Friday, March 19, 2010
Eeeeeewwwww!
Saturday, January 23, 2010
A Recipe and A Review
In other randomness, I decide to forgo both Freaky Food Friday and Sammie Saturday this week, and mix it up a bit instead with a recipe and a restaurant review, hence the title!
So, ALL WEEK, I have been craving one thing: a brownie and a Diet Coke. Odd, I know, and it sounds like such a "dieters" snack, but that certain combo makes me quite nostalgic for my mama in a round about fashion. Explanation: growing up, we would always have an afternoon snack on the weekends, usually consisting of yep, a piece of chocolate something or other and a delicious diet beverage. Usually this would occur after my mom woke up from her nap, which happened after reading the weekend comics, which happened after a scrumptious pancake brekkie made by my dad, which happened after my weekly father-daughter bonding grocery shopping trip with him. So you see, quite the string of happy flashback memories for ya there!
A lady at work actually brought in brownies which is what kick started my chocoholism, but I DID taste one and they were kind of yucky. They just tasted like margarine. Icky. Of course, I know it is perfectly fine to indulge in a real brownie every now and again, but I knew I could make a healthified sub in the meantime.
I have been totally eyeing everyone's microwave creations lately--see Tina's cookie and April's protein cakes--but I created my own combo by modification a recipe I found on the Eggland's Best site. Introducing the Brownie Batter Puffcake!
Top with sprinkles (obviously) if you want to be extra fancy, and a dollop of vanilla yogurt and serve alongside Diet Coke for a trip down memory lane.
OR, throw into a bowl of cottage cheese and top with Sunbutter for a super delicious start to your Saturday morning.
Decadent. I may mess around with this and try adding wheat bran instead of flour to up the fiber content and make it a little more filling. You surely could sub in protein powder, but since most brands have soy in them, that is not a good option for me. However, this still has pretty good stats, clocking in at right around 100 calories, 3 g of fiber and 10 g of protein.
Even after that delicious start, my day got better! It is my bro-in-law's birthday on Tuesday, so we drove down to Provo, which is about half an hour away from us to celebrate early. I LOVE birthdays! I don't care who's they are, I just think they're great! But, they are even better when they belong to people I love :) Speaking, HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO SUSAN TODAY!!!
Anyway, Ollie is a vegetarian, and I knew the perfect place to please everyone's discerning palettes. Guru's used to have a location in SLC before I lived and I would visit all the time with my sis. Now they are just in Provo, but it is sure worth the drive! Guru's has a great philosophy about first nourishing our bodies so we and then nourish our lives, and nourish we did! After pouring over an extensive menu packed with great, healthy options, with everything from noodle and rice bowls to wraps, pasta, even breakfast, I finally chose a blackened salmon salad with raspberry vinegar.
Not even an oily vinaigrette--they actually had gourmet vinegar! It's like they knew I was coming! My salad was a lot of lettuce, but also had feta cheese, tomatoes, onions, snap peas, and the salmon was out of this world!
Ollie had a veggie and tofu cilantro lime wrap that came with tortilla chips and salsa.
And Dustin had a good-sized burrito, stuffed with juicy pork, rice and black beans then smothered in cheese and pico di gallo.
Another thing I'm giving a thumbs up--Ollie's super sweet new look courtesy of some of our hilarious birthday presents to him. Rockin it!
Hope everyone's having a great weekend and is eating as much yummy food as I am! check out Guru's menu and tell me what YOU would try next. It's all killer! xoxo
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
A little bizznasss
A little bizznasss...a lot of you really liked my dress, and a few wanted to know where I got it. I don't think it's for sale anymore, but I scored it at a great store called Shade. They make all sorts of very cute and modest items, plus it is very reasonably priced, so I would definitely encourage you to check it out!
Second, as a joke, I asked my boss if I could borrow his Power 90 X dvds since he wasn't using them (I don't even know why he bought them, he is so funny), and he actually brought them for me.!All like 62 dvds and the meal plan and exercise guide and everything. I believe that I am too much of a creature of habit to launch full on into the program, but I do think it looks pretty interesting. Have any of you done the P90X moves before? Tell me about the plan and how it worked for you!
Last, but probably most important, today is my #3 wedding anniversary to the most amazing, supportive, hilarious, handsome and studly husband EVER!!!! Congratulations to us. I have uploaded some wedding pics, and I'll be posting those on Friday for a special round of flashback, so please check it out! Love you baby . You're the bomb, bomb-a-bomb. Dot com(b).
Ok, now finally, I have another super fabulous post to share with you, thanks to the lovely Ellie, holding it down in the UK!!
Just when I had all but given up hope of a Bloggie Secret Santa package coming my way, I found this on my doorstep a few days before Christmas:
Dustin had actually called me at work and told me to hurry home because I had some strange "packet" waiting for me and he didn't want it to explode on him.
I could not have been more stoked that Ellie was my Secret Santa! She did such an awesome job picking out fun stuff for me to try. I was literally squealing with delight with each package I opened.
I was majorly excited to try everything, but I knew my family would get a big kick out of the goodies, so I packed everything up and took it home with me to Wyoming (you will be seeing more of that stuffing!).
We celebrated our Christmas like true Brits with the crackers, cookies and crowns.
And then, that night, we tried the Christmas pudding. We couldn't get it to light on fire, but it was fabulous all the same! Thank you so much Ellie! Everyone in my family loved your goodies and thought it was so cool that you sent them to me--I do too!
Inspired by Miss Ellie, my dad decided to make his own version of Christmas pudding the next day. He has actually made this a few times before, but I think the little bite he shared with us really put him in the mood for a bigger taste :)
This pudding is actually made with suet a.k.a. solid animal fat (gross, I know, but it really serves the same purpose as shortening, and is probably the most pure source of oil you can find!). He got everything all mixed together before I could take a picture, but you're all probably ok with that :)
Mmm. A little cake made with a lot of fat. That's just how we do in the cowboy state I guess. Or rather, how my dad does in his cowboy boots :)
Anyway, I'll leave you for today with this last pic:
A little bit of sunshine courtesy of my baby--hope they send some happiness your way too! xoxo
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
I need Depends
Anyway my sister and two of my sister in laws came over to help me with my holiday cookie creations on Sunday afternoon. I am so mad at myself for not taking pictures of us in action! It was so much fun, and I wish I could have documented us going to town in our "Santa's workshop," but I guess we were just too busy getting down with our bad sugar cookie selves. At least I remembered to take pictures of the final product!
Ever since I received the December issue, I have been peeing my pants over these sugar cookies from Real Simple Magazine. Easy pee-sy (ha ha), and look how pretty they turned out!
I have also been experiencing an embarrassing display of incontinence over Abby's delightful recipe, so of course I had to hug it out with tray after tray of these babies:
Just a word to the wise--1 bag of Hugs is not enough and a medium sized bag of pretzels is deceivingly large.
Also, since I had quite the plethora of pretzels, I tried another variation on the theme--Turtle Doves (get it? Turtle Doves for Christmas? Oh never mind). Perhaps you have seen these before, but I have not and I thought they were pretty rad.
Changes--sub Rolos for Hugs
I actually thought the Rolos melted a little more easily in the oven without getting too runny. And now my mind has been in constant creation mode, thinking of more variations on the theme. Maybe (probably) I will make some more.
And last, but not least, I made what I had actually set out to make all along! My cinnamon apple trail mix, crafted from only the finest apples courtesy of my hugeormous apple tree. When we "suffered" through our apple madness this fall, we ended up dehydrating a BUNCH of apple slices, and it was probably the most efficient use ever. We managed to condense about 10 stuffed grocery sacks of apples into 1 large gallon bag (also stuffed).
I love trail mix, and it's a good thing this is all going to our neighbors (and my mom. Don't panic Mom, I saved some for you!), or I would be in big trouble!
In the mix: cinnamon dried apples, dried cranberries, white and dark chocolate chips, almonds and sunflower seeds.
My sister made fruitcake, too. but alas, no pics. It smelled amazing and came out almost more like a spice cake with dried fruit than a traditional (much maligned) fruitcake. She made it gluten free (for her bf) and used dates, dried apricots, cranberries and mucho nuts. I *think* she is saving some for when we're all home at Christmas, though, so maybe I'll get the chance to put it up later.
Have you ever tried fruitcake? I have once and I don't remember feeling one way or the other about it, really.
Happy humpday to everyone--is your week/month just FLYING by?? Good grief. It will be Christmas and the New Year before we know it! Gotta start thinking of some resolutions...but for now I resolve to stop talking, tell you I love you, and peace out! xoxo
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Boring...and a Surprise?
In other news, wait--there is no other news. Sorry guys. I am boring. My food is boring, my pics are boring, my thoughts are boring. Boring Boring Boring. Anyway, since I can't think of anything new, I thought I'd introduce you to some old favorites...
Besides the stuff that I talk about all the time and you all know I love, like cottage cheese and green tea, here are some more yummy products I can't live without:
P.S. You;ll just have to excuse my gross old lady hands in every.single. pic. Obviously I am too boring to even crop these or jazz em up a little. Lame.
Goes in everything, on everything. All the time. Yogurt, cottage cheese, applesauce, oatmeal, tea, salad dressing, sliced fruit--the works. Everything is better with cinnamon, and all cinnamon in recipes must be multiplied by at least 2 to get it right. And guess what? This shiz is only a dollar. A dollar! Best investment EVER.
So there you have it--some of the best foods ever that I eat on a pretty regular rotation, hence the boring-ness.
Anyhoodles, just because I am boring, doesn't mean you have to be! As usual, I am turning to you guys for some inspiration, but even better, in an effort to be NOT-boring, I am hosting a GIVEAWAY!!!! Yay!
Everyone needs a little extra holiday cheer and a little more love (and presents!), so here is something to get December started off right! Winner receives all my fave products featured above, plus some super yummy homemade treats and maybe a couple surprises (so as not to be TOO boring).
So easy to enter (same old boring way)--just leave a comment down below with some of your old favorites and "boring" standbys, and link back for an extra entry if you're feeling generous. Or maybe if you're just feeling boring, too and need something to post about ;) xoxo and love you lots!
P.S. Giveaway ends Friday at midnight, so try not to be extra boring and enter before then :)
Saturday, October 31, 2009
Sammie Saturday: Sweet, Spicy and Scary
In my scary sammie:
Fluffy whole wheat bread, chunky peanut butter, sweet and spicy ginger preserves and, the star of the circus: flattened banana.
Not to be deterred, I tried another little concoction with the same sweet, spicy and savory combination in mind:
Sandwich thin with PB2 and chili mango!
This was actually the better of the two, and I would totally try this again using regular pb instead of the fake stuff. I liked this creation because neither flavor really overpowered the other, and they melded quite nicely. I imagine this is what my coveted spicy peanut butter tastes like, but for now I can only guess :)
It has occurred to me that I eat a lot of sandwiches because I always have multiple items to post on Saturday. It's kind of nice to have a lot of material to choose from!
Today, though, I also wanted to share a different type of creation with you. My sister reads my blog and is a big proponent of food adventures and experimentation with me. She tries raw food with me, brings me stuff for FFF and generally encourages me not to be a stick in the mud with Ed. She is the bomb.
She was also quite intrigued by my pumpkin CCC I posted a few weeks ago, thanks in part to Miss April, who originated the breakfast pie idea. Well, Sis gave it a try, and I think it's safe to say she loves it just as much as I do, because she put her own spin on it and made a desert trifle as a variation! She even took it to a couple pot lucks this past week, so watch out world--the CCC is catching on!
I promised her I'd share the recipe--there's even a family secret in there :) Here's her email to me after her experimentations:
Emily,
Just in case you wanted an "official" recipe for those parfaits.
1 24 oz (I think) container of cottage cheese
1 15 oz can of pumpkin
3/4 cup brown sugar
cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves to taste ('cause I like cloves)
Blend together (I did the CC first, then added everything else and it turned out much better than when I threw everything in together on Sunday).
I layered that with Grandma Brown's Cream Puff Fudge Sauce:
1/4 cup butter
1 1/2 squares of bakers chocolate plus 1/4 cup cocoa
3/4 cup sugar
1/2 cup of cream
1 teaspoon of vanilla
Melt butter and chocolate Mix sugar, cocoa, add to mixture. Stir until smooth. Add cream slowly, stir, bring to boil slowly, and then add vanilla. Remove from stove and let cool. (I made a double batch, and had some left over. Its a hardship.)
Layer pumpkin concoction and fudge sauce in pretty glass, garnish with cute graham crackers and serve. I got 8 servings out of this, but they were pretty generous (like, I was the only person to finish mine ) if you can find smaller cups you could probably 12 servings. That's all! Have a good night.
Love you,
S
Isn't she sweet? And you guys all better feel cool and loved, because our Grandma Brown's Cream Puffs are the stuff of legend in my family, and the sauce is definitely the best part! (P.S. I do think you ARE cool and I DO love you).
She sent me a pic to go along with her creation--even though it's just from her camera phone and a little blurry, I can still see the deliciousness!

Anyway, glad she tried it out and dubbed it good enough for company!
You guys cracked me up yesterday with what you'd be if you were what you ate. Yog messes, gooey globs and perfect peanuts...I think we would all be yummy, that's for sure!
Part of this post published earlier today due to a silly error, so sorry about that! I hope you all have a wonderful and fun Halloween! Are you going to have little trick or treaters? If so, what are you giving out?
I'm so excited to see all the little ghosts and goblins (and princesses and superheros) this year in our new house! I decided to give out cans of kid-friendly pop like rootbeer, orange soda and Sprite. I always thought that stuff was so cool when I was little. Hopefully it's still cool and I'm not dreadfully out of touch! I mean, they already get enough candy--they need something equally cavity-causing to wash it down, right? Plus, that way, I don't have any leftover bags of candy staring me down all week. It's a win/win. xoxo
Friday, October 9, 2009
Freaky Food Friday Round Seven aka He Loves Me
We're having a housewarming party this weekend, and I'm uber-excited. I've never actually had a party before, so it will be interesting to see if anyone shows up. I'm kind of nervous about it! I wish all of my bloggie friends could come, cuz that would be one high-larious (and delicious) get together for sure! I know one gal who's stopping by, and anyone else who's local is totally invited, too.
Anyhoo, even with all the fun recipes and products I've been testing lately, I was really having trouble thinking of something to fill my Freaky Food Friday post this week. Luckily I had a very special helper. You guys probably know how much I adore my husband since I hardly ever call him by his real name--usually it's sweet face or cutie pie or something along those lines. He is amazing. But you may not know how much he loves me. Here's how much:
- My baby loves me so much that he will bring home two different types of ice cream from the store just to make sure he got the right kind.
- He loves me so much that he will make me tea or a special EmergenC concoction when I call him to tell him I'm on my way home after a long day.
- He will give me a back/shoulder/neck/foot rub any time I ask him or give him a pouty lip face.
- He will always eat what I make him even if it's weird or new or doesn't have any meat in it.
- He listens to me cry, mope and bitch about my work, my food and my body and never once has told me just to suck it up.
- He offers me never-ending support in everything I do, whether it's cooking a new dish, running a 10k, taking a yoga class, starting my blog or working through the most tedious parts of recovery.
- He will wander around Target with me for an hour while I try to decide which eye shadow I want.
- And when I mention that I have NOTHING for my Freaky Food Friday, he will go to our local whackadoodle Pirate ship, I mean shop, on his lunch break and find me the weirdest damn food he can think of.
Luckily, he also got me some of this Love Potion number 69
with very creative/dirty/borderline inappropriate messages on the bottle (yeah, that's definitely what she said!).
P.S. My husband also loves me so much that when I come home with RED hair after 5 hours at the salon for pete's sake, the first thing he does is give me a BIG kiss! Guess we won't be needing that love potion after all...

