Happy Tute Sweet Tuesday!

Ok, you awesome opossum {trulie scrumptious} readers.  You're in for a real treat with a capital 'SWEET'.  My good friend Lille has agreed to honor us with a delectable treat that will have you sitting on your couch watchin' soaps eating bon bons - guilt-free.  Nope, I didn't stutter.  
We're kickin' off our healthy food week {trulie scrumptious} style: 
Sweet Tooth first.
(um, hello-would you really have it any other way?)
 I'm not even gonna spoil by saying what "it" is, so read on, lovies, read on.


Oh, and to catch more scrumptious recipes check out Lille's own scrumptious blog at: http://foodforthroughout.blogspot.com/

Take it away Lille!

Oh my!  I am so excited / nervous to write for all you awesome readers!  Seriously, my hands are shaking as I write this post. 

As I was watching the hubby and kiddo make me dinner last night (why is mother's day a one day ordeal?), I was asked if I could share a healthy recipe for {trulie-scrumptious}.  Hm...a healthy recipe. Why Ashlie thought I knew how to cook healthy, I'll never know. :) But I love to cook, it makes me happy, and so does eating (unfortunately)!! 

Growing up, my dad was the cook in our household every Thursday night while my mom went to a singing group.  We could always count on either cornbread or pancakes.  Always.  However, he was a creative (understatement) cook.  He would scrummage through the fridge to find something "new" to put into pancakes.  I distinctly remember rice and yogurt or cheese and potatoes.  Yes, I wrote those right.  I attribute my creative cooking to my dad.  To this day, I cannot, I repeat, CANNOT have plain jane pancakes.  So boring!  So if you give me a recipe, sure I'll follow it, but not before adding a little "Lille spice" into the mixture.  

ANYWAYS, what does this have to do with me being a healthy eater?  Realizing that I really do LOVE to eat, I need to be careful with how I cook.  (If I may brag here, I have learned how to make a mean batch of muddy buddies without butter.  Still not healthy, yes I know, but a little less guilt per bite.)  Now I have been one of "those people" that diets on and off throughout the years.  I'm definitely still working on the perfect body, but I have learned one thing through all those crazy diets.  

You ready to hear my itty bitty tiny secret?  Ok, but I'm telling you, and only you.  So lean in a little closer.  A little closer.  Alright, the secret to success is....don't cut yourself off completely from sweets.  Ok, so many of you may be shaking your heads, some may have already shut their lap tops, but I am here to say that if you cut yourself off from sweets completely, the likelihood of SPLURGING / BINGING will make us all fall short.  I myself went 2 months without eating any sweets (where is that girl now?), but when I came back to reality, my goodness.  The candy heavens opened up to me and let me in.  I truly indulged.  So to keep me a little more regimented, I allow two sweet days per week.  Not splurge days, just a little treat day.  And this helps me not go crazy with the sweets.  

So to help us all get in those bikinis that sit in the back of our deepest drawer, let's not forget about reality.  We all have a sweet tooth.  

Alright, alright.  Get to the good part. Do you like the Samoa cookies the Girl Scouts sell?  Well, I surely do.  They somehow find me every year.  So I have altered a recipe to satisfy all cravings with a familiar taste of those GLORIOUS Samoas, but without the guilt.  Each cookie is only 35 calories.  YUP, 35 calories.  You can thank me later. 

Lightened Up Samoa Meringues

• 3 large egg whites (room temperature)
• 1/8 tsp cream of tartar
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1 tsp coconut extract  

(you can use vanilla if you don't have coconut extract. However, coconut extract is a good purchase.  Just saying.)

• 1/2 cup sweetened shredded coconut
• 1/2 cup chocolate chips

Makes approximately 30-35 cookies

Heat oven to 300°F. Line cookie sheet with parchment paper (or just use spray oil, adds a little more fat, but we all have spray oil).

Using a mixer, beat the egg whites and cream of tartar together in large bowl at high speed until soft peaks form. Gradually add sugar a little at a time, beating well after each addition until you get stiff peaks, the sugar is dissolved and the mixture is glossy, then beat in the coconut extract.  Once you've done all your beating, fold in the coconut and chocolate chips.  

Drop mixture by tablespoons onto cookie sheet.

{Disclaimer, these pictures are not my own, but via google search}

Bake 35 to 45 minutes or just until dry. Cool slightly (psh, if you can resist after smelling them cook); remove from cookie sheet. Cool on wire rack. Store covered, at room temperature.

Now I am here to say, that these delectable cookies are one of my favorite treats.  And SUPER EASY to make!!  So pick your treat day, and treat yourself for being good, exercising and eating right!

XOXO

Lille