I saw PianoGuys LIVE at their concert at my college!

I went to the thrift store and got some new clothes! A pair of jeans, 3 shirts/blouses, 3 skirts, a dress, a pair of pajama pants, 4 plates, and a bowl for less than $40!

I bought 9lbs of strawberries Saturday night.

And I’ve already finished them. It’s been quite a delicious weekend.

(Because I ate my strawberries so quickly before I got a picture of them, I’m borrowing this picture from Google. They looked just like these though – absolutely red and gorgeous.)

Monday I went and got my hair done. They trimmed it and added more layers (since I love layers – they really bring out the curl in my hair when I scrunch it instead of blow-drying it).

Today I also got to talk with my beloved Nutrition Instructor about life and how I’m doing in college. I am so grateful to have someone I feel comfortable going to and can talk with. Yes I cried (I always seem to do that…), but it really helped me today. I needed it. (Do you feel that same way sometimes?)

AND, I JUST GOT THE BIGGEST SURPRISE IN MY LIFE! MY ROOMMATES AND FRIENDS GOT TOGETHER AND MADE ME AN EDIBLE ARRANGEMENT CAKE!!!!!

IT ABSOLUTELY MADE MY DAY!!!!! <3

Today I also wanted to share with you a new favorite recipe.

My Brown Rice Pudding!

Combine the rice,

cornstarch, cinnamon, and stevia

in the bottom of the crock-pot.

Add the soymilk and vanilla.

Cook on high heat for 2-3 hours.

Top with desired toppings and dig in!

Brown Rice Pudding

Great for breakfast or dessert. Makes 2 cups worth (4 servings with add-ins)

Ingredients

• 1 ¹/₂ cups milk of choice (I used fortified vanilla soymilk)
  
• 2 cups cooked brown rice (or quinoa if you have it on hand)
  
• 1 Tbsp. cornstarch
  
• 1 tsp. cinnamon
  
• 1 tsp. vanilla extract
  
• Stevia to taste (I use 2-3 packets)
  

Plus add-ins/toppings of choice – see below

Directions

Combine the rice, cornstarch, cinnamon, and stevia in the bottom of the crock-pot. Add the soymilk and vanilla. Cook on low heat for 2-3 hours. Serve warm or cold.

Print This!

Add-in ideas:

• Chocolate chips + cherries + vanilla extract
  
• Bananas + walnuts +cinnamon
  
• Raisins + apples + dash of nutmeg
  
• Coconut flakes + sliced almonds + chocolate chips
  
• Strawberries + vanilla extract + “cream” (I used vanilla soymilk)
  

There are a lot more than this, but these are just a few on the top of my head. If you try any other flavor experimentations I’d love to hear about them!

I hope you enjoy it as much as I do! <3

With lots of hugs,

Btw, Reese’s PB Cups are the BEST!

I just got home from my classes and I have so much to share about college! These past few weeks have been full of classes, learning, studying, and craziness. I’m having a lot of fun with my classes, even though the volume can seem a little overwhelming at times. I’m adapting to the workload though and it’s getting easier to handle. I ADORE my Nutrition in the Life Cycle class. I always enjoy my nutrition classes — doing the work for them actually stress-relieving for me. I love how we’re digging deeper into each of the life stages and learning why certain things happen the way they do, when certain nutrients need to be particularly stressed at certain times of life, and how to make recommendations for optimal health. My Anatomy class is also a lot of fun. (This last week I learned WHY saturated fats are solids and unsaturated fats of liquid! It absolutely MADE my day I was so excited!) It is the most intense class I’ve ever taken. At least it makes my other classes seem easy. We’re just finishing up histology (have two exams on it this weekend) and then we’ll dig deep into the skull and start learning bones. In my Developing World class I’ve been “adopted” into the country of Swaziland (in South Africa) and I’m excited that I get to learn more about this country and its people. My Bio-statistics class is also very informative — I love how it talks about how to evaluate data and studies to make sure it’s reliable information. My scripture studies have been amazing recently. (Why is it that the times in my life that are the most hectic, the most crazy, I get the most amazing feelings of comfort and strength?! I can see His hand in my life every single day and I know the only reason I’ve been doing well is because of Him.) My religion teacher is actually in Jerusalem right now; he’s promised to bring us pictures and stories when he comes back in a little over a week. 

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………

As a part of my preparation for my Nutrition class today I watched this video that really impressed me. I’ve linked it right here and would love to hear your thoughts on it. 

What are your thoughts from this video? 

Do you agree with him?

Would you recommend this treatment for health and well-being?

with lots of hugs,

P.S. I’ll be back soon with some deliciousness… since I’ll be an official adult this next Tuesday.

I can’t believe that my classes start in 3 days!!!! I’m really excited to meet my new instructors and to work with my Nutrition instructor. I’ve enjoyed the rest I’ve had this last week, but I think having nothing to do is starting to get to me… I compiled a list of things I wanted to do before this next week, and once I completed them I’ve just been trying to fill my time with things that uplift and are beneficial. I’m really excited that my new roommates are here and that I can start getting to know them this weekend.

One thing I’ve realized while I’ve been here at college is that I don’t have a lot of time for baking. My roommates bake ALL of the time, but I don’t have the ingredients to bake. I’m starting to collect some, but not enough yet… Because of that, here’s a recipe I love that I made back at home before I left!

My (Vegan) Chocolate Chip Zucchini Bread Muffins!

In a large bowl, measure out the flour, flax, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon.

Combine until homogeneous.

Combine the tofu, oil, sugar, and vanilla (either in the blender or a large bowl).

I like to use my BlendTec to make it perfectly smooth, but you can also use a whisk or hand mixer — breaking down the tofu is the main concern. (Gosh I miss my BlendTec…)

Shred the zucchini. (Leave the peel on – it adds lots of nutrients, fiber, and gives a nice color.)

Make a “well” in the center of the flour-mixture and pour the wet mixture into it. (You can also just add the dry to the wet, as the picture above shows, but I prefer adding the wet to the dry.)

Stir it all in until all the flour is incorporated (don’t overmix).

Add the chocolate chips and zucchini to the batter…

…and fold them in gently. (Again, being careful to not overmix.)

Scoop the batter into lined muffin trays, and bake at 325*F for about 20-30 minutes, or until the center is firm and bounces back when lightly pressed or if a toothpick inserted comes out clean.

Let them cool for a few minutes in the trays, and then transfer them to a wire rack. Peel off the wrapper and dig-in!

(Vegan) Chocolate Chip Zucchini Bread Muffins

Ingredients

• 1 ½ cup silken soft tofu
  
• ¼ cup oil
  
• 1 cup sugar
  
• 1 tsp. vanilla
  
• 1 ¾ cup whole-wheat flour
  
• ¼ cup ground flax
  
• 2 tsp. baking soda
  
• 1 tsp. salt
  
• 1 tsp. cinnamon
  
• 2 ½ cup shredded or grated zucchini (about 2 medium)
  
• 1 cup mini dairy-free chocolate chips
  

Directions

In a large bowl, stir together the flour, flax, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon. Combine the tofu, oil, sugar, and vanilla (either in the blender or a large bowl). I like to use my BlendTec to make it perfectly smooth, but you can also use a whisk or hand mixer — breaking down the tofu is the main concern.

Shred the zucchini. (Leave the peel on – it adds lots of nutrients, fiber, and gives a nice color.)

Make a “well” in the center of the flour-mixture and pour the wet mixture into it. (You can also just add the dry to the wet, as the picture above shows, but I prefer adding the wet to the dry.) Stir it all in until all the flour is incorporated (don’t overmix). Add the chocolate chips and zucchini to the batter and fold them in gently. (Again, being careful to not overmix.)

Scoop the batter into lined muffin trays, and bake at 325*F for about 20-30 minutes, or until the center is firm and bounces back when lightly pressed or if a toothpick inserted comes out clean. Let them cool for a few minutes in the trays, and then transfer them to a wire rack. Peel off the wrapper and dig-in!

Print This!

These freeze really well too – I love making a batch, keeping a couple out, and then freezing the rest. I can then pull out how many I need and keep the rest for deliciousness later!

P.S. Here’s a sneak peak at some recipes coming soon: Slow Cooker Vegetarian Stuffed Bell Peppers, Brown Rice Pudding, Carob Chip Banana Oatmeal Muffins, Lentil Veggie Burgers, and Copy-Cat Great Harvest Honey Wheat Bread.

………………………………………………………………………………

One of my roommates invited me to go out to dinner with them, so I got to go! I hope you have a wonderful Friday!

With lots of hugs,

I’m back for another What Kat Ate — #20!

Thanks to Jenn for hosting this awesome party!

BREAKFAST: 6:00am

Reese’s PB Cup Oatmeal: Oats, Unsweetened Cocoa Powder, Cinnamon (optional), and Vanilla extract, cooked with either milk of choice or water and topped with a big dollop of Peanut Butter to melt on top. (I have seriously had this every morning for a long time…. Heheh.)

SNACK: 10:00am

A batch of my Reese’s PB Cup treat and a baked spiced apple, alongside a glass of unpictured soymilk.

LUNCH: 2:00pm

A bowl of lentil soup with black beans and spinach, alongside a bowl of French style green beans (topped with smart balance lite buttery spread) and a sliced orange.

DINNER: 6:00pm

Whole wheat pasta with a mixture of beans (I cooked a bag of 15-bean soup beans in my crock pot and love to eat them just like that), a steamed broccoli and cauliflower, topped (or pretty much drenched) with lots of chunky vegetable spaghetti sauce.

SNACK: 8-9:00-ish

If I’m hungry (or had a really intense workout that day), I’ll have a snack in the evening, i.e., a frozen banana topped with cinnamon alongside a glass of soymilk. (Unpictured.)

My meals really vary depending on the day. My last one is an example of a 5-6 meals a day, while this one is a 4-5 meals a day. It really just depends on my schedule that day and where everything fits. It might also change this next semester since I’ll have different classes at different times and places.

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

Btw, Katherine is holding another 7-Day Green Smoothie Challenge – 2013 Spring Cleaning Edition. 

What do you do? Just add one green smoothie to your daily eats each day for a week!

I think this will be fun and a great way to start off my next semester of classes — in a vibrant, energizing green way. Since my classes are starting back up this next week I won’t be able to post about my smoothie every day, but I hope you’ll join me in a little green party action.

With lots of hugs,

… and a day that should have been a day of celebration turned into a day of remorse and mourning… I knew there was something more important for today’s post to be dedicated to.

I was not old enough to understand 9/11. I remember the chaos and the repeated showings on the news of skyscrapers falling. I was confused and didn’t know what was going on. But now that I’m older and have witnessed the bombing of Boston…. If 9/11 was anything like the bombing in Boston, I know we need each other to get through this.

I may not live in Boston, but Boston is still a part of this country – a part of home. We are all children of a loving Heavenly Father. We are brothers and sisters. We as a nation and as a people (whether here in the states or across the seas) can come together and help our brothers and sisters in Boston.

Please pray for the victims in Boston. Pray for their families and for those who have lost loved ones. Pray for peace in the world. Pray for love among men. <3 <3 <3

Alone we fall. Together we stand.

Filed under: Balance With Self, My Life Tagged: Boston Marathon, God the Father, I Am a Child of God, love, Prayer ]]> http://katshealthcorner.wordpress.com/2013/04/16/we-are-all-children-of-a-loving-heavenly-father/feed/ 3 katshealthcorner http://katshealthcorner.wordpress.com/2013/04/15/a-busy-little-bees-liebster-award/ http://katshealthcorner.wordpress.com/2013/04/15/a-busy-little-bees-liebster-award/#comments Mon, 15 Apr 2013 22:29:13 +0000 Kathleen http://katshealthcorner.wordpress.com/?p=7923 ]]> Hey My Bee-You-tiful Blossoms!

I am really enjoying this little break I have this week. Today I helped my great-aunt clean the house and caught up with some blogging, reading about what some of the other lovely ladies (and guys) are doing out there. It’s been fun, something I’ve definitely missed these past weeks. Right now as I’m writing I’m watching the 1997 Rogers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella. I love musicals, especially this one, and I love that the whole thing is on YouTube! (There are a lot of other musicals that I love too, like the Swan Princess, Quest for Camelot, Muppet Treasure Island, Annie Get Your Gun, the Disney Princess movies, and lots of others!)

This last December, two lovely ladies nominated me for the Liebster Award: Sandy and Kendra. I still can’t believe I haven’t done this yet, so I thought it’d be fun to answer some of these questions, especially with how much has gone on since then. Tomorrow I’ll be back with some What Kat Ate action and later this week with some more deliciousness.

The Liebster Award supposedly stems from the German word for Liebster, which is dearest.

It has 5 parts:

1. Write 11 random facts about yourself.
   
2. Answer the 11 interview questions you’ve been given by the person who nominated you.
   
3. Create 11 new questions.
   
4. Nominate 11 bloggers and mention them in your post.
   
5. Go and tell the person who nominated you, along with the people you’ve nominated about your post.
   

(I’m doing parts 1 and 2 by answering both answering both Sandy’s and Kendra’s questions.)

Sandy’s Questions

1. Are you scared to die?

(That’s a profound question to start off with…) In a sense, no and yes. Yes because of the unknown and huge change it would be; no because I hope I will have lived the best I could and done everything I can to make a difference.

2. What is your best health tip?

Focus on vegetables and fruits. Focus on plant foods. Give up numbers – no one apple is ever the EXACT composition as the last one: they are each individual, but still have their beneficial qualities that most do. The thing that has helped me overcome my tendency towards obsession with perfection (like orthrexia) has been to give up numbers. I love math and it comes easily to me, but that strength because my weakness as I became obsessed with being “perfect.” But I find that as I view foods as simply good foods and better for you foods, I can focus on the health properties each food can provide my body. I can then pick between good, better, or best, leaning more heavily on the better and best side.

3. Do you believe that genes or diet/lifestyle is more powerful to your health?

Diet/Lifestyle. Yes, genes are very imperative – they make us who we are today and without them we would not exist. But I think your lifestyle can have a more profound effect on your health. You may have the genes that have a higher tendency towards heart disease, but that doesn’t mean that you will get the disease. I have a family history of diabetes, but that doesn’t mean I have to get diabetes as long as I take care of my body in the best way that I can (involving nutrition, fitness, stress management, sleep, etc.). There are instances where certain things can’t be prevented, but lifestyle can help prevent the onset and help manage it.

I feel that diet and lifestyle come first. I am by no means a doctor (I practically hyperventilate when I see needles, blood, and surgery-things…), but I believe that when it comes to approaching health and treating individuals I think their lifestyle and diet should be analyzed first. Instead of just prescribing more and more prescription drugs, maybe all the individual is scarce of in their body is a certain nutrient which is causing the certain symptoms they are experiencing. The “cure” they may be looking for might come simply from giving their body what it is truly wanting instead of just bombarding it with chemicals. Prescription drugs have their place don’t get me wrong – they save countless lives. But I feel they should come after an individual’s lifestyle and diet are evaluated.

This was a rose that one of my guy-friends got me for Valentine’s. He bought a whole bundle of them and gave them to each of us – it was so sweet of him!

4. Do you prefer summer or winter?

Summer – that’s when watermelon and strawberries are in season.

5. Do you have a ‘bed time’ or do you just go to bed when you feel tired?

I have a bed time: it’s at 10pm so I can get up at 6am (I have early classes). I just need to work on sleeping through the night – I toss and turn a lot from stress…

6. When you were younger what did you dream you would be when you grew up? 

I dreamed of being a ballerina. But when I found out their toes bled my desire diminished.

7. What is your most favourite & least favourite thing about your job?

I haven’t ever really had a “job” other than babysitting, but I loved teaching my Sunbeams on Sundays, and I can’t wait for when I can start working with individuals, families, and people in the workplace and help them improve their lives. Once I finish my college degree and become certified that dream can come true.

8. Is there any particular food that you just can’t stomach the taste of at all?

Raw tomatoes. I can eat them cooked, but I can’t stand them raw. All of my friends and family love raw tomatoes, but I don’t. I’m an odd-ball.

9. Do you have a favourite recipe, that you use frequently? If so, please share it! 

One recipe I make all the time right now is my Reese’s PB cup spread. Another one of my favorites is my Cake Batter Almond Butter.

10. Do you prefer to shop online or in stores?

In-store: that way I can try it on, see if I like it, see the size of the appliance in my hand, flip through the book and see if it interests me, etc.

11. What is your favourite thing about Christmas time?

I love all the service and smiles and sharing and giving and building forever relationships with my family.

Kendra’s 11 questions:

1. What is your favorite holiday tradition/activity/event?

I love singing Christmas songs all year round!

2. How many times have you moved in your life?

I have moved 3 times: Germany to Turkey, Turkey to England, and England to Texas. I’m in Idaho now for school, but since I’ll be back home at the end of August I don’t consider that a “move.”

A few weeks ago I woke up to this find little surprise in the kitchen with a note my roommates left me. They made me cookies – cookies that I can have! They are so sweet – they’ve been telling me all semester that they were going to make a treat that I could have. It really means a lot to me that they would do that for me.

3. Have you ever been overseas? If so, which countries have you visited? If not, what countries would you like to visit?

I was actually BORN overseas in Germany and lived in Turkey and England as well.

4. What are some of your favorite books?

Pride and Prejudice and . <3

5. What is your favorite restaurant?

Chipotle! I just went there with my sister and some of our friends and it was absolutely delicious! I also just went to Panda Express a few weeks ago on a double date and discovered they are quite delicious too.

6. If you could have any superpower, which one would it be and why?

I would want to fly – have ever since I was a little girl. (I would always daydream on the swings….)

7. What is your favorite type of weather?

Cooler – like in the Spring and Fall. Like it is now in Idaho – it’s in the 50s and feels incredible! (Though, it’s supposed to snow tomorrow…. We’ll see how that turns out.)

8. What is the strangest thing you have ever eaten (or drunk)?

It’s not strange, but I’ve had a couples shots of wheat-grass juice before – it was pretty good.

9. What is your favorite school subject?

Math – I’ve loved it ever since Kindergarten. I also love Nutrition. <3

10. Do you prefer to exercise indoors or outdoors?

Indoors – I like Zumba, Yoga, and the Elliptical and Weights. But I always love taking walks in the sunshine.

11. What is one of your favorite quotes?

http://pinterest.com/stylinkittykat/quotes/

The people I nominate: EVERYONE WHO IS SUBSCRIBED TO MY BLOG!

The 11 questions to answer:

1. What does a “balanced diet” mean to you?
   
2. Favorite pastime?
   
3. Do you have a bedtime routine?
   
4. Favorite crayon color(s)?
   
5. Inside or outside?
   
6. Workout in the morning, afternoon, or evening?
   
7. Favorite quote?
   
8. Handwritten letters or email?
   
9. Favorite past time?
   
10. Favorite food in the summer? in the winter?
    
11. Cold or hot beverages?
    

Try answering one (or more) of the questions above! I’d love to hear your response(s)!

with lots of hugs,

Thanks for all of your support these past weeks. It has really helped me get through finals and come off conqueror. I’m at my great uncle and aunt’s home right now and really enjoying the break. I’ve actually slept 8 hours a night here – I can feel the sleep deprivation I experienced from the stress at school. Stress won’t let me sleep well. I can fall asleep pretty easily, but staying asleep is the hard part. After 4 hours I am tossing the rest of the time and can’t stand myself anymore by 6 hours so I get up. But here at my extended family’s home where it’s quiet and peaceful and I have absolutely NOTHING I HAVE to do, I’ve been able to rest and have some fun. My classes don’t start again until next Monday, and since my apartment is already set up and I have my folders already organized to insert my next class assignments, I really don’t have anything to do except rest and focus on taking care of myself emotionally, physically (getting enough sleep, exercising for energy and strength, and nourishing with healthful food), and spiritually. I’m enjoying this time to focus on my scriptures, the piano, skyping and talking with my family, etc. It’s been a nice relief.

Anyways, I promised I’d be back with some deliciousness!

Here’s one of my favorite desserts – something easily made and quite good for you.

A Single-Lady Spiced Baked Apple!

Core and cut the apple in half.

Measure out the smart balance butter, cinnamon, and stevia and add them to the bottom of a large soup bowl or pasta plate (you can also use a glass baking dish).

Melt the butter mixture and spread it to cover the bottom of the bowl/pan. Place each apple half face down over the cinnamon mixture, and microwave for 4 minutes, or until soft.

Place each apple half face down over the cinnamon mixture, and microwave for 4 minutes, or until soft.

Grab a fork and dig in!

Spiced Baked Apple

Ingredients

• 1 apple, cored and cut in half
  
• ¼ tsp. cinnamon
  
• 1 tsp. smart balance lite buttery spread (or butter/coconut oil)
  
• 1 packet stevia (or a large pinch of sweetener of choice)
  

Directions

Melt the smart balance with the cinnamon and stevia at the bottom of a large soup bowl or pasta plate. Place each apple half face down over the cinnamon mixture and microwave for 4 minutes, or until soft. Grab a fork and DIG IN!

Print This!

I love how I can throw this in the microwave and have a dessert that tastes like it took a whole lot more effort than it actually did. I hope you enjoy this as much I as do!

With lots of hugs,

So much has happened throughout these past 14 weeks. I’ve transitioned from living at home to living in a dorm, becoming independent and more responsible with money and time. Stress and hardships have turned me to the Lord and I feel even closer to Him from the fervent prayers and scripture studies I’ve engaged in. I’ve established a note-taking system and study-habit routine that helps me remember what I learn and apply it. I’ve discovered more about myself and can see that I’m capable of things I never thought I could do.

I know that this point was only possible through the Lord. His constant strength, guidance, support, and comfort have helped me get everything done and done well.

This next semester a lot of new things are ahead of me. I have the opportunity to volunteer at the Wellness Center, where I’ll manage two of their online-tracking fitness challenges (a 9-Week Challenge and a Lazy Man Iron Man) and work an hour a week in the Wellness Center itself, learning new skills and getting to know the directors and other managers. As for my classes, I’ll be taking Anatomy and Physiology and Nutrition in the Life Cycle, plus Biostastics, Developing World, and Religion. Since I’m getting my Bachelors in Health Promotions (and want to get my RD on top of that later on), I hope I can apply the things I’ve learned this semester and expound upon them for greater understanding.

I have absolutely ADORED my Nutrition class(es) this semester. I am so grateful for the knowledge I have acquired and for the opportunity to get to know and work with my Nutrition instructor, who has been a RD for 35 years and is about to finish her PhD. Her comments and acknowledgements mean the world to me, and my dream from the beginning of this semester has been to be able to work with her.

Because I have done really well in her class, I approached her a couple of weeks ago about possibly being a TA (teacher assistant) for her. When I asked her about it, she told me she had actually been hoping she could train me and would love to work with me; but, she had a TA coming back this next semester and could only hire so many. She told me she would see what she could do and let me know.

Last week I had the opportunity to go to a Dietetic Society Meeting where my Nutrition instructor spoke about getting into programs and what to expect. Afterwards I went up to her and asked her some questions I had on my mind. While we talked, I started crying – not sad tears though. I told her about my struggles in the past with orthrexia but I would never ask for that trial to have been taken away. It was hard, but I’m the person I am today because of it. I have learned so much about myself because of it. It has turned me to the Lord and made me rely more on Him, and truly, anything that turns us to the Lord is a blessing. She listened intently and told me she could tell that I had a love for Nutrition and that I had the discipline and persistence to get things done. She told me that she loved grading my work and tests and that I had a way with describing things that really get to the meat of the concept. (The happy tears started again.)
While talking with her, I KNEW I wanted to work with her.

This Tuesday she told me she found a way for me to TA for her this next semester.

I CAN’T STOP JUMPING FOR JOY! I AM SO EXCITED!!!!

I am so grateful for the chance I have to work with her this next semester, obtain nutritional skills, and receive on-the-job type experience and training from her.

I am so grateful for everything I have gone through to get to this point. It’s been a hard journey up, but now that I’m closer to the top than I was when I started I can see the potential and views starting to appear. Hopefully I can help others reach this point too.

I now have the next week and a half off. I’m cleaning my kitchen right now for out white-glove clean checks (I took a little break… but breaks can be refreshing and make the work go easier, and talking with you guys is always fun). So, after we finish clean checks and I get situated with my extended family for the weekend I’ll come back and share some fun, adventures, and deliciousness. <3

With lots of hugs,

I have been dying to share it with you, and now you can dive into some peanut butter chocolate heaven with me this week. (I will definitely have this throughout the week as I take my tests. )

It doesn’t take a lot of ingredients (you know how I like short ingredient lists)

Very college-living friendly (only requires a spoon and bowl).

AND, before I go on, I must warn you: This beyond delicious.

It. is. DEADLY!

You might even call it devilish.

Therefore…

Proceed with caution, if you dare.

Measure out the peanut butter and scoop it into a small cup/bowl. (If you refrigerate the peanut butter, you may try microwaving it for a couple of seconds to help the peanut butter mix.)

Add the vanilla, cocoa powder, and stevia.

Integrate the cocoa into the peanut butter, stirring until combined.

Take your spoon and DIG IN!

A Single-lady’s treat: Reese’s PB-Cup by the Spoon

Ingredients

• 1 ½ Tbsp. all natural peanut butter*
  
• 1 tsp. unsweetened cocoa powder
  
• ½ tsp. vanilla extract
  
• 1 packet stevia*
  

Directions

Measure out the peanut butter and scoop it into a small cup/bowl. (If you refrigerate the peanut butter, you may try microwaving it for a couple of seconds to help the peanut butter mix.) Add the vanilla, cocoa powder, and stevia. Integrate the cocoa into the peanut butter, stirring until combined. Take your spoon and DIG IN!

*Notes (for alternatives):

1. I usually just eyeball all the ingredients when I make it (‘cuz sometimes I want a more dark-chocolaty experience and others I want a sweeter treat). I’ve used a couple different kinds of stevia with this and I like the more powdery kind for this. The granular kind (like True-Via) is delicious but gives a granular texture to it; I prefer the smooth consistency that comes from the more-powdery stevia or a little honey, agave, or brown rice syrup (to taste).
   
2. For those with peanut sensitivities, you can try using almond butter or sunflower seed butter (Sun Butter) in place of the peanut butter. I personally haven’t tried them yet, but I can see no reason why they wouldn’t work, especially using my homemade sun butter since it has a peanutty-taste to it.
   

Print This!

I hope you enjoy this as much as I do! <3

With lots of hugs,

I just got out of an interview to work at the Wellness Center this next semester as a volunteer! They said they would definitely be getting back with me and can’t wait to work with me. I’M SO EXCITED! They mentioned I might be able to work with their Biggest Winner program as a Wellness coach and work with the participants on a one-on-one basis along with the personal trainers (I’d handle the nutrition area) to help them in the process of commencing towards an improved quality of life; I may also be able to run the 9-week Fitness Challenge program this next semester too. They’ll be contacting me this coming Monday and let me know! I really want to get involved at the Wellness Center as a Wellness Coach as that’s one of the things I want to be when I graduate – to be able to work with individuals on a one-on-one basis. I’ll keep you updated on what happens!

And since it’s Thursday (I love Thursdays, especially since the next day is Friday ), I thought I’d have a little fun and join Miranda at Biting Life in her Shopping List Fridays!

I always find it interesting to see what people buy when they’re in college, so here’s just a peek at what I bought my last trip!

Eight pounds of apples, 8lbs of oranges, 10lbs of bananas (which I like to freeze), 5 lbs carrots (which I cut up into baby-carrot sizes and store in quart-sized zipbloc baggies), and 2 huge cantaloupes.

Eighteen 16-oz bags of frozen vegetables (French sliced green beans, broccoli/cauliflower mix, stir fry, and spinach). And yes, I said 18.

Two bags leafy salad greens, 4 green bell peppers (I want to make vegetarian stuffed bell peppers in my slow cooker), a container So Delicious Raspberry Coconut Yogurt, and a head cabbage.

Two cartons of Silk Soymilk. (I simply love it – period.)

Ten cans of Progresso soup; 2 cans pineapple chunks; and (Not pictured) cocoa powder, corn starch (I want to make some rice pudding!), baking soda, and vanilla extract.

I didn’t buy any dried beans or grains because I still have plenty of those in my “food storage” area under my bed.

And, since I like peanut butter so much…

I was SUPER excited when I received a box of these in the mail last week! My parents sent me a box of organic peanut butter from Amazon, and it actually turned out cheaper for them to do that than for me to buy them individually – all natural peanut butter is $4.50 at Albertsons per bottle, while it cost about $3.00 per jar on Amazon (including shipping). It’s a very delicious addition to a Reese’s inspired Chocolate Breakfast treat I like to make every morning.

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Any thoughts on living a lower-gluten diet?

I’ve heard that some individuals with problems with dairy can sometimes also have issues with gluten. I know I’m not allergic to gluten, but I think I may have some issues with it. I’m going to stay away from it for a little while to see how I feel and move forward from there. I kind of hope I don’t have problems with it, since being intolerant to dairy is already tedious as it is… Do you think it could be the stress my body is experiencing here at college that might give me problems with it? As in it doesn’t want to deal with it right now?

With lots of hugs,