Breakfast Re-do

I've been in a rut lately and I've fallen off of the bandwagon of Weight Loss. I got really sick and was out of commission for 3 weeks and then add overtime at work, etc- that meant I was MIA at the gym.

Now that my health is getting a lot stronger (hey, I was strong enough to brave the Florida heat and humidity for those ducks and didn't collapse after doing so) I'm cutting out coffee and breakfasts from our cafeteria at work. Yes, I was good most of the time- omelet with tons of veggies and meat and feta cheese but my energy isn't what it was before getting really sick.

I'm needing to spice up my meals so I stumbled across a breakfast sandwich recipe that can be made for a full week on Sunday and frozen until the day of. Microwave it and BAM! Breakfast. Done. Healthy.

Taralynn McNitt @ Undressed Skeleton shared the recipe I decided was totally worth duplicating.

So here are the ingredients I used:

I wanted to use up some veggies that were getting close to having to be thrown out so I grabbed them and ended up using the red jalapenos, red onion and tomatoes. I love veggies. Love them! Anywhere I can use them, I definitely want to.

Got the pan filled with bacon and froze the rest. Freezing ensures I'll use it next week and not let it go bad.

Cooked everything till it was done and then start the assembly line.

Press in the Panini Thingy.

Cool off.

Freeze.

Sorry, Taralynn- I'm not making any labels. My OCD would kick in and I'd  have to organize them to where they'd be in order otherwise I'd make sure I'd grab the right day. Plus I have some other things in the works. As in 4-5 things and I gotta get going.

Otherwise heat it up and eat on the run.

After enjoying it, I'd have to say that I really enjoyed it! The veggies of course made it super delicious and the best part? I wasn't noshing on all of the wrong things this morning.

Yumm!

Hugs,
A.

Plant City Strawberry Festival Pie- my own little tribute

In a few days the Plant City Strawberry Festival is going to open. Lemme tell ya- I can't wait! The strawberries, the music, the fun, the livestock, and the shows. It's a blast. 

I definitely appreciate all of these Strawberry Farmers that bust their hump to get these acres after acres of sweet, red berries picked and ready for market. They work hard. They have long hours and I would say a thankless job. So many people that I work with look at a couple of us Plant City-ites with really strange expressions when we praise the Farmers. It's not just strawberries. It's squash, tomatoes, onions, cantaloupes, blueberries, etc. The list goes on. We praise them because that's what has made this town our home. 

They fight the weather- pray for rain and sunshine and some cold weather to sweeten the berries. They pray that the skies will open up when it's as dry as a cotton ball. They raise their kids on the land and have hired help that is as loyal as if they were blood relatives. 

When the weather has been super cold here, I've awakened at 2- 3 am and peeked outside, checking on the fields myself. It's not like I'd be able to do anything but their livelihood is at stake and I want them to make it. I would see the plants covered in ice; trucks driving up and down and putting their spotlights on every square foot to make sure that every plant is covered in that protective layer. 

I'm ashamed to admit that I don't know the farmer that works the land across the street. I'm shy in that manner. I've seen him plant crops year after year and seems to be doing fairly well. I'm proud for him. 

I take pride in this town. For it's size makes me feel as though not only do I have a home here, it is an all encompassing home. It doesn't take long for people to recognize one another. Manners are still important. There are new businesses coming in but the smaller businesses are my favorite. I want them to make it. I really do. 

Maybe I'll be fortunate enough to start a family here. We'll see. 

Okay, enough of being all sappy. 

I'm trying to share a 3 ingredient pie that is so easy it's almost criminal. Even D loved it and that's pretty impressive. He's never asked for anything with strawberries except Strawberry Shortcake- let's see if this may become a requested dessert!

Ashley's Chocolate Fudge Strawberry Pie:

Ingredients: 
1 Chocolate Pie Crust (go ahead and cheat, ready made is just fine!)
1 Pint of strawberries
2 boxes of Chocolate Fudge Jell-o pudding

Next, wash the strawberries and trim the green parts off and trim them all to the same size (yeah, that's just slices of strawberries that you get to eat- enjoy!) Place the strawberries cut side down on the crust. 

Next- prepare the pudding. I wanted mine super rich and used 3 cups of milk instead of the 4 cups. And just glop it on top of the strawberries and chill. It didn't take long at all. I was "testing" it within the hour. You know how it is- you have to make sure it's edible. And oh my, it was!

Garnish my tush- that little berry was mine! It didn't have a chance. Yummy! 

Maybe next time the cool whip will make it on top before being scarfed. But really, it was so rich as it was that any more sweetness would have made it not what I was looking for. 

Next up, traditional strawberry shortcake? Maybe, we'll see where this week leads. Today was nuts at work. I'm not promising anything. 

Hugs,

A. 

Pumpkin Walnut Loaf

It's October 1st, and to me that signals Fall. I'm already thinking about the warm colors that are popping up in my wardrobe and just dying to feel a chill in the air. Pumpkins, hot tea, baking with cinnamon and pumpkin and all of those savory ingredients makes me yearn for that cool breeze. Even the hints of smell in the air that tells me cooler weather is ahead just makes me giddy.

Being a Florida native and never having truly experienced Fall (no raking here!) makes me even more wistful- even more determined to seeing the changes. I even get excited about seeing pumpkins in the stores- it just makes me so happy.

So for me to celebrate, (and to use up some walnuts that have been around for the past couple of weeks) I decided to make a Pumpkin Walnut Loaf. Yes, it is Monday- but it's the 1st!!! I've never celebrated like this before but baking makes me want to make this a tradition. (That's the old-soul in me, I love traditions!)

I searched high and low for a recipe and finally settled on one and made only minor changes since I didn't have every ingredient listed.

Here is the link to Caren Blair's website. She's a bonafied baker! And on that note, I can say- I'm not. I just want to eat stuff that's good for me and I wont feel guilty. (I hate feelin' guilty!)

This is my version:

Caren Blair's Pumpkin Walnut Loaf

1/2 cup butter softened
1 1/2 cups sugar
2 eggs
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1/4 cup water
1 cup pumpkin puree
1 1/3 cups rice flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
1/2 cup chopped walnuts

Directions
Preheat oven to 350F. Butter and flour 1 regular loaf pan. In a mixer, cream softened butter and sugar. In another bowl whisk eggs, vanilla, water, and pumpkin until smooth. Slowly add pumpkin mixture to butter & sugar and beat until fully mixed. In another bowl, mix all dry ingredients together. Add dry ingredients to wet in three separate additions until just combined, but before adding the third portion, mix nuts in before adding. Pour mixture into pan and bake for 30-45 minutes or until toothpick inserted comes out clean. Fully cool in pan. (and feel free to a muffin or two so you can enjoy a lot sooner!)

Follow the directions exactly as she states (yes, I did change it to fit my Southern Style just a teensy bit) and voila- smell good home and a warm, happy tummy.

I had to make 2 muffins so that I didn't have to wait so long for a cool down period before trying it. And I had to have a cup of tea with it! ...Oh my word...absolute deliciousness with a spoon full of love mixed in. I'm hooked and so is D, we both sat down and enjoyed/critiqued this together. This will be a repeat.

Hugs,

A.

Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe

I made a previous post about my semi-homeade Spice Cake and the frosting is such a crowd pleaser I wanted to share:


Ashley's Cream Cheese Frosting:
3.5 Cups Confectioner's Sugar
1 8oz. package of cream cheese softened
1/2 Cup softened butter (= 1 stick of butter)
1 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

I put the sugar in the mixing bowl, cut the cream cheese and butter into cubes and sprinkle on the top and just put the extract over that- put it on the stand and let it mix while I clean up.

This one serving is plenty for me to be able to frost a double layer cake and with a little bit for licking off the spatula and mixer.

Side note: I do not use reduced fat cream cheese and I use unsalted BUTTER. I'm not going to skimp on taste if I'm going to start diving into a cake. If I'm wanting to watch my intake- I'll eat a skinny cow ice cream. ...Just sayin'. :)

Hugs,
A.

Chicken Broccoli Pockets

I get tired of the same thing sometimes. Sometimes I want comfort food, but I really hate the price to pay to get such a short-lived comfort.

And I must say, there's comfort in this but I'm not feeling guilty. Okay, okay, maybe a little! :)

Ingredients:

1 sheet of frozen puff pastry sheet thawed and layed flat

1 cup of frozen broccoli- steamed or microwaved

1/2 baked chicken breast cutlet sliced thin

1/4 C. alfredo sauce (jarred is fine)

1. Preheat oven to 400⁰

2. Once pastry sheet is thawed, press the folded seams flat. Then cut at a diagonal (make 2 triangles)

3. Place 1/2 C. of cooked broccoli in the middle of each triangle

4. Mound equal amounts of chicken on top of the broccoli.

5. Spread half of the sauce on top of one mound of chicken and the other half on the 2nd mound.

6. Fold the puff pastry up, making sure the seams are sealed. Wet your fingers and smooth the seams and they will seal themselves.

7. Bake until golden brown - approximately 10-15 minutes, depending on your oven.

Eat immediately and enjoy!

Hugs,

A.

Kefir Smoothie

Kefir?? Yup, that's exactly what I thought when a coworker told me about a smoothie she drinks every Saturday to keep things moving. Think Activia but better- in smoothie form.

Kefir is a probiotic milk that is perfect for making smoothies. No ice required. I describe it as effervescent. It really does help in the aid of digestion and makes me feel better.

Kefir comes in plain, unsweetened and then other flavors already mixed in- Berry and even Coffee flavored! I prefer the plain, unsweetened because it allows me to control what I'm putting inside me.

It's so flippin' delish that I've actually replaced a few of my dinners with it. It's perfect for a day when there is a potluck (aka Mooo!) at work and I nosh on everything and the waistband becomes a wee bit uncomfy.

My recipe:

1 C. Kefir
Cereal sized bowl of strawberries with the tops cut off.
1/2 C. blueberries
2 tsp Agave nectar.

Please try it and let me know!

Hugs,
A.

Happy Sunday…er- Monday!

I was pretty busy this weekend. I worked on a Too-Cute Clutch (more to come later when the pin I plan on buying is delivered,) I hemmed pants, perfected the Garter Stitch (so not whompy-jawed like the first time I tried it,) cooked, and was even able to go walking both days with Daddy at a local park that has a beautiful trail.

Sunday, I cooked a tasty breakfast. Wanted pancakes so I used a simple recipe and voila- no fake n’ bake- these were from scratch!

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Recipe:

1.5 C sifted flour
3.5 sp baking powder
1 tsp salt
1 T white sugar
1.25 C milk
1 egg
3 T melted butter

Mix dry ingredients in a medium sized bowl, make a well in the middle, add wet ingredients, stir until just incorporated and then cook as usual.

Yields: I was able to make 5 good sized pancakes. 2 for me, 3 for daddy.

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The two pairs of pants I hemmed, I’m ashamed to admit have had forever and never worn because they were made for people of average height and not offered in my height bracket. Look at the before and after- how hysterical are my short stumpy legs?! *snort*

Anywho- I was tempted to REtry hemming jeans off of a Pinterest post I favorited and I must say, I’m sold on it. These jeans are perfect for wearing with wedges. And as you’ll see below, so are the white linen pants.

Have a great rest of the week. I’ll try to post some more during the week!

Hugs,

A.

Semi-homemade Spice Cake

Happy Mother's Day!

I cooked today and my favorite part was dessert- Spice cake. Daddy chose the flavor and wanted cream cheese frosting on it. So he chose the box mix and I made the frosting- from scratch! 

This is all that's left as of typing this. I'm not sure how much longer it will last though...

And for the record, yes, I love a cake to look like this, I actually cut off the rounded tops. . Anal? Yes. But you have to admit it looks yummy and just so you know- it is! :)

Hugs,

A.

My favorite new breakfast- Overnight Oats.

Alright, I've come to the realization that on  my 5'3" frame can't handle anymore crappy food. My health and not to mention my midsection is taking a lickin'. Yes, I know that if I actually worked out, it'd be a lot better, but quite honestly, I don't want to. I've got more interesting things to do at the moment...like being lazy. (Don't judge me!)

Anyways, I've never liked oatmeal at all but when I came across this recipe, I figured I had the stuff- why not try it? I've pinned it on my Pinterest board, but here it is: Pepper Lynn's

I've stuck to one recipe that satisfies my serious sweet tooth and I can honestly say that it keeps me full well into the work day: unsweetened cocoa, mashed up 'nana, a little squeeze of agave nectar and a spoonful of peanut butter...mmm!

Yes, I even use the mason jars. They're perfect!

This was a better deal for the amount- bought at Publix.



Any Vanilla Greek yogurt will do, this just happen to be the only vanilla at the store.




Prepping.



Just some of the add-ins... yummy yummy yummy I got love in my tummy!

Charlie thought I was greedy to not offer the foil lid for him to lick, so I caved...

So...freakishly...yummy...

Even Madeline got in on the action!