Nourish and Flourish

Is Cupcake Sugar Toxic?

My mom taught me that dessert was never to be eaten before a meal. Sweets served as a reward for eating broccoli and turnips. :-p

Surprisingly, I adopted her philosophy without much fuss. As long I knew there'd be dessert, the veggies went down easily!

There was, however, one exception to this rule.

Occasionally Mom would buy Hostess cream-filled cupcakes and sneak them into my lunch box.

These cupcakes were, in my opinion, the treat of all treats.

(I'd love to tote this lunch box around!)

Come lunch time, my survival of the fittest instinct would kick in, and you better believe that cupcake was devoured before I touched my tuna fish on whole wheat (sans mayo) sandwich!

I'd almost forgotten about those cupcakes. Almost.

Last week, Katie decided to forgo a traditional cake on her birthday and instead indulge in a traditional Hostess cupcake. When I saw the picture documentation--and the look of elation on her face--I knew it was time to bring Hostess back.

But this time I was determined make Hostess homemade and healthy.

Please excuse the dirty nails!

I'm really glad I snapped the above pictures before I attempted to transport my cupcakes to my friend James's birthday party.

Because after sitting in the car all day (gym + babysitting + class), they looked like this:

Does anyone know if there's such thing as a cupcake transporter? Because traditional tupperware was a major fail. :-p

Fortunately, the birthday boy still enjoyed his cupcake (x3!). And that's all that matters, right?

*Homemade Hostess Cupcakes* <--- click for recipe!

James also enjoyed blowing out the candles on a red velvet cake.

I was glad I'd brought gluten free cupcakes, otherwise I would have suffered from major cake envy!

While posting pictures of James, I began reminiscing about our college days together. He was my go-to date for sorority formals and semi--formals.

sophomore year formal

Junior year semi-formal. Perhaps a little too much concealer under the eyes? ha

James was also my go-to loony face partner in crime. (And still is!)

There are MANY more where these came from!

****

IS SUGAR TOXIC?

The same day my homemade Hostess cupcakes made their messy debut, my good friend, Elaina (the gorgeous gal in the above picture) sent me a New York Times article titled, Is Sugar Toxic? (You can read the article here).

Toxic is a strong word with strong implications, even though it seems to be thrown around pretty lightly lately. For the purposes of physical health, a toxin is a poisonous substance that has an ill effect on the body. We all know that sugar is a source of empty calories and is said to promote cavities, but is it toxic?

In excess, maybe. But isn't every substance potentially toxic if too much is consumed? 

Humans have been consuming sugar for eternity. It's found naturally in fruits and vegetables! It's found in breast milk! Is a substance that's naturally created by our own bodies to nourish growing babies really bad for us? Is a substance that humans have been consuming since creation harming our bodies? If sugar was created to taste good, how could it be a poison?

One could argue that artificial sweeteners taste "good" too...And we all know about the negative connotations surrounding those. But artificial sweeteners were created by humans. They are not natural.

Sugar is a natural substance meant to be consumed. Most living creatures rely on it in some form, as it serves as a source of energy for our bodies.

Honestly, I think the author's allegations and assertations are unfounded. Human problems associated with sugar don't lie in the chemical equation of the substance itself, but in the excessive amount consumed.

This article frightens me. Not because it has changed my opinion about sugar, but because I believe it will cause many readers to run to the store for Sweet n' Low (or other artificial sweeteners). Those who buy into the belief that sugar is evil, will banish it from their cupboards, feel deprived, and end up binging on it later.

I am going to repeat the cliche mantra that we all know so well: Anything (natural) in moderation. Including sugar. Especially that which is found in homemade cupcakes. ;-)

***QUESTIONS FOR TODAY***

What is your opinion about sugar? Do you try to avoid it? What's your sweetener of choice?

AND

In keeping wth the reminiscing theme...

What was your favorite childhood lunch box treat?

You already know my answer, but in addition to Hostess cupcakes, I loved the following treats:

Fruit By The Foot fruit roll-ups

Gushers

Ritz Bitz sandwich crackers ( both cheese and peanut butter flavors)

 

 

 

 

 

Coconut Curry, 'Cakes and Quotes

I like to think I'm an efficient multi-tasker.

I study while I ellipticize (how is it that I focus better when I'm moving?)

I'll do calf raises while I'm writing papers (again, movement = more productivity!)

I eat while I blog (yes, sometimes I spill on the keyboard)

And (confession!) sometimes I text while I drive. Sometimes. (and only at stop lights) 

 But my favorite way to multi-task is by reading juicy gossip cooking magazines in the bath tub. :-)

A few nights ago I was flipping through the pages of Everyday with Rachael Ray while I was soaking in the suds. I became pretty excited when I spotted a recipe for 15-minute curry. So excited, in fact, that I knocked the entire magazine into the tub.

I did not snap a picture (I never said I was that good at multi-tasking! Who takes their camera into the bathroom?!), but I did manage to salvage enough of the magazine, to guide me in the art of making a delicious (super-fast) curry.

Coconut Curry with Tofu

I'm convinced this is the easiest homemade curry recipe on the planet.

You'll be slurping those noodles like crazy.

 

1-2 oz. rice noodles (or any noodle of choice)

3/4 cup light coconut milk (or So Delicious Coconut Milk Beverage...see below)

1 t. soy sauce

1 t. red curry paste

1/4 block extra firm tofu, (or 3 oz. shrimp or chicken)

handful spinach

cilantro (optional)

 

 1. Cook noodles, set aside

2. Combine coconut milk, soy sauce and curry paste; bring to a boil

3. Add tofu; cook one minute

4. Add spinach to hot soup, pour into bowls and garnish with cilantro

Enjoy feeling like you're in Thailand :-)

As I mentioned above, I used a new-to-me product, So Delicious Coconut Milk Beverage instead of regular light coconut milk in the curry.

These little to-go boxes are perfect for throwing into your bag on a busy day! The nutrition stats are pretty fantastic too.

They contain a small amount of stevia, so the milk is slightly sweet (just how I like it). :-)

Usually eating a food satisfies your craving for that particular food . However, in the case of coconut curry, it just made me want more coconut.

Good thing I recently loaded up on coconut-based goods!

Want to know what else I've been craving? A few days ago I learned that Ihop sells cheesecake pancakes. Chunks of cheesecake stirred into the batter? Mmmhhhmmm.

I've been thinking about them ever since. But clocking in at 1,100 calories, I think they fall into the "occasional indulgence" category. :-)

When you combine a craving for coconut + a craving for (healthy) cheesecake pancakes, you inevitably end up with something like this:

Cream Cheese and Strawberry Stuffed Coconut Pancakes

Click here for the recipe!

*****************************

I think that's enough food for today, but I'd like to share one more thing with you.

Meet my quote book.

Before I go to bed each night, I like to relax by reading blogs, sipping hot chocolate and journaling. Occasionally I'll open up my quote book for a little inspiration to get me prepped for the new day ahead.

Last week, Lindsay suggested that I share some of my favorite quotes with you. I love Lindsay, and I loved her idea, so here goes. :-)

Today's topic is BEAUTY. It's EVERYWHERE, but we don't always slow down and take the time to see it in ourselves and others.

For beautiful eyes, look for the good in others; for beautiful lips, speak only words of kindness; and for poise, walk with the knowledge that you are never alone.

-Audrey Hepburn

 

Though we travel the world over to find the beautiful, we must carry it with us or we find it not.

-Ralph Waldo Emerson

 

Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.

-1 Samuel 16:7

Have a BEAUTIFUL day!! <3

SHARE: What is your favorite quote? I'd love to add it to my quote book!

 

 

 

Food Fit for a Queen

Happy Hump Day!

Okay, I think it's time to clear some things up:

I realize that sweet eats have taken over this blog over the past month. I've posted about ice cream, brownies, cookies, cake, chocolate...Clearly I've been living up to my childhood nickname: DESSERT QUEEN. ;-)

Fun fact: When I was young, I liked to pretend I lived in Candyland. I was obsessed with Queen Frostine.

So obsessed, in fact, that I ate the Queen Frostine card.

If that incdent taught me anything, it's that chewing dyed paper does not turn you into a queen. ;-) Nor does it satisfy sugar cravings.

If you want sugar, eat sugar. But balance it out with nutritious and delicious meals. Today's post, part of What I Ate Wednesday, will prove that my body doesn't dervie 100% of it's energy from sweets! ;-)

Breakfast:

Coconut Banana Pumpkin Pancakes

It's been awhile since I've enjoyed coconut flour!

2 T. coconut flour

1/2 cup egg whites or 2 eggs

2 T. pumpkin puree

1/4 mashed banana

vanilla extract

Coconut butter

1. Mix all ingredients except coconut flour until smooth. Slowly whisk in coconut flour. Cook on a griddle until done. Top with extra banana slices and a tablespoon of coconut butter.

+ Sauteed Kale with Mushrooms

Post workout snack:

Chobani Lemon

My new favorite Chobani flavor. I inhaled this in the gym locker room.

**Side note: Prevention just named this yogurt one of it's Healthiest Packaged Foods of 2011. There are some tasty-looking (and truly healthy) finds on this list. Definitely check it out!**

Lunch:

Black Bean Soup, Puppodum with Guacamole and Salsa, Iceberg Wedge Salad with Creamy Roasted Pepper Dressing

I melted a Laughing Cow wedge in the soup (promise it's in there...it's those tiny white "flecks"), and popped a pappadum in the microwave.

I dunked the iceberg wedge in this dressiing:

The "cream" is actually tofu!

Have you ever tried a puppodum?

They're like a giant (gluten-free) pita chip! I'm hooked! And the best part about puppodums is that you "pop" them in the microwave.

They're made with chickpea flour, and are therefore relatively high in protein.

All popped!

You can find puppodums at Whole Foods!

On my way to class, I made a very necessary stop.

Snack: Cheesecake, Strawberry and Tart Frozen Yogurt

I was running late, but sometimes satisfying cravings is more important than being on-time. ;-)

Dinner:

"Appetizer": Banana dunked in peanut butter

I was so hungry waiting for my food to cook, I just had to ;-)

Finally, this was ready:

Salmon Burger, Quinoa Pilaf, Sauteed Spinach and Onions

The salmon burger was from Whole Foods--SO SO good! I'll try to post the quinoa recipe to my recipe page soon. (I'm also going to add my grandma's recipes from a previous post...some of you requested them! I'll try to get on that soon!)

Dessert: Lindt Sea Salt Chocolate

I always eat whipped cottage cheese + peanut butter before bed! Love it, and I look forward to it! (No pic).

Disclaimer: This is definitely not my entire days' worth of eats! I am a snacker, and grab handfuls of nuts, veggies etc. all day long. :-)

I hope you enjoyed this food-filled post!

**Giveaway Winner**

The winner of the $25 Safeway gift card is....

 

 

 

 

 

 

 #10 GINA from The Crave to Save!

 Congrats!! Please send me your address, and I'll mail your prize! :-)

LOVE YOU ALL!!

Did you play Candyland as a kid? Who was your favorite character?

Candyland was my favorite game! Besides Queen Frostine, I loved Mr. Mint and Gramma Nutt.

 Have you ever tried a puppodum?

 

 

 

 

Sunday Sundae + Giveaway!

Happy Birthday, Sundae!

Today, SUNDAY, April 3rd, is the 119th Anniversary of the Ice Cream Sundae!

How is that for random? :-p

Late last night, I was googling an Indian word for this post (which I'll explain in my next post, as the Sundae clearly deserves our undivided attention today), and this image popped up:

Thank you Google, for informing me of this ever-so-important holiday! ;-p

Apparrently, the ice cream sundae was invented on Long Island in 1892! Read more about this delectable dessert's history at the official website.

"A sundae is not just any dish, but a dessert that is original, enduring, and authentically American.  For well over a century, the ice cream sundae has been a symbol of our abundance and appetite, our ingenuity, and our never-lost youth.  In their assembly, sundaes provide an unrestrained opportunity to express our essential character.  They acquire personality not only through their combination of ingredients, but through the history that they witness."

My recommendations for the very best sundae bases (aka the ice cream!):

Traditional: Haagen Dazs Five Vanilla Bean

Fancy: Ben and Jerry's Creme Brulee

Salty/Sweet: Ben and Jerry's Late Night Snack <---(contains fudge-covered potato chip clusters!)

Vegan: Almond Dream Vanilla <--- (Loove!)

Decadent Vegan: Coconut Bliss Chocolate Peanut Butter

Light: Breyer's Smooth and Dreamy Vanilla

Will YOU be celebrating today?

****GIVEAWAY****

A few weeks ago, Safeway contacted me about reviewing their new Simple Nutrition program. Basically, Simple Nutrition highlights particular health components of foods by tagging shelf products with terms like, "gluten free," "natural," "calorie smart" "low cholesterol," "organic" etc.

Yoohoo: low in saturated fat and cholesterol...but does that mean it's healthy?

From the press release:

“Consumers are inundated with conflicting nutrition information and are often skeptical of the nutrition claims on packaging,” said Safeway’s Barbara Walker, group vice president, consumer communications and brand marketing. “SimpleNutrition is an ‘at the shelf’ program that simplifies and personalizes the grocery shopping experience so that shoppers can feel confident about making more informed food choices. While SimpleNutrition is not a replacement for the nutrition panel found on food and beverage packages, it provides shoppers with a quick snapshot of the nutrition and ingredient benefits that best match their nutritional needs.”

If you read this blog regularly, you know that I have become well-acquainted with Social Safeway in Georgetown. I shop at Safeway for many "staple" items, and was therefore very excited to review this program.

After perusing the newly-labeled aisles for about an hour, I came to this conclusion:

I think SimpleNutrition is most beneficial for consumers who are adopting a new diet that requires them to add or avoid specfic foods/ingredients/allergens. Because these shoppers may be unfamiliar with which products are "safe," the tags will help them quickly identify safe foods without reading nutrition labels. The average shopper, however, may look past the labels, and grab whatever is familar to them, regardless of what the tag says.

I hope that Safeway will expand the program, and begin tagging items in the store that aren't processed or packaged. Fresh fruits and veggies are "gluten free," "low in cholesterol," "calorie smart, "organic" (some), and "natural," yet they carry none of the SimpleNutrition labels.

Overall, though, I commend Safeway for helping consumers identify products that best fit their dietary needs!

And now for the fun part!

Safeway has so kindly offered to give one lucky reader a $25 gift card, redeemable at any of the following stores:

• Vons
• Dominick's
• Genuardi's
• Randall's
• Tom Thumb
• Pavillions
• Carrs
• Safeway

I'd like everyone to be able to participate in this giveaway, so if you don't live near any of the listed stores and you win the giveaway, I will personally go to Safeway, redeem $25 worth of goodies for you, and send them your way (all I'd ask is that you not select super heavy items, like bags of flour or sugar! ha). ;-)

To enter: Please tell me your favorite ice cream (brand/flavor) and what you top your sundaes with!

Addtional entry: Tweet about this gveaway on Twitter and leave a comment telling me. :-)

GOOD LUCK!!

I'll be back Wednesday with a food-filled post!

Quote for today:

God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change;

the courage to change the things I can;

and the wisdom to know the difference.

<3 <3 <3

 

Nut Butter Nirvana + Giveaway Winner

Thank you so much for the amazing ourpouring of support and encouragement last week. Your thoughtful words truly comforted me. <3

I especially enjoyed hearing about your favorite family recipes! A few of the mouth-watering treats mentioned included: deviled eggs, veggie curry, enchiladas, baklava, spice cake, Southern tea cakes, sticky rice dumplings, spaghetti bake, chocolate chip cookies, red velvet cake, mac n' cheese, potato rolls...!!! Can you all come cook for me? Our grandmothers sure are/were culinary savvy!

*Wouldn't it be fun to compile a cookbook dedicated in their honor? Hmm...something to think about.*

***********

If you'd asked my opinion about nut butters a year ago, I would have said something like this:

"Peanut butter, peanut butter and more peanut butter, please!"

I was definitely a descriminatory nut butter lover. I tried other varieties, and they just didn't cut it.

But times are-a-changing, my friends!

New love: ALMOND, PEANUT & CASHEW BUTTER.

Almond butter may be so 2010, but ALMOND PEANUT & CASHEW BUTTER is where it's at in 2011!

I found this jar of nut butter bliss during a Target shopping adventure with my ex-roomie, Jen, the other night.

I was so excited, I wanted to dip my finger in the jar while we were shopping. Fortunately, throwback boxes of Cinnamon Toast Crunch--my favorite childhood cereal--distracted me enough to prevent me from making a mess in the store.

I was further distracted by a huge bowl of post-shopping frozen yogurt.

I enjoyed four flavors: coconut, peanut butter, vanilla and cheesecake.

No toppings, ever! I think they "obstruct" the creaminess!

Even though my belly was full of delicious yogurt, I couldn't resist the temptation to go to town on the nut butter when I arrived home.

This is AMAZING. Go by yourself a jar (or two, or ten).

After shoving several spoonfuls into my mouth, I began dreaming about the delicious treats I could make with my new nut butter, and suddenly remembered a recipe I'd clipped in Oxygen Magazine a several months back: Almond Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies.

You may remember that I fell hard for almond butter brownies a few weeks ago. Well, the flourless nut butter baked goods affair continues.This time with Almond, Peanut & Cashew butter.

I ate four cookies fresh from the oven. I don't recommend doing this. These cookies crumble if you don't let them cool for 15 minutes.

But, oh were they tasty, I immediately added them to my recipe page. <---(Click for recipe!)

The almond butter almond peanut & cashew butter cookies contain no flour. Just nut butter. And chocolate chips. And sucanat. (+ a few other ingredients, of course)

SUCA what?

This was a my first time baking with sucanat, so I did a little research:

It turns out that Sucanat is basically pure dried sugar cane juice. Unlike refined and processed white sugar, it retains its molasses content, which accounts for the brown color (and molassesy taste). It can be used as a substitute for brown sugar, however unlike regular brown sugar, sucanat is grainy instead of crystalline. Of all major sugars derived from sugar cane, Sucanat ranks the highest in nutritional value, and contains a smaller proportion of sucrose than white cane sugar.

The sucanat lended a deep, rich, molassassy flavor and golden color to the cookies.

Unfortunately, The typically-trusty Pink Pig didn't ring loud enough when the second batch was ready, so a dozen charred cookies were thrown into the trash. :(

Frozen yogurt + nut butter + cookies definitely made for an indulgent evening. But some days are like that! I can eat healthy, balanced meals tomorrow ; life is too short to not enjoy yummy treats when given the opportunity.

And speaking of balance,it's finally time for me to answer your first "Ask me anything question." Thanks so much for submitting questions! I'll be answering them all over the next month or so.

Q: "Tell me about your workout routine."

A: I rarely discuss fitness, so I'm glad I have the opportunity to share my exercise philosphy with you!

When I first began blogging, I was trying to scale back the amount of time I spent working out, as I'd pretty much married myself to the gym. You can read about that here.

Since then, my views regarding fitness have transformed dramatically! I definitely believe that less is more, and have seen positive changes in my body since adopting a more well-rounded routine ! I 100% believe in taking a rest day, as our bodies need time to heal after rigorous training.

That said, I still LOVE to workout. I love the invigoration I feel during and after a long run; I love the commraderie of a group class (I just started BOSU!!), I love the strength I feel after curling dumbbells; and I love the "me time"--that precious "zone-out" time that allows me to reflect.

BOSU: It's much harder than it looks!

However, if workouts cease to be enjoyable, I know that I'm getting burned out. That's when it's time to take a break or switch things up.

Currently, this is what my routine looks like (more or less). :-)

Monday: Elliptical cross trainer: 50 minutes; Ab work: 5 minutes

Tuesday: HIIT Treadmill intervals: 30 minutes; Total body weights: 20 minutes

Wednesday: BOSU class!! (core, cardio and strength): 50 minutes

Thursday: Elliptical cross trainer: 50 minutes; Ab work: 5 minutes

Friday: HIIT Elliptical: 20 minutes; Total body weight workout: 30-40 minutes

Saturday: Whatever I feel like! (gym, run outside, weights)

Sunday: REST (sometimes I do yoga, pilates or take a long walk)

*********************

And last but not least...The GIVEAWAY winner!!

Drumroll.........

 

 

 

 

 

 

 The winner is.......

 

 

 

 

 

ALLY from Oats and Spice!!

Congrats!! Please e-mail me your address, and I'll send the goodies your way!

Ok, that's all for today...

Oh, wait...one more thing:

A big thank you to Janetha, for reminding me to celebrate National Something on a Stick Day! The So Delicious Coconut Almond Mini was SO delicious indeed. :-)

Have you tried these?

You probably think I only eat sweets. Ha. Maybe I do!

 

91 and 100 (+ a Giveaway!)

Hi guys! Goodness gracious, I've missed you! It feels like AGES since I last posted (and it has been!). Life dealt me a few twists and turns during the past week, so I had to put blogging on the back burner for awhile. 

But I'm back, and ready to share an extra special post with you!

Why is it so special?

For three reasons:

Reason 1: This is my 100th post! Woo!!

It truly has been a truly incredible journey getting here — from what started as a challenging goal to find a healthy balance between food and fitness 11 months ago, to what it is now, 100 posts later, an evolving collection of favorite foodie finds, photographs and everyday-life stories  . Starting this blog is one of the best decisions I've ever made.

Most importantly: I am SO grateful for all you, for encouraging me along the way, for inspiring me to be the healthiest person I can be, not just physically, but spiritually and emotionally. There's NO way I'd be where I am today without you! <3

In lieu of this mini milestone, I'd like to share a few things I've learned from blogging:

1. When in doubt, always throw several extra containers of peanut butter (or any nut butter for that matter) into your  grocery cart. I've gone through more peanut butter this past year than I  thought physically possible! :-p

2. There is a point at which I get tired of baking. It takes awhile, but last week I think I hit it (see below.)

3. Real friends will not think it's strange when they show up for dinner  and you spend 5-10 minutes photographing a plate of food before taking a bite. (and insisting that they allow you to photograph their food as well)

4. I really need to learn to make half recipes of things, especially cookies. When 48 cookies are sitting on a kitchen counter that only two people use, things can get a little out of control.

Flourless peanut butter cookie alert!

5. When in doubt, be as open and honest as possible. Vulnerability is scary, but putting "yourself out there" gives others an opportunity to lend a hand. (thank you!)

 

Reason #2 this post is special: Last Tuesday our world lost an incredible lady--a woman who is the source of my passion for cooking and all things culinary.

In other words, she was, in a way, the reason this blog exists. This post, my 100th post, is dedicated to her.

Gramma was a renowned cook--famous in Berkeley, CA for the beautiful dinner parties she'd throw and for her warm hospitality. Anyone was welcome to stop in anytime; she was always prepared with coffee, tea (accompanied by sugar cubes, of course...I used to eat them plain!) and a choice of at least three types of cookies.:-)

But she was so much more than a hospitable housewife.  She was humble but headstrong, gracious but gregarious,  cheerful and charitable. She was a feisty sports fan, and attended every Cal (Berkeley) football and basketball game well into her late 80s (she liked to yell at the refs!).

She was, simply put, pretty fantastic.

When I found out Gramma had passed last Tuesday, at the age of 91, I did the only thing I could  imagine doing: I baked.

Baking is therapy.

I baked not just anything, but three of my favorite "Gramma recipes."

Fudge Pie

SUPER moist, super delicious.

Pecan Kisses

  pecans + meringue = fluffy sugar heaven

Sampling the meringue batter mmmhmm

 

Heath Crunch Cake

I baked all afternoon and all night...

And after hours of measuring, mixing and tasting and tons of tears, a smile re-emerged on my face.

Gramma, I'm going to miss you tremendously, but knowing that your legacy lives on through me, gives me comfort and tremendous joy.  <3

And finally...

Reason # 3 this post is special: GIVEAWAY! <---Because YOU all are special!

As a way of celebrating my 100th post, and saying thank you to you, my readers, I'm giving away a few of my favorite foodie items.

In the stash:

1 box of 479 Degrees Organic White Cheddar + Black Truffle Popcorn (the best popcorn ever)

2  chickling salt n' pepper shakers (how cute will these look on an a spring table?!)

Dunkin Donuts Strawberry Shortcake coffee (I first saw this on Katie's blog! She's right--SO good!)

Zing bars (Chocolate Coconut and Peanut Butter Chocolate)

Luna Bars (my very favorite flavor: White Chocolate Macadamia)

Larabars (my two faves: Peanut Butter Cookie and Coconut Cream Pie)

Newman's Own Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups

Hershey's Coconut Creme Kisses

Archer Farms strawberry slices (freeze dried--so good on Greek yogurt!)

Scott's Loaded Granola Bar (Berry Flavor)

Archer Farms Cinnamon Vanilla Nut coffee

These are all products I LOVE, and I'm excited to share them with you!!

***To enter, please leave a comment telling me about your favorite family recipe (even better if it comes from your grandma!).***

Additional entries:

1. Follow me on Twitter! (and leave a comment)

2. Add me to your blogroll! (and leave a comment)

This giveaway is open to ALL READERS (US, Canada, UK...the entire world)! :-)

Good luck!!

p.s. I have another giveaway coming soon, so be on the lookout!

p.p.s. I'll be answering your "ask me anything" questions VERY soon!

HUGS!!

 

 

Dessert Before Dinner and Other Fun Facts

Look what debuted yesterday!

The new Starbucks cups arrived in stores on Tuesday! What do you think of the new logo?

I know that it received a lot of criticism when it was unveiled a few months ago, but I like the simplicity. Critics have said that the removal of "Starbucks" symbolizes the company's pervasiveness in our society. Apparently the green sea nymph is internationally recognized and doesn't need a name attached to it because we already make the connection.

Sea nymph = coffee. <---Strange association, isn't it?!

I'm home in BOISE, IDAHO this week for spring break, but believe me, spring has NOT sprung here! It snowed both yesterday and today!

Where are you, sunshine?

Ooooh well...At least I get to enjoy relaxing indoors with this girl:

Cali

And this girl:

Hi, mom!

The first night I was home, we enjoyed platefuls of tofu scramble while indulging in Bachelor trash romance. Watching The Bachelor is a tradition we've shared together ever since the show started over 10 years ago!

Do you think stud-dud Brad Womack eats tofu?

He doesn't strike me as a tofu-type guy...

But maybe if it's topped with guacamole, sour cream and salsa?

My plate

This was pretty good once it was doctored up a bit...Tofu scrambles make a quick and easy dinner, but the condiments are definitely necessary!

We also snacked on cinnamon-sugar sweet potato fries:

They look burned, but I assure you they're not! That's cinnamon crunch on the outside. And it's pretty darn tasty. Coating the sweet potato in egg white prior to baking increases the crispiness.

Since I'm home, with lots of time on my hands, I thought it would be fun to share a few "all about me" facts with you. I've enjoyed reading similar posts on ohers' blogs, so without further adieu...

1. Nicknames: Stews, Stewie, Sis and Dessert Queen.

2. I love karaoke. Red Neck Woman is my favorite song to sing. Don't judge.

"...and I keep my Christmas lights on on my front porch all year long..."

New Years Eve 2010-2011

2. I can't go to sleep without shaving my legs. If I climb in bed and feel those "stubs", I have to get up and run the bath! 

3. I think Whole Foods Creamy Peanut Butter is the best peanut butter on the market. Why spend $6 for a jar, when you can get one for $1.99?

Note: I learned that you can avoid this situation by turning the jar upside down for an hour before opening it. The oils mix by themselves, eliminating the possibility of a peanut butter explosion upon stirring. However, peanut butter explosions can be fun because they provide an excuse to lick your fingers. :-)

4. I have an older brother named Alec. I'm almost 150% certain that he's the best brother in the world.

5. Someday I'd like to own a healthy cafe or cooking school. If you'd like to join me on this venture, let me know!

6. I am known for making a "puppy dog pose." When I'm tired or thinking deeply, I often stand like this without realizing it:

That's my friend James, doing his best "Sara puppy dog pose" impression. How mean, right? :-p

7. Paul Newman is one of my favorite actors of all time. Aside from making great movies and awesome salad dressing, he donated millions to charity (check out The Newman's Own Foundation) and started The Hole in the Wall Camp for seriously ill children. Paul was also known for his devotion to his wife and family. When asked about infidelity he replied "Why go out for hamburger when you can have steak at home?"

8. I LOVE having my feet tickled. Especially when I'm watching movies.

9. I talk to my mom on the phone every day. She's my #1 confidante and I tell her (almost) everything.

10. A yellow VW Beetle is my ride, but I'd love to have a Smart Car!

11. I like sweet appetizers, especially in frozen yogurt form. Dessert before dinner helps me appreciate savory food!

TCBY peanut butter and strawberry frozen yogurt

12. This is my lucky number so I'm going to stop here!

A few of you have requested that I do an "Ask Me Anything" post. So, it's time to bring on the questions!! Ask whatever you want and I'll answer them soon! (You can leave a comment or e-mail me.) :-)

What do you think about the new Starbucks logo? How do you feel about Starbucks in general? Have they become the Wal Mart of coffee?

What questions would you like me to answer in a future post?

 

 

 

Chocolate Chip Almond Butter Brownies

I may have discovered the tastiest recipe for brownies in the entire world.

(And they're flourless, gluten-free AND vegan!) <---is that even possible?

But we'll get to those in a sec...  ;-)

I came across this recipe for Coconut Avocado ice Cream the other day and am beyond excited!

Yay or nay?

This would be a HUGE yay for me...But I'm guessing the average Joe Blow would turn his nose up at GREEN ice cream!

I could really use a bowl of this goodness, especially after spending most of the weekend in a hot, stuffy library, studying cramming for midterms.

Learning about digestion is one heck of a hunger suppresant! :-/

When I'm studying hard, I tend to lose my appetite, but the second I step away from the books, it comes roaring back!

Since text books have had my undivided attention this week, I've been slacking a bit in the kitchen. Fortunately there are some pretty tasty frozen meals out there.

Amy's Brown Rice and Veggies Bowl has been one of my favorite go-to meals since high school. It never lets me down. 

I upped the deliciousness factor by sprinkling it with parmesan.

Just as I was sitting down to eat, my roommate came downstairs.

"Oooh that smells soooo good!" she said.

"It is!"

"Can I try a bite?"

"Umm, sure!" (Trying to feign my reluctance. When I'm reaally hungry, I don't like to share!)

"Wow, Sara, this is amaaazing!"

"I know!"

"Everything you make is so good!"

I smiled and didn't mention that it wasn't homemade.

Taking credit for food that you didn't make from scratch: yay or nay?

The best part of my day came a few hours later: I enjoyed the moistest, most delicious, most decadent, vegan and gluten-free brownie that's ever passed my lips. 

I found this recipe on Elana's Pantry. Almond butter is used as the base (no flour!). 

Omitting flour from brownies: Yay or nay?

In this case, a DEFINITE yay!

**Chocolate Chip Almond Butter Brownies**

(Vegan and Gluten-Free)

1 (16) ounce jar salted almond butter, smooth roasted
2 "flax eggs" or regular eggs
1 ¼ cups agave nectar
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
½ cup cocoa powder
½ teaspoon sea salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 cup dark chocolate chips (you can use vegan or regular)

1. In a large bowl, blend almond butter until smooth with a hand blender

2. Blend in eggs, then blend in agave and vanilla

3. Blend in cocoa, salt and baking soda, then fold in chocolate chips

4. Grease a 13 x 9 baking dish 

5. Pour batter into dish

6. Bake at 325° for 35-40 minutes

Let yourself think you've died and gone to heaven. :-)

It's now time to hit the books again! I have LOTS of material to get through before midterms begin tomorrow.  My Nutrition exam is going to be BRUTAL. I have at least 300 more pages to read and two days to do it. Eeep. I'm trying not to stress, and to keep things in perspective, but honestly, I'm scared. I hate that feeling when you're sitting in an exam, draw a blank, and can't answer a question!

I tend to get antzy when I sit for long periods of time, so I usually go to a cafe in the library where there are counters. Standing helps me concentrate and enables me to study for longer stretches of time.                                                                                                                                                                                                                              

During my undergrad years, my friends used to laugh when I wrote entire papers standing,  but now not so much...In fact, my friend, Jen sent me this aticle the other day:

Standing Question: Is Sitting Too Long at Work Dangerous?

Definitely read this article! Apparently, sitting for long stretches, more than six hours a day, can significantly increae your chances of dying  from diabetes, heart disease and obesity.

Is that enough motivation to begin doing this?

Standing while you work: yay or nay?

Or even better...

Treadmill desk!! Yay or nay?

If I had an office job, I'd definitely advocate for one of these!

That's all for today!

Blogging when you should be studying: yay or nay?

A definite YAY. Always. :-)

HUGS to you all! xoxoxo

Yay or nay? Feel free to answer any of the questions above! I'd love to know your thoughts and opinions!

 

 

Five Foods Friday!

Hi guys! Happy weekend!

It's 75 degrees in DC today! Apparently spring is quite the flirt in February. I am beyond excited to be ditching my black boots in favor of much cuter (maybe less sexy) flats.:-)

Steve Madden Kortship Flats

This post is going to be super short because I should be studying for midterms right now.

But I know my priorities ;-)

Five Foods Friday 

What I've been loving this week: 

*Celebrity-inspired Coconut Cake*

I am NOT a cake person. However, I make an exception for cheesecake (if that counts!).

I never imagined I'd enjoy Justin Timberlake's coconut cake so much. But this was worth every indulgent bite. (And gluten-free!)

*Creamy Avocado Citrus Dressing*   

Whole Foods has a new salad dressng at the salad bar! This dressing is vegan, oil-free, dairy free, and gluten free, and SO SO SO addicting! For the past two weeks I've been filling those little plastic containers with dressing and sneaking them out of the store.(Sshh!) Then, several days ago I picked up a "Meals for Four Under $15" pamphlet while I was shopping, and lo and behold, they'd included the recipe for the dressing!

Definitely make this!!

***Creamy Avocado Citrus Dressing***

1/2 lb. tofu ( used silken)

2 avocados

1 c. grapefruit juice

1/2 c. orange juice

1/2 T. lemon juice

1/2 t. salt

cilantro

Combine dressing ingredients in a blender on low. Slowly increase blender speed untl smooth. 

I've been enjoying it on top of green salads, and it's also awesome mixed with black beans and cilantro!

Siggi's Probiotic Drinkable Nonfat Yogurt

It's basically thin Greek yogurt! I'm addicted. Each cute little container has 45 calories, 5 grams of protein, and tons of healthy probiotics! I usually chug one at breakfast or after a workout.

Larabar Chocolate Chip Brownie Bites

When I first tried this bar, I wasn't wild about it. I think that's because my tastebuds were used to sugar-sweetened treats. Over the past week, I've reduced my intake of simple sugars (with ONE exception: a slice of coconut cake, which YOU all made me do!), and instead have been focusing on getting an adequate amount of whole grain, fiber-rich complex carbs.

When I began eating gluten-free, my carbohydrate consumption unintentionally dropped dramatically,. Staples like whole wheat bread and tortillas, wheat bran and cereal were no longer in my diet. I tried a few gluten-free variations, but thought they tasted awful. So I turned to I noticed that my Luna bars, chocolate and rice cakes. While these foods taste good, they don't have much staying power. I've noticed that including quinoa, sweet potatoes, butternut squash, brown rice etc. at every meal makes a HUGE difference. Now I enjoy naturally sweetened treats like Larabars (all the sugar comes from dates!) much more.

Chavrie Goat Cheese

So creamy. So delicious. And low in fat and sodium too! Most cheeses are loaded with salt, but goat cheese doesn't need it. I added a spoonful to my eggs this morning.

That's all I have for today! As soon as I click "publish," I'm going to do a bang bang workout (thanks for the tip, Janetha!). I completed it two days ago and it left me SO sore. Bodyrock.tv is pretty AMAZING! The workouts are short but really get your heart pumping.If you're looking for a routine you can do in your own living room, I highly recommend Bodyrock.tv. :-)

If you had to choose five foods to live off of the rest of your life, which would they be?

My picks: Peanut butter (healthy fat, protein), quinoa (complete protein, carbs), spinach (iron, tons of vitamins), mango (simply delicious), dark chocolate (no explanation needed). :-)

 

 

 

 

Celebrity Foodies and Wannabes

I don't usually discuss breakfast because I typically enjoy the same thing every. single. day.

Egg white scramble with Laughing Cow wedge melted in, garlic, red onion, spinach and creamy garlic dressing

There's nothing wrong with knowing what you like! However, sometime's it's fun to mix things up a bit.

This morning's meal was a bit out of the ordinary, and that warrants sharing. :-)

Let me assure you that these heart shaped puppies required some serious doctoring before looking "blog worthy."

It all began with this disaster last night.

I found a gluten free protein muffin recipe on Heather's blog, and made a few modifications, substituting mashed banana for avocado.

The muffins overflowed while baking, which meant that the batter dripped to the bottom of the oven and burned. Our kitchen didn't smell so good.

I almost threw the entire batch out on the spot, but decided to sleep on it, hoping that I'd regain my baking pride while I was dreaming.

Fortunately I woke up with an adventurous palate and decided to give the muffins a try.

First, they needed a little trimming around the edges...

(It's a known fact that heart-shaped foods taste better than round foods!)

...Especially when they're smothered in peanut butter, topped with raspberries and re-named Funky Monkey Muffins! :-)

And what is breakfast without some nutrient-packed veggies? I eat vegetables every morning--love 'em!

I chased my monkey muffins with two flourless peanut butter cookies (baked last night prior to the muffin batter overflow).

It was truly a breakfast of champions that left me well fueled for an intense HIIT treadmil and total body weight workout afterwards . :-)

Those muffins pack a serious protein punch (about 14 grams each!), but more importantly, they taste phenomenal. I'm always hesistant to bake with protein powder because it has a strange consistency. However you can make up for it by adding lots of flavor and moisture. Mooshed banana renders these muffins fit for a monkey me!

I know you must be dying to get your hands on the recipe byt now ( ;-) ), but before we go there, let's talk about what inspired yesterday evening's baking binge.

Last night my reading pile looked like this:

(p.s. I'm finally moved into my new condo! And I'm loving having a real place to spread out and do work!)


I had 300+ pages of reading and two papers to write. Holy homework.

But wait...Do you see what's peeping out the bottom of that pile of text books?

What real wannabe foodie would read about the PRECEDE-PROCEDE health programming model when she could instead sink her teeth into (pun intended) the new People Magazine Special Edition: Cooking With the Stars?!

(I know this Diva understands my magazine addiction). ;-)

Yesss...second to blog reading, food magazines are the best procrastination tool.

I knew that reading about my favorite stars' concoctions would make me hungry, so I decided it would be a wise decision to keep my mouth occupied while I read my magazine...hence, the baking fest. ;-)

I absolutely LOVE this new People edition! I'm a huge fan of their monthly Style Watch edition as well.

This is what I learned:

Kim Kardashian loves eating Instant Lunch noodles in bed.

+

Conan O’Brien’s favorite bottle of wine is 7-11 Brand Cherrywood Cab.

Snooki dressed up like a pickle for Halloween.

 Michael Buble makes a mean roasted salmon filet.

Justin Timberlake only bakes recipes given to him by his grandma. (coconut cake is his favorite).

Rachel McAdams didn’t try an avocado until she was 25.

Donald Trump has his own line of tea.

Oh Donald, so classy. so classy.

Do you think a Funky Monkey Mufin might brighten his day?

**Funky Monkey Banana Protein Muffins**

90 grams of vanilla protein powder (I used Proventive Harmonized Protein blend)

1/2 cup applesauce

1 egg, beaten

1 mashed banana

1/4 cup water

1/2 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp vanilla

pinch of salt

3-5 packets stevia or Splenda (or equivalent amount of sugar)

 

1. Mix dry ingrediets (protein powder, baking powder,  salt and sweetener)

2. Combine wet ingredients and slowly wisk in dry ingredients.

Pour into greased muffin tin (or heart-shaped silcone baking cups!) and bake for 20-25 minutes.

Which celebrity recipe should I try first?

a) Maple Soy Salmon (Michael Buble)

b) Mama's Cheesecake (Mike ("The Situation") Sorrento)

c) Coconut Cake (Justin Timberlake)

Whichever receives the most votes, I'll make and share with you. :-)