Orange Cocoa Brownies (Taste great and good for you!))

My bosses Birthday is this weekend so I decided to make a treat to take in to the office.
She is watcing her Cholesterol so I thought I'll play around and create something she can enjoy guilt free.
My number one rule with healthy recipes are they have to taste wonderful. I will not eat or serve something that taste like tree bark or dirt clods.

Orange Cocoa Brownies
1 brownie mix (dry)
1 egg
1/3 c pumpkin puree *
1/3 c apple sauce *
Zest of 1 orange
1/4 c water
1/2 tsp of pure orange extract
1/4 c cocoa

Mix and bake at 350* for 20 minutes
The brownies come out very dense and delicious.
You are reading the recipe correctly there is no Oil!!!
* All Natural, no sugar added. These items were home grown and canning in my own kitchen.

Seriously, These were wonderfully awesome!!!

Not a New Year Resolution!

I Never make Weight loss, Diet or Exercise a New Years Resolution. I guess because so many people do, I just don't want to. I've always been that way, I rarely ever start the latest trend or get the hottest item on the market until it has run its course or been around for a while.

Yesterday I was at Border and picked up Ali Vincent, (The first female Biggest Loser Winner) new book, 'Believe It and Be It'. and read several pages - a quick read. Last night I went to the Library and checked out a copy of Jessica Seinfield's Cookbook 'Deceptively Delicious'. I felt the motivation building.

Today is the day. I started out by making a DD recipe for breakfast. Of course I altered the recipe, My version was: Pumpkin and Walnut Oatmeal [ oatmeal, pumpkin puree, ground flax seed, cinnamon, vanilla, pumpkin pie spice, brown sugar and walnuts] No Fat, Highfiber and Very Tasty.

Started keeping my food Journal again. Planning to workout after lunch. Hoping to talk a friend into getting on board with me so that we can encourage and hold each other accountable.

Is This Another Food Blog?

After watching the Julie & Julia movie I was inspired. Not to Blog for 365 days about 500+ french recipes that I wouldn't be able to afford or find some of the ingredients. But I was inspire to cook. Okay, I really don't need to be inspired to do that. If you know me I love to cook. I had 6 days off from work before Christmas. I spent the entire time cooking. I loved ever minute. I made Julia Child's Boeuf Bourguignon for Christmas, Wow it was amazingly delicous. Other dishes during my holiday cooking frenzy where Garlic Cheese Grits w/ Shrimp, Curry butternut squash & basmati rice, cookies, cookies and more cookies and Korean BBQ W/ stir fried vegetables & rices.

I enjoy reading cookbooks and food magazines for new ideas. My dear sweet husband bought me several cookbooks for Christmas along with ramikins of different sizes. I have collected dishes and kitchen utensil since I was 12 years old. Cooking has been a life long love affair for me.

It is now two weeks since my holiday food frenzy and I'm just getting around to blogging about it . I wanted to but thought there are a million plus food blog out there. What would make mine special or different from all the others. Nothing. Mine isn't loaded with new recipes, its not funny and witty. I don't even know how to post pictures or attach links. It's simply me. I will occasionally post some of my favorites or recipes that I have tried. As much as I would love to be Paula Dean or the Barefoot Contessa, Martha Stewart or Julia Childs I won't be. So here I am, Christy Holmes just another foodie.