Blog World Weekly

All over Blog World I see posts recapping the week’s happenings for anyone who missed them and I love them.  Not only are they a great way to learn more and get new recipes, but they are also a great way to come across new blogs!

Plus, the great thing about it is that it never gets old, considering everyone reads different blogs!  Here’s my version.

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Last week started off on the right foot when Jessica posted a recipe for Maple Bacon Brown Sugar Scones.  I mean who would want to press the Snooze button when they could be eating a delicious sweet and savory scone…not me!

I came across this article via Twitter and it had me laughing for the entire week.  Anyone who is willing to admit to stealing a few nuts from the bulk foods bin at Whole Foods now and then will find this hilarious.

I also loved listening to Carrie‘s opinion about carbs, fats, and calories.  Her blog is amazing and she is truly one informed and health-consious teen!  She also recently became vegan – talk about a commitment!  Way to go, girl!

Normally, I like posts with lots of pictures and fewer words, but this post by Hillary changed my mind.  She posted a story that she wrote for her Writing for the Mass Media class about Starbucks.  I was hanging on to every word.  Hillary, you are an amazing writer!

This isn’t a new post, but it was new to me so I figured I might as well post it.  It’s an informative post about the cost benefits and health benefits of preparing your own packages of instant flavored oatmeal.  YUM!

I found this article via Twitter too and I found it so inspiring.  Eleven and twelve-year olds running marathons?!  Is it good or bad?  I think it’s good!  Our bodies are meant to be active, after all!

Last but not least, I loved Angela’s post showcasing vegan recipes from around Blog World.  Included are recipes like a sweet potato tart, strawberry cupcakes, and couscous.  You won’t want to miss this!

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Well, how did you like it?  Would you be interested if I started doing more of these?  Share your opinions!

Questions of the Day:

1. What was your favorite post in Blog World this week?  Feel free to leave links!
2. What are your favorite oatmeal toppings?  I love nut butter, fruit, and cinnamon on mine!

Alrighty, now I have to go to bed.  School tomorrow!

Have a wonderful week! 

Chocolate Chip Cookie Brownies

I’m always talking about my huge sweet tooth, so it comes as a shock to people when I admit that I am not a regular dessert eater.

Don’t get me wrong, I eat dessert sometimes, and when I do I make sure it’s worth it. 

If I had to choose between a  fruity sorbet and a double fudge cake, I would almost always go for the cake.   

Remember a few weeks ago when my Track buddy brought in cookie-topped brownies for Valentine’s Day?  Well, I finally found time to make remake them and I think they’re even better than the originals. 

Adapted from AllRecipes.com and VegFamily

“This vegan dessert is decadent, gooey, and delicious.  It’s a slice of chocolate bliss.”

Ingredients:

Brownies:

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 ½ cups organic sugar
• ¾ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 1 cup water
• ½ cup canola oil
• ½ cup unsweetened applesauce
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Cookies:

• ½ cup organic brown sugar, packed
• ¼ cup organic granulated sugar
• 2/3 cup canola oil
• ¼ cup nondairy milk or water
• 1 tablespoon corn starch
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
• ½ teaspoon baking soda
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• 2/3 cup vegan dark chocolate chips

Directions:

Brownies:

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
2. In a large bowl, stir together the flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking powder and salt. Pour in water, vegetable oil and vanilla; mix until well blended. Spread evenly in a 9×13 inch baking pan.
3. Bake for 25 minutes in the preheated oven.

Cookies:

1. Combine sugars, oil, nondairy milk, and tapioca flour in a mixing bowl. Use a strong fork and mix really well, about 2 minutes, until it looks like smooth caramel. There’s a chemical reaction when sugar and oil collides, so blend well. Mix in vanilla.
2.  Add 1 cup flour, the baking soda, and the salt. Mix well. Mix in rest of flour. Fold in chocolate chips. The dough will be a little stiff.  Flatten into sheets and place on top of the half-cooked brownie. 
3. Bake for 10-15 more minutes.  Let cool for 30 minutes, cut into squares and serve.

Yield:  Approximately 15 servings

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This brownies are freaking amazing, if I do say so myself.

Philip and I both ate two…for a snack.  They’re that good.  Can you say sugar coma?

I know the recipe seems like a lot of work, but it’s worth it.  This is the richest brownie I’ve ever tasted! 

Mmmmmmm…

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Questions of the Day:

1. Do you eat dessert on a regular basis?
2. Are you a self-proclaimed chocoholic?

Have a wonderful (and chocolate-filled)week ahead! 

Seven Things Sunday

Does that post title sound familar?

I’m sure many of you have heard of the blog Peanut Butter and Jenny.  If you haven’t, then I give you full permission to click the link and spend a few hours minutes browsing through her wonderful blog. 

Okay, are you back?  A few weeks ago Jenny decided to start an installment on her blog called Seven Things Sunday, where she talks about 7 things from the past week.  So far, she’s done about 3 of them and I’ve loved all of them, I actually stalk her blog all Sunday to make sure I don’t miss one.  They are just some really awesome posts.

Today when I woke up, I felt the urge to blog but had no idea what to blog about.  Figuring that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, I decided to be a copy-cat and do my own little version of Seven Things Sunday.

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1.  Favorite meal of the week:  My Mom’s homemade gumbo based on this recipe.

2.  Song:  “Club Can’t Handle Me” by Flo Rida (featuring David Guetta)

3.  Workout:  Walks with Fluffy!  She’s been loving the walks lately and we usually do about 2 miles, by the time we finish she’s pooped!

4.  Quote:  “Those who do not find time for exercise will have to find time for illness.” – Earl of Derby

(My Sensei has a poster with that quote and I felt like I was staring at it all day yesterday.)

5.  Purchase:  All-Natural Peach-Mango FRS Energy Drink

6.  Laugh:  You really had to be there to fully get the humor in this joke, but let’s see how well I can re-tell it.  My friend, Katie’s best guy friend, became homeschooled a few weeks ago.  It was also around the same time that she told Kelly and I that she liked him, so we made a joke and said that he became homeschooled because of that.  She laughed and then we started talking about something else.  A few weeks later, on the way home from Cotillion, Katie pointed out that the guy lives a few streets away from her.  Kelly and I cracked another joke and said “Uh oh, now he’s going to move!”  Again, we laughed and continued talking about something else.  Finally, 2 days ago Katie came to school and informed us that he actually did move! We were dying of laughter for 10 minutes straight.  We’re so lucky Katie has a sense of humor!

7.  Natural Occurence:  The 15 inches of snow is almost all melted!

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Well, that’s it.  I hope you enjoyed! 

Now I have to take some pictures of the Vegan Chocolate Chip Cookie Brownies I made earlier.  They are so decadent! 

Here’s a sneak peek:

Mmmm.

Questions of the Day:

1. Did you laugh this week?  What did you laugh about?
2. When it comes time do choose desserts, do you “go big or go home” or try to stay on the lighter side?  Go big or go home!  I don’t have dessert that often, so when I do I make it worth it!

Have a great Sunday!

On Camera

As promised here is a little look at today’s Karate photo-shoot. 

The pictures are a bit blurry, but they’ll have to work for now.  I promise to post the professional ones once they are available.

Yup, that’s me in the blue sparring gear.  And yes, I was totally roundhouse kicking that guy in the head.

Now you are probably wondering why there was a photo-shoot in the first place.  Let me explain…

My Sensei (Karate teacher) is writing/publishing a book about Sport Karate/Sparring and realized that he needed some of his students to pose in the pictures and demonstrate the techniques.  I was asked because of my killer head-level roundhouse kick. Oh yeah I’m going to be published in a book!

Here’s the set:

Getting ready:

Punch-Kick Combo: (I’m punching)

Backfist:

Line Sparring:  (I’m second on the right)

5 hours and 420398 photos later, I was tired, sweaty, and ready to go home.  But right when I was walking out I noticed this. ↓

Black Belt Hall of Fame?! How exciting!

Now I feel legit.

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Questions of the Day:

1. Have you ever been in a photo-shoot or published in a book/magazine?
2. Are you flexible?  I consider myself pretty flexible, but I can’t do a split for my life!

Eggy Protein Pizza

Hello Wonderful Bloggies! How is your weekend so far?

Mine has been awesome!  Yesterday, I hung at school with my friends for 4 hours talking, watching basketball games, eating, and just goofing off.  I feel like I was laughing the entire time.  So much fun!

I also have a Karate photo-shoot later today, but more about that in a later post.

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Remember Thursday night when I posted this?  Well, it seems like a bunch of you wanted the recipe for my Eggy Protein Pizza.  Ask and you shall receive…here you goooooooooo! :-D

Ingredients:

• ¾ cup EggBeaters (or 3 eggs, or 6 egg whites)
• 1/3 cup marinara sauce
• 1/3 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
• garlic powder, pepper, oregano, Parmesan, and salt (to taste)

Toppings:

• onions
• olives
• tomatoes
• mushrooms
• bell peppers
• broccoli
• pepperoni
• grilled chicken

Directions:

1. Spray a medium pan with nonstick spray, heat over medium heat.  Pour eggs in the pan, cover, and cook for 2-3 minutes, or until the egg is cooked.
2. Top cooked egg “crust” with marinara sauce, cheese, and desired toppings.  Cover again for 1 minute.  Cut into 4 slices, transfer to a plate, and enjoy!

Yield:  1 serving

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Just a caution, the pizza is a little messy if you eat it with your hands (like a regular pizza) but the taste is worth it. I’ll definitely be making this again.

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Sorry for the lame-ish post today, now I have to get dressed and ready for the photo-shoot.  I promise a post later though!

Questions of the Day:

1. How has your weekend been so far?  Any fun plans?
2. What are your favorite pizza toppings?  Mine are onions, mushrooms, and olives.

Happy Saturday!