Pumpkin Spice Bundt Cake with Buttermilk Walnut Icing

By Lisa VanWilliams

Ok Ok we could not resist and had to jump on the October pumpkin bandwagon and throw one recipe out there with pumpkin in it - and this is a good one.  If you like the pumpkin muffins at Dunkin Donuts, you will like this cake except a slice of it won't set you back the 550 calories.  It's a great seasonal anytime of the day snack that will make you feel like your indulging without ruining half of your days caloric intake.

Ingredients:

For cake

• 1 1/2 sticks (3/4 cup) butter, softened, plus a little extra to grease the pan
• 2 1/4 cups 100% whole wheat flour plus an extra handful for dusting pan
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 3/4 teaspoon ground allspice
• 1/2 teaspoon ginger
• 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 1/4 cups canned pumpkin 
• 3/4 cup well-shaken buttermilk
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 1/4 cups organic cane sugar
• 3 eggs

For frosting

• 2 tablespoons plus 2 teaspoons well-shaken buttermilk
• 1 1/2 cups confectioners sugar
• 1/2 cup chopped walnuts

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350.  Butter Bundt pan and dust with flour -tap out excess flour.  Whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, allspice,  ginger, nutmeg, and salt in a bowl.

 

Whisk together pumpkin, 3/4 cup buttermilk, and vanilla in another bowl.

 

In this last bowl, beat room temp butter and sugar with an electric mixer a few minutes then add eggs and mix. Reduce speed to low and add flour and pumpkin mixtures until batter is smooth.  Pour your batter in your greased pan and level it out. 

 

Bake smack in the middle of your oven for 50-60 minutes until your tooth pick comes out clean. Once cooled, pop it out of the pan and drizzle the frosting on and sprinkle with nuts. Enjoy !

 

 

Karma Kream Body Lotion

By Lisa VanWilliams

Looking for a great smelling moisturizing cream for the changing of the seasons?  We love the LUSH line of moisturizers, Fun Bars, Bath Bombs, & Bubble Bars.  They take tubby time to a whole new level and their products smell incredible. 

The Karma Kream smells like you've stepped into a candy store.  It's a wonderful mild blend of patchouli and orange flower.  Plus it's got lavender oil in there, "to soothe the skin and promote a calmer mood".  Plus the store loves to give out samples when you make a purchase, so if you are curious about a product, lotion, or scrub just ask and they will give you a free sample to take home.

 

 

These are really quality products from around the world and they cost a bit more but they are worth it.  This is a company that gives back by supporting all kinds of charities and global causes, they even recycle their containers (if you bring back 5 empties, they will give you a free face mask).  To find out more info they have a wonderful website with tons of info:

http://www.lushusa.com/Charitable-Giving/article_charitable-giving-at-lush,en_US,pg.html

 

 

Taco Salad

By Lisa VanWilliams

We crave a Mexican taco fiesta night occasionally and this is a quick great tasting fix.  This is a totally easy recipe that even a beginner cook could handle. It's also a good starter meal to teach your teens and make them cook it for the whole family. It's as good as a Chipotle Salad Bowl made in your very own kitchen. 

Ingredients:

1pd+ hamburger meat 80/20 or leaner
1/2 green bell pepper
1/2 small onion
salt & pepper
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 packet McCormick Taco or Chili
1/2 cup pinto beans (drained)
1 cup tomato sauce
tortillas
sprinkle of low fat cheese (your preference)
1 teaspoon low fat sour cream
1 cup spinach or any lettuce


Directions:

Dice up the pepper and onion and sauté them in olive oil with some salt & and pepper until they soften. Add your hamburger, tomato sauce, taco seasoning, and pinto beans and simmer until meat is cooked. 

I warm up the tortilla in black skillet pan on both sides and that is the base. Then I add the spinach (or lettuce) and meat sauce, sprinkle with cheese & a dollop of cream cheese.  You can be creative an add any kind of toppings you like: hot peppers, sliced black olives, onions, avocado, peppers, tomatoes, scallions or salsa & hot sauce.  Enjoy!

If you live in Connecticut Stew Leonard's sells a variety of tortilla flavors like salsa, spinach, whole wheat, sun-dried tomato, & basil.

 

 

Walnut Raisin Bran Muffins

By Lisa VanWilliams

Here's a fiber filled moist version of a bran muffin. The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics states that, "Populations that consume more dietary fiber have less chronic disease".*  You can try different variations and substitutes to find the right mix for yourself.  For example, if you want to use applesauce instead of butter, agave instead of sugar, or just extra walnuts feel free to modify.

Buttermilk can be a misleading product. It sounds like very fattening, high calorie product but it all reality it is not that bad.  It's packed with calcium and nutrients and Livestrong.com did an article on buttermilk where they state,  "If you prefer buttermilk's rich taste to regular milk, you can easily make the swap without expanding your waistline -- there's only a 4-calorie difference between a cup of low-fat buttermilk and low-fat milk."*

Ingredients:

1 cup unprocessed wheat bran
1 cup buttermilk (you can use reduced-fat or fat-free)
4 tablespoons butter at room temp (you can omit butter and double the apple sauce)
1/4 cup dark brown sugar
2 eggs
6 tablespoons molasses
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
6 baby carrots shredded
1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
3/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup raisins
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
2 tablespoons apple sauce


Directions:

Preheat oven to 350.  Combine the wheat bran with buttermilk and let it sit while you do the rest.  Mix together the butter and sugar, then add in the eggs, molasses, vanilla, & carrots.  In a separate bowl, add your dry ingredients (wheat flour, baking powder, baking soda, & salt).  Combine the wet to the dry and mix together - do not over stir.  Add lastly the raisins, walnuts, & applesauce.  Put them into some baking cups and cook for 23-30 mins. Enjoy !

*http://www.eatright.org/About/Content.aspx?id=8355
*http://www.livestrong.com/article/447392-why-is-buttermilk-good-for-you/

Chicken Breast Stuffed With Spinach and Fresh Mozzarella

By Lisa VanWilliams

Here is a healthy baked chicken option that keeps the chicken juicy and not dried out.  This is not a very complicated dish and it will taste like you spent hours in the kitchen.  It's easy to take make ahead and store in the fridge till you are ready to cook it.  It's a great leftover to take to work the next day too. 

Ingredients:

3 chicken breasts sliced thin and pounded out
1-2 cloves fresh chopped garlic
1 cup baby spinach
salt & pepper
garlic powder
Montreal Chicken or Steak Seasoning
sprinkle of bread crumbs
1 cup fresh mozzarella (you can use skim milk or low fat)
2 tablespoons olive oil
1/2 cup white wine


Preheat oven to 350.  Once your chicken is ready you can start to season it and add your filling.  You can filet the breast yourself or some supermarkets will sell cutlets ready to go. Sprinkle the chicken with salt & pepper, garlic powder, fresh garlic, seasoning, and bread crumbs.

Then add your spinach and mozzarella and roll up the chicken. If you need to use cooking string or a couple of tooth picks that's fine, just remember to remove before serving. 

Salt, pepper, garlic and sprinkle the top of the breasts with bread crumbs once in pan. Drizzle the stuffed breasts with olive oil and put enough white wine to cover the bottom.

Bake in oven 45 mins to an hour.  You can serve it over spinach, rice, pasta, or grilled veggies. Enjoy !

Honey Apples With Peanut Butter & Nuts

By Lisa VanWilliams



This is a great fall snack and it's fun to make with the kids. Slice your apples horizontally and core them out. Spread some peanut butter on the inside and made a sandwich with two slices. Take your knife and put some peanut butter around the outside rim of your apple sandwich. Then roll them in crushed peanuts and drizzle with honey.  You can add a dash of cinnamon or any other of your favorite spices if you prefer. Enjoy!

 

 

 

 

Sanitize Those Hands !

 By Lisa VanWilliams

With cold and flu season brewing we are constantly washing our hands in this house. Play groups, shopping carts, playgrounds, schools, and door knobs can all be carriers of nasty germs.  When you can't wash your hands, we found these great pocket size hand sanitizers for on the run cleansing.

Although hand sanitizing is not as effective as washing your hands, it can help reduce some types of germs.

CVS has these great hand sanitizers for $1.99. They also offer a 3pack for $5.49. These contain 62% alcohol