Holding out hope...

...that someday I will be the owner of this baby!  Oh, the things I could create...

and you will see why soon but let's just say, today may have burned out my handheld procter silex 5 mixer.  It was almost smoking...sad.  Kitchen aid...I need you!  Why won't you come down in price?!

To all you that own one of these, I hate you.  Ok, I don't hate you, I'm just EXTREMELY jealous of you! (ahem..my 2 sisters that have recently acquired one...)

And I do think I would like this color too...speaks baking to me..."Gloss Cinnamon"

If you don't already have one, would this be your dream kitchen "gadget" and what color would you own?

Love is Sweet

Another post that goes against everything healthy on this blog!!  BUT, this blog is about the daily life of a busy mom and this little project consumed quite a bit of my life the last couple weeks.  It was so much fun to plan with my sisters and turned out to be just perfect!  We planned a bridal shower for the little one (sister that is)  Our baby sister is getting married in June and this (little...or not really so much anymore) sister loves loves loves CANDY!! and sweets and treats so we went with that theme and made the shower "Love is Sweet"  We even found a door sign in the valentine's clearance at kohls that said "love is sweet" with cupcakes but I forgot to take a picture, darn it!!

The shower was at #2's house (that's sister #2...I'm #1...we're talking oldest to youngest here...) and she lives in a duplex so it can be a little confusing finding the correct door to enter.  So, we lined the walkway with these adorable (thanks to our crafty father!) lollipop stakes and put a cute little cupcake flag in front!

First wall you see as you come into the house and the main focus of our "sweet theme."

Lots and lots of candy.  The center piece actually has cookies on top, one of the bridesmaids had a friend that did that, so there is candy on the bottom and cookie pops that were themey on top.  And musn't forget the super cute lanterns...I want those for my house!  Found at target by a super creative bridesmaid!

we were into wrapping EVERYTHING in cellophane.  Found these guys on clearance after Christmas and was about to put them away when sister #3 says, hey, those look like they could be candy, so we wrapped in cellophane and guess what...they do look like candy ( and now that's how I'll display them at Christmas instead of hanging them from a tree like I originally planned!!)

The other "sweet" focus.  The beverage table.  Lots of jars and tins full of candy as well as the water and the wine...could NOT resist "Cupcake" wine.  It was a last minute "ding" in my head when I remembered getting it as a "cake themed" gift from my friend Heather (who by the way helped inspire some of our ideas...thanks Heather!)

The centerpiece on the beverage table...that is A LOT of candy by the way.  Jelly beans, Mike and Ike's, skittles, sweet tart chews, sweedish fish, snickers minis, rolos, and I might be missing some...

THE FOOD:

So, we wanted to keep up with the "sweet" theme as well as keeping it all colorful.  Forgot to mention that the colors for the wedding are champagne with bright flower accents...so ALL the bright colors you see here!  Anyway, we made a veggie tray with sweet bell peppers, sweetie grape tomatoes, sugar snap peas, and sweet baby carrots.  I'm pretty sure no one noticed all the sugar and sweet, but that's ok...they were a big hit anyway.  We had fruit skewers because they are bright, fun and yummy.  A salad with sweet baby greens and candied walnuts (and a few other things) with a sweet honey dijon vinegarette.  Then...the main course.  Cupcake food.  Yep, cupcake food.  Sisters #2,3 came up with most of these ideas and cooked everything in regular and mini muffin tins.  And we even displayed it on a cupcake tower :)

(From top to bottom there was...) mini mac and cheese, min buffalo chicken bites, crab cakes with tartar sauce, turkey meatloaf with sweet potatoes, regular meatloaf with mashed potatoes and big mac and cheese bites. 

It was all delish, frankly.  I really enjoyed the buffalo chicken and turkey meatloaf with sweet potatoes...but I'm a sucker for anything with sweet potatoes.  It was all very good and eaten up!

For dessert (and forgive me for the lack of picture taking from this point on...) we had an ice cream "throwdown" or "quickfire" for you food network or Bravo fans.  We worked in teams of 2 and everyone got a bowl of vanilla ice cream.  You had to create a flavor or a sundae or whatever you wanted with anything in the room (we also brought out sundae toppings and clearly there was A LOT of candy) and the bride taste tested them all and declared a winner.  There were some interesting combos but I am proud to report that my daugher (and I) were the winners!!!  A little cake, brownies, sprinkles, crushed up white chocolate covered pretzels and rolos cut up into pieces.  Just the right combo to win over the bride.  Hooray!  And what did the winners get?  Well, our little prizes were candy flavored chapsticks and hand sanitizers with sweet names (warm vanilla sugar, sweet pea, I love Cake etc)  We also had in there a couple toothbrush/toothpaste combos...which was appreciated.  Everything was wrapped up and tied like a piece of candy :)

We also played Candyland.  Yep, the actual game from your childhood.  However, we skewed the rules a bit.  Everyone used our own set of rules...each color had its own rule.  It was cute, but it did take some time to get through.  Winners (we had 4 games) got the same prizes as above.

And last but not least, the favors.  I am KICKING myself for not taking pictures but we did lavendar vanilla homeade sugar scrub with a bright colored washcloth rolled up and wrapped in cellophane to look like candy.  And in their bags were small bags that they could fill with candy before they left and they did.

I think the shower was well received and it was a ton of fun.  I loved decorating with the candy and would do that again for sure!  The bride seemed to really enjoy herself as well as all of the guests. 

Now it is time for me to get back to a normal household where there aren't projects half done in every room of my house.  I also must hide all that leftover candy better...it is not something I need to eat, nor should I admit to eating!!!  Easter...I keep telling myself that I just have to wait til Easter....think I can make it?

Caramel-like Popcorn

I love popcorn.  I LOVE caramel corn.  I am INFATUATED with kettle corn. 

The first is good for you...lots of fiber and goodness as long as it's well, air popped.  You can make it in coconut or canola oil and at least have some healthy fats in there and some of the microwave stuff isn't too terrible, but well...yea, it's terrible...lots of preservatives and salt.  yuck.  You can microwave it yourself though.  Take a brown paper bag (lunch bag) put in a 1/4 cup of kernels, a couple shakes of salt, fold up the top of the bag and microwave it just like you would regular microwave popcorn.  Not as fatty, not as salty and a smidge better than air popped!

The second...well, kind of takes the health out of the corn.  But it sure tastes good, right?  Lots of butter, brown sugar and corn syrup...yippee...all great garbage.  darn it!

The third (my love that I can NOT pass down EVER in the summer!)  Well, it's a cross between the 2.  Some healthy popcorn goodness as you can pop it in healthy oil but then you throw in some sugar.  Well, duh, that's what makes it taste so darn good.  But really, sugar...then you want to eat more and more and more.  again...darn it! 

Well, this past summer I discovered Honey Kettle Corn at our farmer's market.  It was delish!  and instead of sugar he uses honey.  So, healthier...right?  All natural sweetner....

I have not tried making any kind of kettle korn on my own because I'm afraid I will ruin it for myself.  I get it at the fair, I get it at baseball games...it's my special treat to myself and I don't want to ruin that.  I have however tried caramel corn many times and have liked it every time with several recipes.  No corn syrup in mine but yep, butter and brown sugar...so on a quest I went....

The quest took until a few days ago really.  I looked a while back and looked and that's about as far as it went.  So, I wanted some kettle/caramel corn for a little treat on Sunday so I perused some more and then I said to heck with it, I'm going to see what this idea I have in my head does.  And do you know what...the idea turned into a pretty good caramel corn!  I made the same recipe 2 different ways...once in the microwave, once in the oven.  Very different tastes/textures but both yummy.  Kid tested, mother approved :)

Jackie's Caramel-like Popcorn:

-1/2 cup+ popcorn kernels air popped in a large bowl
-3 T butter
-1/4 cup honey
-1/4 cup maple syrup
-1/2 tsp baking soda
-1 tsp vanilla


-Combine the above ingredients (minus the popcorn) in a saucepan over med. heat.  Heat until butter melts and stir regularly.  Keep heating until a boil begins.  Stir and remove from heat.  Add baking soda and vanilla.  Pour mixture over the popped popcorn and stir til coated.

Micro method:  Once popcorn is coated place into a brown paper bag.  Fold over top many times and shake bag.  Place in micro for about 90 sec. on high.  Take out, shake again.  Put back in for another min.  Shake and then pour onto alum. foil to cool.

Baking method:  Preheat oven to 250.  Once popcorn is coated place onto a jelly roll pan and stir around.  Place in oven for about 20-25 min.  Stir every 5-10 min.  The longer it sits, the crunchier it will get.  I left mine in closer to 30 min. and it was just a little too crunchy!  Good, but a tad overdone I think.  Remove and spred on alum. foil to cool.  Store in airtight container.

**After you boil the sauce and add the soda and vanilla the sauce color is a very light brown, blonde almost.  Once you bake it, the color will change to the caramel like color.  More so with the baking than the microwave, but it does change there too.  The microwave will give you a chewier popcorn, the oven will give you more of the crunchy, out of a can type popcorn. 

In my personal opinion, this popcorn was the perfect cross between kettle corn and caramel corn.  It's by no means what I would call a healthy snack but it is a healthier alternative to an otherwise sugar loaded snack, should you have a crazy popcorn craving like I had!  Let me know if you try it, I'd love to know what you think!!

Homeade Larabars

I have an issue to deal with...making easy and healthy snacks!  Well, I've tried many and liked many but how can I resist a new recipe.  Enter the Larabar.  Surely you've heard of Larabar right?  Well, they are super trendy right now because they are all natural energy/snack/protein type bars.  Very healthy, no garbage, basically.  Well, they can get quite pricey as well.  It's painful paying near $2 for a bar.  Now, they do go on sale and they do have coupons, but still...

So, in the blog world lately I have seen MANY recipes for homeade larabars.  Do you think I could resist trying a couple?  NOPE!!

Here's what I tried and really really enjoyed!

PB&J Larabar (recipes adapted from http://www.eatrundoyoga.com/)  makes 2-3 bars.
-1/2 cup pitted dates
-1/2 cup roasted, salted peanuts
-1/4 cup cherry berry dried fruit mix (or any dried cherries, cranberries or blueberries would be yummy!)

Put dates and peanuts into a food processor for about 2-3 minutes (closer to 3 in my opinion) but in the last 20-30 seconds add in the dried fruit. 
Dump mixture onto a piece of waxed paper and form into a bar.  (I pressed with my hands and then folded the wax paper around in a rectangle and pressed more to make the shape)  Cut into squares or rectangles and wrap in plastic wrap.  Store in fridge or freezer.

**Can I just say YUM...like ridiculously YUM...pbj in the healthiest way and no nasty wheat gluten to upset my tummy!  I am having one for my snack tomorrow, I am so excited!

Almond Cookie Larabar
-1/4-1/2 cup dates (I used 1/4 and it wasn't enough...so next time I'm going closer to 1/2)
-1/2 cup roasted almonds
-1/4 tsp vanilla

Place ingredients in a food processor...2-3 min.  Follow directions as above.  Also serves 2-3.

**These were also very good.  Mine didn't stick together as well as the pbj ones, so I'm guessing I just needed more dates in there or to throw in another "sticky" ingredient.  They were very tasty and healthy though.

See...super duper easy peasy.  I think I might start experimenting with these a bit.  My food processor and I have been very friendly lately, hopefully he will continue to treat me right!!

Have you ever made your own Larabar?  If you have...PLEASE SHARE!!

For all of you "I'm always hungry" people...

EAT THIS!!!

This article peaked my interest this morning when I saw it on my email homepage.   The first words I saw were "The best food to beat hunger."  Ok, got my attention, so I clicked.  BANANAS....of course.  I could have told you that.  Well, maybe.  I mean remember this post I wrote about how much I love bananas for breakfast and how I need to eat them daily?  Well, there's a reason for that, they fill me up!  Yes, I have to eat them with something else when I'm starving for breakfast in the morning but I do have them as snacks too at times and they are filling, no doubt about that.  So they have Resistant Starch in them which is a healthy carb that fills you up AND speeds up your metabolism...what more could you want from a carb, right?  Let's not mention all the vitamins and minerals they pack as well.  Slightly underripe ones are the best because riper they are, obviously the sweeter and the more they lost that resistant starch.  I encourage you to check out the recipes on that page as well, there are some fun ones.

I have heard many people say to me (when I suggest bananas...) that they are so high in calories and/or they are so loaded with carbs.  People, people, your body needs some carbs, it just does, especially if you are exercising.  Yes, people survive without them but in all honesty, it's rare cases where you can go long term without carbs and continue to lose weight or not develop some other health problem.  Let's eat the good carbs that nature provides for us, shall we?  Like bananas, like apples, you know fruits!  I myself prefer underripe bananas so this is not such a big deal to me, but if it is to you then eat what you can.  I'm telling you any banana is better than no banana!  Just ask monkeys :)

And if you are wanting a fun family friendly healthy, filling breakfast (or lunch) then you should make one of our family favorites.  (and by family I mean from my childhood passed onto my children...)

Banana Boats:

-1 slice whole wheat bread

-1-2 T natural peanut butter

1/2-1 banana

-dried fruit (optional)

-Spread peanut butter on bread (yes, this is a difficult one...)

-Place peeled banana (or half of banana) on middle of bread and fold up the sides of the bread so they are touching the banana.  There's your boat!

-Add a little swipe of peanut butter on top of the banana and dried fruit if you so desire.  (we usually have raisin and dried cherry "people" in our boat)

-Be sure to serve on a blue plate and maybe throw a few cheerios (rafts) and more "people" on the plate so it looks like there are people swimming in the water around your boat :)  Imagination is key to a quality children's meal!



Peanut Butter Cup Trifle Dessert

There is no way in the world I should be sharing this with you BUT since I do admit I am totally human and do love a little sweetness in my life, I thought it was only fair.  Besides, everyone should taste this dessert and I said TASTE, not devour!  It was a little taste of heaven, where I am convinced calories do not matter!  Make sure you save this dessert for a group of people, we got a good 8 servings out of it (but they were a little on the generous side! should probably serve more like 10- 12 I'm guessing.  Anyway, enough of that, here it is!  You can find the original recipe here but here is my version.  I also do not have a trifle bowl, but my glass bowl is still pretty good.

Peanut Butter Cup Trifle Dessert

9x13 pan of brownies (cut into 1 inch pieces)...I had some frozen leftover ones...perfect use for them!
2 small boxes vanilla instant pudding (I used one regular, one sugar free just because that's what I had!)
3 cups milk
1/2 cup creamy peanut butter (I used natural of course) see...healthy!!
2 tsp vanilla
8 oz container of cool whip, thawed and divided (I used fat free, but that's what I always have) and having a little extra is nice too...I actually used a 1/2 cup or so extra that I had from another container.
10 regular size peanut butter cups, chopped (recipe calls for 20...we had 10 leftover from Halloween, I used 10 and there were PLENTY in there!)
5-10 bite sized pb cups for garnish and/OR
shaved dark chocolate (honestly, I shaved 2 dark chocolate kisses)

-Combine pudding and milk, whisk together for about 2 min.  Add peanut butter and vanilla, whisk (or beat) til smooth.  Gently fold in 2 cups cool whip.
-Layer in trifle dish:  1/2 the brownies, 1/2 chopped pb cups, 1/2 pudding mixture and repeat.  Top with cool whip and shaved chocolate or more pb cups.  Chill until serving.

When I served this I sliced up the small pb cups in half and put a half on top of each individual bowl...just enough to make it pretty!!

Take the time and enjoy it but make sure you got in a workout that morning and get one in the next morning as well :)  (now, I feel a little better about sharing this!)



Thai Shrimp and Noodles

I made the most delicious supper last night (if I do say so myself!)  Don't ask anyone else in the family though...soccer dad was sick so he was not hungry for anything (although he did admit it was good) and the kids ate it and didn't really complain, but no one was as enthusiastic about it as me!  Seriously, we had a little leftover and I could not wait to dive in at lunch today!

image courtesy of allrecipes.com

I adapted this recipe from allrecipes.com but made enough changes that I will share my recipe with you:

Thai Shrimp and Noodles:

1 pound medium shrimp, peeled and deveined

8 oz thin(or angel hair) whole wheat pasta

1/2 cup chicken broth

1-2 T chopped fresh cilantro

2 good T of natural creamy peanut butter

1 T honey

1 1/2 T soy sauce

1 tsp minced ginger

1 tsp minced garlic

1/2 tsp crushed red pepper flakes

1 cup broccoli slaw

1/2 cup chopped sweet onion

1/2 bag frozen broccoli

1/2 cup chopped red pepper

1 T olive oil

1 T sesame oil

-Cook pasta according to directions.  Drain and reserve.

-In a small bowl, whisk broth, cilantro, peanut butter, honey, soy sauce, giner and pepper flakes, set aside.

-In a large skillet over med high heat, add oils and saute garlic and onions.  Add frozen broccoli and red pepper and broccoli slaw after the broccoli has warmed.  Saute til all crisp tender.  (slaw will wilt a bit, if you want it to stay crisp, add after you add the shrimp)

-Add in shrimp to veggie mixture and cook about 3-5 min until just pink.  Add in the peanut butter mixture and toss to coat.  Add spaghetti noodles in and toss together.  Heat through on med low heat. 

-Serve and enjoy...it's a super well balanced meal all in one skillet..my kind of meal!

and...it really does have that Thai flavor that you get at a restaurant without all that sodium and calories!!  You could also substitute diced chicken for the shrimp, just cook it before the veggies since it takes longer.

Oh and one other note...I told soccer dad that it was in his best interest to eat it because it had lots of "healing qualities"  (he didn't really know what was wrong with him, just that he didn't feel good) so I told him between the ginger, garlic, red pepper flakes and honey, it should knock out all the germs :)  guess what...he feels much better today and it had nothing to do with sleep or rest or anything else...it was the meal :)

New Endeavors

I have recently encountered something new in my training life.  Well, it hasn't actually begun yet, but it is scheduled to begin at the end of the month.  I am part of a research team!!  That in itself sounds important, right?  Well, that's how I was welcomed.  I am part, but maybe not such a huge part.  I am going to be a trainer for some of the participants.  Sounds huge, maybe?  Well, I have to  basically help these people follow an already written protocol and make sure it's done correctly and safely, so yea, kind of important.

What is this research study you ask?  Well, it's a study on Alzheimer's disease and if exercise helps slow the effects of the disease.  You can read more about it and the team I am working with  here.  It is a fascinating study in my opinion and something I had really never thought about.  Surely you know someone that has been or is affected by the disease...so this may be interesting to you. 

At any rate, I will follow these participants in a treadmill workout (gradual and building up) over a 12 week period.  We monitor their heart rate and time.  MRI scans are taken before and after the study to determine brain activity and blood flow and to see if the exercise changes that activity.  So far it sounds like it does indeed, but they are continuing to research and find out with many stages of the disease.

I will keep you posted on my adventure.  Like I said, my "subjects" won't be ready to start for a few weeks, but I am very excited to do this.  I feel like it's a new adventure in my training career!  Wish me luck!