Saturday, January 21, 2012

Chocolate Sorbet After a Very Long Day

Well, contrary to what every diet ad on tv tells you, getting in shape is hard. Sadly, most of the days I swore I was going to get to the gym, I was exhausted, busy, or just plain didn't want to go. Not a great start, but I hope with time it will get better....

Yeah, I know with time it might get worse, but whatever, at least I'm trying.

My new way of eating is also going very well. The first couple of days were hard, but once I figured out when I needed snacktime (WARNING: Do not approach me if I have missed a snack. It's not pretty) it is going well.

I'm sure all of you read my blog weekly and already know this, but for anyone new, my new way of eating allows me to enjoy dessert once a week. Luckily enough, BF got an ice cream maker for Christmas. :D Soooo many new toys to play with.

Today decided to be the day we needed dessert. Yesterday, BF's flight for an interview got cancelled. As sad as we were about that, we decided to make the most of him being home this weekend. So, I was going to take my car to the mechanic... and it wouldn't start.

The emergency brake was frozen on. Thank you, Rochester.

After calling AAA, I missed both of my classes. I did, however, get a job offer that needs me to be ready for a kick off event tomorrow. Yay, job. Boo, way too much to do this weekend.

On top of that, we had an appointment with an apartment complex, looking for housing next year. I feel like I need to wring out my brain.

So, that's exactly what this is designed to do.

Trust me, if you don't really love chocolate, back away slowly.

Chocolate Sorbet
adapted from the Smitten Kitchen
Makes 1/2 a liter

  • 1 Cup + 1 Tablespoon Water 
  • 1/2 Cup Sugar
  • 6 Tablespoons Cocoa Powder
  • Pinch of salt
  • 6 Tablespoons of Chocolate Chips
  • 1/2 Teaspoon Vanilla Extract
  • 3 Tablespoons of Dark Rum (Not enough to taste, just enough to stop the sorbet from freezing solid)

In a large saucepan, create a simple syrup from the water and sugar. Mix in the cocoa powder and salt. Allow to boil for 45 seconds, and then remove from the heat. Mix in the chocolate chips and allow to melt. Mix in the vanilla and rum. Move this to the fridge and allow to cool.

Spray the pre-frozen bowl of an ice cream maker with nonstick spray. Wipe down with a paper towel. This allows a very small layer of oil to remain, allowing the sorbet to come out cleanly.

Fill the greased bowl with as much of the chilled sorbet mix as you can. Mine only holds half. Oh well, I'll make the rest later and freeze it.

Freeze according to manufacturers instructions. Mine took almost twice the time it was supposed to, so be patient with it.

When the mixture thickens to the point of soft serve ice cream, it's done. You can either move it into a container to freeze for a harder final product, or....

Eat soft serve sorbet. It's good either way.

Enjoy!

It definitely helped turn mine and BF's day around!

Saturday, January 14, 2012

Baked Oatmeal Breakfast

So the first concern BF had when he saw the list was having nothing to eat for breakfast. He already consumes an amazing amount of milk per week without eating cereal for breakfasts. He also in not an avid snacker like I am, so he wants a breakfast that will keep him full.

I figured that finding a breakfast that was full of whole grains, yet was quick enough for us both to grab while running out the door to class would be easy enough. Oatmeal! Quick, filling, and full of whole grainy goodness.

Well, BF thinks oatmeal is mush. And paste. But he eats oatmeal cookies. I tried a baked oatmeal in a muffin tin to end up somewhere between an oatmeal muffin and cookie, but much less sugar.

These are also great breakfast food for the List we are trying to stick to. It's a serving of both whole grains and fruit. Pretty tasty too, I might add, although next time I might add a little extra honey...

Baked Apple Raisin Oatmeal
  • 1 cup of Old Fashioned Oats ( This would probably work with quick oats as well, but it would probably get a little mushier on the inside)
  • 2 Teaspoons of Cinnamon
  • 1/2 Teaspoon of Cloves
  • 1/2 Teaspoon of Cocoa powder (you can't taste it, but I think it gives the oatmeal a nice rich flavor)
  • 1/2 Teaspoon of Baking Powder
  • 1 Cup of Skim Milk
  • 1 Egg
  • 3 Tablespoons of Honey
  • 2 Tablespoon of melted Unsalted Butter
  • 2 Teaspoons of Vanilla
  • 1 Small Apple, Peeled and Chopped 
  • 1/2 a Cup or so of Raisins (I don't care for raisins, and BF thinks I am stingy with them. Your mileage may very) 
Preheat oven to 375 degrees and spray a muffin tin with non-stick cooking spray, or just butter it.
 

Mix oats with spices and baking powder in a medium bowl.


Mix all of your wet ingredients in a bowl, and mix well. Milk, egg, vanilla, honey, and melted butter.

Now combine the wet and dry ingredients well.

Evenly distribute the apples and raisins in the bottom of your muffin tin. 

 Pour the oatmeal mixture evenly into the muffin tins.


Bake for 15-20 minutes until the oats are set and starting to become a nice golden color on the top. This will give you a nice, muffiny texture. If you would like a texture closer to that of a granola bar, just cook a little longer. Just be warned that they do continue to firm up after you remove them from the oven. Too much longer and you will have made some delicious oatmeal rocks.


Enjoy!

Saturday, January 7, 2012

The Response to the Freshman 15

Well, it's a new year. And 2012 hit the BF and I like a ton of bricks. Quite literally.

I miss high school. I was a competitive volleyball player, I could eat any amount of anything I wanted and still look pretty good in Homecoming photos.

I was never the skinniest girl on the planet, and my sister... well was. So I thought I was just different. After 2 and 1/2 stressful years in college, the attitude that I'm just always a little bigger than everyone else is not working for me anymore.

I am in a very good place in my life. I'm doing well in school, I have an amazingly supportive BF, and life seems to be going exactly where I want it to go. So why should I accept the extra pounds? Why can't I be in control of that too?

This is no New Year's resolution. It is just a written plan of action that I will try to adhere to until I try on a pair of jeans and don't feel self conscious about the size. No weigh ins, just a plan to be more mindful about how I am eating.

Alton Brown of the Food Network's Good Eats is a giant in my universe. I've loved watching him for many years and still draw a lot of my culinary knowledge and inspiration from his shows.

In his episode Live and Let Diet, he changes his diet in the Greek definition: a way of life.
He created 4 lists and stuck to them, with much success.

I think that this "diet plan" is the most compatible with a college lifestyle, due to its ability to be done cheaply, and how it cuts down on the panic that sets in when you are in the market and have no plans on what to make for dinners.
So, here is my Response to the Freshman 15
  • Foods to Eat Everyday 
    • Fruits
    • Whole Grains
    • Leafy Greens
    • Nuts
    • Coffee
    • Some kind of veggies
  •  Foods to Eat AT LEAST 3 Times Week
    • Oily Fish or Chicken (Fish gets expensive)
    • Yogurt
    • Broccoli
    • Sweet Potatos
    • Carrots
  • Foods to Eat NO MORE THAN Once a Week
    • Red Meat
    • Dessert
    • Pasta 
    • Fried Foods
  • Foods Never to Eat
    • Fast Food
    • Soda
    • Processed Meals
    • Canned Soups (High Sodium)
    • "Diet" Anything 
I don't know if any of this is going to work for me, or if I'll be able to stick to it. But at least for a little while I'll be trying to post recipe ideas inside of my lists. 

Happy New Year everyone.