Holiday Season=Calories Don't Count so indulge in this blissfulness

As promised…

Cranberry Bliss Bars, these are even better than Starbucks’ because you can make them anytime of the year instead of dreading January when they are ripped away from you AND you don’t have to look like the crazy cat lady buying 6 boxes of them all at once.

Cranberry Bliss Bars

1 1/2 cups light brown sugar
1 cup unsalted butter, melted and cooled
2 eggs
3 tsp. vanilla
2 1/4 cups flour
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
1 3/4 cups white chocolate chips
1 1/2 cups dried cranberries, coarsely chopped
1/4 cup grated orange zest

Icing

8 oz cream cheese at room temperature
1 cup powdered sugar
1/2 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
1 TBSP grated orange zest
2 tsp vanilla

            Preheat oven to 350 degrees, lightly butter an 11x15 inch jelly-roll pan or rimmed baking sheet. (You can use one that looks a little too thin because they’ll come out perfect, I Used a deeper glass dish so they were a bit thicker than I would have liked)

 In large bowl, whisk together the brown sugar, butter, eggs and vanilla until smooth.  Whisk in the flour, baking powder and salt until well blended, then stir in the white chocolate chips, 1 1/2 cup chopped cranberries and 1/4 cup orange zest. ( I never measure I just throw it in, put however much you like )  

Spread mixture evenly in the prepared pan (You may need to throw your elbow into it, don’t worry that’s normal!)  and bake until golden brown, about 20 to 22 minutes.  Remove from oven and set aside on a wire rack to cool. Depending on your oven this time could vary, so check periodically. My oven took about 30 minutes.

When the bars are cooled thoroughly, prepare the frosting and spread over the baked layer.

Melt the white chocolate, stirring until smooth.  Drizzle the white chocolate over the bars and let stand until set

Cut the bars into 3 inch squares and then diagonally into triangles. 
Makes about 48 bars (depending on how big you cut them )

Icing

In a small bowl cream together the cream cheese, powdered sugar, butter, orange zest, and vanilla with an electric mixer at medium speed until smooth and fluffy

To sprinkle over the top: In a small bowl, stir together the remaining 2 TBSP orange zest, and 1/2 cup dried cranberries, sprinkle over frosting.

I think I’ve ate my body weight in these, so beware the whole “I’m not going to eat the whole pan” deal won’t work here! Temptation will get ya… 

Cam 

Superwoman-In-Training :)

Whats Senior Year without Senioritis?

So I’ve done exactly what I said it wouldn’t do!—slacked off! Not only on my blogging and keeping you up to date on my goals…I’ve only really completed one of them. I know, I know shame on me but everyday life got in the!

Senioritis is definitley in full swing, in every part of my life, I mean, I am just finishing up my last fall quarter EVER in college…eek! I just turned in my graduation application, HELLO rest of my life J

But back to business. I am going to be REAL honest about what I have and haven’t done. Because I believe honesty is key.

1)      I only made my bed for 2 days after I set that goal for myself. I actually was more rushed because I was staying up late! But I did realized how awesome my bed looks made so I am going to re-goal this to myself at the beginning of next quarter because In 2 days I’m going home for Christmas break and will only have a futon and really no place to be. So that one is going to need a  re-do.  And of course the pup is scratching herself right in the middle of my picture!

2)      So one thing I do (yay!) was teach myself how to knit, with the combination of those books and multiple YouTube videos, I will post those later when I’ve finished a few more so I can show you what I’m talking about. But in the mean time look what I’ve made so far

3)      So I’m going to disappoint you again, I haven’t started training for my 5K yet, but I am starting today! I just have to find the app on my iPod for it and away I will go! Hopefully I can make it through the first day. I have been going to the gym more frequently, but I am going to be in full 5k training now that finals are almost over and I’ll have all the time in the world. Next quarter, I have 2 fitness classes so that won’t be hard to stay in shape!

There’s an update, more to come AND do you love the cranberry bliss bars from Starbucks, but hate that they are only around end of November to January? Well I’ve got the perfect recipe for them coming up tomorrow J

Cam 

Superwoman-In-Training :)

目標m,doel,цель,objetivo,هدف

Goals, goals, goals, goals. 

In all different languages--still means the same thing

Thinking to myself the past few days in my craziness called everyday life, I decided I need to set some goals for myself, for no particular reason. Everyone makes goals for new years--which they usually never keep or they make goals that are unattainable and so they go unnoticed, forgotten. 

Why not make goals, just to make you feel good about yourself! Setting goals for no reason at all (and accomplishing them) can be the best endorphin release. 

Little goals are key, if you're a working mother, a busy student or you just need a pick me up, accomplishing goals can be just what you need to make some sunshine on a rainy day.

So here are goals I've set for myself in the near future:

Start a Couch to 5k plan

• Sign up for a 5k in February or March ( so I have enough time to actually work up the stamina to complete it) I hate running, so this should be good
• I know that I want to do the Warrior dash next July but that's so far, I'll be REALLY in shape for that :) 

Make my bed every morning

• Yes, seems so easy and trivial, but I usually don't go to bed early enough-which leads to not getting up early enough to get ready, get henna taken care of, make my bed and eat breakfast and get coffee, all before class at 9. So this is more than just making my bed, its reshaping my routine and getting out of this vicious cycle.  

Learn how to knit flower headbands to make for Christmas presents 

• I want to make all different colors and flowers to match all the special ladies in my life, plus hand making things if you have the time is cheaper, and more personal because you did it yourself.

Like this :)

I've already started my research by going to the Ellensburg public library and checking out some books (LOVE the library, I am going to be utilizing that more often) 

So here we go for my goals! 

I need to: 

• Find a 5K to run 
• Read up on Knitting and buy knitting needles
• MAKE MY BED tomorrow morning

...better get going on all this so I can accomplish these AND make more :)

Stay tuned for updates on my progress

Cam 

Superwoman-In-Training :)

Bring on the Waterworks!

So as a BIG fan of onions, garlic, anything hot enough to make your eyes water and other assorted foods that make you cry (and or smell funny...totally worth it though!)  I knew there has to be something to make it easier on the consumer of these not-so-nice to your eye foods--Main exhibit ONIONS

 I mean everything has a shortcut these days right? Like remote vacuum's (like pushing one is so hard), Clappers (get up and turn off the light) and the beer helmet (because holding 2 beers would be so hard, gotta have at least one hand free for activities) 


SIDENOTE: since I've gone a total tangent already check this website out 19 Clever Inventions That Make Life Easier it's hilarious, I can't choose which is my favorite but I do love Crime Scene Towel and Banana Guard




Okay...enough back to the Onions!


I've discovered that if you chew peppermint gum while you're cutting the most potent of onions, your eyes don't water! 


You can cut an entire onion and not shed one tear (that will leave more for other occasions!). Now you actually have to chew pretty frequently, when I tested this theory today I found myself chewing faster if you feel the burn start to come on. I really hope you got a mental picture of me this afternoon cooking... Whether or not that actually helps I don't know, but that's where YOU come in because I might just be a weirdo who goes through too much Orbit when I cook! 


Try it out--Please let me know if it works for you, if it does, it's a lifesaver! 

Cam 

Superwoman-In-Training :)

Splendid Seasoning

So my roommate Kelsey and I found ourselves scratching our heads staring at the fridge last night, starving, and trying to remember what I said I was making for dinner Tuesday night. We had a WHOLE conversation about it and neither of us remembered so we were at a loss of what to make for dinner....


Then she opened up her cupboard and whipped this out!


Quesadilla Casserole Maker
McCormick Seasoning

I swear angels started singing and the heavens opened up to shine light onto the situation since both of us were both flummoxed (Vocab word of the day!) by what to make for dinner. All we knew was, 1) we were starving 2) it was 6 and we were both tired  and 3) did I mention we were starving?.

This little packet of goodness is, for lack of a better word, AWESOME! And quick and easy, AND if your fridge and cupboards are relatively stocked, you don't have to go out and get anything (this is what we were trying to avoid)

It comes in premeasured spice portions of Cumin, Red Pepper Flake, Oregano, Chili Pepper, Garlic and Salt. 


Here is the Ingredients, Recipe, in case you were wondering  :)

Makes 8 servings.

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 25 minutes

INGREDIENTS

1 package McCormick® Recipe Inspirations Quesadilla Casserole

1 pound ground beef

1/2 cup chopped onion

2 cans (8 ounces each) tomato sauce

1 can (15 ounces) black beans, drained and rinsed

1 can (8 3/4 ounces) whole kernel corn, undrained

1 can (4 1/2 ounces) chopped green chiles, undrained

6 flour tortillas (8-inch)  ( We used Corn Tortillas)

2 cups shredded Cheddar cheese

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Brown beef and onion in large skillet on medium-high heat; drain. Add tomato sauce, beans, corn and green chile's; mix well. Stir in all of the Spices except Red Pepper. Bring to boil. Reduce heat to low; simmer 5 minutes. Add Red Pepper to taste, if desired. We also added Juice from the jalapeno jar, we like it Super spicy in our house :) well...at least half of the roommates do.

2. Spread 1/2 cup of the beef mixture on bottom of 13x9x2-inch baking dish sprayed with no stick cooking spray. Top with 3 of the tortillas, overlapping as needed. Layer with 1/2 of the remaining beef mixture and 1/2 of the cheese. Repeat with remaining tortillas, beef mixture and cheese.

3. Bake 15 minutes or until heated through. Let stand 5 minutes before serving.

Nutritional information

per serving

Calories: 391

Fat: 19 g

Carbohydrates: 31 g

Cholesterol: 63 mg

Sodium: 950 mg

Fiber: 4 g

Protein: 24 g

And then Kelsey introduced me to this other magical thing, it's so good I feel like it needs one of those "dun dun dahhhh" introductions... soo Dun Dun DAHHH


Vigo Saffron Yellow Rice
You can find it in the "Mexican" section--one tip Follow the directions religiously or it will come out crunchy and that would be no bueno for anyone!

Then we threw a little fresh lettuce on top of the casserole, got some sour cream and extra hot sauce.

And we ate till the cows came home...and they didn't come for a while so we were both uncomfotably full for a while. Oh well at least we ended the night with good food, friends and, the Show New girl...with some homework thrown in but whats a college students night without a little of that thrown in, although that is a spice I could live without!

oh ya the vocab word of the day I've used it a bunch already...and its only 12:30

flum·mox

   /ˈflʌməks/ [fluhm-hxs]  verb (used with object) Informal.

to bewilder; confound; confuse.

Cam 

Superwoman-In-Training :)

Thoughts in passing...

After my hellish day of unending interviews, running around like a chicken with my head cut off, and feeling like my brain is scrambled eggs, knowing that I still have a laundry list miles long left to do, I realized another day has gone by that I'll never get back. I never stopped to smell the roses or take time to breath and appreciate what I have. 


I know that one day it won't be Spanish homework or comedy show sketches that will be occupying my time. It'll be salaries, mortgage payments, dinner and diapers I'll be responsible for. But the dinner and diapers doesn't scare me as much as losing this, this life right now, in this moment. 

I thought about what my life is like now and how in 10 years from now, I'll be reminiscing about my college years...the hours of homework and editing footage, interviewing (which hopefully I'm still doing) feeling like I have the weight of the world on my shoulders? 

No, I'll remember the feeling I get when I see my opening turn on NewsWatch, my name written on the by-lines of a story in a magazine or newspaper, the sense of relief I feel when I finished a story.  


I want the future to come so fast and I look forward to it so much, that I fly by everyday like a storm, not stopping to smell the roses sometimes. 


So maybe writing it all down, saying what I'm feeling, thinking, keeping bottled up,maybe this is enough to remind myself that I'll never get this back--so just live. 


In the words of fight club, this is your life and it's ending one minute at a time.


-Cam

Super Random Fly by Tip :)

As I'm running off to class I thought I'd share this...
You know when you have that jacket or sweater that gets those stupid little fuzzy things on it? And no, not all of us have those fabric shavers (who even has those anymore?--my parents)
But any-whoo, I have the solution!
Take a jacket or anything with Velcro and rub it on the fuzzy things and magic, the come off.
 If you happen to have Velcro in just strips that's ideal- But no one really has those lying around...so you can use another piece of clothing to fix your messed up one.

If all else fails, use some tape or a lint roller, have I said I'm obsessed with lint rollers? I hate lint but that's a whole other blog in the making...
Okay Ta-ta for now, until next time :)

Cam 

Superwoman-In-Training :)

In the words of the Movie Grown Ups....Lets Get Apple Wasted!!

So my roommate came home with a bunch of apples a few weeks ago and we've been pondering what to do with them since there's so many! We also realized the tree in our back dog run has apples on it (this was only after I chased my dog down to see what she was scurrying away with in her mouth, I thought it might have been a creature--nope, just an apple!) So we have endless amounts of apples to play with-in the kitchen of course :)


One of the roommates made an apple pie, but I wanted to do something more creative with them since there were still so many staring at me on the counter every day for the past week. So I looked up an apple turnover recipe that I edited a bit and turned it into Apple Doubloons, and I made homemade applesauce which is DELICIOUS and turns out to be quite a healthy snack.


 I had to write this today though since my right hand was checked out for the night due to all the peeling and cutting--this is quite the daunting task and does take a little more effort than normal but hey-- if you're up for it might as well give it a try! Your hand might hate you in the morning, so this is not for the weary of..well hand ha :)


Apple Doubloons (or at least that is what I'm naming them :) 


Ingredients:
Apples (duh)
Brown Sugar
Butter
Cinnamon
Vanilla
Cornstarch
Water


So I started off just peeling all the apples whole and putting them into a bowl, I figured that worked better to do them all in steps since there were so many...See..well, they're not perfectly peeled but it works, no ones perfect! 

Then I cored and diced them all for both the Doubloons and the applesauce it was a on stop shop, and it made a TON...this was probably about 25 apples the size of your palm. (I forgot to take the picture of both bowls full of diced apples--forgive me, I was in the zone!)

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees
I put 4 tablespoons of butter in a large pan, let that melt then added the apples in. I just kind of eyeballed all the ingredients because I didn't want to measure out how many apples we had--I just knew we had a TON. Once they start to bubble a bit add brown sugar, the recipe calls for 2 cups depending on how many apples you have but I just put enough to give it a tan tinge. Then add a splash of vanilla and cinnamon to your tasting.

Then get about 4 teaspoons of cornstarch in a separate bowl and mix water into it until its just enough to get the powder wet, and enough to pour throughout the pan. This is what makes the apple goodness have a thicker consistency so it doesn't go running around everywhere. Once you get it whisked, pour it evenly over the apples in the pan and stir it in, it should get thick pretty quickly and you can see if you  need to add a bit more. Once it it mixed throughout, take it off the stove and pour it into a separate bowl, this keeps it from burning on the bottom.

Then I used cupcake tins. Spray some Pam or non stick stuff all in it so you don't get a huge mess when you go to pull them out. For the crust I used Phyllo dough (just the Safeway brand). Make sure to let it defrost for a few hours before you use it so it doesn't crumble everywhere. Then cut it into about palm sized squares and place them over the cupcake tin, then spoon in the apple mixture and close up the top, to make a little sack (of doubloons!). 

Then put them in the oven and keep and eye on them, they only need time for the dough to crisp up, it took mine about 12 minutes depending on how crunchy you like them. When you take them out let them cool and Wa-lah! Yummy Apple Doubloons! We put cool whip on ours :) Although, they are yummy totally on their own!

We made a bunch and put them in a Tupperware, although they don't stay crispy because of the dough, they still are super yummy when you nuke them in the microwave. You can also make them up until the step where you put them in the oven, then freeze them and pop them in the over the morning of and you have a quick and yummy breakfast on the go!






Now...For the main event


Healthy, Homemade (with love) Applesauce


This is so easy (after you've already slaved away peeling-coreing-slicing) and AMAZING. 

Ingredients:

Apples 

Apple Juice

Cinnamon

Vanilla

Splenda

Just get a large pot and pour about 1-1/2 inch of apple juice in the bottom and bring to a boil, then pour your apples in and get them to a boil. Here's the best part...turn it down to about 2 or 3 on your stove, cover the pot....wait for it...WALK AWAY! All you do is let it simmer for 3-4 hours, stirring occasionally depending on how chunky you want it. 


After these 3-4 hours when you've accomplished so many other things, while being Betty Crocker, you can take a masher (I'm not sure if this is the technical term, but ya'll know what I'm talking about) and run it through the pot a little bit just to give it more of the applesauce look, then stir in some vanilla, cinnamon and or Splenda to your liking and you're done! I just popped mine into a Tupperware and put it in the fridge. It is delicious warm and cold! 

Needless to say I'm pretty excited about all the apple goodies I made, hope maybe you get to try this too, and let me know how it goes :)






Cheers, 

Cam 

Superwoman-In-Training :)

Fast, Fun, Easy Date Night (even it's just with the girls)

Whether it is with your girls, your man, a busy night away from the kids making a special date to do something, ANYTHING is totally worth it. 


My venture after a long week, girls night with movies and food=HEAVEN. I though I would share our recipes and yummy "do again's" for the night that are fast easy and affordable (college and family friendly!)


Pigs in Blanket: ( I make these WAY too often :)
1 Pkg Little Smokies ( LOVE the cheddar)
1 Pkg Crescent Roll


Unpack the Crescent rolls, cut into sections, roll up little smokies in crescent dough bake at 350 degrees for about 12 minutes or until brown 


Taco Ring: 
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
2 tbs water
2 to 4 tbs taco seasoning
1/2 pound ground beef
2 tubes refrigerated crescent rolls
1/2 head iceberg lettuce
1 medium tomato chopped
4 green onions, sliced
1/2 cup sliced ripe olives
sour cream
2 small jalapeno peppers seeded and sliced
Salsa 


Place the crescent rolls wide triangle inside, next to each other to create a circle, place taco meat,cheddar cheese,green onion,olives and jalapenos inside each crescent roll and fold excess crescent dough over so it creates a wreath like, taco filled goodness. bake at 375 degrees for 12-15 minutes. 


Then throw lettuce, tomato, sour cream and salsa on top and enjoy! 


French Bread Pizza: 
Cut a loaf of french bread in half, spread pizza sauce, cheese and assorted toppings of your choice and bake at 350 degrees until Golden brown. It's a nice change from just the normal pizza crust. 


FIND OF THE NIGHT :) 


Dolci Frutta Fondue dipping chocolate! 

We found it a midst the produce isle next to the strawberries for only $3.49 you just put it in the microwave, add a bit of olive oil or just plain cooking oil to thin it out a bit and you're ready for dipping! We had strawberries and bananas tonight but other ideas to dip are: 


Cheesecake Bites
Pound Cake
Marshmallows
Any type of fruit


Its an awesome find for cheap and its really yummy, and you don't have to mess with melting bakers chocolate over boiling water, or getting crazy fancy with a full out fondue night so it's perfect for on the go, fast romantic-ness, regardless of who it's with. 4 girls shared it and it was a perfect size, and believe me, I dipped liberally! 


needless to say I am so full, snuggled on the couch, the only thing that would make it better is a glass of cupcake Cabernet wine :)


In a good way,

Cam 

Superwoman-In-Training :)

Yes, it's been a Month!

Okay I know, I know. I’ve been a slacker and left you all hanging on the mice situation! Needless to say I got a little wrapped up in school and haven’t made time to attend to my blossoming blog, but I will from now own so don’t you fret.

Update:

After the pressing weeks of trying to catch the mice we eventually caught two. But then before I went to bed I kept hearing scratchy noises that were awfully close to my bed, not in the walls scratching but in my general vicinity. I called in my roommates and we all looked at each other  puzzled and knowing there was nothing anyone could do I just went back to bed, not easily I might add. I was restless at the thought I might have a plus 1 in my room. Then, I was awoken at 3AM to my puppy Henna, pawing at my face and biting at my nose to wake me up. She was really spooked, so that in turn spooked me because she doesn’t get all hyper like that at night, usually she’s passed out not to be bothered until my alarm goes off. So my first thought is holy crap there’s a mouse in my room so I preceded to freak, throw my covers and bam little grey mouse flies out of my COMFORTER and onto the floor. At this point I’m about to lose my marbles so I run with Henna in tow out of my room as fast as I could leaving both the adjoining doors from my bedroom to the laundry room open and closed the door from the laundry room to the kitchen. I slept on the couch that night and was very hesitant to go back in the next morning, but I had to and there was no sign of the mouse. I am thinking it was hungry and I had Dog treats underneath my night stand so that is what it was going for. Little mongrel. The next morning I (exhaustedly) called every pest control company in the greater Kittitas area, and WHEW the price for pest removal is ridiculous! Just for anyone to come out and assess the situation, look for where the mice might have come out of and fill the holes was about $250-300. They also said they would lay traps and come to collect them if we caught anything, my though was “okay so I’m paying you this much money to set the traps and pick up the dead mice—which I’ve already accomplished to do? Twice I might add.”    As much as I didn’t want to, I knew we had to do it so I called Orkin which seemed to have the best deal. But TIP: They snag you with the cheaper price but what they don’t explain is that you have to have them come back every month for “maintenance” which may not actually be needed so make sure they clarify what you are actually signing up for. Needless to say we didn’t even make it to that part, I scheduled an appointment for later that day, missing a class to sit and wait during the 3-5 window, and NO ONE SHOWED. The way Orkin dispatches is you call the main company they pawn out to their local people and bam someone comes-in my case BAM no one came. So after 5 phone calls and NO on returning my calls I was a bit peeved. Although, Days passed after and we have not heard, nor seen another mouse since catching the two and the mouse in the bed incident, so maybe it was a good thing I didn’t spend all that money, maybe it was a sign that they didn’t show up! We however have the traps out just in case, but I’m pretty positive the remaining mouse went for higher waters—I hope at least!

Until my next venture that will hopefully benefit me in the future,because the husband and the kids may not want to deal with an unwanted visitor so who else is going to do it?

Cam 

Superwoman-In-Training :)