Dessert

3 Unique Ways to Enjoy S’mores

admin — Wed, 30 Nov 2016 07:00:44 +0000

As the nights turn cold, people are gathering around the fire and looking to comfort foods that will warm them up. One of the easiest and most delicious options is s’mores. These tasty treats offer the sweetness counterbalanced with a hint of savory..

No one is sure where the tradition began, but one of the first places a recipe appeared was in 1927 in a Girl Scout campfire building guide. Since then, there have been many iterations, but the standard continues to be a toasty graham cracker, chocolate, and marshmallow-layered concoction. Though we all love the original, this year, we encourage you to break outside of the dessert box and try something with a unique, delicious spin.

Indoor S’mores

Part of the fun of s’mores is huddling up next to a blazing fire, but some nights are just too cold or wet to venture outside. Enter Indoor S’mores, which provide you with all the gooey deliciousness you crave without the biting snap of wind.

1 cup chocolate chips
8 large marshmallows
Graham crackers for dipping

You simply fill your cast iron skillet with chocolate chips, top them with marshmallow halves, and then bake at 450 degrees for around 8 minutes or until the marshmallows turn a delicious golden brown. Gather around the skillet and scoop with graham crackers. You can still huddle under your blanket by the family room fire for authenticity!

S’More Sandwich Cookies

Everyone loves cookies, especially around the holidays. These s’mores cookies offer you tradition mixed with a dash of unique. They incorporate graham cracker crumbs and utilize a marshmallow filling to blend the best of the cookie and s’more worlds.

3/4 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1 large egg
2 tablespoons milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1-1/4 cups all-purpose flour

1-1/4 cups graham cracker crumbs (about 20 squares)
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon
2 cups (12 ounces) semisweet chocolate chips
24 to 28 large marshmallows

Mix the wet ingredients and then add the dry, ending with the chocolate chips before popping them into the oven at 375 degrees for 8-10 minutes. After the cookies are done, add marshmallows and finish off the treats in the microwave.

S’mores Pie

It’s hard to resist a decadent holiday pie. This recipe for S’mores Pie will have you going back for seconds or even thirds.

1 stick softened butter
1/2 cups white sugar
1 whole egg
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup flour
1 cup graham cracker crumbs

1 teaspoon baking powder
7 ounces marshmallow creme
8 whole Hershey’s bars
1 cup marshmallows
1/4 cups chocolate chips

Cream together the butter and the sugar, add the egg and vanilla, then add the remaining dry ingredients. Separate the dough in half, spread one half into the pan, then layer with marshmallow creme, followed by the chocolate squares and marshmallows. Add the rest of the dough and chocolate chips, then bake 20 minutes at 350 degrees. Let cool and enjoy!

Neighbors Emergency Center hopes your holiday season is filled with delicious food and heart-warming moments with family. Check our Facebook page to learn more about our new emergency centers. With our 24 hour emergency rooms throughout the Houston metro area, we can treat you quickly and effectively so you can get back to doing what you love.

The post 3 Unique Ways to Enjoy S’mores appeared first on .

A Little Valentine’s Day Every Day with Healthy Chocolate

admin — Tue, 17 Feb 2015 10:00:43 +0000

Somewhere along the line, chocolate got a bad reputation, particularly for causing weight gain. But dark chocolate, in moderation, is actually a very healthy choice for a sweet treat. If you’re having chocolate this Valentine’s Day, or any day for that matter, you don’t need to feel bad about it. Here’s why.

Chock-Full of Nutrients

Dark chocolate, which is made by harvesting seeds from the cocoa tree, is rich in nutrients. A bite of a dark chocolate with a rating of at least 70% cacao will contain fiber, iron, copper, potassium, and magnesium.

It will also yield helpful fatty acids and a small amount of caffeine, which can make it a nice afternoon snack to get you through the end of the workday.

Medicinal Properties

A high quality dark chocolate packs pretty powerful antioxidants. In fact, studies have shown that dark chocolate contains more antioxidants than many other foods, including fruits.

Beyond its antioxidant benefits, dark chocolate assists blood flow in the arteries, due to its flavanols. Better blood flow can translate to benefits like healthier, more resilient skin and reduced inflammation. Studies indicate that flavanols may improve slight memory loss. Chocolate has also been linked to mood improvement and aiding in PMS symptom relief.

Cooking with Chocolate

One of the best things about chocolate, in terms of cooking, is how versatile it is. Of course, you can reap the above benefits by snacking on a couple pieces of a dark chocolate bar. But you can also experiment with recipes like this one for fudge walnut brownies. Or try making your own granola bars and incorporating some dark chocolate chunks.

However you choose to indulge, remember to look for high quality chocolate with at least 70% cacao and to consume it in moderation. Keeping these goals in mind, whether it’s Valentine’s Day or a regular afternoon or evening, have a Forrest Gump-worthy snack and enjoy it in good health.

Remember that Neighbors Emergency Centers are here for you to treat any emergency you may have. We are open 24/7/365, and we have short wait times to get you back to doing what you love most. Find your nearest Neighbors at nec.24.com.

The post A Little Valentine’s Day Every Day with Healthy Chocolate appeared first on .

Have Your Dessert and Eat It Too

admin — Fri, 05 Dec 2014 23:32:24 +0000

In various countries and cultures, meals typically end with a dessert dish. A sweet treat is a nice way to round out a nutritious dinner. The nutrition doesn’t have to end with the main course, though. Plenty of dessert dishes can be healthy alternatives to heavy cakes and ice creams. During the holidays especially, it’s helpful to remember that these lighter alternatives can make for healthier holiday feasts.

Getting Fruity

Fruit-based desserts are a great way to replace more sugary and starchy meal cappers. Beyond their natural sweetening and higher fiber content, fruits offer a variety of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. These benefits mean less guilt about grabbing a dessert plate and digging in.

In addition, a fruity dish can often be a cheaper option, since it often requires less sweetening and thickening agents, like sugar or flour.

Sweet through a Straw

Dessert doesn’t have to arrive on a plate. You can have lots of fun designing desserts to serve in a glass. Dessert beverages allow for similar flavor profiles of traditionally heavier recipes, like cakes, but are often lower in calories and a lighter option after a meal.

Coffee makes a great base for a liquid dessert, and it’s versatile, so you can spice it up in a variety of ways. Plus, it will give you a little pep in your step for cleanup duties. Add a dollop of lightly whipped cream, and you’ve got a surprisingly healthy and satisfying dish.Here’s a great recipe that allows you to feature the flavors of gingerbread in a coffee cup.

Sugar-free Without Sacrifice

Hardly anyone can deny the wonderful taste of sugar. However, sugar consumption is often linked to health risks like tooth decay, obesity, and diabetes. Replacing the sugar in your recipe with a naturally sweet alternative can provide a healthier way to indulge in dessert.

Maple syrup, honey, and molasses can all be used as replacements for traditional white sugar in baking, and coconut sugar can stand in when a recipe calls for granulated sugar.

Remember that Neighbors Emergency Centers are here for you to treat any emergency you may have. We are open 24/7/365, and we have short wait times to get you back to doing what you love most. Find your nearest Neighbors at nec.24.com.

The post Have Your Dessert and Eat It Too appeared first on .

Fruit Puree Ice Cream

admin — Fri, 21 Feb 2014 20:18:55 +0000

“Too much of a good thing can be wonderful!” ––Mae West

Sometimes we have to be a little decadent, but here’s a clever way to include fruit in your ice cream! Does your child (or spouse) love ice cream, but you want to include those healthy fruits in there, too? Try making a fruit puree ice cream swirl!

Line a baking pan with plastic wrap while the ice cream softens. Make sure it doesn’t melt at this stage. Spoon half of the ice cream into the plastic-lined pan. Spoon half of the blueberry puree swirl mixture in dollops over the ice cream, then use chop sticks to swirl the fruit sauce into the ice cream. Try not to cut or damage the plastic lining in the process.

Add the rest of the ice cream and then the rest of the fruit puree on top of the swirled mixture. Repeat the same swirling process with chopsticks, cover the ice cream with plastic wrap, and freeze for up to 5 hours. Voila! Now you can have your ice cream and eat it, too.

Neighbors Emergency Center is always interested in your health questions. Make sure to stop by or call anytime, 24/7, for more information about our emergency medical services.

The post Fruit Puree Ice Cream appeared first on .