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.

boring

I have decided that posting about my daily workouts is not only boring for me but boring for anyone else who might possibly read this little blog, which I am pretty sure is noone but me.

day 10

Last night was a cardio intense workout!  My lungs were burning and I felt like my heart was going to pound out of my chest!  I am starting to feel better and am noticing I have more energy.  Eighty more days to go!