September 2011

 

Pumpkin Spice Linzer Cookie

• ¾ pound unsalted butter, room temperature
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 3 ½ cups all purpose flour
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon pumpkin spice ( or substitute ½ teaspoon cinnamon, ¼ teaspoon ginger, 1/8 teaspoon allspice, 1/8 teaspoon nutmeg)
• ¾ cup pumpkin butter (see recipe below)
• confectioners’ sugar, for dusting

• 1 (29-oz) can pumpkin puree (not pie filling)
• ¾ cup apple cider
• 1 teaspoon grated ginger
• 2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice
• 1 cup granulated sugar

For the cookie:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

In a medium bowl, sift together the flour and salt. Set aside. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, mix together the butter and sugar until just combined. Add the vanilla. Gradually add in flour mixture on low just until the dough starts to come together. Dump onto a piece of plastic wrap and flatten to a disk. Wrap and chill for 30 minutes.

Servings: Over 8

Pumpkin Butter

 

Recipes: Copyright © 2011 Carla Hall

Hi all! You may recall that I’ve posted a few times about our nation’s childhood obesity epidemic, and how important it is to help youth learn and adopt healthy eating habits. Last week, at the Fuel Up to Play 60 Student Ambassador Summit, I had the opportunity to take action and speak to students and teachers from all over the country who are working to make their schools even healthier places to learn.

Fuel Up to Play 60 is an in-school nutrition and physical activity program lead by the National Dairy Council (NDC) and NFL, in collaboration with USDA. It encourages kids to consume healthy foods, like low-fat and fat-free dairy, fruits, veggies and whole grains. In that spirit, I was invited to the Summit to prepare a healthy snack option that would be easy for kids and schools to incorporate into their daily routines. I decided to share a recipe for my favorite healthy snack, fruit and nut granola with low-fat yogurt. The students helped me mix together the oats, nuts, seeds and dried fruit, then we all tasted our handiwork on top of yogurt parfaits!

I was so inspired by the many students and teachers committed to adding fresh, healthy options to their schools’ cafeteria menus, making breakfast a priority and incorporating movement and exercise into their daily routines. I was thrilled to have the opportunity to share my passion for tasty, nutritious foods with the younger generation. Their ground-level efforts are the driving force toward ending the obesity epidemic for good!
 

Check out the Fuel Up to Play 60 Facebook page for a copy of my granola and yogurt recipe, and for more photos from the Student Ambassador Summit!