Friday, December 25, 2009 at 06:37 AM
Remember my 2008 Year End Review post? It was so fun to write, I wanted to do one for 2009 as well.
It’s been quite an interesting (and exciting!) year for me. There were so many changes! I’m in a totally difference place than I was a year ago. It’s a place that I never expected to be, but I’ve throughly enjoyed the ride to get here, and who knows what 2010 will bring! 
Posted by: Tina
Posted in: favorite posts
Sunday, November 22, 2009 at 08:04 PM
What a delicious Sunday night dinner! I whipped up a big batch of pasta with all of the fixings and baked a yummy batch of cookies with enormous chunks of dark chocolate for dessert. It was a night of good eats! 
For dinner, I started by cooking a package of whole wheat and ground flaxseed linguine from Nella Pasta.
And then I combined leftover sausage, spinach, and marinara from last night’s pizza dinner to create a hearty meat sauce. I amped up its nutrient profile by throwing in some fresh spinach that blended right into the sauce.
I decreased the nutritiousness of the meal by adding a piece of Texas Garlic Toast. Texas Toast tastes frickin’ amazing, but the ingredient list is so scary! 
Oh well, eating one piece won’t kill me– and it was SO worth it!
I ate dinner in front of the TV while watch the Pats with the guys. I snapped a pic of dinner on the kitchen counter before plopping down on the couch.
And, for dessert: Chocolate-Almond Butter Cookies!!! 
After my cookie mishap last week, I decided to utilize a plate for my dessert. The physical act of putting cookies to a plate and eating them one at a time, definitely helped me pace myself and satisfy my sweet tooth after just 3 cookies– instead of a the whole batch!
Chocolate-Almond Butter Cookies
Makes approximately 36 cookies
Ingredients:
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 3/4 cup packed brown sugar
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 stick butter, softened
- 1/2 cup dark chocolate chunks (I broke a Scharffen Berger bar into pieces)
- 1/2 cup sliced almonds
Directions:
- Preheat oven to 350*F.
- Combine all ingredients in a large bowl. Mix well until batter is blended evenly.
- Use a tablespoon to portion cookies on a greased baking sheet, approximately 1-2 inches apart.
- Bake cookies for 12-15 minutes.
- Remove cookies from baking sheet and allow to cool on wire rack.
- Eat and enjoy!
Amazing cookies! Seriously, they are AWESOME! But, they’re awesome because they have a TON of sugar and a whole stick of butter in them. They’re definitely the type of cookies that you bake and share with others! I’m glad that the guys are eating them while they watch the game– otherwise, I’d devour them myself!
I can’t believe the weekend is just about over. It flew by! Enjoy the last few hours! 
Posted by: Tina
Posted in: favorite posts, recipe
Tags: Chocolate Almond Butter Cookies, Nella Pasta
