Asian Crunch Wrap

I made this for lunch several times this past week and thought I would share it! The idea came from a similar recipe I saw, I just changed it a bit to make it quick and easy! This version does not have chicken because like I said I wanted to make it quick and easy, but it would be delicious with grilled chicken on it as well!

Calories: 175 per wrap

Makes 1 wrap (I typically make 2)

Ingredients:

• heaping 1/4 cup Dole Classic Coleslaw Mix
• 1 Tbsp. Ken's Steakhouse Lite Asian Sesame Dressing
• 1/16 cup La Choy Chow Mein Noodles
• 1 Tbsp Almond Slices
• 1 Small Taco Size Flour Tortilla

Directions:

1. In a small bowl, mix coleslaw mix and dressing.

2. Heat tortilla 10sec and then spread mixture on tortilla.

3. Top with almonds and chow mein noodles.

ENJOY :) 

"The belly rules the mind."  ~Spanish Proverb

Bubbly Peachy Pineapple

I was going through my pantry today and found a mini bottle of champagne so I decided to try a new fruity drink!!!!! It is pretty delicious :)

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup champagne
• 1/4 cup pineapple juice
• 1/4 cup peach schnapps

Directions:

Pour all ingredients in a fun glass, mix, and enjoy :)

Calorie Counting

Ok everyone so I know there are many people out there who have trouble losing weight and yes I am one of them and yes it probably has something to do with the sweet treats I love to make :) Something that I have found to be extremely successful is myfitnesspal.com. The site allows you to track all the food you eat and calculate the calories in everything. Also, when you first join it helps you figure out how many calories you should eat each day based on your current weight, height, activity level, and desired weight.  If you are trying to lose weight......try myfitnesspal today! It truly is the only thing that works for me. Weight loss is simple right, eat less calories than your body burns (if it was only so easy). My fitness pal helps makes it possible to keep track! If you have a smart phone there is an app so it is right at your fingertips!

Also, cute pocket calorie counters can be helpful on the go if you don't have a smart phone!

                     

Time to Get Fit

I have been trying to lose weight for the last several years and have had a few ups and downs like most. I have decided that I am going to try to kick butt for the next 5 months and lose the extra weight for good! I am trying to plan a spring break trip for March, will be graduating from physical therapy school at the end of April, and I am going to Hilton Head in May. There is no better time than now to get started! 

I decided that I am going to start the Supreme 90 Day Challenge DVDs on Sunday to give people a few days to purchase them if they want to do them with me. I have done them before and really enjoyed them, but did not complete the whole program. They are not as long as comparable programs such as P90X and not nearly as expensive. The videos range from 28min to 56min including a warm-up and cool-down.

The DVDs can be bought at the following places:

http://www.amazon.com/Supreme-Day-System-Cal-Pozo/dp/B004S2YN5O  ($13.39)

http://www.collagevideo.com/item.aspx?item=9383&source=google&prioritycode=RP53&gclid=CMb8zfOw-bICFcU-MgodUC8APQ ($15.99)

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_SPM6258130303P?sid=IDx20110310x00001i&srccode=cii_184425893&cpncode=31-39914710-2 ($25.32)

http://www.walmart.com/ip/16609116?adid=22222222227000829241&wmlspartner=wlpa&wl0=&wl1=g&wl2=&wl3=13694756590&wl4=&wl5=pla&veh=sem  ($19.77)

**Let me know if you have any questions**

Yogurt Parfait

Here is my favorite version of a fruit and yogurt parfait. Since it includes 3 food groups, it makes a great breakfast or healthy snack. This version is 215 calories. All ingredients except the honey were bought at Meijer. The honey was purchased from a farmer's market this past summer, but other brands can be bought at Meijer.

 Ingredients:

• 1/8 cup granola (I like the above because it has flax and pumpkin seeds in it)
• 1/3 cup blueberries
• 1 small container Dannon Oikos vanilla greek yogurt (could also buy a large container and measure out about 110 calories)
• 1 tsp pure honey

Directions:

1. Scoop yogurt into a bowl

2. Layer with blueberries, then granola, then drizzle with honey

*I like to mix mine together to get all the flavors in every bite :)

“Those who think they have no time for healthy eating, will sooner or later have to find time for illness.” – Edward Stanley

Frosted Pumpkin Cookies

I have been making these cookies for years with my sister. Until recently we would make them about once a year when fall came around, but this past summer there was a cookie bake-off at my school and I entered in the contest with my friend. I wanted to make these cookies because of popularity they have had in the past. We made them and won :) Ever since the bake-off there has been an increase in popularity and I have found myself making them every month by request. I have been giving out the recipe left and right lately so I thought I would share it on here.

Ingredients

Frosting:

• 3 Tbsp butter
• 4 tsp milk
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1 cup confectioner's sugar
• 3/4 tsp vanilla

Cookies:

• 1 cup shortening
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 1/2 cups pumpkin filling
• 1 egg
• 2 cups flour
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 cup butterscotch bits

Yields: 3 dozen

Directions

Frosting:

1. Combine butter, milk, and brown sugar in a saucepan and cook until sugar dissolves.

2. Let cool, then stir in confectioner's sugar and vanilla. You can begin making cookies while cooling.

3. Preheat oven to 375deg. Cream shortening and sugar.

4. Add pumpkin and egg.

5. Combine flour, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt in separate bowl.

6. Mix this into creamed mixture a little bit at a time.

7. Stir in butterscotch bits.

8. Spoon dough (use cookie scoop) onto un-greased (or lightly greased) cookie sheet.

9. Bake 10-12 minutes. FROST COOKIES WHILE THEY ARE HOT!!! I suggest only doing 1 (maybe 2) sheets in the oven at a time since they need to be frosted while they are hot. Frosting them is the hardest part of these cookies. Enjoy :)

"There is nothing that warms your soul like a cookie made from the heart." -Julie Hatch (Simply Sweet 'n Sassy)

 

Fall Craft Day

Here are some fall crafts that my sister and I made a few weeks ago. For tutorials, click on the picture and it will take you to her blog! We would love you to follow both of us!

"A sister shares childhood memories and grown-up dreams."  ~Author Unknown

Sour caramel apple jello shots

I made these a few weeks ago for a MSU tailgate. They were a little sour for some, but I loved them :) I also made a different flavor of them last spring for a bachelorette party that you can see a picture of on my 'sweets' picture page. I forgot to take a picture of the final product here (oops!), but here is how they are made. You can mix and match flavors and fruit however you want. I have only made them twice, but I will keep you updated on any new flavors I try!

Step 1: Buy supplies! You will need:

• 12 granny smith apples
• 1 fifth apple pucker
• 1 cup butterscotch schnapps
• 2 lemons
• 4 envelopes unflavored gelatin
• 2 cups boiling water
• Green food coloring
• **This recipe made extra filling, either use more apples, cut recipe in half, or I put the extra in a 8x8 pan to let harden and made jello cubes!
• Yields: 48 jello shots + extra 8x8 pan of  jello cubes

Step 2: Cut and scoop apples! I bought a bag of granny smith apples so they were smaller than the single ones. You must first cut them in half lengthwise and then with a melon baller, scoop out the insides leaving about 1/4inch of peel (you can leave more if you like). Just make sure you don't get too close to the edge and get holes in the apple (I did this a few times). Then set the halved apples in muffin tins so they don't tip over in the fridge.

Step 3: Juice lemons. With a pastry brush coat the apple halves with the lemon juice to help prevent browning.

Step 4: In a large bowl, pour butterscotch schnapps and sprinkle with gelatin, let stand for 1 min.

Step 5: Boil 2 cups of water and pour into the gelatin mixture. Mix well until dissolved. Add the apple pucker and food coloring as desired and stir. (I wanted a brighter green to be festive for MSU)!

Step 6: Fill the apple halves with the jello mixture (I used a ladle) all the way to the top. Extra filling can either be put in a 8x8 pan, 2 oz. jello shot containers, or discarded. Refrigerate for at least 4 hours or until firm. 

Step 7: Once the jello is firm, cut each apple in half with a sharp knife and enjoy with friends :) Drink (eat) responsibly! Since I forgot to take a final picture of these, here are lemon ones I made last spring, they turned out great!

"It is one of the blessings of old friends that you can afford to be stupid with them." -Ralph Waldo Emerson

Hello everyone!

I am so excited to have my first blog! My sister started one recently to show all her crafting and I thought I would start one too! My passion is baking so this blog will mostly be recipes and pictures of baked goodies, but I also love cooking in general, doing crafts, and I am passionate about health and fitness. Thank you for following me!