Really need to get back to blogging!

I have been so busy in my kitchen and I really need it to make the transition to my blog! So, quickly, here is an overview of what i've been up (other than no good, lol):

Homemade Ketchup
Taco Spice
Tortillas
Turkey Sausage
Corndog muffins
New Bread recipe
Granola Bars
English muffins
Cinnamon Rolls
Facial Scrub
Deodorant

So, hope to see you back soon!

Yummiest Whole Wheat Bread

I really need to get into the habit of blogging! While I'm working on that, lol, try this wonderful, moist, soft whole wheat bread for your bread machine. I've been trying new recipes each time i make a loaf and have found some good ones with nice flavor, but all have been fairly dense- not at all like the loaves you buy in the store. Well, this is a great one, I'll still try new recipes (love making bread in my $2 machine!) but this is the closest to the conventional store-bought bread that I've found....with no nasty chemicals! Plus a few changes to make this my own recipe:



Ingredients:

1 1/3C Water

1/4C Oil

1/4C Honey

1/4C Nonfat Dry Milk

1 1/4tsp Salt

3 1/4C Organic Whole Wheat Flour

1/4C Flax seed Meal

1Tbsp Vital Wheat Gluten

2tsp Dry Instant Yeast


Use the wheat setting on your machine and set crust to light, enjoy! Please leave me a comment if you try it!

Re-using = YARD SALE-ING!!

I have to say, I love me a good yard sale....or 20. Finding that gem amidst the junk (at least to me, lol, its probably someone else's gem) for pennies on the dollar just gives me a thrill. And its also an earth-friendly way to shop!

I spent 2 mornings this weekend in search of the ever-elusive diamond-in-the-rough and actually found not 1, not 2 but 3!!!! treasures. The first was a great condition bread-maker, with all the parts for just $2! The second, at the same sale no less, was an apple peeler/corer/slicer by Pampered Chef that was also $2 (I've actually been actively looking for one of these in traditional stores and haven't been able to find one), I like to make applesauce but hate peeling apples all day. My third find was an 8-drawer dresser (long kind, not tall) for.....drumroll please.......$3!!! Now, understandably it needs a lot of work, but luckily I have a wonderful husband that likes doing these kind of projects (he even loves yard sale-ing as much as I do!) and we've made some money on these projects in the past and keep our eyes out for them. My last big discovery was another dresser that was thick, solid wood, all handmade, just needed some sanding. Hubby did the work, we bought it for $15, sold it at our own yard sale for $55. Not too shabby.

I tried out the breadmaker and made some whole wheat today, a little bland to me, I'll have to find another recipe, but it was so easy to use and now I can make, fresh, wholesome bread for the family. I also used the apple thingy, and its really cool, turned the apples into skinless slinkies and I made an absolutely yummy apple crisp (all-natural ingredients, but still a big treat) that my husband demolished- I think there are a few bites left for me-in fact I think I hear them calling my name, so I'll end this post...until next time!

Yummy Kid-Friendly French Toast

So here's my first recipe post.

French Toast has long been my favorite breakfast food and i've toyed with a lot of recipes over the years. This is my fave:

Ingredients:

Your favorite clean WW bread

4 egg whites

1 whole egg

1cup Organic low-fat Milk

1-2tsp Vanilla Extract

1Tbsp Cinnamon

Dash Nutmeg

Ground Flaxseed

Put all ingredients except bread and flax into a bowl and mix well. Dip bread (flip and make sure its well soaked) and place on very hot griddle. Sprinkle on flax. Cook about 5mins each side. Cover with fruit, honey, nuts, maple syrup.....options are endless!

One note: Don't put the flax into the egg mixture, I tried this a few times and the flax just sinks to the bottom of the bowl and doesn't really soak into the bread- just makes a gooey mess.

T-ball Snacks?

Why oh why?

I just don't understand why parents who are bringing snacks for the team think things like twinkies, doritoes, root beer and kool-aid are approprate snacks for a post-game refreshment for a bunch of 5-ish yr olds. Seriously?

So now i'll be known as the mom who brings the "yucky", healthy snacks because I refuse to be peer-pressured into bringing sugar-laden treats. Granted, I am trying to come up with something tasty that they'll at least be willing to put in their mouths for a taste, and not snubbed at first glance.

I'm still silently seething over this as i I have to be "mean mommy" to my son and tell him he can't have these things. Now I know an occasional treat of this nature won't necessarily hurt him, but he has 2 games every week, and that is too much for me, especially when I can make him healthy treats without the additives and HFCS at home. Maybe I'm overreacting, I know I can't expect every family to eat like we do, but I should be able to expect a decent snack...right?

Fast Food= Heroin????

This is really something to think about;
http://www.thatsfit.com/2010/03/30/fast-food-is-like-heroin-studies-find/



hmmmmmm,

'nuff said.

30-day Shred

So I've done about 2 weeks of clean eating and now its time to add exercise into the mix. I decided to start with Jillian Michaels 30- Day Shred. Wow, this is a great workout! In just 20 minutes I managed to make sore every single muscle in my body- i think, at least it feels that way. I've done 3 days so far- took yesterday off was not feeling well and also very sore.

JM has created a workout comprised of 3 rotations of 3 minutes strength, 2 minutes cardio and one minuted of abs. There are also 3 levels to work your way through. I'm on level 1 and honestly I'm scared of the next 2 if this is what level 1 is like! LOL!

What I like about this DVD (and about Jillian in general, on Biggest Loser) is that it really seems like she is YOUR personal trainer. She pushes, encourages and seems to know just when you want to quit, and then she pushes a little more to keep you motivated to get through it.

You might be thinking, what can 20 minutes of exercise possibly do for me and how is it gonna kick my butt into shape? I challenge YOU to give it a try!