Cold, Yummy and Healthy

Just when you think summer is over, along comes another spell of intense and cloying warmth. It's the perfect time for refreshing ice pops!

Ice Pop Joy: Organic, Healthy, Fresh, Delicious, by Anni Daulter, is a great alternative for those looking for cool but healthy treats. Don't depend on those refined sugar popsicles you get at the store. Why not make your own, nutritious versions? And these aren't just pops for kids--these have great appeal for adults, too.

Check out the book's website for more pictures and some free recipes. But check the book itself out from the Urbana Free Library, and create all sorts of scrumptious icy taste treats yourself. Bet you'll want a supply to enjoy all year round--not just in the heat of summer.

Makin' Whoopie

Zac, a cheftestant on Bravo TV's Top Chef: Just Desserts, created a gourmet-level, deep fried Whoopie Pie recently.  And I thought, what the heck is a Whoopie Pie?  Not exactly a central Illinois delicacy.

Now I know all about the tasty treat, thanks to Sarah Billingsley's & Amy Treadwell's extensive recipe guide, Whoopie Pies: Dozens of Mix 'em Match 'em, Eat 'em Up Recipes.

What is a whoopie pie?  Basically, it's a snack comprised of two cake-like cookies, with a yummy filling in between.

The variations are endless! The book contains decorating ideas, tools you'll need, how to store your little mouthfuls, and a variety of ideas for cakes and creamy fillings that can be mixed and matched.

Whoopies pies don't have to be sweet, either! You could create savory Jalapeño cornbread cakes and smudge them together with bacon-chive goat cheese--or not.  It all depends on your tastebuds.

To wet your appetite, the authors are starring in their own book trailer, demonstrating some of their cooking and decorating techniques. So check'em out--or check the book Whoopie Pies out from us at The Urbana Free Library and have a delicious time.

The Diabetic Pastry Chef

My mother was recently diagnosed with diabetes. Her weakness, cake. Therefore, I was delighted to come across The Diabetic Pastry Chef by Stacey Harris. Filled with delicious recipes, (I have tried a few myself), and lots of tips on how to cut sugars, carbs, and even cholesterol from your favorite goodies, this book is a must have for anyone with diabetes who wants to continue to indulge their sweet tooth.
The recipes encompass breads, cakes, pies, cookies and more. Might I suggest the peanut butter oatmeal chocolate chip cookie? Maybe you'd prefer the earl gray cake with chocolate sauce? Banana waffles? Or perhaps a sour cream apple pie sounds good with fall just around the corner?

Next to every recipe are the Nutrition Facts allowing consumers the knowledge of just how much fat, sodium, carbs, etc... are contained in each treat. And, Stacey does a wonderful job of explaining the difference between types of flours used, sugar substitutes, and discussing different aspects of controlling diabetes.

One tip my husband and I tried was to use 1/2 c plain yogurt instead of eggs and oil in our box mix brownies. We saved 119 grams of fat and 424 milligrams of cholesterol per batch. And they were delicious, tasting more like a chocolate cake.

So grab a copy for yourself and see just how sweet it is!