Weekend Things, and 6 months to go!

Happy Monday!

This weekend was lovely. Tom and I celebrated 6 months till our wedding day on Friday night at Olive Garden. And we saw Age of Adaline, which we both really enjoyed! Definitely a feel-good romantic movie, with some made-up science thrown in. It was fun.

I can't believe we have hit the 6-month mark to our wedding. We started out at 25 months! Yikes. And the to-do list just keeps growing.

One thing on that list is to keep growing my hair. It isn't easy; I usually chop my hair up past my shoulders once a year. But my mother is a hair stylist who happens to love long hair, and she wants more hair to work with for our wedding day, so there you have it. No chopping allowed until November.

Saturday night we made this chicken which was delicious. We've been doing lots of cooking to prepare for living on our own, and so far, everything we've made has been a hit!

And then I made these cupcakes again. Almond cherry. They are ADDICTING. I made 24 of them and six people polished off all of them by the next day.

Yesterday Tom and I took a walk in the woods to find some large branches to make an arch for our wedding. We drew plans all over the driveway in chalk, which was fun, but not as fun as hopscotch.

Hooray for warmer weather!

My thoughts on...Dr. Oz's cleanse

In the spirit of spring cleaning, (and going off of last week's detox post,) I have decided to try a cleanse.

For me, I'm not looking to lose weight. I just kind of want to "spring clean" my system, and undo a little of the damage from the past two weeks or so.

(i.e. croissants, cupcakes, cake, beer, etc.)

But if a cleanse also helps at getting the ol' body ready for bikini season/wedding season/peeling off the sweater season, then so be it!

So the cleanse I have decided is the Dr. Oz 48-hour cleanse. Pros? It does not involve starvation, and the recipes seem like they're probably pretty good and easy to make. 

Cons? Well, nothing yet. Except that I have never done a cleanse before, and am not sure what it will be like.

Some of my preliminary thoughts on this:

-Why in the whole, wide world of produce are artichoke hearts in a smoothie? Because Dr. Oz said so. He could probably tell me to toss in some sardines and I'd do it. Begrudgingly.

-I don't know if I can handle the lack of baked goods/chocolate. Seriously, I am a sugar addict. I eat pretty well most of the time, but that sweet tooth gets me every time! However, I do like a good challenge, so bring it on.

-Epsom salts baths, eh? I tried one tonight. Personally, I'm just excited that someone reminded me there are alternatives to showers, and they are awesome. 

-The weekend would not be a good time to start a cleanse. Just throwing that one out there. The weekend is the time for pancakes and wine and all that. 

So I start this up officially today, and I will report back on my thoughts periodically over the next 48 hours. Get excited!!

Has anyone tried this cleanse, or something similar? What are your thoughts?

Happy March! 

Snow Ice Cream

I have very fond memories of snow ice cream.

I remember the day perfectly:

I woke up to my mom telling me school was cancelled because of snow. (Magic words for any kid. And college student. Case in point: I actually cheered today when one of my classes was called off. Still magical!)

The outside world looked a little like this:

I ate some oatmeal, got into my snow suit, and knocked on all my friends' doors. We spent the entire morning and part of the afternoon building snowmen, pelting each other with ice balls (safe, right?) and sledding.

After our cheeks were flaming red and our toes lost feeling, we finally trekked back inside and peeled off our snow gear, which was soaked.
From the snow.

Except that one time I peed in my snowsuit, but I mean, I always strive for efficiency.

So after all that was all taken care of, my mom would make us a refreshing, heaping bowl of snow ice cream.

And it was the perfect precursor to hot cocoa, let me tell ya.

So in the spirit of the winter storm howling outside, here is my mom's recipe for snow ice cream!

~Snow Ice Cream~

1 gallon snow

1 cup white sugar

1 tablespoon vanilla extract

2 cups milk

Collect *fresh* fallen snow in a large bowl. Add the sugar and vanilla, and slowly add the milk. Use a little less or more milk for desired consistency.

Delicious! Way better than just grabbing handfulls of it.

Anyone else ever made this? 

Enjoy!

<3

Quick, light lunch (I didn't even burn down the kitchen!)

Hello, and happy Internet blackout day!

I appreciate the statement many sites are making against SOPA and PIPA, but Wikipedia, I really need you right now. Please come back to me.

ALSO:

This year, I've decided to attempt cooking. Not just baking, but like...cooking. With the stove and things.

I like to pay attention to how food makes my body feel, because I really don't have time to feel sick. So yesterday, I made this delicious salad thing that I'm quite proud of! It's healthy, cheap, quick and yummy.

I found the recipe here, but I added my own touches. Yum!

Quinoa, pear & pomegranate salad

-2 pears, chopped

-Seeds from 1 pomegranate

-1/4 cup chives

-14 oz. can chicken broth

-1 cup quinoa

-1 tbsp apple cider vinegar

-2 tbsp canola or vegetable oil (or any kind you've got, really)

1. Boil the chicken broth.

2. Add quinoa; bring to a simmer and cover for 15 minutes.

4. Drain quinoa, pour into a bowl.

3. Add chives, pomegranate, pears, vinegar and oil. Combine.

4. Refrigerate for 15 minutes before eating.

That's it! It's even better the next day, and I think I got five or six servings out of that. Definitely New Year's Resolution-approved.

Also...it's the first day of classes. Um? What? Here's to another semester, even if began way too soon!

Cake Pops, attempt #1

Hello!

So finals are done, and, as promised, here are the cake pops I tried out yesterday!

Since it was my first time, they weren't the prettiest. But that's okay, because they were delicious. Truly. Since I'm heading to St. Louis on Friday, I made a batch for my boyfriend and his family for Christmas. 

I felt like Martha Stewart.

For someone who can't cook, that was pretty grand.

(I especially like the spiky one with the white chocolate chips. It looks like a prickly pear! But...not really.)

So since school and work are done for the time being, I have plenty of time to do nothing, so I will have no choice but to do a whole lot of crafting. I'm making all my Christmas gifts this year, so I'm okay with the extra time.

Happy Wednesday to everyone!

-H

Yummy & Swirly

It's our last week at the newspaper for the semester, so I decided to make my staff some cupcakes. And let me tell you, they were heavenly. And they went very quickly. So make lots.

Vanilla Red Velvet-Swirl Cupcakes

Ingredients:
White cake mix, plus box ingredients
Red cake mix, plus box ingredients
Vanilla frosting

1. Make the batter in separate bowls.

2. Pour cups one-third full with red velvet, add one tablespoon white cake batter, swirl with a knife.

3. Bake.

4. Frost. Decorate. Eat!

Despite the poor quality of cell phone camera, you can tell these are pretty amazing. And red velvet is splendidly delicious, and the swirls look festive. So bake and enjoy!

I'm so excited to get a camera for Christmas. I'm going to take pictures of everything, so prepare yourselves.

Also, random note on these cupcakes: It was my roommate (and one of my best friends...we've lived together since freshman year!) Katie's 21st birthday yesterday, and since I had leftover cupcakes, we put candles in one for her. Then the rest of us grabbed one and had a birthday toast. It was precious, I'll put pictures up when I've got them.

Happy Thursday! It's December already. Crazy, right?

-H

3 a.m. trickery and a treat

Hello! And congratulations to everyone on surviving another Thanksgiving. Personally, I have just now awoken from my turkey coma.

Black Friday was quite an event. My mother and I left at 3 a.m., had some Denny's and hit the shops. The crowds were insane, but there's something about Black Friday I like...

It's kind of like this: As a little kid, when you went to bed and people were still over at your house, it just felt wrong, didn't it? Like there was a party going on and you were missing it? That's why I enjoy Black Friday. I like have something to do at the entirely taboo hour of 4 a.m., especially if it involves deals.

Favorite Black Friday purchase:

Arden B., 25% off. New Year's dress!
I'm going to a 1920's-themed party for New Years, so I figured the feathers work well. Now I just have to find some killer shoes and accessories and I'm good to go. Now, I expected a better sale on the Holy Grail of shopping days, but it was still worth it. We found other wonderful things, but they included flashlights and pillows, and I'm fairly certain you have seen a flashlight before.

Well, since Thanksgiving is dying down, I am heading straight into finals' territory. So here is a snack I rely on heavily for a quick, protein-packed, delicious study break. In fact, it's going to fuel my night of paper writing.

Peanut butter & banana power smoothie


-1/2 banana
-1/2 cup milk
-5 ice cubes
-2 tablespoons peanut butter

Toss in blender. Blend. Enjoy!

Happy Saturday, everyone!
-H

Superfood Tuesday: Rise and Shine

I like being healthy, so this is something I'm going to try every week.

My midweeks are pretty busy, but I try to get a workout in whenever I can. So I got one in this morning, (nothing crazy, just some light cardio, strength, abs, etc.) but the granola bar I had for breakfast just didn't cut it post-workout. So the food I chose for the very first Superfood Tuesday is: eggs!

I like to have them scrambled in a whole-wheat tortilla, but that's just me. Ok so...some debunking. It seems to be common knowledge that eggs will increase your cholesterol. That's not really the case. According to mayoclinic.com, all the cholesterol in eggs is contained in the yoke (about 213 mg of cholesterol.) You want to keep your intake below 300 mg daily, so try to eat low-cholesterol foods the rest of the day.

BUT...without the yolk, there is zero cholesterol in egg whites. So that's a good alternative. However, there is no research that eggs truly increase cholesterol.

Why it's a superfood:

-Eggs are good for the eyes. They contain lutein and zeaxanthin, which help reduce the risk of cataracts.

-They contain 6 grams of protein and the right kind of fat, which keeps you full AND makes your hair shiny and skin soft. So really, it's the best way to start the day.

-Eggs are the only food that naturally contain Vitamin D, which becomes especially important in the dull, dark, dreary winter months.

-Another way they add to a good hair day: Eggs contain sulphur, which helps promote hair and nail growth.

I don't know about you, but eggs and bacon is my favorite breakfast because it's packed with protein, keeping you fuller all day and ultimately keeping your calorie count low. *Note: If you want to go the bacon route, buy natural Canadian bacon. It has nearly no fat and is carcinogen free, unlike most bacon. But bacon IS delicious, so a little is fine!


Anyway, that's the superfood for today! Delicious and nutritious, and not nearly as scary as the rep they've gotten over the years.

In other news, I head home today! Bring on Thanksgiving and pumpkin pie.

-H

My new favorite way to get the jitters

From the time I was very young, I was a Starbucks snob. My mom worked there, my aunt worked there, I dated a barista...Starbucks was my lifeblood. I never gave anyone else a shot. But with finals right around the corner, my boyfriend's sister cued me in to something incredible-Dunkin' Donuts coffee.

Yes. I was a Dunkin' Donuts coffee virgin.

Let me tell you, that stuff is delicious. And no one ever told me before?! So I'm sitting here studying my life away at the library, and this medium hazelnut coffee is the only beacon of hope I've got. Definitely giving my Starbucks obsession a run for its money. Absolutely wonderful. The same can't be said for my research paper.

Charlotte and I have some work to do.

And clearly, I should have shelled out for the large coffee tonight.

Oh well.

Happy Saturday!

-H

Raspberry Poke Cake

I know, I know. Tis' the season for pumpkin pie and green bean casserole. But this recipe is just plain fabulous. I have made it several times for springtime get-togethers, but I think the red Jell-o makes it festive, no? This recipe comes from Betty Crocker, so they deserve the credit!

Here's what you need:
White cake mix (I'm not at the from-scratch level quite yet.)
Water, vegetable oil and egg whites, as called for on package
1 box (4 serving size) raspberry Jell-o mix (or any flavor you want)
1 cup boiling water
1/2 cup cold water
1 8-oz. container Cool Whip, thawed
Fresh raspberries, if desired. Or, since it's not raspberry season, thawed frozen raspberries work well, too.

What to do:
-Heat oven to 350 degrees
-Make and bake the cake in a 13x9 inch pan as directed on the box. Cool completely for an hour.
-Pierce cooled cake every half-inch or so with a fork. In a bowl, stir Jell-o with boiling water until smooth. Add cold water. Pour over cake. Run life around side of pan to loosen; cool for two hours. Frost with cool whip, add raspberries to garnish. Store refrigerated.

As you can see, this recipe needs plenty of cooling, so plan accordingly. But it's delicious, refreshing and makes a great cake for the holiday season. Enjoy!