Cupcakes

Bernie and Denise are getting ready for their 2nd CSA.  They are hosting a lunch for their CSA members.  Information on their CSA can be found here: http://threegoatfarm.com/
They asked me to make cupcakes, and we all know I love to bake!  I wanted something new and different.  I decided to make 2 kinds:

Red velvet with cream cheese frosting
Hazelnut brownie bites with a cocoa buttermilk frostting

I really am looking for an adult party to make baileys Irish cream cupcakes.

The red velvet was just a box cake mix with vanilla added to it.  The frosting was a basic cream cheese frosting. 

The Hazelnut Brownies are simply, to start just mak cake like brownie batter.  I put them into the mini cupcake pans but I did not fill them too high about 75%.  The center was a cheesecake mix made from Cream Cheese, powdered sugar, an egg, some of my homemade nutella and some almond extract. 

Normally I would swirl the cheesecake into the brownie but this time I wanted it to be all in the center when you bit into it.  The frosting was buttermilk frosting with cocoa added and a few table spoons of hot choc. mix.
Both kinds made 72 mini cupcakes.

Then it came time to frost them.  ahh the temptation.


I just wanted a spoon and eat right out of the bowl.
once they were lined up I started frosting
.

I love my new cupcake decorator. Didn’t it make the nicest star design? I hope they enjoy them!

Photos and food!

I am so glad this week is over. Monday it was –22 here today its 25.  that’s a 50 degree heat wave!  I am officially over winter, I am so glad we are spending next weekend in a 80degree indoor water park.  Bathing suit or not! 

I have worked hard this week to stay active and count my calories. I weigh in this morning and I was down 1.8!! Yeah that means I made up my gain from last week and lost a bit more.  My goal for next week is at least 1.6!  The only thing is I will be weighing in a day early next week. and its an off week at boot camp so I need to push myself this weekend.  Next week is also my measurements day!!!

I wanted to post some photos of my progress:

	This was December 2009..
	Feb 2010. The outdoor hockey game in my XXL jersey. I think I was bigger then the DD Cup!
These two photos are from Aug 2010 about 8 weeks into the contest
	Oct 2010, , notice my hips are getting smaller
	These three are from today!  January 28th My hubby likes the butt!

I have to tell you about my lunch and dinner.  Every other Friday I work (I know not a bad deal right!) the Fridays I work we order lunch.  One of my coworkers has a wheat allergy so its easy for me to order healthy because she is so limited on options.  Today I decided I wanted a salad with grilled chicken.  I ordered a creaser salad figuring I would eat the salad and chicken and use my dressing that I keep at work.  For the first time ever they poured the dressing on the salad. there must have been enough dressing for 3 salads..seriously it was like I ordered dressing with a side of lettuce.  The “grilled” chicken was breaded with no grill marks..it wasn’t very greasy but it certainly was not healthy. I was so disappointed.  Grrr.  I just ate the chicken.

Now for dinner I have a new favorite!  Last night I baked some chicken and then chopped it up so it was ready for tonight.  I baked with it some of the BBQ rub from pampered chef and basil seasoning.  When I got home I heated it up to make chicken wraps.  Instead of lettuce I used Cole slaw mix (without any of the dressing).  It tasted so good. the cabbage gave it a crunch and it blended so well with BBQ season.  Sorry we ate it too fast before I could take a photo! 

everyone have a great weekend!

Exercise Tournament–Week 3

Well we went down by one this week   we will miss you!!  Great job to everyone for staying active.  This time of the year it would be so much easier to just sit on the couch with chips and watch a Grey’s rerun.  And maybe you still are but you at least are still fitting in 2 hours a week of exercise time.

Last week David worked so much overtime and my kids were just not sleeping.  Of course I don’t sleep well when David not home anyway so by Friday I just wanted to crash.  I was napping on the couch and it was snowy out.  I didn’t want to go to bootcamp.  I knew I needed to but it would have been so much easier to just stay under my blanket.  After some people poking fun at me on FB I went. 

I walked in and saw everything we had to do on the board:

1) 50 kettlebell swings – heaviest you have ever gone

2) 25 Pushup from the toes

3) 30 burpies without stopping

4) 2 minute plank without stopping

5) 20 Ringrows without stopping

6) 20 TRX bicep curls

7) 20 TRX Tricep curls

8) 20 Dead lifts with the Beast – 100 pound KB

I looked at him and told him he was nuts. this was like a new years resolution, not my Jan 20th resolution.  I had never done ANY pushups from my toes, I can not do more then 8 burpies without stopping, the longest plank I had ever done was 1minute and on Monday I lifted only once the 70 pound KB.  REALLY on a friday that I am dragging my ass you want me to do this.

wait there was more!  We were in teams…So if anyone in your team stopped doing #3, #4, #5 the whole team had to start over…No Pressure.

Deep Breath..

GO!

25 minutes later we were done.  I did it.  Okay so I was last to finish my burpies and I wanted to fall over but I didn’t.  My plank sucked I was shaking and buring and losing my footing but I did it.  my first 5 pushups from my toes Rocked..the other 20 were questionable but I did a pushup from my toes!!

Then it was the BEAST!!  First Cat went and she rocked it like always!  Then I went and the first few were not to bad but it felt like it got heavier as I went along.  He posted a video of Thursday and Fridays workout.  I am the black pants and green shirt doing the beast right at the end.  Midway thru I am standing and watching Cat with the beast …I didn’t even recognize myself.  that was cool!

I was on a high after this workout.  I was so active on Saturday that is why I fell asleep last night typing.  I am trying to stay focused this week and active and I hope you do too.   Otherwise I may just need to make you do the above workout! just kidding!

Homemade Marshmallows and Nutella

Heather and I have wanted to try to make nutella (Hazelnut spread) since we found it online.  I also wanted to try making some homemade marshmallows.  Its snowy and cold this weekend making it the perfect opportunity to be in the kitchen.

In December I had found this website post on making marshmallows.  We tried to let Tyler do as much as he could!

Tyler mixed the gelatin and water.  Then he mixed the syrup, sugar and water together before heather boiled it.
	stirring often, heather brought it to a boil.  the instructions said to use a small pan but I found it more controllable with a medium size pan. After a 1 minute rapid boil we poured it into the gelatin water mixture
we had to mix them on high for over 10 minutes before adding vanilla. Next time I would use a bigger bowl because this is right at top! Look we made Fluff!! -------->
and yes Tyler taste tested  the beaters for me!	we poured it into our 9X13 greased pan.  they said 9x9 pan but boy mine were thick using the 9x13 I can not image the 9x9 size marshmallows Now they need to set for 4-6 hours.

after 5 hours I cut the marshmallows.  It was best to use the Kitchen shears to cut them. I was bummed that I couldn’t cut them with my cookie cutters  Here are the final project after they have been tossed in powdered sugar:

I ended up with 2 quart bags full of them.

Now for the Hazelnut spread!  I first found this website on it thus sparking the idea.  after a few google searches I found it on Martha Stewarts website here.  Of course I didn’t follow it exactly, partly because I have bad reading comprehension.  I read to toast and chop the hazelnuts  but it said to blanch remove the skins and toast.  At the store I purchased pre-chopped hazelnuts with the skins on..hmm.  I was not peeling the skins on all the little pieces so we decided to do skin on!!

Makes 1 cup

• 7 ounces blanched hazelnuts (1 1/2 cups), toasted
• Coarse salt
• 1/2 cup confectioners' sugar
• 2 1/2 ounces semisweet chocolate, melted

First we toasted the hazelnuts and they smelled so nice. 

then Puree nuts and 1/4 teaspoon salt in a food processor until mixture is the texture of peanut butter.  it took about 5 minutes of processing and because we had the skins on it was really dry.  I drizzled in about a tablespoon of canola oil to get it going.

Then we added sugar and chocolate; pulse until combined.  once it cooled down we tried!  Amazing! it taste so good.  of course it has a texture because we didn’t get the nuts all the way pureed like they are in Nutella but its so yummy!

it is surprisingly simple to do!!  If we were to make it for adults only I think I would add espresso powder just to kick it up a notch.

Emma kept Grammy busy while we cooked.  She took one for the team:

She was wrinkling her nose in the 2nd photo.

Bucket List

I spent Saturday with my Girlfriends.  Nothing wild, don’t getting any funny ideas!  We scrapbooked!  My girl Jenny (here) showed us per bucket list that she scrapbooked.  I had been kind of thinking about my bucket list but Jenny kicked it in overdrive!

So I have been attempting to build my list but I realized some of my items are done!

1. To have healthy children = Complete
2. Build a house into a home = Complete
3. Have a job doing something I love
4. Go to Disney
5. Go to Alaska
6. Meet Rachel Ray
7. Become a runner and complete a 5K and then boilermaker
8. Hit my target weight
9. Be published in a magazine
10. Host a cooking show or talk show!
11. Skydive or zip line or ride in a racecar
12. Ride on a motorcycle
13. Get a makeover to include profession photos taken
14. Get a facial
15. walk on the oceans beach barefoot in a strapless or sleeveless dress
16. Ride a horse without falling off
17. Wear size 8 Jeans
18. Declare myself a strong women in public in front of people
19. Enjoy a cup of coffee and pastry in a REAL coffee house with no schedule to worry about
20. Find a way to change a child’s life

Thanks Jenny!  I guess I need to scrap it now!

Weekly update!–week3

 

Way to go!  we have everyone still in this week!  Lets keep it up! 

This week I was reading something about body fat percentage and decided to calculate mine.  It wasn’t pretty.  I used this calculator:

http://www.healthyforms.com/helpful-tools/body-fat-percentage.php

It told me to try the following to lower my body fat percentage by exercising for at least 30 minutes, 3-4 times a week and by eating a healthy and well-balanced diet.  so see how much this little tournament is helping!

Last week I told you I was going to try out my snowshoes!  I am happy to announce nothing broken or sprained!

It reminded me of walking with my dad’s sneakers when I was 4! 

Photo by Tyler!

While we were outside the snow started to come down.  The flakes were so pretty when they landed on you.

Today’s exercise will consist of shoveling, and working on my patients.  I have had 4 hours of sleep and the kids are very very whiney!  I should be whiney not them.  But I am hoping to get in some time on my T’mill and to bond with my Kettlebell.

ice cream reward

I just folded 4 loads of laundry…now I am trying to find a good reason why I should not reward myself with ice cream….

Exercise Tournament–week 1

Way to go everyone is still in the tournament!  The best part so many of you went past the 2 hour requirement.  Keep up the great work!!  Let’s finish this with everyone still in the game!

So how bad was?  not to bad once you got going right?  Just think in one week you have taken steps toward a healthier you without really upstructing you life. you fit it!!  that was step one..something I struggled with for years!  but also look at these benefits of regular exercise (I stole this from here: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/exercise/HQ01676):

1. Exercise improves your mood – just think if everyone at work walked at lunch hmm it could be a decent place to work! lol

2. Exercise combats chronic diseases. – heart disease is a leading killer something that my family has struggled with – my mom had a heart attack before she was 40. my grandfather died in his 40;s.  I do not want to follow that family trend.

3. Exercise helps you manage your weight. – That is the Key right there baby!

4. Exercise boosts your energy level. – So that you can do more exercise or clean the house faster!!  I still do not have enough energy to fold laundry.

 

5. Exercise promotes better sleep. -  your body needs it and since sex doesn’t count for this you can spend more time sleeping!

 

6. Exercise can put the spark back into your sex life. -  Got your sexy back??  this was classic line from the website “Regular physical activity can lead to enhanced arousal for women, and men who exercise regularly are less likely to have problems with erectile dysfunction than are men who don't exercise — especially as they get older”  LOL I love it. but sorry still doesn’t count towards minutes!

 

7. Exercise can be — gasp — fun!  really never!  okay I am starting to like working out but its because I know I am being effective.  plus I am doing thinks that are fun and exercise..kayak in the summer, hiking and now Snow shoeing!

I plan to test my snow shoes today.  I will have tyler video it!  Everyone tells me that its just like walking.  well I was told the same thing when I tried to cross country ski and I ended up with a twisted ankle!  I read that you can burn 96 calories in 10 minutes while snow shoeing..add to that another 50 for laughing at myself, followed by another 50 of laughing harder after I wet my pants!  Trust me had been done before!  Sad to admit.

Well the boys are out hunting and I have to face a pile of laundry…later my healthier friends!!!

Exercise Tournament - updated Rules

 

Okay everyone taking part in the exercise tournament, we have a few updates!

1) another person has joined us, Cindy!!!!

2) by the time I update my blog Sunday morning I need to know if you met the weekly requirements

3) Rules updated!!

• you need to workout at least 2 hours each week, ideally you should be aiming for 30 minutes 4 times a week.  If we continue this on in March the rules will require you to have 4 days of activity (you will thank me later)  But for now we are focused on getting motivated and active so just get your 2 hours (min) done!
• Since today and tomorrow we are getting a snow storm, shoveling will count.  Today the kids and I shoveled the deck, we had 6inches on it.  I shoveled it over the waist high railing! talk about a core workout.
• Sex will only count the week of Valentines day.  I know what you are think, sex is work and should count.  But really? does it last 30 minutes at a cardio level??  if you can answer yes to that then you can count it any week.  But be honest!!  remember this is about you and not about your husband inflated imagination of his ……well you get it.

Stay motivated everyone is doing great!!  I am hoping to test out my snow shoes this weekend!!

The Exercise Tournament–Starting Line up

 

Okay right now these are the players in our tournament:

me
Stephanie
Erin
Lisa D

Heather
Brenda
Jenny
Dorothy
Lisa M
JoAnn
Laurie
Deb
Shannon
Eric

we may have one more person,..just waiting to hear!

The Dates:
tournament will run from Sunday January 2nd until midnight Saturday February 26th.
Our weeks will run Sunday to Saturday.
Each Sunday I will post who is still competing here on my blog.

The challenge {should you choose to accept it}:
to work out 4 times for 30 minutes a week.

To win the challenge:
You will need to email me on Saturday to let me know you have fulfilled your minimum requirement of 30 minutes 4 times a week.
I won’t be keeping a total count of minutes, all I need to know is if you are in or out.
This will be an "on your honor" log.
There are no exercise police coming to check up on you so please be fair.
Everyone who fulfills the required 4 times a week for 30 minutes will continue on to the next week.  I look forward to hearing from all of you on Saturday ..I worked out both yesterday and today! two down, two to go.

Back to reality

Its Sunday night after an 11 day vacation.  My alarm will go off at 5am tomorrow…if the kids let me sleep in that long. The week before vacation we were up be for 5pm but then on vacation they “Slept in” till about 530.  The good thing was that we could take the day slow at our pass.  So what is the good thing about going back to work getting back on routine!  Much needed!!

I had high hopes for the week of vacation to get so many projects done. well most of them did not get done till today.  I was finally motivated and at a point with everything else that I could take the time to do it!

I started this morning with cleaning out all the cupboards in my kitchen!

My seasoning cupboard was out of control.  I had so many duplicates and baking items with the others.  I took everything out and started over!

Then I moved onto the pantry and did the same thing

you can see everything!

The kids helped me with the bowl cupboard we took out anything that didn’t have a lid and any lid that didn’t have a bowl! this was how tyler wanted to stack them!

Even my baking closet got a makeover.

I feel so much better, there are a few things still on my to do list.  Like the hall closet (I did clean the mudroom closet on Friday), the basement, the laundry room, cleaning Tyler’s dresser and the bin of clothes I have to sort out.  Thankfully the laundry is done!

Now I did make use of my extra baking soda!  I have all these extra socks with holes in them.  I poured banking soda into two of them that had been doubled up. I used a cup to help me pour the baking soda into them.

now I can slide these into my gym sneakers after my workouts and they can absorb that great smell!  it was so fast and easy.  I only doubled them because of the holes, but I think they will still be able to work because they are not thick.  These are my work dress socks that are so thin.

Also on my to do list was running.  We are going to the indoor water park in 33 days.  33 freaking days. I am excited but nervous.  In 2010 I lost 50 pounds.  But I am still overweight and still not where I want to be.  Especially for a bathing Suit.  I just feel when people see the photos they will be more judgmental.  “She lost 50 pounds and still looks like that"?” So then what did I do..I tried on my bathing suit.  Yeah just to add to my lack of confidence.  it fits the small one from 2 years ago but I just want to look better.  So here is where running comes in.  my 2011 bucket list has “run a 5K” so I figured I would give it a try.  I ran 2.2 miles in 30 minutes that is like a 15 minute mile.  that really will not cut it.  I need cut that time down some to about 12 or 11 minute.  I think I did a 10 minute mile in high school once.  On my fridge is a count down to the water park with big letters “Do you really want to eat that?”  just to make me keep that door shut.  I would hang up a photo of me in the bathing suit but I don’t want to scare the kids!

Well I need to go make my very healthy lunch.  I will be eating very clean and well the next 33 days.  and I will be working out any chance I can! 

one cupboard down 3 to go

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Geocaching

For Christmas Dad and Denise gave Tyler and David a membership and kit for Geocaching.  (www.Geocaching.com) .  It is very interesting.  So today we looking for our first cache!!

David wanted to follow the GPS so here is where it lead us:

we looked high and low and just couldn’t find it…”IT” we really didn’t know what “IT” was.  we climbed over logs and got stuck on pickers but nothing looked like an “it”.  Finally Emma and I just walked around on the road (the hill was too steep for her).

These are my new boots!  are they not great?!  they are EMU that I got for 26bucks, it was a 62 dollar savings.  I was so excited to wear them!!  Okay back to Geocaching!

After not finding anything and looking pretty damn shady we decided to try another spot.  Once we got there I looked around and found this tube but I figured “it” was a box.  I guess I should of read the book on this but David had and he knew what to do!

At my suggestion we ran to Dan and Denise’s to look up the caches online and get some clues.  Now we knew what “it” was as far as size and had a better idea of where they were!

This is Tyler’s first find! 

We went to yet another spot but again had some trouble this one the GPS was not picking up so we are going to try it again maybe tomorrow depending on the weather.  We tried for one last attempt!

SUCCESS!

Basically Geocaching is a scavenger hunt/treasure hunt.  You find hidden cache using a GPS tracker.  Some Cache you just sign the logs while others you can leave something like a trinket.  Its very interesting.  you should check out the website.