Double Cinnamon Swirl Bread

Today was my school’s freshman Spirituality Day, so the first half of my day was spent praying, learning, and thinking about God.  The second half of my day was spent finishing homework, running, visiting my elementary school, and baking! 

It was a very good day!

My Mom was out for an hour or so running errands today, so naturally I took that time to do two of my favorite things: running and baking. 

Today’s run was nothing special (only a 1 mile sprint) but the baking was delicious. 

Double Cinnamon Swirl Bread

Adapted from Cook’s Recipes

“Having grown up with cinnamon raisin bread I have a “thing” for anything of the cinnamon variety.  This cinnamon bread isn’t just healthier, but it’s also tastier!”

Ingredients:

• 1 cup whole wheat flour
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 2/3 – 1 cup sugar (depending on taste, I used 2/3 cup and it had a mild sweetness)
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 2 teaspoons cinnamon
• ½ teaspoon baking soda
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 1 cup low-fat buttermilk (or 1 cup  milk+ 1 tablespoon vinegar)
• 1/3 cup unsweetened applesauce
• 2 tablespoons canola oil
• 2 eggs
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Topping:

• 1 tablespoon butter, softened
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 2 tablespoons sugar

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.  Grease a 9x5x3-inch loaf pan.  Set aside.
2. For Bread: Measure all ingredients in order given in a large mixing bowl, stir until combined.  Pour into prepared pan and smooth the surface.
3. For Topping: Combine all ingredients until crumbly. Sprinkle onto bread batter and using a knife, cut in with a light swirling motion to give a marbled effect.
4. Bake for about 50 minutes.  Let cool.

Yield:  1 loaf (12 slices)

* * * * * *

I loved this bread.  So did Phil, and my Dad.  My Mom thought it needed a little more sugar and Fluffy…well…let’s just say she managed to get a little nibble too.

Bad dog!

I already had two slices for an afternoon snack and I’m planning on having some more for breakfast tomorrow.  I can’t wait until breakfast.

Mmmmmm…I love cinnamon. ♥

* * * * * *

In other news, today I went back to my elementary school to watch Mikey‘s 4th grade show.  It was so cute!  He had a speaking part and didn’t have a bit of stage fright.  He takes after his cousin.

After the show they also had refreshments.  I managed to nab some homemade Funfetti cookies before the 4th graders could get to them.  They were so good!  I smell a remake!

Questions of the Day:

1. Do you like cinnamon? Loooove it!
2. Do you know any cookie Funfetti cookie recipes?
3. What is your favorite elementary school memory? (or favorite school memory of all time!)

Hope you had a great Wednesday Dr. Seuss and Banana Cream Pie Day!

PS – Tomorrow Katie and I are planning on going on a run together. We’re planning on 3 miles. (My longest run in months!) Wish me luck!

Are You Drooling Yet?

Hello Everyone! Thanks for all of your lovely comments on my last post!  I loved learning a few things about all of you, especially your heights. Now I don’t feel like such a shortie.

In other news, I have 3 tests that I’m supposed to be studying for tomorrow and have barely any time to write an in-depth post today.  You know what that means, right?

FOOD!

Just gonna upload some food pictures for y’all.  Try not to drool too much!

Turkey BLT on Rye with steamed green beans on the side

OOIAJ (1/2 cup oats mixed with 2/3 cup light vanilla yogurt topped with ground flax, bluberries, and shredded coconut)

Turkey & TJ’s Roasted Garlic Hummus in a whole wheat wrap with a Golden Delicious apple & Babybel on the side

Carrie’s Inside-Out Peanut Butter Cup Cake topped with Nutella

Angela’s Grilled Cashew Butter & Blueberry Sandwich

Grilled Liverwurst and Cheddar on Rye with baby carrots and ranch dip on the side

Tropical Mango Muffin with greek yogurt, Cheerios, and strawberries

High-Protein Egg Pizza topped with tomatoes and olives (Recipe Soon!)

Kelsey’s Very Vanilla Chia Pudding topped with Tropical Mango Bread, strawberries, and coconut butter

Grilled chicken topped with Franks with a baked potato and grilled asparagus on the side

Sandwich Thin topped with Mixed Nut & Chia Butter and strawberries on the side

Mixed greens, tomatoes, grilled chicken, edamame, shredded carrot, and Salsa Vinaigrette

Green Monster

Turkey Meatball Parmesan on Italian Bread with mixed veggies

* * * * * *

So, are you drooling yet?

Hope you enjoyed today’s photo-heavy post.  Now I’m going to do some geometric proofs.  I am really having a hard time with them.  Are there any math wizards out there that can help me/give me some pointers?  I would really appreciate it.  I tried asking my teacher, but sadly, she’s the type of teacher that doesn’t really like when students ask questions so she got annoyed with me. Hmph.

Questions of the Day:

1. What is the best thing you ate this week? Probably the cashew butter and blueberry sandwich!
2. Did you ever have a really bad teacher or a teacher you really didn’t like? Share your teacher stories!

Happy Almost-Friday!

Fiber Gourmet Review

Two product reviews in one week!?  I must be boring you to death!  I’m so sorry, but they have to be done.  I promise I’ll post my Tropical Mango Bread recipe tomorrow to make up for it.

A month or so ago I received a package from the wonderful folks over at Fiber Gourmet.  It was chock full of goodies like crackers, brownies, and macaroni and cheese.  It was pretty much a carb-lover’s heaven!

According to the Fiber Gourmet website all of the treats have:

• 10x the fiber of their standard counterparts
• 33% fewer calories than the competition
• No artificial colors
• No artificial flavors
• No preservatives
• No gluten
• No guilt!

* * * * * *

Sounds impressive, eh?  Here’s what I thought about the Fiber Gourmet products.

Mac-mmm-cheese:  One night I made surprised my family and made this macaroni and cheese for dinner with the addition of steamed spinach and grilled chicken.  I told my parents I made it homemade and they were raving about it. (And believe me, they’re not afraid to share their opinions!)  When I finally told them that it was made from a box, they were shocked.  It was the pasta was so tender and the sauce was so creamy.  I think it could have used a little more cheese sauce, but I’m a cheese-a-holic, so it’s probably just me.

Lite Frosted Brownies:  Philip and I enjoyed these brownies a few weeks ago for an after dinner snack.  We thought they tasted a little funny, so we added a scoop of ice cream which made them taste a little better, but they were still just okay.  These were my least favorite of the Fiber Gourmet products.

Light Cheese Snacks:  These were delicious!  According to the package, they were supposed to taste similar to Cheez-Its and belive me, they did.  Crisp, cheesy, and crunchy.  They are the perfect things to cure a chip craving.

Light Wheat Snacks:  According to the package, these were supposed to taste similar to Wheat Thins, which the did for the most part.  I paired them with a Laughing Cow light cheese wedge and I’d definitely say that it made them taste 5x better.  Alone they tasted a little too cardboard-y.

Overall:  Overall, I’d have to say that Fiber Gourmet makes some great products.  They offer stellar nutrition and provide people with healthy swaps for some of their fat and preservative-laden counterparts.  My only negative comment is that I think they are lacking a little pizzazz.  Amp up the flavor!

Overall Grade:  B+

* * * * * *

Questions of the Day:

1. How do you meet your dietary fiber requirements?  I try to get most of my fiber from whole grains, fruits, and veggies, but fiber-enriched snacks like these help too!
2. Anything fun planned for this weekend?  What are you going to do?  I have my freshman Cotillion tomorrow night – I’m so excited.  I’m getting my hair done and everything!

Have a wonderful 3-day weekend!  (Well only Americans have a 3-day weekend, so I hope everyone else has a wonderful 2-day weekend as well!)

2 Blends, 2 Recipes, 1 Day

Hello Everyone!

I don’t have much time for an in-depth post today due to schoolwork and studying, but I have had some interesting eats today that I’d love to share with you.  They also just so happen to come from 2 of my favorite blends: Teenage Health Freak and Carrie! (Ugh, more technology woes!  Now WordPress isn’t letting me insert links, so I will post all link URLs at the end.)

Let’s start with breakfast.  Enter Teenage Health Freak’s Carrot Cake Oatmeal…

Looks delicious, right? 

I was first planning on making this oatmeal during Sugar-Free Week, but somehow I forgot and never ended up making it.  Until today, of course! 

The best way to describe the overall flavor of this oatmeal was mild, but in a good way.  The oats were warm and cinnamon-y, the applesauce and carrots added a little bit of sweetness, and the coconut tied it all together.  It didn’t taste exactly like carrot cake, but it was a wonderful healthy breakfast alternative.  Plus who wants to consume a load of sugar in the A.M.?!  (Or any time of day for that matter…)

I will definitely be making this again.  It was tasty and super filling!  I could barely finish the bowl…

* * * * * *

My school lunch was my usual Turkey Sandwich on Bran Bread with an apple and light string cheese.  Once I got home from school, however, my afternoon snack was a new (and amazing!) find. 

It was Carrie’s Inside-Out Peanut Butter Cup Cake!

I first mentioned this Inside-Out Peanut Butter Cup Cake in my Peanut Flour Mania! post when I was oblivious to the awesomeness of the thing.  Now that I’ve tried it, I really urge all of you to try it.  It is just that yummy!

The nutritionals are also pretty stellar, if you’re into that sorta thing. 

High protein (~26 grams)

Good source of fiber (~4 grams)

Low calorie (~185 per cake without toppings)

If I could choose 1 word  to describe this cake it would be decadent.  It was moist, fluffy, and I honestly thought that it could be dessert status. 

Warning:  You are going to see this cake on my blog a lot. 

* * * * * *

As you can see it’s been a wonderful day of eats.  On the menu for dinner is some of my Mom’s beef stew, a baked potato, and a salad.  Snacks are t0-be-decided later.  Workout?  Nothing other than a short run.  Studying takes priority today – 2 tests and 1 quiz tomorrow plus homework! Urgghhhh…

At least tomorrow’s Friday.  Woohoo!

Question of the Day:

1. Have you eaten anything really good this week? What?
2. Any good plans for the weekend?  Are you going to see the Justin Bieber movie? (I’m not!) Spill! 

Link Love:

• Teenage Health Freak  -  http://teenagehealthfreak.wordpress.com/
• Carrie  -  http://movesnmunchies.wordpress.com/
• Carrot Cake Oats  – http://teenagehealthfreak.wordpress.com/2010/09/04/what-a-weekend/
•  Inside-Out Peanut Butter Cup Cake  -  http://movesnmunchies.wordpress.com/2011/01/20/mish-mash/

My Nutty Contribution

A few days ago I jumped on the bandwagon and bought 2 bags of peanut flour.  Since then I’ve been enjoying it almost everyday in a variety of recipes. I love it! ♥

Being the foodie that I am, however, I wasn’t content with just copying other people’s recipes and felt the need to create a couple of my own.  So I did!

I enjoyed this little beauty a few days ago during my two days of SFW – I just omitted the sugar!  Since then I’ve made about 4 more batches.  Healthy peanut butter cookie dough?  Sign me up!

Protein Peanut Butter Cookie Dough

Inspired by April’s Protein Cookie Dough

“This vegan cookie dough* has the ability to fool even the pickiest of eaters.  I fed it to my brother numerous times already and he wasn’t the slightest bit suspicious…”

Ingredients:

• ¼ peanut flour
• 3-4 tablespoons water
• 1-2 teaspoons peanut butter
• ~1 teaspoon sugar
• 1 tablespoon dark chocolate chips (optional – I used a crushed Adora)

Directions:

1. Combine all ingredients in a small bowl.  Stir until smooth, adding water until you reach desired consistency. 
2. Serve, devour, repeat!

Yield:  1 serving

*Check your chocolate chips to make sure they’re vegan folks!

* * * * *

I’m not really in the writing mood tonight.  I’m really not sure why.  I hope you understand! 

Questions of the Day:

1. Do you ever get writer’s block?  If so, what do you do about it?  I either suffer though it or stop writing!
2. What is your favorite vegetarian or vegan source of protein?  Peanut flour is moving up on the list…

Remember it’s not too late to submit peanut flour recipes that you want to be included into the “Peanut Flour Mania” post.  They don’t even have to be your own – just leave the link!

Have a great Friday!