Moreo Blondie Bars Loaded with Yum + Cookie Recipes

Moreo Kitchen Sink Blondies - TheFitFork.comIf MORE means “a greater or additional amount,” then my Moreo Blondie Bars have more MORE! This delicious treat is overflowing with a greater amount of good things than I typically eat at once – like Oreo cookies, M&Ms, chocolate chips, lots of butter and sugar.  Even though I preach clean eating most of the time, the holiday season is not the time to say “NO” to festive, frivolous and nourishment of dubious (yet delicious) quality – Halleluiah!  You HAVE to read on after the recipe to see my brother’s awesome idea of MORE – it’s a Cherblumpkin!

Moreo Blondie Bar Cookies with Oreos and Candy - TheFitFork.com

So, if you’re making Christmas cookies at home, these Moreo Blondie Bars are very easy to make – just mix up the ingredients and plop in the pan. I highly recommend lining the baking dish in foil before adding the batter. When baked and cooled, simply lift out the by the foil edges and then neatly slice into bars. If you don’t want to go whole hog, check out my recipe for The Best Ever Chocolate Chip Cookie – it’s a classic.Moreo Blondie Cookie Bar with Milk - TheFitFork.com

Moreo Blondie Bar Recipe

  • 1 cup butter, melted
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 cup light brown sugar
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 15 double stuffed chocolate sandwich cookies, coarsely broken
  • 1 cup broken pretzel pieces
  • ½ cup M & M candies
  • ½ cup dark chocolate chips
  1. Preheat oven to 350 F degrees.
  2. Melt butter in microwave safe bowl. Add sugars and stir until combined and then mix in eggs.
  3. Stir in baking soda, salt and flour until combined, but don’t over mix.
  4. Mix in crushed cookies, pretzels, candies and chocolate chips until evenly incorporated.
  5. Line 9” x 13” baking pan with foil; spray foil with cooking spray.
  6. Add dough to pan, patting down with fingers or spatula.
  7. Bake on center rack for 25 minutes or until edges and top turning light golden brown and center looks set.
  8. Let cool completely in pan.  Remove contents from pan by lifting foil. Peel sides of foil back and cut into 12 bars.

Cherblumpkin Cake - Cherry on Blueberry on Pumpkin

Here it is . . . .the Cherblumpkin! It’s a cherry pie stacked on a blueberry pie stacked on a pumpkin pie – frosted to look like a layer cake. The contest was for Cherpumpple (cherry-pumkin-apple),but my little brother shook up the system with his heart stopper of a pie-cake hybrid, so proud of him.

Cherblumpkin - Cherry Blueberry Pumpkin Pie Cake

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Virtual-Cookie-Exchange-recipes-galoreIf you need more holiday goodie ideas, the Fitfluential ambassadors having a Virtual Cookie & Treat Link Up. Lots of goodness here, recipes to suit both sensible and sinful cookie bakers!

What’s your favorite holiday baked item — please share?

Cranberry Orange Ginger Relish & #StackandSnap Food Processor #Giveaway

This post and giveaway are sponsored by Hamilton Beach. While they provided products for review, all opinions, editorial comments and recipes are my own.

Cranberry Orange Ginger Relish - TheFitFork.com

Looking for an easy, healthy holiday side dish you can make CHOP, CHOP?! My recipe for Cranberry Orange Ginger Relish is a real winner that beats that nasty canned jelly stuff with a wallop of fresh, zingy flavor. Versions of this recipe have been served at my family’s Thanksgiving and Christmas celebrations for as long as I can remember – while Grandma used to dump in a cup of granulated sugar, I keep it lower carb by using Stevia instead.

Cranberries Oranges and Ginger - TheFitFork.com

Can you believe there are only four (FOUR!) ingredients in this simple recipe and it can be whipped up in two minutes or less with the help of a food processor. Seriously, all you do is wash the fruit, quarter the orange (leave skin on!) and peel the ginger, throw all the healthy ingredients along with a touch of Stevia (or you could use honey) into the food processor and pulse for about a minute. Viola, you’re done – it’ tastes even better the next day and can be used as a side salad, relish for lean proteins, topping for yogurt, or as a way to add some seasonal razzamatazz to your turkey sandwich or roast beef wrap. And, for those of you with dietary concerns, this fruit recipe is sugar-free, gluten-free, dairy-free and appropriate for Paleo, vegetarian, vegan and raw diets.

Hamilton Beach Stack and Chop Food Processor -and recipe from TheFitFork.com

I was so excited to receive a brand spanking new Stack and Snap™ 10 Cup Food Processor from Hamilton Beach just in time for the holidays. My old one is almost 24 years old (wedding gift) and a pain in the butt to use – although, back then it was AWESOME! Today my new awesome is this good-looking Stack and Snap™ processor – it’s super easy to use thanks to a simple function guide that shows you which blade to use and which button to press. Another thing I appreciated right out of the box is that everything assembles with ease — there’s no twisting, turning or locking required when assembling the food processor. Uh, I hated using my old one because I could never remember how to put it together. I would have to holler for my husband to come into the kitchen to fix it because it was “broken.” Hey, don’t judge – I do all the cooking, he should make himself useful in the kitchen too!

Cranberry Relish in Food Processor - TheFitForkWith a powerful 450 Watt motor, this healthy-food-making bad boy can chop, slice, shred, mix and puree in no time, making my recipe prep time nearly non-existant. The Stack and Snap™ 10 Cup Food Processor is also leak-proof, has a lock-down blade that won’t fall out when pouring and a Big Mouth® feed tube that can handle many whole-sized food (less pre-chopping by me)! Oh, and clean up’s a breeze, the parts (except for the base) are dishwasher safe.  So, you know it – I’m giving one away! Enter via the Rafflecopter app at the end of the recipe. 

 

Raw Cranberry Orange Ginger Relish Recipe

  • 1 lb. package fresh cranberries
  • 1 large navel orange
  • 2-inch chunk of ginger root, peeled
  • 2 teaspoons powdered Stevia
  1. Rinse cranberries and drain in colendar.
  2. Wash and quarter orange, remove any seeds but leave peel on.
  3. Peel ginger with paring knife and cut into chunks.
  4. Place all ingredients in work bowl of processor and pulse intermittently for one minute, or until coarsely chopped.
  5. Serves 6 – 8.

jennifer fisher - thefitfork.com - bourbon cranberry apricot pecan relishIf you’re looking for another cranberry relish idea, check out this Bourbon Apricot Pecan Cranberry Relish recipe I did for last year’s feast. It is also sugar-free, but has a more syrupy, cooked on the stove top taste.

 

 

 

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Splurge-worthy! Best Ever Chocolate Chip Cookie #Recipe

jennifer fisher thefitfork best chocolate chip cookieDisclaimer: Butter and sugar were used in the making of these cookies, it’s not your typical recipe at The Fit Fork! But, when friends and family who are dear to me, gather near to me during the holidays, I loosen up the reigns a little. Trust me, these cookies taste as insanely delicious as they look – actually even better! The mischief-makers merry-makers at my house have voted them the best darn chocolate chip cookies EVER! You’ll need to to log some extra miles to earn a couple of these indulgent cookies . . . .or, just relax and enjoy some well-earned splurges of the season.

jennifer fisher chocolate chip cookies santa snacks

While I try to eat healthfully most of the time, I can’t say no to a treat every now and then – and especially around Christmas. I tried to give up chocolate once, but I’m no quitter! Last year, my no-holds-barred chocolate goodie was Mint Chocolate Crinkle Kiss Cookies, a bona fide hit with the kids, hubby and ole St. Nick. This year, Santa requested his old-school favorite cookie be waiting by the chimney – chocolate chip! Better than the cookies from Toll House or even grandma’s house, these Best-Ever Chocolate Chip Cookies will rock your candy cane socks off!

thefitfork.com chocolate chip cookies

Best Ever Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe

  • 2 sticks butter, softened
  • 1 cup packed brown sugar
  • 3/4 cup granulated white sugar
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 3 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 12-ounce bag dark chocolate chips

Pre-heat oven to 350 F degrees.

Place softened butter in bowl of mixer. Add sugars and beat for several minutes until creamed. Add eggs, one at a time until incorporated.

Add vanilla, salt and baking soda and mix until incorporated. Add flour 1 cup at a time, beating until mixture is cohesive. Add chocolate chips and mix in with spatula.

Shape into 1 ¼” balls and place on ungreased baking sheets. Bake in 350 F degree oven for 12 – 13 minutes or until turning light golden brown.

Remove from oven and place cookies on cooling rack.

Makes approximately 6 dozen cookies.

bowl of chocolate chips

 

 

 

Fuel Up Festively – Gingerbread Cranberry Protein Granola Recipe

 

jennifer fisher thefitfork gingerbread granola text

Some might say it’s “too soon”  — too soon to post a gingerbread-flavored recipe or even hint at the Christmas and winter holiday season.  But, when I was in my neighborhood grocery store today, I noticed that the displays had changed overnight from pumpkins and Halloween candy just the day prior to stuffing mixes, tree trimmings and fruit baskets (yes, I shop for food every day – three teen boys)! Halloween hasn’t even officially happened yet!

Some might also say that it’s “too soon” to do another granola recipe seeing as that’s what I just shared in my last post for Pumpkin Protein Granola. But, hello – look what showed up on my doorstep today – a mountain of muscle-making products from Designer Whey as part of their 20th anniversary celebration. I knew I had to whip up more good-for-me goodies and this time it would be Gingerbread – Cranberry Protein Granola.

designer whey year supply

Their 100% Premium Whey Protein Powder is what I’ve been using in these recipes for various protein granolas. Lots of great flavors that whisk up really easy with the liquid ingredients – no lumps or clumps! I love putting a little protein powder in my recipes; it helps me build lean muscle, gives me longer lasting energy  and curbs my hunger between meals. Adequate protein for all my meals and recovery snacks (I aim for 100g a day) keeps me ready to take on the world!

A busy weekend - podium finish at 10 mile race, practicing crow pose & cartwheeling at Prevention Magazine's #R3Summit.

A busy weekend – podium finish at 10 mile race, practicing crow pose & cartwheeling at Prevention Magazine’s #R3Summit.

jennifer fisher thefitfork gingerbread granola 

Gingerbread – Cranberry Protein Granola Recipe

jennifer fisher thefitfork gingerbread granola ingredients

Ingredients:

  • 4 cups old-fashioned oats
  • 1/3 cup raw shelled hemp seeds
  • 1 cup raw pecans, chopped
  • 1 teaspoon fine-grain sea salt
  • 1teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1 teaspoon ground ginger
  • 1/3 cup coconut oil, melted
  • 1/2 cup real maple syrup
  • 1/4 cup molasses
  • 1/3 cup water
  • 1/3 cup vanilla protein powder (2 scoops)
  • 4 ounces unsweetened applesauce
  • 3/4 teaspoon vanilla
  • 2/3 cup chopped dried cranberries

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 325 F degrees and line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper or Silpat. In a large mixing bowl, combine the oats, hemp seed, nuts, salt, cinnamon and ginger. Stir thoroughly to combine; set aside.

In medium pot, stir in the oil, maple syrup, molasses, water, applesauce, protein powder and vanilla over medium-low heat. Use a whisk to incorporate ingredients until smooth and just starting to bubble, about 3 to 4 minutes.

Add dry oat-mixture ingredients into pot; use spatula to stir and coat evenly. Turn the granola out onto prepared pan and spread it in an even layer. Bake for 20 minutes; remove to stir up granola so that it cooks evenly. Bake for an additional 20 to 25 minutes for a total of 40 – 45 minutes.

Remove from oven and allow to cool. The granola will continue to dry out a bit more during the cooling process. Store in an airtight container.

Makes approximately 6 cups of granola.