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Delicious Toffee Cookies

In 1968 my grandparents’ best friends The Battins, shared this toffee recipe with my grandmother and since then it has become a family Christmas favorite.

104 Mrs. Battin’s Cookies

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cook time: 20-25 minutes depending on oven

Oven Temperature: 350 degrees

Servings: 24 2X2 squares

Cookie Ingredients

1 cup butter

1 cup brown sugar

1 teaspoon almond extract

2 teaspoon strong brewed coffee

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

2 cups flour

1 cup chocolate chips

1/2 cup chopped walnuts

Glaze Ingredients

1 tablespoon butter, melted

3/4 cups sifted powered sugar

1/8 teaspoon almond extract

2 tablespoons milk

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cream butter and brown sugar in a bowl until light and fluffy. Add almond extract and coffee to butter mixture and mix well. Blend baking powder, salt, and flour in a separate bowl.  Add flour mixture to butter mixture. Add chocolate chips and nuts to mixture. Once well mixed, press into a greased jelly roll pan. Bake 20-25 minutes, or until golden brown.

While cookie is baking, prepare the glaze by combining melted butter, powdered sugar, extract, and milk.

Spread the glaze over the cookies using a knife or off-set spatula.

Allow to cool thoroughly before slicing and removing from pan. Store in an air tight container.

Enjoy!

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ashleyd /

Vega Good Giveaway

As promised, I am hosting a Vega Good giveaway!

 

Last week, I had the great opportunity to learn about this product and other Vega products directly from Brendan Brazier, vegan pro triathalete and author of Thrive.

Whole Food Health Optimizer is made from natural plant-based whole foods.  In addition, the great flavor is high in fiber, protein, and essential fatty acids. It really is an all-in-one natural plant based formula that is a perfect way to boost any smoothie, oatmeal, or even an afternoon coffee or tea.

I want to let one of my readers try this great product first hand. I will choose a winner Friday evening.

Want to win?

1. Click here to enter your email address and Healthy, Happier Bear as your referral! Please leave a comment letting me know you did that.

2. Tweet or link back to this giveaway and ensure you feature @healthyhappier. Feel free to use this: “@healthyhappier is having a Vega good giveaway! http://alturl.com/ric9n”

Good luck!

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ashleyd /

Holy Humidity

It has definitely cooled down outside temperature wise but it is SO humid outside! According to The Weather Channel it was already quite humid at 7am!

Tuesday, July 13

7 am

80° F Temperature

83° F Feels Like

71% Humidity

I convinced Rebecca to give morning running a try which meant she had to wake up an hour early! I sold her on the idea by insuring that a morning workout would provide more energy all day long. I hope I was right.

We met at the corner of 23rd and 2nd Avenue at 6:15 and quickly set out for a four mile run. She took me on her regular path which was down 23rd for about 20 minutes and then turning onto the East River path back up to 23rd. We were both dripping less than half way through.

I love running with a friend as it allows for fun conversation, laughter due to people watching, and you always learn something new. This morning she introduced me to the East River track. Even though I’ve driven by this many times I’ve never seen it.

Unfortunately, my PT session yesterday evening was a tough one filled with hamstring and back strength work. They were right when they said I’d be sore this morning! I had to stop twice to stretch during our run and felt horribly making Rebecca stop. But, the good news is that my first outdoor run since the injury went pretty well. We did 3.8 miles in about 38 minutes which isn’t bad considering we took a walking break for a minute or two and stretched.

The freezing shower helped cool me down after the run but my clothes were definitely dripping sweat. How do you stay cool  and hydrated for morning runs?

All I wanted for breakfast was something cool and refreshing. Therefore, I increased my yogurt quantity this morning in my oats and included juicy, fresh blueberries. This, along with my Venti Green Tea definitely hit the spot!

Blog Pictures 2010 581

Weight Watcher Oatmeal (2 points)

1/2 c Fage 0% yogurt  (1 point)

Flax Seed (1 point)

1/2 c bluberries (1 point)

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