A Shootin’ Good ’n natural Day.

Hey my Sparkly Firecrackers!

Thanks for your comments on my chocolate protein cake. I think my family is getting tired of me having them though, as I pretty much went through an entire jar of peanut butter by myself in less than a week. (I guess I’m not only a strawberry monstah but a nut butter monstah too. ) I’ve also been staying off the treadmill (and working out in other ways), and I haven’t used a motrin in days now. So I hope that the exercises my doctor gave me to do and being careful will help my knee get better.

Here’s what’s been going on recently in my life:

I got a coupon in the mail with the coupon books to try these fruit, nut & seed bars. When I found them in the bulk/health section of my HEB (grocery store), I almost screamed in delight. (I did do a little happy dance though. ) I got 3 of the different flavors to try. I am so excited to get them, especially since it is so hard to find a good granola/protein bar that doesn’t have milk in it. (I had a fudge bar from dairy queen the other day, and my skin really paid for it so I’m really trying to avoid milk as it and I don’t get along at all.) But when I saw that these were dairy free, the smile on my face got even brighter.

I made my mom some more zucchini bread. I don’t have any tofu at the moment, or I would have made myself a batch too.

So instead I made myself some almond butter. I am such a sucker for nut butter.

I also made some more bread with one of my friends. My family just can’t go back to the store-bought kind – they love the homemade kind too much.

And to go along with the bread (and other items for dippage), I made some of my Turkish Inspired Hummus. I didn’t have any chili powder, so I used seasoned salt instead. It’s not as good as with the chili powder, but I still like it.

We also had a couple cantaloupes sitting on the island waiting to ripen, and since tomorrow is the 4^th of July, I cut them both up (and they were PERFECT!) and stuck them in the fridge. I always enjoy cantaloupe and watermelon and honeydew more when it’s cold.

In addition to making goodies, I’ve also been making shots. I went to a shooting range with one of my guy friends and his dad and sister, and he and his dad taught me how to shoot a hand gun. (And then he had to proceed and take a picture of me with his phone while I was doing it without my knowing of it – I found out later. ) I didn’t really get it at first (and yes, I squealed when I shot it the first time), but my second round I finally got it and had some fun.

I’ve also been trying to finish reading Around the World in Eighty Days and Inheritance. I started Around the World in Eighty Days YEARS ago, so I want to actually finish it this summer. I also want to finish reading Inheritance soon as my friends have been DYING to talk to me about it, but they can’t since I haven’t finished it yet. So I want to relieve them by finishing it sooner than later.

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Do you ever find it hard to find a granola/protein bar that fits in your dietary needs? I always have to be on the look because so many products have a form of milk in it. (Milk is not bad whatsoever – my body just can’t handle it, so I have to avoid it.)

Do you have any books you’re trying to finish this summer? In addition to the two I mentioned, I also have the pile that’s at the top of the picture that I want to read.

Ever shot a gun before? The only other time I’ve ever shot a gun was when I was 12 at my first year of girl’s camp. They gave us rifles and put us on the ground and had us aim at the targets. I much preferred the 9mm hand gun. It was much easier to handle than the rifle had been.

What are your plans for July 4^th? We have some friends coming over and we’re gonna have a barbeque and play lots of games and talk and watch the fireworks that evening. It should be a lot of fun.

xoxox,

My Mom’s Favorite Zucchini Bread!

Hey My Gorgeous Dandelions!

Thank you for all of your good wishes on my last post. It has meant so much to me for your love and support these past few weeks. I just got home from taking my AP English Literature Test (which I feel REALLY good about! The multiple choice wasn’t very hard, and the essays weren’t very arduous; I know it was through the Lord that I was able to come off conqueror), and we are having another Teen Game Night tonight (which we have to clean the house for). You know that early morning scripture study class I attend? My last one was this morning. It really hit me that it was the last time (as I’m graduating). The EMSSC Graduation is this weekend, and I still have a few New Testament Scripture Masteries to do (I finished all the Old Testament already). This weekend will be pretty busy for me. I know how I had said in my previous post about getting back to my regular posting schedule this week. I know it didn’t happen this week, but I KNOW I will have a TON of more time after this weekend. I still don’t have a few pictures from my HS graduation and from Prom. I’ve been DYING to tell you guys about it (the posts are all done!), but I WILL post it as soon as I get those pictures. Also, with the giveaways, the SlimKicker Company has yet to contact me, but I will announce the winner as soon as they let me know! Thank you guys SO much for your patience with me. It really means a lot to me.

In the meantime (as I’m waiting), I thought I’d share with you one of my long-promised recipes:

My Mom’s Favorite Zucchini Bread!!!

In a large bowl, whisk the eggs until foamy.

Add the applesauce, oil, Splenda, and vanilla.

Whisk them all together and set aside.

In a separate medium-sized container, add the flour, dry milk powder, flax, cinnamon, baking soda, and salt.

Stir them all together.

Combine the flour mixture and the egg mixture. (Don’t overmix!)

Add the zucchini and raisins.

And fold them in gently.

Pour the batter into a sprayed 9×4-inch baking pan/dish and bake at 325 degrees F (160 degrees C) for an hour, or until the center is firm, bounces back, and a toothpick inserted comes out clean.

Allow the bread to cool completely before cutting. SERVE!

My Mom’s Favorite Zucchini Bread!

Ingredients

• 3 eggs
  
• ½ cup applesauce
  
• ½ cup oil
  
• 1 cup Splenda No Calorie Sweetener
  
• 1 tsp vanilla
  
• 1 ¼ cup whole wheat flour
  
• ½ dry milk powder
  
• ¼ cup ground flax
  
• 2 ½ cups shredded zucchini (2 medium zucchini)
  
• 1 tsp cinnamon
  
• 2 tsp baking soda
  
• 1 tsp salt
  
• 1 cup raisins
  

Directions

In a large bowl, whisk the eggs until foamy. Add the applesauce, oil, Splenda, and vanilla, and whisk them together. Set aside.

In a separate medium-sized container, add the flour, dry milk powder, flax, cinnamon, baking soda, and salt. Stir them all together. Combine the flour mixture and the egg mixture. (Don’t overmix!) Gently fold in the zucchini and raisins.

Pour the batter into a sprayed 9×4-inch baking pan/dish and bake at 325 degrees F (160 degrees C) for an hour, or until the center is firm, bounces back, and a toothpick inserted comes out clean. Allow the bread to cool completely before cutting. SERVE!

Note: If you don’t like to bake with Splenda, or are vegan, check out my Vegan Zucchini Bread Recipe — THAT recipe is my personal favorite. I make my mom this version when she wants some zucchini bread, but I make THAT version when I want some zucchini loveliness.

Print This!

My mom will share this with our neighbors and friends and they come back BEGGING me for the recipe. I know you’ll enjoy it just as much as they do!

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Are you looking forward to summer? I know I am!!!!

Do you bake with Splenda? I don’t do it very often. This is the only recipe I regularly bake with Splenda, and I can’t have it anyways because of the milk in it. But my mom really likes it this way, so I make it for her. I prefer using more natural ways to sweeten foods. (Stevia and fruit are my first choices, then honey/agave/maple syrup, and then regular sugar.)

Have you ever had a hard time memorizing something? Like lines? Parts in a play/skit? Scriptures? I’m going to have to memorize a few lines for our skit for girl’s camp coming up in the next few weeks; it shouldn’t be very difficult, as most of them are “Cross punch!”, “Uppercut!”, “Jab!”, etc. Ha-ha, yes, I get to be a boxer in the skit and punch things (and people) in the skit! (Of course I’m not really punching people – that would just be mean — but I do get to pretend to. )

xoxox,

A Veggie-Filled WIAW + Easter Cupcake Creations!

Hey my BEA-UUU-TIFUL Buzzling Bees!

Thanks for all of your comments on my Turkish-Inspired Hummus. I have already gone through FOUR batches of that stuff. It is seriously THAT good.

How was your Easter?

I really enjoyed getting to spend time with my family, friends, and my Sunbeam class!

Some of the things I did included:

CUPCAKE DECORATING! I love decorating cupcakes.

MAKING ZUCCHINI BREAD! I made my mom some zucchini bread, this time with almonds in place of the raisins.

MAKE AN EASTER CREATION WITH MY SUNBEAMS! They were so excited to go home and show their parents and tell them the story of Easter!

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Time for another WHAT KAT ATE!

SNACK:

Frozen Banana with my Homemade SunButter.

BREAKFAST:

My Blueberry Coconut Protein Pancake topped with Peanut Butter! It is SO GOOD! (Recipe coming soon!)

LUNCH:

My favorite Protein-Filled Green Smoothie – a whole quart of it! (Recipe to come! ) This kept me full all afternoon.

DINNER:

Black beans and mixed vegetables on top of whole grain pasta, a whole wheat roll, and TONS of tomato sauce (I like to use the tomato sauce to dip my roll in).

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LOTS OF FRUITS AND VEGGIES! (Namely banana, broccoli, orange, apple, blueberries, cauliflower, spinach, and carrots!)

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Do you like decorating cupcakes? I go absolutely ballistic at the chance to decorate them.

How was your Easter? Mine was really quiet; the highlight of it for me was doing Easter egg hunting with pictures of Christ inside and making the cupcake into a “tomb” with my Sunbeams (the 3-year-old Sunday school class I teach).

Favorite food pictured? I’m loving both the smoothie and the pancake!

xoxox,