Monday, September 13, 2021

Healthy choices!

 
Getting out in nature has been the best decision we've made throughout this terrible pandemic.


So I'm sharing a few of the photos I took on our hike at Halpata Tastanaki Preserve this week.


It was hard to get a good photo of the lime green airplane, it blended in with the sky!


We saw several Great White Egrets.


And a couple of Red-Shouldered Hawks.

It was a beautiful day to be out in nature.

And for my favorite thing today, I'd like to share the Vanilla Wafer recipe I use. It is amazing!


Most of you know I can't eat sugar. It's a healthy choice but for me a necessary one too. I am allergic to sugar and can't eat it. So we eat a lot more homemade breads and desserts. 

Keto Vanilla Wafer Cookies


1 cup Super Fine Almond Flour
1/4 cup Powdered Swerve or favorite no-calorie sweetener
1 tsp Baking Powder
1 pinch Sea Salt
1 tbsp Vanilla Extract
3 tbsp Unsalted Butter, softened but not warm, see notes

In a large bowl, whisk together the Almond Flour, Baking Powder, Sweetener, and Salt. Pour in the Vanilla Extract and stir. There will be some clumps but they will diffuse as we mix!

Chop the butter into 4-5 chunks and add to the flour. Using your hands, begin to work the butter into the flour mixture until a dough forms. Work quickly to keep the heat from your hands from melting the butter! Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate for 30 min.

Heat oven to 350°f and line a large baking sheet with parchment or a silicone baking mat.

To bake: scoop about 1.5 tsp of dough and form into a ball. Place between the palms of your hands and press into a saucer shape. To get THE LOOK of a nilla wafer the edges should be flatter than the center; they won't spread.

Place on the baking sheet and bake for 9 minutes, watching until the edges are brown. They make bake up to 12 minutes depending on how long you chill your dough.

Transfer the baked cookies to a cooling rack; they will be delicate when hot. Let the cookies cool completely for maximum crispness!!! After about 1 hour they will firm up and continue to get crispy.

NUTRITION INFORMATION: Serving Size - 2 cookies

Amount Per Serving
Calories - 123
Total Fat - 11g
Carbohydrates - 3g
Fiber - 2g
Protein - 3g

The online recipe is HERE.

I can use my Danish whisk to combine all the ingredients! And I watch these cookies very closely while they are baking. They are perfectly done in my oven in 10 minutes! I leave them on the cookie sheet (or pizza pan) for a few minutes to harden before I put them on a rack to cool.


I'm joining Angie for Mosaic Monday HERE . 

Also I like Thursdays HERE.   


49 comments:

Edna B said...

Your recipe sounds delicious. I love that little pink flower in the bottom mosaic. You have a wonderful day, hugs, Edna B.

MadSnapper said...

i don't eat sugar either, not since Jan 26, 2017. these sound delish and I have recently stopped the gluten so have the almond flour. no block of butter though. it is a little more than i cook but i might try it

Tom said...

...WOW, two tiny cookies are 123 calories?

www.self-sufficientsam.blogspot.com said...

Thank you for the recipe. Did you get a new car? The red one? Cool looking!

Lea said...

Great photos!
Have a wonderful week!

Beside a babbling brook... said...

Not eating sugar, is something I have wanted to ask about.

If you have done posts about it, would you please tell me the "Topic" they are under, so I can look them up? Please and thank you.

Oh yes, being able to be out in Nature, has to have been the best way, to get through this horrible China-Covid Pandemic! Keep at it, so you will always be able to do so. Perhaps less distance, over the years, but continue, continue, continue. -smile-

🍎🌻🍁🍂🍁🌻🍎

Salty Pumpkin Studio said...

Good recipe to have without sugar!
Always love seeing your Jeep. lol

BeachGypsy said...

I love all the pretty pictures and seeing the recipe!--- I apologize for not commenting much lately--- I've been very very distracted but I do come read every day! Hugs my sweet friend!

Carla from The River said...

Thank you for the recipe. :-)
A lime green airplane.. that is cool!

eileeninmd said...

Spending time outside with nature is one of my favorite things.
Wonderful photos, love the birds, view the trail and the planes.
Take care, enjoy your week!

Carol @Comfort Spring Station said...

beautiful photos - love your hikes

Betty said...

I love seeing your pictures. I am hoping to get out soon and take some of our state soon. I have to try that recipe. My Hubby is a diabetic and he loves cookies and miss them. These wafers look like something he would like.

Billie Jo said...

Always enjoy visiting here. Your photos are so lovely and bright! I really need to spend time outdoors. Out of my Jeep, that is!

Debbie said...

so many more people are walking now than have in the past, it has become very popular. here at the shore, bike shops sold out of bikes because so many people were biking too!!

the white egrets are so pretty, the hawks are too!!

i bake a lot and because i can, i always use sugar. i always justify it with spread out over an entire batch, how much could it be?? it's good you have found things you enjoy to compensate for your allergy!!

Pat @ Mille Fiori Favoriti said...

Diane, I never knew you had an allergy to sugar! Does that also include corn syrup? So much corn syrup seems to be added to many foods these days, even savory things. Your cookies look tasty--I just bought a new bottle of vanilla today and was happy to see that the price was more affordable than it has been lately.

You are right about being out in nature being a good choice during the pandemic. Enjoy your beautiful weather and sights!

Janey and Co. said...

Always enjoy seeing pictures from your hikes. I also enjoy seeing any kind of bird. Funny when we hike here we see no planes. We are too remote and they are up so high you can’t even hear them….only see an occasional jet trail.

That is about to change….as you know we depart for Texas for good on Weds. Life changes…but I am hoping for the best..Hugs, Janey

Dixie @ Arranged Words said...

Lovely hike. I love to be out hiking too.
My, those Egrets are so pretty.
Glad to see you have worked your way around your allergy. Your cookies look delicious!

Susan Kane said...

Super walk and adventures. Danish whisk? They look so wonderful.

happyone said...

I'm afraid I still like my sugar once in a while. :)
Walking has sure kept me sane!! Also living here at HT - we are so blessed.

Carrie @ Cottage Cozy said...

Thank you sooo much for the cookie recipe - I am going to make them today!

Terri D said...

Your cookies look and sound delicious! As always, I love your photos! xo

Jenn Jilks said...

It's been wonderful getting outdoors. Well done with the airplane photos. They are difficult.

Cloudia said...

Wonderful photos and recipes. I feel as if I've been in nature thank you. I also make pies with no sugar! Good for you

Linda said...

Nature has been my salvation.

Angie said...

Diane - I couldn't agree with you more - nature has saved those of us who are blessed enough to have it nearby! And I am blessed to have you linking up to Mosaic Monday every week!

Ann said...

I don't get outside as much as I used to. I really should get back in the habit of going out for walks.
The cookies look good

David M. Gascoigne, said...

Pandemic or not, getting out into nature is always a good choice,

Pamela M. Steiner said...

Wonderful photos of the birds and hiking place as always. I love to see where you go. And no, I did not realize you were allergic to sugar! Oh my! But you have managed to adapt and that is great. The cookie recipe sounds good. I'm glad you don't have to totally do without "sweet things". Thank you for sharing with us. I love your whisk! Have a blessed day.

stardust said...

You are so fortunate to be able to be tuned into nature whenever you’d like to. Nice shots of The Great White Egret and Red-shouldered Hawks in flight. Your cookies look delicious. Travels by air beyond the borders is one of the things many people are missing. Lime green airplane must be beautiful.

Yoko

Vee said...

That plane is a nifty color. Thank you for your extra efforts in capturing it.

Lea said...

Great photos!
Love the Egrets!
Have a blessed day!

John's Island said...

Hi Lavender Dreamer - Thanks for sharing another neat post. The very first thing I read in the post is so perfect for me and my spouse too ... "Getting out in nature has been the best decision we've made throughout this terrible pandemic." Absolutely the truth. That is the main reason we've been doing a waterfront walk almost every day. The nature restores our love of life. I want to thank you for your comments on my blog. I so appreciated it when you said you would enjoy walking with us. And we would enjoy having you along! :-) Also, thanks for the Keto Vanilla Wafer Cookies recipe. Got to give it a try! Take care and have a great day! John

Olde Dame Holly said...

Delicious cookies and scrumptious photos!

Irina Kovalenko said...

Hello, lavender dreamer. Nice pictures, especially those of white egrets. The recipe though seems too complicated for me. Would you send me one to taste?)) I’ve actually come to you from stardust. While reading your profile I thought there’s a lot in common: love for Italy, Jane Austen, books… That’s what I like about blogging – when incidentally you come across someone with similar interests or views across the globe.
Irina https://irina-alicelovers.blogspot.com/

Linda said...

Bless your heart! I can't even imagine being allergic to sugar! Not that I eat a lot of it - but I bet it does make you very cautious since you're allergic!
Yes, life doesn't seem so serios and somber when you are outside in the fresh air and can see critters and greenery. The weather is slowly becoming milder here in Texas. We do go outside for at least a little while every single day. Not like your hikes by amy means!!

Jeanie said...

Those egrets are fabulous! Thanks for the cookie recipe, too!

gluten Free A_Z Blog said...

Your photos are great and I enjoyed them all and I co old see the green plane perfectly. Nice and easy cookie recipe.

Ricki Treleaven said...

Of course I always love your nature photos, but the green plane is fun, too! Thanks for the recipe because sugar is unhealthy. What's your favorite sugar substitute?

Lowcarb team member said...

I enjoyed seeing your photographs.
Thank you so much for sharing the recipe for the keto cookies :)

All the best Jan

Red Rose Alley said...

Your vanilla wafer cookies sound good. And with a cup of hot coffee, even better. I can't eat too much sugar either.....or breads. ; )

It sounds like a lovely and peaceful day walking in nature. I love those white birds.

~Sheri

kestrel said...

Nature walks are my favourite too especially in the mornings before the day gets too hot. Your paths look long and never ending, hope they were not too tiring. The keto cookies look simple to bake, will try them soon.

Club Crafteria said...

Looks great, hope you enjoyed the outing :)

Kim said...

You have probably maintained your sanity by getting out in nature. Smart girl! I've never heard of a sugar allergy. My, that would be so challenging. Thank God for keto desserts! The "All Day I Dream About Food" blog is a good one for keto sweets. She's a wiz!

Love seeing your Danish whisk in action! They sure are handy things! Take care, Diane!

Creations By Cindy said...

I always enjoy your pictures. So glad you get to take those walks in nature. God's country for sure! I keep saying I am going to order me one of those whisks. I am so sorry you are allergic to sugar as so many things has sugar in it. But, it is for sure a healthy choice to delete it. I have a friend that many years ago realized that the culprit of her horrific migraines was mainly from the sugar she ate. I had never heard of that before but when she stopped using sugar he headaches stopped. CRAZY I know. I hope you have a wonderful weekend. Hugs and blessings, Cindy

BeachGypsy said...

hi there Diane, I just love all your pictures and enjoy your hikes so much....it feels like I am really right along with y'all! I ate ALOT OF VANILLA WAFERS growing up, they were always in the pantry, haha LOL. We ate them spread with peanut butter for a snack when we were kids, LOL. Hope your week has been great! I am SO ENJOYING the link you sent me...wow, what a pretty blog!! Hugs my friend! happy weekend

NanaDiana said...

LOVE the lime green plane! Those cookies sound delicious. I try to not eat sugar, either. For me it is my drug of choice...bad all the way around for me!
I hope you have a wonderful weekend, Diane. Hugs- Diana

Sallie (FullTime-Life) said...

My mother used to make a cookie she called 'ice-cream wafers" that looked just like your cookies (I remember being disappointed because they weren't ice cream -- I think you were supposed to eat them as an accompaniment to a dish of it!) But they were good on their own, of course I'm sure hers were made with sugar -- it's funny I hadn't thought of those for years and years, even though I baked a lot for our kids I never asked her for that recipe!

Your hike looks wonderful. that clear blue sky is making me envious -- one of these days again!! I hope.

Teresa said...

Los paseos por la naturaleza son preciosos y me encantan. Besos.

handmade by amalia said...

The pandemic has certainly given us new appreciation for nature. And friendship.
Amalia
xo