Wednesday, February 25, 2009

What's Cooking Wednesday: Blogger Aid Cookbook Recipe - You Decide!



Please go to The Fairy Blogmother for more What's Cooking Wednesday participants.

So... there's this cookbook:



If you don't know what this is all about, just check out yesterday's post.

The rules for submission are that you can post ABOUT the recipe on the blog, but you can't post the recipe.

I really struggled with what to choose. First of all, I've been sick, sick, sick with one thing or another since early January and my cooking production is not what it usually is. Second, for a whole variety of foods, there are other bloggers who would blow me out of the water - not that this is a competition, but I just would feel... out of my league. Entirely. And I'm going to write about those bloggers tomorrow.

Finally, I realized that desserts would work. Especially healthy desserts that are low in calories and fat, but big on flavor. I do those well.

So I leave you with two choices:

The first is Bittersweet-Banana Power Muffins:




Imagine your house smelling of melted chocolate and rich banana. Imagine cheating on your diet for breakfast (or dessert). Imagine a complete meal of whole grains, fruit and protein and anti-oxidants in a delicious, chocolate muffin. Imagine the whole thing coming in at under 150 calories and under 5 grams of fat.

Imagine... Bittersweet-Banana Power Muffins.

The second, though, is actually my favorite - Orange-Pistachio-Apricot Biscotti:



Imagine biting into a burst of Middle Eastern flavors. Imagine the delicate smell of orange flower water and the tart goodness of dried apricots mixed with the salty goodness of pistachios. Imagine the delicate crunch of this biscotto, which uses a secret ingredient for a slightly different, more delicate texture. Imagine a perfect accompaniment to that morning cup of coffee that won't even put a scratch in your calorie budget. Imagine biting into Spring.

Imagine... Orange-Pistachio-Apricot Biscotti.

Okay, gang, what I submit is up to you. Please just leave a comment below, and that recipe will (hopefully) become part of the history that is Children Are The Future Cookbook. Please leave your votes in the comments section.

And while you're at it, don't forget my Blogger Aid Give-away. Do a good deed and be entered to win a good book!

33 comments:

mrs. g. said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
anno said...

I'm with Ben: This looks like a very tough decision. But I have exceptionally fond memories of the biscotti you made at Christmas, so I'm adding my vote for this version!

Jen said...

Ben and Anno, thanks for the votes! Ben, you're one of the folks I plan to write about tomorrow. ;-)

Anno - I hope you might lend your cooking talents to the cookbook if you have the time/energy, too.

Korie said...

The biscotti, definitely. Only because I am guaranteed to overdo it on anything chocolate.

Ivy said...

Wow, I want both but if I have to choose among them I also vote for the biscotti.

Charity Tahmaseb said...

Well, I'm going to be outvoted, for sure, but I say the muffins. Mainly because they look like something I could cook (you know, in theory, it could happen).

The biscotti = way too fancy. Even if all the stars and planets aligned, we all know this one simple fact: I'm never going to be able to cook that.

Valerie Harrison (bellini) said...

You are making it a tough decision Jen. We could use either recipe in the cookbook because we don't have anything similar. I am on the fence:D

Jen said...

Lilac and Ivy - thanks!

Charity - really, the biscotti are NOT hard. The muffins are a bit easier, though. ;-) The muffins are also more kid-friendly, maybe. They'd be a good project for the mom/daughter cooking club.

Well, Val, I guess we'll see what the final numbers are! It's fun to know there aren't similar recipes yet.

Thistlemoon said...

I think these are both really awesome recipes Jen and I am so happy to see all these posts about Blogger Aid! So awesome!!!

I am going to have to go with the biscotti! Because, well ya know, it's biscotti!

WIDNEY WOMAN said...

I vote for the biscotti. I'm not a chocolate lover.

Anonymous said...

Jen, these are just what I need, what we all need, right now!

I will choose the biscotti, but the power of the chocolate muffin, just the picture, makes me want it.

No, still, I stick with the sensible, versatile biscotti.

Eleonora Baldwin said...

Even though I am a devoted choco-freak, I vote biscotti.
I must look into the Blogger Aid event, will report back soon. Ciao!

Madam Crunchypants said...

I... ack!

I vote biscotti. But could you send me the chocobanana recipe? I have more frozen bananas than I know what to do with. :D

Jen said...

Jenn, Widney, Oh, Lola and Thalia - thanks so much for weighing in. It looks like biscotti it is, unless I get some other trends going...

And yes, Thalia and Charity, as long as the biscotti recipe goes in the cookbook, I'll be happy to send out the other. But I'm going to wait a couple more days. ;-) And Thalia, I developed it specifically because I had bananas that *had* to be used. ;-)

Momisodes said...

Out of your league? Nonsense!

These look and sound incredible. I'd say submit both if you could. However, being a chocoholic, and a realist, I'm with Charity. The muffins are right up my alley.

Jen said...

One vote for the muffins, Momisodes! I also posted this on Michigan Lady Food Bloggers, which is a team blog I contribute to, and the chocolate muffins are starting to get some votes, in earnest...

Meg said...

In my book, chocolate always wins. Yet the biscotti may be more unique.

I'm assuming both are low-fat, low-calorie, right?

Jen said...

Meg, the muffins come in around 134 cals and 4.8 grams of fat, I think. The biscotti are about 60 cals with 2.2 grams of fat. These are both what I remember... two biscotti would be about the "fullness" equivalent of one muffin, so they're pretty darned equal.

Lucy..♥ said...

Jen, I just can't decide, so I'll take one of each ;-)

Thank you for stopping by, hope to see you again ;-) I'll be back later!

Jen said...

Thanks, Lucy - come by anytime! ;-)

Anonymous said...

Your biscotti looks so good! I hope you are feeling better? :)

Brittany | the Home Ground said...

OK, so obviously I'm outvoted, but this is democracy, right? I vote muffin. Chocolate, muffin, all of that packed in? Duh!

Jen said...

Maryann, I'm getting there, thank you!

Brittany, I'm getting enough votes for the chocolate that I'll have to do something with it!

Liz Dwyer said...

Hmm... I'm so torn! They both look delicious. I want to eat it all! But since I'm sitting here contemplating what tea I'm going to drink, I think I'll go for the biscotti! :)

nyc/caribbean ragazza said...

hmmm...I think I will have to go with the biscotti.

Jen said...

Los Angelista and NYC - good choices! Can you tell I have a preference? ;-)

Shan said...

Biscotti!

glamah16 said...

Orange pistachio apricot biscotti!

Jen said...

Thanks, Shan and Glamah! Shan... I still can't leave comments on your blog - have you gotten my e-mails? I wasn't sure... I'm bummed not to be able to review your wonderful recipes!

Núria said...

Yes, the biscotti!!!! Or am I too late for voting?

Susan @ SGCC said...

They both look fabulous, Jen! Either would be a great addition to the cookbook. :)

Goofball said...

Is this voting still going on.

There's chocolate in your muffin...so I must go for the biscotti for sure.

ThrtnWmsFam said...

That biscotti looks delicious! Wonder if there's a way to make it gluten-free? Vikki at www.survival-cooking.com