hello, cupcake.

blame it on the applesauce.

With the new addition of the lovely stand mixer to my arsenal of kitchen appliances, I've had the strong desire to bake every.single.day since it blessed our apartment with its presence. I don't think I've baked every day, but I'm pretty sure the number of things I've made could be spread out over the last week and a half to average one item per day. When I arrived at my parents' last night for dinner, armed with my latest creation (buttermilk blueberry breakfast cake), my mom thanked me and asked a very relevant question, the kind that she's so good at asking and typically make me shrink away and feel really guilty about whatever it is we're talking about, because generally when she's asking me a question like this she knows I'm probably not on the right track. This leads to a lot of back-peddling and defending myself and basically proving her right while trying to prove her wrong. 

Not today, mom!

 

But I'm getting ahead of myself. The question: "And how does this fit into your diet?" 

Firstly, it's called a lifestyle, hello!*

Secondly, I don't plan on eating everything I make! Baking is only mostly partially about eating the fun things I make. That breakfast cake, as awesome as it would be eaten straight out of the pan and in its entirety, is just as tasty eaten in a small portion for breakfast. It's even better when you share it with other people!

Thirdly, I've learned a few tricks lately that I'm pretty excited about. Sure, I could sub out real sugar for fake sugar in a recipe and save a whole lot of points, but I just can't bring myself to do it. What's the point of baking something from scratch if I'm using overly processed ingredients? The latest trick I've learned is subbing out oil for applesauce. Applesauce? Yes! It actually works really well. I tried this last week with a cake I made for dessert one night, and last night I boldly added it to a quick bread recipe and came out unscathed. The recipe called for a little sugar, so I left out the sugar knowing the applesauce would make it a little sweet anyway. (sidenote: I realize store-bought applesauce - which I used this time - is processed too, but I make homemade from time to time, so I'll probably have some handy for the next recipe. Bonus - I don't add sugar to mine! Hello 0PP addition!)

 

Now that I know I can easily deduct 10-15PP from my recipes, I'm excited to try more things! I've been taking pictures and such, so stay tuned for recipes. I just need to plug the camera into the dang computer.

*love you, mom!

i am a baking machine.

What happens when your boyfriend buys you this:

You end up with these, all in the span of 48 hours:

30-minute parmesan rolls

blueberry cake

morning glory muffins

vanilla ice cream

lasagna...oh wait. that didn't involve the mixer. Whatevs, still awesome.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

signs that the times might be a-changin'.

December 23rd, I made a goal to workout every day over my 10 days off. Yes, I realized at the time that this included half of Hanukkah and all of Christmas. Yes, I also realized this included a two day road trip to visit my grandparents. I figured if I set the goal, I would at least work out a few times and not be a lump the whole 10 days.

Today is the 19th day since I made that goal. So far I'm at 15/19. I made it all 10 days, and then some! That 15 also doesn't count tonight's probable workout (so that would make 16/19, in case you're lazy). 

 

Last night's workout almost didn't happen, though. I usually meet with my mom on Monday nights, but she's getting over a virus so we figured it'd be safer to take a rain check. When I got home around 7, I immediately changed and headed downstairs. MISTAKE. I think the combination of it being right after work (well, relatively) and it being the first couple weeks of January (not that I hate on everyone with resolutions, y'all are awesome! Keep at it!) made for a very cranky adie. every.single.machine was taken. I sat there for a couple minutes waiting, and then gave up and went back upstairs. The kicker? I actually went back at 10, after dinner was done and digested, for take two. The fitness room was empty! Score. I guess I know when I need to workout now...if someone could just teach me how to not fall asleep while doing cardio that late at night, that would be great.

I'm patting myself on the back for this. Majorly.

soup weekend.

I'm really creative with titles, as you can see. As you can also see, I made a veritable shitton of soup today.

I freaking love winter.

(and in case you were wondering, that's only half of the mushroom barley the rest is crying on the stove because I ran out of suitable Tupperware. Such issues I have...)

impulse buying at its best.

Limited edition Midnight color Le Creuset demi teakettle. Oh yeah.