Wise words from my Nana....

The quest of life...ah, that elusive carrot.

I know you've heard me say this before so here I am again. Abraham Lincoln once said "most folks are as happy as they make up their minds to be." At once a very deep but simple thought. One of those things that says easy and does hard.

Just don't forget. TODAY is your life. Don't miss it. I spent a lot of my life thinking, "When "this thing" happens, my life will get started." I missed the point that the happening IS my life. God only gives us one day at a time. Stay in the moment and get the most out of it. The future will be there when you get there.

Smile, laugh, play, treat everyone you meet with respect, give a good day's work for a good day's pay, and most important of all...LOOK FOR THE GOOD! It's everywhere.

Chocolate Buttermilk Cupcakes with Chocolate Buttercream Frosting

Simply, delicious. I used the cocoa I bought in the Dominican Republic and also dressed these up a bit with some coconut on top of the frosting.

Chocolate Buttercream Frosting (from BakingBites.com)

1/2 cup butter, room temperature
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
2-3 cups powdered sugar(I used 2)
1/4 cup milk
1 tsp vanilla extract

Combine all ingredients in a large bowl and beat, with an electric mixer, until frosting is creamy, 3-5 minutes. Add additional powdered sugar as needed to achieve a thick, but not stiff, frosting that is easy to spread. Add additional milk, if necessary, to thin the frosting if it gets too thick.

Chocolate Buttermilk Cupcakes (from MarthaStewart.com)
Makes 12

• 3/4 cup all-purpose flour (spooned and leveled)
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 6 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder, preferably Dutch-process
• 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
• 6 tablespoons buttermilk
• 1 large egg
• 1 large egg white

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line standard 12-cup muffin tin (or two 6-cup muffin tins) with paper liners. In a large mixing bowl, combine flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt; set aside.
2. With an electric mixer, combine cocoa and 3 tablespoons hot water until a thick paste forms (this process intensifies the chocolate flavor). Add butter, buttermilk, egg, and egg white; beat until combined. Whisk in flour mixture until smooth.
3. Scoop (or spoon) batter into prepared tin(s). Bake until a toothpick inserted in the center of a cupcake comes out clean, about 20 minutes. Transfer cupcakes to a wire rack to cool completely.
4. Use an offset spatula or butter knife to spread icing over tops. Decorate as desired.

Enjoy!

The Best Frozen Meals: Part I

As busy as everyone is these days, it's hard to find time to make a healthy, fresh lunch every day. That's why I like to keep a few frozen meals in the freezer at work for days when I just don't have time to pack a lunch. Instead of heading for fast food consider stocking your office freezer with these frozen - yet good for you - meals that are convenient without sacrificing your health.

Healthy Choice Cafe Steamers: Creamy Dill Salmon

With only 240 calories and 6 grams of fat, Healthy Choice got this one right. What I like most about the Cafe Steamers line is that the veggies, pasta and meat sit in a steamer basket on top of the sauce. This way, you get fresh food that hasn't been sitting in that "secret sauce" for who knows how long. You can choose to add the food to the sauce, or eat it without.The broccoli and salmon taste super fresh and will definitely fill you up until dinner. As a bonus, the creamy dill sauce is a great addition to the dish and doesn't taste at all like some of Health Choice's bland sauces.


Amy's Kitchen: Garden Vegetable Lasagna

This great tasting veggie lasagna was my first taste of any of Amy's products, and I was super impressed! I was first drawn to Amy's frozen meals because they are all organic, and lots are vegetarian. This particular one is also gluten free and uses rice noodles in place of regular lasagna noodles. I try as much as I can to eat all natural foods, and although these are usually a bit more expensive than the regular frozen meals at grocery stores it is well worth it! What I liked most was that the veggies were in large chunks instead of pureed into the sauce, they tasted fresh and homegrown. The cheese was gooey and tasted like it has just been baked! With only 290 calories and 9 grams of fat, this is a lasagna dish that would be good for any meal! For a tip, I buy my Amy's products at the Wal-Mart superstore, they're almost half the price there than at Harris Teeter.


Lean Cuisine Spa Classics: Butternut Squash Ravioli

This meal has a few more calories than the rest, but it's packed with the vitamin-dense vegetable Butternut Squash. The ravioli is tender and the sauce is great. The vegetables in this one are very crisp and add a great contrast to the soft ravioli. With 350 calories and 9 grams of fat, this Lean Cuisine is a great lunch time comfort food!

I hope these reviews helped, I will keep updating these as I find more nutritious choices!