My secret weapon: Smoothies

Smoothies are my latest favorite thing.  Full of healthy stuff, refreshing after a run, etc, etc....

I am guzzling them down almost daily ... and so are Carter and Chloe.  The best part is I am getting them to drink down - wait for it - SPINACH! Yup, spinach in a smoothie, folks.

The nice thing about smoothies is that you can just add whatever you have on hand.  Here is my "go-to" recipe:

 SPINACH, frozen fruit, a banana, yogurt, juice/almond milk, and ground flaxseeds

First I puree the spinach with some liquid - because really - does anyone want green floaties in their smoothie? This way you can be sure the spinach is totally liquified.  (Plus then the kids won't be on to your tricks!) 

You can use juice, milk, almond/soy/rice milk, even just water.  Whatever floats your boat.  

And as you can see, you do not need the latest, greatest blender or "smoothie maker" they sell to make a good smoothie!  This blender was Chad's from before we got married -11 years ago-and it still kicks butt when it comes to blending....so in our kitchen it stays.

 You can then add the rest of the ingredients....finish with a liquid....press puree... and presto -  a smoothie!  I love that you can just add whatever you have on hand.  I think the key is to have something frozen, a "thickener" like yogurt or banana, and a liquid.  If it's too thick, just add more liquid. 

Anyhow, I just have to add a few comments here about healthy stuff in general. 

I am really glad I decided to train for this race in May.  Not because I particularly enjoy running, although I am enjoying it more and more. But I have learned some things that I would not have learned otherwise:

1.  Having an exercise challenge can actually make exercise almost fun.  I will admit - I rarely WANT to go to the Y to exercise....and almost every time I have scheduled to go, I WANT to wimp out.  I think I'm too tired, or that I should do something else "important".....but EVERY. SINGLE. TIME. I go, I leave feeling good.  And proud of myself.  And surprising myself at how I've improved even!  It also helps that they have child care there that costs me $1 per hour. :)  A little time to myself is always a plus.  But I have learned that I can't leave it to chance, and I can't make it optional.  I put it on the calendar, and I make myself go.  It's like a little appointment.

2.  Since I have been exercising more regularly, I am eating better.  Because of course- who wants to come home after a good workout and then fill yourself with donuts?   I have ended up eating in a more deliberate and healthful way.  And THIS is what REALLY surprised me:  I actually don't crave junk food very much lately.  Like - it doesn't even look very good at all.  

True confession:  I have always been a bit of a junk food junkie.  I have been able to eat bad-for-you foods for most of my life without having it affect my weight or general well-being, but I think those days are numbered.  The scale has slowly been creeping up after each baby's arrival, and while I am not "overweight" - I know that I have not been eating WELL.  So I don't deprive myself of anything I love, I just eat a little bit of it.  And then I try to make my meals full of more fruits and vegetables and less of what is unhealthy.  I don't count calories or points or anything.  I can't do all that, it would drive me insane.  I just try to put more "good stuff" in.... and leave more "bad stuff" out.

My goal in doing all this?  Besides the obvious - my general health - I hope to stay actively involved in my kids' lives... and someday I want to be fully involved with my grandchildren if God gives them to me.  I am someone who will not be a "young" grandma (at least I better not be too young!) because I had my children in my 30's.  In fact, I was 37 when Chloe was born so even if she has her first baby as early as 25 I will be 62 already.  If I can help it, I don't want to be the grandma who sits in the wheelchair and watches on the sidelines....I want to be on the floor playing with them and going on trips with them and chasing them around the yard!

So with God's help I am trying to maintain a more healthy lifestyle.  It is hard for me to write this on a blog because now it is in black and white and I am accountable to whomever reads this!  But I hope it will not just be a temporary thing but a true lifestyle change. 

Now if I could just get rid of these shin splints.... ;)

Tasty Tuesday

If there can be "Wordless Wednesday" in blog world, I figure there can be "Tasty Tuesday", right?

Oh, I crack myself up, making up my own blog carnivals for the 20 people out there who occasionally look at my blog :)   And on top of it, I'm sure someone else has already come up with Tasty Tuesday ...

[Is  it bad that I still don't understand what a "blog carnival" is?  Every carnival I've ever been to has rides and funnel cakes, and so far no funnel cakes have arrived at my house on blog carnival days ...unfortunately - seeing as I am a big fan of funnel cakes.]

Okay, I am totally digressing.  I think I need to get more sleep.  And have school start again.  Yes, that would be nice.

So, the point of this whole post.  Yes, there is a point.

I made these muffins yesterday.  They are pretty healthy .... and my kids, all three, gobbled them down and asked for more.  So I thought I would share the recipe.  I have another healthy muffin recipe that the kids love too, maybe I'll share that one another time.

I freely admit that this recipe is taken straight out of Martha Stewart's Everyday Food magazine.  Although I made one small modification, so does that make it "my" recipe now?  No, probably not.

Zucchini, Banana & Flaxseed Muffins
[Mom Hint:  If you want your kids to eat these, do NOT tell them this is what they are called.  I simply said they were "Banana Muffins."  Throwing in the words zucchini and flaxseeds will probably not help your cause ... ]


Ingredients:  (It looks like a lot but they are mostly in your pantry)
1 3/4 c. flour (I used half whole-wheat flour ... this was my modification! ;) )
1/2 c. ground flaxseed
1 c. light-brown sugar
2 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. coarse salt
1 tsp. ground cinnamon

Whisk all of these together in a large bowl.  Then add:

1 1/2  c. grated zucchini  (about 1 large zucchini  or 2 small)
1/3 c. mashed ripe banana (about 1 large banana)

Stir to combine.

In a small bowl, mix:
3/4 c. whole milk (or whatever you have around)
1 lg. egg, lightly beaten
1 tsp. vanilla extract (of course Martha insists that it be "pure" v. extract...)

Add the milk mixture to the flour mixture and stir just until combined (do not overmix or you will have muffins that are as dense as small baseballs.)

Divide among 12 muffin cups and bake until toothpick comes out clean, about 20-25 minutes.
[Mom hint:  Make them into mini-muffins.  I don't know why, but the kids eat mini-muffins like crazy but the big ones, not as much... I guess they like that the muffins are more their size!]

They have only 2 g of fat (per large muffin) but 5 g of protein and 3 g of fiber!  And not one drop of butter or oil!  You could probably cut back on the sugar as well without much flavor difference.  I might try that next time.

I tried to take a picture of these babies but truthfully - my camera does not zoom in very well, and taking a picture of a mini muffin from 5 feet back .... well, the photo just won't do it justice then.  So take my word for it - they were yummy and healthy too!  Go make some!

Next Tuesday?  Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins (which are also healthy and yummy!)

What to do, what to do ...

... with all the Halloween candy in your house?

[it is calling my name as I type ... "eat me, eat me" ... I WILL resist ...]

Well, I for one do not want to gain 15 lbs. from eating it, especially BEFORE Christmas even arrives, because it is a given that I will probably gain a few over the holidays.

Luckily, I have a few ideas about how to rid the house of the excess.

First - take all the little non-chocolate pieces (lollipops, pixy stix, starburst, etc.) and stash them away. (A few at a time so the kids don't notice, ha!) Then ... if you are hosting a birthday party or something in the next 6 months ... use them in the pinata or goodie bags. Not that I have EVER done this. Ahem.

Second - take the chocolatey pieces, put them in a big old ziploc bag and stash them in the freezer. As before, a few at a time. This way it is hard to give into temptation, and you can dole it out a few pieces at a time over the next few months. Not that I have ever battled this temptation myself. Ahem.

Third - use them up in your Christmas baking. This is my favorite idea. 'Cause I love to bake... and especially for Christmas!

Got Hershey bars? Melt them up and drizzle them over almost anything and you look like a gourmet. Or dip pretzels, oreos, etc. in them and roll in sprinkles.

Got Snickers bars? There is an awesome cookie recipe I call Santa Surprises that uses them (and you could substitute Milky Ways and 3 Musketeers easily as well. And you don't really need the minis, you could always cut the fun size in half too.) Drizzle aforementioned Hershey bars and some Christmas sprinkles over top of these babies and you have one delicious Christmas cookie. Just a note - for the recipe, click on the word Santa Surprises above. For some reason the link will not highlight itself! AARGH!

Got Reese's Peanut Butter Cups? (Nah, me either. Already gone ... but some of you might not have a weakness for them like we do here...) Here is another great cookie recipe that uses them. Or here's another. Make them, put some red and green sprinkles on top, and voila! Christmas cookies. Give them as gifts. Or eat them yourself!

Got M&M's? Pick out the red and green ones and then you have Christmas M&M's! (Just kidding - who has time or is crazy enough to do THAT??)

We also have lots of Kit Kat's around and I'm not sure what to do with those ... other than just eat them. Or give them away!

Okay seriously now. If you have candy that you just don't want - many shelters will take them and use them for their residents. Both Audrey's & Carter's schools have sent home notices that we could send candy in if we wished. So don't throw it out ... someone can surely use it, even if that isn't you!

Enjoy!!

Peanut Butter Oat Chippers

Things have been all over the place the last few weeks, which is evident in my blogging, or lack thereof. So many things are changing at the moment that I just can't quite comprehend it all -- sick kids, school starting, a daughter turning seven, routine TOTALLY changing, etc. I'm sure I'll have more to say about it all at a later date, but I am still in processing mode. And I am an "internal" processor, so until I've figured out my own feelings in my own head, you probably won't see them here on this blog.

I think this last paragraph probably only makes sense to me as I reread it. But in summary: I feel all topsy-turvy.

So instead of blogging about all the meaningful things going on around me, I am turning to cookies, my own personal little coping mechanism. Plus baking is so much more fun and rewarding than cleaning my bathroom. :)

I made these cookies a couple weeks ago and Chad declared them "awesome." Now, Chad doesn't normally say much about my cooking good or bad, so if he does make a comment, I know it really means something! Although really, how can you go wrong with a recipe that utilizes both chocolate and peanut butter??

So... thought I would share the recipe.

Peanut Butter Oat Chippers
(courtesy of some magazine that I got in the mail and threw out, only I ripped out this recipe first...)

Start with:
3/4 c. butter, softened
3/4 c. chunky peanut butter
2/3 c. granulated sugar
2/3 c. light brown sugar

Cream these together on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes.

Then add 3 eggs, one at a time. Then add 2 tsp. vanilla and continue to "cream".

Meanwhile, whisk together
1 1/2 c. flour
1 Tbsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt.

Gradually add to the peanut butter mixture.

Stir in 3 1/2 c. oats.

Then fold in 1 1/2 c. chocolate chips and 1 1/2 c. peanut butter chips.

Drop onto cookie sheets and bake at 350 for about 10-12 minutes. Cool completely before storing or they will become a crumbly mess!

I am eating one as I write and I can vouch for the fact that they are "AWESOME"!!
Let me know if you make them and what you think.

Perfect Chocolate Chip Cookies

I have been making chocolate chip cookies since I was about ... hmm, 13? I love them (who doesn't?) but the toll house recipe on the back of the package has never satisfied me. Either the cookies are too flat, too crispy, or turn into hockey pucks a day later. I like my cookies chewy and not too flat or puffy. It's been a 25 year quest to find the best chocolate chip cookie recipe ever (and if you can do first grade math you now know my age ...) I have a number of food items that I am always wanting to find the "best" recipe for including spaghetti sauce/meatballs (still looking ...) and pancakes (think I just found a winner for this one!) and I know there are others but I just can't think of them off the top of my head. :)

A year or so ago I asked for and received a HUMONGOUS cookbook for Christmas called The New Best Recipe (literally it has like 1000 pages. Wait, 1027 pages - I just checked). Basically, Cook's Illustrated magazine has spent the last umpteen years trying to find the "best" recipes for a zillion basic classics - everything from chicken piccata to grilled steak to eggs benedict to chili to say, chocolate chip cookies. :) It is not a "creative" cookbook filled with recipes for taco lasagna or desserts featuring cool whip. It's just a back to basics classic filled with a compilation of all the "best recipes" that they have tested and re-tested until they felt they had the "perfect" recipe.

[Sidenote: I wish I could say that this cookbook has turned me into the "best" cook ... but alas, it is not so. Maybe if I didn't have an almost one year old clinging to my leg every time I'm making dinner?]

So, the other day I cracked open the book and of course, they had a recipe for "chewy chocolate chip cookies". So far most of the recipes I have tried from the cookbook have been winners ... and this one did not let me down! They make really, really yummy cookies that are chewy, not too flat, not too puffy... The secret? MELTING THE BUTTER, not creaming.

I was going to type out the recipe myself, but it has already taken me 3 days to compose this post. No lie. So here is the link: Perfect Chocolate Chip Cookies. It also includes a whole explanation on how they came up with the recipe!

ENJOY! I know you will ... now go make some!

UPDATE: The link above is no longer working because Cook's Illustrated now wants you to sign up for a free trial ... and of course no one wants to do that. SO... go here to find the same recipe. Although this blogger makes it sound like she came up with this herself ... and it is the exact recipe from Cook's Illustrated! Copycat!

Baby food

I have a confession to make. I LOVE little jars of baby food ... not to eat of course, but to look at and select at the store and line up all organized in nice little rows in my pantry. Weird, I know. Even when I don't have an infant in the house, part of me wants to go check out that part of the grocery store. They have so many interesting selections now ... cinnamon raisin granola; ham/pineapple/rice; and all kinds of fruit combos that sound really yummy. They even have apples and chicken. I have to say - that doesn't sound appealing but it somehow has gotten my kids to eat the meat that's in jars. They never really like the whole 'chicken in gravy' kinds of baby food.


However, I also REALLY like a bargain. And baby food is definitely not a bargain (although Redner's is selling Beech-nut @ 2 for .70 lately - not too bad). I really think that part of the reason I've breastfed each child is because I don't want to pay $20 a can for formula! Anyhow, when Audrey was little I made some baby food and I've continued to do it with each subsequent baby. I don't make a lot of varieties, because really - do I want to find peaches that are half decent and ripe, cook them down, and puree them? WAY too much work. BUT, carrots, peas, squash, etc. are all very easy to make. So this is what my freezer looks like right now:


If you have an infant and you haven't tried making baby food, I encourage you to try it out! Very little work ... and lots of healthy food. And to defrost, just take a few cubes out and nuke them for 30 seconds.

For recipes and ideas, go to this website: www.wholesomebabyfood.com

So far Chloe eats most anything I put in her mouth. Let's hope that continues for years to come!

try this: apple crisp

In honor of the lovely fall-like weather that is finally descending upon southeastern Pennsylvania, I am putting my favorite apple crisp recipe up on the blog. I just made it the other day for our small group, and it was, as always, DELISH, if I may say so myself!

[I am also posting this to participate in girlymama's 'try this' carnival this week.  What is a "blog carnival" you might ask?  I don't even know myself ... all I know is that by participating I might win an autographed copy of a Paula Deen cookbook! Yee-haw, y'all!  And I LOVE recipes so.... here I am.  So if you want a chance to win ... click on the girlymama link above.]

Apple Crisp

4 medium, peeled, sliced tart apples (Granny Smith's are good)
3/4 c. firmly packed brown sugar
1/2 c. flour
1/2 c. oats
3/4 tsp. cinnamon
3/4 tsp. nutmeg
1/3 c. softened butter

Preheat oven to 375.  Butter a square baking pan.  Place the apple slices in the pan.  Mix the remaining ingredients and sprinkle over apples.  Bake 30 minutes or until apples are tender and topping  is golden brown.  Serves 6 (or if you like it as much as I do, it may just serve one ...)

taken from Sweets to the Sweet by Susan Branch - gotta give credit where credit is due!


You can serve this hot or cold, but my definite preference is hot out of the oven.  Topped with lots of vanilla ice cream of course.  It's just not the same without the ice cream!!

Happy Fall everyone!!