5 Great Health benefits of Dark Chocolate by Jacob Dickey
Many of us are aware of how bad certain sugary foods such as chocolate are bad for your health, but you may not be aware of some of the true medical benefits of a little treat called dark chocolate. Although not as sweet Dark chocolate’s health benefits make it one enticing treat.
- It regulates a the consumer’s metabolism
- It reduces stress levels in teens and adults
- Releases endorphins which improve mood
- It is low fat (it contains 1/3 of the fat of milk chocolate)
- It is heart healthy- Dark chocolate can lower cholesterol and blood pressure in some cases by as much as 10%
Just remember dark chocolate is not necessarily healthy, but it can be a healthier alternative to other sugary treats.
Pumpkin Spice Cake! by Nick Duerr
What You Need
1 pkg. (2-layer size) spice cake mix
1 cup water
1 cup canned pumpkin
1/3 cup oil
3 eggs
3/4 cup chopped PLANTERS Walnuts
1 pkg. (8 oz.) PHILADELPHIA Neufchatel Cheese, softened
1/3 cup packed dark brown sugar
1 cup thawed COOL WHIP LITE Whipped Topping
Make It
HEAT oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
BEAT first 5 ingredients in large bowl with mixer 2 min. or until well blended. Stir in nuts. Pour into 13×9-inch pan sprayed with cooking spray.
BAKE 30 to 32 min. or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool completely.
BEAT Neufchatel and sugar in small bowl with mixer until well blended. Add COOL WHIP; mix well. Spread over cake.
                               Yogurt Drops by Emily Tumpa, 2013
Yogurt Drops are an easy and healthy snack that you can have any time of the year. The first thingthat you do is spoon little droplets of yogurt on wax paper placed on a cookie sheet. Then put the cookie sheet in to the freezer. About one hour later take the tray out of the freezer and enjoy!
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Christmas Treats by Emily Tumpa, 2013
Do you not have enough time to make Christmas cookies? That’s okay. If you have a few dollars in your pocket and just a little bit of time you can make a Christmas treat that will make you the hit of the family Christmas party.
Ingredients
•   Bite-size, waffle-shaped pretzels
•   Hershey’s Kiss or Hershey’s Hug
•   M&M’s candy
Instructions
•   Heat the oven to 170 F. Set bite-size, waffle-shaped pretzels in a single line on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper, then top each pretzel with an unwrapped Hershey’s Kiss or Hershey’s Hug.
•   Bake for 4 to 6 minutes (the white chocolate will melt more quickly), until the chocolates feel soft when touched with a wooden spoon. Remove the cookie sheet from the oven and quickly press an M&M’s candy into the center of each Kiss.
•   Allow the treats to cool for a few minutes, and then place them in the refrigerator to set for about 10 minutes. Place handfuls of the candies in clear plastic bags and tie on colorful ribbons.
This easy and inexpensive recipe can be used year round and is always tasty. Even the most inexperienced bakers can make these delicious treats. Merry Christmas everyone!
