Psalm 139 ~ Wonderfully Made

"Lord, You have examined me, and know all about me,

You know when I sit down and when I get up.

You know my thoughts before I think them.

You know where I go and where I lie.

You know everything I do.

Lord, even before i say a word, You already know it..

You made my whole being;

You formed me in my mother's womb.

I praise You because I am fearfully and wonderfully made.

What You have done is wonderful.

I know this very well.

You saw my bones being formed as I took shape in my mother's body."

Wow... Pretty intense stuff. While this may seem a little odd on a recipe/fitness site, it was something I have wanted to talk about for a long time, and tonight was the time! 

I'd like to focus on this particular part: "I am fearfully and wonderfully made"

God made us, each and every one of us - the King of Kings, Lord of Lords, Master of the universe created my body (and yours), in His perfect vision. Does that mean we are all a size 00? No! Does it mean we all have long flowing wavy trestles and glowing bronze skin? No! It means God created us in a beautifully unique way. His Way.

God knows what our body should look like, only He truly knows because He is the one who created us. How foolish of me to try and go against His perfect will. It will only lead to problems.

While this is much much much easier said (or typed) than done, it is definitely something to think about. 

I pray that Jesus will guide me (and anyone else who may need this guidance) in listening to my body. Truly listening to what God wants for it. I pray that every day I will treat my body, mind and soul in the way God would want His temple of the Holy Spirit (which each and every one of our bodies are) treated. Only then will my body be able to do all God has planned for it - and how amazing those plans are! Lord, please help us all to accept and love ourselves the way You always have and always will. 

Amen 

Fluff Frosting

While this picture may not look like anything to write home about, I assure you-it will be one of your new obsessions! 

This picture is of Fluff Frosting... an amazingly sweet, creamy, fattening frosting!

Wait a minute... fattening was not suppose to be up there! That's why I changed it-let's replace fattening with HEALTHY people! Yes... it truly is healthy. Would I lie to you? Of course not!

Here's what you do:

Easy at that. 

You will want to use this as more than just frosting (btw-it's a great frosting for my cupcake poppers)

I like to use it as a dip! (see below...) It goes great with fruit, graham crackers, oh heck-everything!

Oh-It's also really fun (especially for kids) to add sprinkles to the frosting and mix them in to create a fun pop of color to our dip!

Coffee Coffee Coffee!

I LOVE COFFEE! 

(warning-this isn't a regular recipe or review post... completely random, completely me!)

As you can probably guess, coffee is just one of those things that makes me oh so very happy! I love how it tastes, smells, everything! (well-not really how much it costs :S ) 

Licking the CoolWhip off the top is a hobby of mine... 

No.. that isn't a real McDonald's frappe-it's homemade-of course!

Coffee and sunshine!? Yes, please!

Coffee just helps me get stuff done-don't you agree?

Actually though, coffee (in moderation) can be beneficial to one's health. How so you ask?

Well... according to Webmd.com (pretty legit source I'd say!) coffee has been show to aid in memory, reduce risk of certain cancer and depression, reduce risk of Type 2 diabetes, the list goes on and on! 

However, with anything-moderation is key! 

And, no matter how healthy something is-when you drowned it with unhealthy additions (i.e. that sugar and full-fat cream), it becomes more of a vice than a virtue.

Here are a few ideas to help you have your coffee and drink it to! 

For blended coffee drinks:

Blend about 1/2 cup strong coffee and 1/2 cup milk in a blender with coffee ice cubes*

Add flavor enhancers such as: 

-sugar free syrup

-1 TBSP peanut butter (YUM!)

-low sugar ice cream/frozen yogurt

-cinnamon/nutmeg

-1 TBSP. unsweetened cocoa

-1/4 cup shredded coconut

*Coffee ice cubes: (noun) a delicious addition to homemade blended coffees that won't dilute your drink. Made by freezing cooled coffee in ice cub trays. A brilliant idea that deserves a Nobel Peace Prize. 

For warm coffee drinks: 

Steam 1/2 cup milk in microwave and add hot coffee

Add the same flavor enhancer's as above and enjoy! 

Peanut Butter Ice Cream

Oh yes, I went there! My two favorite foods EVER combined!

Peanut Butter + Ice Cream = HAPPY TUMMY!

And get this-this recipe is (well of course healthy) but it actually is fairly easy and low calorie!

Topped with some peanut butter granola (recipe to come!) just sends it over. the. top. 

Oh-idea! Banana granola + peanut butter ice cream! YUM!

Alright, alright... little less talk-lot more action recipe! (please tell me at least some of you caught that country music song reference?)

Ingredients: 

(makes 2 servings)

-1 cup milk (can use any... skim, whole, whatever!)*

-1 cup vanilla yogurt (both regular and Greek work)

-1/4 cup powdered peanut butter (I use PB2, but to each his own!)

-1 tsp. vanilla

-1/2 tsp. salt

Optional (for creaminess factor):

-1/2 tsp. xanthum/guar gum (opt.)

-1/2 TBSP. cornstarch

-1 TBSP. pudding mix

or

-1 tsp. gelatin (dissolved in a few TBSP water)

*for a very very creamy ice cream-use fat free half & half!

Directions:

1. Mix together milk and pb2 until pb2 is fully combined

2. Add yogurt and stir until an even consistency forms (you may want to use a hand mixer)

3. Add in vanilla and salt

4. If using any of the optional creaminess ingredients - add it now, slowly-mixing well!

5. Pour into ice cream maker and patiently wait

Cupcake Poppers

Ever wanted to eat cupcakes FOR BREAKFAST and not feel any guilt*? 

Then these cupcakes are for you! They're quick, moist, delicious and require only 2 ingredients... yes two! (water doesn't count guys!)

*sidenote: Never feel guilt or beat yourself for having a treat! Everything in moderation is the answer to everything! Well ok, maybe not the question of how many licks it takes to get to the middle of a tootsie pop.. but otherwise it's a very versatile lesson! 

The secret ingredient is the secret ingredient to almost all my recipes... (I can't help it I have an addiction and am proud of it!) 

GREEK YOGURT!

Yes, you should have all seen this coming-I can't count how many things I've tried to 'healthify' by substituting Greek yogurt... and once again-this didn't let me down!

I almost think these cupcakes are more delicious than the regular kind... but then again-sometimes I think my brain's wires are a little crossed sometimes and think healthy=delicious. (Not a completely bad trait, but very odd!)

Look at all the cute little guys!

Ingredients:

-3/4 cup Greek yogurt (any kind-I'm a Dannon Oikos girl myself)

-1 box cake mix

-1 cup water

~Any Greek yogurt will work. For this recipe, I used a yellow-cake mix and vanilla Greek yogurt and the results were oh so delicious! 

Some other creative mash-ups include: 

-German chocolate cake mix and a Black Cheery yogurt

-Vanilla cake mix and Honey yogurt

-Vanilla cake mix and any of the fruit flavors! YUM! <-- You could even mix in some fresh berries with this and create one heck of a delicious fruity cupcake!

Directions:

1. Mix cake mix, yogurt and water just until everything is moist

2. Pour batter into a mini cupcake tin

3. Bake as directed by box 

4. Frost with Fluff Frosting

5. Enjoy the little bites with a gleam in your eye because you know you just made a semi-healthy pop-able dessert!

Nutritional Info: For a regular cake mix (not sugar-free) and Dannon Oikos Greek yogurt each cupcake popper (assuming you get 5 dozen as my cake mix suggested)*

1 Cupcake Popper: 30 calories - .7 g fat - 5 carbs

*I of course did not get this many cupcakes because... well... maybe... I snuck a little bit SPOONFUL AFTER SPOONFUL of the cake batter

Oops... 

Holy Guacamole

Holy Guacamole! 

This isn't a just a phrase I use sometimes entirely too much-it's also the newest recipe I'm about to share with you guys! 

This guacamole got its name for two reasons:

1. It's so good you'll be saying "Holy Guacamole!"

and

2. It is extremely healthy and good for you - earning a 'halo' in the health department!

Here are all the ingredients you need... The secret ingredient is the zucchini. It has a completely neutral flavor and takes on whatever flavors you pair with it. This makes it perfect for a guacamole dip-it will have all the flavors of the avocado and other spices we put with it but only has a fraction of the calories and fat (albiet - those are good for you fats). 

The process is pretty easy - 

1. Wash zucchini and onion and puree in food processor. 

2. Cut the avocado in half, remove pit (but save it!) and scoop out the avocado goodness!

3. Put the avocado in the food processor with the onion and zucchini, add your other spices and lemon juice-puree until smooth

4. Pour your guacamole into a dish and add your pit - this sounds crazy but it helps keep the guacamole from turning brown

5. Enjoy with anything and everything! Chips, veggies, crackers, as a spread on bread for a fun sandwich. 

How do you enjoy guacamole? Any crazy fun ways I haven't thought of? Let me know!

Fruit Salsa

Dipping stuff is so much fun! Don't cha think? 

Well this fruit salsa is a very versatile dipper! It's amazing with salty dippers such as pretzel things, bagel things, salty crackers, heck-even chips! But super amazing as a double sweet dip/dipper combo with carrying vessels such as cinna-sugar tortilla chips. graham crackers or even slices of fruit! (Fruit overload?! Sorry, never heard of it...)

This recipe also couldn't get much easier-just chop/puree all the ingredients and let it chill for awhile and you're in business! (the dipping business that is!)

That's really it! Just take all your ingredients and throw it all in a big bag and shake shake shake! 

Ingredients: 

*be aware-these ingredients are just my favorite combo-you can switch it up however you wish!

-2 apples (I like using the very sweet Fuji variety)-chopped

-2 kiwi-peeled and chopped

-1 lb. strawberries-chopped

-2 TBSP sugar (or any sweetener of choice)

-2 TBSP. fruit preserves

-1/4 cup fruit juice of choice 

~I've done this before with raspberries instead of strawberries, and once with pineapple juice and pineapple instead of apples-YUM!

Perfect for your next girls movie night! Tailgate! Playdate! Party... lazy night at home! Anything :)

Delicious on crackers!

If you guys do some variations on this, let me know! I love a mix-up!