Healthy Chocolate Cake, Is There Such A Thing?

There sure is!

 

My mom's birthday was last month and my whole family is really trying to be healthy, but I still wanted to make something special for her. There is even a 90 day challenge going on with myself, my husband and brother to prep for our vacation in June. Even though we are trying to have a healthy lifestyle doesn't mean we can't have dessert. I wanted to make a cake for my mom because what is a birthday without a birthday cake. I was browsing online and found one that looked awesome. I had a few of the ingredients so I decided to try it out.

 

The recipe calls for:

1/4 cup honey

1/4 cup coconut flour

1/4 coconut oil, melted

1/4 cup cocoa

1 tsp vanilla extract

4 eggs

1/2 tsp cinnamon

1 1/2 tsp baking powder

pinch of sea salt

 

-- Preheat the oven to 320 degrees.

-- Combine all the dry ingredients. (cocoa, coconut flour, cinnamon, baking powder and sea salt) Mix together.

-- Add the eggs, honey, coconut oil, vanilla. Mix together.

-- Pour mixture into a greased round regular cake pan. I just sprayed the pan with some coconut oil.

-- Bake for 25 minutes.

-- Top with shredded coconut. You could also make an icing as well or some powdered sugar. I went the healthiest route I could think of and it paired well with the coconut flour in the cake.

 

 

 

This cake was delicious and very moist! It's definitely worth trying out. I am now obsessed with coconut flour. It smells so good and is a great substitute for regular white flour. We have since made pancakes with the coconut flour.

 

ENJOY & HOPE YOUR BIRTHDAY WAS A GREAT ONE MOM!

Happy Spring!

If you didn't start Spring cleaning there's no better time!  I know I still have a lot to do.  It is officially Spring and I couldn't be happier.  It's supposed to be about 50 degrees today and sunny later, I'll take it!  Make sure to get outside today for a little!

Don't forget to head to Rita's for your free water ice!

 

Indulge today.

Enjoy it.

Celebrate Spring.

Brand New Year

I have definitely been neglecting posting on here, sorry for that.  I have had a lot going on, but what better time to get back to updating you all on healthy recipes and healthy lifestyle tips than in a new year.  Everyone should do their best to make good choices all year though.  If you make resolutions try to stick to them, it will make you feel good about yourself.  Don't give up.  I personally don't really make resolutions exactly, but I have told myself I want to better me this year.  Each day to do my best to be the happiest and healthiest. Healthy isn't always what you eat, it's more than food.  It's more than just exercise.  It's how you see life and how you live it.  Less stress and worry is my main goal.  Life will happen no matter how much you worry so why not just live life and be content with what you have and who you have in your life.

Around the holidays my dad ended up in the hospital.  He has had heart attacks in the past and since has done a lot of good for his body, but in the past year or so didn't work as hard at it.  He didn't have another heart attack, but he needed open heart surgery, triple bypass.  My family history and the want to live a long life is what makes me want to be as healthy as possible.  It's not something that is easy for a lot of people, it's work and commitment.  One thing I do know though is once you become healthy and get into a routine you crave healthier things and it becomes a lot easier.  It's a lifestyle you need to make for yourself.  I'm not saying you can't indulge and enjoy amazing food because you can and I sure do, but it's doing that in moderation and making little substitutes in your every day to better what you are putting into your body.

Recipes and more posts to come, but today...

Mother's Day Cupcakes

Sometimes you have to indulge, what better day then on Mother's Day!  My mom is a huge Nutella fan so I wanted to make the dessert for our family dinner and I found the perfect recipe for her.  :)

Nutella Icing

   

The recipe calls for:
2/3 cup nutella
2 cups confectioner's sugar
2 sticks unsalted butter, softened
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 tbs heavy whipping cream
a dash of salt

-- In a big mixing bowl, use a hand mixer and combine the nutella (I used Shoprite brand), sugar and butter.  Beat for about 2 minutes on low.
-- Add the remaining ingredients and mix on medium for about 1 minute or until the icing is smooth.

In Honor of Earth Day

A 6 mile hike on a beautiful Sunday morning...

    

  

Easter Deviled Egg Dip

Wondering what to do with all those colored hard boiled eggs the kids made?  Try this recipe out!

This isn't the healthiest recipe, but it's nice for a treat.  Sometimes you need to slurge a little and what better time then on a holiday, Easter being a perfect one since it's an egg dish.  I served it with mult-grain pita chips.

The recipe calls for:
1 dozen eggs
1 cup light mayo
1 tbs yellow mustard
2 tbs white vinegar
salt & pepper
paprika

--  Fill a pot with water so that the eggs are covered about an inch.  Add the vinegar.  Once the water is brought to a boil remove the pot from heat, cover and let sit for 15 minutes.  Run the eggs under cold water for awhile and then peel them.
-- Cut the eggs in half.  Put all but one half of each egg white into a food processor.  The other egg white half place into a bowl.
-- In the food processor blend the eggs, mayo and mustard.  Add salt and pepper.  Blend again and put the dip into a bowl.
-- Chop up the bowl of egg whites.  Add them to the dip and mix.
-- Top the dip with a sprinkle of paprika.

NYE

Forget new year resolutions and just make everyday the best possible.  Every day is a gift and every day should matter.  A new year may be a fresh start to some, but taking care of yourself should be all the time not just after the ball drops.  So be the healthiest you can all year round, don't just have a resolution to do things different, put so much pressure on yourself and then be discouraged when you don't follow through.  Just do your best every day, that's all we can do.  Even if it's just eating a healthy breakfast or going on a walk on your lunch break.  Every little bit matters, you matter.

I hope everyone has a safe, healthy and happy new year!

Seasonal Baking

Like I've said before I am not the best baker, but I am happy to see that I am getting better with practice. Below are two recipes for a Low Fat Pumpkin Roll and Nutella Cookies. In both recipes no regular sugar was used, instead I used Stevia. This alone lowers the calories per serving.

The recipe calls for:

3 eggs

1 cup stevia (or sugar)
3/4 cup flour

2/3 cup canned pumpkin

1/2 tsp ground cinnamon

1 tsp baking soda

1/2 cup walnuts, chopped

1 cup confectioner's sugar & some for dusting

3/4 tsp vanilla extract

2 tbs butter, softened

8 oz low fat cream cheese

-- Preheat oven to 375. Grease a 15x10x1 inch jelly roll pan & line it with parchment paper. Grease & flour the paper.

-- Beat the eggs on high for 5 minutes in a large bowl. Gradually add the stevia or sugar & pumpkin. Then add the flour, cinnamon & baking soda. Spread batter evenly in pan & sprinkle the walnuts on top.

-- Bake for 15 minutes. Immediately turn the cake onto a linen towel dusted with confectioner's sugar. Peel off the paper & roll it up carefully in the towel. Let it cool.

-- Make the filling: Mix the confectioner's sugar (1 cup), vanilla, butter & cream cheese together until smooth.

-- Carefully unroll the cake. Spread the filling over the cake to within 1 inch of the edges. Roll up again. Cover and chill until serving. Dust with additional confectioner's sugar if desired.

The recipe calls for:

1 cup nutella

1/2 cup stevia

1 cup flour

1 egg

-- Preheat oven to 350. 

-- Blend all the ingredients together well & form into 1 inch balls. Place the balls on a cookie sheet & press down firmly with the bottom of a glass.

-- Bake for 8 minutes. Cool. Enjoy!

Do What You Can

I finally realized New Year Resolutions are just too stressful to worry about and keep up with.  Most people don't even follow through with them.  I DVRed Good Morning America this morning because I knew Bethenny Frankel was going to be on for a segment. She is just very inspiring to me and I figured any new knowledge learned from her is a good thing.  She has always shared health, food and exercise tips in her career, but it's how she incorporates these things in her life in a normal way just like you and I would have to that is the special part.  She has taught me a lot and today showed me why only make changes come the new year, why not make small changes throughout the whole year.  Do what you can when you can, there's always tomorrow.

"Everyday is a fresh start." - Bethenny Frankel

One small thing I am going to try my best to add to my everyday is keeping hydrated. Besides coffee, water is what I mainly drink with an occasional soda here and there.  I have noticed that I don't drink very often though.  Usually I have a 16.9 oz water bottle at work and one later one at night with dinner, but I am changing that to three bottles at work and one bottle at night which completes the 8 glasses of 8oz of water a day that "they" say to have.  I must say, after the first day doing this I was down a pound. I'm sure it's just water weight, but I'll take it.  Are you drinking enough?




- - Don't waste food by throwing out the holiday leftovers, just have some control and watch your portions.
- - A little exercise is better then none! I took Zumba today after months of doing nothing.
- - Try not to sweat the small stuff. This is what I struggle with.
- - Put yourself first sometimes even if you're someone who puts everyone else first.
-- Check out: www.bethenny.com/

Random Food Pics

BAKING

      

PASTA

           


DESSERT

OTHER

     

           

For My Mom

Red Velvet Cake

Happy Cinco de Mayo!

I don't usually cook anything for this holiday, but I figured it would be fun. I made my own version of salsa. Not all the ingredients I added are normal for salsa, but they were things I really enjoy & I thought went well with all the flavors together. I just eye balled the measurements.

The recipe calls for:

tomatoes

yellow onion

green onion (chives)

green pepper

cilantro

a little salt & pepper

I'm going to make fish tacos tonight for dinner, two different versions of it with tilapia. The hard taco shells I use are so good, only 55 calories & high in fiber. They are so tasty you can just break them up & eat them as chips, put in a salad or something else to add some crunch/texture.

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Whole Grain Corn Taco Shells - Brand: Ortega

Crab Deviled Eggs For Easter

The recipe calls for:

4 oz lump crab meat

6 hard boiled eggs

1/2 stick chopped celery

2 tbs mascarpone cheese

1 tbs mayo

1 tbs sour cream

1 tbs dijon mustard

1 tbs lemon juice

3 tbs chopped fresh chives

salt & pepper

-- Add & mix the crab meat, celery, cheese, mayo, sour cream, mustard, lemon juice & chives together in a medium mixing bowl. Add some salt & pepper to your likely.

-- Cut the hard boiled eggs into halves. Remove the yolk & discard.

-- Spoon the crab mixture into the egg halves & serve.

Never made deviled eggs before so when I was looking at recipes I came across this one with crab & had to make it. I like the traditional deviled eggs so I made some of those too for tomorrow, but these are much tastier! I suggest maybe using only 1 tbs of the cheese if you want it less calories. The good thing about this recipe is the yolk (the "bad" part of the egg) is not added to the mixture so it cuts out some fat.

Easter Recipe

Easter is coming up & I want to make something to bring.  I am not sure what to cook. Decisions, decisions. I haven't cooked for awhile actually. I want to get back into it.

Should I make an appetizer, side dish or dessert? I am leaning towards a side dish or dessert.

My Valentine's Day appetizer was a hit & festive with hearts. First time I've made it. It was time consuming so I want to do something a little easier to put together for Easter. I want to make something cold or room temperature. I don't want to be dealing with an oven because hopefully it will be warmer weather by then! If I make a dessert I want it to be cute & festive like for the v-day party. Either that or a salad of some sort maybe.

Fried eggplant with some cheese & fresh basil.

By the way, my $1.99 basil pot I purchased is actually working! Nothing edible yet, but it's growing. Hopefully it keeps growing & I didn't just jinx it. Not a lot of sun for it lately though. Wish me luck!