Temptation Comes in Many Forms

Yes, temptation comes in many forms. This week was a birthday week for my husband. Enough said! I'm sure it is written that it's bad luck to refuse a piece of birthday cake. Or, so I've been told. I had to make sure Ralph's amaretto cake was worthy of this blog. Evidently, it passed the test. That was Thursday's entry. And, I was forced to sample the lasagna sans the sausage. (I tossed the meat onto Ralph's plate.) Even though I was the official taste tester, I did adhere to my "delete the meat" policy.

Then, there was that blister from the trail of torture. See Sunday's blog. No major walking until I found those corn cushion! So, Thursday morning the scale was not cooperating and moving in the wrong direction! But, that's okay... I just went back to square one where I ate mostly steamed zucchini spritzed with lemon during the day and steamed swiss chard with raisins along with roasted rosemary potatoes for dinner. Stepping back onto the scale Friday was more to my liking! I can do this...

I once heard a great saying, "How do you eat an elephant?" Answer: One bite at a time. And Rome was not built in a day, for that matter. I'll apply these wise sayings and take one day at a time and the inevitable will happen. And when this phase is over the maintenance will begin. It never ends but I will enjoy the journey...

Sorry, no food today unless you want to know how to steam veggies!

The picture displayed above is of the gorgeous sunrise in Playa del Carmen, Mexico. It stirs my soul.....

Amaretto Bundt Cake

My amaretto bundt cake should really be called "Ralph's cake". Years ago we visited my husband's Uncle Mike and Aunt Rosie in California. I remember she made a rum cake that was a huge hit with the family. Shortly after I saw a recipe that might work for the holidays. To make it my own though I took out the rum and replaced it with one of my favorite's, Amaretto! The recipe card is probably the "most used" in my file and has become quite the tradition when it comes to a quick, moist and delicious cake.

I guess if you're a "dunker', and you know who you are, it's perfect for that kind of quirkiness. Both my husband and son are dunkers. It must be one of those hereditary traits. I've never understood that, except when it applies to dunking oreos. After they have been split apart and the white filling is eaten, I believe, oreos should be dunked in milk. Not quirky at all.

Although this can be made from scratch I still use a boxed cake mix as a base. Why change a good thing and besides, I was a working women when I acquired this "keeper" of a cake. I still have some butterscotch schnapps in my cupboard so I may try a version of this in the future with butterscotch pudding and liqueur. Sounds good! Until then try this!

Ingredients:

1 8 1/4 oz yellow cake mix

1 3 1/2 oz vanilla instant pudding mix

4 eggs

1/2 c oil (canola or vegetable)

1/2 c cold water

1/2 c amaretto

1 c chopped nuts , I've used almonds, pecans or walnuts.

Combine all ingredients, mix and fold in the nuts. Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Grease and flour a bundt pan. Add the mixture, bake for 1 hour. Cool and invert onto a plate. Dust with powdered sugar. Dunk if you must!

Zucchini Oatmeal Spice Cookies

What a mouthful for a cookie name! These small cookies pack a big punch when it comes to flavor and you'll want a mouthful because they're almost "guilt free". I had a request to make more "healthy" cookies so I went to the pantry to see how I could switch it up. I found raisins and oats summoning me. I also had a small amount of hazelnuts waiting to be used. This is how I cook. My pantry has a way of dictating my meals.

I substituted a few ingredients from the chocolate zucchini cookie version I posted a few weeks ago and came up with the following equally good if not better healthy cookie. I even eliminated the butter and eggs in this recipe!

Ingredients:

1/2 c applesauce

1 c brown sugar

1 1/4 c oats

1 T oil

1 c flour

2 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp salt

3/4 tsp cinnamon

1/8 tsp ground cloves

1/4 tsp nutmeg, ground

1 1/4 c grated zucchini

1/2 c raisins

1/2 c hazelnuts

1 tsp orange zest

Preheat oven to 350. In a large bowl or stand mixer cream applesauce and brown sugar. Combine flour, oats, spices, baking powder and salt. Gradually add to the sugar mixture until blended. Add zucchini, mix and add nuts, raisins, and zest. Drop by spoonfuls onto a greased or parchment covered cookie sheet. Bake for around 15 minutes. These are soft, healthy and full of flavor. Makes about 3 1/2 dozen.

My next cookie extravaganza experiment will be a Zucchini chocolate chip oatmeal cookie! Yum!

Splendor in the Sierras or the Trail of Torture?

I got a new pair of shoes yesterday. Trail hiking shoes. In order to condition myself for some hiking in the Costa Rican rain forest, (right) we set out from our home for a climb into the Sierras. I've been walking a bunch lately as part of my slim down plan. Walking is the best exercise I've found. What a revelation! This would be a piece of cake.

On the way the sights are always breath taking as our home sits at the base of the mountain range with streams carving their way into the Truckee Meadows. We found a level winding trail just skirting the Montreux golf course which we followed into the forest. Evidently it's a mountain biking and horse trail but an easy and steady climb you can walk for miles. That is until you decide to go treasure hunting for gems. I guess I've been watching too many Travel Channel segments about finding treasures in rocks. Thankfully I wore a multi pocketed jacket to start out because I 'm just sure I found the biggest jade rock on the trail. Needless to say, I stuffed my pockets with "treasures" and carried them out. (in much smaller pieces)

Now, I stepped on the scale this week and was down about 13 lbs (hooray!) so I could easily carry these rocks out with me. Did I mention that I was ready to call a cab after the first mile? And by the home stretch of maybe a 1/4 mile I found myself singing my ipod tunes (I don't usually sing in public.) to mask the pain I was feeling in the balls of my feet. I was breaking in my new shoes! Or were they breaking me in? Rounding the corner to my house I wanted to jump for joy but I knew that would have done me in. Was it the torture trail or a stroll in the Sierras? Actually both, but I'm always thankful that I can experience the pain and pleasures that life has a habit of revealing. Enjoy the journey no matter where it takes you and how you feel!

Chicken ala Wendy

Another simple chicken dish is what everyone needs, right? Normally I like to use boneless chicken thighs or breasts that are organic, cage-free and the list goes on. I'm not out to save the world but I do care what my family eats these days. Several months ago I rented a movie called, Food, Inc. Very eye opening to say the least. Since then I have a hard time in the meat section of the grocery store. I usually whiz right past it. But, I don't want my hubby to suffer for my aversion to most meat so I buy the local, if possible, grass fed , organic types of meat. Just watch the movie and you will understand!

With that said, I created this recipe because it's simple and tasty. I didn't have any boneless chicken handy so I changed it a little but I would prefer to go with the boneless. (It lessens the cooking time.)

5-6 boneless thighs

2 T olive oil

1/2 c flour

1/2 tsp paprika

1 tsp garlic powder

1/4 c Marsala (optional)

asparagus spears (8) cut on the diagonal into 1-2 inch pieces

1/2 c chicken broth

1/4 - 1/2 c onion, cut up

handful of Parmesan cheese

Method:

Mix flour, garlic powder and paprika in a shallow plate. Dredge the damp chicken pieces into this mixture giving them a light coating. Place oil into a large skillet (with lid) and start to brown the chicken. Turn once and add the Marsala after browning on both sides. Cook for a few minutes, add the onions and asparagus and then the broth. If you don't want to use Marsala you can use more broth or white wine. Cover and cook on medium until chicken is done. Sprinkle on the cheese, cover until it melts.