How Sweet It Is!

The Christmas cookie-baking season rushes on in my neighborhood. There are going to be lots of children, and older people, too, high on sugar if we don’t lock up some of the cookies.  Also, we can choose our sugars wisely. Our gingerbread men can feature more ginger and other spices, less sweetness, and be just as well loved.

We can produce nourishing cookies like these macaroons, fat with coconut shreds, and even made with chocolate (an excellent antioxidant.). But not everybody likes chocolate, believe it or not, so here are two versions of my recipe.

Plain Vanilla Macaroons
Makes about 2 dozen

Preheat oven to 350 degrees
3/4 cup sweetened condensed milk
1 teaspoon vanilla
3 cups unsweetened shredded coconut
3 to 4 Tablespoons coconut sugar
2 egg whites beaten
1/8 teaspoon salt

Stir the vanilla into the milk. Combine with the coconut and sugar. In another bowl, add the salt to the egg whites. Beat to stiff peaks. Fold in into the cookie batter.  Line a baking sheet with parchment. Using a teaspoon, form the cookie dough into little balls about 1-inch in diameter, placing them on the parchment. Bake 8 to 10 minutes. Let cool completely upon the baking sheet. If they don’t remove easily, using a damp sponge, moisten the underside of the parchment.

Chocolate Macaroons
Use the same ingredients as above, but melt 12 ½ ounces of grated bittersweet chocolate. Warm the condensed milk and stir the chocolate into it. Proceed by stirring the coconut shreds and sugar into the chocolate infused milk. Fold in the stiffly beaten egg whites. Bake on a greased baking sheet, or on parchment as above.

Coconut’s virtues:
1. fights bacteria and viruses
2. enhances your metabolism
3. boosts our brain function
4. nourishes your thyroid
5. helps you fight off Parkinson’s and multiple sclerosis
6. promotes heart health
7. prevents or removes brain plaque
8. works to prevent and/or helps fight cancer
 All that and it’s delicious.

Note: Coconut sugar’s Glycemic Index is only 35, versus cane sugar’s 100. Coconut oil benefits your skin and prevents your infant’s diaper rash.