tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21220233108626659552024-03-13T20:52:43.745-07:00a spoonful of honeya blog about eating and cooking real food with a little bit of yoga and running on the sideashleyjoyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07240145694687946787noreply@blogger.comBlogger16125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2122023310862665955.post-41908272015342684642012-02-01T18:38:00.000-08:002012-02-01T18:38:57.919-08:00Hummus!!! And a new Twitter account<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>Hummus!!</i></span><br />
<br />
I have fallen in love with this stuff! It's amazing.....healthy.....tasty......very versatile....<br />
<br />
There are <i>lots</i> of different recipes and ways to make hummus.....the most popular is chickpeas (garbanzo beans), tahini, garlic, lemon juice, and olive oil. I don't like tahini......it just has kinda a weird taste to me....there are some purists out there who <b>refuse</b> to even believe that you can make hummus without it....I beg to differ. (tahini is a paste made out of sesame seeds)<br />
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You can also add in paprika, roasted pepper, and/or salt.....then everything is just ground up to a smooth paste like consistency.<br />
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<b>Health Benefits</b><br />
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>Chickpeas (garbanzo beans) are very good for you because they are rich in protein and contain no cholesterol or saturated fats. <b> </b>Chickpeas are also known to be effective in preventing build up of cholesterol in the blood vessels.</li>
<li>Olive oil is known for being high in healthy fat - it is high in monounsaturated fat content but low in saturated fat. This oil can
thus help regulate cholesterol and protect the heart from various
diseases.</li>
<li>Garlic and lemon juice, meanwhile, are filled with antioxidants. They also work to improve your immune system and fight off bacteria and viruses.</li>
<li>Altogether, hummus contains iron, vitamin B6, manganese, copper, folic acid, and amino acids. It also contains omega 3 fatty acids, which helps to improve intelligence and maintaining a healthy heart. </li>
</ul>
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<b> Ways to use Hummus</b><br />
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>use as a dip for veggies such as peppers, carrots, and celery</li>
<li>to replace mayo on sandwiches or pitas</li>
<li>as a dip for pita chips/bread</li>
<li>add to plain whole wheat noodles with some parmesan cheese ( I do this for my kids since they are picky eaters and they won't eat meat sometimes - adds lots of protein to their meals and they LOVE it!)</li>
<li>add to sauteed onion and peppers with extra veggies such as corn or cauliflower and some chicken (this is SO good!)</li>
<li>add to wonton wrappers and bake it then dip it in your fav chutney sauce</li>
<li>use as a base "sauce" for pizza then add onion, peppers, chicken, mozzarella cheese and basil (had this for lunch today...also added some salsa just because for some reason it sounded good lol....and it was!)</li>
<li>to replace cream cheese in some layered dips or on a tortilla (whole wheat tortilla with hummus, peppers and spinich)</li>
<li>can be used to replace the yolks and mayo combo in deviled eggs</li>
<li>can be used to thicken soups </li>
<li>cherry tomatoes can be filled with hummus - cut off the tops of cherry tomatoes,
scoop out the seeds, and use a piping bag to fill each tomato with
hummus.</li>
<li>and one person recommended using hummus as an <a class="spell_orig" href="https://www.google.com/search?hl=en&client=firefox-a&hs=iJn&pwst=1&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&channel=np&sa=X&ei=-vEpT77-JJToiAKovrTdCg&ved=0CCwQvgUoAA&q=exfolient&nfpr=1&biw=1320&bih=682"></a>exfolient for your face.....not sure about this one......if you do it let me know how it turns out! lol I would rather be eating it ........ </li>
</ul>
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<b><u><span style="font-size: large;">Hummus </span></u></b><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Ingredients:</b></span><br />
<div class="ingredients" style="margin-top: 10px;">
<ul>
<li class="plaincharacterwrap ingredient">
1 (15 ounce) can chickpeas/garbanzo beans, drained, liquid reserved</li>
<li class="plaincharacterwrap ingredient">
1 clove garlic, crushed .....or 2.....I like garlic</li>
<li class="plaincharacterwrap ingredient">
2 teaspoons ground cumin</li>
<li class="plaincharacterwrap ingredient">
1/2 teaspoon salt</li>
<li class="plaincharacterwrap ingredient">
1 tablespoon olive oil</li>
<li class="plaincharacterwrap ingredient">2 teaspoons paprika </li>
</ul>
</div>
<div class="directions" style="margin-top: 10px;">
<h3>
<span style="font-size: small;">Directions:</span></h3>
<ol>
<li><span class="plaincharacterwrap break">
In a blender or food processor combine garbanzo
beans, garlic, cumin, paprika, salt and olive oil. Blend on low speed, gradually
adding reserved bean liquid, until desired consistency is achieved. </span></li>
</ol>
<span class="plaincharacterwrap break">I usually double the recipe and freeze half......we go through it fast though so it doesn't stay in the freezer long.....but it will keep in the freezer for about 2-3 months.</span></div>
<div class="directions" style="margin-top: 10px;">
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<div class="directions" style="margin-top: 10px;">
<span class="plaincharacterwrap break">I also signed up for Twitter! <i>Finally</i> (as my husband would say.....lol)</span></div>
<div class="directions" style="margin-top: 10px;">
<span class="plaincharacterwrap break">Check it out and tell me what you think! My Twitter handle is <a href="https://twitter.com/#%21/eatcake_bakery" target="_blank">@eatcake_bakery</a></span></div>
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<span class="plaincharacterwrap break">I don't have many tweets yet because I spent most of my time designing the background.....so really let me know what you think of it lol! I have a whole 5 followers so far! <i>Woohoo!</i> lol</span></div>
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</div>ashleyjoyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07240145694687946787noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2122023310862665955.post-81373680232901042732012-01-22T16:50:00.000-08:002012-01-22T16:50:11.493-08:00My first "Cake Bible" recipe and Pizza :)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I LOVE my Cake Bible! It has SO much information in it! I have never been very good at baking cakes from scratch.....I usually use a cake mix base and add too it with Cake Dr. recipes.......don't judge me.......<br />
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However, this first recipe, White Velvet Butter Cake, turned out really well! It was very light, almost like an angel food cake, and just melted in your mouth......SO GOOD! :))<br />
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I made some homemade Vanilla Whipped Cream and added fresh strawberries to top the cake off. It set the cake of perfectly......I think a stronger flavor would have been too much.<br />
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Hopefully, I will be making another recipe from my Cake Bible tomorrow :) I plan on baking my way through it this year - the whole book! I can't wait :)<br />
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On another note I made some homemade pizza.....I needed a recipe to give you since I can't just give you recipes from The Cake Bible :)<br />
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Sorry the pictures aren't very good :\ It was after dark and I don't have good lighting for pictures.<br />
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Anyways, it is homemade BBQ Chicken Pizza with whole wheat crust........my favorite pizza :) I don't have the calories figured out exactly....I've been working on it lol.....but it is about 250 calories for 2 slices.....not too bad for pizza :)<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><u>BBQ Chicken Pizza</u></b></span><br />
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<br />
<b>Crust Ingredients:</b><br />
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li class="plaincharacterwrap ingredient">
1 teaspoon white sugar</li>
<li class="plaincharacterwrap ingredient">
1 1/2 cups warm water (110 degrees F/45 degrees C)</li>
<li class="plaincharacterwrap ingredient">
1 tablespoon active dry yeast</li>
<li class="plaincharacterwrap ingredient">
1 tablespoon olive oil</li>
<li class="plaincharacterwrap ingredient">
1 teaspoon salt</li>
<li class="plaincharacterwrap ingredient">3 1/2 cups whole wheat flour</li>
</ul>
<b>Crust Instructions:</b><br />
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li><span class="plaincharacterwrap break">
In a large bowl, dissolve sugar in warm water.
Sprinkle yeast over the top, and let stand for about 10 minutes, until
foamy.
</span></li>
<li><span class="plaincharacterwrap break">
Stir the olive oil and salt into the yeast mixture,
then mix in 3cups of the whole wheat flour
until dough starts to come together. Tip dough out onto a surface
floured with the remaining 1/2 cup of flour, and knead until all of the
flour has been absorbed, and the ball of dough becomes smooth, about 10
minutes. Place dough in an oiled bowl, and turn to coat the surface.
Cover loosely with a towel, and let stand in a warm place until doubled
in size, about 1 hour.
</span></li>
<li><span class="plaincharacterwrap break">
When the dough is doubled, tip the dough out onto a
lightly floured surface, and divide into 2 pieces for 2 thin crust, or
leave whole to make one thick crust. Form into a tight ball. Let rise
for about 45 minutes, until doubled.However, I actually had enough to make 4 medium-ish pizzas - I made 2 up and froze the rest of the dough for later.</span></li>
<li><span class="plaincharacterwrap break"> Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C).
Roll a ball of dough with a rolling pin until it will not stretch any
further. Then, drape it over both of your fists, and gently pull the
edges outward, while rotating the crust. When the circle has reached the
desired size, place on a well oiled pizza pan.</span></li>
<li><span class="plaincharacterwrap break">I like to pre-bake the crust at 500 degrees F for about 5 minutes before putting toppings on. </span></li>
</ul>
<b><span class="plaincharacterwrap break">For the toppings:</span></b><br />
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li><span class="plaincharacterwrap break">1 large-ish chicken breast - shredded</span></li>
<li><span class="plaincharacterwrap break">about 2 cups of BBQ sauce (click HERE for my recipe)</span></li>
<li><span class="plaincharacterwrap break">1/2 red onion - sliced however you like for pizza - I personally like them in strips</span></li>
<li><span class="plaincharacterwrap break"> 2 tomatoes - sliced</span></li>
<li><span class="plaincharacterwrap break"> mozzerella cheese - one bag of shredded cheese - a couple of handfuls should cover pizza</span></li>
<li><span class="plaincharacterwrap break"> parmesan cheese - grated fresh </span></li>
</ul>
<b><span class="plaincharacterwrap break"> </span><span class="plaincharacterwrap break">To put together:</span></b><ul style="text-align: left;">
<li><span class="plaincharacterwrap break">after pre-baking the crust - spread a layer of BBQ sauce on the crust</span></li>
<li><span class="plaincharacterwrap break">then spread the chicken over the sauce</span></li>
<li><span class="plaincharacterwrap break">onion and tomato go on next</span></li>
<li><span class="plaincharacterwrap break">then mozzerella cheese on top and grated parmesan cheese after that</span></li>
<li><span class="plaincharacterwrap break">Bake at 425 degrees F for 16-20 minutes or until bubbly and turning brown on top<br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Enjoy!!!</b></span><br /></span></li>
</ul>
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</div>ashleyjoyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07240145694687946787noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2122023310862665955.post-86344474977279270482012-01-08T09:47:00.000-08:002012-01-08T09:47:41.139-08:00Green Monster Smoothie!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I'm <span style="font-size: large;">so excited</span> for this post! I have been wanting to try this smoothie since I first saw it like <i>at least</i> a year ago! I wasn't too sure of it at first.....I mean it's green! A pretty green, yes......however, still green!<br />
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My hubby got me a Oyster Smoothie Blend and Go Cup for Christmas :) <b>I LOVE it!!!!</b> It's SO convenient - all you do is blend it right in the cup and switch lids - barely any cleanup! Just my type of kitchen gadget! lol <br />
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I've been making the usual smoothies which are good - like strawberry/blueberry with oatmeal - however, I wanted something a little bit more. <br />
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Doesn't that look beautiful?!<br />
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This is chock full of vitamins like A, C, K, iron, fiber, folate, and lutein..........Leutin is an antioxidant that promotes good eye health, and may help
prevent cancer of the liver, ovaries, colon and prostate, and even
dementia.<br />
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There are loads of people who claim that green smoothies help....<br />
<br />
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li> smooth and clear skin exponentially</li>
<li>decrease acne</li>
<li>increase energy levels</li>
<li>speed up hair and nail growth</li>
<li>encourage shinier, healthier hair</li>
<li>improve overall feelings of health</li>
</ul>
So what's to lose?! Plus as my hubby and I discovered....they are <b>DELICIOUS!!!!</b> They don't even taste healthy!<br />
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Here are the basic ingredients:<strong> </strong><br />
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li><strong>Full-Fat, Organic Yogurt (3 Tbsp):</strong> For the creaminess, and the protein</li>
<li><strong>Spinach or Kale (1-2 handfuls): </strong>It just wouldn’t be
a raw, fresh, green smoothie without one of these two ingredients </li>
<li><strong>Banana (1 whole, peeled, frozen banana):</strong> To add body, potassium, and creaminess to the smoothie </li>
</ul>
Other Things You Can Use in a Green Smoothie:<br />
<ul>
<li>Fruits of any shape, taste or size (I used frozen strawberries - if you use a colored berry such as blueberries your smoothie will turn brown!)</li>
<li>Oatmeal (I LOVE adding oatmeal to smoothies! They really help to fill you up!)</li>
<li>Peanut butter</li>
<li>Honey, agave, stevia, or other sweeteners</li>
<li>Wheatgrass, Kale, or any other type of healthy green powdered veggie/grass</li>
<li>Ground flax seeds, hemp hearts, maca powder, chia seeds</li>
<li>Milk (cow, almond, coconut, rice, almond, etc.)</li>
<li>Veggies of any shape, taste, or size</li>
<li>Flavorings like vanilla extract, orange extract, molasses (VERY healthy), and more</li>
<li>Cocoa powder</li>
<li>Coffee or tea</li>
<li>The kitchen sink</li>
</ul>
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From what I've found there really are no set rules for a green smoothie other than the green part :) Though, I have read that you <i>do not</i> want to leave out the banana - apparently the banana is what "cancels" out the "green taste". <br />
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Here is the smoothie that I made today<br />
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>3 Tbsp Organic Vanilla Yogurt</li>
<li>about 1/2 cup milk</li>
<li>one full banana - sliced</li>
<li>about 1/2 cup frozen strawberries</li>
<li>2 handfuls of spinach</li>
<li>about 1 Tbsp honey</li>
</ul>
<i>(I put "about" with a few of them because I really don't measure the ingredients, I just put in what looks right and after I blend it sometimes it will be too thick so I will add in more milk or too thin so I will add another frozen strawberry or some protein powder) </i><br />
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Blend all together in a blender and enjoy!!! <br />
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Here is my daughter enjoying her green monster! Wouldn't she be surprised to learn that there is spinach in it!<br />
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</div>ashleyjoyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07240145694687946787noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2122023310862665955.post-52012636493704377432011-12-07T17:09:00.000-08:002011-12-07T18:07:19.385-08:00Monster Cookies and Ornaments!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Sorry for posting rather sporadically!<br />
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I <b>seriously</b> mean to post at least once a week but then it never seems to happen - really I will get better....I <i>promise</i>.......hopefully.......lol.<br />
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Today was a <b>great</b> day! I had the day off, the kids and I made my favorite cookies of all time, and we made some homemade salt dough ornaments! Plus I got half of the house cleaned.......I chose season 4 of Cake Boss (that is now on Netflix <span style="font-size: large;">YAY</span>!) over cleaning the rest of the house. Oh, well :)<br />
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We had so much fun! The salt dough ornaments were SO easy to make! Here's the recipe in case you have never made them before.....<br />
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1 cup all purpose flour<br />
1 cup salt<br />
1/2 cup water<br />
<br />
* Mix all together and knead to form a dough<br />
* Roll out the dough to desired thickness and use cookie cutters to cut shapes out<br />
* Or if desired shape dough into desired shapes<br />
* Place tin foil down on a baking sheet so your creations do not stick to the pan <br />
* Bake at 250 degrees for 2 hours <br />
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All baked and ready to be decorated this weekend - gotta load up on paint and glitter! This recipe yielded about 2 dozen ornaments for us.<br />
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Now onto my <span style="font-size: large;">favorite </span>part of the day!<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Cookies!!! </span></b><br />
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Not just <span style="font-size: large;">any</span> cookies either, these are my favorite cookies in the whole wide world :) They have everything good in them....oatmeal, peanut butter (or in our case soybutter) M&Ms (my favorite candy) and chocolate chips, all melted and baked together into a giant cookie <span style="font-size: large;"><b>:)</b></span><br />
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These are a family tradition <i>and</i> a family favorite. My mom bakes them up every year around Christmas time (and sometimes throughout the year too) and always gives us a bag of them to take home. This recipe yields 4-5 dozen! My favorite way to eat them (if they last the night.....lol) is to put the bag in the freezer and let them get crumbly then put it over ice cream :) <i><b>Serious</b></i> goodness!<br />
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When you make them be sure <b>not</b> to make them too small - they are called monster cookies for a reason! If you make them too small, they will just end up hard and flat (and while I will still eat them that way, it is definitely not the best!) They recommend using an ice cream scoop instead of a spoon to get the right size :) Also don't bake them too long - take them out just before they look done!<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Monster Cookies</b></span><br />
<br />
<b><span style="font-size: small;">Ingredients</span></b><br />
<br />
3 eggs<br />
1 1/2 cups packed brown sugar<br />
1 cup white sugar<br />
1 teaspoon vanilla extract<br />
1 teaspoon corn syrup<br />
2 teaspoons baking soda<br />
1/2 cup butter<br />
1 1/2 cups peanut butter (or soy butter for nut free)<br />
4 1/2 cups rolled oats<br />
1 cup semisweet chocolate chips<br />
1 cup candy-coated milk chocolate pieces<br />
<br />
<b>Directions</b><br />
<br />
* Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).<br />
* In a very large bowl, beat the eggs. Very large.....this seriously makes a lot!<br />
* Add the remaining ingredients in order, mixing well.<br />
* Use an ice cream scoop to put on ungreased cookie sheet. Bake for 12 to 15 minutes. I took them out at 13 minutes and they turned out perfect!<br />
<br />
This recipe is halved very easily - for the eggs use 2 and the rest just cut in half!<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Enjoy!</span><br />
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Check out my bakery website here! <a href="http://www.eatcakebakery.weebly.com/">www.eatcakebakery.weebly.com</a></div>ashleyjoyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07240145694687946787noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2122023310862665955.post-12111174327900868232011-11-13T19:07:00.000-08:002011-12-12T06:03:24.607-08:00Pumpkin Spice Granola (and can you guess what I'm watching?!)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
My favorite season is fall. Seriously, I <span style="font-size: large;"><i>love</i></span> everything about it (<i>except</i> the impending snow), the colors, the smell, the fall food! We always have cider in the fridge and I make caramel for apples like every week lol. Pumpkin pie is my hubby's favorite for the fall, <i>however</i>, since we are both losing weight and neither of us have done very good on eating clean and healthy for the past month, we decided that making some pie wouldn't be the best idea. So, I decided to make something healthy that is along the same lines :) <b> </b><br />
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<b>Granola!</b> Oh, the <i>smell</i> of granola baking in the oven is <i>heavenly</i>! And it tastes <span style="font-size: large;">so</span> very good too! Store bought granola is absolutely <u>nothing</u> compared to homemade and it's so easy to make! So, after church this morning we took the kids out to eat for lunch, came home and put them down for a nap (did they sleep? Nope lol but it bought me at least an hour!) then I made up a batch of granola and popped in a movie that I've been wanting to watch for a while :) I actually want to do a marathon of the series but I don't have time for that. So one movie at a time for now lol..........can you guess what it is???<br />
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Also today we had a loss in our family<span style="font-size: large;"><b> :(</b></span> Our cat Loki died of unknown causes. We found her after church and we think that she may have ate something bad possibly. We've had her for a few years (I think since 2009) and she left behind 2 kittens plus an older baby - Ernie. I feel <span style="font-size: large;">so</span> bad for the babies! Its just starting to get cold out and the one kitten is disabled - his back legs are twisted and he can't walk very well. So we brought them into the porch where we can keep an eye on them, and <i>all day</i> the big brother and daddy has been staying on the porch watching over them - sad but <i>very</i> sweet to see them taking care of the babies!<br />
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Big brother Ernie taking care of the babies </div>
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Thor (who is a gigantic cat btw) keeping watch on the porch - he usually doesn't hang around</div>
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RIP Loki</div>
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Ok, so onto the recipe for the granola (sorry I know it's not a good transition) - it's adapted from <a href="http://withstyle.me/2011/10/04/gluten-free-pumpkin-granola-recipe/" target="_blank">with style and grace blog</a> and can be adapted very easily to be gluten free and/or nut free and is dairy free!</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
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<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<b>Pumpkin Spice Granola </b><br />
<br />
<b>Ingredients</b><br />
<ul>
<li>5 cups rolled oats (if gluten free use gluten free rolled oats)</li>
<li>1 cup of nuts - your choice ( I like to use 1/2 almonds and 1/2 walnuts) </li>
<li>1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice</li>
<li>1 teaspoon cinnamon</li>
<li>1/4 teaspoon nutmeg</li>
<li>3/4 teaspoon. salt</li>
<li> 1/2 cup packed brown sugar</li>
<li>1/2 cup pumpkin puree</li>
<li>1/3 cup unsweetened applesauce (I used my homemade spiced applesauce - yum!)</li>
<li>1/4 cup maple syrup</li>
<li>1 teaspoon vanilla extract</li>
<li>1 cup of dried cranberries ( I like to use a mix of dried cranberries, blueberries, and cherries) </li>
</ul>
<b>Directions</b><br />
Preheat oven to 325 degrees.<br />
Line your two baking sheets with parchment paper; set aside.<br />
In a large bowl, mix together oats, nuts,
pumpkin pie spice, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt until well combined.<br />
In a separate bowl, combine brown sugar, pumpkin puree, applesauce,
maple syrup and vanilla extract and using a whisk or fork, whisk until
smooth.<br />
Add the wet mixture to the dry ingredients and mix until everything is coated. <br />
Spread the granola mixture onto the prepared baking sheets.<br />
Bake for 45 minutes, carefully stirring every 15 minutes for even baking.<br />
Remove from the oven and let cool before stirring in the dried cranberries.<br />
Store in an airtight container. <br />
Enjoy!<br />
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Sorry - not a great picture - I didn't have any natural light left - darn time change!</div>
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Oh, and did you guess the movie? Here is another clue if not lol</div>
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</div>ashleyjoyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07240145694687946787noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2122023310862665955.post-64810289410849623412011-11-07T18:27:00.000-08:002011-11-07T18:37:27.954-08:00Wedding Cake<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Hi there!!!<br />
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It's been a little while :( <i>So sorry</i>! I have been caught up in a few different things and it's been a bit stressful lately..... So, quite a few things have happened since my last post! I got a new phone which I'm in <span style="font-size: large;">LOVE</span> with :) it's an iPhone 4 and did I mention that I <b>LOVE</b> it?! I also have started doing cakes - <i>officially</i> - out of my house and made a website for it <a href="http://www.eatcakebakery.weebly.com/">www.eatcakebakery.weebly.com</a> AND I did my <b>FIRST</b> wedding cake and delivery!!! <span style="font-size: large;">SO exciting!!!! </span><br />
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I was <i>SOOO</i> nervous about the wedding cake! I baked it up the beginning of the week, dirty iced (or crumb coated it - whichever way you say it) the night before it was due, then decorated it the morning of. I was worried about the timing, however, I actually ended up getting done about 45 minutes ahead of schedule! <i>Awesome</i>!!! Then came the part that I was the <i><b>most</b></i> nervous about.....<span style="font-size: large;">delivery</span>.<br />
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My awesome husband driving :) He helped me carry and deliver the cake and did a wonderful job of being extremely supportive!<br />
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In case you were wondering, yes that <i>is</i> my leg next to the cake - I rode
in back with it so I was sure that it was safe........just a <i>little</i>
paranoid lol<br />
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It ended up perfectly fine....my stomach was in knots the whole way there - it was only about a 15 minute drive....actually closer to 30 minutes since we were driving <i>slow</i>....I never realized how bumpy M-53 really is........then we arrived.....after passing it up a couple of times.....<i>.totally</i> not our fault - there was no sign! <i>Anyways</i>, the hall was absolutely gorgeous....vintage looking with hardwood floors, mood lighting, huge vintage chandelier....it looked amazing. <span style="font-size: large;">PLUS</span>, what probably was <b>the most exciting part</b> is that the woman owns the hall also owns the <span style="font-size: large;"><i><b>bridal shop</b></i></span> up above, and she asked for my business cards to put out in her shop!!! <span style="font-size: large;">AHHH!!!</span> I was on <b><i>cloud 9</i></b> the rest of the day! <b>:)</b><br />
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Here is the finished product all set up..........:)<br />
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<br />
I just have to say....I'm very proud of it :)<br />
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So anyways, here's my recipe for the chocolate cake and the white cake that I use. The top tier and bottom tier are chocolate cake and the middle is white. It does use a boxed cake base - don't judge it or me until you've tried it! It does not tasted like boxed cake - so very delicious and moist......<br />
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<u><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Chocolate Cake</b></span></u><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Ingredients</b></span><br />
<ul>
<li class="ingredient">
<span class="ingredient"><span class="amount"><span class="value">1</span> <span class="type">(18 1/4 ounce)</span></span> package
<span class="name">
devil's food cake mix
</span>
</span>
</li>
<li class="ingredient">
<span class="ingredient"><span class="amount"><span class="value">1</span> <span class="type">(4 ounce)</span></span> box <a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_362821552">
</a><span class="name">
instant chocolate pudding mix
</span>
</span>
</li>
<li class="ingredient">
<span class="ingredient"><span class="amount"><span class="value">1 </span> <span class="type">cup</span></span> <span class="name">sour cream
</span>
</span>
</li>
<li class="ingredient">
<span class="ingredient"><span class="amount"><span class="value">1/2</span> <span class="type">cup</span></span> <span class="name">water
</span>
</span>
</li>
<li class="ingredient">
<span class="ingredient"><span class="amount"><span class="value">1/2</span> <span class="type">cup</span></span>
<span class="name">
vegetable oil
</span>
</span>
</li>
<li class="ingredient">
<span class="ingredient"><span class="amount"><span class="value">4 </span> <span class="type">large</span></span> <span class="name">eggs
</span>
</span>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="pod directions">
<b><span style="font-size: small;">Directions:</span></b>
<span class="instructions">
</span><br />
<ol><span class="instructions">
<li><div class="txt">
Preheat oven to 350°F.</div>
</li>
<li> <div class="txt">
Place the cake mix, pudding mix, sour cream, water, oil, and eggs in a large mixing bowl.</div>
</li>
<li> <div class="txt">
Blend with an electric mixer on low speed for 1 minute.</div>
</li>
<li> <div class="txt">
Stop and scrape down the sides of the bowl.</div>
</li>
<li> <div class="txt">
On medium low speed, continue to blend for 2-3 minutes more.</div>
</li>
<li> <div class="txt">
The batter will be very thick and should look well combined.</div>
</li>
<li> <div class="txt">
Pour batter into prepared pans and smooth it out.</div>
</li>
<li> <div class="txt">
Bake for 27-32 minutes
( I started checking the cakes at 25 minutes-- it
was like gooey chocolate pudding-- then 3 minutes later it was perfect.</div>
</li>
<li> <div class="txt">
Another couple of minutes and I think it would have been dry, so keep an eye on your cakes.</div>
</li>
<li> <div class="txt">
Allow to cool in the pans on a wire rack for 20 minutes.</div>
</li>
</span></ol>
<span class="instructions">
</span></div>
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<a href="http://www.food.com/recipe/darn-good-chocolate-cake-cake-mix-cake-87205#ixzz1d4gT7uVI" style="color: #003399;">http://www.food.com/recipe/darn-good-chocolate-cake-cake-mix-cake-87205#ixzz1d4gT7uVI</a><br />
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The 16" pan for the bottom tier barely fit in the oven! <br />
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I use parchment paper in the bottom of my cake pans instead of flour - grease the bottom of the pan <u><i><b>only!</b></i></u> If you grease the sides, the cake will not <i>climb</i> up the sides! then lay down your parchment paper that is cut to the size of the bottom = no cake sticking to the pan! You may also notice the little round indent in the middle of the cake. This is a trick that I learned about a year ago - I take a flower nail, used for cake decorating, and put it in the center of the batter - pointy side up. This acts like a heating core so the cake bakes more evenly. Cheaper than bake even strips!<br />
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<u><span style="font-size: large;"><b>White Cake</b></span></u><br />
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<b>Ingredients:</b><br />
<br />
<ul>
<li class="ingredient">
<span class="ingredient"><span class="amount"><span class="value">1</span> <span class="type">(18 1/4 ounce)</span></span> package
<span class="name">
plain
white cake mix
</span>
</span>
</li>
<li class="ingredient">
<span class="ingredient"><span class="amount"><span class="value">1 </span> <span class="type">cup</span></span> <span class="name">sour cream
</span>
</span>
</li>
<li class="ingredient">
<span class="ingredient"><span class="amount"><span class="value">1/2</span> <span class="type">cup</span></span>
<span class="name">
vegetable oil
</span>
</span>
</li>
<li class="ingredient">
<span class="ingredient"><span class="amount"><span class="value">3 </span> <span class="type">large</span></span> <span class="name">eggs
</span>
</span>
</li>
<li class="ingredient">
<span class="ingredient"><span class="amount"><span class="value">1 </span> <span class="type">teaspoon</span></span> <span class="name">vanilla extract
</span>
</span>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="pod directions">
<b><span style="font-size: small;">Directions:</span></b>
<span class="instructions">
</span><br />
<ol><span class="instructions">
<li> <div class="txt">
Preheat oven to 350.</div>
</li>
<li><div class="num">
</div>
<div class="txt">
Place cake mix, sour cream, oil, eggs, and vanilla in mixing bowl.</div>
</li>
<li> <div class="txt">
Blend with mixer on low speed for 1 minute.</div>
</li>
<li> <div class="txt">
Stop machine, scrape down sides of bowl.</div>
</li>
<li> <div class="txt">
Increase mixer speed to medium and beat 2 minutes more.</div>
</li>
<li> <div class="txt">
Scrape down sides again if needed. The batter should look well combined and thickened.</div>
</li>
<li> <div class="txt">
Pour the batter into the prepared pan.</div>
</li>
<li> <div class="txt">
Place pan in oven.</div>
</li>
<li> <div class="txt">
Bake the cake until it is light brown and springs back when lightly pressed with your finger, 35-40 minutes.</div>
</li>
<li> <div class="txt">
Remove pan from oven and place on wire rack to cool for 20 minutes.</div>
</li>
</span></ol>
<span class="instructions">
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<u style="color: black;"> <a href="http://www.food.com/recipe/basic-sour-cream-white-cake-126396#ixzz1d4heUE4t">http://www.food.com/recipe/basic-sour-cream-white-cake-126396#ixzz1d4heUE4t</a></u><br />
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<i><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Fun Fact:</b> I used about 60 cups of batter for this wedding cake and about 30 cups of icing.........</span></i><br />
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and in case you didn't catch it the first time, here is my cake website :) please check it out and tell me what you think!!! I appreciate any feedback!<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.eatcakebakery.weebly.com/">www.eatcakebakery.weebly.com</a></span><br />
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<br /></div>ashleyjoyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07240145694687946787noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2122023310862665955.post-2936725963128383632011-09-26T16:00:00.000-07:002011-09-26T16:12:34.309-07:00Playing around with Photoshop<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I don't have a recipe tonight....just pictures. Today is my last day off for the week and so I decided that after all the work we did yesterday, that I didn't want to do anything today :) So I've been playing around on Photoshop experimenting with photoshop actions. Here are a few that I did........<br />
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<a href="http://www.iheartfaces.com/"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HcUb0gI0wQg/ToEGW8nVw_I/AAAAAAAAG_Y/WJUf4bVAW5s/s1600/I_Heart_Faces_noborder_125x100.jpg" /></a></div>
PS I entered the second picture down (Oliver's messy face) in the <a href="http://www.iheartfaces.com/">iheartfaces</a> photo challenge :) </div>ashleyjoyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07240145694687946787noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2122023310862665955.post-53861958572979312112011-09-25T17:12:00.000-07:002011-09-25T20:19:14.575-07:00Tuna Saute over Spagetti and a New Car!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
So this week has been the week from.....well, you know where. Having numerous problems with my job, hit a deer with our Blazer, went to my friends funeral......plus what seems like a never-ending list of other small things that keep happening. <span style="font-size: large;">SO</span> glad this week is OVER!!! I'm ready for it to be better!<br />
<br />
Well, yesterday it got better - we bought a new vehicle! <b>2003 Envoy XL</b> - it's beautiful, fully loaded, has 4-wheel and all-wheel drive, 4 doors, and seats 7! It has everything we wanted and more (<i>heated seats</i> :)<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
Heated seats :-D (can you tell I'm excited about the heated seats.....<i>lol</i>)</div>
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<div style="text-align: left;">
So to celebrate our new car, I came up with this recipe (<span style="font-size: large;"><i>actually</i></span> I came up with it the day before but I couldn't figure out how to transition to the recipe<i> lol</i>).</div>
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I wasn't sure how it would turn out.....<i>lol</i>......I had a recipe bomb on me a couple of days ago.....yeah that was another thing that went wrong.......<span style="font-size: large;">ANYWAYS</span>, this one was <i>totally</i> good! I bought some Anise at the market last week and I have been wanting to try it out. From what I have read about it, it is good either cooked/grilled/sauteed or raw in salads. Cooking it is supposed to mellow out the <i>licorice-like</i> flavor a bit, and since the hubby isn't fond of black licorice, I decided that cooking it would be the best route. I wasn't sure exactly what I was going to do though <i>lol</i>. I got a few ingredients out that I thought would go well together (and honestly what I had left in the fridge/pantry......) and sauteed them together - the tuna was a last minute addition and it was very good, although I think chicken breast would be equally good.</div>
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Here are the ingredients - tuna in water, anise, capers, yellow onion, garlic, EEVO (extra virgin olive oil), fresh parmesan cheese</div>
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Anise bulb with the tops and end cut off </div>
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Garlic bulb</div>
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A<i> GIGANTIC</i> yellow onion! This is half of it!</div>
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Fresh parmesan cheese and salt and pepper to taste </div>
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A beautiful huge tomato from my mom's garden :)</div>
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The tops from the anise bulb - don't throw away! You can use it as a herb! </div>
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EEVO - extra virgin olive oil</div>
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<u><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></u></div>
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<u><b><span style="font-size: large;">Tuna Saute over Spaghetti</span></b></u></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: small;">Ingredients:</span></b></div>
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<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;">* 1 can of tuna in water</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">* 1/2 cup of diced yellow onion</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">* 3 garlic cloves - minced</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">* 2 tbsp capers</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">* about 1/2 cup of roughly chopped anise</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">* 1/2 medium tomato diced</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">* 1/2 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">* 2 tbsp EVOO (extra virgin olive oil)</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">* 4-5 basil leaves chopped </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">* salt and pepper to taste </span><b><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></b></div>
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* 100% whole wheat spaghetti noodles</div>
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Directions:</div>
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* saute yellow onion in pan on low until soft - about 10 minutes</div>
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* add garlic, capers, and anise and turn up heat to medium for about 3 minutes until heated</div>
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* add to cooked noodles </div>
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* add in tuna, parmesan cheese, basil, tomatoes, and salt and pepper</div>
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* garnish if you want with the "feathery" tops from the anise</div>
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* Enjoy!</div>
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As a side note we now have 2 cars for sale - a 99 Saturn for $800 and a 98 Blazer for $1800 - send me a message if interested! We spent all day today cleaning them out and washing them so we can get them out to the road. It was actually fun with the kids helping and it turned out to be a beautiful day!</div>
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</div>ashleyjoyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07240145694687946787noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2122023310862665955.post-32736115190281502392011-09-18T20:23:00.000-07:002011-09-18T20:23:43.426-07:00A Heath Fair and Caramel Apples<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I'm having a hard time knowing how to start and what to write today...........I have a lot on my mind. I lost a friend yesterday from a terrible car accident. It really makes you think about your life and how you are living it. My life at home is wonderful. I have the greatest husband a girl could ask for, and 2 beautiful children.<br />
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Work, however, is a different story altogether! I hate my job - I work at a retail store in the bakery. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE the actual <span style="font-size: large;">work</span> that I do, but I hate the people that I work for. They think nothing of treating you with as little respect as possible because, to them, all you are is a disposable number.<br />
This is me, trying to talk to managment..........<br />
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I have had people in the past ask me if I'm going to try to move up in the company....I refer to this quote........."I honestly believe that it is better to be a failure at something you love rather than a success at something you hate." George Burns. I do not want to spend a minute more of my life doing something that I hate! You never know how short your life will be!<br />
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So that being said, I did something that I <span style="font-size: large;">love</span> the other day :) I cooked up some delicious, healthy food for the Health Fair at the retirement community where my hubby works. I used the fresh veggies from the farmer's market that set up a stand outside the building and had the recipe printed out for everybody to take so they can make it at home. This was the recipe that I cooked up - <a href="http://a-spoonful-of-honey.blogspot.com/2011/08/my-first-post.html">Ratatouille Pasta</a>. It was a hit! I had many compliments and questions about my cooking and healthy eating. (I even had some people ask me if I'm a chef :)<br />
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A picture of me that I actually like...........</div>
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You can't read it but my apron says "Come to the dark side, we have cookies. -V" :) </div>
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Cutting up the garlic cloves..........my hands still smell like garlic.....I did make spaghetti yesterday though....</div>
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The finished product :) smelled so good! </div>
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The bowls are almost gone!</div>
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It was a great day! Afterwards, I went grocery shopping at a new store that my good friend Jake told me about. Its a marketplace that sells probably 70-80% organic/Michigan made food! It's AMAZING! Their veggies and fruit were all Michigan grown and great looking, they had a lot of different fruits and veggies that I've never been able to find anywhere else (I bought Anise.....soooo excited to cook it up!) They also have fresh meats (including fresh ground turkey YAY!), fresh salads (including hummus), Amish made butter, organic canned foods, like crushed tomatoes :), and what I was the most excited over, fresh local milk <span style="font-size: large;">in a glass bottle!</span> It was, admittedly a little bit more pricey than the conventional milk - but it's worth it. It was delicious and much healthier! </div>
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Our grocery bill has gone up a little bit, but it's just a matter of prioritizing what you spend your money on. I, personally, would rather spend a little bit more money on food that is healthy and good for you, rather than spend less money on food that is laden with chemicals and hormones that are not meant to be in our bodies. My whole family is healthier, for instance, my hubby has lost 50lbs just by eating healthy and his mild IBS is virtually non-existent now. So, actually, we are probably saving money on health bills that we would have gotten later on in life! </div>
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So the perfect ending to this day goes like this............</div>
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1. Take a can of sweetened condensed milk</div>
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2. Peel the label off and put in a pot filled with water</div>
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3. Simmer for about 3 hours - DON'T forget to keep adding water! (I forgot about it once.......it wasn't pretty....) While you are waiting, light a few pumpkin spice candles......hmmmmm soooo good! I'm sooo in the mood for fall!! And if <span style="font-size: large;">you</span> aren't now, you will be with the candles and apples with caramel :)</div>
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4. After about 3 hours take it out of pot and let it cool down. I usually put it in the fridge and leave it overnight. DO NOT open it right away! It will be pressurized and it will hurt you!</div>
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5. After it is cooled down, open and this is what you will see.........</div>
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6. Slice up some apples and <span style="font-size: large;">enjoy</span>! (If you want to go overboard a little bit, heat up some apple cider to go along with it......that's what I did :) It also wouldn't hurt to cuddle up with your sweetie on the couch with a blanket and a good movie :)</div>
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And here is a thought to leave you with...........</div>
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Personally, I would open up a healthy, organic bakery/cafe</div>
</div>ashleyjoyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07240145694687946787noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2122023310862665955.post-62914083584053531672011-09-08T19:04:00.000-07:002011-09-08T19:07:18.116-07:00Handmade Roses and Homemade Chili<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
So, I had a lazy day today. I spent <span style="font-size: large;">waayyyy</span> too much time being obsessed with <a href="http://pinterest.com/">Pintrest</a>! I also like to be obessed with both <a href="http://www.foodgawker.com/">Foodgawker</a> and <a href="http://www.craftgawker.com/">Craftgawker</a>, if you have never been to any of these websites, <span style="font-size: large;">go now!</span> (actually finish reading my post first lol) Today it was all about the crafts :)<br />
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Here are a few awesome things that I found today.......<br />
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I ABSOLUTLY <span style="font-size: large;">love</span> handmade rosettes! Whether it be paper, ribbon, cloth, or what-have-you - it doesn't matter - I love them! So I tried them out today :) Here are a few newspaper roses and some ribbon roses that I made. Plans are to use them for Christmas presents......I figure if I get started on them now, I might be able to finish by Christmas lol.<br />
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The newspaper roses I plan on painting.......I'm thinking white with a hint of pink? The fabric roses are glued down to the paper so they stay together, then I'm going to cut them out using a craft knife. I can them use them for whatever craft I want, like a headband with roses, picture frame, a wreath..........the list goes on :) Maybe if anybody is interested I will post a tutorial on how to make them sometime in the future.<br />
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Along with my crafty mood today, I have also been craving <span style="font-size: large;">everything</span> fall related. I have pumpkin spice candles out, blankets on the couch, apple cider in the fridge, sticks from caramel apples in the garbage.......the only thing missing (besides the leaves changing color) is our fall food staple - CHILI!<br />
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I don't <span style="font-size: large;">love </span>chili, I like it ok, just not a favorite......unless it's fall. For some reason it just tastes better with pumpkin spice candles and cooler weather :) I have experimented with different chili recipes over the past few years, and I'm pretty sure that the chili that I made today comes out on top. It's a little bit different...........lots of beans, chili beans and lentils (I put lentils in EVERYTHING now) and I added corn this time. I usually only use turkey burger instead of red meat, however, I didn't have any on hand, instead I had bear burger. It's ok........not my favorite.........I just don't generally like red meat. So anyways..........here's the recipe for your enjoyment :)<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><u><b>Homemade Chili</b></u></span><br />
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<b><u>Ingredients:</u></b><br />
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1 28 oz can crushed tomatoes (no salt added)<br />
1 6 oz can tomato paste<br />
1 medium onion - diced<br />
1 medium green pepper - diced<br />
3 garlic cloves - minced<br />
1 bag frozen corn or 1 can of no salt added corn <br />
1 15 oz can chicken stock (can substitute water if you don't have any on hand)<br />
2 cups uncooked lentils<br />
1 15 oz can chili beans<br />
2 bay leaves<br />
1 lb meat - cooked - and seasoned with chili seasoning - I like to use turkey burger for less calories<br />
pinch of salt and pepper<br />
sour cream and/or cheddar cheese for garnish<br />
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<b><u>Instructions:</u></b><br />
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1. Mix all the ingredients (not including garnishes) in a largish crock pot and turn on low for 6-8 hours or turn on high for 3-4 hours.<br />
2. Add your favorite toppings such as sour-cream and/or cheddar cheese <br />
3. Enjoy with crackers or cornbread........yummmmm cornbread.......didn't have any tonight :(<br />
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Now, I think I'm gonna go work on a knitting project that I started last year lol................<br />
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ashleyjoyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07240145694687946787noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2122023310862665955.post-85078981228237179132011-08-25T18:54:00.000-07:002011-09-24T17:13:36.867-07:00Will Being (slightly) Mean Help You Lose Weight?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I know this sounds a little harsh - bear with me.<br />
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I read <a href="http://www.self.com/health/2011/07/is-being-too-nice-making-you-fat?currentPage=1">this article</a> at a time when I really, really needed to hear something exactly like this. I have become somewhat addicted to <a href="http://www.self.com/">Self Magazine</a>, a magazine dedicated to women's health and fitness. This article caught my eye when I was reading it at work, a place where, at the time, it seemed like people were walking all over me and rumors (untrue rumors) were flying and I even, somewhat desperately, tried to transfer out of the only job I have ever actually loved doing.<br />
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This was a low point for me at work, I was trying to lose weight and had lost around 25 lbs. Some people were (and are still) extremely supportive, giving me compliments and telling me that I've been doing a good job and to keep it up. However, there are those people who act like your friend and look like your friend, but inside them is just a mean little person trying to get out. Oh, they are nice enough usually, but there are those occasions where they let that side of their personality out. For instance, someone said to me one day, "don't worry about what everybody else thinks Ashley, I can tell that you've lost some weight." This is the one that has stuck out in my mind. We are not friends anymore. I decided to be a little mean and just stop being friends. It made me feel better knowing that I had one less person in my life that had the power to make me feel bad about myself.<br />
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This article struck a chord because it's about letting people walk all over you during the day - saying yes when you really want to say no, taking on a project when you don't have time, saying yes to going out when you really just want to stay home and take a bath and spend "me" time. Essentially, saying yes to the world, who is usually ungrateful, so to compensate for having your feelings hurt, you nurture yourself by indulging in food - comfort food. For me, it was letting people talk about me and say things to my face and behind my back, and just taking it and letting it hurt my feelings. This led to me eating a cookie (they are sooo available in a bakery!) and the brief sugar high would make me feel better, or I would go and buy a bag of candy, same thing, but they would only make me feel better while eating them, afterwards I would feel worse because I knew I shouldn't be eating that crap! SO I STOPPED. Lol, really, I read the part in the article that says "I won't take any crap and I won't eat any crap" and I was like this is me and it needs to stop. People gave me some surprised looks the next week or so as I spoke out and was really, actually a little mean and sarcastic, but it made me feel so good about myself knowing that I wasn't letting anyone take advantage of me or walk all over me. Self-empowerment! Lol, I happen to love <a href="http://www.jillianmichaels.com/">Jillian Micheals</a> (I listen to her podcasts religiously) and she is a big fan of the term "self-empowerment".<br />
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Everything is calmed down at work now (well for the most part lol - I work in a bakery full of women - there is no time when there isn't drama happening). I no longer want to transfer out, and I no longer feel as though I have to watch my back. (Of course, it helps that one of those people are gone) It's an empowering feeling knowing that you are not going to let people walk all over you and that you have the ability to say no if you want to say no. <br />
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So, with all that being said, I don't think it has made me lose any of the weight..........lol. Something that has, however, is remaking a few favorite recipes with fresh and healthy versions :)<br />
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It's incredibly easy to make! There is no reason to buy that jar version of what they call spaghetti sauce EVER AGAIN!! Seriously, you will not want to buy that stuff ever again after making this! This time I actually made it from fresh tomatoes, but usually I will buy the canned crushed tomatoes - organic if you can find it - with no salt added (you don't need that extra salt!) Then add some diced fresh tomatoes, onion, garlic, and basil and you are good to go!! Delicious! Unfortunately, this is my weakness, the one food that I almost always go back for seconds on, so, I always try to eat it on a small plate (tonight was on one of the kids plates lol) so when I go back for seconds, I am still eating less than one serving on a regular plate :)<br />
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Fresh organic ingredients</div>
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fresh basil: roughly chop about 6 leaves </div>
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Organic tomato sauce!</div>
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Tomato sauce, diced tomatoes, and tomato paste with diced onion, garlic, basil and 2 bay leaves - turn on medium high to start a slow boil </div>
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Turkey meatballs: ground turkey, egg, diced onion, garlic, basil, and 100% whole wheat bread crumbs</div>
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Mix all ingredients for turkey meatballs and make them the size of golfballs </div>
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Turn burner down to low and simmer with cover on for 25 minutes</div>
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Take cover off and let sit for about 5 minutes to let thicken up</div>
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Serve over 100% whole wheat noodles and enjoy!</div>
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My daughter is enjoying her plain spaghetti with bananas on the side........lol</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><u><b>Homemade Spaghetti (and meatballs if you want)</b></u></span><br />
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1 28 oz can of crushed tomatoes - no salt added - organic if you can find it<br />
1 can of organic tomato paste <br />
1 small onion - diced<br />
3-4 garlic cloves - diced<br />
5-6 fresh basil leaves<br />
2 bay leaves (optional)<br />
2 tomatoes - diced <br />
freshly grated parmigiano reggiano <br />
2 tbsp olive oil <br />
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<b>For Meatballs</b> <br />
1 lb turkey burger<br />
1/2 cup 100% whole wheat bread crumbs<br />
2-3 basil leaves<br />
1 egg<br />
1 garlic clove<br />
handful of diced onions<br />
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*saute onions in olive oil for ~4-5 minutes or until soft<br />
*add minced garlic and saute another minute or two<br />
*add to a big pot with crushed tomatoes, diced tomatoes, basil and bay leaves and turn on med/high<br />
*if you are not adding meatballs in - let sauce simmer for 10 minutes and your done :) when I don't add meat I like to put lentils in for protein - they do not add any flavor and you barely notice eating them!<br />
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<b>For Meatballs</b><br />
*mix all ingredients for meatballs together<br />
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*once sauce starts simmering, add golf ball sized meatballs to the sauce<br />
*reduce heat to low and cover<br />
*cook for 30 minutes<br />
*when done take lid off and let sit 5 minute to let the sauce thicken up<br />
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Serve over wheat spaghetti noodles and garnish with freshly grated parmigiano reggiano<br />
Enjoy!<br />
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Read the full article here - trust me it's worth it!<br />
<a href="http://www.self.com/health/2011/07/is-being-too-nice-making-you-fat?currentPage=3">http://www.self.com/health/2011/07/is-being-too-nice-making-you-fat?currentPage=3</a></div>ashleyjoyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07240145694687946787noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2122023310862665955.post-42544816854688169372011-08-19T19:34:00.000-07:002011-08-19T19:34:49.518-07:00Nature Trail Run and Leftover Chinese<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">I feel good. I'm sitting here at the computer eating my yummy leftover General Tso's chicken, feeling nicely sore (I'm sure tomorrow I will NOT be thinking "nicely sore") and smelling fresh and clean from my nice, cool shower. I went for a run after work today at the nature/fitness path at the school.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-uiUfmOldQc0/Tk8SrcFQ-fI/AAAAAAAAG5U/Xe1-Qg8t0hA/s1600/039.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-uiUfmOldQc0/Tk8SrcFQ-fI/AAAAAAAAG5U/Xe1-Qg8t0hA/s320/039.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
It's beautiful here! The trail takes you around the middle school, by a corn field, through this path of trees shown above, then as you go around, there are fitness stations where you can do sit-ups, pull-ups, push-ups, and many other strength exercises. I am always a bit shy excersising around other people. I know, I know.....the last thing I should be thinking about is what other people are thinking of me, but hey it happens! It usually takes me a moment or two to realize that most everyone around is either quite old and walking to get some excersise, or young and riding thier bikes around, or walking their dog - at least when I have been there.<br />
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I didn't do any of the fitness stations the first time I was there - tonight, however, I managed to work up the courage to do some push-ups on the push-up bars.........a whole measly 5 - LOL! Did I mention I am TERRIBLE at doing push-ups?! I work out my arms with free weights and do pretty good - I do reps of 15-20 with 10 lb dumbbells - which I think is pretty good since I started out with reps of 10 with 5 lb dumbells. HOWEVER, push-ups are another story - no wonder I didn't want anybody to see me! I'll get better eventually, and hopefully I will get over my fear of people seeing me working out.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--3hZuU-7vPs/Tk8VC42fnUI/AAAAAAAAG5Y/M9a0o2Ry5iI/s1600/041.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--3hZuU-7vPs/Tk8VC42fnUI/AAAAAAAAG5Y/M9a0o2Ry5iI/s320/041.JPG" width="234" /></a></div><br />
I made it 3 times around - I believe that it is a mile all the way around once. I didn't run the entire way - I did intervals where I ran basically as long as I could then at certain points I would sprint, then walk and catch my breath for about 2 minutes. I think I ran about 3/4 of the way and walked a 1/4. I really need to get one of those nifty watches that track your distance, time, and calories!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Chtq4ry1Oz8/Tk8Wr_qgCMI/AAAAAAAAG5c/JwLrKizoO8Y/s1600/trailbw.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Chtq4ry1Oz8/Tk8Wr_qgCMI/AAAAAAAAG5c/JwLrKizoO8Y/s320/trailbw.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
I also used mini goals and visualization to get motivated to run faster and further. My mini goals were something like "just get to the next station" or "I am going to run until the next bend in the path". And, you are probably going to laugh, but I visualized a pair of size 6 jeans up in front of me and pretended that I needed to catch up to them so I could put them on........it's a little silly, I know, but it worked because I really don't remember the last time I could fit into a size 6 (middle school maybe?) I wasn't big in high school - I was in really good shape because I was riding my horse almost everyday and training for the equestrian team and for 4-H. I stuck mostly to a size 8 because I had a lot of muscle in my legs and butt. So, a size 6 is my eventual goal and my motivator - I'm in a size 13/14 right now so I have a ways to go yet. I know that being healthy is suppose to be the biggest motivator, but, I am eating very healthy (well except for tonight with my leftover chinese - I only ate like a quarter of it though!) by completely changing the way that I eat and the kind of food that I eat. I'll take what works - I've lost 35 lbs so far, with another 30 to go - for now using my pant size is working for me - if it stops working than I'll figure out something else. The most important thing to me is not quitting.<br />
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P.S. This is me being a bit more honest about myself - I don't usually share quite this much info - I don't like share my failures, pant size and amount of weight I want to lose with just anybody - so enjoy (this is prolly my endorphins talking right now.....I may end up regretting this lol).</div>ashleyjoyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07240145694687946787noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2122023310862665955.post-83524069385883296652011-08-14T17:39:00.000-07:002011-08-14T17:39:39.606-07:00Pondering My Daughter's First Day of School and a Fresh Salad<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MvmOS8RMsCs/TkhW_AM5KrI/AAAAAAAAG4g/tsZGO_qaFIg/s1600/037.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MvmOS8RMsCs/TkhW_AM5KrI/AAAAAAAAG4g/tsZGO_qaFIg/s320/037.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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This is my beautiful daughter. She is 4 years old and will be starting preschool in a couple of weeks. On top of the normal anxiety that I'm sure every parent experiences when their child goes to school for the first time - mine is one-upped. For those of you who do not know, she has a sever tree-nut allergy. She is anaphylactic and carries two epi-pens with her at all times.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MlmbIJHfJoU/TkhmQjXsTjI/AAAAAAAAG4s/1eSIdK24zX4/s1600/DSCF0592.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MlmbIJHfJoU/TkhmQjXsTjI/AAAAAAAAG4s/1eSIdK24zX4/s320/DSCF0592.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
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We found out about her allergy last year - January 1 actually. She had eaten 1/2 of a cashew then promptly threw it back up. She then started breaking out in hives all over her body, especially stomach, back, and face. My hubby gave her some benedryl and put her in a cool bath because of the hives and itching of the hives. This did not work. So starting to get more worried my hubby called me (I was on my way home from work) and told me that he thought we should take her to the ER. By the time I got home she was crying, itching, and her face was starting to swell up a bit. We took her the the ER and what followed was probably the worst night of my life. They rushed her to the back and put her on IV's to get her heart rate down. After she was stable, the doctor then told us that if we had waited just one hour to bring her in, we would have lost her. We were definitely being looked out for that day - that day we happened to be really slow at work so they let me go early - I was supposed to be home and hour later that day! It still gives me chills to think about it.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HY5z2DMk310/TkhpQ78gjKI/AAAAAAAAG44/sA5atAoEDuQ/s1600/327.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HY5z2DMk310/TkhpQ78gjKI/AAAAAAAAG44/sA5atAoEDuQ/s320/327.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>So after allergy tests and doctor visits - our life changed a bit. We promptly threw out all the food in our house that had nuts in it or on the label and I spent a lot more time grocery shopping because I check labels religiously (I still have to remind myself sometimes, and sometimes I don't remember checking the label so like a crazy person I dig through my whole cart and check every label again). We have it under control for now - no more episodes so far and I hope she never has another one! I know this isn't likely because as safe as you try to make it, accidents happen and you can't control everything. It was knowing this that had me freaking out and panicking the couple of months after. It even went so far that I had a couple of panic attacks when I would think about it. I spent hours researching her allergy on the internet - the <a href="http://www.foodallergy.org/">FAAN</a> website is a wonderful resource along with various blogs and forums. It is true - knowledge is power - I feel better about it knowing that I am well informed. However, now she is starting school................THIS FREAKS ME OUT!<br />
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We are sending her to a private school here in our little town. The ONE major thing that makes me feel so much better about trusting these people with her life is that they know how to manage her having an food allergy. I have talked to the secretary a couple of times and she has told me about her daughter who has the same food allergy my daughter has. They are willing to make her classroom completely nut free and have agreed to send notes home to all the parents of her classmates informing them of her allergy and making sure they know not to send their kids with any food that has nuts in it. I feel better, for sure, knowing this and knowing that they are very willing to do whatever it takes to keep it safe for her. Of course, I'm still a bit freaked out know that I'm trusting these strangers with her life, but there is a little bit of peace within that.<br />
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So, on to the recipe!!! This is a salad that I made the other day when I was thinking about sending her to school and doing some research on sending kids with food allergies to school - I needed a break from the computer and this is a involved recipe, plus I really wanted something super healthy :)<br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><u>Southwest Organic Veggie Salad</u></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">(this is almost 100% organic :) </span><br />
<br />
1/2 cucumber - sliced<br />
handful of baby carrots<br />
1 yellow summer squash - sliced<br />
1 zucchini - sliced<br />
1 garlic clove - minced<br />
1/2 yellow onion - sliced in half moons (or diced)<br />
1 small tomato - diced<br />
1 small red pepper - sliced<br />
handful of lettuce/spinich<br />
3-4 leaves fresh basil <br />
olive oil<br />
salt and pepper to taste<br />
fresh parmigiano reggiano cheese - grated - to taste<br />
<br />
Dressing <br />
1/4 cup salsa (I used homemade but you can use your favorite)<br />
1 Tbsp ranch dressing<br />
1 Tbsp <a href="http://a-spoonful-of-honey.blogspot.com/2011/08/dinner-movie-and-makeover.html">BBQ sauce</a> (here's the link to my recipe for homemade)<br />
<br />
*heat skillet with olive oil then saute onion for about 5 minutes or until soft<br />
*add garlic then the zucchini, summer squash, and peppers and saute about 5 minutes (I like the squash to get a bit browned on the edges)<br />
*toss all veggies together and sprinkle parm cheese on top then add your dressing<br />
* enjoy :)<br />
<br />
*note - if you want to add a bit of protein add in a cup or so of diced chicken breast, steak, or black beans<br />
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</div>ashleyjoyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07240145694687946787noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2122023310862665955.post-46319352158766074202011-08-13T20:20:00.000-07:002011-08-13T20:20:10.659-07:00Dinner, Movie and a Makeover<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Tonight we decided to spend some good quality time with the kids. We don't get a lot of nights that we can do this because of our crazy schedule :( Sometimes by the time the weekend gets here we are just so burnt out and tired - and we miss the kids and the kids miss us.........sometimes we all just end up being crabby lol........those are not the good weekends as I'm sure you can imagine! HOWEVER, tonight we were determined to spend some quality time with the kids and have a good time (and cross our fingers for no tantrums) Dinner was not the recipe I am posting - sorry! Dinner was actually orange chicken stir-fry but I didn't get any good pictures of it and (gasp) I used a jar of non-organic sauce instead of making my own. I was tired - I usually am on Saturday's because I work an early shift (this is the reason we don't go to church every Sunday - by the time Sunday rolls around we are exhausted and we just want to get some sleep with a big family breakfast/brunch after, instead of getting up early yet another day and rush to get somewhere on time) Sometimes you have to make exceptions for your sanity lol. So the recipe is actually from a couple of days ago and is one of my favorites :) It has all of the qualities I like for a home cooked dinner - cheap, easy, quick, healthy, and delicious. (and the kids will eat it all!)<br />
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So, anyways, I need to tell you about the makeover! Emma got a makeup set for her birthday earlier this year and only used it a couple of times. Well she remembered it today and asked if we could do makeovers ( I have no idea how she even knows what a makeover is......) So after dinner we got everyone involved ( yes including daddy lol) Both kids had a lot of fun smearing it all over mine and daddy's faces.........did some hardcore washing of the faces after..........crossing my fingers that neither of us breaks out from the grease!<br />
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Then after we were done we did a photo shoot and settled down on the couch with some popcorn and blankets to watch Rio - which we all enjoyed :) So all in all it was a really good night and some quality family time that we all really needed. Now daddy's upstairs doing homework and I'm writing this drinking my iced latte wishing my sinuses would calm down - but enjoying my latte nevertheless. <br />
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<u><b>Pulled BBQ Chicken Sandwiches</b></u><br />
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<div class="mbl notesBlogText clearfix"><div>2 cups of my homemade BBQ sauce - or your favorite brand<br />
2 large chicken breasts<br />
<br />
*put the thawed chicken breasts in the crock pot<br />
*pour in BBQ sauce saving about 1/4 jar<br />
*turn on low for 6-8 hours or on high for 4 hours - when it is done it will shred itself when you stir it :)<br />
*add the rest of BBQ sauce<br />
<br />
This makes for awesome leftovers - great for pulled BBQ chicken sandwiches with some slaw on top, BBQ chicken quesadillas, BBQ chicken salads, BBQ chicken tacos, and whatever other combo you can come up with :)<br />
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<br />
<u><b>Homemade BBQ Sauce</b></u><br />
*adapted from thegalleygourmet Western Carolina Tomato-Based Barbecue Sauce<br />
<br />
makes about 2 quarts<br />
<br />
2 tsp onion powder<br />
1 40-ounce bottle of ketchup (I use Simply Heinz)<br />
2 1/2 cups water (20 ounces) to rinse the inside of the ketchup bottle<br />
3 8 oz cans of tomato sauce<br />
2 cups white distilled vinegar<br />
1/4 cup granulated sugar<br />
1/4 cup light brown sugar<br />
1/2 cup unsulphured molasses<br />
1/4 cup yellow mustard or Dijon mustard<br />
Juice of 1 lemon<br />
1 Tablespoon Kosher salt<br />
1 Tablespoon freshly ground black pepper<br />
can add smoke flavoring to taste<br />
<br />
*using a large pot - add the ketchup; rinse the bottle with the water and add to the pot. <br />
*stir in the tomato sauce, vinegar, sugars, molasses, mustard, lemon, salt and pepper. <br />
*bring to a gentle simmer and cook uncovered for 3-3 1/2 hours, stirring occasionally.<br />
*remove from the heat and allow to cool.<br />
*store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to one week or in the freezer for up to six months.<br />
I used freezer safe canning jars - it made enough for 5 jars.<br />
Enjoy!<br />
<br />
</div></div></div>ashleyjoyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07240145694687946787noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2122023310862665955.post-91153273867479639902011-08-09T17:21:00.000-07:002011-08-09T17:21:30.366-07:00The Farmers Market<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Have you ever been to a farmer's market? It's great! We have a couple of small farmer's markets around here but I've read about big street markets elsewhere - where there are dozens of different stands with everything from fruits and veggies to fresh meat to organic beauty products - I dream about those......<br />
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Anyways, however big or small they are, they are a goldmine for wonderful fresh fruits and veggies. This time around I got yellow summer squash, zucchini, blueberries, celery, tomatoes, potatoes, cantaloupe, cherry tomatoes, red bell peppers, and a dozen ears of corn. The prices are the same if not cheaper than going to the supermarket. Everybody always thinks that it's more expensive - fresh and organic fruits and veggies = more expensive right? Nope! Not at all! Not only is it better tasting and looking, it is better for you (organic = no chemical pesticides) and you are supporting your local farms! How can you beat that?!<br />
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This time I went to the farmer's market over by where I work. I must admit that I prefer the one closer to home. The one by my work is more convenient for sure (I can just pop over there after work or on my lunch break), however, the one by where we live (actually about 15 min away) has more produce plus fish, baked goods, and raw, organic honey. But since we are usually on a time constraint, I have to go with the more convenient one for now.<br />
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Now all I have to do is figure out my menu for the next 2 weeks :) I used to make out a menu for 2 weeks and then make my grocery list accordingly, however, now I find that it is easier to go shopping first so I know what fresh produce I can get. I then make out my menu from what I bought - there is so many different meals to make from fresh veggies! All sorts of pasta, sandwiches, wraps, salads, and side dishes - lots of variety! My hubby is even ok with eating them vegetarian once or twice a week!<br />
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So the next time you are on your way to the grocery store, keep this in mind! You can even stop at one of those little roadside stands. I know you see them and probably pass them and wonder what they have. They can be just as good as the farmer's market, plus cheap and convenient. You will be eating healthier and supporting your local economy - how can you not feel good about that?!<br />
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</div>ashleyjoyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07240145694687946787noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2122023310862665955.post-33764447288038054412011-08-07T17:56:00.000-07:002011-08-20T17:35:32.401-07:00My First Post!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Ok, so here it goes! I'm so excited to do my first blog post! I have been wanting to do a blog for quite a while now and I always had a variety of things stopping me, like I needed a good camera (which I got for my birthday! I LOVE it!), also I am just plain scared that people will look at me and think that it is ridiculous that I am doing my very own blog. I have decided to step past that and not care what everybody else thinks - it simply doesn't matter! I am doing this for myself, for accountability, and for anyone else who is interested along the way.<br />
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So, I went to the farmer's market the other day to pick up our veggies and fruit for the next couple of weeks. I love going grocery shopping! I go by myself - it's so much fun seeing what veggies and fruits they have for the day - there is always something different! I used to plan my meals then go grocery shopping with a big list - but now I go shopping first (at least at the farmer's market) then plan my meals around the fresh veggies and fruits. I will be so sad when winter comes and they are closed :( no more fresh produce! It's amazing what the difference in taste and texture is compared to supermarket produce! I used a melody of the fresh veggies for the pasta below - it is sooo customizable! You can use pretty much any fresh veggie you have on-hand and it will be just as good! You can also add meat to it if that's your thing - chicken, sausage, steak strips - are a few that would be great in it.<br />
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So here is my first recipe! It is very easy and fresh - not to mention delicious!<br />
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<u><b>Fresh Veggie Ratatouille Pasta</b></u><br />
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<div class="mbl notesBlogText clearfix"><div>*you can substitute any of these veggies for what you have on hand or for your favorite - this is very adaptable!!!<br />
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1/2 box whole grain wheat noodles - whatever kind you like the best - i used spaghetti but would be great with penne, spiral, or linguine<br />
1 red bell pepper - sliced lengthwise<br />
1 yellow onion - roughly chopped<br />
3 garlic cloves - minced (can use less if you want - i like garlic so I'm a bit heavy handed with it)<br />
1 small zucchini - thinly sliced<br />
1 small yellow summer squash - thinly sliced<br />
6-7 stalks of asparagus - chopped into ~1 in pieces<br />
1 small eggplant - thinly sliced<br />
1 tomato - roughly chopped<br />
1 jar marinated artichoke hearts (either from store or homemade - i use the recipe from Carciofi Sott'Olio on the Food Network - recipe posted at the end - very easy!)<br />
olive oil - either spray can of cooking olive oil or 2 tbsp<br />
5-6 fresh basil leaves<br />
1/3 c parmigiano-reggiano<br />
<br />
heat olive oil in large-ish pan - i used my cast iron skillet - and add onion<br />
saute onion until soft - about 3-4 minutes<br />
add garlic and red bell pepper to pan and saute ~2 minutes<br />
add the rest of veggies except tomatoes and include the marinade juice with the artichokes and simmer about 5 minutes<br />
add cooked veggies and tomatoes to cooked spaghetti sauce including sauce from the pan<br />
add freshly sliced basil<br />
add freshly grated parmigiano-reggiano cheese<br />
enjoy :)<br />
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<br />
<u><b>Carciofi Sott'Olio's Marinated Artichoke Hearts</b></u><br />
<br />
<ul><li>10 globe artichokes, outer leaves and chokes removed</li>
<li>2 lemons, cut in half</li>
<li>5 cloves garlic, thinly sliced</li>
<li>1 tablespoon red chile flakes, plus 2 tablespoons, for layering</li>
<li>1 bunch mint leaves</li>
<li>1 quart extra-virgin olive oil plus 1 quart</li>
</ul><b>Directions</b><br />
Trim the artichokes and cut into 1/2-inch thick wedges and rub with a cut lemon. In a large, heavy-bottomed saucepan, combine the artichokes, garlic, chile flakes, and mint leaves and cover with the olive oil. Place the pan over high heat and bring to a boil. Once the center is boiling, remove from heat, cover, and allow to cool in the oil. Transfer the cooled artichokes to a clean jar, adding a pinch of chiles every cup of artichoke pieces, cover with the new oil and seal. To serve, drain the oil and serve at room temperature or re-heated in a saute pan, seasoned with salt and pepper.<br />
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<a href="http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/mario-batali/carciofi-sottolio-marinated-artichokes-recipe/index.html">http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/mario-batali/carciofi-sottolio-marinated-artichokes-recipe/index.html</a></div></div><br />
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</div>ashleyjoyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07240145694687946787noreply@blogger.com2