Cinnamon and Sugar, Whats Not to Like?

First I would like to point out my record high # of post this month. Second I would like to point out my birthday month is only 3 days away....thats right I said birthday MONTH!

When I got home from work today, I made some fruit salsa and cinnamon and sugar chips for Joe's sister.

This is probably one of my favorite food day treats to make. Everyone loves it! I have adapted this from the Better Homes & Garden cookbook. Below is the fruit I usually use, above I omitted the orange and added blueberries.

Fruit Salsa with Cinnamon and Sugar Chips
1 pint of fresh strawberries
1 can of crushed pineapple (drain the juice)
4 fresh kiwis
1-2 oranges

Cut up all the fruit into small cubes and mix! Thats it!!

For the chips, you will need a package of small flour tortillas, melted butter, cinnamon and sugar.

Mix about 1 cup of sugar with 1 tablespoon of cinnamon.

Brush the melted butter on a tortilla and sprinkle with the sugar mix, then take kitchen scissors and cut the tortilla, like you would a pie, I cut into 8 pieces. Place on baking sheet, butter/sugar side up (I used parchment) and bake until light golden brown and crispy. About 350 degress for 7-10 minutes. Bake as many chips that you think you'll need. Enjoy!

After making this I ran to the store because I never went this weekend and was OUT of food. Since I have been out of food, I have been eating at work, and its hard to make healthy choices at work! I found some yummy looking white peaches and stocked up on some staple food items. I did try something new tonight, inspired by a new blog I've been reading. I picked up some almond butter. I love PB and I love almonds, so almond butter... probably gonna like it! I had to sneak a taste before dinner and to be honest the verdict is still out. I think tonight I am going to try it with a banana. I will let you know if it becomes a favorite!

Baking Frenzy

Well, I got some new books that I am really excited about. I picked up 3 books that I have been really wanting at the 1/2 Price Book Store. What a GREAT deal, they were only about $35 for all 3. As far as I can tell, they were new. I got Martha Stewart Cookies, William Sonoma (a baking book), and Hello Cupcake. I went to go buy Martha Stewart Cupcakes there but they didn't have it, so unfortunately I bought it for full price at Barnes and Noble. Not that I wouldn't buy it for full price but 1/2 price is so fun.

This weekend Joe and I went to Dave and Amy's for Jared's going away (he is going to Japan for a year) and Joe's Grandma Velma's 95th Birthday!! Let me repeat that 95! Velma really likes Coconut Cream Pie, so I went out to Allrecipes.com and found one that I liked. I think it turned out pretty well and no one complained. I didn't make my own crust, I used the Pillsbury refrigerated crust that is already rolled out. I LOVED it! Totally using that every time from now on for any pie I make. I did make the inside cream part and it went pretty well, I always get nervous when I have to mix eggs on the stove top. I don't want to serve scrambled eggs ;)

I did have one tiny little mishap... who knew coconut burned so easily?? I was trying to toast the coconut for the top of my pie and this is the result :)

Velma really likes Oatmeal Cookies too, so for part of her gift I made some Oatmeal Raisin Cookies, another good recipe from Allrecipes.com. They were pretty good, but I think I remember my mom's recipe being a little more moist, I will just have to find it.

Healthy eating has been going ok... 2 weeks strong. This weekend I did eat pretty bad though. I had some corn shells in the fridge from a while back so I fried them up, grilled some chicken, diced some tomatoes for pico and had a mexican feast.

Is it July?

Wow the weather the past few days have been AMAZING. Really, high 70's, no humidity and the sun has been shining! Am I still in Iowa? Is it really July? This has been a great and relaxing weekend. I am really proud of myself because I ate somewhat healthy all weekend. Sometimes weekends are my downfall because I just eat whatever and I consider them my cheat days... but I didn't this weekend. I did eat a few cookies that I made. Just a few of my meals this weekend.

• Whole Grain English Muffin with egg, cheese and turkey sausage.

• Fresh berries

• Whole wheat linguine, with chicken, tomato, asparagus, spinach, mushroom and onion. I made a sauce with reduced sodium chicken broth.

Sidenote: I don't think Joe enjoyed The Proposal, and I probably won't get to select the next one we go to. But I liked it, it was pretty cute.

I'm a con artist

Yesssss!!! I used Joe's boredom to my advantage :) I am such a con artist

Joe: I'm bored

Me: Oh you want to see The Proposal?

Joe: Sure I'll go

Me: YES!!!!

Joe: Wait, what is it again?

Five minutes later...

Joe: I had my fingers crossed when I said I would go.

Me: (silence because we are going to go and I am not going to give in)

Finally...going to see a girly movie in the theatre instead of having to wait until it comes out to Redbox.

When I got home from work today, I finished up decorating the cookies I made. Then I made some yummy pizzas on Flatout Multi Grain Tortillas. I heated up my tortillas to get them a little crispy, then I layered on the goodies.

• Tomato Sauce
• Cherry Tomatoes
• Turkey Pepperoni
• Mushrooms
• Onion
• Spinach
• Cheese and Italian seasoning

Then I baked it until crispy and the cheese was starting to brown. Sprinkled with hot red pepper flakes. YUM. Check out their website for more great ideas.

Cookies!

July 18th UPDATE: Change of plans, we are no longer handing out cookies. But you guys should still check out their store sometime. I love it. They are also having their 2nd Birthday party this Thursday, July 23 from 5-9. Hmmmm now what to do about all these cookies :)

I am helping out my friends at Ephemera hand out cookies at the Farmer's Market tomorrow. I also made a few cookies for them. I had to do a little quality control :) So if you are around Des Moines go to the Downtown Farmer's Market tomorrow and come see me!

Bon Appetit!

Today is day 3 of healthy eating and I must say...I am liking it and I think I am doing pretty well! It has been the littlest changes like brown rice instead of white, more fruit, more veggies, etc. I even ate out today at work with my team and I ordered healthy food..whoo hoo!! I think if I can just get used eating right it will help me in the long run, I am not getting any younger and I do have 2 wrinkles. Here are just some pictures of some of my healthy dinners :)

Serenity Now...

I often find myself at work reciting the classic Seinfeld line "Serenity now!" as well as the Serenity Prayer, "God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change..." Now as I think about it, they kind of contradict each other. I of course being the controlling, detail oriented, I want it "my way" type of person just wants "Serenity now!" but the latter is probably something I should work towards.

The Serenity Prayer:
God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change; courage to change the things I can;and wisdom to know the difference. Living one day at a time; Enjoying one moment at a time; Accepting hardships as the pathway to peace; Taking, as He did, this sinful world as it is, not as I would have it; Trusting that He will make all things right if I surrender to His Will; That I may be reasonably happy in this life and supremely happy with Him Forever in the next. Amen.
--Reinhold Niebuhr

Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will direct your paths.
Proverbs 3, 5-6

Whats new with me

• Job #3 is done....the Ice Cream Cone Cupcakes survived the trip from my place to their destination. Even with highway travel, incorrect Google map directions, the heat, gravel roads....a literal trip to the boonies: aka Booneville (sorry if I offended anyone that lives there, but when you are trying to transport cupcakes with buttercream frosting on a hot and humid day...Booneville is the boonies).


• I treated myself to a new and fab cup from Starbucks today! LOVE IT! Doesn't it look like the real cups they give you??!! It's insulated and will be perfect for my homemade Grande Skinny Iced Caramel Macchiato.

• Looking forward to next weekend and helping my friend's from Ephemera Stationary Studio out by passing out free cookies at the Des Moines Downtown Farmer's Market... so if anyone is around next weekend, come see me and get a cookie :)


• I am weirdly excited to go grocery shopping tomorrow. I don't think I have cooked a meal in about 2-3 weeks. That = a lot of eating out. Sure I have been baking A LOT, but an actual meal....um yea its been a while. Example: Exhibit A below...super late dinner...and when I say super later dinner...lets just say I ate lunch at 5

Sleep, Is it Overrated?

NO...I don't think so and I am finally getting some sleep...yay... after several months of 5-6 hours each night, this past week, I have finally gotten an average of 7-8...and its been wonderful :) I don't feel horrible by noon, I am alert...ahhhh now if I could only say I am relaxed.

Tonight was girls night dinner at the always delicious Panera. My friend from work has been on maternity leave and so it was great to catch up and see her.

This weekend is baking job #3, yes I am counting!! 60 cupcakes for a Birthday party. I am making the cupcakes in the ice cream cones. Its going to be interesting to figure out of to transport all of these. They tip over easily so it might be a challenge.

4th of July Festivities

Happy 4th!! What a busy fun weekend I had.

Friday, Joe and I went to his brother's house to grill out and watch the parade. Owen and Molly both got a bag full of candy at the parade. This parade is always fun each year. It really has a small town feel for it...

Saturday, We went to my friend Tang's daughter Kylie's 2nd Birthday party. More food... Nicky and I got her a scooter for her Birthday. Kylie kept flipping her foot up...too cute :) After the party Joe and I decided to go watch some fireworks.

Sunday we had Owen and Dave's Birthday party. We went and played games, grilled out, had cake and ice cream. There was a lot of golf related gift given to both Dave and Owen.

See all pictures here.

Forgetfulness results in hidden treasures...

Well...I completely forgot I had a fisheye camera. I haven't used it since last fall when I went to the orchard with my friends. In fact I have some film in there now and there are 10 pics taken, so its going to be a fun surprise when I get it developed :) Can't wait. I will definitely be bringing this along to all my 4th of July festivities. Here are a few of my past fisheye pics.

July 17th side note: I forgot to take my camera to all my activities :)