Tag: Tasty Treat

Post-Valentine’s Day Peanut Butter Blossom

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Last week, I baked Vegan PB cookies for my class.  Kim commented on how much she liked Peanut Butter Blossoms.

Last week was also Valentine’s Day!  On Monday, I went to Target to find Valentine’s Day goodies on sale!  I got a Valentine’s Day bowl for $0.44 and a few bags of Valentine’s Day Hershey Kisses.  I knew Peanut Butter Blossoms were in my future.

These aren’t your average Peanut Butter Blossom.  I kicked these up a notch with Raspberry Hershey Kisses and Caramel Hershey Kisses.

Post-Valentine’s Day Peanut Butter Blossoms

adapted from Hershey’s Kisses Peanut Butter Blossoms

~40 Hershey Kisses (any flavor), unwrapped
1/2 cup butter
3/4 cup creamy natural peanut butter
1/3 sugar
1/3 brown sugar
1 egg
2 tbsp milk
1 tsp vanilla
1 and 1/2 cup all purpose flour
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
extra granulated sugar for rolling

Pre-heat your oven to 375 degrees (I did this after I made the dough, while I was unwrapping the chocolates, just to save energy!)

Cream together the PB and butter.  Add the sugar and blend with a hand mixer until fluffy.  Add the egg, milk and vanilla.  Add the flour, salt and baking soda.

Form dough into 1 inch balls and roll in granulated sugar.  Bake for about 8 minutes.  Immediately press in the chocolates.  Allow to cool and enjoy!

Makes approximately 40 cookies.

Peanut Butter Blossoms are delicious, but these were OUTSTANDING!  Great flavor combo!

The worst part about making these… aside from their addictive qualities…

Unwrapping all the chocolates.  This can be remedied by the use of a loved one (i.e. significant other, sibling or child).

I have a few ideas for different types of blossoms:
-Mexican Chocolate blossoms.  Use regular chocolate kisses but add cinnamon and cayenne to the rolling sugar.
-Snickerdoodle blossoms with butterscotch kisses (I think Hershey’s makes these) and rolled in cinnamon sugar)
-Almond Blossoms with Almond butter instead of PB and Hershey Kisses with Almonds

Any other ideas?

Well today is another study day!  Not excited for it but it has to happen.  I hope you all have a wonderful Sunday!

Not So Fat Tuesday

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Happy Mardi Gras!!

I remember feeling so cool in high school French when I realized Mardi Gras means Fat Tuesday in French!  Nerd.  I know… but enough about that.

I woke up this morning to a good amount of snow on the ground.  While I groaned a bit, I got my butt to the gym anyway.  Here are some of my tips for working out when it’s cold.

  • Dress in layers if you have to walk to the gym.
  • Put all your layers on in the house and wear them for a few minutes while you get everything ready (i.e. fill up your water bottle).  By the time you get outside you’ll be so warm that the cold air will feel great!
  • Wear snow boots and bring your gym shoes in a plastic bag, change your shoes there.
  • The hardest part is getting there.  Just do it!

How do you motivate yourself to work out when it’s cold out?

On one of the gym TVs today, MTV was playing music videos!  Can you believe it?!?!

The prize for most ridiculous video: Lucris “How Low”

Why Luda?? Why!?!

Also, Ke$ha… girl is a hot mess… not a in a good way…

But on to lunch… once I find something I love, I tend to eat the same thing over and over again.  Last week it was hummus/cheese/veggie wraps.

Here is my most recent obsession discovery….

Annie’s Naturals Organic Buttermilk Dressing!  Sooo good!!  Creamy and tangy!  Salad dressings really can make or break a salad!  Try it!

Huge salad!  Along with a can of soup!

Campbell’s Harvest Select Light Minestrone with Whole Grain Pasta.

You’ve probably realized I’m a little obsessed with soup.  I really liked this one!  They were on sale at Target!  I might have to go back and get more!

Huge meal for not a whole lot of calories!

I ended my meal with a delicious cup of tea…

Sugar Cookie Sleigh Ride!!!!!!!!  I kept seeing this tea on blogs and really wanted to try it since everyone raves about it.  I commented on Paula‘s blog how I couldn’t find it around here and she sent me a box plus a few others to try!  What a sweetie!  Thanks so much Paula!

I wonder how on earth they get it to taste like this.  I’ve been drinking it plain (got it yesterday and already have had 4 cups of it) but to one of my cups I added some agave and it was like dessert!  Sooo good!

Mardi gras will not be a very exciting day for me.  I have a ton to do!

Do you have any plans for Mardi Gras?

Oh and if you’re in want of some fun reading material, this girl has a bunch of fun Mardi Gras stuff! (Including one very funny picture…)

Have a wonderful afternoon!

Vegan Peanut Butter Cookies

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As I’ve mentioned before, I like baking for my class every week.  Last week, we started talking about random things at the end of class, and one girl mentioned she is a vegan.  I felt a little bad, because every week she hadn’t been eating my baked goods!  While I don’t want to change the goodies only for one person, I think it’s okay to accommodate her dietary needs every so often.  Remember my post about being a “Picky Eater”?

I hadn’t really planned a baked good when I went to the grocery store on Friday.  So I looked around for a recipe using ingredients I had at home. Here’s my version:

Vegan Peanut Butter Cookies

adapted from 101 Cookbooks Peanut Butter Cookies

1 cup Whole Wheat Pastry Flour (you can probably use spelt or all purpose)
1/2 tsp Baking Soda
1/2 tsp Salt
1/2 cup Natural Peanut Butter (smooth or crunchy should work, I used smooth)
1/2 cup Agave Nectar
2 1/2 tbsp Canola Oil
1 tsp Vanilla Extract

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Combine all the dry ingredients in a small bowl.  In a larger bowl, combine the wet ingredients.  Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and mix to combine.  Chill dough for a few minutes in the freezer (I did this while I quickly washed dishes).

Spoon dough onto a baking sheet (about tablespoon sized drops), press with a fork, bake for 8-10 minutes.  Allow to cool and eat your heart out!

Makes about 20 cookies.

In other news, today has been the most unproductive day of my life!  Other than going to the gym and baking, I’ve pretty much done nothing since 7:15am when I woke up.  I need to get some reading done, prepare for my discussion section and then babysit!

Lastly!  I’m almost out of peanut butter!

While I know I just bought 2 jars of Barney Butter, I like having a variety of nut butters around.

What’s your favorite Peanut/Nut butter?

Wake up and smell the COFFEE Cake!

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Happy Valentine’s Day!!!

About 10 minutes after my last post, there was a knock at the door.  This arrived:

Thanks, Lovely Fella!

After smiling for a good while and admiring my flowers, I headed out on my mission to find new running shoes.  The first stop was Kohl’s.  I tried on pretty much every pair of running shoes they had and decided upon these Asics.

Can you believe they were only $35!!!!  What a steal!

I may have also done some more shopping… long exercise pants and maybe a pair of red pumps…

Sadly, I might have to return them 😦 They’re a little too tight!  This is sort of silly but I saw them at the store, didn’t even try them on just grabbed them and walked straight to the register.  These are the pumps I’ve been looking for!  I made the lovely fella go to every Marshall’s and TJ Maxx in the Bay Area to find my size!  A little sad they’re too small. Oh well!  There will be other red pumps!

Earlier this week, my friend Liz e-mailed a recipe to a bunch of friends (myself included) wondering if someone would be willing to bake it for Valentine’s Day.  You really don’t have to twist my arm to get me to bake… Of course I said yes!

I was intrigued by this recipe!  I’m sure most of you have heard of Pioneer Woman, right?

This is her recipe for Coffee Cake, Literally… as in coffee flavored cake, not coffee cake.

This recipe turned out ridiculously good!  I would definitely make it again (for a new crowd that is!).

The recipe makes a cake but I decided to make cupcakes because they’re easier to enjoy, and they’re just darn cute!   I used my environmentally friendly baking cups!

The recipe called for buttermilk, which I never have around so here’s a tip: 1 cup milk (-1 tbsp) + 1tbsp of vinegar.  Let it sit for 5-10 mins!  Voila!  You’ve got buttermilk!

Honestly, I liked them better without the frosting.  The cake is so light and moist! The coffee flavor isn’t too strong in the cake.  The frosting on the other hand is very strongly flavored!  Pretty delicious as well!

I am thoroughly impressed at how good these are!  I feel like I need to try more of Pioneer Woman’s recipes!

I will be taking these cupcakes to a Valentine’s Day gathering!  But before that, I’m babysitting for a friend so he and his wife can have a Valentine’s Day outing!  They probably need it!

What are your plans for the day?

Have a great day!!!!

Pure Pleasure

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Happy Saturday!!!  How’s your morning been?

I slept in til 8:00am today!  I haven’t slept that late in a long time!

Last night, when I went to the Wegster, I saw a 4-pack of Oikos Caramel Pure Pleasure.  I still had one of the coupons that Stonyfield sent me so I decided to give it a whirl.

This morning, I had a piece of toast with almond butter and a banana, which was delicious.  After I was done, I remembered the caramel oikos…

A little extra protein won’t hurt, right?

When I first opened it, it looked like regular yogurt but in a smaller cup.  I thought hmm… what’s the big deal?

Then I stirred it up to find caramel on the bottom!!

Oooooh goodness!  There’s a reason they call this pure pleasure.  It tasted like I was eating Dulce de Leche!  (Argentina style)

Check out the caramel swirl.  SOOOOO Good!

A bunch of yogurts sell themselves as replacing dessert, but honestly this could most definitely be dessert.  I’m surprised at how much it ACTUALLY tasted like caramel.  Absolutely delicious! Packed full of protein and pretty low cal!

Have you tried Caramel Oikos?

They also have a chocolate flavor that I feel like I need to try now that this caramel one was so good!

My mission for today is to find new running shoes (WOO! No more knee pain… maybe) then go to the gym!  Not too bad if you ask me 🙂

What are your Saturday plans??

Sticky Rice!

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Hi all!  I hope you had a fabulous day!  My day definitely turned around.  I was sort of feeling blue today mostly because my knees have been hurting like crazy (NEED NEW RUNNING SHOES ASAP).

But as I mentioned earlier, I had plans for a fun evening out!

The evening began at the Big Red Barn for $1 beers, but really $3 boxed wine for me, because I’m classy

I may have had two glasses…

By 8:00pm we got kicked out of the BRB… planners know how to party… or something

So we headed to Liz’s where we ordered take out!

Thai food from Sticky Rice!

Sure glad they can take advantage of social media…

Food was plentiful!

Purple rice! Have you ever tried it?? Not sure how purple it actually looks in the picture, but it tasted similar to white rice but with a lightly crunchier texture.  Delicious!

I didn’t get an entree (since I had been a Snacky McSnackerson all afternoon) but I got an order of Sticky Rice with Mango to share with someone.

It came with purple rice and was oooh soo soo good!  Creamy, sweet and delicious!  Have you ever had mango sticky rice?  If you haven’t… try it asap!

After dinner, as we walked home, the roommate and I discussed going to Wegman’s so naturally we did since I needed baking supplies for my next project (coming soon!).

On the way home from the Wegster, Christina (the roommate) was eating a coconut popsicle/bar she had just gotten.  What happens when you eat a frozen treat in 20 degree weather?

It sticks to you.  Remember A Christmas Story?

Poor roommate!

Anyway, I’m pooped, and I have sooooo much TV/Movie stuff to catch up on… Mad Men, Grey’s Anatomy, Ugly Betty… I also have Fargo to see and a documentary called The Garden that is a watch instantly on Netflix!  Thank goodness it’s the weekend! Watch any good TV lately?

Hope your night was as delicious as mine!  Have a good one!

Pumpkin Pancakes for the Soul

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Dinner tonight was perfect.

Pumpkin Pancakes using Trader Joe’s pumpkin pancake mix that my roommate had from a previous trip to NYC. Breakfast for dinner.  What could be better?

I’m not sure if this is seasonal, but next time you see it floating around TJ’s, snatch it up!  It’s delicious!

What’s that on my pancakes???  Greek yogurt and….

Wait for it…

BARNEY BUTTER!

Last week, I broke down and bought it online.  It arrived today, all 3 creamy delicious jars!  (Don’t worry, only two are for me.  One is for Rhoda.)

Not gonna lie, I’ve gone and dipped my finger in the jar multiple times today!  I need to cool it!  The expensive factor should be good enough motivation to make it last!

I’ve sort of over done it this week and today so I’m going to cut back on sugar this week.  I feel like when I eat sweets, I crave them more.  If I don’t eat them, I don’t really want them as much.  Anyone else feel the same?

Now back to homework, reading and randomly distracting myself on the internet!  Have a fantastic night!

P.S. You know you’re a food blogger when your boyfriend across the country e-mails you saying: “Costco has Almond Butter!” with this photo attached.

Gotta love him.

Warming Up Tropical Style

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Hi all!  I hope you enjoyed your weekend!

Remember when I was deciding whether or not to bake for my class… I chose Yes! Mostly because I love to bake but also because my other class was canceled this morning so I could legitimately justify baking while I looked at Decision Trees 🙂

To beat the dreariness that is Ithaca for today, I decided to make something tropical sounding!  However, I didn’t have time to go to the store so I made due with what I had.  Behold Tropical Oatmeal Cookies!

All the fruitness of the tropics with the warmth and comfort of a cold winter day!

Tropical Oatmeal Cookies

inspired by Smitten Kitchen’s Thick, Chewy Oatmeal Raisin Cookies

1/2 cup butter
2/3 cup brown sugar
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla extract
3/4 cup flour
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp salt
1 1/2 cup old fashioned oats
3/4 cup mixed dried fruit (I used dried mango, papaya, cranberries and raisins)

In one bowl combine dry ingredients except the oats and dried fruit.  In another bowl, cream together butter and sugar.  Add vanilla and egg, blend with a hand mixer until smooth.  Add dry ingredients, mix until combined.  Fold in oats and dried fruit.

Isn’t it colorful!?

Chill for about an hour.  Then bake at 350 degrees for about 10 minutes or until golden on the bottom.

This made 35 small cookies for me, but I’m guessing maybe 20 average sized cookies.

Pretty tasty! I tried one 🙂

While these baked, I made myself a healthy tropical lunch!

Thai Egg Drop Soup

2 servings of dry lentils
2 cups Thai Culinary Stock
1 tsp cornstarch
handful of Kale, washed and chopped
frozen veggies
1 egg, lightly beaten

Bring the lentils and stock to a boil, simmer for about 15 minutes.  Add cornstarch to thicken slightly (first mix with a bit of water in a separate cup).  Add veggies and bring to a boil.  Turn heat down and drizzle in the egg while stirring.

I have a tendency to eat the same thing everyday, but I’m trying to switch it up.  Any good lunch suggestions other than a wrap or sandwich??

Now I’m off to Wegman’s for the first time this week.  I’m literally out of vegetables!  That can’t happen in my household!

I feel like I should do a post dedicated just to Wegman’s since apparently I’m obsessed.

Have a wonderful afternoon!!!

P.S. Giveaways at Salt and Humor and The Actor’s Diet!

Chickpea Blondies + Karin is Amazing!

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OMG Lost was great!  I wish it hadn’t been 2 hours though!! I had so much to do last night!

Of course that didn’t stop me from watching and getting a little baking action in there.

This lady is pretty much awesome for a few reason…

Reason #1 Karin is awesome: A while ago I wrote a guest post for Karin while she was in Japan, and yesterday I got the cutest thing in the mail!

Adorable little bowl from Japan and delicious sun dried tomatoes!  I can’t wait to make something exciting with them!   Thanks, Karin!  You’re a superstar!!

Reason #2: She inspired me to make my own chickpea blondies after reading about her chickpea brownies!

Here’s my recipe:

Karla’s Chickpea Blondies

6.5oz cooked chickpeas (about 1 cup)
1/2 cup spelt flour
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
1/3 cup Agave Nectar
1/2 cup unsweetened apple sauce
1/4 cup canola oil
1/2 tsp vanilla
~1/4 cup Chocolate Chips (optional)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees

Place chickpeas in the food processor, process for a few seconds.  Add the remaining ingredients except the chocolate chips and process until smooth.

Transfer mixture to a greased baking dish and sprinkle with chocolate chips, I used a 9″ round pie pan.  Bake for 30 minutes.

These were really interesting tasting.  I’m not sure I would make them again to be perfectly honest just because they weren’t to die for.  Definitely worth the experiment if you’re curious!  Obviously they couldn’t have been too bad if my roommate and I devoured all of them.  This morning they are gone.  Not gonna lie, last night I felt ill (guess my sugar count ended up being WAYYYY off haha).   Have you tried chickpea blondies/brownies before?

Reason #3 Karin is awesome:  We’re pretty much bloggie twins… enough said.

Well I’m off to finish preparing for a presentation I have today on slums.  Speaking of slums… My apartment is quickly becoming a piece of junk (ok I’m grossly exaggerating).  The laundry machine stopped taking quarters so I couldn’t dry my clothes.  I had to place them all over various spots in my apartment (good thing this place in an oven, they dried in no time).

Now I have crunchy clothes like when I was little in Guatemala and the clothes was line dried on the terrace.

Have a great day!!!

Happy February!

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So the January Recipe Challenge was somewhat of a failure.  I ended up making recipes from 4 of the 7 continents!

I missed Australia, Antactica (which doesn’t really have civilization) and North America (which basically should constitute everything I eat everyday).

Overall, this was a very fun challenge!  Even though I didn’t make it through all the continents, I discovered some great recipes and had fun in the process!

I was pondering the idea of a February Challenge; however, I’ve decided against it.  In February, I’m going to concentrate on healthy eating/living and getting back into the swing of school.  That doesn’t mean I won’t try fantastic new recipes and share them with you all!  Do you have a February Challenge?

But on to today…  I started February off with some spice!

Not that kind of spice!

I give you, Mexican Chocolate Oats!

In the mix:

  • 1/2 cup oats
  • Chia seeds
  • 1 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder
  • Cinnamon
  • Dash of Cayenne
  • 1 small banana
  • 1 oz greek yogurt (for added creaminess and protein! stirred in at the end)
  • 1 tbsp natural peanut butter

Pretty delicious!  The cayenne gave it a nice kick to jump start my morning.

According to the World’s Healthiest Foods (anyone else love this site???), Cayenne has many health benefits!

Not only does is make your meals more exciting, but it also fights inflammation, reduces blood cholesterol, boosts immunity, helps prevent stomach ulcers and even helps in weight loss by raising your body temperature which uses more energy! (source)

Eat your Mexican Chocolate Oats! Basically any plain chocolate recipe can be made “Mexican” by adding cinnamon and cayenne.  Try adding some to plain chocolate cupcakes!  Sooo good!

Today is my first discussion section as a TA!  Wish me luck!!

Hope your February is starting out well!  Have a fantastic day!!

What’s your goal for February??