Lemon Bars

Lemon Bars – Kind of… maybe this was a flop? who knows.. still pretty yummy. If anyone out there knows why this didn’t come out like all the beautiful lemon bar photos I see on pinterest – please tell me!

Lemon Bars (With Whole Wheat Crust)

Ingredients
1 cup whole wheat flour
1/2 cup butter, softened
1/4 cup confectioners’ sugar

Filling
2 eggs
1 cup sugar
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1 teaspoon grated lemon peel
Additional confectioners’ sugar

Instructions

In a bowl, combine the flour, butter and confectioners’ sugar. Pat into an ungreased 8-in. square baking pan. Bake at 350° for 20 minutes. For filling, in a small bowl, beat eggs. Add the sugar, flour, baking powder, lemon juice and peel; beat until frothy. Pour over the crust. Bake 25 minutes longer or until light golden brown. Cool on a wire rack. Dust with confectioners’ sugar. Cut into bars.

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M.S.

Reeses Peanut Butter Cup Oatmeal Raisin Cookies

I tried to make oatmeal cookies healthier with using whole wheat flour, and added my own twist on what was in my pantry. Mini reeses peanut butter cups! Came out really yummy and perfect for a quick treat.

Yields around 2 dozen cookies

Ingredients

1 Cup Whole Wheat Flour

1 Teaspoon Baking Soda

1/4 Teaspoon Salt

1/2 Cup Butter – 1 Stick – room temperature

1/2 Cup Sugar (or sugar substitute. I used 4 packets of Stevia)

1/3 Cup Brown Sugar

1/2 Teaspoon Vanilla Extract

1 Egg

1/2 Cup Rolled Oats
1/2 Cup Mini Reeses Peanut Butter Cups (crumbled)

1/2 Cup Raisins

Directions
Preheat oven to 350. Cream the butter, sugars, and vanilla together on medium speed until combined. Add the egg and beat to combine. Add the whole what flour, baking soda, and salt. Stir in the oats with the crumbled mini reeses peanut butter cups and raisins. Stir to combine and using a cookie scoop, drop the dough onto a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake for about 8 minutes, push down into the center of each cookie gently with a fork, and cookies are done when golden brown.

Enjoy!!

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M.S.

Quinoa Pilaf (Low GI)

Low GI

I love Quinoa – ever since i found out it was low GI, i couldn’t believe it. It’s so versatile and can be used just like any rice/couscous. It has a really delicious taste and goes well with any vegetable/meat too.

Quinoa Pilaf

Ingredients
1 Package of Quinoa (2 cups) (see picture for what i used)
4 cups of low sodium chicken broth
1 zucchini, split down the middle, then sliced again down the middle of one side, cut in 1/2 inch round slices
1 cup of a red bell pepper, cut in 1/2 inch pieces
1 cup of an orange pepper, cut in 1/2 inch pieces
1/2 pound of asparagus, sliced diagonally in 3/4 inch pieces
4 green onions, thinly sliced
1 tablespoon chopped fresh Italian parsley
2 cloves of garlic, minced
2 tbsp lemon juice
Freshly ground black pepper, per taste
Sea Salt, per taste

Instructions
Cook the quinoa in the chicken broth as per package instructions. If no instructions are available, bring chicken broth to a boil, stir in quinoa, lower heat and cover, let simmer for 15 minutes until done. Fluff with a fork when ready. Meanwhile, combine all vegetables in a lightly oiled skillet on medium heat, add minced garlic and lemon juice and saute until soft (about 10 minutes). Combine quinoa with the vegetables. Add parsley and green onions, black pepper and sea salt, and serve.

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M.S.

Blackened Salmon

High Protein

I decided to make Blackened Salmon for us to eat for dinner tomorrow (cooking on a sunday for weeknight meals) – I’ve never used this combination of spices or these pretty thin wild salmon fillets before. Came out really good for my first try! Your turn!

Blackened Salmon

Ingredients
1 lb salmon fillets (amt. to your liking)
1 tbsp paprika
1 tsp oregano
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp thyme
1 tsp basil
1 tsp black pepper
Olive oil, for drizzling

Instructions
Drizzle olive oil on a skillet on medium-high heat. Combine paprika, oregano, garlic powder, thyme, basil, and black pepper in a small bowl. Drizzle olive oil (about 1/2-1 tsp per each fillet) on the fish, then rub the spice mixture on the fish equally. Top with a little more olive oil to set the spices onto the fish. Place the fish upside down(spice side down) onto the skillet. Let cook and shift from side to side if need be. Serve with veggies or in salad and enjoy!

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M.S.

Low Carb, High Protein Diet Options

Hi all

I recently have found that for health purposes I have to stick to a low carb, high protein diet. I have completely (or close to completely) dropped eating carbs/granulated sugar/sweets for about 7 days now, and have lost 4-5 lbs in one week. Not to mention, as a whole life acne sufferer, have seen amazing results in my skin as well. (try it!)

I feel so much less bloated and gross all the time. Luckily, it hasnt been too hard. I have been working a lot, and its been pretty easy to give up the sweets and carbs, as a matter of fact – I get nauseated if i have more then like 2 bites of bread now. (weird!)

A typical day would be:

Breakfast:
Eggwhite omelette with ham, cheese, peppers, and onions
1 slice of whole wheat toast
Black coffee, with a sprinkle of stevia sugar (no carb)

Lunch:
Mixed greens with grilled chicken, avocado, and peppers with low fat dressing like a vinaigrette, or just a squeezed lemon
1 whole bottle of water

Snack:
Sliced yellow peppers, or berries of some sort

Dinner:
Piece of Salmon with a side of zucchini
Green tea

Try it… so in the future, I will do my best to post my recipes of my ways to stay fit, and eat healthier, all while preparing to get married! Cooking light also has some really great options as well.

M.S.

I don’t want to give it all away…

But I think we figured out our color scheme/theme! Here’s a little sneak peek..

<3

Happy Holidays! M.S.

Possibilities, Possibilities…

possible bouquet?

for the aisle, and reception tables

pretty textures and lighter shades of purple

sparklers!!

escort card display

or is the light purple theme not up my alley for the type of venue we have? 15 months to go….

M.S.