Healthy Treat to Break the Heat

It has been uncomfortably hot and humid over the past few days and finding a bit of relief is definitely needed. I've been soaking up the A/C but I decided that a cool treat was in order. Instead of heading to the freezer for some ice cream, I made a berry smoothie that is delicious and healthy. Has anyone else tried the pre-packaged Yoplait frozen yogurt packets? I found them at Costco and now I can't do without them. They are pre-packaged and included frozen berries and yogurt and all you need to do is add milk and blend. It's great when you are in a hurry and need a sweet little treat.  

Doesn't it look delicious? I'm thinking I could use another one right now. Has anyone tried a great smoothie recipe that they would like to share? Finding the perfect blend and the right consistency is more difficult than you think. Cheers!

Happy Birthday David!

David celebrated his birthday this past Friday and he told me about a hundered times that he wanted a Pastel de tres leche (three milk) cake for his birthday. That's all he wanted! He even "hacked" into my blog to post the recipe that he wanted me to use after a bit of research after the best receipt. Well it sounded like an easy request until I realized I would be out of town the entire week and wouldn't get home until Friday afternoon. I made it home just in time to rush to the grocery store and get the cake in the oven before he got home from work. While the cake was baking I had about a 1/2 hour to run into my craft room and whip up a really cool birthday card for a really cool guy. I literally had the card in the envelope and was sealing it shut when he walked in the door!

For those of you unfamiliar with this cake, it's a spongy, delectable cake that oozes a sweet milk from within. You bake the cake, let it cool, and poke lots of holes into it and let the "milky" substance slowly soak into the cake. The milky topping in this recipe used included evaporated milk, sweetened condenced milk, heavy whipping cream, vanilla, and rum. Interested in giving it a try? Check out the recipe I used here. Enjoy!!!

The birthday boy eagerly waiting to dive into his cake!

Happy Birthday David!!!

Oatmeal Crispies – Pioneer Woman Style

  CHOP the pecans.

 MIX the butter and sugars.

BEAT the eggs and vanilla.

 MIX the white ingredients with the brown ingredients.

 POUR in the oats and pecans and mix.

Roll it into a log and wrap it in waxed paper.

BAKE & EAT!

I love all of Pioneer Woman’s recipes and had to try the Oatmeal Crispies out with my friends that came over on Sunday for my card-making party. It makes 2 large logs and I kept the other in the fridge until my husband got back from his guy’s weekend. He felt extra special arriving home  to freshly baked cookies (bonus points for me). He then rewarded me with a gift that came in a little blue box – you win honey, you can go on another guy’s weekend next year!

Check out the recipe here. What can I say, her photography kicks my @$% but I still had fun snapping some pics of my labor of love.

My 30 day Bet

I am serious about getting back in shape in 2010 because I fell off the wagon last year and had a million and one excuses for why. I need to feel better, get healthier, and lose some weight in the process. The book that we are reading for one of my book clubs is “Excuses Begone” by Wayne Dyer and while we’ve been reading it for about 6 months (we are a little slow) it finally clicked this weekend and I said enough is enough. I put a plan in place and for the next 30 days I’m going hard-core. I need a big boost to keep me working towards this. Plus my hubby and I have a little bet going that if I stick to the plan for 30 days that he’ll treat me to my favorite restaurant – you guessed it – Joe’s Stone Crab! Those of you that know about my love for crab know that I’m going to win this bet!

Here’s the plan – kick my tail for 30 days by completing Jillian Michael’s 30 Day Shred DVD for 30 straight days. It’s only 20 minutes so the “I don’t have time” excuse is out the window. I love that it’s fast and it’s over before you know it. I’m only 2 days in but honestly the 2nd time flew by compared to the first time. And I can do all of the exercises – nothing tricky just 3 minutes of strength training, 2 minutes of cardio, 1 minute of abs. Repeat 3 times and you are done!

Now that I’ve got the exercise excuses addressed, it’s now time to get down to business with the eating and meal planning issue. I stumbled across this website in a magazine this weekend and I’ve been wondering – why didn’t I think of that! You can select the meal plan of your choice and each week print off the meal plan with recipes and a shopping list. We tried it yesterday and so far we are loving it. We choice the Weight Watchers plan for 2 people but there are a bunch to choose from. Click here to learn more about e-mealz.

Last but not least is Hungry-Girl. That’s instantly what I think of when I think about me on a diet – one Hungry Girl. I tried Hungry-Girl’s cupcakes this weekend and I couldn’t  believe how tasty they were and at only 110 calories you can’t go wrong. I signed up for her daily emails (along with 800,00 others) and I really like her tips.

 

So here’s the plan – eat healthy, work out for 30 days, and learn new healthy habits. Then in 30 days I’ll be celebrating over a plate of stone crab once my hubby loses this bet. Ok, I probably shouldn’t be celebrating with food but seafood isn’t bad for you and I love it. If it gets me in gear for the next 30 days it’s worth it. And then it’ll be time to set my next goal.

One more thing, the bet isn’t because my husband isn’t supportive and doesn’t think I can do this, he just knows how darn competitive I am and I hate losing. Plus he worked out last night with me and I was worried he wasn’t going to make it through. It’s hard to exercise after not doing it for a while but I know he can do it – I just need to show him that hard work = results!

2 days down and 28 more to go!!!

Happy New Year!

 

David was nursing a cold and so we decided to celebrate New Years Eve at home with our favorite pup and a yummy dinner. And of course a yummy bottle of Pinot Noir.

As you can see, I really enjoyed the wine which made me all toasty warm during dinner.

Me and Tanner – isn’t he the cutest?

Lasagna I made for dinner with a side of garlic bread.

Remember my favorite restaurant I blogged about – here? Well I got my hands on the key lime pie recipe and made it. Wow, it really does taste just like the pie from Joe’s Stone Crab and all it took was 4 ingredients for the filling, this recipe is staying in my arsenal of deliciousness!

Holy Yum – ohhhhhhh!

To burn off some of those calories we decided to play a little Guitar Hero together. As you can see, my husband can really rock the guitar. Seriously, he has some mad Guitar Hero skills.

But you should see me rock the vocals. Seeing is the key word because hearing me attempt to sing is one scary venture. Boy did we have fun though! Thank goodness we don’t have a video camera because I think our encore might have appeared on YouTube accidentally which wouldn’t have been a good thing.

David, Tanner, and I hope you had a “rockin” new years eve and nothing but the best in 2010!

Marlboro Man's Favorite Sandwich

I was the lucky gift recipient of "The Pioneer Woman Cooks" book by Ree Drummond for Christmas (thanks mom and dad) and I'm in love with this new cookbook already. Not only is Pioneer Woman a blogger extraordinaire but a phenomenal photographer, cook, and rancher's wife. Her cookbook is very easy to follow and has pictures to help you along the way that are beautiful to look at. We decided to try one of the recipes tonight and my hubby thinks I am the best cook thanks to this meaty, artery clogging, butter filled sandwiches. I normally hate cube steak but add a stick of butter (gulp) and a few other ingredients and you have the best darn sandwich ever - really. If you love meat, make this sandwich, you won't regret it - well you might because it's not so nice on the waistline. Don't have the cookbook? Don't worry, click here for the recipe from her blog.

Delicious!

Grillin up some onions.

Cute up and season the cube steak.

Brown the butter.

Grill up that cube steak

Add back the onions, some tobasco and worchestire sauce.

Grill up those buns hon!

and you end up with this to die for sandwich.

Honestly meat lovin folks will go crazy over this. I can't wait for my parents to visit again, my dad will go head over heels over this sandwich.

My Favorite Restaurant on Earth

I LOVE SEAFOOD!!! It is my favorite food of all and the best place to have seafood in my opinion is at Joe's Stone Crab (not to be mistaken by that awful Joe's Crab Shack). There are 3 locations in the US which include Miami (the original), Chicago, and Las Vegas. I'm proud to say I've eaten at all of them multiple times but I have to say the original restaurant in Miami is my favorite. The ambience there is unbelievable and besides the best food ever, the people-watching is incredible as well. I hope that everyone is able to eat there at least once and when you go, you MUST eat stone crab! I promise it's the best crab you'll ever eat.

And when it comes to dessert, the key lime pie melts in your mouth and leaves you begging for more. On their website they actually had the recipe and I can't wait to try making it to see if it really is as good. Interested in the recipe, here you go.

I plan on eatting dinner at Joe's this week and I can't wait. My mouth is watering just looking at these pictures.

Pumpkin Pie Bars

Thanks for your feedback on which pumpkin dessert I should make for my hubby's return home. Not only did I have to clean up after myself all week (that was hard work), but I missed my hubby so much that I wanted to give him a warm welcome home. Therefore he will be welcomed home by some delicious, out of this world - Pumpkin Pie Bars thanks to a recipe I found on Joy the Baker's blog - that girl has some serious baking skills and her photography of her baked goods has me drooling. My pictures don't do these bars justice but you get the idea, can you smell the pumpkin spice from here?

RECIPE

1-1/3 cups flour
3/4 cup granulated sugar, divided
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
3/4 cup (1-1/2 sticks) cold butter or margarine
1 cup old-fashioned or quick-cooking oats, uncooked
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
1 pkg. (8 oz.) cream cheese, softened
3 eggs
1 can (15 oz.) pumpkin
1 Tbsp. pumpkin pie spice
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 teaspoons bourbon (optional)
a handful of butterscotch or chocolate chips for sprinkling on top (optional)

HEAT oven to 350°F. Line 13×9-inch pan with foil, with ends of foil extending over sides; grease foil. Mix flour, 1/4 granulated sugar and brown sugar in medium bowl; cut in butter with pastry blender or 2 knives until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Stir in oats and nuts.

RESERVE 1 cup oat mixture; press remaining onto bottom of prepared pan. Bake 15 min. Beat cream cheese, remaining sugar, eggs, vanilla, bourbon, pumpkin and spice with mixer until well blended. Pour over crust; sprinkle with reserved crumb mixture and a handful of butterscotch or chocolate chips (if desired).

BAKE 25 min.; cool 10 min. Use foil to transfer dessert from pan to wire rack; cool completely.

ENJOY Stick fork into the yummy goodness and chow down. Yummy!

Pumpkin Desserts - Decisions, Decisions

Last fall do you remember those delicious to die for Pumpkin Whoopie Pies that I made? They were the BEST treats I have ever made and I love to bake. If you missed out, click here for some pictures and the recipe.

With the hubby out of town and the autumn chill in the air, I am in the mood for some baking with my favorite flavor this time of year - pumpkin! I need your help with what I should bake this week.

Should I make these Pumpkin Whoopie Pies again by Rachel Ray?

or should I try these Pumpkin Pie Bars by Joy the Baker?

or should I try these Pumpkin Cookies with Butterscotch by Joy the Baker?

Decisions, decisions, decisions! I want to make them all but that's probably not a good idea for me or my waistline. I'd love to get your thoughts, my canned pumpkin is anxiously awaiting your replies on my counter.

Browned Butter Blueberry Muffins

We had some blueberries that we were planning on making pancakes with this morning but we slept in a little longer than expected and had toast instead. However I was determined not to waste them and knew I needed to make something today otherwise once the workweek starts, it may not happen. So I went to the computer and went directly to Joy the Baker's website and did a search for blueberries. I came across these Browned Butter Blueberry Muffins and headed straight into the kitchen to bake up a batch. Boy am I glad I did! I learned how to brown butter and got to get my hands dirty in making the crumbly topping for these muffins. These are the best muffins I've ever had and I'm not normally a big fan of blueberry. Have some fresh or frozen blueberries laying around? Then make these, you won't regret it.

Freshly baked muffins.

Right out of the oven.
Ready to head into the oven after getting the crumbly topping.

The batter in the muffin pan, waiting on the crumbly topping.

Are you salivating after looking at these muffins.

If so click here for the recipe.

Cukes, Cukes Everywhere

Remember that garden I planted back in June? Well you don't have to have a green thumb to grow cucumbers, they are popping up like weeds! Here you can see the first one that I picked and I was so excited that it actually produced veggies that I had to take a picture. Since this picture was taken a week ago, I've picked another one each day. Just when I think there aren't anymore, there I find another one. Now that I am reaping the fruits of my labor, what recommendations do you have for all of these cucumbers other than putting them in a lettuce salad?

Looking for a recap of the progression of our little garden?

Let's hope it grows - June 4th blog post.
It's Really Growing - July 14th blog post.

What's my secret you ask - why the DIY Rain Barrel that we built of course. I am sooooo happy we made that together and honestly having fresh rainwater to water the garden and flowers is not only the green thing to do but it hasn't cost us a penny either.

P.S. I should be able to post some tomatoes and green peppers soon.
P.S.S. How do you use your herbs from the garden? I am in need of some recipes for parsley, basil, and dill if you have them.

Lemon Whoopie Pies

One of my favorite flavors is lemon and when I found this recipe for Lemon Whoopie Pies, on Joy the Baker's blog, I knew it was a recipe that I had to try. Lemon and whoopies pies combined - how could I go wrong with this recipe? I hosted a scrapbooking night at my house this weekend and I knew the girls would love to take home these delectable treats after a long night of scrapping. It was my little way of saying thanks for spending the evening at my house.

After I whipped up the dough and baking the cookies in the oven for 12 minutes, I made the cream cheese frosting which I slathered in between the two cookies and wa-la, lemon whoopie pies. My mouth is watering as I look at these whoopie pies and I wish that I had some left overs because I'm really craving another one of these. I'm off to make another batch. Oh, are you looking for the recipe? Here you go!

ENJOY!!!

Blogs I Adore - Joy the Baker

Meet Joy, Joy the Baker, who's blog I have a love/hate relationship with. This young lady can whip up baking creations like nothing I've ever seen but the one problem - if I bake it, I have to eat it and that's a bad combination for me. She is a self-taught, taste bud baker who lives in Los Angeles and is only in her 20's. She has quite the following and I really hope you try some of her creations. What more can I say other than move over Betty Crocker, Joy the Baker is in the Kitchen!

Pumpkin Pie Bars - I LOVE pumpkin and will be whipping these up shortly

Red Velvet Black and White Cookies

Peanut Butter Fudge Treats

She even makes her own Vanilla Extract and I'm really excited about trying this because I go through this stuff like water and it's not cheap. I think this would make a great hostess gift or holiday gift for the baker in your life. Warning - it takes 2 months to make so make sure you plan ahead with this project.

Root Beer Float Cake - oh my, this has me dreaming about the floats from A&W when I was a child and I am itching to try this as well.

I make the best Carrot Cake ever (I know but it's true) so when I saw these Carrot Cake Cupcakes with Dulce de Leche Buttercream, it was love at first sight. This combines my love for cupcakes with my love for carrot cake, what more does a girl need?

Are you drooling over these recipes or have I already lost you to your kitchen to begin some baking? I should have put a warning at the front of this post but if these recipes don't have you running to the kitchen and you want something a bit more unique why don't you try her Vegan Chocolate Avocado Cake, Fresh Mango Lime Bread, or Blueberry Sour Cream Ice Cream with Fudge Sauce. I wasn't kidding when I said Joy bakes up some "creative creations" did I. Instead of baking another dozen chocolate chip cookies why not try one or two recipes. Have I convinced you to try one of these delicious recipes, do you promise to try one of them soon? I know I will and I'll follow up with all of you on the outcome, if there is any left of course. Also if you need a taste-tester, I'm always available.