Expiration Date Experiment

 A devil's food cake mix with a best-by date of July 2021 baked up just fine! 

[Subbed sour cream for the water and added 1 teaspoon of real vanilla extract. Yum] 

New Season, Year-End Wishes

On this first day of Winter 2021 wishing you and your loved ones a holiday season and year 2022 that deliver good health, peace of mind, prosperity & abundant joy in life's simple pleasures. 

The Wolf You Feed

 

Although the provenance of the tale of "The Wolf You Feed" has been challenged, the metaphor still applies to how the U. S. will move forward. 

See Ya (Wouldn't Want to Repeat Ya), 2020!!!

 

So the year 2020 dumped bushels of lemons on just about everyone everywhere. No need to itemize the misery since millions (billions?) are still feeling the multiple stings. At this time of mass sourness in circumstances for too many people, families, communities, industries, and countries my question is: What moments sweetened life for you this year? 

Slowing down 

Appreciating loved ones 

Focusing on your health 

Pursuing new interests 

Being more mindful 

Getting to know your family better 

Reactivating dormant friendships 

Facing some hard truths 

Expressing gratitude 

Helping others 

Accepting help 

Giving and receiving mercy or forgiveness 

Connecting emotionally...  

Whatever challenges and heartaches 2020 offered, you survived. 

That alone is reason to celebrate. Congratulations! Now it's time to thrive.

Happy New Year & new opportunities for good health, peace of mind & joy! 

(In 2020 one of my exoanded interests was products that are not-as-bad for the planet and me. All were purchased by me or received gratis through store loyalty programs.) 

The Siggi's and Made Good items tasted delicious. Using Country Crock plant butter instead of dairy, shortening or lard made a delicate, flaky crust (shown pre-baking). Plus, health & beauty products, another personal weakness.  

Yield Not to Temptation!

For me, this represents a slippery slope into eating sugary foods all day long. Just seeing it on the store shelf had me salivating. Yum.

inspired by the power to resist

Happy International Chocolate Day!

inspired by shared indulgences

Another One Bites the Dust

Make us some dough!

You can't handle the dough!*

inspired by A Few Good Men and planned obsolescence
*The white handheld mixer lasted 15 years. The black one lasted only 3, but it cost $3.50 so it served its purpose. 

Naturally Gluten-Free & Decadently Delicious

https://www.thebutterhalf.com/gluten-free-nutella-peanut-butter-cookies-3/

This recipe is easily halved or doubled. Using chunky peanut butter adds texture.

Don't have an hour to chill? Scoop dough balls onto the cookie sheet, then place in the freezer for for 5 - 10 mins before baking.

Even the eaters without gluten sensitivity gobbled them up with great enthusiasm.


inspired by dear friends with food sensitivities

Sometimes You Feel Like a (Health) Nut...

My compromise when a craving for one of PeterPaul's signature coconut treats possessed me during a recent grocery run. (Baby steps to healthier snack choices) 

inspired by memories of childhood treats

Feeding Friendships

It just so happens that most of my closest friends are chocoholics and carb addicts, too! (Not sure if that's also one of the secrets of our enduring friendships.) 

https://fupping.com/benskute/2018/07/10/how-to-build-more-meaningful-friendships/

Road Trip Munchies

Eaten down to the last crumb in the first hour. Yum.
(Are we there yet?)

Best of Both Worlds

Chocolate and vegetables baked into one tasty muffin? Oh, yes, please.

inspired by vendors at the 2018 NBC4 Health and Fitness Expo and small steps toward making healthier choices every day

Mix It Up

These easy Fudge Brownie Squares with coconut and toffee bits scored big at the Super Bowl LII party.

Make your favorite brownie recipe or mix. Add 1/2 cup of coconut and 1/2 cup of toffee bits into the batter. Spread batter evenly onto a 10in x 14in jelly roll baking sheet lined with greased parchment.
Bake 15 minutes at 350 degrees F, then check at 5-minute intervals until desired chewiness is achieved. Let them cool completely on a wire rack before cutting. Yield is 24 - 30 squares that are about 1/4 inch thick. 

Zest for Life

Random baking tip: For future recipes, save the zest from oranges, lemons, and limes in a freezer-safe container before eating the fruit.

inspired by planning ahead, gingerbread, lemon-lime bars, Kirk Douglas, Irving Stone, Lana Del Rey, and riffs on their shared movie, book, and album titles



   

Those Were the Days

Buying this candy bar on sale brought back fond memories of the 1980s.

inspired by inflation (in the wallet and the waistline)

Recommended v. Actual Serving Sizes

https://www.fda.gov/downloads/Food/IngredientsPackagingLabeling/LabelingNutrition/UCM511646.pdf
inspired by food confessions, sugar addiction, truth-in-advertising, and a need for food labels to list the number of calories for the entire package

Life and Lemons, Reconsidered

When the store marks down the price of pink lemonade icing (Look away, food purists.), make cupcakes (in this case, coconut).

inspired by old adages, simple carbs + sugar addiction, and leftover blue raspberry icing from a practice run of making Cookie Monster cupcakes

A Sign from the Universe

Thoughts of swinging by the store to buy some chocolate covered peanuts had just popped into my head when the traffic light turned red, stopping us behind this car with "CHOCLUV" on its tag. 

Well, this chocoholic can take a hint.

inspired by addictions that are legal and popular, and delicious 

Hair of the Dog: Pina Colada Edition

Not sure if eating these coconut macaroon cookies dipped in dark chocolate will lessen the effects of enthusiastically celebrating National Pina Colada Day yesterday, July, 10, but they taste so good that any recovery benefits are a bonus.

inspired by colloquial expressions, sweet adult beverages, and modified recipes for baked goodies faves

Cordial Treats

inspired by freebies from grocery store loyalty programs and goodies companies that give back to the environment