tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35017700853550574582023-11-16T08:09:52.685-08:00Roses Before VioletsA blog about kids, school lunchboxes, baking, and everyday life.Christyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02596852689724439752noreply@blogger.comBlogger80125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3501770085355057458.post-51353586914325383132013-07-09T08:52:00.000-07:002013-07-09T08:52:55.084-07:00Lisa Jackson Tell Me Summer Secrets House Party<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I applied for and was chosen for another <a href="http://www.houseparty.com/">House Party</a>! This one was promoting Lisa Jackson's new romantic suspense crime drama, <i>Tell Me</i>. My book club, The Literary Mamas came over and we had a potluck dinner and enjoyed talking about our book club selection and enjoying the party pack sent by House Party. It included an advance copy of <i>Tell Me</i>, which I read before the party, and it was fabulous. They also sent sample copies of <i>Tell Me</i> for my guests, a paperback copy of one of her other books, <i>You Don't Want to Know</i>, 2 reusable carry-all bags, cups, napkins, a notepad, chips, and salsa. All of this came at no cost to me. The Literary Mamas always have a wonderful time together and all of the House Party goodies made it even better. Thanks again House Party!<br />
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<br />Christyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02596852689724439752noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3501770085355057458.post-16841777975798341472013-06-05T08:28:00.000-07:002013-06-05T08:29:46.762-07:00What's in the Box Wednesday: Summer Snack Pack Edition<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Well hello there! I fell off of the blogging wagon. The end of the school year got me for sure! I'm back, at least for today! A couple of summers ago, we started the "sweet drink" rule so that my kids wouldn't be drinking lots of sugary, devoid of nutritional value, liquids all summer long. They each get one sweet drink a day of their choosing. The rest of the day, they drink water or milk. They are not huge milk drinkers, so I don't have to worry about them getting too much of that. They did great with it, and it has carried on throughout the year. This summer, I'm trying snack packs. They tend to want to snack All. Day. Long. So to solve that problem, they make snack packs. At night, they make their snack pack and that is their snacks for the next day. Once they are gone, they are gone. If they choose to eat them all within an hour of waking, too bad. (They are not doing this.) I made a list of the snacks we have available including serving sizes and calorie counts. I looked up how many calories they should be eating and decided to go with 300 calories a day for snacks for now. Caroline is getting the same as Addie because she tends to be more physically active. We'll see how that goes. I'm keeping them active with swimming and walking, so I think this amount is ok. I also adjust it if they are really active on any given day. For example, Addie has 2 and half hours of dance on Tuesdays, so she takes an extra snack with her. So far this is working great! They have fun making the snack packs and they have to use a little math to get it figured out. They are learning that they can have more snacks if they choose healthier foods and that they don't have to eat an entire serving size if they want to use some points (calories) for something else. And believe it or not, Caroline actually had a day when she had snacks left! Christyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02596852689724439752noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3501770085355057458.post-8057675622550852262013-04-03T06:19:00.001-07:002013-04-03T06:19:33.424-07:00What's in the Box Wednesday?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Today's lunch contains a homemade blueberry muffin made with plain Greek Yogurt, Cajun sesame sticks (ONF bulk bin), a cheese stick, baby carrots, and fresh pineapple. </div>
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I hope everyone had a great Easter. Ours was fairly quiet. It was rainy on Saturday, but we still had to stick around and wait for soccer to be called before heading to Oklahoma. The girls enjoyed seeing their friends and cousins. Here are a few pictures.</div>
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<br />Christyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02596852689724439752noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3501770085355057458.post-30137492697669133892013-03-27T06:14:00.000-07:002013-03-27T06:14:06.454-07:00What's in the Box Wednesday?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Today's lunch has a bunny boiled egg for Easter. The egg molds are easy to use and can be found <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Kotobuki-Plastic-Mold-Rabbit-Bear/dp/B002TZ04J6/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1364389832&sr=8-1&keywords=egg+mold">here</a>. Also in the box are blood orange wedges, grape tomatoes, Babybel cheese, honey coconut almonds, and Snapea Crisps. I've seen the Snapea Crisps around for awhile and finally tried them. They are SO good! I found them them at Walmart and at Ozark Natural Foods.<br />
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<br />Christyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02596852689724439752noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3501770085355057458.post-39960876799411155952013-03-26T13:08:00.000-07:002013-03-26T13:09:42.118-07:00Spring Break in New OrleansFor Spring Break this year, we decided to drive on down to New Orleans. We wanted to go somewhere we'd never been and that was within reasonable driving distance. We had a great time! The weather was beautiful (except for that one time in the swamp), the food was delicious, the city was beautiful and interesting, and the kids were well-behaved! And if you want to go somewhere where you can eat lots of great food and get in enough exercise to offset it, let me suggest NOLA. I thought I'd share a screenshot of my <a href="http://www.fitbit.com/">Fitbit</a> email with my weekly stats while we were gone.<br />
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We walked a marathon plus! I was really dreading stepping on the scale when I got home, but I didn't gain a pound, and now I see why! We did have a car, and they do have public transportation, but we didn't want to pay for parking, the streetcars were mostly full, and the buses were never on time, so we walked a lot. It's a good way to see the city anyway.</div>
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We rented a charming shotgun house on <a href="http://vrbo.com/">vrbo.com</a> that was located in the Arts/Warehouse district. It was nice having 2 bedrooms and a kitchen and the house had a lot of character. And there was a cute coffee shop and cafe/juice bar just a couple of blocks away. Here are some of the things we did.</div>
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<ul>
<li>Audubon Zoo</li>
<li>Audubon Aquarium</li>
<li>Audubon Insectarium</li>
<li>Cajun Encounters Swamp Tour</li>
<li>Free Ferry ride across the Mississippi</li>
<li>Shopping in the French Quarter, Magazine Street, and the French Market</li>
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We bought an Audubon package to save money which included the Zoo, Aquarium, Insectarium, and IMAX theater (which we didn't end up using). A couple of tips on the Insectarium. It's located in a federal building, so no knives, sharp objects, or other weapons are allowed. Well, I had Caroline's Epi-pen and pepper spray in my purse. At first, they weren't even going to let me bring in the Epi-pen, then they changed their minds. They wouldn't hold the pepper spray and thankfully we had driven that day, so Mike walked the pepper spray a few blocks back to the car. Then he got back and realized he had a multi-tool in his pocket. Back to the car. Then halfway back, he discovered he'd left his ticket in the car! So he got a few extra steps in that day. The other thing about the Insectarium. DON'T skip the little multi-sensory theater. We almost did because it didn't look that interesting. I laughed so much! It's a cartoon about bugs, but that's not all. I don't want to spoil the surprise, so I'll just say some of us were jumping out of our seats. As for the swamp tour, I'd recommend doing that in warmer weather. The alligators were hibernating (we saw one), and it got a little (ok a lot) chilly zipping down the river getting from one area of the swamp to another. </div>
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Now, to the food. Oh the food, the heavenly food. I ate so much seafood, I was starting to worry I might have a reaction! I was also feeling a little like Forrest Gump....Shrimp Creole, Shrimp and Grits, Shrimp Salad, Stuffed Shrimp, etc., etc. And lets just say I may have eaten one too many pralines. Here are restaurants/cafes I recommend.</div>
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<li>Desire Oyster bar for Desire Oysters and Shrimp and Grits</li>
<li>Central Grocery Store for the Muffaletta</li>
<li>Crabby Jack's for Shrimp Creole</li>
<li>The Rum House for the Rum House Salad (I've got to figure out how to recreate it)</li>
<li>The Corner Muse for breakfast, coffee, snoballs and snacks</li>
<li>Surrey Cafe and Juice Bar for breakfast and fresh squeezed juice</li>
<li>Cafe Du Monde for coffee and beignets</li>
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Here are some highlights of the trip in pictures.</div>
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Christyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02596852689724439752noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3501770085355057458.post-71463626317877316492013-03-13T06:19:00.000-07:002013-03-13T06:19:29.000-07:00What's in the Box Wednesday?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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With St. Patrick's Day coming up on Sunday, I decided a green themed lunch was in order. Included are Shamrock shaped green egg salad (I just added a little food coloring) sandwiches, edamame, gherkin pickles, and a granny smith apple. Happy Wednesday!Christyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02596852689724439752noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3501770085355057458.post-79128343471468363412013-03-06T07:27:00.000-08:002013-03-06T07:27:03.592-08:00What's in the Box Wednesday?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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In today's lunchbox is a <a href="http://chobani.com/kitchen/recipes/strawberry-scones/">strawberry scone</a> with a pat of butter, fresh pineapple, walnuts, and a Greek yogurt smoothie with frozen fruit and spinach. The scone is also made with Chobani Greek yogurt, so with the walnuts and smoothie, there is plenty of protein in this lunch without having to pack a meat. Happy Wednesday!</div>
Christyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02596852689724439752noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3501770085355057458.post-83712696096821013632013-03-04T09:12:00.001-08:002013-03-04T09:48:24.939-08:00Back to the 80's Birthday Party<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Addie turned 11 years old last week. Sniff, sniff. We decided to have an 80's theme party. The funny thing is, when I was 11, it WAS 1985! She asked everyone to wear neon and we started off the evening at home with tacos and rice for dinner and cupcakes for dessert. I really didn't know what to do with myself this year. No baking required! She wanted cupcakes from the boutique cupcake shop in town. After dinner we took the girls to a new/old place in town called Arkadia Retrocade. For 5 bucks, you can play all the retro arcade games you want. After the girls got their fill of pac-man, centipede, and frogger, we headed home. I had 80's style candies for them to munch on while they watched a movie and we took some fun pictures with photo props I found on Etsy <a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/122675377/eighties-photo-booth-props-perfect-for-a?ref=sr_gallery_5&ga_search_query=80's+photo+props&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_ship_to=US&ga_search_type=all">here</a>. I had as much or more fun doing this as they did. I think the party turned out totally tubular dude! Here are some of the highlights.<br />
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Candy: Walmart, Party City, EZ Mart<br />
Glasses and Gloves: Party City<br />
Asteroid Drink Markers and Party Plates: Target<br />
Skates: Mine, from my Mom's closet<br />
Photo Props: <a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/122675377/eighties-photo-booth-props-perfect-for-a?ref=sr_gallery_5&ga_search_query=80's+photo+props&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_ship_to=US&ga_search_type=all">Here</a> on Etsy. I sent them to Office Depot to print for around $5.<br />
Christyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02596852689724439752noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3501770085355057458.post-14521630223556484462013-02-27T06:34:00.000-08:002013-02-27T07:24:22.475-08:00What's in the Box Wednesday?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Both girls have the same lunch today with the addition of a yogurt tube for Addie. For the wrap, I spread a wedge of Laughing Cow Light Swiss on a tortilla, added some canned chunk chicken breast, avocado, a squeeze of lime, and a dash of freshly ground salt and pepper. To finish off, they have peaches and Thin Mints. <br />
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I haven't been doing a lot of posting lately, but here are some things that have been going on since last Wednesday.<br />
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I got a haircut and color. I had several, several inches cut off. Thank you Rachel at The Parlor!<br />
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Addie's troop had a booth sale at Walmart and it was freezing! I went inside and bought some hand warmers to share. I put mine in my shoes because I couldn't feel my toes. They sold 410 boxes.<br />
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Caroline had her first soccer practice of the season. Also very cold.<br />
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This is just a moment I captured Sunday morning that I loved. Dad and daughter enjoying coffee/tea and reading at the table.<br />
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And finally, Girl Scout Thinking Day. A day to learn about different countries and cultures. There were booths setup for different countries and the girls went around to learn, buy crafts, and try foods.<br />
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Christyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02596852689724439752noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3501770085355057458.post-33098214755805636522013-02-20T06:28:00.000-08:002013-02-27T07:23:32.863-08:00What's in the Box Wednesday?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Addie is eating at school today. I was frantically filling out birthday invitations for her to take to school instead of fixing her lunch. We are so swamped with activities we had a hard time coming up with a date for the poor child's birthday party. I'm thinking it's time to start saying no to some stuff. I got over trying to be Super Mom years ago, but sometimes it will try to creep back up on you. I get pretty weary of being in a go-go-go mode all the time. And it's not good for any of us. Everybody needs chill time! Caroline's lunch has ham and cream cheese spirals, red grapes, and Thin Mints! The Girl Scout cookies are in! Monday, we helped pick up both troop's cookies from the warehouse. Here is a comical picture of the girls surrounded in the van. They had boxes as foot rests, and my seat belt alert kept dinging because it thought a person was in my passenger seat.<br />
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Christyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02596852689724439752noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3501770085355057458.post-71507572767408877832013-02-15T06:31:00.000-08:002013-02-27T07:23:53.293-08:00Valentine's DayThis has been a festive week. First Fat Tuesday, now Valentine's Day. It was such a nice day. I went to Caroline's class party, had lunch with Mike at Kobe, and made a nice dinner for the family at home including <a href="http://www.rosesbeforeviolets.blogspot.com/2012/05/great-american-bake-sale.html">Quiche</a> and Cake both in the shape of a heart. This was my first time to make Red Velvet Cake from scratch. My Mom is the one who usually makes it. It turned out delicious. The recipe is at the bottom!<br />
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I found the cute idea for Caroline's Valentine's <a href="http://www.keepingitsimplecrafts.com/2013/01/mustache-valentines-with-free-printable.html">here</a>. I don't have a Cricut, so I bought the mustaches <a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/110597700/50-black-imperial-style-mustache-die?ref=sr_gallery_14&ga_search_query=mustache+die&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_ship_to=US&ga_page=2&ga_search_type=all">here</a>.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGh_QAUSKwO1wthYaaOWTts6dsgUr55TELmks1o6EtAs459Yva2i4a0FYtH99bEGN1osgINyF7-2nkMqaPAoMJmks3-cT40gTKKUz3ztnngFSzp_4p4aSd0Eo5rsPcfkyMV6ULbw3Wp58/s1600/photo%2528138%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGh_QAUSKwO1wthYaaOWTts6dsgUr55TELmks1o6EtAs459Yva2i4a0FYtH99bEGN1osgINyF7-2nkMqaPAoMJmks3-cT40gTKKUz3ztnngFSzp_4p4aSd0Eo5rsPcfkyMV6ULbw3Wp58/s320/photo%2528138%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Minute to Win It M&M game</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pass the tissue paper heart game</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Opening Valentines</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Friends</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOl8-SjUqHqrGdG1PN02Esl8QUFgwoWjqKd7hdaQZCHF_gjBk060o8rDwlYhf3aTk32anYMF1-o6ypmSsL54jyQvLcopfPtEGxrHIPYOkhqxiPNZZ1Wx4Aa65iM38OGeiyUVSOd6BaUT8/s1600/photo%2528142%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOl8-SjUqHqrGdG1PN02Esl8QUFgwoWjqKd7hdaQZCHF_gjBk060o8rDwlYhf3aTk32anYMF1-o6ypmSsL54jyQvLcopfPtEGxrHIPYOkhqxiPNZZ1Wx4Aa65iM38OGeiyUVSOd6BaUT8/s320/photo%2528142%2529.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Festive table</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cake and Quiche</td></tr>
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<b>Waldorf Astoria Red Cake (</b>adapted from my OLD church cookbook!)<br />
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Cake<br />
1/2 c butter flavored Crisco<br />
1 1/2 c sugar<br />
1 (2 oz) bottle red food coloring (1/4 c)<br />
2 Tbsp cocoa (heaping)<br />
1 c buttermilk<br />
2 1/4 c cake flour<br />
1 tsp vanilla<br />
1 tsp salt<br />
1 tsp soda<br />
1 Tbsp vinegar<br />
2 eggs<br />
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Frosting<br />
3 Tbsp flour<br />
1 c milk<br />
1 c sugar, granulated (not powdered, this threw me off and I had to call mom to confirm, but it works!)<br />
1 tsp vanilla<br />
1 c butter<br />
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Cream Crisco, sugar, and eggs. Make a paste of food coloring and cocoa. Add to creamed mixture. Add buttermilk alternately with sifted flour and salt. Add vanilla. Add soda to vinegar (but hold over bowl as it foams). Then add to creamed mixture, blending instead of beating. Bake 25-30 minutes at 350 degrees in 2 8 inch greased and floured cake pans. Cool on rack. Split each layer in two and frost.<br />
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For Frosting, cook flour and milk until very thick, stirring constantly. Cool. Cream sugar and butter plus vanilla until very fluffy. Add to first mixture, which has cooled. Mix until well blended. Should be consistency of whipped cream.<br />
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This cake is best made a day or two before serving. It gets better upon sitting! Also, I like to cool my cakes in the pan for 10 minutes then remove them to parchment paper and put straight in the freezer until I'm ready to frost.<br />
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Christyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02596852689724439752noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3501770085355057458.post-50508010329870595162013-02-13T17:11:00.000-08:002013-02-27T07:24:36.294-08:00What's in the Box Wednesday?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Valentine's Day was the theme of today's lunchboxes. Other than the sandwich filling, the girls had the same lunch. Addie had a Nutella filled sandwich with a heart cut out of the top piece and Valentine sprinkles. Caroline had a strawberry cream cheese filled sandwich. Side items are heart strawberries, cheese pretzels, and a Babybel with heart cutout. Happy Wednesday!
Christyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02596852689724439752noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3501770085355057458.post-1010393195552426042013-02-12T18:10:00.001-08:002013-02-12T18:10:45.363-08:00Bread Machine King Cake and Red Beans and Rice<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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We don't normally do anything special for Fat Tuesday, but I had a wild hair today and decided to change that. I made my first ever King Cake. I'd been thinking about doing it for a couple of days, then today I started to get a little stressed about everything on my plate. I called Rick's Bakery to see if they had any and they didn't so I did it myself. It really was a breeze. I found a recipe on allrecipes.com and modified it a little and it turned out nicely. To complete the theme, we had Red Beans & Rice for dinner. <br />
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Caroline was excited to get the piece of cake with the Baby.<br />
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<b>Bread Machine King Cake</b> (adapted from allrecipes.com)<br />
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Ingredients<br />
<br />
Bread<br />
1/4 cup warm water<br />
1/2 tsp salt<br />
2 tbls softened butter<br />
1 egg, slightly beaten<br />
1 cup sour cream<br />
3 1/2 tbls sugar<br />
3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour<br />
2 1/2 tsp bread machine yeast<br />
<br />
Filling<br />
1/2 cup sugar<br />
2 tsp ground cinnamon<br />
5 tbls melted butter<br />
<br />
Icing<br />
1 1/2 cups powdered sugar<br />
1 1/2 tbls melted butter<br />
1/8 tsp vanilla<br />
2 tbls milk, or as needed<br />
purple, green, and yellow sugar sprinkles<br />
<br />
Place the warm water, salt, butter, egg, sour cream, 3 1/2 tbls of sugar, flour, and yeast into the bread machine in that order. Select the dough cycle, and start. Check the dough after a few minutes and add more water or flour if dough is too dry or wet. I had to add a tad more water.<br />
<br />
Mix the filling sugar, cinnamon, and butter in a bowl and set aside. Grease a baking sheet or line with silpat.<br />
<br />
When the dough cycle is finished (mine was 1 1/2 hour), remove the dough and roll out to a 10 x 28 inch rectangle on a floured surface. Spread the cinnamon mixture over the dough. Pick up one of the long edges and roll into a log. Place the rolled dough onto the baking sheet, seam side down, and form into a ring. Moisten the ends of the dough with a little water; pinch the two ends together to seal. Cover with a cloth, and let rise in a warm place until doubled in size. Mine took about 45 minutes.<br />
<br />
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. <br />
<br />
Bake the cake until the top is golden brown, about 15-20 minutes.<br />
<br />
Mix the powdered sugar, 1 1/2 tbls butter, vanilla, and just enough milk to make a smooth glaze.<br />
<br />
Remove the cake from the oven and cool on a rack for about 10 minutes. Spoon the glaze over the cake, letting it run down the sides. Immediately sprinkle with alternating sections of purple, green, and yellow sugars. Allow to cool before serving.<br />
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<b>Red Beans and Rice </b>(adapted from Family Fun Magazine February 2012)<br />
<br />
Ingredients<br />
<br />
1 tbls Olive Oil<br />
1 medium onion, chopped<br />
1 small red bell pepper, chopped<br />
3 cloves garlic, minced<br />
1 16 oz can chicken broth<br />
Bay leaf<br />
1/2 tsp dried thyme<br />
1/2 tsp Creole seasoning, or more if you like it spicy<br />
3 15 1/2 oz cans red beans, rinsed and drained<br />
1 pound turkey smoked sausage, but into bite sized pieces<br />
cooked white rice<br />
<br />
In a large pot, warm the oil over medium-high heat. Add the onion, bell pepper, and garlic and saute until they are soft and tender, about 8 minutes.<br />
<br />
Add the broth, bay leaf, thyme, creole seasoning, and beans and bring to boil. Partially mash the beans, leaving most whole. Stir in the sausage, cover and reduce to medium-low.<br />
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Simmer covered for 10 minutes, then uncovered for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove the bay leaf and serve over hot rice. <br />
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<br />Christyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02596852689724439752noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3501770085355057458.post-80565023200022012062013-02-06T07:24:00.001-08:002013-02-06T07:29:50.478-08:00What's in the Box Wednesday?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Chobani! That's what's in the box! We are a Chobani loving household, so the nice folks at Chobani sent this box full of Greek yogurt goodness for us to try.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheceffiJXYLhvJVdraw3FS6_YajAVpBXG8nFT10tPa5sm7iyj87hqSiPR2ncgeUrVcK7xva-a3gZvc8TLqBfWq_op1LOxqsYELEmwkZn1D8YDAsi24LIzt7SEmyLhmB-P4ChZTrh1jgAo/s1600/photo-3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheceffiJXYLhvJVdraw3FS6_YajAVpBXG8nFT10tPa5sm7iyj87hqSiPR2ncgeUrVcK7xva-a3gZvc8TLqBfWq_op1LOxqsYELEmwkZn1D8YDAsi24LIzt7SEmyLhmB-P4ChZTrh1jgAo/s320/photo-3.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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The regular Chobani tubs are always part of our weekly shopping list, but I was especially happy when they came out with the Champions tubes. They are so easy to throw in the lunchbox as seen below in a lunch from last week. I freeze them and then by lunchtime, they are at the perfect temperature and consistency. (They're fun to eat frozen at home too.)<br />
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Today's lunches also have Chobani products, but you can't see them at first glance. I'll explain after the photos.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifgkskbWyJQ8qehyphenhyphenSAP5SWF_10F1_IUWHMsccbEGSeBZ1vtPBFOLha49PYtExVIc1-Uv8bPnvvKbn5LJ7JCyMwh6-Z5QASER6PJ6ReRQtydXdWhsqyo8OdG1C1a5tboRuJeF95e90_yl8/s1600/photo-7.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifgkskbWyJQ8qehyphenhyphenSAP5SWF_10F1_IUWHMsccbEGSeBZ1vtPBFOLha49PYtExVIc1-Uv8bPnvvKbn5LJ7JCyMwh6-Z5QASER6PJ6ReRQtydXdWhsqyo8OdG1C1a5tboRuJeF95e90_yl8/s320/photo-7.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Both girls have a Chobani muffin, Chobani smoothie, grapes, and Babybel cheese. I included some smokey almonds in Addie's since she is older and hungrier. :) I made the smoothies last night using 6 oz of Non-fat Raspberry Chobani Greek yogurt, 1/2 cup of a frozen berry mix (blueberries, raspberries, blackberries, and strawberries), 1/2 a banana, and just a little bit of milk. This was enough for two ice pop molds. I froze them overnight and at lunchtime they should be at a nice consistency for drinking. Before I closed up the lunchboxes, I used rubber bands and baggies around the molds to prevent leakage. After I received my box of goodies I browsed around the Chobani website and found they have TONS of great looking recipes using their products. I found <a href="http://chobani.com/kitchen/recipes/chocolate-chunk-muffins/">this</a> muffin recipe and modified a little using 1/2 whole wheat flour. I think you could use any yogurt flavor you like also. I used some of the Chobani Bites I received in the box. As you can see, Greek yogurt is very versatile. I hope to try some of the other recipes on the site soon!<br />
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<br />Christyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02596852689724439752noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3501770085355057458.post-20762131886694914862013-01-31T17:48:00.000-08:002013-01-31T18:18:37.442-08:00Peanut Free Puppy Chow<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje-dAH-3AOK-_OYENv-2whMqXRhr7e5-l_AmEOtYmjL8c4gC058bzqNTMwcf81iJ-_wAtke6OAE-T5aPSPxRBKrI9l1OSKSY_nrjihP1qwGgwSvRHMPXBbEnp7s7aHHq1kcMaoeN4cYy0/s1600/photo(129).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje-dAH-3AOK-_OYENv-2whMqXRhr7e5-l_AmEOtYmjL8c4gC058bzqNTMwcf81iJ-_wAtke6OAE-T5aPSPxRBKrI9l1OSKSY_nrjihP1qwGgwSvRHMPXBbEnp7s7aHHq1kcMaoeN4cYy0/s320/photo(129).JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Poor, peanut butter passionate Addie pined for puppy chow. (Try to say that 5 times fast). So she set out to make a peanut free version due to Caroline's allergy. It turned out fantastic! Now, I'm coming off of a three week cleanse so pretty much EVERYTHING tastes good to me right now, but everyone else in the house was eating it like crazy too so I'm taking that as confirmation of it's goodness. Addie used a basic recipe on the back of a cereal box and substituted the peanut butter with this handy dandy product.<br />
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This is the best tasting peanut butter substitute (or "fake peanut butter" as we call it) I have found. Besides the taste, other positives are that it contains non-GMO soy and is made in a 100% peanut, nut, gluten, and dairy free facility. This is the creamy version, but a crunchy one is available as well. I tried to get some photos of Addie in action but as usual, I didn't get much cooperation.<br />
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And I had a couple of photo bombers.<br />
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It was a fun family night in the kitchen experimenting with a new twist on an old snack. I had to remove myself from the room after it was made though. It was so good and I didn't want to totally sabotage my cleansing efforts!<br />
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<b>Peanut Free Puppy Chow</b> (adapted from the back of a cereal box)<br />
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9 cups Toasted Rice squares cereal<br />
1 cup semisweet chocolate chips<br />
1/2 cup Wowbutter<br />
1/4 cup real butter<br />
1 tsp vanilla<br />
1 1/2 cups powdered sugar<br />
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Measure out the cereal and set aside. In a 1 qt microwaveable bowl, microwave chocolate chips, Wowbutter and butter uncovered on high for 1 minute; stir. Microwave about 30 seconds longer or until mixture can be stirred smooth. Stir in vanilla. Pour this mixture over the cereal and stir. Pour all into a large resealable plastic bag, add powdered sugar, seal, and shake until coated. Spread out to cool. (We really didn't do this, everyone was too impatient and started eating it immediately.) Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator (if you have any left!).<br />
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<br />Christyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02596852689724439752noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3501770085355057458.post-23697083504875078662013-01-30T07:14:00.001-08:002013-01-30T07:28:51.449-08:00What's in the Box Wednesday?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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It seems like Addie is picking Wednesday for her eat at school day a lot lately! Caroline is having a toasted sub sandwich, strawberries, and carrot chips with a little ranch dressing for dipping.<br />
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We had a wild and crazy afternoon yesterday. At about 2:51 I got a weather alert on my phone telling me a tornado warning was issued in my area and to take cover now! Addie was just getting off the bus, but Caroline usually doesn't get home until 3:10. I called the school and they said they had checked and didn't see a warning (??!), and dismissal was still on schedule. I got the laundry room (hidey hole) ready and stood in the garage with umbrellas ready to run down the hill and meet Caroline and her neighbor friend. I waited and waited. I called my neighbor at work worried. We both tried calling the school again and couldn't get through. The rain and wind picked up and then it started swirling around. I yelled at Addie to get in the laundry room while I jumped around the garage grabbing bicycle helmets, and fell on the garage stairs. (I always make them wear them during tornado warnings). I was torn as to whether to hope they had kept the kids at school and get in the laundry room with Addie, or keep waiting for the bus to arrive. The wind just kept getting worse! Finally, I got through to the school and yes, they had kept the kids! Finally after everything passed, they loaded the buses and I waited on my kiddo with the umbrellas again. I was worried that she was scared, but she looked at me like I was crazy when I asked her if she was. She said "No, it was just a drill!" I'm glad she wasn't aware of any danger! Needless to say, we had an exciting afternoon. That was yesterday. Today it's snowing. Welcome to Arkansas! Happy Wednesday!<br />
<br />Christyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02596852689724439752noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3501770085355057458.post-56560143811126514482013-01-23T09:29:00.000-08:002013-01-23T09:29:07.867-08:00What's in the Box Wednesday?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I found out Caroline likes pasta salad last night, so I used some leftovers in her lunch today. It is accompanied by goldfish, a cheese stick, and natural applesauce. This particular pasta salad was not a from scratch creation, but now that I know she is a fan, I will be in search of some good pasta salad recipes! Happy Wednesday!Christyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02596852689724439752noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3501770085355057458.post-76018158845716444702013-01-22T13:57:00.000-08:002013-01-22T13:58:18.910-08:00Laundry Love<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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It's 3:30, I have been doing laundry all day, and my laundry room still looks like this. Before I was even halfway coherent this morning, Addie was knocking on my door. "I don't have any pants", she said. We all know laundry is never ending. There is never really any satisfaction of a job completed when it comes to laundry. As soon as you think you're done, someone changes clothes. Between piles of laundry and piles of paper (the other thing that seems to be never ending with mail and stuff carried home in backpacks), a person could go crazy. I just have to remember to be thankful that I have a washer and dryer and I'm not having to cart it all to a laundromat. Have you ever thought of what people do who don't have this luxury and can't afford the laundromat either? My playgroup organizer Kara, found a group called Laundry Love. Here is what she posted about it on our playgroup meetup site.<br />
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"For those living below the poverty line, washing clothes presents
both a logistical problem and a financial hardship. From a conversation
with a local homeless friend who conveyed this basic need, the Laundry
Love Projectâ„¢ (LLP) was birthed. Laundry Love Projects partner with
local laundromats in cleaning the clothes of those living in shelters,
motels, cars, garages and on the streets. It is our mission to take
laundromats and convert them into hubs of relief, granting reprieve to
those living in oppressive poverty."<br />
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Volunteers distribute quarters, hand out detergent & make sure
dryers & washers are emptied promptly for the next person to use.
They are also in need of a volunteer to do a craft with the kids, or
anything that will entertain the kids while the parents do their
laundry."<br />
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Web: <a href="http://www.cobblestoneproject.org/initiatives/laundry-love/">http://www.cobblestoneproject.org/initiatives/laundry-love/</a><br />
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I've signed up to volunteer the next time our playgroup goes to Laundry Love. Maybe it will help me realize just what a blessing it is to have laundry day around here! <br />
<br />Christyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02596852689724439752noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3501770085355057458.post-71176990979187065762013-01-17T07:30:00.000-08:002013-02-27T07:25:05.793-08:00The Great Souptacular<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Today I'm linking up with Leslie at <a href="http://blondeambitionblog.com/">blondeambitionblog.com</a>. It's all about soup. So after you're finished here, head over there and check out some other tummy warming comfort soups! These are two Mexican style soups that I love. The tortilla soup is a Rick Bayless classic. I think I've mentioned before that our favorite Bayless cookbook, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Mexican-Everyday-Recipes-Featured-Season/dp/039306154X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1358436211&sr=8-1&keywords=mexican+everyday">Mexican Everyday</a>, is falling apart from use. His recipes are sooo good. The other is my Mom's Enchilada soup. It's great for a cold night and always receives compliments.<br />
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<b>Tortilla Soup (adapted from Mexican Everyday, by Rick Bayless)</b><br />
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<b>Ingredients</b><br />
1 large dried pasilla or ancho chile<br />
1 15 oz can fire-roasted diced tomatoes and their juice<br />
2 tbls olive oil<br />
1 medium white onion, sliced<br />
3 garlic gloves, peeled<br />
2 quarts chicken broth<br />
Salt<br />
4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, but into 1/2 inch cubes<br />
1 large ripe avocado<br />
6 oz Mexican Queso Fresco cheese<br />
Tortilla chips<br />
1 large lime<br />
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Toast the chile by turning it an inch or two above an open flame for a few seconds, until you smell the aroma. Or if you don't have a gas stove, toast it for a few seconds in a dry pan on medium heat. Break into pieces and put in your blender with the tomatoes and their juice.<br />
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Heat the oil in a large 4 qt saucepan over medium high. Add the onion and garlic and cook, stirring often, until golden, about 7 minutes. Scoop up the onion and garlic with a slotted spoon and transfer to blender. Process until smooth.<br />
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Place the pan back on medium heat. When hot, add the puree and stir constantly until thickened about 6 minutes. Add the broth. Reduce to medium low and simmer 15 minutes. Taste and season with salt to your taste.<br />
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Just before serving, add the chicken to the broth. Divide the avocado, cheese, and chips among your serving bowls. When the chicken is done, pour the soup into the bowls. Squeeze the fresh lime over each serving.<br />
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<b>Enchilada Soup (by Mom)</b><br />
<br />
<b>Ingredients </b><br />
1 tbls olive oil<br />
1 lb chicken breasts<br />
1/2 cup chopped onion<br />
1 clove garlic pressed<br />
4 cups chicken broth<br />
1 cup Masa Harina<br />
3 cups water<br />
1 cup enchilada sauce<br />
16 oz velveeta<br />
1 tsp salt<br />
1 tsp chili powder<br />
1/2 tsp cumin<br />
<br />
Heat oil in large pot over medium heat. Add chicken breasts and brown 4 to 5 minutes per side. Set chicken aside. Add onions and garlic to pot and saute for about 2 minutes. Add chicken broth. Combine Masa Harina with 2 cups water in a medium bowl and whisk until blended. Add to onion mixture with remaining water, enchilada sauce, cheese and spices and bring mixture to a boil. Shred the chicken into bite size pieces and add to soup mixture. Reduce heat and simmer for 30 to 40 minutes or until thick. Serve with shredded cheese, crumbled corn tortillas, and salsa.
Christyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02596852689724439752noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3501770085355057458.post-90960087830707737302013-01-16T07:15:00.000-08:002013-01-16T07:15:55.440-08:00What's in the Box Wednesday?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Today for Caroline's lunch I tried another idea from the <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Cooking-Trader-Joes-Cookbook-Lunch/dp/1938706005/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1358349160&sr=8-1&keywords=cooking+with+trader+joes+easy+lunch+boxes">Cooking with Trader Joe's - EasyLunchboxes</a> cookbook. These are "Olive-er Twists" with pizza sauce for dipping, mandarin oranges, and a cheddar Babybel with a heart cut out. Since I'm not eating gluten and dairy currently, I didn't try a twist, but they smelled delicious while cooking. Addie is eating school food today, but she tried one for breakfast and gave them a thumbs up. I adapted the recipe a little and didn't use as much cheese or Italian seasoning. Happy Wednesday!<br />
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<b>Olive-er Twists</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
1 8 oz can refrigerated crescent rolls (I used reduced fat)<br />
2 1/2 tbls canned chopped black olives<br />
Up to 2 tbls extra-virgin olive oil, divided<br />
1/2 cup finely grated cheddar cheese<br />
1/2 tsp Italian seasoning<br />
1/2 tsp garlic powder (I didn't measure this, I just sprinkled it on)<br />
1/8 tsp sea salt (again, I didn't measure, I just used my sea salt grinder and sprinkled it on)<br />
<br />
Preheat oven to 375. Combine olives, 2 tsp olive oil, cheese, and Italian seasoning. <br />
<br />
Unroll the crescent dough and divide in two width wise. Spread the olive mixture on one half. Cut both halves into 6 1-inch strips. Place 1 plain dough strip over each olive covered strip, pinch the edges, and twist slightly. I had a little trouble here. The picture in the book doesn't have olives showing on the outside. I couldn't get it pinched enough to keep the filling from coming out a little. However, I think I like the look of how they came out anyway. Place on parchment or Silpat lined cookie sheet. <br />
<br />
Brush with remaining olive oil and sprinkle with garlic powder and salt. The original recipe calls for sprinkling with additional cheese and Italian seasoning as well. Since my filling came through a little, I thought that was good enough. Bake for 10-12 minutes.Christyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02596852689724439752noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3501770085355057458.post-1827670951982065272013-01-15T07:56:00.000-08:002013-01-15T07:56:13.055-08:00Ch-Ch-Ch-Chia<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I'm using Chia seeds in my daily smoothies. Sounds funny doesn't it? I've been joking that maybe it will help my hair grow (another after 35 problem for me, thinning hair). Apparently Chia seeds are a good source of omega-3 fatty acids, antioxidants, protein, and fiber. Who would have thought? I bought some from the bulk jars at <a href="http://www.ozarknaturalfoods.com/">ONF</a> and use 1 tablespoon per smoothie. They grind up well in the Blendtech and don't add any flavor, so I don't notice them much. Their fiber content and the fact that they expand when wet, help you feel full. I have found that to be true. I do feel full, but not overly so like I do when I eat gluten. It's day 5 and my gut (that's such a weird word, but there's no better way to describe it I guess) feels fabulously empty, in a good way. I hope I remember this when the Girl Scout Cookies come in. That's it for today. Must.get.something.done.now.Christyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02596852689724439752noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3501770085355057458.post-59960067710658006062013-01-14T13:58:00.000-08:002013-01-14T19:46:44.487-08:00It's Definitely MondayI had a lot of work to do today so I decided to get up extra early. And my boss was coming over to go over Quickbooks stuff so I wanted to clean my workspace a little. I've been after Mike to find the box to some binoculars he bought because I needed the UPC for a rebate. Well guess what happened when I went through the pile on my desk? Yep, I found the flattened box. Oops. I'm such a piler when it comes to personal paperwork. I need to work on that.<br />
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I've started a 3 week cleanse to try and drop the few pounds I gained over the Holidays. I should NEVER stop recording my food in Myfitnesspal because that is what happens. You would think I would learn! I'd been going gluten free for several days, but then my pal and I saw JJ Virgin on the Rachael Ray show while walking on the gym treadmills. She promotes going Gluten, Soy, Dairy, Corn, Egg, Peanut, and Sugar free for 3 weeks. Then each week you will try adding gluten, soy, dairy, or egg back in and see how you feel. (She never wants you to add back in Peanut, Corn, and Sugar). I KNOW that eating gluten makes me feel sluggish and like I have a basketball in my stomach, but I hadn't thought about eliminating the rest, except for peanuts of course. That's easy with Caroline's allergy. I'm on day 4 and I feel really good. I had a headache the first couple of days, but not anymore. Just what am I eating you ask? Well, I'm drinking a rice protein smoothie for breakfast and lunch and for dinner so far I've kept it pretty much the same each night. I'll have something like a chicken breast, a sweet potato, and asparagus. Saturday night, Mike and I went to Outback and I had a 6 oz filet, sweet potato, and broccoli. I also have 2 snacks. So far they've been turkey slices rolled up with guacamole and brown rice cakes with almond butter. I've done many different "diets" in the past. But since I turned 35 the same things don't seem to work anymore. So I'm giving this a whirl. <br />
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After I made my smoothie, Caroline wanted one. I have a Blendtech...it has a lawnmower motor...sometimes it's a little scary. I've made many smoothies in it, but today the lid popped off, the frozen banana went flying through the air, and smoothie went all over the counter and cabinets. Fun. Then I proceeded to break the handle on my toilet. More fun. I told Mike about everything and he texted "Happy Monday". I'm just glad this happened on Day 4 of the Virgin diet and not Day 1 or 2 because I would have probably given up and eaten some cheese pretzels or something!<br />
<br />
If you're interested in the Virgin Diet read the reviews <a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Virgin-Diet-Foods-Pounds/dp/0373892713/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1358200180&sr=8-1&keywords=the+virgin+diet">here</a>. Christyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02596852689724439752noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3501770085355057458.post-36819402470356125172013-01-09T09:53:00.000-08:002013-01-09T09:53:16.789-08:00What's in the Box Wednesday?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Today Addie's lunch has roasted red pepper hummus with zucchini sticks and grape tomatoes for dipping, raspberries, a cheesestick, and Biscoff cookies.<br />
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Caroline's lunch has a turkey and cheese wrap, strawberries, a new Chobani Champions Greek yogurt tube (I'm excited about all the new Chobani products!), and Savannah Smiles Girl Scout cookies (I got a preview box at a Leader's meeting. Don't worry, cookie sales start in 3 days!) Happy Wednesday!Christyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02596852689724439752noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3501770085355057458.post-44813801047389437332013-01-04T07:15:00.000-08:002013-01-04T07:15:37.354-08:00Double Chocolate Praline Fudge Cake<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I know I'm probably posting this recipe a little late since we are into diet season now, but just save it for later. Plus, there's a funny story to go along with it. My Mom was getting rid of some books and magazines and I carried home a Gooseberry Patch Christmas Cookbook. This cake sounded good so I decided to make it for Christmas. For some reason, I had a lot of trouble in the kitchen those couple of days leading up to Christmas. I tried to make some candy that I'd made before and it flopped. My candy thermometer wasn't working, so I used the soft ball stage test, but it still didn't set up. I was disappointed. Then I decided to make mini pecan pies for Christmas Eve dessert. I have been wanting the <a href="http://www.williams-sonoma.com/products/breville-pie-maker-bpi640xl/">Breville Mini Pie Maker</a> for over a year. I got an email the other day that Williams-Sonoma was having a one day sale and it was at it's lowest price ever, plus there was a code for free shipping. I couldn't pass it up. My first mistake was waiting until Christmas Eve to try it. My next mistake was using homemade pie dough. I remember a sales lady telling me months and months ago that it works best with store bought crust, but I'm sometimes stubborn about that, so I made my own. Well, you have to be REALLY fast getting those little crust rounds into the machine, the filling poured, and the lid down, because it starts cooking immediately and the the crust will shrink down into the hole if you don't. It was such a big mess. The crusts were shrinking down into the hole before I could get the filling in and I was jumping up and down in the kitchen screaming, NO! please NO! This is our Christmas Eve dessert! And Addie is watching me and laughing. My father-in-law who drove over for the night, is sitting on the couch hearing it all. Then after 10 minutes, I lift the lid and the crusts are burned and the filling is not set. I'm panicking, so I roll out another crust and just do a normal pie the old-fashioned way. Next, I'm trying out a green bean dish and the last step is to broil it for a few minutes to brown the top. Well, I blackened the top. So I had to try and scrape that off. Lastly, we get to the cake. It called for buttermilk, which I thought I had bought. But of course I didn't. I bought 1%. I never buy 1%! So I had to make my own buttermilk using vinegar. Also, I have 9 inch round cake pans, not 8, so when the cakes were cooling, they looked a little thin. Addie walks in and says, "That's the flattest cake I've ever seen." Then my father-in-law walks in and says "I must be doing something wrong, because when I make cakes, they usually came out yay big." (He's holding up his thumb and finger with about a 4 inch space in between). At this point, I just want to cry. But I don't. Thankfully, after it was assembled with the filling and icing, it looked fine and it tasted MAGNIFICENT! It was a little involved, but oh, so worth it! The praline icing was divine. Everyone loved it. So the moral of this story is, there will be disasters and hecklers in the kitchen once in awhile, but don't give up. You'll end up with a winner now and again.<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Double Chocolate Praline Fudge Cake</b><br />
<br />
1 c butter<br />
1/4 c baking cocoa<br />
1 c water<br />
1/2 c buttermilk<br />
2 eggs<br />
1 tsp baking soda<br />
1 tsp vanilla<br />
2 c sugar<br />
2 c all-purpose flour<br />
1/2 tsp salt<br />
Chocolate Ganache<br />
Praline Frosting<br />
<br />
Cook first 3 ingredients in a saucepan over low heat, stirring constantly, until butter melts and mixture is smooth; remove from heat. Cool. Beat buttermilk, 2 eggs, baking soda, and vanilla at medium speed with an electric mixer until smooth. Add butter mixture to buttermilk mixture, beating until blended. Combine sugar, flour, and salt; gradually add to buttermilk mixture, beating until blended. (Batter will be thin). Coat 3 (8") round cake pans with cooking spray; line with parchment paper. Pour batter evenly into pans. Bake at 350 for 22 to 24 minutes or until set. Cool in pans on wire racks 10 minutes. Remove from pans and cool completely. Spread about 1/2 cup ganache between cake layers; spread remainder on sides and top of cake. Chill cake 1/2 hour. Pour frosting slowly over top of cake, spreading to edges, allowing some frosting to run over sides. <br />
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<b>Chocolate Ganache</b><br />
<br />
2 c semi-sweet chocolate chips<br />
1/3 c whipping cream<br />
1/4 c butter, cut into pieces<br />
<br />
Microwave chocolate chips and cream in a glass bowl on medium power 2 to 3 minutes or until chips are melted. Whisk until smooth. Gradually add butter, whisking until smooth. Cool, whisking often, 15 to 20 minutes until spreading consistency.<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Praline Frosting</b><br />
<br />
1/4 c butter<br />
1 c light brown sugar, packed<br />
1/3 c whipping cream<br />
1 c powdered sugar<br />
1 t vanilla<br />
1 c chopped pecans, toasted<br />
<br />
Bring first 3 ingredients to a boil in a 2 quart saucepan over medium heat, stirring often; boil one minute. Remove from heat and whisk in powdered sugar and vanilla until smooth. Add toasted pecans, stirring gently 2 to 5 minutes or until frosting begins to cool and thicken slightly. Pour immediately over cake.<br />
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Here's another picture of this scrumptious cake on the brunch table at Mom's Christmas morning.<br />
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<br />Christyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02596852689724439752noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3501770085355057458.post-71836783214961146022013-01-03T08:02:00.000-08:002013-01-03T08:02:43.331-08:00Holiday Catch UpI took a little blogging break while the kids were out of school so I'm playing catch up on some of the highlights of the Holidays. Here we go.<br />
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I won a cookie contest! My cookie recipe was chosen by a local baker as one of the top 12 in the Arkansas Democrat Gazette 12 Days of Cookies contest! I won free Hiland Dairy milk for a year!<br />
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The girls made more Gingerbread Houses.<br />
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We made Christmas cookies.<br />
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We wrapped and decorated presents.<br />
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We opened fun presents.<br />
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We spent time with family.<br />
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We played a new game.<br />
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We played in the snow.<br />
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And finally, the girls got haircuts in preparation to go back to school.<br />
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And now, back to reality. Happy New Year!Christyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02596852689724439752noreply@blogger.com2