The winning vote goes to pumpkin

Thanks for the vote to see some pumpkin recipes! With Fall and Thanksgiving coming up pumpkins are everywhere. I personally am not a huge fan of pumpkin pie, but I do like using pumpkin in other recipes. Did you know that you can substitute pumpkin for the oil or butter in a recipe? Yes it works just like apple sauce in that it keeps it moist and holds it together (well I think it helps hold it together). The other day I noticed I had a can of pumpkin that needed used so I went to the website on the can and found a recipe pumpkin carrot swirl bars. They sounded great and hey it even had carrots! Click on the recipe title to go to the original recipe. I for one did not have all the ingredients and two like to tweak recipes to make them healthier if I can. So here is what I did: I made it twice so I'll give you the info for both of them. My first attempt I did not have cream cheese so I omitted the topping,and just made the "bar" part. I also did not have enough carrots so I substituted some shredded apples. It was delicious. We were going to our friends house to watch a football game, and I got so many compliments! It was super moist, and oh by the way I also made it in a 9x13 cake pan instead of a jelly roll pan. Which made it more cake-like than bar-like. The second time around I changed a few more things. For the sugar I changed 1 cup sugar and 1/2 cup brown sugar to 1 cup brown sugar and 1/2 cup shredded apple. Then I substituted half of the flour with whole wheat flour. The results we're great. It was still very moist. One thing I would change next time is instead of buying pre-grated carrots I would grate my own. The reason for this is that the pre-grated ones we're dryer and instead of the carrots melting into the cake, they we're more prevalent and chewy. Which is ok unless you are trying to hide the fact that there are extra veggies in there;)

Dance like No one is watching!

I'm sitting here watching dancing with the stars. Wishing I could move with such grace and control let alone have the confidence to put all my effort into it without a few drinks beforehand;) I love to dance and I miss going to the club with my girls. It's great cardio if you think about it. To find out how many calories you burn dancing go to exrx.net So if you are lacking the motivation to go out for a run or any workout for that matter. Turn on your favorite playlist, close the curtains and dance like no one is watching!

Saturday morning

I love Fall. It was definitely chilly this morning when I crawled out of bed. The leaves are starting to change and the air is nice and crisp. Nothing better than putting on a cozy sweatshirt.
I taught a yogalates class this morning, then headed off to attend a yoga class for myself. It was an intermediate/advanced class, and I was hoping to learn something new. The class was 90 minutes long, but it flew by. It was very relaxing even though we we're still working hard. She was a great teacher, and I learned some new variations that I can pass on to my students. After class I headed over to my favorite local coffee shop to have a cappuccino. One of these days I'll bring my camera and take a picture. They draw those fancy designs in the frothy milk. You almost don't want to ruin it, but it tastes to good to do that:)

Here is what I'm having for lunch!

Flipping through my Everyday with Rachael Ray magazine I came a across a recipe for French Onion soup. Only 5 ingredients....well almost. I think I will cut the recipe in half since I'm not sure if leftovers would be good.
Ingredients:
1 large onion(good for you)
1/2 cup dry red wine(good for the heart)
14.5 oz beef broth(low cal and low fat)
1 cup croutons(splurge...but I'm sure you could find a healthy version)
2 slices swiss cheese(I bought some that we're 60 calories a slice)

Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil over medium heat.

Add onions and cook about 15 minutes. Then add wine and bring to a boil. Add beef broth, and turn heat to low then simmer for 10 minutes. Add salt and pepper to taste. Divide into two bowls top each with 1/2 cup croutons and 1 slice of cheese. Place bowls on baking sheet and place under broiler approx 1 minute.

I'm off to the kitchen. Enjoy!

I'm not broken!

Today I finally got in to see the Dr. for a follow-up about my foot/ankle. I have been experiencing pain, numbness, and tingling in my foot since oh about April or May....I'm not really sure. I was told it was a sprain, but I've sprained my ankle before and it didn't quite feel like this.
The diagnosis today was that I have inflamed ligaments and possibly a pinched nerve(I'm pretty sure it's a pinched nerve). At least since I got the x-ray and don't have a fracture or break my chiropractor can adjust it now. I'm hoping that can help with the nerve! I'm also going to try acupuncture here pretty soon for this and a few other reasons too. I'll write more about that once I experience the needles...yikes! Actually they are really tiny I saw one the other day and I've heard great things about acupuncture.
So I am suppose to rest my foot(that is the hardest part) and take anti-inflammatories. I will admit that I was stressing about getting this looked at. What if it was fractured? I wouldn't' be able to workout..........oh my gosh! I might gain weight! I was quite relieved.......even though I'm not sure if that prompted me to go run a marathon because I could. But wait don't I want to have a hot little "Pilates body". Ok so now I'm feeling the need to drag myself through some extra exercises:)
As you can see I still struggle with keeping exercise and weight related thoughts realistic. All in all working towards moderation is a great thing; but one that I will do with much perseverance.

Blueberry Buckwheat Pancakes

Here is a new recipe for you to try. Compliments of the lovely nutritionist I work with. I made a double batch and individually froze them. That way I can just pop them in the toaster in the morning! Less dishes:) I'm stoked.

I used Arrowhead Mills Organic Buckwheat Pancake and Waffle Mix and follow the recipe on the back. In addition to those ingredients I also added

• 1tsp ground flax seed (your body can't breakdown the whole flax seed) per pancake
• 1tsp wheat germ per pancake- so one batch makes 5 pancakes=5tsp
• 2tsp vanilla
• Spices to taste such as Cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, grated orange zest, etc
• blueberries 1/2 cup to 1 cup-I just eyeball it(thanks RR)

With all the added goodies about 300 calories per serving (2 pancakes) approx 9 g of protein and fiber. As well as a great source of calcium, iron, and B vitamins, etc! Of course depending what you add this could all change a bit

Long but funny-hope this makes you laugh

So I think the neighbors think I’m crazy now. Well If they can see into my backyard that is. This morning I went outside to turn the pool on and almost had a heart attack. When right in front of me I see a spider web, and I am pretty sure I saw the spider web because there was a large object in the middle. That large object just so happened to have 8 legs. Aahhh! As I look right into they eyes (if they have eyes) of a monstrous spider- black and hairy you know the kind. So I halt to a stop turn around and run back towards the house. Grab the pool leaf net thingy to protect myself all because I really want to go swimming today (sit in my floaty chair with a cold beverage) I attempt to knock the web down with the net. Mister spider flew over to the pool ladder and hid in the handles at the top. I then turned the pool pump on and ran back in the house.
As the temperature nears 95 and it’s supposed to feel like 100 with the humidity I decide it’s time to go swimming. I try on my new Juicy swimsuit that I got for such a great deal at Marshalls then try on the one I got from Victoria secret. The Victoria secret top is too small and I need to exchange it, but it’s covered in sequins so I definitely feel a little too flashy in it and since I probably would never wear it in public should exchange the whole suit for something else. Then I default back to my tropical blue and green one with the bamboo rings. Grab my phone, beer (because a wine glass in the pool is probably not a good idea). I open up the shed and peer around looking for spiders of course, and then cautiously grab my floaty chair. Drag it out and turn it over inspecting for bugs. Then toss it in the pool. Head over towards the ladder and shudder as I see that he is still there. I thought the spider had gone away earlier…..oh no he is still there!
So I get spider spray and attempt to spray him-I did this a couple hours earlier too. The can must be almost empty because it is not spraying very far. To think that I am going to get within that 2 feet range to actually spray him is crazy! I swear he kind of jumped out at me-like jumped at me to try to scare me off! Meanwhile the neighbors probably hear me talking to myself and /or mister spider and are probably dying laughing! So I attempt to spray the bug spray so that the wind might carry some poison his way. No such luck. Then I get a great idea! I’ll spray him off with the hose. So I get the hose out and play with the spray handle till I get a nice sharp stream. I spray him off. Yes he is defeated I can finally go swimming; except I am still a little leery because I don’t know where he went. I walk back to the patio and happen to look down and jump a little. Another spider not near as big, but probably hairier is right by my feet. I spray him with bug spray first, but it doesn’t reach him. Damn can, must be empty. Then I spray him with the hose and he is off into the grass. If I didn’t have flip flops on I would step on him. But I was afraid he was going to jump. Then I go back to inspect the pool ladder when I see mister spider triumphantly crawl back to the top of the handles. I am pissed now. He apparently has a strong web and is obviously attached to the ladder. I spray him really good this time, but again don’t know where he landed. So I have pretty much given up on going in the pool, and I am also wondering how much costs to leave that pump on for the next 4 days till my hubby is home? As I am wondering around the yard I notice a web and another spider on the other side of the pool. Yes it’s official I’m not going swimming. Normally it’s the threat of sharks or snakes that keeps me out of the water. Not today. Nope it is a spider. Meanwhile I am looking for an exterminator. Because yard work is just not going to happen when there are spiders around!