Not the best picture but believe me...oh so amazing!
I struggled writing yesterday’s post because providing you my complete perspective on the topic of moderation is difficult, especially when I don’t want to burn you out with a really long post!
I did get a lot of great feedback in regards to “Do You Know How To Moderate,” so if you haven’t read it yet, do so now!!
Here are just a few comments that I thought were worth sharing:
“It took me YEARS to learn how to eat in moderation. My fear of “bad” foods was so debilitating! I found no joy in eating, and would either limit myself to super healthy eats, or throw up my arms and work through an entire bag of Reese’s peanut butter cups. Definitely not fun! Finding a balance–a place where I feel comfortable allowing myself to “indulge” occasionally, but eat healthy most of the time–has been so freeing. I ENJOY food now…life is too short not to!”
“It took me a long time to find a healthy balance where I could enjoy things in moderation. One day it just clicked and I realized that just because I have a cookie doesn’t mean I have to throw away the rest of the day by eating junk. I’m never looking back.”
“Moderating is so hard for me! But I agree with you, it is usually because of emotional eating or some sort of binging. I constantly am working on improving that in my life.”
Amy B at Second City Randomness:
“I think that the stat about 9 out of 10 people think they’re eating healthy is true. The thing is, that people are not properly educated on the issue. It’s like my biggest pet peeve- people say “oh I’m eating healthy because it’s salad” and I’m like “actually, you could have eaten 2 burgers and gotten the same caloric/fat value because your lettuce is swimming in ranch”.
I like to think I’m somewhat educated on healthy food choices- maybe not an expert by any means, but I get the general ideas. That doesn’t mean my relationship with food is perfect. I have had quite the time learning moderation- it’s a slow process!”
“This topic is awesome! So many people have an all-or-nothing mentality when trying to lose weight or exercise, but it doesn’t work because there’s no room for failure. I think moderation is key for all parts of your life – nutrition, exercise, relationships, time. I always let myself have a treat daily (just not 10) and I plan 1 or 2 rest days to give my body a chance to recover and rest from exercise.”
RECIPE
Now on the recipe. I decided to bring you a “not-so-healthy” but “oh- so-delicious” recipe in the spirit of moderation! My friend Katie made these cookies for a party almost a year and a half ago and boy did they leave an impression on me!
At the party, playing "pin the tail on the donkey." 
Just couldn't seem to find that darn donkey!
I asked for the recipe a loooong time ago and just got around to it this past Sunday. Thought they might be the perfect treat to surprise your sweetie with this Valentine’s Day! Who needs to spend $30 on a box of Godiva chocolates when you can just make THESE for your hunny! He or she will be putty in your hands!
Hard candy shell, soft chewy middle, Andie's mint crunch! The perfect indulgence!!
Thanks to Katie for sharing this wonderful recipe! Yum yum!
Chocolate Mint Truffle Cookies
I THINK from Good Housekeeping Magazine
Makes ~ 2 1/2 dozen ( I halved the recipe and got about 14 cookies)
- 1/4 c. butter, cubed
- 1 c. semi-sweet chocolate chips, divided (you could go vegan chocolate chips here too)
- 1 egg
- 1/3 c. granulated sugar
- 1/3 c. packed brown sugar
- 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/8 tsp peppermint extract
- 1 c. flour
- 1/3 c. baking cocoa (unsweetened)
- 1/4 tsp baking powder
- 1/8 tsp salt
- 1 (4.6 oz) pack Andies mint candies, divided and chopped
- 1/2 c. white chocolate chips
Directions:
In a small saucepan over low heat, melt semi-sweet chocolate chips and butter together. Stir until smooth, remove from heat, cool slightly. Stir in egg, sugars, and extracts.
In a separate bowl, combine flour, cocoa, baking powder, and salt. Whisk together and mix in to wet ingredients. Fold in 3/4 c. andies mints. Dough will be sticky and thick.
On a baking sheet (sprayed with cooking spray), roll rounded tablespoonfuls of the dough in to balls (mine were more like heaping mounds). Place ~2″ apart and bake at 350 degrees for ~8 minutes or until the tops appear slightly dry (they might look a little underdone in the middle, this is good!). Cool 1 minute and then place on wire rack. Allow to cool.
In microwave or on the stovetop, melt remaining semi-sweet chips + andies mints. In another bowl melt the white chocolate chips (I mixed with andies candies also but you don’t have to!).
Dip half the cookies in dark chocolate and half the cookies in the white chocolate. Immediately sprinkle if so desired!
Place in refrigerator to harden and enjoy ~ 1 per day! I find they make the perfect night time treat!
Nutritional profile (if make 30 cookies per recipe): 110 calories, 5.7 g Fat (3.8 g sat), 11 mg cholesterol, 20 mg sodium, 50 mg potassium, 15 g carbohydrate, 11.2 g sugars, 1.4 g protein
Savor one and be done!
[...] Ultimately, I would recommend opting out of Vitamin Water. I hate being so negative, but why waste your sugar intake on Vitamin Water when there are so many other sugary treats worth splurging on!! Have you seen my Triple Chocolate Chunk Brownies or Mint Chocolate Truffles?? [...]
Those truffles look amazing, but not QUITE as amazing as your arms do. Look at those! Awesome!
Oh my, how did I miss this post the other day!? These cookies look delectable! I may take you up on your suggestion to whip up a batch for Valentine’s Day. The only problem is that I don’t have a sweetheart to share them with…Maybe I can use them to lure cute men my way?
They look awesome—I could totally make these, and know some people who would scarf them right up!
Well that just truly looks delightful! YUM!
Mmm…another amazing looking recipe-you never fail!
Thank you SO much for this!! Moderation is what I am striving for, so this really helped. Thank you!
Those look so delish there is no way I could have just one!! Moderation is vert hard for me, but It’s a work in progress.
Thanks to Katie…and to you! These truffles look just delicious, and they would be the perfect treat to serve at a party. I love your message on moderation, and I hope that more people in my own life start to practice the concept. Thank you for sharing with me, my sweet friend. I hope you are staying safe and warm. It is even too cold in my part of the country…and I’m in Austin!
Ah, thanks so much for including my comment!!
Your post really resonated with me and I think I’m going to elaborate on my take on moderation at some point–I loved it that much!
This is the perfect follow-up too. Those truffles look ah-mazing!
P.S. You look so adorable playing pin the tail on the donkey!!
I love the moderation comments… I too have friends who think because they are going to Whole Foods they are eating so healthy. Just because it’s organic doesn’t mean its good for you! The pumpkin cream cheese muffin with the side of yogurt parfait that is about 5 servings is not a normal breakfast!
I think those truffles look amazing.. Not sure if i could have one and be done though!
I absolutely loved your moderation post from yesterday. I also read Angela’s post and agree that most American’s really don’t know what healthy is. I will go out to eat with friends all the time and they order something because they think it is healthy and it is so not, or they starve themselves all day because they are going out to eat for dinner and don’t want to have to count calories. It breaks my heart and I know that blogs like your and Angela’s are definitely doing their parts to spread the knowledge!
Wow..these cookies look amazing!
I mean you really can’t go wrong when you combine mint and chocolate!
This would definitely be hard to practice moderation around!
Ohhh my goodness! Yeah, perfect timing with posting these after the moderation post, haha!
WOW, these look SO good!
Oh my goodness. These look amazing! Love all the moderation comments. What a great previous post.
Yum!! If anything has caramel in it though, it is very tough for me to have one and be done!
OH! one was dipped in semi-sweet chocolate and one was dipped in white chocolate mixed with andies mints…so it was a light brown!
Do you think if I print this recipe out and sit it on my husbands desk that he will get the hint?!?!
I wish! I want try these fudgy minty cookies!
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by lola fl, Erin Coates. Erin Coates said: surprise your sweetie this Valentine's Day by making your own truffles! http://thehealthyapron.com/2011/02/01/truffle-anyone/ [...]
These look amazing. And probably rich enough that one just might be enough. Might.
Yum! Why are the two shown different colors? It’s almost like a carmel or butterscotch coating. Not that I’m complaining!
Those look delicious! And I loved hearing other peoples’ thoughts about moderation.
Oh my. There are so many sources of chocolate in this recipe that I don’t even know what to say. Except that I approve. Very much.
Oh my. These look absolutely AMAZING! I don’t even know if I could just save one and be done
OH! I should add that the cookie dough for these cookies doesn’t even taste good! SO no worries there!
These look amazing!
Mmm…Cookies :d I love anything chocolate mint. My problem with moderation doesn’t come from the cookies themselves, but actually from the cookie dough!
I have a really awesome cookie recipe coming up tonight, so stay tuned
This would definitely be a good test for moderation;-) I will say that I have an easier time (sometimes!) limiting myself with mint desserts vs. others. Love that picture of lol.
Oh yum! I love the mint-chocolate combo so much!!!!!!!! Thanks for posting the recipe!
Those truffles look delicious!I was so busy yesterday that I didn’t have as much time as usual to catch up on posts but I’m going back to read your moderation one now!
“Save one and be done!” haha I love it! I wish it were that easy sometimes, but most of the time one is totally possible…. with the exception of the days where chocolate seems like the only food group =) Not that i’ve done that or anything…. teeheee!
My best way of moderating is to keep that stuff out of the house… and then enjoy it at parties/gatherings or special occasions <3