In my house, I am very strict when it comes to snacking. I don't really allow many sweets, unless they're homemade. I just don't really trust most prepackaged cookies and mixes because they are often loaded with ingredients I cannot pronounce. Also, they're chock full of preservatives, additives, and yes, GMO's. (Genetically Modified Organisms. If you're not familiar with these, google it and be prepared to be scared.)
Of course my husband is a goner. He buys his gross, processed snacks all the time, and thinks he can stash them away and I won't notice. He isn't fooling me one bit, but at least the kids can't get into them.
So imagine my husband's surprise when I told him I was getting some decadent baking mixes to review! Cookies...Fruit crisp...Yum! He asked what the catch was. Were they somehow sugar-free? Tasteless? Do they taste like cardboard? (Yes, I was asked all of these questions.) He was very happy when I told him that none of these were the case. Among Friends makes baking mixes that are full of high quality organic ingredients you can pronounce, and many varieties are gluten-free. (But you'd never, ever know it!)
Haven't heard of Among Friends? Allow me to introduce you to this great company!
Of course my husband is a goner. He buys his gross, processed snacks all the time, and thinks he can stash them away and I won't notice. He isn't fooling me one bit, but at least the kids can't get into them.
So imagine my husband's surprise when I told him I was getting some decadent baking mixes to review! Cookies...Fruit crisp...Yum! He asked what the catch was. Were they somehow sugar-free? Tasteless? Do they taste like cardboard? (Yes, I was asked all of these questions.) He was very happy when I told him that none of these were the case. Among Friends makes baking mixes that are full of high quality organic ingredients you can pronounce, and many varieties are gluten-free. (But you'd never, ever know it!)
Haven't heard of Among Friends? Allow me to introduce you to this great company!
About Among Friends Baking Mixes :
Among Friends, LLC, is the creation of two friends, Suzie Miller and Lizann Anderson. Like many such ventures, it began over a cup of coffee (and involved a cookie, of course). This was a mouthwatering cookie, with memorable taste and texture, handcrafted by Suzie. That’s when I got out my wooden spoon. (I’m Lizann). I vowed to make Suzie’s cookies dense with nutrition without sacrificing great taste.
We know firsthand about the perils of healthy cookies that taste like the cardboard they’re packaged in. You see, I was blessed with three boys and the middle one is a bloodhound who sniffs everything before he eats it. I knew if I made a cookie that passed the tyranny of Shane’s taste buds, I would have accomplished something. The imp will eat as many Suzie Q. cookies as I can keep in the jar (Needless to say, we’re mum with our kids on the benefits of flax and whole grains).
Among Friends mixes reflect our desire to share our baked goods with other discriminating palates. Our goal is simple: we want to help people fill their kitchens with fresh-from-the-oven baked goods made from the best ingredients. Our mixes make baking easy for people on those days when treats from scratch are impractical or well nigh impossible. We all have those days. Our name tells it all. Each of our baking mixes is handcrafted for friends and named for someone we love, a friend or family member.
Sounds too good to be true, right? Well the awesome folks at Among Friends sent me a few of their baking mixes to try with my family. After all, seeing (and tasting) is believing!
We know firsthand about the perils of healthy cookies that taste like the cardboard they’re packaged in. You see, I was blessed with three boys and the middle one is a bloodhound who sniffs everything before he eats it. I knew if I made a cookie that passed the tyranny of Shane’s taste buds, I would have accomplished something. The imp will eat as many Suzie Q. cookies as I can keep in the jar (Needless to say, we’re mum with our kids on the benefits of flax and whole grains).
Among Friends mixes reflect our desire to share our baked goods with other discriminating palates. Our goal is simple: we want to help people fill their kitchens with fresh-from-the-oven baked goods made from the best ingredients. Our mixes make baking easy for people on those days when treats from scratch are impractical or well nigh impossible. We all have those days. Our name tells it all. Each of our baking mixes is handcrafted for friends and named for someone we love, a friend or family member.
Sounds too good to be true, right? Well the awesome folks at Among Friends sent me a few of their baking mixes to try with my family. After all, seeing (and tasting) is believing!
First, we made the Suzie Q's. Who doesn't love a chewy, gooey oatmeal chocolate chip cookie?! These are actually gluten-free, and contain the added bonus of organic flax seed. (I didn't tell my husband that, though!)
These are so simple to make. All I needed was one egg, some butter, and a little vanilla extract. Once the ingredients were well combined, they were ready to bake. I had a little extra cookie dough than would fit onto our cookie sheet, so I let my teen lick the bowl. He said it was delicious!
These bake at 350 degrees, and the package calls for 7-9 minutes with a yield of about 38 cookies. Honestly, I made my cookies a lot larger, since my kiddos like their cookies large and in charge, so I added about 5 minutes to the bake time.
My kitchen smelled wonderful as these cookies baked, and the kids lost all patience. They kept asking, "Mom, are they done yet?" They pestered me from the time I put them in the oven, and then about every 30 seconds thereafter. After about 5 minutes, I sent them out to the back yard to play.
When the cookies were done baking, they looked wonderful. Since I did make them a bit larger than called for, they did spread a bit on the baking sheet. This was not a problem though, and they were very easy to remove and cool.
When the cookies were done baking, they looked wonderful. Since I did make them a bit larger than called for, they did spread a bit on the baking sheet. This was not a problem though, and they were very easy to remove and cool.
Once the cookies cooled, we dug in. I was definitely pleasantly surprised by how wonderful these cookies were. They were soft and chewy, and the oats and chocolate tasted very natural with no funky aftertaste like you might find in prepackaged cookies. The flax seed isn't even really detectable, so I was even able to fool my "healthy-food-phobic" husband.
Overall, I would definitely recommend Among Friends Baking Mixes. These are absolutely delicious, and are full of only the best natural ingredients. Since there's no "junk" added, I don't experience any Mommy Guilt. Also, they're super-easy to prepare, so you don't need to be a whiz in the kitchen to enjoy homemade, wholesome treats. With gluten-free options available, no one needs to be left out, either!
Connect With Among Friends :
You can check out the awesomeness that is Among Friends Baking Mixes on their website.
Check out their store locator to find these goodies near you!
Of course you can also order online from the convenience of your own home. At 2:00AM in your pajamas, if you so desire. I promise, these ladies won't judge!
You can also connect with Among Friends on Facebook to stay on top of their latest products and promotions!
Check out their store locator to find these goodies near you!
Of course you can also order online from the convenience of your own home. At 2:00AM in your pajamas, if you so desire. I promise, these ladies won't judge!
You can also connect with Among Friends on Facebook to stay on top of their latest products and promotions!
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