Good evening, and a happy Tasty Tuesday to you all! I’ve got these delicious treats that I’ve been hoarding since I found them in the airport last week, but haven’t thought of a good recipe/ use for them (they seem to have St. Patrick’s Day written all over them). Any ideas?

And while you’re all busy dreaming up minty dessert confections for me to make, I’ll share a super easy, super healthy, super tasty treat I made (twice) this past week. Inspired by the carrot cake my friend Emma made for her daughter’s first birthday, I decided to make some sugar free “cookies,” or muffins, using only the sweetness of dried fruit, the carrots, and vanilla.  Here’s round one and round two:

Round One: (Raw version)

• 1/2 cup chopped carrots
• 2-3 prunes (or dates, or raisins)
• 1/4 cup quick cooking oats
• splash vanilla
• cinnamon, pumpkin pie spice, nutmeg, ginger

-Cook carrots and cool, then place them in food processor (I used a mini, which is why my portions can be so small. If you’re confident you like this, you could make a whole batch). Add dried fruit, blend. Add oats, blend. add seasonings, blend again. Then place in silicon baking cup/ ramekin, parchment/ etc. I  then topped with vanilla yogurt and more cinnamon. Delish!

Round Two: (Baked version)

• 1 cup chopped carrots
• 3-4 prunes (or similar dried fruit)
• 1/4 cup quick cooking oats
• 1 packet stevia in the raw
• splash vanilla syrup (for coffee drinks)
• cinnamon, pumpkin pie spice

-Process oats until they become oat flour (10-30 seconds). Add cooked carrots and process again. Add dried fruit, process. Season, process. These ones I scooped into four drop “cookies.” I baked them for about 10 minutes at about 325 degrees. This batch I managed to share with man-go-round…

So there you have it! A very easy, very healthy baking experiment for those with a sweet tooth who are not crazy about eating a lot of refined sugars.

Now, onto the naughty naughty sugar… Sugarbowl time!

Yesterday was Skittles vs. Gummy Bears. I am very very sad to announce that one of my favorites (gummies) lost to one of my least favorites (Skittles) Boo!

Okay, I”m a big girl. I’ll live. Up tonight is:

Whoppers vs. Junior Mints

Vote vote vote! Do you limit your sugar intake (or any other ingredients)? Are you on a special diet?

Meri