Sugar Cookie Fruit Bars

This dessert screams summertime to me. I am not a fan of super sweet desserts, I like more of a rich dessert (like chocolate!) so this recipe turned out so yummy and perfectly balanced.

The sugar cookie “crust” was chewy and soft, and the frosting is thick and creamy, and the fruit adds a nice burst of sweet and tart. You can really change up the fruit and use whatever you have too. The frosting I use for multiple things: cookies, cakes, cupcakes, etc. So the frosting is a good and easy option to keep for multiple uses. 😋

A really neat idea you could do to make it an interactive dessert is make the cookie bars, frosting and cut up all the fruit, keep everything separate and your guests can assemble their own cookie!  (great for kids too!!)

I really like to make this dessert, it reminds me of a time I made it for a holiday, I believe mothers day and my mom thought it was a really cool idea and super good. I kept everything separate so it could be an interactive dessert and something different, and I just remember my mom always praising my flavor and creativity. I learned so much of the kitchen through her and her amazing, comforting food. I can still smell the aroma of walking into my parents house.

Ingredients:
Sugar Cookie Bars:
1 stick softened butter
1/4 cup canola/vegetable oil
1/2 cup granulated sugar ( an additional 1 tbsp for later, optional)
1/4 cup powdered sugar
1 large egg
1 lime, zested & juiced
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 3/4 cup flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda

Fruit toppings: I used berries, Mandarin oranges & grapes! (You can use peaches, bananas, kiwi, mango, pineapple, etc.)

Frosting:
1 package of jello pudding mix (5.10z)- I got vanilla (you can use cheesecake flavor, lemon, chocolate, etc)
1 cup milk (whatever you buy, we buy almond milk so thats what I’m using)
1 cup heavy cream

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Directions:
Preheat your oven to 350 degrees & spray a baking sheet (about 9×13 or so) w/ cooking spray. Set aside for now.

In a large bowl, combine your dry ingredients all together: Flour, salt, baking powder and baking soda. Stir all together until well combined and set aside.

Then in your stand mixer (or hand held mixer) combine butter, oil. granulated sugar and powdered sugar, blend until combined and creamy.

Then in your mixer bowl, add your egg, lime zest, lime juice and vanilla, mix on medium speed until well combined all together.

Then you want to add in your dry ingredients on a lower speed until well combined together. You may have to pause in between combining to scrap the bowl and sides to everything gets mixed in good. I like to add in a little dry ingredients at a time so it doesn’t make a mess.

Spread your gorgeous cookie dough on that sprayed baking sheet and try to get it evenly spread. See those little flecks of green from the lime. 😻

This next step is totally optional, but I like to sprinkle about 1/2 tablespoon- 1 tablespoon of granulated sugar over the cookie dough before going into the oven. Adds some extra crunch and sweetness. Your call! 

Then go ahead and put that sheet pan into the oven for about 14-16 minutes. (Every oven is different so keep an eye on it towards the end)

Once your cookie sheet is baked, I like to cool it. You can cool it at room temperature or if you want to speed up the process, you and put it on a towel in your fridge.

Now, lets make the frosting. You can make this ahead of time or just before you are about to frost the cookies. 😊

Super Easy!!! 

In your stand mixer bowl, pour in your milk, heavy cream & pudding mixture. Beat on medium-high speed until it becomes thick & resembles frosting! (thats it!!)

While your cookie sheet is cooling, you can get your fruit toppings ready to go…
look at those colors…

After your cookie bars are nice and cooled (at least an hour, maybe longer if at room temperature), go ahead an frost them! Try to get the frosting nice and evenly spread across the cookie.

Lets get ready to have fun: cut & decorate! my favorite part!

I go ahead and cut my squares (or you can do rectangles) and slide each of those out of the sheet pan onto my plate. The edges are nice and clean, and that makes a happy girl.

Then, go ahead & have fun with it. Make them pretty, or leave them plain for your guests to decorate. This is like therapy for me, so I geek out over this!

Aren’t they so cute & pretty! They are always a big hit! 🍓

I hope you give this recipe a try and I would love to hear what you think! 
Lets get it touch, you can follow me on instagram or my facebook page or feel free to leave me a comment! 

Thanks for reading, sharing & supporting!
Email: crhealthyfit@gmail.com
Instagram: cassie.agirlandhergoats

Sweet and Savory Sesame Dressing

One of the good memories I have with myself and my mom is when we would go to lunch together. When I was younger, we used to go to this restaurant inside Macy’s at the mall. I used to get this mandarian orange chicken salad and I loved the dressing. I was actually craving this kind of salad and dressing, and of course thinking of sweet memories with my mom.

After much playing around with this recipe to make a good one, I have nailed it. It is perfection and works really well for multiple salads.

I have made this salad now 3 weeks in a row because it is so dang good & then I knew I needed to share it and the sweet memory of my momma and all of our dates we used to have together. We used to meet for lunch, frozen yogurt, shopping trips or just to enjoy each other. She used to often tell me I should make a cookbook because she loved my food and always thought they were so creative. The cookbook idea has been weighing on my mind more and more, and I would love to do it in honor and memory of her, what do you think?

I made this salad dressing and used it for a mandarin orange chicken salad & a berry chicken salad, both were delish!

Sweet & Savory Sesame Dressing:

Ingredients:
1/2 cup seasoned rice vinegar (rice vinegar)
1/4 cup organic honey
3 cloves of garlic, grated/zested
1 tablespoon sesame oil
1/4 cup canola/vegetable oil
2 tablespoon liquid coconut aminos (brand I used is braggs- you could also used reduced sodium soy sauce or tamarin, which is gluten free soy sauce)
1 tablespoon sesame seeds

Directions:
Put all your ingredients into a jar and shake it all up. (You can of course whisk it in a bowl too )

Pour this dressing over your salad.

Mandarin Chicken Salad has Grilled chicken (this dressing works great as a marinade too! Make extra!), mandarin oranges, wonton strips, sliced bell peppers, sesame seeds & sliced almonds. Simple & Delish!

Berry Chicken Salad has baked chicken, strawberries, raspberries, sliced almonds, sesame seeds & wonton strips!

You can make it a little different every time and this dressing makes it so delish! Its the perfect blend of sweet and savory. 
(this was our dinner, and served it with avocado toast topped w/ fresh garden tomatoes!)

Amazing as leftovers too! Perfect for lunch or dinner.
Give this recipe a try & let me know what you think!

From my kitchen to yours,
Thanks for reading!

let’s be in touch! I would love to hear from you or give me a follow!

Email: crhealthyfit@gmail.com

Instagram name: cassie.agirlandhergoats

Welcome! ❤️

Hello! 

I want to, personally, welcome you to my blog! Thanks for stopping by! So, HEY, my name is Cassie. I wanted to make this blog because I have been itching to get back into blogging but never really felt I had that much to say or share until recently. It continues to weigh on my heart more and more, so, here I am! I wanted to share a blog that, hopefully, speaks to you in some way. I want to share my lifestyle with all of you! A peek into my healthy weightless journey, my recipes, my design/art/creative passion & my emotions of hardships that have changed me.

I am a girl of many interests and I have gone through some pretty unfortunate things in my life that I want to share, inspire and maybe help someone with. First things first, I am a girl with some goats (like the blog title?) and some dogs, of course. I live in Michigan and creativity flows through my veins. I am creative in everything I do- that is one thing I am confident on. I have been on a weightloss journey now for awhile, and I have been sharing that on my social media (instagram: Cassie.agirlandhergoats). I have lost over 80 pounds with exercise & healthy eating. I love to cook, be outside, make memories with good company and again, anything creative. I run an Etsy shop that allows me to showcase my design skills (and degree) and also allows me to do something different each day, which is exciting! I am a student and I work full time as well. I am a fitness instructor and I have such a passion for fitness, health and helping others, like me, make some healthy changes and hit their goals.

On my blog, I hope each time you visit you take something away from it for YOU. Maybe its perspective, positivity, motivation, inspiration or love. I love to create and share recipes, share my workouts/health journey, of course share my animals and a recently, new journey I am on- a young widow. I lost my husband in July 2019, and I am in a chapter of my life that is all about healing. THIS is what has driven me to want to make this blog and share because grief is difficult, messy, lonely and confusing. I lost my mother in April 2017, and I thought I would never make it through and I can tell you, my husband was my BIGGEST support system through it. So, losing your spouse, the person you wanted to do “life” with, is certainly THE most difficult, heart wrenching thing I have ever experienced. I am in a stage of self care, reflection and healing. So, this is me & this is why I am here- to share, love, encourage and always, inspire. I hope you love it!

XO

Email: crhealthyfit@gmail.com
Instagram: cassie.agirlandhergoats
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