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Chocolate-Dusted Pumpkin Protein Balls
November 4th, 2014
One thing that I am trying to master is planning meals for our family. Even though we have only been able to successfully stick to it for 2 weeks, I am very confident that I can make it work for our busy family. There was one point where I thought that planning the main meal of the day a few hours before dinner time was exciting but I have come to terms that it is just way to stressful. Busy moms are always taking care of others before themselves but a good way to make sure I am well-nourished is keeping snacks with me all the time.
In the mornings, I usually make lunch for my husband and if I know I am going out to the park or to some play date, I go ahead and make something for my girls. I usually wait to make my meal for some reason, or because I simply do not eat peanut butter sandwiches. Either way, it is usually just easier to grab some nuts, dried fruits, my leftover coffee and a piece of cheese. It is probably not as exciting but it does the trick usually.
When I brainstormed about different snacks I could prepare for myself and even for my girls, I decided to make some protein balls that would be tasty, seasonal, and even a nice little decadence for a mid-morning snack or even for the afternoon slump. My girls are always asking for snacks so I knew that since they liked nuts, dried fruits, and chocolate that these protein bites would be ideal for them.
While my growing girls do not have to worry about calorie intake, I have to make sure that I am eating the right foods for the calories. When I shopped at Walmart, I found Pure Via packets, a natural alternative for sugar and an artificial sweetener made from the pure, sweet extract of the stevia leaf. I quickly learned that packing a snack bag filled with stevia packets in my purse made it easier for me to reduce my calorie intake. I ordered simple coffee or tea drinks and sweetened them with the ZERO calorie Pure Via packets. Using my own healthy alternative made me feel empowered, allowing to make my own healthy decisions.
When I made the Chocolate-Covered Pumpkin Protein Balls I knew that everyone was going to have one or two components of the recipe they would love. Now this busy on-the-go mom had a nice indulgence and snack with no guilt. You can substitute your own choices by finding Pure Via Packets at your local Walmart. Shop like a pro and print the $0.55 coupon for one Pure Via® Non-GMO, All Natural, Zero Calorie 40 Ct. Packets while supplies last.
Now you know I like all kinds of music so make sure you also take advantage of downloading a free song AND cookbook / songbook download by Jewel at http://purevia.com/Jewel-Tunes/ .
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup pumpkin puree
- 1 cup oats
- 2 Tablespoons cocoa
- 1 1/2 cups raw cashews
- 4 Tablespoons flax seed meal
- 2 Tablespoons chia seeds
- 8 Medjool dates
- 2 Pure Via stevia packets
- 3 Tablespoons cocoa
- 2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 Pure Via stevia packet
Instructions
- Place all ingredients in a food processor and process until the mixture is a little coarse but it resembles a dough. Spoon a little over a Tablespoon and roll into a ball. Repeat until there are a dozen and a half.
- In a plastic bag, add the ingredients and shake well. Add each protein ball into the bag and gently shake until the ball is covered with chocolate. Refrigerate until ready to eat or take 2 for a snack.
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No more ironing with Downy Wrinkle Releaser Spray
October 31st, 2014Disclosure: I received product for testing purposes and used in my every day activities. All opinions are my own.
Remember those days when you used to iron? Yes, I do not either. Wait. I do, but it was when I was still single and I only needed to take care of myself and on occasion my mother’s laundry. Of any task or house work needed to be completed, ironing has been the last on my list. The rule in our home was that if we were watching a movie, we would take advantage of all the ironing that needed to be done. Do I do that still? NO!
When I married my husband I was super relieved that he told me that he would iron his shirts. I loved the fact I did not have to be in charge of so many tasks than the ones I already had. When I did laundry I made sure I would grab it straight out from the dryer so that there would not be any wrinkles. The shirts would go on the hangers after a timer alerted me of the finished cycle. DO you think I do that now with 2 little girls?
I am sure you have the same stories, but laundry is a huge feat. Finding time to wash it easier than drying and folding at this point in my life. We have washed loads multiple times because I have forgotten the wet clothes or all the clothes had wrinkled in the dryer. The last few months we have been using a new Downy Wrinkle Releaser Spray. I have successful been able to use this spray to release wrinkles from forgotten shirts and blouses. It has been such a help in the laundry duties.
When I handle my husband’s shirts, I hang them up, spray them with the Downy Wrinkle Releaser Spray, and tug on the shirt and it does not look at that bad. I even received a few travel bottles to take with me which we took over our summer trip to visit family. The scent in the spray is pretty pleasant as well. With each spritz comes a fine mist that spread over clothes easily. The clothes do not get soak but are slightly dampened to help release the wrinkles.
Does it sounds like a time saver? Yes! It also helps eliminate STATIC! The winter is approaching and it will be perfect for that.
Here are some other ways that it helps:
- A quick-fix solution to remove creases from pillowcases, bed sheets, drapery, tablecloths, cloth napkins, ribbons on holiday decorations and many other household items.
- A quick spritz from the WonderBottle can also remove odors and freshen up furniture, pet beds and infant car seats just to name a few.
- For those who still want to iron, it serves as a better ironing aid than water without the residue of starch.
I look forward using the spray for the upcoming dinners when I forget to iron my tablecloths. I am glad to have a multi-purpose spray on hand and one that even my husband can take with him on trips or even for him to use at home.
Downy Wrinkle Releaser Plus is sold at Walmart, Target, Walgreens, Kroger, Publix and many other grocery, drug, and mass retailers. It is sold in a 1-liter bottle for $6.99 and a 500 mL bottle for $4.19. It is also available in a travel-friendly 3-ounce size for $1.99. For more information visit www.downywrinklereleaserplus.com
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Triple Layer Pumpkin Cheesecake Bars + Giveaway
October 27th, 2014
October is near the end which I am sure you are not the only ones that cannot believe that it has completely flown by. This season has to be my ultimate favorite since we hardly ever saw seasons change in Texas. There is something about the transition between summer and fall that makes for it exciting perhaps because the temperature changes and the leaves change colors. The Fall festivals are in full swing with apple cider donuts and apple cider readily available. My daughters already know that there is always some sort of treat or snack to partake at a festival. It really is cute!
Last weekend, even though my husband was out of town, I took the girls to a local farm called Weaver’s Orchards. They advertised a great Fall Family Fun Days with hay rides, inflatable obstacle courses, pumpkin painting, face painting and more. While it was a little challenging with two girls under the age of three, we managed, with God’s strength.
We loved the time because it was a gorgeous sunny day and we were able to enjoy apple cider and donuts. My girls could not think of anything but these yummy treats. After the games and activities we walked through a real pumpkin patch. The girls were enchanted by checking out some Cinderella pumpkins and they loved being able to grab a few mini pumpkins to take home. We could have stayed longer but only if I had my husband with me.
Something else I cannot get enough of during this season are pumpkins and squash. While I tend to migrate to creating pumpkin recipes that are sweet, I also like making savory recipes too! While they are so hard to open, I am glad that I can have access to canned pumpkin puree. I remember one year in Michigan when there was a pumpkin shortage and all stores were nearly empty of canned pumpkin. It was a sad fall season and a strange one at that!
When I found out that October was National Dessert / Cookie Month, I knew I had to create something that was seasonal but then a dessert that could still be made during November and December. I had lots of fun creating a three layer pumpkin bar recipe that would only require baking once. While I was thinking of a traditional Nainamo bar and its concept, I decided to make a grain-free, sugar-free, vegan bar that anyone would be able to enjoy made with pumpkin, chocolate, and almonds.
This delicious pumpkin cheesecake bar is dense and super easy to make and require refrigeration. When I am asked how a dessert can be made sugar-free, I share that there are natural sugar substitutes that can make a decadent possible even with chocolate. Lily’s Sweets makes premium all-natural chocolate bars and dark chocolate chips that are sweetened with stevia. They also use non-GMO ingredients and are considered gluten-free too. While I only used their dark chocolate chips, which are vegan, Lily’s Sweets also makes dark chocolate and milk chocolate bars that do contain milk fat that is yBST free. While these products are not vegan, they do use Fair-Trade products and are gluten-free and sugar- free which means these products have 20-25% fewer calories than normal chocolate bars.
While these bars are not calorie-free they are sugar-free and super delicious and perfect for this season. Make a pan for your next party and I am sure you will be pretty popular. They probably won’t know that they are free of grains, sugars, and animal products. Enjoy.
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups almond flour
- 1 1/2 sticks Earth Balance margarine or butter, melted
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/2 cup xylitol (sugar-free substitute) or sugar
- 10-ounce pumpkin puree
- 8-ounce vegan or regular cream cheese, softened
- 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spices
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 20 drops stevia
- 1/2 cup xylitol, ground
- 1/2 cup cashew butter
- (or instead of sugar substitute use 2/3 cup powdered sugar)
- 9-ounces Lily's Sweets dark chocolate chips
- 1/4 cup coconut creamer or regular creamer
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
- In a small bowl, mix the almond flour, cinnamon, and xylitol with the melted butter.
- Press dough evenly on a parchment-lined 9x9 glass pan.
- Bake for 20-25 minutes or until lightly browned. Allow to completely cool.
- In a mixer, add the pumpkin puree with the cream cheese and cashew butter and whip until mixed well. (You are welcome to substitute smooth peanut butter or almond butter)
- Add the spices, stevia, xylitol, and vanilla extract and mix well.
- Spread the pumpkin cheesecake mixture evenly over the almond crust.
- In a small bowl, empty the chocolate chips and melt in microwave in 30-second increments for a total of 90 seconds.
- Add the creamer and mix well to make the ganache.
- If the chocolate seizes, just heat it another 30 seconds and whip using a hand blender.
- Spread the chocolate evenly over the pumpkin layer.
- Refrigerate for 1-2 hours and cut into 16 bars.
Make sure to enter the giveaway for a chance to try these yummy sugar-free chocolates.
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Chilean Beef Stew (Charquicán) + National Healthy Lung Month
October 23rd, 2014
This week I did not have a meal plan but have been pretty much been flying by the seat of my pants. Luckily the meals that I have intuitively been creating have not been difficult at all and super easy to prepare. I definitely know that I have been wanting comfort foods but have been really trying to stay in the healthier category.
Two days ago, I had in mind to make a beef stew but then I changed my mind for the second time and decided to revisit a recipe I made back in 2009. Yes. I cannot believe it has been 5 years since I last made this recipe. I only remember my husband telling me not to make it again, or that it was not his preference, so, hence, the delay in making it again. As I debated making my Chilean stew, I figured enough time passed that my husband would be over his dislike of the dish and that he hopefully forgot about it. After all, I had a hankering for the meal.
Ingredients
- 3 cups butternut squash, diced
- 4 cups potatoes, diced
- 1 large onion, diced
- 1/2 pound ground beef
- 1/2 pound ground turkey
- 4 carrots, diced
- 4 garlic cloves, minced
- 2 tsp salt
- 2 tsp ground pepper
- 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
- 2 Tablespoons olive oil
- 2 teaspoons ground cumin
- 6 eggs (fry eggs to go on top of serving)
- 2 teaspoons parsley flakes (garnish)
Instructions
- Dice the squash and potatoes and place in a pot and cover with water.
- Salt the water and boil for 15-20 minutes until veggies are softened.
- Meanwhile, heat the olive oil in a large pan, and sauté the onions, garlic, and carrots for 5 minutes.
- Add the meat to the mixture and spices and cook the meat mixture for 15 minutes.
- Cover the pan in order for the meat not to dry out.
- Drain the squash and potatoes and using a masher, mash the veggies until they resemble mashed potatoes. Add the meat mixture and stir.
- In a smaller pan, fry each egg and add one egg on top of each beef stew serving. Sprinkle with parsley and paprika.
Tuesday must have been a day I was remembering my Chilean grandmother because I only made her recipes, or at least recipes that tasted like hers. I sometimes feel like I will forget her if I do not make meals the way she used to make them so I remember her by preparing meals she would have. I always share the traditions we had every time we would go to her house. I especially loved our Sunday tradition where we always had a spread of cold cuts, pâté, Chilean bread, dulce de leche, and English tea. Why is it that our fondest memories are surrounded by food? I think it is pretty wonderful and amazing how God works with our senses and memory.
While I know my grandmother passed away from bone cancer, I do not even know what kind of treatment she went through, but I have to be aware that I might have the same gene that allows me to inherit the same issue. I never really dwell on this, but knowing it makes me want to know more in order to prevent the possibilities.
There are some other people that do not have a chance like that or that develop cancer because of other situations like Heather Von St. James. Eight years ago, she was diagnosed with pleural mesothelioma, a rare cancer caused by exposure to asbestos, that affects the lining of the lungs. She had just given birth to her daughter Lily, and was told that she might not live to see her first birthday. After the removal of her left lung and a series of treatments, she is now part of the very small group of mesothelioma survivors. AMAZING!
What a blessing she is that she can share her story and inform people how to stay safe from exposure to asbestos and since it is National Healthy Lung Month, I want to highlight her story. Check out a snippet of her story.
I take her story very personally because at one point, I used to work at a hospital, and while we were educated about how to take care of ourselves from inhaling toxic substances and dressing in correct hospital gear when preparing medications, I knew I had to be careful. I think we should all be careful and be informed on the dangers of inhaling toxic substances, like asbestos. Asbestos is still not illegal in the US which is SUPER scary to me. What does it take for that to change? Well it sounds like there are personal precautions we need to take especially since there is roughly 30 million pounds of asbestos still used in the US.
Heather was exposed by wearing her father’s work coat, which was coated in asbestos, which over time, caused her to be diagnosed with pleural mesothelioma. What are ways that WE can protect ourselves from exposure? First is being aware! Even more than 30 years after the peak of its use, asbestos exposure is still the NUMBER ONE cause of occupational cancer in the US. Asbestos-related cancer is high among military veterans because of their exposure on naval ships or in ship yards on military bases. Another high risk of being exposed to asbestos are areas of renovation and construction both at homes and in older school buildings and other public facilities. None of this information is geared to scare but to INFORM. The more we know, the better to protect ourselves and our families.
Thank God that Heather and her family were blessed to find the best treatment to aid in her survival of mesothelioma because most patients are given only 10 months to live. What a voice of hope so why not share her story? I know that I will now be even more keenly aware of the dangers of exposure to this invisible killer.
Read more about Heather’s story HERE and about asbestos exposure.
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Olloclip 4-in-1 lenses for Samsung Galaxy S5 {Review}
October 22nd, 2014I received the Olloclip for review. All opinions and photos are my own.
A lot of my friends and even my family know, that I LOVE to take photos of everything in my life. Gone are the days, though, of traveling and carrying my SLR camera. I am already carrying plenty of bags with items needed for my kids and I. When I purchased my Samsung Galaxy S5 several months ago, I knew I had a great camera to take everywhere with me and have since then, relied on it for most of all of my posts on Instagram and Twitter and even sometimes my posts for this website. When I found out Olloclip, a 4-in-1 photos lenses, came out for Android devices I was excited because now I knew I did not need an iPhone to have fun!
Olloclip feature four lenses (fisheye, wide-angle and two macros – 10x and 15x) in one small package weighing less than an ounce and is easily is stored in its own protective case, promptly going into a purse or pocket. It easily clips on the phone and immediately gives the phone handler access to the wide-angle lens and the fisheye lens. A quick twist of each lens reveals the 10x and the 15x macro lens, which I think is pretty ingenious. While the lenses have protective covers, they do get dirty or smudges, but there are instructions on the website on how to clean them.
I had LOTS of fun with this phone accessory and it helped me get a lot more in my photo for food opps and great detail for fun projects. Check out a few of the pictures I captured using the lens. Which ones are you favorite?
Need a little more help on what each lens would do?
- Fisheye lens – change perspective with ultra-wide vision capturing, approximately a 180° field of view
- Wide-Angle lens – capture it all with near double the normal field of view
- 10x Macro lens – get detail oriented with 10X magnification with an 18mm focus distance
- 15x Macro lens – go for the ultimate close up with 15X magnification with a 12mm focus distance
A few pros:
- easy for travel
- lightweight
- easy to use
- covers to protect lenses
A few cons:
- You have to look in a mirror for selfies or pretty much wing it
- I had to remove my protective phone case for the accessory to fit
The olloclip 4-IN-1 Photo Lenses for the Samsung Galaxy S5 and S4 are priced at $69.99 and can be purchased at http://www.olloclip.com or through major retailers. More information on the full olloclip product lineup of mobile photography tools is available at www.olloclip.com.
