Lemon Raspberry Sandwich Cookies

Have I ever mentioned that Izzie and Denny complete me? That Meredith is my on screen double? How about that when Addison left it broke my heart like how Mark's abs make me melt? Grey's Anatomy, people. This yunk is good minus that horrible third/four season slump. All is forgiven. I'm nearly finished the seventh season and considering I started during our trip, that is damn impressive. Pathetic yet impressive. 

But it is almost unbearably depressing at times. I once was sobbing for a solid hour and a bit over Denny. Post breakdown, I called Bo to tell her what happened. She had already seen it but made me tell her what had happened causing the hysterics to fire up again. That son of a gun.

So if you happen to be as down and out due to fictional problems that you live vicariously through, make some bright and shiny cookies. Talk about a way to soak up your sorrows and fill up your bellay. The tart lemon smell is refreshing and the raspberries add a neon, discotheque mood minus the strobe lights. It's uplifting, promise.  

Lemon Raspberry Sandwich Cookies
Roughly adapted from here

cookies
1/2 cup butter, melted and slightly cooled
2 3/4 cups flour
1/2 tsp baking soda
3/4 tsp kosher salt
2 cups sugar
2 tbsp lemon zest
2/3 cup whole milk
2 tbsp fresh lemon juice
filling
3/4 cup cream cheese, softened
3/4 cup raspberry jam

cookies Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda and salt. In a large bowl, whisk the melted butter (still warmish) with the sugar and lemon zest until fragrant. Whisk in the milk and lemon juice until smooth. Gradually stir in the flour mixture until no streaks of flour remain. The dough will be pretty soft so refrigerate for about an hour. Make the filling (below) in the meantime. Or don't if you roll like that. Preheat the oven to 350º. Drop dough in 1/2 tsp balls* onto prepared baking sheet, leaving about one and a half inches between cookies to allow for them to spread. Bake for 10-12 minutes, until cookies are set around the edges. Cool for 2-3 minutes on a baking sheet, then transfer to a wire rack with a spatula to cool completely. 

filling In a small bowl, beat the cream cheese until smooth. Beat in the raspberry jam. Cover and cool in the fridge until ready to use.

Place about 1 tablespoon of the filling on one of the cookies and sandwich with another. Makes about 24 small sandwich cookies.

* I had used a larger sandwich scoop, as seen in the photos above, but I highly recommend a small scoop. The cookies will spread and they are much easier to eat when the sandwiches are smaller. It is also easier to eat smaller sandwiches thinking it's healthy. Obvz.

Raspberry Oatmeal Muffins

Hello there.

I have full intentions of making these again. They are the a great "healthy" muffin alternative and they don't taste like it. I mean, they are low fat., as in barely any! In the past I have tried "healthy" muffins and they normally came out really dense, dry or tasteless. Not these babies. They were moist (thanks glaze and applesauce) and tons of flavour (thanks cinnamon).

Raspberry Oatmeal Muffins
Adapted from here, god she is brilliant!

muffins
1 1/4 cup whole wheat flour
3/4 cup + 2 tbsp old fashioned oats
1/4 cup + 2 tbsp quick cooking oats
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda

1/4 tsp salt
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1 cup unsweetened applesauce

1/2 cup low-fat/non-fat buttermilk
1/4 cup firmly packed splenda brown sugar blend
2 tbsp canola oil

1 large egg, lightly beaten
3/4 cup blueberries (fresh or frozen) raspberries!
1 tsp flour, if using frozen berries
glaze
1 tsp raspberries jam, strained of seeds and such
1/4 tsp water
1 heaping tbsp confectioner's sugar.. or more

Line a 12 cup muffin tin with paper liners. In a large bowl whisk together flour, oats, baking powder, baking soda, salt and cinnamon. Combine applesauce, buttermilk, sugar, oil and egg in a medium bowl. Make a well in dry ingredients and add applesauce mixture, stirring until just moist. In another little bowl, coat the frozen raspberries in 1 tsp of flour. Carefully fold in the raspberries. Spoon the batter into muffin cups. Bake at 16-18 minutes. I baked mine for about 15 minutes and they were slightly underdone which left them moist and perfect. Once they are cooled mix the glaze together until smooth. Drizzle a little on each muffin. I drizzled mine in the shape of little hearts because it is the month of love!
Nutrition per muffin, without the glaze: 141 calories, 3 fat, .25 sat, 3.5 fibre, 4.2 protein