NOT a healthy recipe post

Just had to warn you.  If you were looking for a healthy recipe or something like that today it's not going to happen :)  I got this quick recipe idea from a friend & sometimes my kid's lifestyle SCREAMS for this.  With baseball, band practice & just a hectic life, sometimes we need a quick snack or dinner idea. 



Barbe-cups

Ground meat
Your favorite BBQ sauce
biscuits/rolls



Happy Customer!!

brown the meat & add bbq sauce.  flatten out roll in bottom of cupcake pan.  Bake for 8-10 minutes at whatever the rolls/biscuits need to be baked at.

Other ideas - taco-cups, pizza cups. 

They freeze REALLY well & can be taken out & warmed up very easily.  This is a GREAT substitute for the pizza rolls or other things you can find out there.  Healthy?  maybe not the greatest BUT I do know what is in these & I much prefer that!!

What is your go-to snack or quicky meal for your kids?

Be Blessed & Healthy!!!

What we do during a Hurricane.....

Well while in Florida we do have to deal with those pesky hurricanes, tropical storms, tornadoes, etc.  Today it's Hurricane Isaac.  Thankfully for us he decided NOT to hit Florida directly.  Unfortunately it looks like he will hit Louisiana though.  Not cool. 

We have only had some rain & wind.  At times it's pretty strong to be honest.  I know it has knocked down some power lines around our town too.  We are hopeful we will keep our electricity! 

So, I'm preparing for a gathering to celebrate my sons 17th birthday & being gluten free I like to make sure there is something that I can eat too.  Today I tried a new recipe & if you can tell by the picture?  IT'S YUMMY!!  I had to put those last 4 pieces aside for my hubby.  The hand in the picture is NOT staged.  I think he thought I was distracted. 

The recipe says to put this in 2 8x8 pans.  I don't have them so I put in in a smaller rectangle pan & it was a little thin.  My oldest said he thought they were alot like vanilla brownies.  Yum!!  I agree.  I think I may make this for our gathering but serve it with some fruit.  That would be just yummilicious! 

This recipe is from the Carol Fenster cookbook 1000 Gluten Free Recipes.  Let me know if you try it.  I guarantee you won't be disappointed!!



Yellow Cake

1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter
3/4 cup sugar
2 large eggs, room temperature
1-1/2 cups Carol's Sorghum blend (or another gf flour blend)
1 tsp xanthan gum
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp baking soda
3/4 cup buttermilk (I made my own)
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 tsp almond extract

Preheat over to 325 deg.  Generously grease 2-8" round pans.  Set aside.

In mixer - beat butter until smooth, gradually beat in the sugar until smooth.  Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.

In another bowl - sift together the flour blend, xanthan gum, salt, baking powder & baking soda.  In a measuring cup, whisk together the buttermilk, vanilla & almond extract.

With mixer on low speed - beat the flour mixture into the egg mixture alternating with buttermilk, beginning & ending with the flour mixture.  Spread the batter evenly in the pans.

Bake 20 - 25 minutes or until the tops of the cakes are golden brown.

Enjoy!!

Be Blessed & Healthy!!!

Friday Favorite - YUM ALERT!!

Haha.  This one is a yummy recipe.  I heard about this on the Dr Oz show & it got me at chocolate :)

Butt Blasting Brownies (these made with dark cocoa)

He calls them "Butt Blasting Brownies".  They are so easy to make & honestly they satisfy a craving & I don't find myself going back for more!  I eat 2 in the afternoon with a cup of coffee.  I'm not sure if they are blasting my butt at all but all my lunges & squats are hopefully taking care of that :)

Ingredients
1 cup raw cacao powder  ( I use regular unsweetened, powdered Hersheys cocoa)
1/4 tsp cayenne
2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 cup low fat milk ( I use unsweet almond milk)
1 cup organic raisins
1 cup oats

Directions
In a food processor purée the cacao, cayenne, cinnamon, milk and raisins until a smooth paste forms. Add the oats to the food processor and quickly pulse to incorporate them. Transfer the mix into a square or rectangular container lined cross wise with wax paper. Press down to form the ‘brownie' base. Refrigerate until firm. Cut into squares before serving. Enjoy!


Do you have a go-to snack that just hits the spot & doesn't make you feel guilty about indulging?  I love new ideas & recipes.  Please share!!

Be Blessed & Healthy!!

Do you have a plan?

Have you really thought about having a plan for staying on your healthy eating/exercising course over the holidays?  Oh there are so many blogs & websites out there that are offering LOTS of advice.  I just heard one I hadn't heard before.  If you are a drinker, have a glass of water between each drink.  I'm thinking that will help a couple ways really.   What about the one - eating before you go to the party.  Now that is a good one.  My only problem is I eat before then I get there & feel like I can just skip right to the sugar-filled yummies!  When I am asked to bring a dish I always bring my fresh veggies & hummus.  That gives me something I can eat & I won't go right to the dessert table. 

As for all you fellow exercise nuts - don't kill yourself keeping up with the schedule you normally keep for working out.  Allow yourself a vacation day or two to enjoy family & the festivities.  Get right back to it though on the 26th!  Now for me, we are taking a trip to visit family.  We will be in the car for 17 hours one way.  We hope to break up the trip to make it a little more enjoyable but that would mean 2 days of no working out for me.  When I stay in a hotel I always find the stairs & do some running up & down a few times.  My son loves coming with me.  Then we walk the halls for a little bit at a brisk pace.  Makes me feel like I did something worth while. 

I hope this season brings love & family & friends for you all.

Be Blessed & Healthy!

Another Pumpkin recipe!!!

Recipe from Chocolate Covered Katie's blog! Check her out!!

Pumpkin Bread in a Bowl
(can be gluten-free)
Inspired by this awesomeness.

• 1/3 c canned pumpkin (or cooked pumpkin)
• 3/4 c nondairy milk
• 1 cup flake cereal (I like spelt flakes, but bran, corn, etc will work. Some people have even used oatmeal!)
• 1/4 to 1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon
• 1/8 tsp salt
• sweetener (such as stevia, sugar, or even maple syrup)
• optional: chocolate chips, pecans

Blend all ingredients together. The cereal will have a thin consistency at first, but if you leave it in the fridge (after blending) for even just 10 minutes, it starts to get really thick! I usually make it before I run, and it’s the consistency of thick pudding by the time I return.
Click to see the Nutritional Information.
If you’re using the optional pecans or chocolate chips, you can either blend them right in or sprinkle them on top after serving.

I haven't tryed this but Oh it looks YUMMY!!

Enjoy!

Be Blessed & Healthy!!

Pumpkin Black Bean Soup

1TB oil

1TB butter (I just use the oil, it’s enough)

1 medium onion, finely chopped

1 can (14.5oz) chicken or vege broth

1 can (14.5oz) diced tomatoes in juice

1 can (14.5oz) black beans drained & rinsed

1 can (14.5oz) pumpkin puree

½ cup heavy cream (I use soy or almond milk)

1-1/2 tsp curry powder

1 tsp ground cumin

3 pinches cayenne pepper (1/4tsp)

Coarse salt to taste

Heat deep pot over medium heat. Add oil, butter, when butter melts add onion & sauté 5 minutes until tender. Add broth, tomatoes, black beans & pumpkin. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to low & stir in cream, curry & cumin, cayenne & salt. Simmer 5 minutes & enjoy!!

I make my own corn tortilla chips & they taste VERY yummy with this!