So here’s the ironic thing about these cookies.
3 days ago I got wise and finally downloaded a calorie counting/ fitness tracking app on my phone. Know what’s weird? I love it. I’ve always been a label-reader and have made a mental note of the calories I’m taking in… unless it’s easier on my conscience to ignore them. But I have never actively tracked them or held myself accountable for what I’m eating.
Last spring I caught myself in some Mother’s Day photos that my sister took and untagged myself immediately. Ohhhh my gosh it was the rudest awakening. So me, Chad, and my sister embarked on the Insanity journey. Holy hell that workout is appropriately named. My sister and I finished the 2 month program (Chad’s job is very physically demanding and late spring/summer here is HOT; he quit, but he gets a free pass), I dropped 21 pounds, and I never really rearranged my eating. I kept it off for the rest of the year, but never lost an ounce more.
Just before Thanksgiving I managed to catch a cold that settled in my chest and then wouldn’t quit. I felt better – no more cold – but I was struggling to breathe All. The. Time. I couldn’t work out. So in the last 2 months I’ve had to go 3 rounds with a prescription that makes me feel like total garbage AND makes me hungry every second of the day. And so I watched the scale start creeping back up. My face felt round, my hard-earned arm muscles had gone soft, and I pretty much felt like ick.
I finally had a doctor listen and for the first time since October I can run and jump and breathe again. So I decided to get honest with myself and get real about getting my weight and my health in check.
You can see now why it’s sort of funny that I’ve photographed loads of cookies loaded with brown butter, chocolate chips, and bacon.
Anyway. I made it through my first day with a 30 minute workout and no sweets. Here’s the deal, though. I know me. And if I cut myself off from the goodies completely then it’s only a matter of time before I fall off the wagon and eat half a pan of brownies.
So I bought some low-cal frozen yogurt (I think I might love frozen yogurt more than ice cream. Please don’t think less of me.) and I made these cookies.
I have carefully calculated my calories, and after an excessive and ridiculous kickboxing session that lasted an hour I had a cup of coffee and 2 of these cookies. And I am still waaaaaaaaaaaay way under my caloric intake for the day. Thank you crazy cardio. Cookies make you worth it.
These cookies made me so happy! And the scale is steadily moving. I’m totally motivated.
So enough about me for a minute… let’s talk about bacon in the cookies. I promised you bacon in the chocolate chip cookies HERE. It’s salty and sweet and interesting and totally delicious. The brown butter happened because my microwave has quit working and I have to melt butter on the stove. So I figured, while the butter is in the pan, I might as well brown it and make things really interesting.
I am so in love with these cookies.
- 6 slices of lean bacon
- 2 cups all purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt 2 teaspoons cornstarch (optional)– see note
- ¾ cup unsalted butter
- 2 tablespoons bacon grease
- 1 cup packed light brown sugar
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- 1 egg, plus 1 egg yolk
- 1 tablespoon vanilla
- 2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
- Preheat the oven to 325.
- Cook the bacon and then set it aside on paper towels to drain. Reserve 2 tablespoons of the bacon grease.
- While the bacon is cooking, place the butter in a small saucepan. Melt it over medium high heat. Reduce the heat to medium and let the butter simmer. It will crackle and spit a little as you cook the water out of it. Watch it closely– it will start to brown and smell deliciously nutty. There will be little browned bits floating in it. Remove it from the heat.
- Crumble and chop the drained bacon into itsy bitsy pieces.
- In a medium bowl whisk together the flour, baking soda, salt and cornstarch.
- In a large bowl stir together the brown butter, reserved bacon grease, and sugars until smooth. Add the egg and yolk. Then stir in the vanilla.
- Mix in the flour until everything is combined evenly. Stir in the bacon bits and chocolate chips.
- Set the cookie dough aside for 5-10 minutes; this makes it easier to work with.
- Form the dough into 1½ inch balls and place them 2 inches apart on the cookie sheet.
- Bake for 8-10 minutes. Let the cookies cool for 5 minutes before removing to a wire rack to cool completely.
adapted from THIS big fat chewy chocolate chip cookie recipe
Funny the things that motivate me.
I’m a firm believer that bacon and brown butter are two of the world’s best things…and together in one cookies?! You, my friend, are a genius.
Hi, Rachael! We seem to be cut from the same cloth. Brown buttered bacon ehvureeething.
Hooray for calorie counting apps!! Girl you know I can’t live without mine lol It’s the best thing in the world, essentially you can eat whatever you want as long as its within your allocated calories for the day…I think that’s what gets me through my day…and why I can still eat pizza haha But the fact that you lost 21 pounds last year is so amazing and you should be so proud of that!!! You’re not even fat…yeah I said it lol…so you can easily reach whatever goal you want this year!!! And if you can eat cookies to that goal, amen to you!!! I want to eat cookies haha Operation motivation!!! Yay Heather!!!!
Dear Michelle,
I heart you. You must have your fat-free goggles on and you are such a good friend for that
~H
I am really loving My Fitness Pal. It’s like getting a good grade on a test or competing with myself everyday. Also, you girlie, are my hero!! I cannot even believe how much weight you’ve dropped in the last year. More than that I can’t believe you’ve eaten NO SUGAR!! And you still bake. That is more willpower than I have ever possessed in my life.
When I first read this I thought you said Googles and I was like what’s that a new Google app??? HAHA God I’m dumb!!! lol And HELL no are you serious???? Heather, you’re like super mom, super girlfriend, super cook, super friend…it’s amazing what you’ve done for yourself and I’ve seen pics of you and you’re so pretty!!! Don’t ever forget that!!! I long for the day when all I have left to lose is 20 pounds!!! lol The fact that you’ve come so far is inspiring to me!!! And your whole insanity thing…I mean sh*t girl that kept me motivated I’m like if she can do that crazy insanity thing I can workout for 30 minutes on the elliptical lol All I know is that this will be our year of both of us reaching our goals and then we will celebrate together!!!! Hooray!!!!!
As for the sugar part…I can’t believe it either…but I think about it every day haha I think my ‘will power’ comes from the fact that I know if I eat it again…I become unhappy Michelle again…and I don’t want to do that!!! lol
You had me at bacon – HELLO! I love sweet and savory and salty all in one bite. Mm mm mm. By the way, I really like the “recipe box” feature you’ve added to your website, especially where they can click to print just the recipe. Is that a plug-in feature you picked up somewhere or something custom built for you?
Thanks! It’s a plugin called Easy Recipe (and it’s free!!). Info on it here:
http://www.sugardishme.com/2012/12/29/blog-freebies-i-love/
Yeah, well, sorry I missed that blog post, but that was during my blackout phase (Go to work, come home, blackout, repeat -lol)
I’ll just take the bacon please. You can have the rest. Mmmm…..
I’m envious of your bacon cookies and self discipline. Keep up the good work!
I LOVE My Fitness Pal. Very, very eye opening about how many calories we eat every day without realizing it. I love these cookies, too. Added protein! These look like cookies worth a kickboxing session!
My calorie counting was depressing me when I tried to satrt again, even when I felt like I’d done really well I’d end up over, so I’ve given up again! I’m still trying to eat well and run, but I’m not calorie-ing it – we’ll see how ti goes! So far, I’ve lost a couple of pounds of Christmas belly, so hopefully I’ll manage without actually counting! These cookies look AMAZING though! I don’t know if I’m sick with envy at your cup of coffee and cookies, or releived that they’re so far away so I can’t scarff down the lot and put my christmas belly back on in one go! Haha!
I use My Fitness Pal too, and it totally keeps me on track, but I’m not losing weight like I should. Science says I’m doing all the right things- boggling and frustrating! I’m going back to my 80/20 plan. I need treats lot keep sane. These cookies are off the charts in goodness! My co-workers will love me for sharing these!!
I HAVE to have goodies or I will go straight up crayzee. Just keep at it… sometimes the best results are the ones you can’t see… your body is healthy!! Hope you enjoy these cookies. We LOVE them.
Things you can’t go wrong with: (1) browned butter and (2) bacon. These sound awesome. Thank you so much for linking up at What’s In Your Kitchen Wednesday.
Ashley @ Kitchen Meets Girl recently posted…Easy Lemon Chicken
Heather, I’m catching up with Sugar Dish Me this week, so I thought I’d start here! You know I’m going to make these, right? I’m thinking they’ll be the perfect thing to give my Valentine (aka, my hubby). And, 21 pounds? Okay, I need to adjust my will power in the sweets department.
Hope 2013 is off to a great start for you!
Allison
Allison@Main St. Cuisine recently posted…Basmati Rice with Peas & Tarragon
Hey, Allison! I spied a couple of your posts in my inbox but haven’t had time to reply… I am all over that Blackberry Brown Sugar Bread. It’s good to hear from you! These cookies are really great and really easy and bacon is always a big hit with the dudes.