Category Archives: Food
Get the Glow!
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Ya’ll are so sweet and give me the sweetest compliments! I wanted to share my super simple beauty routine, one item I use is just a buck! The other is edible and full of anti-oxidants and anti-aging properties!
Magic Fairy Dust
My 2016 Vision Board!
Happy New Year!
This is probably the first year that I have no health goals for the new year!
I spoke about Magic Fairy Dust here and wanted to elaborate more on something I use all day “eeerryyyday!” Remember to start low and go slow; so add to one meal a day and gradually increase over time!
33
Howdy!
Just returned from Temecula for my 33rd birthday weekend!
Started the day with a lovely breakfast at a local cafe with my family, folks and my bonus baby. Later, Patrick and I went to South Coast Winery, which is 2 hours SE of Los Angeles! I had never been to a traditional winetasting. I’m such a lightweight; I think I only had a total of 3 ounces! Hubby and I had a fancy dinner after, then saw the new 007 movie. We stayed with my dear friend who just moved to Temecula this past summer! The crowning moment was my brunch the morning we headed home, seriously I had a foodgasm over this meal!! Here is my video showcasing the goods! BTW the donuts were delish!
It’s the Little Things…
I bought this dress for $16!
I recently began a new job! I’m working 22 hours a week in my neighborhood. As parents we are already busy, so anytime you add in something, you have to take something off your proverbial plate or make adjustments to keep your family centered. I refuse to have one of those chaotic families who don’t know which way is up (that could have spiritual parallels)!
Here is an overview of some of the tweaks and tricks our family has implemented:
1. Although soccer practice is twice a week, we only go to one practice-that way we have a weeknight with no after school commitments.
2. I sneak in a twenty-minute nap almost daily, that way when my kids and hubby come home I’m not too tired to be nice.
3. I hired a middle-schooler to fold ,hang and put away our children’s laundry-this is the best practical decision I have EVER made! My Bella is a punctual, local and polite magical fairy who I NEED in my life (kids have other chores)!
4. On the same topic, I make Bella and our family’s life easier by buying one style, size and color of socks for the kids This may seem insignificant; but these little things streamline our lives! No wasted time matching pairs!
5. We have at least four family dinners a week, this way we have time to reconnect and laugh and learn about each other, we usually top it off with a family board or card game.
6. We have no pets. My theory is that I have enough breathing beings to look after. My son hates dogs so there is no issue there, for my daughter, we foster dogs sporadically during the summer to scratch the itch to own and help save a life (all while accruing volunteer hours for the young-ins)! Boom!
This $5 box from Container Store is a way to quickly assemble snacks and salads
7. My husband and I have committed to one night away at a hotel each month. This helps me have something to look forward to and keeps our marriage at the cornerstone of la familia!
8. I wear dresses almost everyday-“One and Done!” Dresses are the easiest piece of clothing to wear; there isn’t a more simple way to get dressed. I feel polished everyday and I spend no time deciding on what to wear. I add leggings, boots and a cute jacket in colder weather. If you are not a “dress person” (try to be ;), decide on a daily “uniform” that flatters you and makes you feel and look good!
9. We alternate between Blue Apron and Hello Fresh for meal delivery. This forces us to have family dinners and gourmet meals on the regular. This is a great investment in your life management!
10. Last but not least!- I start my morning by meditating on the verse of the day on my You Version Bible App; by adjoining a quick prayer, it allows me start from a centered place and conquer the day. Before I go to sleep I read a daily passage from “My Utmost for His Highest”. This is a devotional classic! I go to bed with a right mind and some Bible teaching.
Bonus: I swear by adding Benefiber (generic version, which is only corn fiber) to almost everything I eat and drink! I have it labeled “Magic Fairy Dust!” and keep it in a sugar jar from Home Goods to pour easily. I sprinkle it on food and stir it into drinks. I keep a vial in my purse to use at every meal.This makes me feel satiated for many hours and reduces my net carbs. It balances my blood sugar so I don’t get hangry and keeps my weight in check so I don’t have to “work out” (I walk daily).
Do you have some tricks up your sleeves that keep you grounded?
Curried Egg Salad
Ingredients:
2 hard-boiled eggs
1 Tbl.of mayo
1 Tsp. of mustard
a few turns of lemon pepper
1/2 tsp. Curry powder spice
capers (optional)
2 slices of bread
Pulse all ingredients (except bread and capers) in a mini processor. Spread on two slices of toast of your choice. Sprinkle curry powder and capers to taste. You could swap out relish for capers. Add a simple side salad for a cheap, easy meal!
P.S. I add a tsp. of tastless fiber to my wine to decrease absorption and prevent a sugar spike.
Chai Tea glazed Donuts!!! Oh Yeah!
So I had no idea to today was National Donut Day when I decided to make some homemade.
SO AMAZING!!!
Here is the recipe
INGREDIENTS
GLAZE:
I used the package of Chai Tea frosting included in this Chai Tea cupcake mix from Archer Farms at Target
http://www.target.com/p/archer-farms-chai-latte-cupcake-mix-22-86oz/-/A-14772576
BATTER:
1.5 quarts of vegetable oil, for frying (that’s a full standard bottle)
1 cup milk
1 large egg
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 Tablespoons sugar
4 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup (1/2 stick) unsalted butter, melted
Add the vegetable oil to a large, heavy-bottomed pot. (There should be at least 2 inches of oil in the pot and at least 2 inches between the top of the oil and the top of the pot.) Attach the deep-fry thermometer to the pot and begin heating the oil over medium heat to 350ºF. Line a slotted pan with foil or wax paper underneath.
In a small bowl, whisk together the milk and the egg.
In a separate medium bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder and salt. Stir the milk-egg mixture into the dry ingredients, then stir in the melted butter, mixing until a soft dough forms.
Scoop out batter onto a floured surface. I like to put on latex gloves at this point. Roll into ball, cut in half, then repeat cutting in halves until you have at least twelve sections. Take each section and form a donut shape. Use a round press like a measuring spoon and notch out a hole. Flatten a bit. Use flour as needed to reduce stickiness
Makes about 12-15 donuts.
If you don’t have a thermometer drop a raw grain of rice in oil, if it floats up within 8 seconds, oil is hot enough, if it floats up in less than 8 or not at all, oil is too cold, if it floats up within 1–4 seconds it is too hot.
Once the oil has reached 350ºF, use a slotted spoon to drop up to three donuts into the oil, careful not to overcrowd the pan.
Fry the donuts, they should start to rise to the surface within 5 seconds, let them cook about 2 minutes until golden brown underneath, then flip them and let them cook another 2 minutes until they’re golden brown on the other side.
Using a slotted spoon, transfer the donuts to a slotted pan.
Allow the donuts to cool slightly, then one by one, spread glaze over top with the back of a spoon. Serve immediately.
Easy Sushi!
Nom, nom, good!
My family loves Sushi! We don’t count Mr E.J. (pronounced “Eej”, that nickname was inspired by the pout of Ebenezer “Scrooge”, as in Mr. Scrooge) our five year old son! He doesn’t eat much of anything. Last year, I created a simple way of making sushi without all the rolling.
We use raw Atlantic Salmon as our fish. I buy only sushi grade at Whole Foods Market. I plan for 1/4 pound per person-which comes to a reasonable amount of about $12 total. I have the fish monger dice the salmon for me. Before I serve it I pour low-sodium Soy Sauce over the fish as an added germ killer. I buy pickled ginger for about $1.75 at the sushi section there and they provide free wasabi,Teriyaki and Soy sauce. We like to use brown rice (I buy this cooked at the sushi counter or make this depending on time and if we are eating there)and just throw the fish, ginger, avocado and teriyaki all in a bowl. Done.
This day we bought Seaweed wrappers to make hand rolls (sans the bowl). I picked up a Persian cucumber to add something to my sister’s roll because she doesn’t eat meat or fish. You can store the soy sauce covered fish for up to one day in the fridge, it’s freshest and safest the day of.
This is a delicious and inexpensive way to enjoy what can be a luxurious meal!
I’d love to learn your Piece of Cake adaptations for recipes? Please Leave your creative ideas in the comments below.