Baking endeavours

I think of myself a baker rather than a cooker. And granted it usually takes me a couple times to get something right - I find that baking has a less chance of this. Ha. Lately I have been obsessed with cupcakes, but since I would rather not polish down a Baker's Dozen myself, I refrain unless I have something to actually bake for or need a practice run just to be sure. Plus, baking is much easier to make into individual sizes than a big meal. When I was single, I never cooked for myself - as I didn't want to have the same leftovers for a week straight. It's strange, cos I could live a week straight on having cereal for supper... but that leftover lasagna bake? No thanks!

This weekend I made pumpkin spice chocolate chop muffins, and banana muffins. I hadn't originally planned to make the pumpkin spice muffins, but my BF's family was getting together and I figured I should make something for it. It's fairly easy - 1 spice cake box mix, 1 can pumpkin, 1 cup water, 1 egg white. You mix and dump into muffin pans sprayed with baking spray, cook the desired minutes on the cake box and there ya go. And it's pretty healthy too, something like almost 100 cal per muffin. No one ate them during the meal, but brought some with them on their way home. Success!

I also made banana muffins, with a couple leftover bananas I didn't get to last week. They turned out well, but I should have decreased the cooking time by 5 minutes. I will share below, and refer you to where I found it. I also changed a couple things, but have updated those from the original recipe.

Seriously Healthy Banana Muffins
http://healthiefoodie.blogspot.com/2009/02/seriously-healthy-banana-muffins.html?showComment=1315313944895#c7578158618076690309

Serving size: 12 big muffins (will have some leftover batter)

Ingredients

• 2 very ripe bananas
• 1/2 cup whole wheat pastry flour
• 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup regular sugar
• 1/2 cup Blue Agave Nectar
• 2 tablespoons light butter, softened
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 egg
• 2 tablespoons unsweetened applesauce
• 1/4 teaspoon salt

1. Preheat oven to 350
2. Cream sugar with butter (this helps to get all the butter blended smoothly!)
3. Add egg, and beat lightly to get the mixture to fluff up a little.
4. Add the 4 bananas, already smashed up in a separate bowl (a pastry fork works really well for mashing and mixing the bananas if you don't feel like busting out the mixer)
5. Add the vanilla, and applesauce.
6. Then add all the remaining dry ingredients and mix well.
7. Pour mixture into pan sprayed with cooking spray so they don't stick! (12-cup muffin pan)
8. Bake for around 25 minutes. You'll be able to tell it's all ready when the color is good and golden brown, or when a knife comes out clean from the center.
9. Remove muffins or loaves from pans to cool on a rack.

 Happy Baking!

Triple D!

I swear I should make up my own "Diner's, Drive-Ins and Dives" like Guy Fieri on The Food Network. Since I started dating my BF, we have been to a few 'hole in wall' joints, all with amazing food. His grandparents like to go to these places, so whenever we go visit them and his parents (OK, so we mainly go so he can get his haircut and then do supper with them after) that is usually where we hit up. Last night we went to a place in Great Bend, ND (population 60, as of 2010) called Cow Gal's Saloon. It was a bar and grill, and I guess his grandparents just raved about the place so we figured that the next time we went down... that's where we would go.

The atmosphere was definitely a bar, and a small town one for that matter. The walls were covered with beer signs, old pictures, anything cowboy related, etc... definitely an 'American Pickers' dream. And the menu... I swear every person in that town could get something different - it was huge with a good selection of apps, chicken, steak, fish, soup, etc. I also look for the chicken entrees, whether it be a chicken sandwich or a meal and sides. It's usually a safe bet, and semi-healthy. I ended up getting chicken breast and swiss... which consisted of 2 small chicken breats, covered with a slice of swiss cheese a piece. I got the clam chowder and garlic mashed potatoes as my sides. We also ordered an app of chicken drummies in a cajun rub, and I had a couple of the BF's moms onion rings. All in all, very good... and I had leftovers for lunch today!

We even had our own entertainment, a few things actually. An older gentlemen was the singer singer of the evening, who was doing part karaoke and part off the top of his head - with guitar. He took a break for a drink and we think he ended up drinking a whole bottle of something with the way the songs were coming out in his second half. *lol* Also, the BF's grandpa was all about killing any fly that landed on anything near him. I think he managed to get 3 or 4 of them, and even one that landed in his drink. We told him he did that on purpose so he could get another drink. We all had a laugh.

I enjoy going to places like that, since they're usually one-of-a-kind. I think next we're hitting up a place in Mooreton, ND!

T > G > I > F >

Ah, another Friday is here. I feel like it was just last Friday and I was about to head off to the MOA to do a little shopping with my sister, then take in the fabulous sounds of NKOTBSB at the Target Center. Which by the way, was pretty awesome. What wasn't awesome? Having to get up early last Saturday and drive to Grand Forks. Ha.


As I have said before, this summer has just flown. I feel like I've kept busy but at the same time don't feel like I have done much. I blame work for getting in the way and cherish the summers I had when I was a kid. I'd get up just before the Price of Right was going to start, eat my breakfast downstairs in our "Nintendo chairs", then do whatever until noon for lunch and "Days of Our Lives". The afternoon usually consisted of watching some old school games shows on USA, playing outside or being involved in a variety of sports. Oh... those were the days.So easy,  no worries.

And now I have the Katy Perry TGIF song in my head. So catchy.

Stars & Stripes

I don't think I'll get to this again before the 4th on Monday so here is my 4th of July blog.

I usually don't do much on the 4th, one of those holidays where I kind of wait and see what's going on and then see what I want to do. Now that makes me sound like I look for the best offer, not true! :) But honestly, I never usually have concrete plans and sometimes I think that's OK - especially depending on the day that the 4th falls on.

Last year was nice, since it was a Sunday and everyone had Monday off as a bank holiday. Some friends and I rented a pontoon and floated around a lake all day long. It wasn't super sunny, but enough to get us burnt. So... the old wives tale is true! It was a really fun weekend and we made the best of it. The year before I worked, so doing anything was better than that.

This year I am heading to my mom's hometown to celebrate my grandparent's 65th Wedding Anniversary (that's actually in September). We have gathered friends and family from across the country together to do this, so it should be a good time. At least for them anyways. I won't know too many people except for my immediate family, which is fine by me. Most families only seem to get together when there is a funeral, and MAYBE a wedding. And no one really has family reunions these days. Heck, the last time I went to one of those on my mom's side... I was 8. The funny thing, the one 2nd cousin I met there and kept in touch with pen-pal style for a few years after is actually going to be at this party... so that will be fun to see her again. I guess she's married, kids, etc. At least I have a boyfriend, so I won't be the *single* gal. Oh... it's not that bad!


This will be weekend #3 that I will be out of town, which is nice to get away but even nicer to come back. Last weekend I was in Milwaukee for a Twins/Brewers baseball game (that unfortunately the Twins lost). Nice road trip, and fun to go to an "away" game. That's my second one, as I hit up Wrigley Field 2 years ago to watch the Twins/Cubs play. Good times. :) Enjoy your long weekend everyone.

Flag Day

Flag Day: The day commemorates the adoption of the flag of the United States, which happened that day by resolution of the Second Continental Congress in 1777. In 1916, Woodrow Wilson issued a proclamation that officially established June 14 as Flag Day; in August 1949, National Flag Day was established by an Act of Congress.

When I was a kid, I remember going to Target with my mom and being able to purchase this pretty awesome Lisa Frank notebook with a Unicorn on the front. I thought I was the coolest kid around, because we all know... anything Lisa Frank was beyond cool.

After I got home, I proceeded to start coloring and drawing my that notebook. It happened to be Flag Day, so I drew a flag and drew/colored trees, flowers and anything else the was "outdoorsy" around it. I loved that picture and was very proud of my work.

You know those 100 question surveys that your friends email you about them and want you to send back? Well... when when it asks what my favorite Holiday is I put: Flag Day. I am not sure why but it's something I have always done. June 14 is a pretty awesome day, if I do say so myself.

Enjoy it... with your flag proudly hung!



And now you know.

Bloom

Another weekend come and gone. It was actually nice for once and I got some flowers planted, which was one thing that I for sure wanted to get done. I felt a little behind for not doing it yet, but our weather has just been so up and down that it was almost better to wait. I also got some done at the BF's place. I had some seeds growing in a couple pots over there, but a massive severe storm we got sent them flying off to the Land of Oz. R.I.P seeds and pots!

Like any flowers growing some seedlings... it takes some time to grow (besides good soil, water and sun). Over this weekend I can say that I have definitely grown and have left a lot of some issues I have in life behind me. Have you ever had that one person mean everything to you in life and then one day it's just gone, leaving you empty and lost? Well, that person happens to be friends with my BF. I knew this going into the relationship, but I decided that I couldn't live in the past. And heck, he met someone else when we were together and decided to pick her over me anyway... so why shouldn't I finally be happy? And happy *finally* came.

This past weekend was the first since the news came out about my BF and myself to him - as a heads up. And he can deny it for as much as he wants, but we think he was bothered by it. Kind of funny. But anyway, him and his wife (the girl he picked) had been invited to other events, but either had something else going on or just declined. This time, it was a yes... and actually was unintentional of hanging out - but it worked. And although it was a group of people, it finally cleared some air that things didn't have to be weird. Him and I didn't really talk directly to one another but I wasn't NOT going to be myself. And according to the dear BF, she was her normal self as well... even conversing with me like it was no  big deal. I will admit that deep down I will probably always want to punch her (and him) in the face for what emotions rolled out of me during that time in my life... but in the end, everything happens for a reason. As I've said before, I wouldn't know half of he people I do now and I love everyone I know. Yes, my like would be going in a different direction but that's OK. So the ice breaker finally came and went, and I would more than OK hanging out with them again. Plus, I am still the cooler, more fun girl though. As I have been told, but maybe that's just cos the BF is a little biased. :)

Growing is fun. In life and in terms of pretty things.

Welcome to the Future!

I am finally upgrading to a Smart Phone today, after having a normal phone for the last couple of years. And even with that one, I thought I could do a lot compared to what I had on my phone that I previously owned.

Picking out a new phone is a big decision, as I am not one to try one out and return just because. I find that to be a hassale and too much work. I did some research, read some reviews, got people's opinion... I think I am set! I am with Verizon and have never had a problem with their service (for all you haters). I am looking at the one of the 4G phones, so that when my area finally gets 4G - I will be up-to-date anyway! I am pretty excited, new technology is always fun. Plus, it's like a new toy. And now another excuse to get distracted from work with games of Angry Birds, Words with Friends and Facebook. Eh... :)