Healthy Happy Life Secrets

Berry Shortbread Cookie – No-Bake Easy

Berry shortbread cookie is an easy, no-bake sweet way to have berry good raspberry, strawberry, or blueberry jammy tastes. You decide!

And if the cookies were organization tools, these berry shortbread stack nicely.

Shortbread is not bread or short of anything. These edible plate weights are low-sugar and made from healthy ingredients. They take minutes to make and are 4 ingredients (and butter here is not one of them).

…You in? 😊

And if you want to bring this shortbread cookie fruit forward that’s a good pairing, bring in a mix of fruit filling.

Fruit is always a good answer and berries are nice whether it’s holiday or year-round.

You can pick from exotic berries like gooseberry or mulberry that give some balancing tart notes. Or more sweet red notes like strawberry or raspberry. And a dramatic blackberry is always welcomed.

I saw some berries out in the wild that have orange and lemon colors… nature is always coming up with new food ideas. 🧡

And I’m guessing these grape-like ones are sour berries and not edible. Leaving them for wildlife is a good idea.

It’s much easier to forage for frozen or fresh berries at the grocery stores. And blending in pureed frozen berries that are easily available year-round are the perfect find for this shortbread cookies.

And even better and easier, use or make a jam that’s calling you. These days you can find organic jams and more natural options without high fructose corn syrup.

For holiday season, you can also get a bright holiday cranberry red from cranberry cans or lingonberry from a specialty food or farmers market. It’s a rainbow choice of jewel berries that you can smear in your cookie while making or leave as topping options for your guests.

Berries are antioxidant healthy, so you’ll have no regrets. They’re powerful fruit gems. And they add a pop of color and make cookies so tasty you may want to make these berry shortbread cookies more often.

They will last for a week or longer covered in your refrigerator.

And even months longer in your freezer where you can bring them out when you have a hankering for something sweet.

…Or you need a last-minute plate of homemade cookies for the table.

When you bring them back out to room temps, if you like cookie dough tastes, then leave them alone. But if you want the more dry texture that cookies are, then you can sprinkle a dusting of almond flour on the tops.

That’ll make them look fresh… and that’s all the zhugh you need. Why add more to something already nice and simply decadent?

And if you have fresh berries on hand, that could be a nice side add too… 🍓

Easy Low-Sugar Shortbread Cookie - No Butter Recipe

This is a perfect holiday or tea shortbread style cookie for dipping or enjoying with a jammy brunch.

Author Brandy @ Healthy Happy Life Secrets

Ingredients

1/2 cup almond flour
1 tsp vanilla or almond extract
1/4 cup light olive oil
jam or honey (optional)

Instructions

Combine ingredients and dump on plastic wrap on a cookie tray. Spread out and wrap up the dough tightly.
Refrigerate and let rest for at least an hour.
Open up plastic and roll out dough flat to about 1/2". Cut out cookies with cookie cutter.
Optional: slice shortbread cookie in half. and smear thin layer of raspberry jam to the middle layer.
To give grainy texture, add a sprinkle of loose almond flour to the tops of cookies.
Refrigerate for at least another 10 minutes and then serve.
You can freeze cookies (up to 3 months recommended) and enjoy later.

Cookies are my sweet tooth weakness. Maybe yours too? If you like healthier cookies, you may also like to try a low-sugar (yes!) lemon cookie (cute as buttons), Christmas ricotta cookie, sugar cookie or vanilla cookie. Or if you’re wanting a store-bought “healthiest” cookie, this is the nutrient low-down I found. 😋

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Oatmeal Raisin Cookie (Low-Sugar) – Gluten-Free

Oatmeal raisin cookie is one of my favorites. This one is all oats. And no flour.

Sure, you can add chocolate, but I sometimes like a pure wholesome oat-y raisin cookie (…maybe you too?) where the raisins are the stand out morsel-size ingredient.

And this gluten-free big cookie has 40 raisins. You can’t dodge ’em if you tried.

There’s a raisin reason (or raison in French) for the cookie … that makes it a good breakfast starter with healthy breakfast ingredients!

And if size matters to you…

This oatmeal raisin cookie recipe is for 6 inches across that is great on your 8 inch plates. Or take with you in your car trips when you want fewer crumbs.

It has crumbs, otherwise it wouldn’t be a satisfying cookie… but it holds together nicely.

And better than granola that’s droppable, and one jerky hairpin turn away from needing a vacuum.

You will have finished this cookie by then. 😋

Like my younger self would have. When I found the hard and crunchy store-bought ones worthy.

I thought they were the eat-as-many-as-you-like wholesome cookies. Ya know what I mean?

I was years from understanding why healthy really mattered… and knowing that a few baking minutes is all the difference between crunchy vs. soft-baked.

And not from an artfully messy table of food ingredients that I imagined.

For a Softer Cookie:

With ith the magical oven, you can make the cookie even softer if you want with a simple ingredient tweak.

If you want to make a smoother (less oatmeal bumpy) and cake-y cookie… and don’t mind the gluten, then you can add some whole wheat flour.

Or my fave way is to add buckwheat flour that’s naturally gluten-free despite “wheat” in the name.

I love an easy gluten-free buckwheat ginger cookie snap.

If you add 1/2 cup gluten flour, you can fill a 9″ pan of cookie that’ll turn out more like a cookie-cake. There will be a little rise and it’ll be softer and spongier like a cake so it’s easier to cut.

You can even cut a cool geometric star pattern shape like this gigantic chocolate oat cookie (cake?) that’s doubly starred ⭐️⭐️ with an orange star inside the kaleidoscope cut star pattern. Do you see it?

The cuts are good for tearing and sharing, and will impress most and especially science fair aged-ones.

But if you prefer a solid cookie or wouldn’t miss the raisins, you can try this low-sugar oatmeal chocolate chip cookie that looks a lot like the signature C.C. cookie 🍪 I sat next to when I was a Doubletree Hotel catering manager.

But the baking recipe I share is without any of the sticks of butt-ah that made it paperweight heavy.

And now that we have all the cookies out of the bag, the ingredient that ties all the cookies together is the oats.

With all the grocery variety shelf options these modern days, old-fashioned oats are the best value… they cost minimal and are minimal processed (vs. instant oats). And wherever you shop, it’s usually next to the 1-minute oats.

The slow oats are the better option. And since you’re baking them and not making oatmeal, they’re time-less.

The magical oven will work out that cooking time process.

…Maybe why oatmeal is part of the famous oatmeal raisin cookie’s name.

And while oats bind the cookies together, what makes this oa-tea cookie recipe a special-tea is the Earl Grey tea choice added to the cookie batter.

The tea is good for a couple reasons (or raisins 😊). Earl Grey is a brisk bergamot black tea that can be strong. And maybe why it’s U.K.’s traditional tea. 🇬🇧

And I’ve been adding raisins to drinking Early Grey that gives it a bergamot forward citrus flavor. Earl Grey is good for breakfast or an afternoon tea. And a perfect cookie pair fit where you can do tastings with different cookies like starting with an oatmeal raisin cookie. You could try a holiday lemon cookie.

Early Grey is versatile, but had ladylike (adult) tastes. Like other black teas, it’s usually sweeter (vs. green tea = bitter). And raisins mellow out all those tastes and flavors for a smoother drinking ride.

The tea also plumps up the raisins. And you could plump up raisins in your enhanced puffery oatmeal raisin cookie if you pre-soak them in brewed tea before you add to your cookie batter.

But if you don’t have Earl Grey tea on hand, for cookie batter, you can sub with/use milk , coffee, or any liquid as substitution.

No need for a panic store run. You can get creative and use the same Dry January warm beverage you’re also brewing and drinking on hand. If it’s good as a drink, it’ll be better in a cookie! 🍪

How easy… as promised for this One-Bowl oatmeal raisin cookie.

And if you’re wondering if this cookie will be sweet enough (as it calls for no table sugar like most cookies), you can add healthier natural sweetness that come straight from the source like maple syrup or honey.

If you’re feeling Pitta (e.g. signs of feeling irritated, have warm skin to the touch, or breaking out signs) maple syrup will help you out as it’s a cooling ingredient. Fitting why it’s a staple up north. 🇨🇦

So now you have an American oatmeal raisin cookie with English-speaking cousin country ingredients.

And if you’re feeling cool, you may want a warmer ingredient.

Sinus-congested Kaphas can use honey in your cookie batter. Raw honey helps to loosen up the gunk and if you’re feeling slow going.🫖

Plus a dry oatmeal raisin will be good for drying out Kaphas that tend to have moist skin.

And with all the mouthful deets, I think you’re ready to make this ready-to-be-eaten cookie.

Gluten-Free Oatmeal Cookie (One-Bowl Easy)

This is an easy cookie to bake that always pleases for any occasion!

Course Dessert

Cuisine American

Author Brandy @ Healthy Happy Life Secrets

Ingredients

2/3 cup ground oats
1 Tbsp maple syrup (or honey)
1 Tbsp baking powder
1 Tbsp yogurt
1/8 cup Earl Grey tea
2 Tbsp raisins (or 40 raisins)
1 tsp cocoa powder
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 egg
pinch of salt

Instructions

Spray your baking pan with baking spray or brush light olive oil. You can use your round cake pans.
Make the one-bowl cookie batter: Combine ingredients with a silverware spoon but reserve the Earl Grey tea and raisins.
Optional: brew your Earl Grey tea and add the raisins to the warm tea. This will help plump raisins up. You can do for some, all, or none. And then add the tea and about 3/4 of the raisins (30 raisins/1.5 Tbsp) to the cookie batter.
Shape your cookie with your spoon and a knife or offset spatula is helpful. This makes one 6 inch cookie or a few smaller cookies.
Add the remaining raisins on top so they're visible.
Bake at 350°F/180°C for 25-30 minutes for soft-crispy cookie doneness preference. Enjoy!

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Choose Your Own Adventure

This is a lesson learned blog post. I believe that we can learn from each other and grow from what we share.

And for as long as our lives are, we can keep growing strong like these trees. 🪾

In my life’s journey, I have learned that you and I have everything inside us to be happy today and forever… in contentment and empowerment.

Both very powerful internal happiness tools.

But it took me years to discover that secret.

It’s a secret until it’s visible.

It was in me (and in all of us), but I didn’t know how to make it visible.

Until unfolded, I found it’s a life secret meant to stay invisible to the human eye.

Because it’s in the choice to flip the mind script with thoughts that can be turned down. And that changes feelings and moods. And the new lens is how we get back our happiness from disappointments.

I practiced this, this past weekend…

When I headed to the same mountain I’d be visiting for the past 3 weekends in a row to do some fall hiking. 🍁

On this third trip, as I pulled up to the mountain park entrance, I noticed a few cars in front of me and a line forming quickly behind me. Each car was being stopped one-by-one, by one of two forest rangers.

I thought the rangers were going to provide information or maybe ask for identification for whatever reason.

When it was my turn to pull up, I learned it was neither of those reasons.

The forest ranger asked me, “were you coming today to hike?” And she proceeded to tell me that wouldn’t be happening due to unforseeable work vehicles in the park.

When I asked if they’d re-open today, she said, “possibly around 2:30.” That was a solid 2 plus hours later and didn’t sound like a guarantee.

I asked if I could use the restroom before leaving, but I was denied and redirected to the local country store.

So like everyone else ahead of me, I drove to the cute country store less than a mile down the road. On my beeline trip to the restroom, I heard someone’s male voice mumble, “we drove an hour and a half to come out.”

In that moment, I knew exactly what I was going to do after my visit to the Ladies Room.

I had a choice.

it was in the slight thought pause.

I immediately thought there were plenty of of other trails available to visit in the state, and the day hours weren’t going to wait.

I had a vehicle full of gas and ready-to-hike legs, so I wasn’t stuck.

But staying stuck with my initial idea and plan would have been tragic for that day. And that’s where many minds stay.

Time waits for no one…

If we sit around, a day goes by, a year passes, and a decade grows. When you’re older, that’s nothing.

When we’re younger, time doesn’t pass fast enough.

And in life’s journey, while closures happen sometimes and endings disappoint no matter what, there’s a better way to look at it.

(Because sour moods won’t change anything.)

And you can snap into a happy place quickly when you change your scenery on the outside and in your mind.

So in the 2 hours that came to pass, I could still be waiting (worrying?) at a country store.

…But that wasn’t my story.

I hopped back in my car and re-routed to go to another mountain.

Yup, I technically visited two mountains in one day. And I got out and did a new hiking trail. ⛰️⛰️

Sounds impressive? The truth is… it was easier than the alternative.

I knew I wouldn’t sit around waiting for what may or may not happen.

That’s a good lesson for life.

Keep going.

Let go of what could be (but wasn’t).

And I stopped off and looked at flower fields along my new unplanned scenic route. I remembered to stop and smell the flowers (a slow down lesson learned before). 🌺

I also found a new hiking trail that I mapped out thanks to modern maps.

When I was growing up, those were paper maps; and to this day, I don’t know how we ever found our destinations. 😮

But that’s how life for all of us has improved today… and so we have even more options to benefit us than in the past.

So staying stuck doesn’t have to be an option.

Being and feeling content always can be.

And the more content, the better.

There are no downsides.

Like, I was enjoying my new hike and I temporarily forgot all about the country store and drive up to the first mountain earlier that day. 🍂

That’s how happy can be.

And my suggest to anyone else who crosses setbacks (that’s all of us 🙋🏻‍♀️):

Choose another adventure.

Let go of the old one.

Get unstuck.

Ohhh, and I know you may have made the same decision I did at the country store… you would’ve drove off in that situation too if you were alone (or with an agreeable partner), but maybe not with so-and-so company or a group in tow dead set on the original mission and sticking around waiting. Or not with little ones where it’s harder to just hop and go.

Believe me, I get it because in my childhood I felt so stuck most the time. In my case I was tagging along on weekend adult errands that I was so bored with, and fed up with as a child looking for childrens’ adventures. Nothing was in my control. I was stuck.

So because of those early-on sour mood lessons, that’s why one of my happiest places today is at the grocery store. Because those adult trips foraging food (aka sweets) that I chose were empowering and happy moments.

I use those lessons to help me today.

And you can do the same with your today teaching lessons and past lessons learned situations to help you noodle out of your thoughts no matter what you’re facing with life-in-play situations.

Make it easy for and on yourself.

And whatever your country store decision would have been, I’m suggesting you would have been happy anywhere else where you could choose.

And let go of the past (that ego energy clings onto).

ANYTHING is better than sitting around disappointed energy all around you.

…Including yours.

Get fresh new air.

It’s still free and abundant.

And getting out of stuck, you could Google new ideas like what farms are nearby (or ask the country store people). Take a clearing head field trip.

Because out in the country there are always produce farms (the same ones that provide strawberries and apples at farmers markets 🍓).

And animal farms.

You probably even passed a few cows and horses on your drive up.

Whatever it is you come up with when you’re stuck, pick a new adventure.

And if you were like me, untethered that free day… drive ’til you can drive no more.

Empower your day, hike another trail and make it your best day ever despite the start.

Don’t waste beautiful days and nature’s perfectly balanced leaf and bark weather changing all around you in this moment.

The season won’t wait.

And neither should you.

Ready for your next adventure?

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Chocolate Trifle with Pumpkin (Easy For Any Occasion)

Chocolate trifle is something to be excited about. And when adding tiramisu vibes for a pick-me-up… this is tasty good stuff. And the ingredients here are healthy, including Greek yogurt and pumpkin… good for the season we’re in. And year round as pumpkin sits on the grocery shelves.

For dark chocolate drama, I added balsamic vinegar to melted chocolate that gives a slightly tart bite.

And if you move your sweet bite from the front tongue taste to the sides, you’ll get more of that sour punch. I think I learned in grade school when we learned about our tongue tastes… those were unforgettable lessons.

And tart flavor is just enough to give the ordinary chocolate flavors an oomph.

And it also makes the melted chocolate more drizzly to create special food art effects. 🍥

That gives an overall elevated vibe that can be admired. And maybe set out early on the table. That can be good for any occasion.

And the chocolate brown goes with pumpkin orange in the autumn. Especially in the cooler months. 🍁

Chocolate-pumpkin 🍫+🎃 is also a great tasting pairing duo. So it’s a win-win score.

And with those ingredients, it’s even easier than store-bought frozen pumpkin pie because you don’t have to bake any part of your chocolate trifle if you choose.

And it’s delicious when you pair the tastes that everyone likes. It’s great for a potluck. I remember the first trifle recipe I saw was handed to me in a printed recipe from a church leader from a potluck event.

So it has a special place for me.

It’s also great for a casual dinner.

A trifle will impress because it looks like an elegant table centerpiece if you put in a large display vessel. It’s an illusion. Because the dessert has no shape but the (glass) dessert vessel has a distinct shape that the dessert takes on.

I’m surprised I didn’t think about the dessert or centerpiece back in my hotel catering days when I was always thinking about table decor.

It probably works better for a home setup. And it’ll impress you as you get your day back in the prep process.

Where you don’t have to spend your day worrying about bringing or making a dessert that pleases guests you’re serving.

And most importantly… pleases you!

You can think of a chocolate trifle as a side dessert. That will go well with cookies or Madeleines. Or holiday pie, celebration cake, fun candy, and anything in between.

You decide what will be dunked in the trifle for the effect you want.

And you can fill your trifle dessert with the healthiest foods like Greek yogurt. And pumpkin that’s beta-carotene healthy. It has the antioxidant vitamins, A-C-E.

It aces the healthy test. And pumpkin is affordable. You can find cans year round that you can stock up on when it goes on sale.

Shelf-life for pumpkin is usually at least a year long if not longer.

So no need to wait for Thanksgiving or holiday desserts.

And then to top off your special dessert, you can make luscious swirls.

Who says Greek yogurt whipped up can’t be exciting?

Like this soft as a pillow yogurt layer… where you can dunk your spoon in without guilt.

You can also make cute individual yogurt trifles for any occasion. Oui?

And to top off with a zhugh, I used coconut shavings. But a cinnamon or ginger powder dusting would also be pretty and healthy too.

Easy Pumpkin Chocolate (Tiramisu) Trifle Dessert

An easy dessert for any occasion or table that you can whip up with healthy ingredients in minutes.

Author Brandy @ Healthy Happy Life Secrets

Ingredients

layer of Greek yogurt
layer of ricotta (optional)
1 15 oz canned pumpkin
1 10 oz chocolate morsel package
1 Tbsp balsamic vinegar

Instructions

Prepare sponge cake for lady fingers or use store-bought Madeleines or cookies.
Assemble cake or cookie at the bottom and layer with yogurt, pumpkin, and chocolate sauce. To make your own chocolate sauce, add chocolate morsels and balsamic vinegar to a bain marie (double boiler) to melt on low heat. Tip: use dark chocolate for healthy and color drama effects. Also add ricotta for cheesecake trifle vibes.

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Turmeric Soup – Anti-Inflammatory

Turmeric soup is one anti-inflammatory soup that’s so easy to make. All you need is water and turmeric spice. But you can add so much more (see below)! And it’ll be comforting for fall and holidays… and healthy.

Add rice for texture substance that adds nutrients and is hearty filling.

Brown rice and wild grain rice are whole foods great on an anti-inflammatory diet because they’re less processed.

The rice bran and germ are kept intact where additional B-vitamins are.

You can add your protein choice, and include 15-beans for one potent protein bowl. You can also make a Magic Bullet dip with the beans.

In the bean mix, some are actually legumes and not beans.

Just remember, all beans are legumes, but not all legumes are beans.

Remember those school grammar lessons?

How fun to practice on peas (that are legumes) with fruits in pods (or seeds). 🫛 And lentils and peanuts are also legumes (not beans!).

Lentils are easy to point to by their half shapes.

And not to get too technical, but a chick pea is a bean: a chic garbanzo bean.

But you already knew that!

And all these are in your 15-bean (or 16-bean) packages. I wouldn’t be surprised if there’s a 33-bean one as there are hundred of beans in the world and some even say like 40 thousand that’s surprising to hear!

The list is long, and from that lens short on a 15-bean bag.

If you read the label, actually you’ll notice there are more than 15 named, but actual only 3 lines long: northern, pinto, large lima, yelloweye, garbanzo, baby lima, green split pea, kidney, cranberry, small white, pink, small red, yellow split pea, lentil, navy, black, and white kidney. They sound like organs or colors on a college jacket.

Did you find the ones that are non-beans?

And since we’ve gotten technical, there are more than 15 listed (there are 17 if you’re counting). This has to do with variety. But from school-me class 😊, we just learned that some legumes are not beans, so maybe it should be called 17 legumes soup? 💭 …Not as catchy though.

And would make a great school project. And if you want to give a school grader a project, have them separate the types.

Either way, it’s a great lesson in food variety and would make for nice art work in a bowl. 🥣

One that I do is turn it into a turmeric bean soup.

To make this:

Soak the beans in room temperature water in a bowl covered overnight so they expand and soften.

Then cook the 15-beans on medium heat until soft. This usually takes over an hour. If you want to lean into the smoky tastes, you can let the water run out on the beans. Then add back before it blackens.

You’ll get a nice smoky aroma and taste that makes it very warming and inviting. This is a great fall soup. The colors look like leaves turning and it’s comforting.

Then turn your soup into an easy Magic Bullet dip.

Comment below what are your fave ways to add turmeric. 🧡

Personally, I can’t douse enough of the anti-inflammatory turmeric on my savory foods.

…On my longevity mission and hundreds of up and down hill mountain hiking miles, I’ve crossed over many stones (some big boulders) and that adds to harsh knee impact. Adding turmeric to my diet, I’ve found those pains have subsided. Turning the stones in life to healing is victory in my book.

Turmeric Soup made at home with just turmeric and water for the base.

Anti-Inflammatory Turmeric Soup

This is a simple and anti-inflammatory soup that you can make delicious and bottomless enjoy.

Author Brandy @ Healthy Happy Life Secrets

Ingredients

1 tbsp turmeric spice
16 oz water
15-beans (optional)
cooked rice
Brussel sprouts (and/or veggies of choice)
spices (black pepper)

Instructions

Add turmeric to pot of heating water on the stove.
Add cooked beans, spices, cooked rice, and veggies to pot.

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