For Those With a Sweet Tooth...

Browned Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies

I plan to blog some of the food combinations I have come up with over the past 2 years. But I have also found recipes through the "Cooking Light" magazine where they make-over a favorite. And in the October 2012 issue, there was a make-over recipe for chocolate chip cookies. I recently took on the task to make these tasty goodies. One thing I personally love is raw cookie dough and I of course tasted the make-over dough to see if it tastes the same as the traditional recipe and I couldn't tell a difference at all and the baked result was just as delicious. Here's the recipe and instructions from the magazine. Click Here for more information on the recipe.

Browned Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies

Classic Cookie Has 187 Calories | Make-Over Has 98 Calories

Ingredients

• 6 Tablespoons Unsalted Butter
• 2 Tablespoons Canola Oil
• 1 1/4 Cups All-Purpose Flour
• 3/4 Cup Whole Wheat Flour
• 1 Teaspoon Baking Powder
• 1/2 Teaspoon Kosher Salt
• 3/4 Cup Light Brown Sugar
• 2/3 Cup Granulated Sugar
• 1/2 Teaspoon Vanilla Extract
• 2 Large Eggs Lightly Beaten
• 1/2 Cup Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips
• 1/3 Cup Dark Chocolate Chips 

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 375°.
2. Heat butter in a small saucepan over 
3. medium heat; cook 5 minutes or until browned. Remove from heat; add oil. Set aside to cool.
4. Weigh or lightly spoon flours into dry measuring cups; level with a knife. Combine flours, baking powder, and salt, stirring with a whisk. Place butter mixture and sugars in a large bowl; beat with a mixer at medium speed until combined. Add vanilla and eggs; beat until well blended. Add flour mixture, beating at low speed until just combined. Stir in chocolate chips.

When I made these, I didn't use the semi-sweet chocolate chips. I used the dark chocolate chips only and put in 1/2 cup of them.
 

Exercise

Exercise is a huge part in this life style change. You can't just change your eating habits and think oh I only ate 1200, so I don't need to work it off. Well you could do that, but you won't have as much success in seeing that number drop down. 

Walking/Running
Getting outside and getting some natural Vitamin D is so refreshing. I am lucky to live in a neighborhood that has a many roads and paths to walk down around my house. At the very beginning, I walked maybe 1.5 miles before I really started at this. Then I added on a mile to that and walked that twice a day. I then slowly added onto that over-time as I got more energy and got more in shape. I walked 2 hours a day at the very beginning. It's also being willing to commit that time each day. I prefer walking, but have done some running. We have many hills in our neighborhood and I would run down and walk up them. 

But what if it's pouring down rain? Or there is 3 feet of snow on the ground? What did you do in those cases?

I live in North Carolina. We see a good variety of weather conditions during the year. I have been known to walk in the rain with an umbrella when I didn't feel like working-out inside. We don't get all that much snow here, but the first winter I began this, we had a horrible winter and I came up with other ways to exercise inside.

Wii/Wii Fit
This game system has a great variety of games to get you up and moving. I personally have used Wii Active/Wii Active 2, Zumba, Pilates for the Wii. I love getting out the Wii Fit and working out on that. They offer a variety of activities and is really fun to do. The Wii Fit can also help keep track of your weight and BMI.

The Wii Fit also has Yoga on it and it's so relaxing to do. I also love the Pilates game that you can purchase for the Wii. Both activites are relaxing.

Work-Out VHS/DVD
I have a number of these old tapes that I have converted them over to DVD. I have a dance work-out VHS that I will still pop in and do. When I was heavier I remember never being able to make it through that work-out and remember making it through it the first time. Drag these out, you will be surprised at how much they might be. There are also a number of DVD's available for purchase at stores like Wal-Mart and Target.

Walking The Mall/Store
You aren't home and won't be back in time before it's dark outside, park your car far from the store and walk in and just walk around the store. Go up and down each aisle. Another good idea is to walk at the mall. Set a number of laps to do while you are in there and then reward yourself with a bit of shopping after you are done walking.

Other Things I Have Done

• I do about 100 sit-ups a day to tone my stomach and help to tighten the loose skin. I won't like I do have extra skin around my belly button, but doing these will help.
• Jumping Jacks. It sounds so corny, but some one I know told me if you do 7,000 of them you can burn upwards of a pound.
• Swimming Laps. During the summer this is a great form of exercise. I can do up to 30 a day when I go, 25 meter pool. Also you can do this in the winter if you have a gym membership. 

• I have a dance CD I also do that has 4 dances on it. (Has Cupid Shuffle, Electric Slide and 2 others) It's quite relaxing for me to do them and gets your heart rate up. Good to have during those rainy and snowy days when you can't get outside to walk/run.

Make sure you have good walking shoes. I use Asics brand, I have used other brands in the past, but they have torn up my feet. I also wear athletic socks, rather than regular socks. Your feet breathe better when you wear those and lessen your chances of getting those pesky and painful water blisters.   

Hello!

Welcome!

 Two years ago I never imagined I would be sitting here and writing this. Two years ago I decided to make a drastic change in my life and adopt a new style of eating and exercising in hopes of losing weight. I met and surpassed my final goal in late Summer 2012. I hope to inspire and help others who have tried those pesky diets and haven't had very much luck. 

Please check out "My Story" for my personal journey. 

 Thanks for stopping by!