When the Weather Outside is...

...cold/windy/snowy/rainy, I stay inside and bake.  But first, Oscar needs a walk.  Canton is starting to look more festive.

Oscar loves the cold weather.  Oops, I cut Kevin's head off.  Sorry Kevin.

I was between a pumpkin/cranberry combo or a pumpkin/chocolate chip combo.

What do you think won out?

In my world, chocolate chips beat cranberries any day.  I used this recipe (sub whole wheat pastry flour) and filled 1 loaf pan, 1 full size muffin pan, and 2 mini muffin pans.   So, I dirtied just about every pan I own.  

P90 Update

Last post I mentioned that Kevin and I had started P90x together.  I also said that we were committed this time.  Well, it is Day 8 and I am proud to stay we are still going strong!

Some of my thoughts so far:

• The lifting workouts are tough, but I dont mind them.  They are exactly what I need since I have a hard time lifting on my own.
• Yoga was the hardest workout for me and I have never felt more awkward in my life.  We only lasted 30 mins.
• I have a hard time concentrating during yoga since I find myself laughing at the faces Kevin makes the entire time.
• KenpoX was scheduled for Friday evening. We got dressed, went downstairs, turned on the TV and started the warmup.  About 1 minute later, we looked at each other, turned off the TV, and went out to dinner. Friday workouts have to happen in the morning before work.
• We have to plan our runs more strategically around the workouts.  I only got one run in during the 1st week.
• I don't like when Tony calls us "boys and girls" or when he talks about all the different kinds of soup.  (Okra soup is not that funny)

Well, I hope everyone enjoyed their weekend.  My mom sent me the recipe for the Angel Biscuits, so I will be sure to post it soon.  Along with 2 other restaurant reviews:  Blue Moon Cafe and The Rumor Mill.  

Good night!

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Pumpkin Bars - BSI Submission

Here is my BSI entry for this week - that is hopefully not too late! Lindsay over at For the Love of Oats picked pumpkin as the secret ingredient and I knew I wanted to try and make some sort of bar. I tried to make these a little healthier - especially after all of the food I ate this weekend!

Here is the recipe:

Ingredients

• 1 cup whole wheat flour
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp ground ginger
• 1/8 tsp ground cloves
• 1/8 tsp ground nutmeg
• 1/2 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 cup crushed pineapple
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1/2 cup white sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1 can pumpkin puree (15 oz)
• 1 cup raisins

Maple Glaze

• 1 tablespoon pure maple syrup
• 1/2 cup confectioners sugar

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Stir first seven ingredients together. Set aside.
3. Beat pineapple, sugars, eggs together until smooth. Stir in pumpkin and raisins.
   
4. Slowly stir in dry ingredients into pumpkin mixture.
5. Spray 9x13 pan with PAM and then sprinkle with flour.
   
6. Pour mixture into pan and spread evenly.
7. Bake for 40 mins.
   
8. Meanwhile, mix maple syrup with confectioners sugar to make glaze.
   
9. Drizzle cooled bars with glaze. ENJOY.

As you can tell from the picture, my glaze was really watery because I added some water to thin it out slightly and it was waaay too much. This was my first attempt using whole wheat flour in baking and I think things turned out pretty good. I could definitely taste the healthiness in these bars. They are good and I wont feel guilty about eating them. But, I have to admit that its not a dessert that I will be dreaming about. :)

Enjoy the rest of your weekend. I plan to do a recap of my FULL weekend tomorrow. I am so exhausted that I can barely see anymore. Goodnight!

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