If you always ate fast food and sweets and what not and threw back a beer are two and now you are not, don’t be surprised if people ask you if you are on a diet. Tell them yes. Do not tell them some bull-crap story about how no, you are just eating better. You. Are. On. A. Diet.
Are you losing weight? On a diet. Do you go to the movie theatre and really, really want movie popcorn but instead sit there and die the whole time while “enjoying” your 12 unsalted almonds or a 90 calorie Special K bar? On a diet. Go to a cupcake place and eat half a cupcake because you are just too full? On a diet.
Now if you are, no problem. You want to lose weight and you are taking in less calories. I get that. Just admit that when you are eating less calories you are on a diet. I’m so tired of the over used phrase of lifestyle change. It’s not a lifestyle change. You are on a diet. When you are done with the diet and you got to the weight you wanted to be and you still continue to eat the way you were eating for a year… Then, then I will say that you made a lifestyle change. But if you don’t reach the weight you wanted to and you go back to eating your fast food and what not, it wasn’t a lifestyle change…you were on a diet. Sense a theme. 😛
Now since almost every female I know is currently on a diet (regardless of what they are calling it) giving away treats is always a bit trickier this time of year. Which is why you will probably see my posting less (that and sitting at the computer chair with the arm isn’t so awesome). Thank goodness for guys who rarely change anything…this is why they have underwear that looks like it could fall apart at any moment. 🙂
For those still enjoying the yummies of life, I give you these. Ironically they come from a chocolate cookbook, but I left out the chocolate. These were to be dipped or drizzled in chocolate. And I bet that would be yummy, it’s just after Christmas I am a little chocolated out. If you are a toffee fan these are for you. And because they are a butter cookie, yes, they are filled with butter.
Thanks again for the nice feedback on having some savory foods on here, it’s nice to know I have other options. 🙂
Toffee Butter Cookies
2 1/3 cups all-purpose flour
½ tsp. baking powder
½ tsp. salt
1 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
1 cup brown sugar, tightly packed
1 egg
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1 cup Heath Toffee Bits (not the chocolate covered kind)
Whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
In a stand mixer using a paddle attachment, cream together the butter and sugar on medium speed, until fluffy, about three minutes.
Add egg and vanilla and beat until combined, about 30 seconds.
Reduce speed to low and add in dry ingredients, just until incorporated. Fold in toffee bits.
Divide dough in half and roll each piece into a log about 9 inches long and 1 ½ inches in diameter. Flatten logs into 2 ½ inch wide rectangles. Wrap rectangles in plastic wrap and refrigerate until firm, about 1 ½ hours.
Preheat oven to 350F.
Using a chef’s knife, cut dough into ¼ inch thick slices; transfer slices to parchment lined sheets, spacing 1 inch apart. Bake until just browned around edges, 10-12 minutes, witching and rotation sheets halfway through. Let cookies cool completely on baking sheets. The cookie will crisp up as it cools off.
From Cook’s Country Chocolate Desserts
Desi says
I’m going to make these & add some chopped pecans. They look great!
Kristina says
OMG how did you know we just bought Heath toffee bits? drool
Chewthefat says
I’m not on a diet to lose weight, but I am trying to get ‘stronger’ work-out wise so I am trying to eat more protein (which I have always tended to under-eat). But that includes crispy chicken skin and full fat Fage yogurt 🙂 I love fatty-tasting candy too. I always think that Heath bits are a very underrated candy. They are the candy the kids leave and the grown-ups eat.
laurie says
I am on a diet.
laurie says
and it sucks.
Gwyn says
I am maintaining my weight loss, but will still make these and share at work!!! (of course I have to test them at home first!!)
Diana says
Oh yum, I love toffee!
I’m on a ‘diet’ of sorts because I found out about a massive amount of newly developed food allergies… including wheat and corn… they THINK because my body was so overloaded with allergies that it was attacking everything. In theory once we get the rest under control with shots, the food ones will go away.
Now as soon as those allergies go away or go down? I will happily go back to stuffing my face with cookies. So I certainly can’t call it a lifestyle change, since I have no intention of keeping it once I don’t break out in patches of eczema from 1 piece of cake. In the meantime I pin all of these yummies for later 😉
Peabody says
@Diana- I hear you on the eczema. My dairy allergy causes it. While I still eat some dairy I don’t do things like drink a glass of milk, have cows cheese (sometimes…I wont like I do), ice cream (again sometimes). I drink unsweetened almond milk or coconut milk or the new half almond/half coconut milk I found last week. Yum.
Good luck.
hobby baker says
YUM! Now where in the world did you find toffee bits without chocolate?? Because I always look and end up having to special order the old Skor bits and pay nasty shipping. I’d love to find them locally, that’s fer darn sure.
Peabody says
@Hobby Baker- I can usually find them at Target, Walmart, Winco…super stores like that.
christina @ ovenadventures says
these look fabulous. you made me laugh out loud with your diet non-diet talk. Hilarious.
Jo and Sue says
Yeaaaaah, okay. I’m on a diet. But I still eat cookies. And pizza. And ice cream. These cookies may be next on the list. Thanks for sharing 🙂
Emily says
Not on a diet (of any kind) and I love toffee (and butter, too) – can’t wait to make these cookies!
Kristen says
On a diet but will totally be breaking it to try these! Yum!
Kristen says
and apparently that was worth me saying three times. Ooops!
Becca says
I have the exact same magazine/book thing whatever you want to call it, and I also flagged this recipe. It’s nice to know that this is a good recipe 🙂 They look delicious!
Joan@Chocolateandmore says
These sound wonderful. With these I would be willing to try to diet!
Rosa says
Gorgeous cookies! Only butter is real.
Cheers,
Rosa
Claire says
Toffee is one of my favorite and I love a good, plain butter cookie. Mmmmm!
Erin says
I agree on your definition of the difference between a diet and lifestyle change. I am also glad that you are still posting sweets even if they are less frequent. I am having the same trouble even though I myself am not cutting back any more than before.
Erika says
I have been searching for a recipe similar to Panera’s Toffee Nut cookie; I bet these are very similar in taste. YUM – I love toffee.
Stephanie says
I just brought in some brownies to work. Having to beg people to take them, not so much fun. I just hate feeling like the devil for doing something altruistic. I truly have no ulterior motive to make others fat. Or maybe I do. Maybe I am the devil…Thanks for your posting.
Jill @ A Cook's Nook says
Please send some of those my way! I am not trying to lose weight and actually avoid working out this time of year. I’ll resurface in February, once the resolutioners have given up (PS- I really respect everyone who makes any attempt to be active, but you have to admit, the gym can be a nightmare this time of year)
Angie @ Sweet Natured Treats says
No diet here. Bring on the treats! (In moderation, of course). Thanks for sharing. These sound great.
michelle says
These look wonderful and I bookmarked your Ropa Vieja too- it looks so good and meaty, in a good way! LOL! (PS: Not on a diet over here! I hate the word even!)
Emily says
These look delicious. I hate the phrase weight loss journey even more than lifestyle change.
Runnergirl says
Where did you find the almond-coconut milk? I read that it was coming out but I haven’t seen it yet.
Peabody says
@Runnergirl- I got mine at my local QFC which I think is a Kroger affliate
Chris says
Diet. Weight-loss journey. Lifestyle change. Phooey! Just keep quiet and do the work! I dropped over 50 pounds two years ago and it has NOT been allowed to come back. I just call it “doing better” than yesterday. You can’t beat yourself up or you’ll get NO where!
You can be DARNED sure I WILL be making these cookies though! (There is this thing called a freezer, ya know. If you can’t give it all away, freeze it for another opportunity!) Yep, all things in moderation. Well…..maybe I can think of a few exceptions! 😉
Peabody says
@Chris- good for you. And yes, I am sure these would freeze well. Sadly apartment fridges suck and I have no space for the extras.
Sarah says
Toffee and butter=two of my favorite foods.
Destinie says
I made these! Mine didn’t look as neatly done as yours. Mine looked like logs… then I dipped them in chocolate… you get the picture and it ain’t pretty. Despite the looks they tasted fantastic.