Nutty

I have a new obsession: making almond butter.

I really dislike the taste of store bought almond butter. But I’ve made several batches in the past few days, added different ingredients and it’s DEElicious. Better than peanut butter.  (Never thought I’d say that)

Today’s batch?  Dark chocolate cinnamon.  Oh.my.gosh.  It’s straight-out-of-the-bottle-with-a-spoon delicious. 

You’ll need:

-2-3 cups Raw almonds

-Food processor.  I attempted almond butter in my (Amazing, Awesome, Spectacular) Blendtec and while it can handle peanuts just fine, almonds are a lot more difficult to process so it overheated.  Boo.  So I said, “Hey mom, wanna buy a food processor?”  And enticed her with the idea of fresh almond butter every week.  (yes, it lives at her house but I visit almost daily.)

-1 1/2 c. melted 60% cacao chocolate chips.

-1 tsp. salt

-1 tsp vanilla extract

-1-2 tsp grapeseed oil (or coconut if you don’t mind that hint of coconut flavor)

-2-3 tsp cinnamon.  I LOVE the taste of cinnamon so I probably put about 4 tsp. in my batch today (and still not as strong as I wanted)

-2-3 Tbs. turbinado sugar.

-Patience.  Yep, just when you think your almond butter is finished.  It’s not.  Keep going.

First step, spread your almonds onto a baking sheet and toast in the oven for 10 minutes at 325* F. Let cool for 10 more minutes.

 

 

Throw your cooled almonds into the processor and press start.

 

After about one minute it should look like this.

 

After two minutes.

 

Three and a half minutes.  Not done yet.

 

Six minutes.  Don’t stop!

 

Ten minutes.  Ahhh….beautiful creaminess.

 

Now, melt those chocolate chips and grapseed oil in a glass bowl over a saucepan with almost boiling water. Remove when chocolate chips are almost fully melted.

And try to keep sneaky fingers away.

Dump chocolate into your almond butter along with all other ingredients.

Voila!

And while you’re so engrossed in watching this concoction come together you’ll turn around and see this:

Oh my.  She’s like the chocolate Joker.   Note to self: Never leave melted chocolate bowl in the vicinity of an almost three year-old. 

 

Enjoy!

Pregnancy Essentials

So.  In case you other 5 readers who aren't related to me haven't caught on yet, I, one of your esteemed blog authors, am pregnant.  Very pregnant.  In fact, my due date was last Tuesday.  And so far, no action on the labor front.  Such is pregnancy, I guess.  But as I not-so-patiently wait for my pregnancy to come to an end (which it surely must, right??), I've thought back to a few things that have really helped my body cope with the never-ending changes of pregnancy.  Now, seeing as this is my first, maybe these are all obvious to some of you more experienced mothers out there, but hopefully some of the things on my list will help make pregnancy a little more comfortable for someone.  Especially when you are 49 weeks pregnant... like me.

1. L'Occitane Verbena Foaming Bath Knowing my affinity for baths as well as all things lemon flavored/scented, my sweet husband got me this bath gel for Christmas.  And while I'm sure that he had a little help from the saleswoman at the beauty store, it was the perfect gift because oh.my.gosh. this stuff smells like heaven.  Seriously.  As it turned out, I have had to deal with really bad RLS this last trimester, and pretty much the only thing that calms my muscles and helps me sleep is a warm bath before bed, and this bath gel just makes those baths that much more enjoyable.  

2. Nike Free Run+ Now, I know people are pretty particular about their running shoes, especially if you run a lot, and I can't attest to these being amazing running shoes yet, because well, I haven't had a chance to actually run in them yet.  But I can tell you, these are the most comfortable shoes I've ever worn.  They have some crazy technology where they bend with your foot a lot while still providing a lot of support, and with all the cushioning they feel sort of like slippers.  I've taken to wearing them everywhere, especially during the last couple weeks when I can't stand wearing my other shoes for more than 10 minutes.  And I've definitely given them some major mileage the past few days with all the walking I've been doing in trying to get this baby out.  

3. Burt's Bees Beeswax Lip Balm Ahhh... who doesn't love Burt's?  I've been a dedicated fan for many years, and it's safe to say I'm a tad bit snobbish towards other chap-sticks.  I'm also a tad bit obsessed with Burt's (just the classic minty lib balm variety, not the tinted balm or lipgloss or anything else) - I always keep one in my car, on my nightstand, and in my purse at all times.  And people didn't tell me how much I would need chap-stick during pregnancy - my lips are constantly chapped.  And since I live quite literally at sea-level, I'm not chalking it up to "dry winter air".  Anyways, I heart Burt's Bees.  Pregnant or not. 

4. Exercise Ball This isn't actually the one I have, I just chose this one for it's pretty pink color.  But many are the benefits of a large exercise ball like this one for pregnant women.  Definitely more comfortable than sitting on a chair or even the couch, my exercise ball has provided me a lot of relief during my entire pregnancy, and is also great for laboring mothers (or so I hear).  Just google "exercise ball and pregnancy" and you'll find lots about how great they are.  The size of the one you get depends on your height, but I think for average-height women you want one that is 65cm.  

5.  Microwavable Heating Pad  A heating pad has been so great for the little aches and pains of muscles during pregnancy, and again, is supposed to be great during labor, too.  You can find them lots of places, but seriously, they are so easy to make and way cheaper to do it that way.  I made mine and they are pretty hard to screw up, but if you have a sewing phobia (*ahem* Lindsay and Carly), they also sell cute ones in lots of places on the interent.  This one is from Etsy.  Another fun fact - you can put them in the freezer and use them as a cold-pack, too.  

So there you have it!  Some pregnancy essentials I'm sure glad I had during this pregnancy.  Now, let's hear what you couldn't live without during your pregnancy - I'm curious to know.  Also, I need to have something fun to read to distract me from dwelling on the absence of my labor.  So let's hear it, people - what did you love during pregnancy?  

Roasted Beet Salad

Surprise!  Bonus post this week!  Yeah that’s right. Just thank the hubby who is at a meeting, the girls who are sleeping and the DEElicious dinner I made tonight that I shall now share with the world {read: you 10 or so readers.}

Look at those colors! And it’s a sooc shot!

So, the other day I received beautiful purple beets in my organic produce co-op crate.  It thought, well what in the heck am I going to do with these?  I’ve literally never, ever cooked beets in my entire life.

So that’s where Google came into the picture. (Pretty sure my family would have starved before the internet.) 

I found this recipe for a beet salad and adapted it slightly.

Ingredients:

Chicken breast

Mixed baby greens

Purple and gold beets

Lemon

lemon pepper

olive oil

feta cheese

salt and pepper

First, cut the stems off the beets, wash and place on aluminum foil.  Drizzle olive oil over the beets and sprinkle with salt.  Completely wrap the beets and place on your grill or in your oven (at about 350*). Check beets after about 20 minutes and remove when tender.

While the beets are roasting, sprinkle the chicken breast with lemon pepper and place on the grill.

When beets are done let them cool for a bit and when they are not too hot to handle, remove the skins.  Chop into quarters.

Place greens, chopped beets, and sliced grilled chicken into a bowl.  Squeeze lemon juice from a fresh lemon over the salad, drizzle some olive oil, sprinkle some salt and crumble the feta cheese on top.

It is SO.SO good.  The tanginess of the feta cheese along with the sweet, roasted flavor of the beets is YUM.  (almost said YUM-O, shoot me I am NOT Rachael Ray.)

Another bonus?  It’s healthy.  Can’t beat that!  Apparently beets are insanely good for you.

Your guide to sushi lovin’

Disclaimer: none of these pictures are my own.  Thank you google images.

Fact: I love sushi.  Fact: I used to hate it.

I think I can speak for all of my sisters when I say, sushi is GOOD (except for maybe Lindsay, I think she’s still in the process of training her palate.)

Sushi is somewhat of a polarizing subject amongst those who love it and those who absolutely despise it.  “No WAY am I trying that stuff.  Raw fish is disgusting.”   “Just try it, you’ll love it!  C’mon!  Don’t be a wuss!”  And so on and so forth.

So, let’s clear the air. 

First, WHY should you love sushi?

Because it’s healthy.  And delicious (okay we’ll get to that part later.) But really, it’s so GOOD for you.  And I’m not talking about the deep fried pieces of shrimp, I’m talking about RAW fish like salmon, yellowtail and tuna.  Packed with trace minerals, omega fatty acids, protein and enzymes, sushi is low in calories and saturated fat.  Right there should be all the reason you need to try it out!  The seaweed which accompanies most rolls, called Nori, is also chock full of vitamins and minerals with little caloric intake. Bonus: For people like me who have certain thyroid disorders, (hypothyroidism, Hashimotos) Nori is the perfect antidote because it contains quite a bit of iodine, which is crucial for optimal thyroid health.

Second, sushi is an acquired taste.

The first time I tried sushi I was in high school and almost gagged on the roll.  I thought, people actually EAT this crap?  No way.  Then, while dating my dear, sweet husband he introduced me to the chicken teriyaki roll or what I call, first base sushi. No fish in sight.  I thought, well this is tolerable.  Even good. Then I moved on to shrimp tempura.  I mean really, anything that’s fried is going to taste delicious.  Then I moved on to second base:

It’s called a California roll and it’s the gateway drug to sushi addiction.  Usually consisting of Krab, (yes with a K cuz it’s not REALLY crab, it’s actually Alaska Pollock) avocado and some type of crunchy vegetable like carrots or cucumber, it’s the tamest of sushi rolls.  Start with that.  If you don’t like it, that’s fine because once I reached Sushi Snob Status I stopped liking it too.  Go figure.  Also, that pink stuff on the side of the plate is ginger.  It’s for palate cleansing.  Technically you are supposed to eat it in between bites but I enjoy putting it directly onto whatever I’m eating.  The green stuff is wasabi (Japanese horseradish) and be forewarned: If you put too much of that stuff on your food, you will feel as if you just ingested the fire of a thousand suns.

Once you have mastered (or decided to skip) the California roll, I’d suggest moving up to third base.  Easy there, I’m talking about rolls which contain actual raw fish.  Like a spicy tuna roll:

However if spicy isn’t your thing then by all means, ask for a regular ol’ tuna roll.  Now before you freak out and say,  But it’s going to taste so FISHY!   It’s not.  Trust me. Nobody in their right mind would willingly pay for and eat food that tastes like rotting fish flesh.  So nix that excuse from your repertoire.

If you love avocado you’re in luck.  Many sushi rolls have oodles and oodles of fresh, creamy avocado mixed throughout.  One of my favorites is the 911 roll:

911 rolls are regularly made with spicy tuna, cucumber and avocado.  Half of the roll is doused with a sweet eel sauce (EWWW EEL….oh calm down) and the other half with spicy sauce.  Mmmm…my mouth waters just thinking about it.

Once you’re ready and willing, it’s time to go HOME. Straight up raw fish over rice.  Nigiri.  Or maybe even Sashimi (thinly sliced raw fish.  That’s it.)

Nigiri is my favorite.  The sweetness and stickiness of the rice along with the soft, buttery texture of the fish is to.die.for. Wait, wait…hold the phone…what?  Raw fish isn’t RUBBERY?  It isn’t CHEWY?  Nope.  Well, at least it’s not if you go to a good, reputable sushi restaurant where you know the fish is actually fresh. Super fresh fish like the salmon, yellowtail and tuna I talked about earlier will almost feel like it melts in your mouth. 

left is shrimp, top middle is salmon, right is tuna, bottom is yellowtail

So now that I’ve talked to you about he basics of sushi eating and abolished all of your excuses (except for the I’M DEATHLY ALLERGIC excuse) get to it.  Ask sushi lovers which restaurant is their favorite and work your way toward becoming a sushi elitist.  It’s a fun club,  one where we make fun of people who refuse to try any kind of fish and where we throw down sake like there’s no tomorrow.  Kidding.  Maybe.  Well, just about the sake part.

So please, join us up here. 

My Three Favorite Workout DVDs

Since most of my posts are about food, I figured I needed to balance myself out a little with some exercise--in the form of my favorite workout DVDs!

I really love exercising (no, really, I do!) and more than anything, I love to RUN.  But, when roads are icy, the temp doesn't get above zero OR I'm just too lazy to get out of bed before the hubby leaves for work, I gotta have other options besides running.  And, since I don't have a gym membership or a treadmill, I have DVDs!  

I have specific criteria for a good workout DVD:

1.  It has to be CHALLENGING.  In my opinion, there are a lot of wussy workouts out there.  My favorites push me and make me sore!

2.  It has to be SIMPLE enough for me to get it down after the first try.  No complicated dance steps for this girl.  Also, it can't require a bunch of fancy, schmancy equipment--a couple of dumbells, maybe. 

3.   It has to have some VARIETY.  The same workout can get pretty boring.  So, alternative workouts are a must.

And, here are my faves!

P90X

Now, I know this one is expensive.  And I guess I really don't know firsthand how pricey it is since I'm borrowing the DVD set from a friend.  But, believe me, I would spend money on these DVDs.  I LOVE them!  I could kiss Tony Horton if I met him.  Okay, not really, but seriously, these DVDs are challenging, but easy to pick up and there are so many different workouts to choose from--plyometrics, yoga, weight lifting, kick boxing.  I've been doing them all winter.  And you don't have to go hard core and do the whole program, unless you really want to get totally ripped.  I just do whatever DVD I'm in the mood for at the moment, although I do try to mix up the harder workouts with the easier ones.  Seriously, I love P90x!  Best workout DVD program I've ever done.
 

Jillian Micheals' 30 Day Shred

Biggest Loser fans know Jillian and how she likes to scream in people's faces.  Well, she doesn't scream in your face in this DVD, but her workouts are definitely hard.  I like this DVD because she has three different workouts, which are all good workouts, and each is only 20 minutes long.  So, if you have a busy day but you still want to get in some form of exercise, you can just do one of these workouts.  But if you have more time, you can add another--and that's a challenge!
 

The Firm

The Firm goes way back.  And it was one of the first DVDs I ever worked out to.  Despite it being a little old school, the Firm is a good workout.  I particularly love the one above--it's a good overall workout with cardio and weight lifting but it's not too complicated.  There are a ton of Firm DVDs to choose from.  I'd say they are more aerobic-based, which isn't always my thing, but the ones I've done are simple enough for me to get.  And they're not too cheesy.  And the first time I did this DVD, I was sore for over a week--seriously.  Being 7 months pregnant at the time may have had something to do with it, but regardless, it was a good workout.

Oh and one more thing:  a good, cheap (free!) way to try out new workout DVDs is to check your local library.  They should have a selection of DVDs and you can try a bunch of different ones.  I know mine carries a bunch of The Firm ones.

So there you go!!  Go get sweaty!

Mad, Sad, and Glad Music

I've mentioned my love for music before, but I can't express it enough. I am constantly on the hunt for new tunes. If I am intrigued by a song in a T.V. show, movie trailer, etc., you can bet the second I get the chance to, I will be looking it up and most likely downloading it. When I listen to a song I like, I get lost in the rhythm and allow my my heart to fall completely in love with the lyrics. Music is food for my soul; I can practically taste the wonderful melodies and they are oh so delicious. Obsessed? Absolutely. Music is my anti-drug and I am completely and 100% addicted.

So, I am putting my infatuation to use. I'd like to suggest songs to listen to when you're happy, sad, or mad. These are by no means "classic" songs, but merely tunes on my current play list that I recently find myself going to depending on the mood.



Happy/Carefree






Sad


I won't lie, I actually tear up while listening to this. There is something so beautifully mysterious about this song.



Angry/Defiant





Happy listening! :)

Refinishing Wood Furniture

Short story - some time ago, I needed a dresser to house little boy clothes that will soon be worn by a newborn little boy of mine in about 4 weeks.  I dreamed of a Mid Century Modern one but they were far out of my budget.  But, I persevered and found one on Craigslist - for. FREE. It was a magical day, truly it was.  But, this dresser needed a lot of TLC which I was happy to provide.  So, in the case that you might have some wood that needs some refinishing, I thought I'd share my process with you.  Unfortunately I did not have the foresight to take a real "before" picture, but you'll have to use your imagination when I say it was in pretty bad shape.  

Materials you'll need:

Howard's Restor-a-Finish, Howard's Feed-n-Wax, fine grade (0000) steel wool, rubber gloves, and a mask (especially if you're pregnant like me.  And even if you're not.  Fumes are bad in general.) Also not pictured - wood filler burn-in sticks and wood putty in the shade of your wood, and a soft cloth. 

Step 1: Prep Work

Clean your furniture, inside and out, especially if you got it off Craigslist or at a thrift store or something.  Vacuum inside, and wipe everything down with a mild cleaner.  

Prep the wood by filling in any scratches and chips in the wood with your wood filler sticks and wood putty.  When you've filled in all the knicks, make sure the surface is completely smooth and dry before moving on.  

Step 2:

Break out the Howard's Restor-a-Finish.  I had never used this product before and I was a little skeptical since it is a little pricey, but I decided to give it a shot since I bought it at Home Depot and you can return anything you want there.  (Also a side-note - this stuff comes in different colors, and they didn't have one that was close to my shade of wood, so I just went for their "Neutral" shade, and it worked like a charm).  Let me tell you people - this stuff is magic in a bottle.  

Anyway, wearing your mask and rubber gloves, take a section of steel wool and poor a bit of the Restor-a-Finish onto it.  Rub gently in the direction of the wood grain and watch magic happen.  This stuff seriously took out all the minor scratches, water, and heat rings without breaking a sweat.  I was elated, since all the other methods of refinishing wood I looked into required sanding the finish off first and I really hate sanding.  This stuff was super easy and the wood looked brand-new when I was done.  

Step 3:

Wait for the Restor-a-Finish to dry (I only waited a few hours), and then apply the Howard's Feed-n-Wax by squirting a small amount on a soft cloth and rubbing down the entire piece. (I should probably say that I am not getting compensated by Howard's to say any of this. Although that would be cool.)  It's funny though, this stuff has been around forever and totally reminds me of my Mom.  She used to make me use it to dust all the wood furniture in our house, and the second I opened and smelled it this time, I felt like I was about 9 again, getting my Friday chores done.  Anyway, this wax will help preserve the wood finish and keep it looking all shiny and pretty.  

After I had finished the steps above, tah-dah!  This is what the dresser looked like:

That was probably a little anti-climatic since there was no before picture.  But trust me, it looks lightyears better than it did.  And please ignore the random cord coming out from behind the dresser.  I was too lazy to move the dresser to unplug the lamp just for the picture.

So at this point you could be done.  But while I loved the look of the dresser in the first place, I wanted some hardware to make it look extra pretty.  So I ordered these pretty ring pulls to put on the middle drawers.  After very carefully measuring and marking where I wanted them to hang on the backs of the drawer fronts, I forced my sweet husband to drill the holes in the drawers for me.  

After screwing on the ring pulls... 

this beauty was finished!  

A little close-up of the hardware.  

And there you have it - refinishing an old (free!) dresser from Craigslist in just a few steps.  

And just for fun, look what I found on the inside of one of the drawers?

The Escort - charming name, isn't it? :)  After a little googling, I found that this is a legitimate dresser made in the 50's or 60's, and similar refinished pieces from Kent Coffey can go for a lot of cash.  I shouldn't have mentioned this to my husband - he was a little tempted to sell this bad boy and make a profit.  I said no way - it's all mine!