Manic Monday

If I had the closet of my dreams, this is what I would be wearing today...

Manic Monday

If I had the closet (and body) of my dreams, this is what I would be wearing today...

PS - very little posting this week if any, I am in Hawaii for a week. Let's just say, I have a great job, a wonderful boss and work for an amazing company that invests in their employees! More when I return.

Apple-Walnut Chews

I made these "cookies" yesterday and they are so delicious!

As a new (3 months in) Gluten-Free gal, I am always looking for something like a cookie that I can have, that isn't loaded with a lot of sugar and then I found this recipe on the back of the Bob's Red Mill Gluten Free Oat Bran. They are also vegan...score! If you are used to sticky sweet, sugary, buttery cookies these may shock your system so tread lightly as these are not for beginners, you have to ease into these things. I feel no guilt grabbing two of these after my green smoothie in the morning, the are like eating a bowl of oatmeal - very hearty.

APPLE-WALNUT OAT CHEWS

by: Bob's Red Mill Natural Foods

• 1 cup Chopped Dates
• 1 cup Oat Bran Cereal
• 1/4 tsp Sea Salt
• 1/2 cup chopped Walnuts- Baker's Pieces
• 1 tsp Vanilla
• 1/4 cup Vegetable Oil
• 1 cup Grated Apple with peel (your choice)
• 1/2 cup Water
• 2 cups Regular Rolled Oats

Directions

Preheat oven to 350°F; set aside cookie sheet. In a saucepan, simmer chopped dates in water for 5 minutes. Mash with a fork into a puree. Add grated apple and vegetable oil and beat well with a wooden spoon until mixture is smooth. Add remaining ingredients and mix well. Let stand 10 minutes to thicken. Mix well and drop by level teaspoons onto dry baking sheet. (Batter does not spread in baking so cookies can be placed close together.) Bake for 20 minutes until lightly browned around edges. Makes 24 Chews.

Daily Fuel

I try to start each and every day with a green smoothie of some sort. They look terrible and taste delicious. Actually, I like the green color. There are some that I make that are so good for you but look like mud, I like to put those in containers I can't see through.

I realized when I went to the grocery store the other day how many bananas I go though. I told the cashier I had a chimp at home when she commented. I just use one per day but there is something satisfying about having a dozen all frozen and ready to go when I need them. Today was peel and freeze day.

If you are a fruit smoothie drinker, I highly recommend adding some spinach or kale to the mix for some added nutrient dense veggies. How about a carrot for some added fiber? I think you will be surprised that with certain combinations you can't even taste the veggies.

Today's smoothie was made of:

:: 1 Frozen banana (today it was fresh)

:: 1/2 Cup Frozen Mango

:: 1/2 Cup Frozen Peach slices

:: 2/3 Cup Frozen Pineapple

:: 1/2 Cup Frozen Kale (or 4 fresh kale leaves)

:: 1 1/2 Cups of Water* - a citrus juice is probably good for your first try if you really want to mask the flavor of your greens.

*You can make this with Almond Milk, Soy Milk, Milk, Juice or whatever liquid you like.

This is not a meal replacement - I generally have some oatmeal as well because what is morning without something that will stick with you, right?

*{Fabulous Finds}*

Picnic Season is around the corner; I would love to have these things in my basket.

1. Clarus Classic Tritan Unbreakable Tumbler, Amazon
2. Isabela Picnic Basket, Williams-Sonoma
3. Cross Dyed Basic Napkins, West Elm
4. Ruhn Rikon Serrated Paring Knife, Williams Sonoma
5. Picnic Flatware, West Elm
6. California Cutting Board, Etsy
7. Kaleidobug Bug Melamine Plates, Anthropologie
8. Kinetic Go Green GlassLock Food Containers, Sur La Table.

Manic Monday

If I had the closet of my dreams, this is what I would be wearing today...

Epic Fail and News

So, I failed at the photo a day for all of the days of lent. I will admit, I got super busy with work and my posting was poor to say the least.

I am going to try and post more often, and may even give my blog a little face lift depending on my computer skills which I am always expanding upon.

The news I have is...

I have a new web address:

You will get rerouted from blogger, but if you are a regular reader, please reset your bookmark with my new address. I hope to be posting more too but we will see what happens. I always have the best intentions, and then life seems to take over.

Happy Easter

Dream Easter Basket

I gave up candy for lent and stuck to it! I wish could gorge myself tomorrow, but know that isn't a good idea. If I do decide to have some candy, it will more than likely be a handful of black jelly beans if there are any around (which I doubt since we are staying home) and I don't think the Easter Bunny has shopped for anything. Anyway, if I could create my dream Easter basket and eat all of it, this is what would be in it and then I would be in bed sick.

E. Brach's Black Jelly Bird Eggs - licorice chewy and so yummy.

A. Cadbury Creme Eggs - something weirdly fun about these.

S. White Easter Bunny - I always got one as a kid.

T. Cadbury Mini Eggs - hard shell over Cadbury chocolate, so delicious.

E. Brach's Marshmallow Eggs - all sugar outside with marshmallow inside.

R. Reece's Peanut Butter Egg - Chocolate and Peanut Butter is a marriage made in heaven.

Good Friday

For the last few years, on Good Friday, I have made Hot Cross Buns and this year was no different except for the fact that I forgot to put the orange zest in the dough so I made orange icing for the crosses, which was a little runny. The other thing is, I can't eat them because I am GFV (gluten free vegan) but I am happy to make them because the Mister has already eaten 4 of them with his morning coffee. I have realized over the last week that I just love the process of baking and really enjoy watching people eat what I have made for them. I made an apple pie last weekend and now these buns. Some day I will have my bakery or bed and breakfast or I will just throw a lot of parties so I can bake things for people.

Here is my past post about Hot Cross Buns along with their recipe.

Try them out, you will love them, but don't forget to add the orange zest to the dough before it rises.

Manic Monday

If I had the closet of my dreams, this is what I would be wearing today...