Baking time

I made a test batch of granola today, this one is Peanut butter and raisin. It turned out perfectly, this is a keeper. I also have picked my company name for the granola. I have been thinking about it for months and here it is.

Whole Oats granola
Made from whole, real, natural ingredients.
It's made from 100% local ingredients, low in fat and sugar, and all natural with no additives or preservatives. Only fresh baked wholesome ingredients. A granola you can feel good about eating.

I also had some banana's that were overly ripe for eating, but perfect for baking. So I did a little more baking.

I adapted one of my favorite banana bread recipes from Cooking light.
You can find the original recipe here.

Banana Bread
1/2 cup evaporated can juice
2 TB. honey
1/4 cup unsweetened applesauce
3 banana's
mix together
add
1/4 cup soymilk
1/4 cup low fat sour cream
2 egg whites
mix together
in a separate bowl mix
2 cups whole wheat pastry flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
add dry ingredients to wet ingredients
pour into loaf pan coated with non stick spray
bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour

It was so good, turned out really well. Next time I would cut back on the liquid ingredients just a smidge, it's a little too moist. I also should have used an electric mixer instead of mixing by hand, so the banana chucks were incorporated a little better.

We are just having a lazy day for once. Well I never have lazy days but everyday is a lazy day for this guy.

Sunday morning activities

Last night was my last night with these two guys. They tried to spoon with me this morning, but that wasn't going to happen.

Now I can go back to just taking care of this little guy, which is much easier. I've missed him, I haven't spent much time with Thomas in the last few days.

After I walked back home this morning I made some breakfast. I made some Great Harvest pancakes. I cut the recipe in half, which still made a little too much. I have another pancake in the kitchen waiting to be eaten later.

I added frozen blueberries to the mix and just a few dark chocolate chips. I topped it with a few fresh berries and a drizzle of raw honey.

As I sat down to enjoy my breakfast guess what was just starting on TV, Dirty Dancing. That is one of my most favorite movies, always takes my back to when I was younger.

I'm making some granola today, now that I have my recipe I need to start testing flavor combo's. I have been so busy lately I just haven't had the time to put into getting this business moving forward.

I must go watch a little Dirty Dancing now.

Table for one please

I may have a new addiction to sparkling mineral water, you think? It's so delicious and no added sugar or sugar substitutes, just water, carbonation, and natural flavors. What's not to like.

I made some veggie soup for one. I'm flying solo tonight but that doesn't mean that I can't have the best dinner ever. In a pot I added 1 cup of Tj's tomato and roasted red pepper soup, 1/2 cup water, diced zucchini and red pepper, white beans, small palm size of elbow whole wheat pasta, and herbs.

It was simple and such an amazing soup.

I also had a veggie burger topped with Tj's roasted red pepper and eggplant spread, pickles, 2 egg whites, and topped with some spicy hummus.

You may think it's a strange combo, but I love this every time, it's so good.

Doggy dog weekend

Another sleepy early morning. I don't think dogs are in my future. I think I will stick with my easy going best friend of a cat Thomas.

I just had to show you how creamy these oats were.

1/4 cup oat bran
1 TB. Bob's spice n nice hot cereal
1 TB. Bob's apple cinnamon hot cereal
1/4 tsp. chia seeds
1/2 cup water
mix together

Topped with
organic applesauce
local blackberries
Tj's almond flax butter
drizzle of raw honey

Topped with even more toppings
Galaxy cranberry orange granola
splash of soymilk

I will be drinking extra Green tea again this morning to get me going. One more night of dog sitting and then I'm free.

Electrolux #splits: Banana split

I made my very own banana split. I'm not the biggest fan of banana splits and I haven't had one since I was little. But tonight I wanted to do my part for ovarian cancer.

Foodbuzz is donating $50.00 for every featured publisher who posts a picture of a banana split. My mom was diagnosed with ovarian cancer about two year's ago. She has been in remission for sometime now, but I would love for them to find a cure for all forms of cancer. So tonight I was happy to do my part and have some dessert while doing it to help raise money.

You can also donate or find more info from Kelly Ripa who has partnered with Foodbuzz on this project.

My banana split was topped with chocolate and vanilla bean frozen yogurt, melted peanut butter, dark chocolate chips, raspberries, blackberries, sliced almonds, and coconut.

This is one loaded banana split I'll probably just have a few bites and enjoy.

Salad time

Today I headed to the fancy 24hr fitness where workouts are just better. It's more spacious, cleaner, and a little eye candy if you must know. I started with 15 min. on the spinning bike followed by abs and legs, and finished with 30 min. on the stairs. Sounds simple enough but it was a tough workout to end the week.

I also had another purpose for going to the fancy gym. Whole Foods is just down the street and tonight I was on my own for dinner. First thought that came to my mind was a salad from the salad bar.

Now this is the salad that can make your day, it sure made mine.

In the LARGE mix (I get excited and have to have a little of everything) was mixed greens, spinach, curry tofu, sweet chili tofu, bulger, wheat berries, carrots, broccoli, chickpeas, cranberries, hemp seeds, nutritional yeast, and hummus, I think that may be all of it.

Ready to dig into this delicious dinner before heading back to dog sitting duty.

So sleepy

I'm so tired this morning. Taking care of two dogs is different then taking care of one cat. I kept waking up every two hours looking at the clock. The dogs were making dog noises all night long and roaming around the house. I'm just not used to that. I have two more nights of this, hopefully I will get more adjusted to it.

I walked back home in the dark and made breakfast before heading off to work.

Oat Cakes
3 egg whites
2 TB. oats
2 TB. Great Harvest pancake mix
2 TB. oat bran
dash cinnamon
mix together
cook in a non stick skillet on both sides
on one side I added frozen blueberries and some dark chocolate chips

Topped with
Tj's almond flax butter
warmed up organic applesauce (applesauce makes the best sauce on top of pancakes)
sprinkle of Yogi walnut spice granola for the occasional crunch.

I'm going to need a lot of green tea to get me through this morning.