzheimer’s disease. 

Combinations of these healthy foods can be made into tasty dishes that support brain health such as this Chicken and Grape Cauliflower Rice Bowl, which features fresh Grapes from California alongside grilled chicken, cauliflower, zucchini, garbanzo beans and healthy spices.

Sleep Well
Health experts recommend aiming for at least seven hours of sleep per night. As noted by the Mayo Clinic, adequate sleep may help boost overall memory and brain health by giving the brain time to effectively consolidate memories.

Sweat It Out
Physical activity provides well-known benefits for the entire body, including increasing blood flow to the brain. After breaking a sweat, make sure you refuel with a post-workout snack like Grapes from California for natural hydration and an energy boost.

For more information on grapes and brain health, visit GrapesfromCalifornia.com and find more tasty recipes that support brain health.

Chicken and Grape Cauliflower Rice Bowl

Servings: 4

Chicken:

  • 1/2 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 teaspoon minced garlic
  • 1 teaspoon minced fresh ginger
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1/2 teaspoon turmeric
  • salt, to taste
  • pepper, to taste
  • 1 pound (3-4 pieces) small boneless, skinless chicken breast halves

Zucchini:

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 2 medium zucchini, trimmed and cut into 3/4-inch chunks
  • 1 1/3 cups halved red Grapes from California

Cauliflower Rice:

  • 1 bag (1 pound) thawed frozen riced cauliflower
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 medium onion, chopped
  • 1/3 cup water
  • 2 large garlic cloves, minced
  • 2 teaspoons fresh ginger, minced
  • 1 tablespoon ground cumin
  • 1 teaspoon turmeric
  • 1 can (15 ounces) garbanzo beans, drained and rinsed well
  • 1/3 cup chopped fresh cilantro
  • salt, to taste
  • pepper, to taste
  1. To make chicken: In medium bowl, combine oil, garlic, ginger and cumin. Add turmeric, season lightly with salt and pepper, to taste, and whisk to blend. Lightly pound chicken pieces to even them out then turn to coat in oil-spice mixture. Let stand 20-30 minutes.
  2. Heat heavy, large skillet over medium-high heat until hot. Add chicken, smooth side down, and cook until golden brown underneath, about 4 minutes. Flip with spatula, reduce heat to medium and cook about 4 minutes until just cooked through. Transfer chicken to plate and tent with foil. Do not clean pan.
  3. To make zucchini: In medium skillet over medium-high heat, heat oil until hot. Add zucchini pieces and cook, stirring often until crisp-tender, about 4 minutes. Remove from heat.
  4. To make cauliflower rice: In colander, drain cauliflower well. In same large skillet used for chicken, add oil, onion and water over medium heat; cook, stirring until softened, about 3 minutes. Add garlic, ginger, cumin and turmeric; cook, stirring, 3 minutes. Add drained cauliflower and garbanzo beans; cook until hot, about 5 minutes. Stir in cilantro and season with salt and pepper, to taste.
  5. Divide cauliflower rice among four large soup bowls. Slice chicken against grain and arrange on top of cauliflower rice along with grapes and cooked zucchini. Serve warm.

Nutritional information per serving: 420 calories; 34 g protein; 42 g carbohydrates; 14 g fat (30% calories from fat); 2.5 g saturated fat (5% calories from saturated fat); 65 mg cholesterol; 280 mg sodium; 10 g fiber.


SOURCE:
California Table Grape Commission

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