Brown Paper Bag Peanut Butter Protein Cookie

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Brown Paper Bag Peanut Butter Protein Cookie

They say that necessity is the mother of invention, but I say that to be really inventive, you have to look at the world in an unusual way. That is how the idea for this protein cookie on a paper bag was born.

For about two weeks now, I’ve been experimenting with my cookie in a mug recipe to try to make it a bit better (mainly moister). It’s been a frustrating endeavor. I’ve tried adding different ingredients, adjusting cook times and so on.

I wanted a cookie that was:

  • Low carb
  • Would satisfy a sweet craving
  • Had added protein to keep me satisfied for a while
  • Had healthy fat for the same reason
  • Could be microwaved
  • Could be created in single serving sizes, so I didn’t eat to many of them

I tried everything from adding an egg yolk (this made the cookie so cake-like that I hated it) to adding more liquid, which just gave me a runny goo. The goo tasted good, but was not anything like a cookie.

Today, it finally hit me that the problem might not be with my batter as much as the vessel I was cooking the cookie in. I use parchment paper for nearly everything, but tearing off a piece small enough to fit in the microwave isn’t always feasible. Still, I wondered if moving the batter to a piece of parchment would make a difference in the final product. Of course, I knew it would.

*Disclaimer: Links are affiliate links for products I have tried and recommend. I will not link to a product I don’t personally think would be beneficial to my readers. Purchasing via my affiliate links helps keep Crabby Housewife running. Thank you!

That is when I opened my cabinet to grab my bag of Jay Robb – Egg White Vanilla Protein Powder. I love this protein powder. It doesn’t have the after taste of some others out there and it is extremely low in carbs (2 net carbs per serving). I can’t speak for his other flavors, but I love the vanilla for making protein cookies and smoothies.

Well, since my cabinet is a mess, as you know if you read my articles this week about organizing it (x and x), my Paper Lunch Bags that I keep on hand for popcorn in the microwave fell on my head.

This was my light bulb moment. Would the paper bags work in a similar way to the parchment paper when cooking my protein cookie? It was certainly worth a try. I am happy to report that the cookie was perfection.

I was able to lift the lunch bag down and eat the cookie off it with a fork. The cookie is made of protein powder (and stuff, info below), so you won’t be able to pick it up and eat it like a cookie with flour. However, use a fork and I promise you that you will have a great, filling, healthy treat.

Let me know what you think! I’m definitely making this one again.

protein cookie
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Brown Paper Bag Peanut Butter Protein Cookie
Author: Crabby Housewife
Ingredients
  • 1 teaspoon or a pat of real butter (grass fed is even better)
  • 1 tablespoon of natural peanut butter the only ingredient should be peanuts and possibly salt
  • 2 pinches of Splenda or sweetener of choice
  • 1/2 - 2/3 scoop of vanilla whey protein powder
  • Atkins chocolate covered candies optional
Instructions
  1. In a mug, place butter and peanut butter. Microwave on high for 20-30 seconds or until melted. Stir.
  2. Add Splenda. I don't actually measure this. I just pinch some between my thumb and forefinger and throw into the mug. I do this twice and the taste is just right. Stir thoroughly.
  3. Add 1/2 scoop of the protein powder. Stir. The mixture should be like regular cookie batter in consistency or similar to Play-dough. If not, add a bit more until you get it there.
  4. Lay out your paper bag (still closed). Spoon the cookie mix on top and spread it out to about 1/2 inch thickness.
  5. If you are adding candies, press into the top now. You could also add nuts, sugar free sprinkles, sugar free toffee or other item of your choice.
  6. Microwave on high for 1 minute. Allow to cool for a minute and then eat right off the bag with a fork.
Recipe Notes

Want something different? Try using 1 Tablespoon of butter, leave out the peanut butter, add fresh berries for a raspberry flavored sugar cookie.
You could also replace the vanilla whey with chocolate for a chocolate cookie. Yum!

Want to support our site? You can get everything you need to make this cookie using the links below.

Note that grassfed butter is very pricey. You won’t use much for this recipe and it will last you a really long time. However, if it isn’t in your budget, any butter from the grocery will do as will any protein powder. Some protein powders have a strong aftertaste, so your results may vary if you choose not to use Jay Robb.

Hope you enjoy this cookie!

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Organizing Your Spice Cabinet – Step # 2

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Organizing Your Spice Cabinet – Step # 2

Now that you’ve decluttered your collection of spices, keeping only the ones you actually use an that are still fresh, it is time to figure out how you’ll organize your spices. As I started to research this, I felt completely overwhelmed. There are a wide variety of spice organizers on the market and there are DIY ideas out there, too.

Most Useful Organizers

I narrowed it down to some of the most useful organizers as I was doing my search. Note that while some of these organizers have affiliate links, I have only included the ones I think would work well. If you do decide to order, the affiliate links help support Crabby Housewife.

Spicy Organizer

First up is the Spicy Shelf Patented Spice Rack and Stackable Organizer. I seriously considered this one as a way to organize both bottles and cans with some space in front for salt or vinegar, etc.

Ultimately, I did decide against this one. I wasn’t sure it would fit well with the way my cabinets are set up and I wanted to ensure I could use my space to the best of my ability. However, it is very reasonable at only $9.99. If you have a lot of spices, you might need two of them.

Pull Down Spice Stacker

I like the neat appearance of YouCopia Chef’s Edition SpiceStack 30-Bottle Spice Organizer. Even inside the cabinet, it makes my OCD happier. However, there were a couple of draw backs for my spice collection.

I would have had to purchase bottles as cans wouldn’t fit. I don’t want to invest that much in my organization project, because I’m cheap.

I also wasn’t overly thrilled with the price as I’d need two of them minimum. This spice rack would work great for someone with only a handful of spices they use frequently, though. The cost is $39.99 and it is Prime eligible.

3-Tier Stacking Organizer

The Copco 2555-0188 Non-Skid 3-Tier Cabinet Organizer is the one I ultimately went with along with another one, which I’ll share in a minute. The reason I went with this one is because it is simple and makes use of both upper and lower space in my cabinet.

I also like that I can stacks cans and bottles on it and that I can put the spices I used most often in front, but still see what is in the back. This one runs $7.99. I ordered two.

2-Tier Cabinet Turntable

I also ordered the Copco 2555-0187 Non-Skid 2-Tier Cabinet Turntable. I thought this was the perfect compliment to my spice organizers, because I can store salts, sprinkles and some other things that are harder to organizer on this turntable. I can easily spin it to locate what I need at any given time.

I’m also thinking of ordering one of these to organize my medicine cabinet, which is my next project. It looks about like my spice cabinet and I can’t find anything.

This turntable runs $12.99, so is still very reasonable.

Magnetic Spice Tins

I haven’t yet ordered them, but I am also seriously considering some magnetic spice tins to keep spices at hand that I use frequently.

Stainless Steel Magnetic Containers Multipurpose Spice Tin Rack Perfect Kitchen Storage 6 Piece Set looks like a good one to start with and runs $19.95 for the set. I’ve added it to my wish list.

The reason I was considering these was I was thinking about placing a magnetic board inside my cabinet and attaching them there. I love the way they look, how easy they are to organize (you can also stick on the side of your fridge or on your stove, although heat can destroy spices, so not sure about that one), and that they have both a shaker and a pourer on the lid which you twist to access.

However, my concerns with these came from the reviews I read. First, people said that they were not air tight and that moisture got in and hardened their spices. I can’t stand that. Next, they aren’t very large, holding about 2 ounces each. That means I’d still have my jars with the additional spices to store. So, my storage solution wouldn’t take care of my messy cabinet.

I still really like these, though, and likely will order them and use them for something. They are just so cute, aren’t they?

As you can see, deciding which spice organizer to use is no easy task. Which one works best for me may not work best for you. A lot will depend on they setup of your kitchen and how many spices you have as well as what types of containers they are in.

Once my organizers arrive, I will share the finished project with you in photos. If you aren’t already signed up for my newsletter, I send out a weekly update of new articles so you never have to miss an update.



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Organizing Your Spice Cabinet – Step # 1

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Organizing Your Spice Cabinet – Step # 1

We have been doing some decluttering recently. With any house, after you live there a few years, things just collect. We’ve been here 11 years, so we’ve collected a LOT of clutter over that time – again. My first project in 2016? To organize my spice cabinet.

I have a ton of spices. I like to cook. I like to try  new things, new spices, new creations. However, that also means my cabinet looks like the picture above. Yep. It is rather horrifying. In addition to that, I have a round spice holder on my counter top that I’d like to get rid of because my kitchen counters need to be decluttered as well.

I thought you might enjoy sharing this journey with me as I explore the best way to get this cabinet organized. I’m sure many of you are suffering from messy cabinet syndrome as well, although likely you are more organized than the picture above. This is my cabinet at its worst ever.

spice carouselSo, the first step is cutting the clutter. When it comes to spices, they do have a shelf life. In addition, when I bought my spice rack, it came with some blends that I never use or rarely use. It’s time for them to go. Yet, I love the little round spice jars the set came with, so I will be keeping those to put some of those canned spices in.

Things that can go:

  • Spices you’ve not used in six months. Sure, it sounded like a great idea to buy that special salt and seasoning blend I read about on a blog, but I have used it once, didn’t like it and never touched it again. Bye-bye.
  • Sprinkles galore. I had so many sprinkles in that mess. So many. I rarely use these. I threw them out save one. I’ll buy more if I need them, but since Christmas is often the only time I even use the sprinkles on cookies, why keep them around another year?
  • Do you see the three containers of salt? No way do I need THREE in my cabinet. I removed two and put them back in my stockpile, leaving just one.
  • I had a bunch of multiple containers of the same spice. Many were nearly empty. I threw out the empty ones. Yes, I could have been really frugal and poured those into another container, but they were likely stale anyway.
  • There were some packages of mixes for tacos and chili that I threw out. As you probably remember from a recent post of mine on making your own taco seasoning, I’ve decided those packets are really unhealthy for my family and am making my own seasoning now.

Now that everything is inventoried and things thrown away, I will move on to Step # 2 – choosing organizers. Check back tomorrow to read more about my spice cabinet organization adventure. You can also sign up for my newsletter to get updates on new articles each Friday straight to your email box.

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New Year’s Detox Plan – Food Based

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New Year’s Detox Plan – Food Based

I’ve spent the last few weeks researching and reading a lot about detox. There is something about a new year that makes me want to get organized, declutter, clean things out – and that includes my body.

Good health is something that is easy to take for granted, but something which we should guard. However, doing a complete detox, such as a juice fast, is just never going to happen in this household. For one thing, we love food way too much. For another, I can’t imagine existing on juice for weeks while keeping my regular pace. I need protein I can chew.

First, I want to say I’m not a doctor. I’m not a dietician. I only know what I’ve read and studied just like you. I may not always get it right. So, please, please always consult with a doctor or professional before trying what I’m trying or any other plan. It is always best to be smart and look after your health in this way. While you’re at it, you should also have your doctor test things like your blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar and triglycerides.

This will all give you a baseline reading and you’ll be able to clearly see how eating healthier and adding a little exercise to your life helps improve your health. The proof is in the numbers.

That said, the book I most enjoyed reading was Dr. Ian Smith’s The Shred Power Cleanse. While I’m not following his plan exactly as written, if you have the willpower of say an Olympic athlete, you probably could do well on this plan. What I did take away from his plan that I think is smart is to drink a high powered, antioxidant filled smoothie to start each day. And also to eat cleaner and avoid the junk.

So, I am going to continue with my meal replacement plan in the new year and try to lose the rest of my weight. I’m in no hurry. I want to be healthier. I’m not running a mad dash, but a lifelong stroll. Here is my plan:

  • DIY Meal Replacement Plan like Medifast and similar
  • Purple Smoothie shake from Ian Smith once a day to help detox my body
  • Giving up diet cola (Lord, help me with this one, because I am so addicted to it and it is so very bad for me)
  • Eating as many whole foods as possible
  • Adding even more vegetables and antioxidant rich fruits like blueberries, strawberries, raspberries, etc.
  • More water. Since I drink so many diet colas, I’ve been drinking less water. Water flushes our bodies and is so good for us. My goal is at least 6 glasses each day.
  • More exercise. I started a yoga class once a week but got away from going. I plan to restart on Monday and do gentle walking on my treadmill other days. At least 20 min a day 5 days a week to start. More later.
  • Less toxins in my home, too. I’m trying to do things more naturally. I became a Young Living distributor, so I can get a discount on essential oils and I’ve started drinking NingXia Red juice every day (which can also help with detoxing). It is rich in antioxidants. I plan to switch to their oral care line and their cleaning products later in the year, as I can afford it.

So, you can see that detoxing is an ongoing process. However, I don’t feel that it is an all or nothing proposition. If you can only add a berry rich smoothie with a little spinach and some chia seed to your daily diet, then that WILL still benefit you.

Will you see results as fast as someone who goes all out? Of course not. But something you do for your health is ALWAYS better than doing nothing for your health.

Happy New Year! Let’s work on being healthier together in little ways, big ways, and everything in between.

Lori Soard, the Crabby Housewife

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