It's Christmas week! I don't know what that means for the rest of you, but for me it means a half day on Thursday and Friday off!
I've decided that since my chocolate peppermint cupcakes seemed to be such a hit that I would try to bring you a new recipe every Monday. Sundays are typically my day to cook for the week, so it only makes sense that I chronicle one of my recipes to share with you guys. This weeks recipe is ginger cookies. You could cook these longer and use gingerbread man cutouts if you wanted to make gingerbread cookies instead, but I was too lazy for that today.
Ingredients:
1 cup unsalted butter
1 cup light brown sugar
1/4 cup molasses (use light for a more subtle flavor, dark if you want a heavier flavor)
2 egg whites
splash of vanilla extract
2 2/3 cups flour
2 tsps baking soda
pinch of salt
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp ginger
1/2 tsp cloves
(For garnish) 1 cup granulated sugar
Preheat oven to 350. Cream together the butter and brown sugar together.
Add the molasses, egg whites, and vanilla, beat until smooth.
In a separate bowl, mix the dry ingredients together.
Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and mix well. The mixture will look a little crumbly, but never fear, it's supposed to look like this.
Cover the dough with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least an hour.
Remove the dough from the plastic wrap and roll into balls. Please excuse my mound of dirty dishes in the background.
Roll the balls in the granulated sugar.
Place on the baking sheet and flatten slightly with the bottom of a glass. The flatter they are, the crispier they will be, so don't flatten them too much if you want a cakier cookie.
After you flatten them, sprinkle a little more sugar on top. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes. Makes roughly 2.5 dozens.
Be sure to enjoy a few warm right out of the oven! (Or if you are me, enjoy half a dozen right out of the oven).
My little Canon point and shoot has officially died. Like a little trooper it tries to turn on for me, but then it sputters and shuts off. I have had that camera for about 6 years now and it's been through hell and back so I guess it was about time that it gave out.
I am currently ebaying all of my old Disney DVDs in hopes that I will make enough money to buy this guy. I really want it for when the boy and I go to Costa Rica (which is our actual Christmas gift to each other). And yes, I do have enough Disney DVDs to be able to raise that kind of money. I'm a large kid at heart, what can I say? I am keeping the ones that I really just couldn't bear to part with, but I have some of them on blu-ray now and I know they will all be rereleased at some point in the future on blu-ray so why hang on to them?
I was slacking on the food photos yesterday, but did manage to capture the salad I had for lunch.
Breakfast was cereal and a cantaloupe that I split with the boy and dinner was a delicious cheeseburger from Met Bar & Grill. It's been my first real splurge meal since I started "getting serious" about my eating. I am happy to report that I am down 3.4 pounds over the last two weeks. YAY! Hopefully I can keep this pace up all the way to Costa Rica.
Last night was a quiet night. Well...quiet until the boy and Mica decided to go at it for lap space.
He won initially until I booted him so that I could cuddle with her. Now he knows who's boss. And maybe that's why he locked her in a drawer.
I'm not a picky eater by any means. At least, not in the conventional way you think of a picky eater. I can eat almost anything, I just eat it in a specific way. On occasion, I have even been known to order my food like this:
I have listed below ten more of my food confessions. This is by no means a complete list because the odd ways I eat food and the specific ways I like it prepared are endless.
1. I despise reduced fat anything. And I hate people that fool themselves into thinking that reduced fat cheese or reduced fat chips or reduced fat anything tastes the same. It doesn't. Plus, when you take the naturally occuring fat out of something (like cheese) you take out part of the nutrients as well...and more often than not, companies add extra stuff (like chemicals) to disguise the taste.
2. I eat candy in a very specific way. The best example of this is Reese's Pieces. I eat them in denominations of three, and it has to be three of the same color or three of all different colors. If I end up with just 1 or 2 left, I don't eat them. Which leads into my next confession...
3. I don't like to eat the green candies. If I am sharing with someone or if there is someone around, I try to give the green ones away. Green M&Ms, green Gobstoppers, green Sweet Tarts...I don't like any of them. Yes I know that the green M&Ms taste exactly the same as the other ones, it's just a matter of principal.
4. As mentioned previously, mold doesn't scare me. I just cut around it, scrape it off, whatever gets the job done so that I can eat. I know it's disgusting, but a little mold won't hurt you. For all those of you who scoff at me yet eat blue cheese...you know you're just eating moldy cheese, right? And if you have ever taken penicillin, you are taking MOLD. And it's good for you!
5. I like lettuce and tomato, but I pick it off fast food sandwiches. I hardly ever get fast food, but when I do and I order a sandwich or burger, I pick off the lettuce and tomato (the only healthy parts of the sandwich basically) because I can't stand hot lettuce or tomato. It skeeves me out. Mold I can handle. Hot foliage I can't. Go figure.
6. I love condiments, but I hate ketchup. I think I might be the only person in the world who doesn't like ketchup. The only instance I will eat it is on a burger, and the ratio of mustard to ketchup must be at least 2:1. If I need a condiment for my fries, I pick sour cream. Ketchup just does not do it for me.
7. I prefer almost all vegetables raw. They are more nutritious this way anyway.The main veggie I hate cooked is carrots. I love raw carrots and can eat them by the pound, but for whatever reason, the taste and texture of them when they are cooked really grosses me out.
8. I eat meat. And a lot of it. I know this probably turns some of my readers off, but sorry I'm not sorry. I was raised in a meat and potatoes household and yes, I've seen Food, Inc. and still eat meat. And I love it. I try to limit red meat because of the fat content, but I usually eat it at least once a week.
9. I eat my meals in order. My "order" means meat first, starch second, veggies last. I have always had this weird habit. I think it started because of temperature. Veggies are ok to eat cold, but the meat is not. So I have to eat the meat first while it's still warm. Plus it always seemed as though the meat was the most important part, so it should be eaten first.
10. I drink pickle juice straight from the jar. I get excited to finish a jar of pickles and am able to drink the yummy salty juice. I know I'm not the only one.
Hey y'all. New music Tuesday! Well, there was absolutely NOTHING on itunes this morning to download that looked even remotely good so that did not start my Tuesday off in a positive way. Hopefully the rest of the day will be a little better.
Yesterday's (and this mornings) breakfast was a banana with almond butter. Justin, you are my hero. I wish many good things upon you. Seriously, he is a genius. This is hands down the best almond butter I have ever tasted...and it comes in single serving packets perfect for traveling. Since I have to head to work earlier since I've been taking the bus (everytime I even say the word "bus" I start singing Rosa Parks by Outkast in my head) I need to-go breakfast items. A banana and almond butter are perfect.
Lunch was leftover beef stew that I had made for the boy on Sunday. I always think beef stew is better the second day, don't you??
And then of course, someone at work decided it would be a good idea to bring in cookies. I really was not going to have any, I swear, but then I just couldn't help myself. I took 2 small ones and a cookie stick. All three were really good but not worth the guilt I felt after eating them. I am supposed to be on my best behavior in preparation for Costa Rica. I lost the cookie battle today.
I ate half of my dinner before the gym...which was sauteed brussel sprouts. I keep trying to recreate the fried brussel sprouts from Lattitude, but I just don't think it can be done.
The boy and I went to the gym as soon as he got home from work. I did 3.3 miles on the treadmill (0.3 miles more than I planned) but skipped the rowing because the boy was unhappy with the TVs not working and was in a huff, so I cut my workout a little short. I have long since learned that the majority of the TVs at my gym don't work, so I can workout without them but since the boy is new to my gym, it frustrates him to no end that the TVs don't work. He needs the TV on when he works out.
When we got back from the gym I made some chicken strips with panko bread crumbs for myself and some chicken broccoli ziti for him (unpictured). I'm so glad I switched to panko, they pack so much more of a crunch than regular bread crumbs.
Happy Monday! I hope you all had a good weekend. Mine was busy busy busy.
This morning I bring you my latest culinary creation...chocolate cupcakes with peppermint frosting topped with crushed candy canes. The inspiration for this came from the boy, who loves chocolate and mint together.
Ingredients for cupcakes:
1 1/3 cups flour
1/4 tsp baking soda
2 tsp baking powder
3/4 cup cocoa powder
dash of salt
3 tbsp softened butter
1 1/2 cups sugar
2 eggs
dash of vanilla extract
3/4 cup of milk
Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cream butter and sugar together.
Add eggs, beat until smooth. Combine dry ingredients.
Add dry ingredients and milk to wet mixture, beat until smooth. Makes 18 cupcakes.
While you are waiting for the cupcakes to cook, you can make the frosting.
Ingredients for frosting:
1 lb of powdered sugar
1 stick of softened butter
dash of vanilla extract
2 dashes of peppermint extract
1/4 cup of milk
Directions:
Combine all ingredients and beat until smooth. Licking beaters is optional, but you know I licked mine!
Once the frosting is all set to go, transfer to a ziploc bag to get ready for frosting. Then comes the fun part...crushing the candy canes! I used 6 regular sized candy canes for this, but 5 would do. Put them in a ziploc bag, take a meat mallet (or any similar object) and smash away!
Let the cupcakes cool completely. Unfortunately, I did not realize before I made this recipe that it actually makes 18 cupcakes, so I forced all the batter into 12 cupcakes and ended up having to cut them down, but lesson learned. Cut a hole in the center of each cupcake. Yours will look prettier than mine since you won't have to cut off the edges. Make sure you don't cut all the way through to the bottom, otherwise you will have frosting leaking out the bottom.
Listen Starbucks...we've had some great times together and you will always have a special place in my heart, but this abusive relationship has to stop.
I deserve better.
I went a full seven days without you in my life and then all of a sudden you found a way to worm your way back in.
Well not again. You have cost me way too much.
We need to break up for good. Go find someone else to tempt into your sinister deliciousness and then leave feeling empty and used.
Besides, I have a new man in my life and he treats me a lot better than you ever did.
Only ONE more day and it's the weekend. I am very much looking forward to this weekend because I actually don't have ANYTHING planned. How great is that? Lots of much needed R&R for this girl and I'm really excited about it. Since I was on my death bed last weekend, I feel like it's been two weeks since I had a "weekend."
So I want to try a little feature out this week, see how I like it, see how you guys like it, called "Around the Interwebs." I browse the Internet like it's my second job and I read a lot of interesting/sad/funny things and have been thinking I would like to share some of them with you.
First up we have an article on cnn.com about emoticons. I totally disagree with this article. I happen to love emoticons. The whole point of email and text is to make things faster and simpler. Using emoticons is just a way of conveying emotion without trying to find the right words, and in a digital age when most communication is not done face to face where you can read someone's facial expressions, emoticons are important. Long live the emoticon I say ;) And yes, I really do wink at people in real life all the time.
This may be the funniest blog post I have ever read. This girl is seriously hilarious. Of course I was dumb enough to read this while I was at work, in a conference room with three other people. I had to keep biting the inside of my cheek to keep from laughing out loud. So if you're at work or in a library for instance, better save this one for when you get home and can enjoy a hearty laugh.
Kalamata Olive Hummus. Need I say more? This literally may be the best creation on earth. I made some myself and OH.MY.YUM.
Now onto the daily stuff. I have been really good about working out this week and have been to the gym everyday for a minimum 40 minute cardio session. I have a Bodypump class scheduled tonight. I am bringing the boy with me for the first time. I am hoping he loves it as much as I do! I haven't been to Bodypump in forever and I know I am going to be SORE tomorrow. It hurts so good!
Breakfast this morning was oatmeal (I know all you bloggers love looking at picture after picture of oatmeal on everyone's blog).
In with the oats was some protein powder, walnuts, and a two scoops of the Cranberry Apple Butter from Trader Joe's. I do love their fruit butters, but to be honest, I didn't really love this one in my oatmeal. It was a little too bitter. Some agave or honey next time should improve things. For lunch I packed a big mouth sandwich (toasting the bread so things wouldn't get soggy).
After Bodypump tonight the boy is making some pita pizzas in the oven. I have been really good with my eating this week as well except for last night when I slipped and had two oreos. Thank goodness there was only two, if there had been a whole bag in my house it would have been game over.
How do you feel about emoticons? Have you ever tried Bodypump or a weight class like it?
