Recipes Revealed + Food For Thought

Here's the recipes from yesterday's post in case you wanted to try em' out yourself:

Mini Pumpkin Tarts
Yields: 15 tarts
Ingredients:
1 package mini Phyllo tarts (15 to a package)
3 oz canned pure pumpkin
1/3 frozen whipped topping, thawed (extra for garnish)
1/4 tsp pumpkin pie spice (extra for garnish)
1.5 oz of cheesecake-flavor instant pudding mix
Mint leaves for garnish (optional)
Directions:
Remove the shells from the freezer and let them thaw at room temperature for 15 minutes. Meanwhile, combine the pumpkin, whipped topping, and pumpkin pie spice in a medium bowl, whisking until smooth. Add the pudding mix and whisk until smooth and thick. Spoon about 1 tablespoon of the filling into each of the shells (you can also pipe the filling with a pastry bag or a plastic sandwich bag with one corner snipped off), then top the tarts with whipped topping, a sprinkling of the pumpkin pie spice, and a mint leaf, if you like. Makes 15 tarts.

Luscious Blueberry Swirls
Yields: 15 tarts
Ingredients:
15 Mini Phyllo Shells (1 box)
1/3 cup light sour cream
1 tablespoon powdered sugar
1/3 cup blended blueberry fat-free yogurt
1/3 cup fresh or frozen blueberries
Directions:
Combine sour cream and powdered sugar. Spoon about 1 teaspoon sour cream mixture and one teaspoon blueberry yogurt, side by side, in each Fillo Shell. With the tip of a knife, gently stir the sour cream and yogurt to make a swirled pattern ( do not over mix). Top each shell with whole blueberries and serve immediately.

And now....

-Do illeterate people get the full effect of alphabet soup?

-If you ate pasta and antipasti, would you still be hungry?

Hopefully that gets you thinking for today! =) On a more serious note..

Are you a caffiene addict? We're only supposed to consume about 300 milligrams a day.

How much is in your 8 oz. cup of..

Drip coffee...95 mg

Brewed Tea...47 mg

Mountain Dew...36mg(funny, I am drinking that now)

Coca-Cola Classic...23mg

Diet Pepsi...23mg

Snapple Iced Tea...9mg

Have a super Saturday!

Cooking Demo=Success

Hey everyone! Finally Friday =) Did this week seem to drag on or what?? Yesterday was my highly anticipated cooking demo I did for my public speaking class as a demonstrative speech. A little recap if you missed the last post on it: I was having trouble deciding what I wanted to make. I finally decided on showing 2 desserts(one more fall/winter themed and one good for spring/summer) My theme was how to make 2 party appetizers for under $15 using 1 base product, which was the wonderful and ever-so versatile Mini Phyllo Cups! So I whipped these up in my dorm before class and it left my dorm smelling like pumpkin pie and blueberries--yum! I used my handy new cake carrier I bought from Wal-Mart to haul them across campus to class, and then I was the 4th person to present! I was worried about making the 5-7 minute time slot..mostly worried I wouldn't make it to even five minutes, but I was pleased to find out that I clocked in at 6:57, and I could have even kept talking more. Yes I am a chatterbox, but it does come in handy for instances like this. Overall, I had a blast! I could totally see myself doing that for a living. I got a ton of recipe requests, and there was no trace but crumbs in my pan left! I was really glad I could spark a little creativity in my classmates and also show them that gourmet snacks can be simple to make and all you need is a little pocket change and your imagination!!
p.s. I got an A! 8-)

My Favorite Restaurant Meals

Happy hump day! Halfway through the week already is definitely not a bad thing! I am soo looking forward to my spring break starting March 6th all the way till the 16th! I need it more than I needed Christmas break, just because this semester is much harder. So to kick off spring break my mom, grandma, and I are headed to the Twin Cities to do some major retail therapy/girl time! We hit all the major thrift stores and always come back with tons of goodies--not only that, but memories to last a lifetime! So as I was planning out our 3 day agenda[I'm always the map girl, schedule girl, etc.], I was thinking of prospective places to eat; yes I think ahead because eating out with family or friends is so much better when your at a place with good food, amen? :-) That thought of course then led me to this post on my favorite restaurants and what I order! Feel free to let me know your rants, ravs, and favs also!



I just looove Applebee's Chicken Tortilla Melt. I order it minus the ranch sauce, but with extra, extra salsa! What can I say--I am a condiment girl at heart.

Well, little story here--KFC was actually my first job when I turned 15. The only reason I picked that was because it was the only place that allowed 15 year olds to work. So I spend one grueling summer in the midst of crispy or original chicken, spooning out mash potatoes, and reeking like fried food. Not exactly a pretty picture. Needless to say, I would not enter a KFC for 2 years after due to painful memories HAHA! Now I do occasionally have a nice dinner there--it's a place my mom, dad, and I all can agree on. I get a Tendergrill chicken breast minus the bun. I learned this trick from working behind the scenes! Plus some mash taters and green beens!

Had to add Subway on here just because it's my usual "go to" fast food place of choice. Not only are they healthy, but I have yet to find a sub that beats their's. I order a 6-inch turkey on wheat topped with mustard with a veggie salad on that side. =)

I really like Denny's as a sit down restaurant. It's not that it's soo unique or different, but I am always pleased with my fav meal from there. Grilled chicken breast w/steamed veggies and a side salad..or sometimes their delish chicken noodle soup! Almost better than homemade.
When I am feeling in the mood for buffett style, I head here. I really enjoy their pizza, grilled fish, baked potatoes, giant salad bar, great from-scratch soups, and I always LOAD up my plate with the peel&eat shrimp. 8-)

The next 3 are ones that I have only been to a handful of times when traveling to different states, you should definitely try them out if you haven't already.

Au Bon Pain is not just a pastry place, they have added tons of things to their menus and it seems when I check, there's always something new! I just like the atmosphere of a little corner cafe, and this fits the bill!

Sweet Tomatoes, my love for you keeps growing even though I only get to go when I am in Florida! Another buffett style place, they are known for their soup, salads, and bakery buffett. But it doesn't stop there--they have delish desserts, soups, and sandwiches all for a fixed price! Yes!

And last but not least, Crabby Bill's. Again this is a southern chain located in the Clearwater/St.Pete Beach area in Florida. I have been to 3 of them and even have a sweatshirt that says, "Don't Worry Be Crabby!" Ha ha. Most of the restaurants are decked out in total marine decor which makes it even more of an enjoyable experience. What I order: Fried clam strips with marinara! Yummmy

Yummy Contest Alert!

Well I am pleased to say, I am finally feeling a tad bit better. Wow, that cold/flu thing can really take you for a spin..and it's not a fun one by any means. After 2 trips to the student health center, a new shot at a Neti-Pot(those things make you feel like your drowning!), and some fresh air, I hope I am only uphill from here! But the upside to being sick was I got to do some serious catch up on all my blog readings. I was pleased with all the goodies I found as usual. Oh, and heads up for Thursday; I will be revealing what I ended up deciding on to present for my demonstrative speech! Actually you'll see the whole process because I will be making them for my class Thursday afternoon. I'm hoping it will be a good time! Anyway, the title of this post has got you thinking I'm sure, and it actually doesn't pertain to a contest of mine, but yet another couple bloggies(Lee&Nick) who are hosting what has to be the coolest recipe contest, and not to mention a yummy prize. It's the 5th Great Peanut Butter Exibition! This years theme; a stunning PB(or almond butter)sandwich creation. It definitely has me thinking today!! And the prize? A PB& Co cookbook to further fuel your love for all things peanuty! So get your head outta the PB jar, and get creatin'!

Clipping for a Cause

I don't know about you, but I am always clipping coupons for things I don't even buy, just in case I ever find a need too. Needless to say, I have a cute cupcake coupon holder that is always plump full. When I go through it at the end of each month, I always end up throwing out a bunch of expired coupons, and think it's such a shame and that someone could have used it! So I was more than delighted when I came upon an article about a woman named Kay MacVey. She is 82 years old and has found a significant use for all her unused coupons. She adopted a coupon collection program for military families stationed overseas. In 2007, she and 30 volunteers helped to clip more than $349,000 worth of coupons from newspapers! I think that's super, and even better? You can help!

How to help clip:
Coupon clipping is one way to help military families overseas in a concrete way. But before you reach for the scissors, here are a few guidelines.
• Coupons must be manufacturer coupons. Manufacturers will honor coupons from any newspaper or circular. Store coupons are usually good only for the store featured.
• Coupons are good for up to six months after their expiration date. But mailing the coupons can take weeks, so don’t send coupons that are three months past their expiration.

Once your done, send them to Kay at:

Kay MacVey

3419 Polaris Drive
Ames, Iowa 50010

Now go get clipping!!! =)

A Few Websites for the Weekend

It's finally the weekend! I was excited, until I got sick and ended up spending yesterday afternoon at the student health center. Turns out it's just an ear "inflamation" not infection, whatever the difference is, I do not know, but it hurts anyway! But of course I can't just sit around--there is cleaning, laundry and the whole works to be done. That's okay though, hopefully the fresh air will do me good.
Anyway, last night I spent the night cuddled up to my computer and thought I'd share some of the websites I always visit =) So enjoy; and hopefully your weekend is better than mine!
Foodies Unite Here!
Warning:This Site May Make You Drool!
Strictly for the Bakers Out There!
Healthy, but a Goodie
Who comes up with this crazy kitchen stuff?

Laundry should be fun!--Not

How about cleaning the dorm? Hmm..no.

Ohma's Cookie Review

I love to do product reviews, and was even more excited to do this one on cookies! I love to bake cookies myself, but it's always a pleasure to try out everyone else's as well. When Tiffany from Ohma's Cookies offered to send over one of her cookies for me to sample, how could I argue?! A little about Ohma's: "It's a private bakery dedicated to bringing you old-fashioned, handmade cookies. They're known for their gourmet German cookies, and offer cookies ranging from Pecan, Cinnamon Zips, Lemon Stars, Orange Doodles, Mint Sniketts, Sugar Cookies, Roasted Butter Cookies(the one I recieved!), along with a variety of holiday specialty cookies." I think it is a great! You can also visit Tiffany's blog she runs and who knows, you may be able to bake up some cookies as scrumptious as Ohma's yourself!
On to the review..
I got 2 Roasted Butter Cookies in the mail and the first thing I noticed upon opening the box was the short ingredient list. Flour, sugar, butter and vanilla. What a surprise when I took a bite to find that despite the small ingredients list, they were quite a treat! These cookies would be for people who like a crisp, melt-in-your-mouth cookie. I have tasted my share of butter cookies, but this one was distinctively different. Very presentable looking, and definitely a treat to go good with a cold glass of milk! So if you're on the hunt for a unique cookie with a homemade touch, head on over to Ohma's Cookies. They also offer gifts and they're prices are just as tasty as the cookies! =)

Fabulous Food Pairs

So..occasionally a magazine article will really spark an interest,then of course I want to share it with everyone! So this week's article is coming from the Prevention magazine.(One of my favs because the small size is great for sticking in your purse to read whenever you get the chance!) Anyway, this article focuses on the benefits of certain foods and how when they are paired with other specific foods, they become super foods! Pretty neat, huh? Read on...
[[Pasta(any kind)+Parsley=Stronger Bones]]This combo delivers a full day's worth of Vit.K
[[Whole grain cereal+Sunflower Seeds=Better Immunity]]Provides more than 100% of Vit.E
[[Scrambled Eggs+Red Pepper=Smoother Skin]]Provides more than 100% of RDA of Vit.C
[[Smoothie(any kind)+Wheat Germ=Faster healing of cuts/bruises]]Provides over 1/2 the requirement for zinc, which aids in repairing cells.
[[Sandwich(any kind)+spinach leaves=Decreased risk of night blindness]]20% of your Vit.A
[[Garden Salad+Canned Wild Salmon=Healthier Brain&Heart]]1/2 the RDA of omega-3's
[[Burger+Ketchup=Decreased Cancer Risk]]Ketchup supplies lycopene(antioxidant that protects the heart)
[[Soup(any kind)+Pinto Beans=Lower Cholesterol]]Beans lower both total cholesterol and LDL
[[Stir-Fry(any kind)+Kale=Stronger Eyes]]Kale delivers 12 mg of lutein&zeaxanthin that help combat cataracts & macular degeneration.
[[Salsa+Chickpeas=Lower Body Weight]]Boosts intake of protein and helps you feel fuller faster.
[[Green Tea+Lemon=Lower Cancer Risk]]Adding citrus to tea increases disease-fighting catechins four-fold.
[[Water+Unsweetened Cranberry Juice=Fewer Cavities]]Prevents buildup of the bacteria most responsible for causing cavities.
I thought these were interesting, and some of these pairs were a surprise! It seems as though I eat a lot of these foods, just not together---looks like I'll need to start making some new recipes that incorporate these.
What about you? Are some of these already a staple in your diet? Lemme know!!

I Would Like S'more of These Please!

Even though the weather here is not exactly outside, bonfires, etc. like in the summer, there's no need to bypass a chance to make a summertime favorite; I am showing you how to bring s'mores indoors! =) It was quite simple actually, although it does require a bit more work then sticking a marshmallow on a stick and plopping it between to grahams. I actually created this recipe by using bits and pieces of other recipes to equal these fun(and good!)cupcakes.

Step 1- Bake your everyday boxed cupcake. I used Duncan Hines Devils Food Cake.(This has the most chocolate oomph to it I think).
Step 2- While you let cupcakes cool (an hour at least), you can make the marshmallow frosting by using 2 (7oz) tubs of Marshmallow Fluff mixed with 3 TBSP of sour cream and 1 TSP vanilla. I put the jars of fluff in the microwave with the tops off for about 30 sec. to make it easier to work with, then just mix it all up, pour it in a zip-loc, snip the corner, and off you go!
Step 3- Crush about 2 sheets of graham crackers in the food processor. Use a spoon to sprinkle the tops of cupcakes.
Step 4-Use 1/2 a square of Hershey's chocolate candy bars and plop one on the side!
Enjoy!
Oh, by the way..Happy President's Day!

Happy Vday & The Winner Is...

Happy Valentine's Day everyone! What a lovely day for love(and chocolate). Hopefully you all got something splendid from your Valentine--I know I did! I had the best Valentine's this year. None other than my mom and dad! They surprised me with flowers! And the cool thing is I was just thinking my dorm needs some new greenery. But pink,red,and white?! All together=beautiful. A beautiful gift from two of the most beautiful people I know. I hope all of you get a joyous surprise today also! Now onto the winner of my very first blog contest. After sifting through all the entries of drool-worthy ice cream dishes, it was so hard to choose. But it came down to the one that I really want to try. And so the winner is... ... ... ...(scroll dowwwwn)


Heather over at Heather Eats Almond Butter! She says this about her favorite ice cream treat: "Here is a picture of my favorite frozen yogurt from Yogurt Oasis here in Nashville. I love anything soft serve and this was a mix of butterscotch and eggnog frozen yogurt with graham cracker topping. So creamy and delicious!"

Here's what I say: Looks great! I have yet to try eggnog flavored fro-yo! Every holiday season when it comes out I say I am going to, but then I just never do. Yours looks ever so tempting, so I am definitely going to try it ASAP. Mixed with butterscotch makes it sounds even more devine! And finally to top it off w/graham crackers would have been my choice also! Yummy!

So Heather--thanks for entering and sharing your yummy bowl of heaven! And thanks to everyone else for taking the time to enter.

I Need Your Help

Hola everyone! Finally Friday--yippee! This weekend is special of course because it's Valentine's Day, so for everyone out there that is in love[[and even everyone who is not]]; have a great day filled with chocolates, flowers, and whatever else! As for me, well let's just say I'm in love with food..good enough, right? I am really sad I didn't get to bake anything special for Vday due to being swamped with good ol' homework, and ever more sad I didn't get to use my Wilton's heart-shaped cookie pan I got on clearance last year after Vday. Blehh. I am going to just whip up some heart-shaped cookies at some random time just to use it; randomness is cool, right?

Now to the serious stuff people. Yesterday in my public speaking class, my prof informed the class that we would be doing our second speech this semester, and it was none other than a informative/demonstrative speech. Usually at the announcement of a speech I would squirm and it would pretty much ruin my day(ok not really, but you get the point), but this time I was really excited! Why you ask? Because this is my chance to play Rachael Ray! Ha ha. I am totally going to demonstrate how to cook/bake something. My mind was reeling with ideas, fav recipes, fav techniques etc. and after an afternoon of serious pondering, I narrowed it down to just 3 of my choices. So I have created a poll and figured I would ask none other but all my readers to help me out! What one should I present to the class? Some more info on this--I am bringing 1 of whatever I make for the whole class to sample..this speech can only be 5-7 minutes long..and my prof is very outgoing/fun, so I need something that will impress. Please please please cast your vote; I'm counting on all y'all! Thanks!



Here's the pics of the choices--


S'more Cupcakes















Cake Pops

PB Banana Mousse Shells

PollPub.com Vote

What should I make for my demonstration speech?

S'mores Cupcakes
Cake Ball Pops
PB Banana Mousse Shells



View Results

Poll powered by PollPub.com Free Polls

So What Does a Foodie Blogger Eat You Ask?

So what does a college student who's stuck in a dorm with only a fridge/microwave and a foodie blogger equal? Me of course! I really see now how much I took my own kitchen at home for granted. Yes, we have a "floor" kitchen that I use--sparingly. I have been able to adjust to whipping up some of my favorite stand-by meals. I promise I am making myself use that kitchen this weekend though! I got a brand spankin' new cupcake carrier over at Wal-Mart for only five bucks!!! It's a cupcake pan w/a lime green lid that snaps on with handles for easy transport. It rocks and you should totally get on over to Wally World if you're in the market for one of these beauties =) So some cupcake concoctions are in the plans people! By the way, the ice cream contest ends tomorrow! So submit now or you can't win, which would be sad, right? Here's my good, go-to meals. Nothing too special, but healthy & delish to say the least.

BREAKFAST:
Cheerios,Banana in Vanilla Soymilk. It's a classic.
Eggbeaters/Egg/Veggie Scramble; I smother it in ketchup. Yes I love ketchup on my ketchup.

LUNCH:
Kashi Waffles+Apples+Walden Syrup=Warm,Yummy Goodness

DINNER:
Light Italian Bun topped w/Bruschetta Boca Burger+Mustard/Chopped Onions
Rainbow Salada[[Spinach,Lettuce,Romain,Tomatoes,Pickles,Banana Peppers,Ital.Dressing]]
**Not Pictured**Homemade Sweet Potatoes Fries

And of course the daily snacks [[kettlecorn]][[Annie Bunny Graham's]][[Kiwi]]

[[Healthy]] Brownie Bowl!

There's nothing better than sitting in class & blogging! Lets just say it makes the time go by way faster! The class which is Tech.Foundation is actually fun because it involves design work on and off the computer. But no matter how fun the class, 2 hours can make me antsy. Anyhooo..today I opened my fridge and noticed I still had a VitaBrownie stuffed in my freezer[[Definitely need to get home to stock up]] A brownie seemed like something I could use to concoct another yummy bowl to share w/everyone! So then the birth of my new "Brownie Bowl" took place. My inspiration was the Brownie Batter Blizzard at DQ that looks ever-so-tempting, but oh-so-unhealthy. So I based it with one container of vanilla Dannon Light&Fit yogurt like the last bowl instead on vanilla ice cream in the DQ creation. I then added 1/4 C pumpkin(I always do just for the vitamins, but you could sub some PB for all ya PB lovers out there, or just add more vanilla yogurt) Then I poured in about 2 TBS(?) of Walden Farms Maple Syrup to add some more volume. Next came the VitaBrownie all crumbled up to equal pure goodness, and last but not least, I knew I had to add in some Annie's Cinnamon Bunny Grahams(a handful) for more crunch factor. All together now-->Ok, so it's a little(or a lot)different than the DQ Blizzard, but it's totally on the same track and would be good for a snack,dessert,light lunch or whatever your fancy is. I think trying to recreate restaurant favs that are unhealthy to healthy dishes that you can tweak to your liking is soo fun.

What are your fav restaurant re-creations?!

Fiber One Pie Crust

 

Makes 1 9-inch pie

Ingredients:

• 2 c original Fiber One cereal
• 1/4 c I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter Spread(Fat Free version)
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 2 Tbsp Almond Breeze
• May need to add some more almond milk, or regular milk if you choose to get the right consistency.

Directions:

• Pulse Fiber One in blender or food processor with all other ingredients.
• Press into pie pan and pre-bake at 350 F for 10 minutes.
• Fill with desired pie filling—can be baked again once filling is added.

Nutritionals for total crust=265 calories

If your pie is 8 slices that’s only 33 calories!

I Got a Valentine's Surprise!

When I came across the post over at For the Love of PB that gave me an opportunity to sign up for a Secret Valentine's Day bloggie swap, how could I say no?! The plan--to get another bloggie partner from the blog world, put together a package based on what you think they'd like from viewing their blog, and send it out by February 5th! I looove swaps, so I got my thinking cap on and put together a package for my partner. But I was really pumped to see what my secret partner whipped together for me! Saturday night I walked down to my mailbox and was delighted to see a package slip! Then I got the package, ran back up to my room, and opened it!(duh :-]) It was from Brandi over at Bran Appetit . I had never heard about her blog, which was another good thing about this little swap, more blogs to read!!! Yay! She put together the best little package. It was just what I needed to cheer me up.
The package:
An adorable set of pink and red heart-shaped measuring cups&spoons.(match my pink kitchen decor perfecto!)
Some yummy Smacker's vanilla frosting lipgloss.(Girl can never have enough gloss!)
A cupcake notepad(grocery lists anyone?)
And 2 rubber spatulas(a pink and one with cupcakes!)
To say she is a sweetheart is right on the money! Thanks again Brandi & thanks Lee for hosting this fun little swap.

Clif Carrot Cake Bar Bonanza

Clif bars have been a big buzz around the blogging world lately, so when our campus store got some in, I made sure to buy em' up! For starters I got a Carrot Cake flavor and the Oatmeal Raisin Walnut. I decided to dive into the Carrot Cake one first, just because it fit in with the theme of my "orange lunch"; pumpkin, carrots, etc. anyone? The meal just screamed major source of beta-carotene, which we all know is good for your eyes =) Anyway, I wasn't sure what to expect from these Clif bars, especially since I am so fussy when it comes to snack bars in general. So did Clif Carrot Cake pass my test?

Report Card:

Taste-B+

Texture-B

Nutrition-A-

Fullness Factor(how long did it stay in my tummy)-A

Overall grade- A-

Why I graded the way I did:

First off, when I opened the package, it was big! And I immediately smelled the aroma of spice, which was great! The texture was a bit sticky for me, and a little tooo chewy for my likes. But the taste of this gem totally made up for the texture. It was spicy, sweet, and flavorful all in one bite. This bar boasts 5 grams of fiber and 10 grams of protein so I knew right away it would keep my stomach from grumbling for quite some time, about 3 hours to be exact. Not exactly like a slice of carrot cake, but pretty darn close & it's healthy so I will take it!

I want to try their Banana Nut Bread and Iced Gingerbread next... So until then, Clif--you just made a spot in my snack drawer!

My Way Of Ending a Busy Week

So how does a stressed college student end a busy week? Some might resort to yoga or other forms of stress-relieving exercise, some might throw on their pj's and kick back, or if you do things similar to me, you head out to the local ice-cream shop and treat yourself for a (hard)job well done! =) Unfortunately I don't have frozen yogurt specialty shops like Pinkberry,etc.,which would be my first choice because I love my fro-yo, but thankfully we do have a Cold Stone Creamery right down the road from the campus. (I swear this wasn't what drew me to this University! ha ha) Anyway, mid-week I recieved an email from them saying that they now had the Cake Batter flavor made with the Sinless Sweet Cream batter, which meant only one thing---They now carry Sinless Cake Batter! They used to have the light cake batter, but discontinued it, so this was great news. I knew I would have a romantic date with a bowl of it Friday after classes. So I was off, armed with a dollar off coupon(thanks to good ol' grandma), and I was uber excited when the scooper person said that it is not just a promotional item, but it is here to stay! When I took my first bite, I knew this would be a long term relationship! Not only is it a healthy splurge, but I got it for exactly $2.02 w/my coupon, and have two more coupons that don't expire for a couple weeks!
So have you been to Cold Stone? It's a lot like Marble Slab Creamery also. It's not your typical hard serve ice cream, it's more like a gooey batter that you can get mixed with a gazillion toppings! It is also a very slow melting ice cream, which makes it easier to eat it slow and savor! Now I am in no way saying that turning to food to solve every problem is a good idea; because it's not! More so I think treating yourself every so often for just being able to get through this crazy life is something we all deserve.
So I wanna know---What is your all time favorite ice cream dish? Send me a picture with your name and blog url, or if your not a bloggie, send your email & I am going to pick the best picture & you'll win a little surprise from the #1 ice cream fan of all; me! Good eatings & happy weekend!
p.s. The contest ends at midnight on Friday February 13th and the winner will be announced shortly after!

A Bowl Of Yum

Happy Thursday everyone! This week unlike last week is dragging on unfortunately. With a big exam next week, the weekend will probably be filled with books,notes,and study snacks. That's college life for you. But I am SO determined to fit in some baking. It's like my therapy; and who skips therapy right?! But I have still been succombing to a creative bug, so I decided to mix up some recipes to eat with what I had on hand. Check out this beautiful bowl of yum! I call it Yummy in my Tummy Bowl. It is packed full of vitamins and minerals, which I need right now because EVERYONE on our floor is coughing/sick/etc. So here's to a healthy treat that will be yummy in your tummy also =) What is in this you ask? Come along and I will reveal this yum yum yummy secret =)

*1 container of Vanilla Light&Fit Yogurt(by Dannon)

*1/2 cup of canned pumpkin(not pumpkin pie filling!the PURE pumpkin)

*1/4 cup Fiber One Cereal

*A pinch or a dash of pumpkin pie spice; whatever you desire

*I added a couple butterscotch chips after the pic, because I remembered I had some hehe!



Throw the first 2 ingredients together and stir stir stir. Then sprinkle the p-pie spice, and top with some crunchy cereal and finish with butterscotch chips!

Who Loves Free Stuff?

I do!! Seriously, I am a freebie fanatic..is that a bad thing? No, I think not! My favorite thing to get is samples of cereal, tea, and granola bars. But I don't stop there..I just keep browsing. A lot of my current favorite products have emerged from a free sample.(Vitatops anyone?!)Anyway, this week is going to be uber busy, so I apologize ahead of time for the serious lacking of posts, I'll do my best! Here's two of my fav sights for freebies--check em' out!

Hey It's Free
The Free Funhouse

A Little Sunday Shopping Review

This weekend our area was blessed with warm weather! Now let me remind you that warm weather is 30 degrees. =) Yes I know that is hilarious to some people, but we Minnesotan's take it to heart. People were actually out in shorts around campus--I kid you not! So basically I had spring fever, but then back to reality; it's only the beginning of February, which means about 3 more months of brutal cold/snow/and all around icky weather. But to boost my spirits(and enjoy the day!) I went and hopped around the grocery stores and Wal-Mart and figured I'd stock up on some of my beloved grocery staples since it wasn't too cold to haul multiple bags in from the parking lot(which is usually is). I spent the afternoon browsing and actually picked up some good deals over at Wal-Mart! I also got some stuff to get some baking done this week also, even though it's not pictured because it's a surprise! Yay! Meanwhile, I am gearing up for the Blogger's Valentine Exchange, hosted by the wonderful Lee over at For the Love of Peanut Butter I just love getting goodies ready for someone I don't know and making their day! Keep watching for the update on that. Anyway..what did I get on my grocery excursion? Check it out below-->

[[Left to Right]] *Libby's Canned Pumpkin--Love it! Full on vitamins and so versatile, either with baking or by the spoonful! *Dannon Light&Fit Vanilla Yogurt--I'm thinking the yogurt might have to go on a little date with the pumpkin; yummy? *Banana Peppers--I absolutely love these; they are ALWAYS in my fridge ready to be plopped on a salad. * Egg beaters--I eat these mixed with one egg in a veggie omelet for breakfast. *Necco Sweethearts--I couldn't pass these little tasty gems up; plus they are only seasonal. =( *Joseph's Pita Bread--I am so addicted to these, I have been eating them for about a year now. I use them as pizza crust, sandwich pockets and have even made some mean cinnamon and sugar chips. *Orville Kettle Korn--Popcorn is a never failing snack! *Boca Bruschetta Burgers--I love the original flavor, but these win for taste. *Chiquita Apple Slices--I like these preportioned bags to bring to class with me. Much easier to each than chomping a giant apple. *And last but not least, a Lean Cuisine Roasted Veggie Pizza that will be in my belly by the end of the day!

Do you guys like any of these products!? If you haven't tried em', you should!