feeling better

I am starting my second week of eating  more balanced diet.  So far so good.  I am eating more fruits and vegetables and less breads and sweets.  I made a delicious Ricotta Cheesecake, recipe courtesy of The Queens Dish" that is much lower in fat and sugar.  Topped with a fresh raspberry sauce it taste's delicious.  The secret ingredient is Greek Yogurt!  Most recipes that call for sour cream I substitute plain Greek Yogurt.  It has much less fat, way more protein and is just overall better for you.  So it is just little changes that will make a difference.  Here is to all the little changes that make life better :)

a1c

These two letters and one number are harmless on their own but when you combine them they stand for a blood test to monitor blood glucose levels they become scary.  I have a family history of type II diabetes.  I know of this family history and know of the physical and emotional strain having Diabetes causes on yourself and your family.  I know how to prevent type II diabetes.  Eating a healthy diet, exercising and keeping your weight down.  I have not been good about eating healthy, exercising or keeping my weight down.  So at my yearly checkup my Dr. looked at my a1c level and said hmmmm.  I don't like this.  You see it is at 5.9 which is considered to be pre-diabetic.  I was stunned for a moment and then all these thoughts starting pouring into my head.  How did this happen?  What should I do?  Can I change?  How did I let this happen?  How could I be so reckless with my health?  After I got home from work I came home and just kind of sat down in a quite place and said to myself, you can fix this.  So i have come up with a plan.  First I cannot get stressed because that will not help.  Second I will write down my menu for the week and stick with it.  Third my Saturdays will be set aside making healthy lunches I can take to work so  I am not tempted to go out to eat at lunch.  Fourthly I will leave my wallet in the car so that I do not have access to money if I get tempted to go out for lunch.  Last but not least I will begin to exercise regularly.  It won't be easy but I have no choice.  I must lose weight and get my eating under control.

At first I was so scared.  But I have prayed and prayed and feel at peace with my plan.  I am grateful for the body I have been given and need to treat it with the love and care that I should.

Coffee Cake

Here is a delicous reciepe from my Aunt. 

Pre-heat oven to 350

1 1/2 cups sugar
1/2 cup softened butter
2 eggs
1 cup sour cream ( I substitute Greek Yogurt and highly recommend it)
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 tablespoon fresh squeezed lemon juice
2 cups flour (You can't go wrong with King Arthur)
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt ( I never add)
1 tablespoon cinnamon
1/2 cup chopped pecans ( I use walnuts, it is a matter of personal taste)

Directions:
    Beat the butter and 1 cup of the sugar together until fluffy.  Beat in eggs, one at a time.  Stir in sour cream (or greek yogurt), lemon juice, and vanilla.  Beat until well blended.  In a seperate bowl sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt.  Stir into the batter until it is smooth.  Spoon half the batter into a greased 9- inch tube pan.  Combine remaining sugar, nutes and cinnamon and sprinkle two-thirds of it over the batter.  Top with remaining mixture of nuts.  Place in center rack of oven and bake at 350 for 30 to 35 minutes.  Serve Warm and enjoy! 

April Fools

It is April Fools day and I have no good jokes to play.  That is fine with me because I am more excited about it being April.  I am listening to birds chirping outside and have opened the windows in the house to let the fresh, crisp spring air in.  This time of rebirth for nature is one of my favorites.  It reminds me of my Saviors love for not only me but for all of his children.  He sacrificed all for us so that we could be free to choose to come back to him.  His sacrifice gave us the Atonement which gives us the chance to be forgiven when we go through a dark season in our life.  Spring gives us hope just as the Atonement gives us hope.  On this first day of April I am reflecting on the Savior and his infinite love for us. 

The best Hershey Peanut Butter Caramel Kiss cookies

I am going to share this wonderful cookie reciepe that a friend had given me years ago.  I tweaked a couple of things in the reciepe to make it my own.  I use King Arthur All Purpose Flour. It makes a better cookie. I use a jar of FRESH peanut butter.  If you don't have one that is fine but again the new fresh jar makes a better cookie.   I use the hershey caramel kisses, because who would not want a cookie with peanut butter, chocolate and caramel.  For the pans I use the thicker baking ones or I will use a stonewear pan.  The stonewear pan seems to produce a cookie that stays moist longer. 

Sift:  3 1/2 cup flour    
         2 tsp baking soda  }Set Aside
        1/2 tsp salt
In a seperate bowl:
Cream:    1 Cup Peanut Butter and 1 Cup Shortening
Add:       1 Cup white sugar and 1 Cup brown sugar
Add:        2 eggs, 4 Tbsp milk and 2 tsp vanilla

Combine the creamed mixture with flour mixture and shape into balls. Roll in sugar.  Bake on Ungreased cookie sheet at 375 degrees for 8 minutes. Place the unrwapped hershey caramel kiss on top so the cookie cracks.  Return to oven and bake 2 to 3 more minutes longer.  Cool on a cookie rack and then Enjoy!

Seattle

It is that time of year in Virginia!  Our weather patterns resemble more of the rainy pacific northwest weather.  I must say I do enjoy it for a couple of days.  Then I am ready for the sun to make her appearance again.  I am ready for the flowers to start blooming, the tree buds to pop out and am so ready for the longer days.  Spring is here and you can smell it in the air, feel it on your skin, welcome back humidity, and the added spring to my step definatley indicates the new season.

seasons

Spring is just around the corner and I could not be happier.  I have had a very difficult winter season for many reasons that I have kept to myself.  I cannot wait to shed my winter coat and welcome in spring.  With the new season approaching I am already feeling a sense of relief, a sense of peace and a sense of renewal.  So as the the flowers and trees start blooming I hope my spirit will do the same. I hope that as the sun stays out longer and shows us those beautiful sun rays that I will as well become more of a light to those around me in all places in my life.  I am grateful for this approaching Spring season and am grateful for the past difficult season because it gave me an opportunity to grow and become a better person.