S i n f u l l y T h i n

Boston Cream Pie. Nuff said.

noreply@blogger.com (Kimberly) — Sat, 17 Jul 2010 20:08:00 +0000

SATURDAY

Since the purchase of my oh-so-beautiful love of a machine, the KitchenAid mixer, I've been a baking maniac. My latest creation is the Boston cream pie cupcake. These babies are so moist yet dense and so full of flavor that they'll definitely become one of your go-to favorites.

Boston Cream Pie Cupcakes
Yields: 12 cupcakes

For Vanilla Cupcakes:

3/4 stick/ 6 tbsn. unsalted butter
3/4 cups sugar
1 large egg
1 tsp. vanilla
1/4 tsp. salt
1 1/4 tsp. baking powder
1 1/4 cups flour
1/2 + 1/8 cup milk

For the custard:

1 small boxes of french vanilla pudding
1 cup of whole milk ONLY, no substitutions!
2/3 cup of heavy cream (for a creamier texture add more heavy cream)
3 tsp. vanilla extract

For the whipped ganache frosting:

10 oz. bittersweet chocolate, chopped into small pieces
1 cup heavy cream
For stiffer frosting add confectioners' sugar or put in freezer for 5-10 minutes.

DIRECTIONS:

Preheat oven to 350 F. Line a cupcake tin with liners and set aside. In a bowl whisk together the flour, baking powder and salt. In the mixer, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the egg, making sure it is well incorporated. Beat in vanilla, add flour in three batches, alternating with milk. DO NOT over beat. Divide batter among cupcake tins up to 3/4 of the way filled and bake for 15 - 20 minutes or until an inserted toothpick comes out clean. Cool completely before frosting.

For the custard, whip everything together until pudding has become thick, it took about 4 minutes with my stand mixer. Once the cupcakes are cool, use the cone method to remove the tops, then fill it in with custard and replace tops. For the coning method please see this page.

To make the ganache, place the chocolate in a large bowl. Heat the heavy cream on medium high until it comes up to a boil. Remove from heat and immediately pour over the chocolate. Let sit for 2 minutes then stir until completely melted and glossy. To pipe the ganache, allow the ganache to completely cool and set up. When you are able to spoon the ganache and and it can hold its texture it is ready to pipe.

Long time, no see

noreply@blogger.com (Kimberly) — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 22:07:00 +0000

TUESDAY

Hello Readers! I know I've been missing the past few months but I'm happy to announce that I am will be back soon and the blog will see a change. The original concept for this blog was based on diet and exercise but, frankly, there's more to life than that! I will start blogging about pretty much anything and everything that tickles my fancy: Music, Photography, Fashion, Sports, Vacations, and of course FOOD! I hope that my loyal readers will continue to support this change and follow along as I share a little more of my world with you. Happy reading and blog to you soon!

Here's a preview of the first post to come:

Goin goin goin...

noreply@blogger.com (Kimberly) — Thu, 20 May 2010 16:38:00 +0000

THURSDAY

Where has the week gone?!! Work had been busy lately and we have so much planned for the next few weeks. Sounds hectic but a lot of fun is in store for us. I don't have much time this A.M. so this post has to be a quickie. I promise I will elaborate on our plans in a future post.

On my day off yesterday Madelyn and I payed a visit to the park to check out the splash pad I keep hearing about. While the weather was a little windy, it didn't stop Maddy from suiting up and getting her feet wet. After 20 minutes of play we headed out to do our errands. I had a few stops to make before we had to head home to meet up with Jessie so she can model some clothes for me that I'm planning on selling on ebay. I have a few auctions going currently so if you're interested...please check em out! They're just a few pairs of new shoes and dresses from my closet. The BULK of the load will be posted on ebay this Sunday so remember to check back!!!

Here are a few pics of highlights from yesterday:

CLICK ON PIC TO VIEW THE AUCTION :)

Mother's Day

noreply@blogger.com (Kimberly) — Mon, 10 May 2010 16:22:00 +0000

SUNDAY

Hello everyone!

I hope everyone had a fabulous Mother's day. We woke up at the butt crack of dawn and went hiking. This was our second time hiking Picacho Peak. The park will be closing for good due to lack of funds on June 3rd so why not challenge ourselves to hike it's mountains one last time. Distance wise it's not very impressive, only 2.5 miles but it's almost ALL VERTICAL!

Last time we hiked this mountain was about three weeks ago. I, honestly, dont remember it being so challenging. Maybe the lack of sleep and the morning workouts really took a toll on me because I was ready to quit a quarter of the way up.

"Are we done yet?"

With the taunting of my fellow hikers I was pushed to go on and eventually made it to the summit. You know that high you usually get when you've reached a physical accomplishment? Well I didn't feel it one bit. As soon as we got to the top, I was ready to call in search and rescue to get me outta there! The highlight of this trip was the AYCE (All you can eat) Sushi awaiting us at the end. Goes to show you...the power of food!

Approaching the summit

We made it!

I burned 1600 calories on this hike is is down from the 1900 from last time. What gives?! In the end I'm glad we did it and I will certainly miss the option of hiking this mountain in the future. Thanks to my fellow hikers for keeping the pace. Happy Mother's Day everyone!

Back to work...

noreply@blogger.com (Kimberly) — Mon, 03 May 2010 16:34:00 +0000

MONDAY

Hello again bloggies

You may have noticed my missing in action the past month. It was a hectic yet unmotivating month for me. Work started to get busy and frankly...I couldn't get myself to wake up early for my workouts anymore. I'm happy to say that I'm back in the swing of things but to keep blogging as a "fun" activity for me instead of it being a "chore," I am going to keep my blogging to 3-5 times a week instead of daily. In the mean time...let me fill you in on what's new.

There's a lot to tell you about, mostly new fun gadgets and yummy samples that I've bought and received recently but for now I'll just fill you in on my purchases and save the rest for future posts.

On April 8th, after lusting over a DSLR for years now, I was able to purchase an amazing camera with some help from my awesome BF. We got a new (to me) Canon T1i from Craigslist! It came in a kit with the usual 18-55mm lens and as an added bonus the man also sold us a 55-250mm f/5-6.5 lens along with two UV filters and a camera bag for what I think is an awesome deal, love Craigslist. It's been a month and I still get excited thinking about my new toy. I haven't taken any pictures of the actual camera but here's a stock photo of my gear as well as some sample photos taken from my new CAMMY!

Along with the camera I also splurged on a very COOOOL camera backpack. After tons of research, I decided it was worth splurging on the Clik Elite Probody Sport. It has everything that I could want. Here's my review:

I was looking for a backpack to use during hiking and biking as well as to use on our vacations. My biggest requirement was that it was hydration compatible. This bag can hold a full size SLR with a lens attached and three extra lenses, two up to 300mm and one up to 100mm in just the camera bay, not to mention a 100oz hydration bladder.

The main compartment can be used to store an extra lens or two or a lunch and personal items. This bag is LOADED with different compartments including a bottom slot that I use to store memory cards and manuals as well as a top zippered pocket that I use to put my keys in.

Here's the slot that houses the hydration bladder

Here's the back of the bag with the waist belt tucked away.

While it's quite pricy ($175) I find it being well worth it. It's durable, roomy, compact, but best of all...it's sleek! For you photo enthusiasts out there, definitely check out Clik Elite's gear.

Recap

noreply@blogger.com (Kimberly) — Tue, 06 Apr 2010 22:34:00 +0000

EASTER

Happy Belated Easter Bunnies!

Why is it that the weekends always fly by so fast? I love this time of year, the weather is so beautiful and everyone seems to be in a much happier mood. I guess it's the calm before the storm with the summer heat coming. Newton and I enjoyed each others company but sadly we were sans Maddy. My mom had a friend in town from New Mexico and they wanted to show off their granddaughter.

In the morning we got dressed up in our pretty attire and meet up with some friends for brunch at Tohono Chul for their Easter brunch. The venue was delightful but the food was short from mediocre. Everyone still had a good time and we were able to catch up and share a few laughs.

That late afternoon were able to meet up with our neighbor Charlie and Byung and go a long 19 mile ride on Sunday. I was able to take some photos of the scenery to share with y'all.

The boys during break

Sorry for the poor image quality. Picasa doesn't upload well.

We didn't do so well making time but we did take a few long breaks during the ride. We finished at around 1 hour 45 minutes for our 19 mile ride.

Friday night dinner

noreply@blogger.com (Kimberly) — Tue, 06 Apr 2010 19:46:00 +0000

DINNER

Ever since I started on my healthy eating regime the beginning of February the only thing that I've seriously craved was a thick juicy steak. So for dinner Friday night I picked us up some handsome looking rib eyes. These babies were thick and marbled perfections. I seasoned (recipe below) the steaks and seared them to get grill marks on our panini press and then finished it off in the oven. I wish that I was able to marinade the steaks the night before because that would have made them sooo much better but these were delicious nonetheless.

served with a wild arugula salad

RECIPE:

Montreal style seasoning:

Ingredients:

2 tablespoons black pepper

2 tablespoons paprika

1 tablespoon salt

1 tablespoon granulated garlic

1 tablespoon granulated onion

1 tablespoon cayenne pepper

1 tablespoon ground coriander

1 tablespoon dill seeds

Combine all ingredients and store in an airtight container. Keep in a cool, dark place.

Friday

noreply@blogger.com (Kimberly) — Fri, 02 Apr 2010 19:23:00 +0000

TGIF!

I can't even begin to tell you how grateful I am that it's Friday. We have a fun brunch planned this Easter with our friends and if I'm lucky, maybe my Hunnie and I can go for a nice bike ride with Maddy. The weather has been so beautiful lately, even with it's indecisiveness. This morning I was able to go for an 8 mile ride and take some great pictures to share with y'all. Take a look:

Can you spot the beauty?

After the ride I spent the 15 minutes I had free to prepare our dinner: Marmalade marinate BBQ ribs in the slow cooker. It's a new recipe so I'll let you know it it turns out later on.

After preparing the ribs I only had time left to pack my lunch then get ready for work. On the menu today: Ham, egg, and cheese sandwich with arugula! OOh YUM!

GOTTA RUN! Have a great rest of the day y'all!!!

Thursday

noreply@blogger.com (Kimberly) — Fri, 02 Apr 2010 17:32:00 +0000

CAKE!

This morning I woke up too late to get in a work out but just early enough to bake an easy blackberry cake. There's nothing better than waking up to the smell of fresh baked goods. Lucky Newt ;) The cake took only 10 minutes to prepare and another 50 to finish baking. It's an easy recipe with a flavor. Give it a try

RECIPE

Ingredients:

1 stick unsalted butter, softened

1 cup plus 2 tbsp granulated sugar

1 large egg

1/2 cup milk

1 tsp vanilla extract

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1 1/2 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp salt

2 cups fresh blackberries

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350F. Grease a 6" cake pan or a loaf pan. Using a stand mixer, beat together butter and 1 cup sugar until light and fluffy, about 3 mins. Add egg, milk and vanilla. Beat until fully incorporated.In a medium bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder and salt. Set aside.

With the mixer on low speed, mix in flour mixture.Transfer batter to the greased pan. Arrange berries on top. Sprinkle remaining 2 tbsp sugar over berries. Bake cake for 10 mins. Reduce oven temperature to 325F. Bake until cake is golden brown and firm to the touch, about 50 mins. Cool in the pan for 5 mins. Remove to wire rack and cool completely and enjoy!

Van Morrison + Bike ride = Bliss

noreply@blogger.com (Kimberly) — Mon, 29 Mar 2010 20:53:00 +0000

RIDING

Happy Monday!

I forgot to tell you guys of my recent purchase. I've been looking to buy a bike for a while and finally found a great deal on Craigslist. It's a 2008 Specialized Crossroads Sport. It's a hybrid bike that is super fun and comfortable to ride. For $85 (STEAL!) the only thing I needed to replace were the tires. Thanks to my handsome handy man, I'm all set and ready to go.

Handy man tuning up my bike

Staying in on a beautiful Sunday afternoon is just sinful. I took advantage of the great weather we've been having by going on a what was suppose to be short bike ride yesterday. I had a 10 mile ride in mind but with the great music, peaceful scenery, and soothing weather I ended up going 19 miles! Basically to the end of the trail. Since getting back into shape it's really helped me appreciate the beauty that nature has to offer. Sadly I forgot my memory card in my laptop after the last post so I wasn't able to take pictures for y'all. Next time. Here are a few pictures of the plants from my ride the morning before, not quite as great as what I saw yesterday but still pretty amazing. Hope you guys are taking the time to reap in the beauty of the outdoors.

Here are the stats from my ride:
Started: Mar 28, 2010 4:56:21 PM
Ride Time: 1:42:29
Stopped Time: 4:40
Distance: 19.26 miles
Average: 11.28 miles/hr
Fastest Speed: 19.05 miles/hr
Climb: 427 feet
Calories: 957

Cupcake cure all?

noreply@blogger.com (Kimberly) — Sun, 28 Mar 2010 23:18:00 +0000

TREATS

In efforts to try and get some fresh air, I dragged Newton to La Encantada to walk around and browse the selves at Crate & Barrel and Anthropologie ♥ We didn't end up getting anything, even thought I was tempted to pick up the Sprinkles* red velvet cupcake mix at William Sonoma but for $15 I decided to try to find a recipe online instead. I guess cupcakes were still on Newt's mind because while I was trying on a dress at Anthro, he went picked us up some treats from Mini's downstairs. A little red velvet never hurt anyone, right?

The agenda for the rest of the day: BIKE RIDE AND RELAX!

Fish Maw Soup

noreply@blogger.com (Kimberly) — Sun, 28 Mar 2010 22:22:00 +0000

Fishy...yum

Happy Funday everyone!

Newton has been sick the last few days so I haven't been able to post much. Last night he asked me to pick up some fish maw soup from a local Chinese restaurant on my way home. After realizing how much I paid for so little soup I got I decided to try to make this for him this morning. I searched high and low for a yummy looking recipe online but results came up short so I just winged it. The results is pretty tasty and with a little experimenting, it's was great. So lets get right into it:

Chopped Shrimp:

Boiling fish maw

Added 'shrooms:

Added egg:

Enjoy:

RECIPE:

4 cans of chicken broth

2 cans of water (empty chicken broth can)

2 large pieces of fish maw (re-hydrated in warm water for 15 min)

2 eggs

1/2 lbs. shrimp peeled and chopped

1 jar of crab meat

1 can of straw mushrooms or whatever kind you like.

INSTRUCTIONS:

Soak dried fish maw in a bowl with warm water for 20 minutes or until softened then rinse and wring out water and re-soak with clean water. Do this until you like the texture and taste of fish maw then chop into small pieces. NOTE: the more you wring out the water the less fishy it will taste. In a pot, combine chicken broth and water and bring to a boil then add fish maw and reduce to medium heat. In a smaller pot fill with enough water to boil chopped shrimp. Add shrimp and boil until 90% cooked and drain. Add the shrimp to large pot with fish maw. Open and drain the can of crab meat as well as mushrooms and add them to the large pot as well. Season with salt and pepper to taste and then add mushrooms. Leave it at a high simmer while in a small bowl combine 1 tbsp of cornstarch with two 2 tbsp of COOL - COLD water. NO HOT WATER! It will gelatize the starch! Slowly add this mixture to the large pot. Repeat cornstarch mix until soup is at the consistency you like. Lastly beat the eggs and while slowing stirring soup in a circular motion add in egg to create ribbons. Be careful of over seasoning the soup because the fish maw is loaded with tons of flavor so no need to use the shrimp water or crab juice, it can get very seafoody.

THATS it! Simple right? Just bowl it and enjoy with some ground white pepper on top.

To yogi or not to yogi?

noreply@blogger.com (Kimberly) — Thu, 25 Mar 2010 21:11:00 +0000

Bikram

Has anyone tried it? I friend of mine recently asked me to join her in her Sunday classes but I'll be honest, I'm afraid. I'm not an avid yogi or by any means close but I enjoy doing it and once in a while will take a class. I was wondering if any of you have tried the Bikram method and how advanced in yoga are you? I've only heard great raves about it so I'm sure once done I'll be glad I did it but I'm just afraid I'll make an ass of myself slipping in a pool of my own sweat or do something like this:

Wake up Sleepy head

noreply@blogger.com (Kimberly) — Thu, 25 Mar 2010 16:39:00 +0000

BREAKFAST

Morning Toots!

I'm happy to report that Newton is feeling a lot better. His fever is gone *knock on wood* and he's cracking jokes again, sure sign that the storm has past? I hope so.

For the past week or so I've been staying up waaay past my bedtime (11 P.M.) so I literally CAN NOT get up in the morning. Starting tonight I really need to turn off the laptop or better yet leave it at work so I can hit the sack earlier so I can get back on track with my morning workouts.

I was so tired this morning so breakfast was pretty bleak. I made myself a toasted cream cheese bagel with two slices of ham and a slice of non-fat cheddar cheese. It did the job but nothing to really go crazy over. I did, however, get a chance to try out Stonyfield's Oikos Greek yogurt. Kristina from the company was nice enough to send me some samples of their yogurt. This morning I had the honey yogurt that had 120 calories, 18g of carbs, 0 fat, and 13g of protein. It was so creamy and delicious. It's closer in texture to American yogurt so it's not as thick as your traditional Greek kind. For those who love Greek yogurt but miss the smoothness, you'll find it in Stonyfield.

Oooh and I'm so excited over the mug that Newton got me. It's a ceramic double walled coffee/tea cup that looks like a disposable Starbucks cup. I ♥ it.

Chicken Noodle Soup

noreply@blogger.com (Kimberly) — Thu, 25 Mar 2010 05:23:00 +0000

DINNER

Boy did the day not end the way I thought it would. I had plans to meet up with Jessie to go to a yoga session but Newton ended up coming home from work early due to a brewing cold/flu? "Body aches, headaches, fever all require lots of love," his words, not mine. I decided to take off work early as well and went to Costco to pick a rotisserie chicken to cook him some chicken noodle soup. While there I also picked up some blackberries and two jars of pepporchinis. I ♥ pepporchinis and blackberries! Not together, of course. With cooking the soup and trying to make Newt comfortable, time just ran short so we decided to nix ~~yoga~~.

When I got home I realized that I forgot to stop and get egg noodles so I used left over wheat penne pasta instead, it worked out fine. The recipe really was all improvisation. I really didn't know how it would come out but I'm glad to report it was quite tasty. Here are some pictures.

Bad photos, sorry. My hands were too messy to deal with the settings

Yes, that is bacon you see. Only two slices to give it flavor since I didn't have any chicken broth either. I told you I was improvising ;)

RECIPE:

Ingredients

* 1 tablespoon butter
* 1/2 cup chopped onion
* 1/2 cup chopped celery
* 4 (14.5 ounce) cans chicken broth - or water
* 1 (14.5 ounce) can vegetable broth - or water
* 1/2 a rotisserie chicken - shredded
* 1 1/2 cups egg noodles or whatever you like
* 1 cup sliced carrots
* 1/2 an onion
* 1 parsley
* 2 cloves garlic
* 1 tsp of garlic powder
* 2 tsp of fried onion - optional
* salt and pepper to taste
* 2 tbsp of cornstarch
* 1/2 cup of water
* 1 tsp of peppercorns - optional

Directions

In a small bowl combine 1/2 c of COLD water and cornstarch and mix until there are no lumps. set aside

In a large pot over medium heat cook bacon until done and drain the oil but be sure to just a little to cook garlic. Saute garlic in bacon oil until just yellow, don't burn. Pour in chicken and vegetable broths or water and noodles/pasta. Bring to a boil and cook pasta until it's almost al dente. Add in carrots and celery and cook until tender. Add cornstarch mix one tablespoon at a time to see how thick you like it. Then add onion, parsley, shredded chicken, salt and pepper to taste.

Easy does it

noreply@blogger.com (Kimberly) — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 20:25:00 +0000

BRUNCH

Afternoon Foodies.

How's it going everyone?

Today has been so easy breezy. I slept in until a late 8 A.M. and it felt so goooooood! I had at doctors appointment at 9:30 but didn't have to be at work until noon so my morning had been very relaxed, I love getting to wake up and not feel pinched for time. At my appointment Dr. Mittal decided that the time was due for my tetanus shot so the visit wasn't as pleasant as I'd hope for. Fret not! This means that I totally deserved a little treat for being such a big girl and taking the shot without any complaints. *pat pat on the back*

A trip to Walgreens was in order. There I picked up a couple of new magazines and then headed over to SAUCE* for a yummy lunch that included a turkey and feta salad loaded with corn and avocado in a delicious walnut vinaigrette. For only $7.50 it also included a side of pasta or a soup and a drink. Talk about bang for your buck! But in lieu of continuing with my good girl status I decided to be a bad girl and go for the broccoli chicken pasta with creamy garlic sauce. Let me tell you...I ate everything except for the bread roll. It was all soooo good! I managed to get in some good pics of the food before my camera battery died. Hope you enjoy and have a great rest of hump day!

I also included (not pictured) is OXYGEN magazine. This was my first time reading it and I ♥! It had so many great articles and loaded with tons of workouts and recipes. I definitely have to look into getting a subscription

Nom Nom Nom Nom...

noreply@blogger.com (Kimberly) — Tue, 23 Mar 2010 21:22:00 +0000

LUNCH

Hey folks!

I hope everyone is having a great Tuesday. The weather here in Tucson is SOOOOOOOO incredibly fickle, one day its bright and beautiful (evidence) and the next it looks like it can be the backdrop for an old Hitchcock flick. Despite the caliginous weather my day has been busy and fun. I got to see some great clients that always make me laugh and my energy level is waaay up. Not bad for a Tuesday, eh?

Often times lunch is such a rushed meal for me being that I just eat and go due to work rather than set time aside to enjoy it, so often times I rarely have anything exciting to blog about. BUT, lunch today was definitely worth posting. I had yummy homemade Vietnamese beef noodle soup aka Phở. For those who haven't had the pleasure of being introduced to this special soup, you're definitely missing out.

The creation of the broth is a timely process of boiling beef bones over night and requires a lot of attention and patience not to mention a plethora of different spices and ingredients. The finish product is topped with different cuts of beef and eaten with rice noodles and fresh basil. I love to eat this soup but it's been years since I've made it myself at home. Sometime this month I will be making it for a weekend dinner for both Newt and my parents and I promise I will post the recipe. In the mean time...enjoy the pictures ;)

I guess the weather girl wasn't lying when she said it was going to be 10* cooler today

Here are the goods:

And for fun's sake...here's Boogsie

Free Pastry day! Gimme gimme!

noreply@blogger.com (Kimberly) — Tue, 23 Mar 2010 17:26:00 +0000

BREAKFAST

Up and at em'! Rise and shine! Good Morning!!!

Sorry was I too loud? ;) I'm a little wired this morning. Thanks to twitter I learned that today is was free pastry day at Starbucks. Before heading to work I had to stop in and grab my iced coffee and pick up a slice of their reduced-fat very berry coffee cake. I ended up giving the cake to my Dad because I'm just not a morning sweets girl but the coffee was very deeee-lish, as always. The stimulant in coffee always leaves me feeling full so breakfast was pretty tame, also I skipped my workout this A.M. so my appetite wasn't as fierce as usual. I just ended up chewing on a Clif bar.

Lunch will be much more exciting. On today's menu: Homemade Vietnamese Pho!

Hello Spring!

noreply@blogger.com (Kimberly) — Mon, 22 Mar 2010 21:59:00 +0000

BRUNCH

Happy Monday!

Isn't Spring so beautiful? I love transitional seasons. The summers in Arizona are so brutal that we love to embrace the preceding and succeeding seasons that surround it. I love the first signs of change in the season from the blooming flowers to the change in temperature to just the smell of the new air. Here are some pictures of the first signs of spring around our home.

After such a great day outdoors yesterday, I wanted to start off this morning with the same enthusiasm. When Booger had to be let out at 5 A.M. I didn't hesitate to hop out of bed the slightest bit. It was great to be so energized at that hour so I decided to put it to good use and went for a jog. I ran along the Rilito River again to take advantage of the nice weather before it expires and we rocket into 100*+ heat. I was able to do 5 HIIT intervals for half of the jog and fast walked the entire way back, I wasn't able to run because I decided to stop at Albertsons for some eggs, ham, bagels, cheese, and some Cascade Ice. The scenery and solitude was amazing and made me wonder why it took me so long to finally discover this trail.

You can't beat beating the sunrise.

solitude

Since I took extra time grocery shopping when I finally made it home I was in a mad rush to cook, eat, shower, and get ready for work. I whipped us up a quick bagel sandwich stuffed with eggs, tomatoes, cheese, and a slice of ham. It was simple but filling and very tasty.

Once at work I grabbed a yummy classic iced coffee. Can't beat this start to a new week

Have an awesome week everyone!

Sunday is Funday!

noreply@blogger.com (Kimberly) — Mon, 22 Mar 2010 16:14:00 +0000

BRUNCH

Good morning Bloggies!

What a jam packed day. Even though I had this post typed up last night, I wasn't able to send it until now because our internet went out at home. Let's get to the point. We had a lot planned for yesterday, it started bright and early at 8 A.M. Newton dropped Booger off to get his spring shaving. He went from looking like this:

to this:

I know I know, he looks so much cuter with his shag but he kept getting knots in his hair and it's beginning to get hot out so it's time. So sad...

After Boogs got his shag cut Jessie came over and joined us in taking advantage of the beautiful weather. The high was in the low 80s but with the light wind it was blissful. Newton, Maddy, and Booger went to the dog park while Jessie and I took a walk along the Rilito River. There was still evidence of our wet winter flowing so soothingly in the wash. It's the first time I'd been on this trail despite living only across the street from it.

Here are a few of the other pooches at the dog park. Booger had such a great time socializing and towards the end of our visit the park got really crowded so we got to see a lot of pretty pups.

This guy, Hoover, was Boog's favorite despite the size difference.

Boogs wasn't the only one getting a good workout.

After burning all our energy at the park, it was time to do some shopping and grab a light lunch before we had to head home and get ready for a friend's BBQ. We stopped at La Encantada. The view from upstairs was gorgeous. The terracotta colored walls against the blue sky was breathtaking. I ended up picking up a stainless steel spoon/straw at Crate&Barrel. I've been wanting one for the longest time. One step closer to a greener lifestyle. :)

For brunch I grabbed a salad from AJ's filled with bells, pepperchinis, cheese crumbles, onions, and grilled chicken with a champagne vinaigrette. MMmmmm. Jessie had her own Southwestern salad loaded with beans, jalapenos, eggs, and seeds while Newton and Maddy both had a slice of pizza. Lunch as light and relaxing as we sat on the patio watching passersby.

Someone loves ranch

By the time we were finished with lunch and shopping it was 3 P.M. and the BBQ was starting at 3:30. Needless to say we dashed home to get ready and I still had to beat up some whip cream to top the key lime cheesecake I made the day before. The cheesecake turned out great and so did the BBQ. Daniel did a great job with his backyard and an even better job marinating the ribs and chicken. Overall the day was productive and relaxing all the same. I only wish everyday was a sunday...I hope y'all had a great Funday as well! Here's to a new week! Sorry for the lack of pics from the BBQ, my camera batter was running looooowww.

Lemon coconut cheesecake

noreply@blogger.com (Kimberly) — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 20:21:00 +0000

LUNCH

Afternoon foodies!

What's better than homemade cheesecake? Homemade cheesecake for lunch! Obviously I'm breaking all the rules for health and fitness with this bad boy. We are invited to a "breaking in the backyard" potluck this Sunday so I decided to test out a new recipe for a Key lime cheesecake before hand. Maddy and I had a ball whipping up this last night and the result is pretty damn delicious. I altered the recipe quite a bit cutting out the sugar and flour and used a whole can of condensed milk instead and added shredded coconut to the graham cracker crust. The recipe below is my version and can be altered to your tart liking by adding more lime juice. Keep in mind that for more of the Key lime flavor (aroma) add more lime zest, add lime juice will only add tartness. This is the cheesecake that I took to work but for the party I will be adding whipped mascarpone frosting and strawberries to the top. YUMM-O! I didn't get to take many pictures of the cake since I was running very late, as always, for work this A.M. but here's a slice of heaven...

RECIPE:

Ingredients

* 1 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs
* 6 tablespoons butter, melted
* 12 ounces cream cheese, softened
* 1 can of condensed milk (I used non fat)
* 1 tablespoon cornstarch
* 3 eggs or 7 egg whites if you want a "white" cake
* 1 tablespoon grated lime zest
* 1/3 cup key lime juice (more or less to your liking)
* 1/3 cup shredded coconut

Directions

1. Combine graham cracker crumbs with butter or margarine and shredded coconut. Press into bottom and partially up sides of 9 inch springform pan. Refrigerate.
2. In a large bowl, beat with an electric mixer the cream cheese, sugar, lime peel, and cornstarch until smooth and fluffy. Beat in eggs one at a time, blending just until smooth. Add key lime juice with mixer on low. Finish mixing by hand. Do not overbeat, or cake will crack during baking. Pour batter into prepared crust.
3. Bake at 300 degrees F (150 degrees C) for 55 to 65 minutes, or until set. To minimize cracking, place a shallow pan half full of hot water on lower rack during baking.
4. Turn oven off, and let cheesecake stand in oven 30 minutes with the door open at least 4 inches. Remove from oven. Refrigerate cake overnight, and up to three days.

All for me!

noreply@blogger.com (Kimberly) — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 18:28:00 +0000

BREAKFAST

Happy Friday everyone!

Sorry I've been M.I.A lately but frankly...there hasn't been anything going on that's been post worthy, plus I was still in recovery mode from the prior weekend. I am back with a bang though, fun treats to post about. I came back from San Diego to find two awesome packages waiting for me. I love getting stuff in the mail! Those who frequent this blog know my ♥ for Chobani so I was ecstatic when the good folks at Chobani sent me a huge shipment of their delicious yogurt in all different flavors. I thought that pineapple was my favorite flavor but I had no idea how delicious their blueberry yogurt is, tough call. Take a look at the goods.

The second package I got was from Jamie over at the Fruit Not Fat campaign at Galaxy Granola. They sent me three bags of their healthy granola. I love that they use applesauce and half the oil to make their granola making it 1/2 the fat that you usually find in other granolas without skimping on taste or texture. I've only tried the raspberry granola so far but it's BOMB! I can't wait to use some for baking. I'm thinking of making some protein bars. :)

For breakfast today I decided to combine my two treats. I mixed some almond granola with a cup of blueberry Chobani yogurt.NOM NOM NOM NOM...

Whirl wind trip.

noreply@blogger.com (Kimberly) — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 17:57:00 +0000

SAN DIEGO
PARTIE DEUX

Good morning everyone!

Wow, the last few days have flown by so fast but I guess that it's a requisite with all vacations, right? We left beautiful SD yesterday two hours LATER than what we had originally planned. With all of the last minute sightseeing, shopping, and eating we just lost track of time.
I'm running short on time today so instead of going into detail about our last day's activities here's a list of the events that took place and pictures to go along with:

Walk along Seacliff

- Grabbed hot tea and went for a great morning walk along the coast. The weather was great and the air was crisp. If only I can do this everyday life would be unbeatable.

Old Town San Diego

- We visited a quaint church and took some pictures in the park. The vines were in bloom and everything was very serene.

Brunch at Rei do Gado Churrascaria

-Meat lover's paradise. I loved the salad bar and the top sirloin the most. It seems as though on every vacation I go on we always end up at a Brazilian restaurant.

Shopping at Horton Plaza

- Eh...Spent only 10 minutes walking around and no pictures.

Shopping at Carlsbad Outlet

- 40 mins away and only a few good shops. Jessie bought a new watch and purse that she's in love with and I got a new scarf. We spent 3 hours here and that's all we managed to find. Sorry...no pictures

La Jolla Beach

- Last scenic stop on our trip and man was it gorgeous. The seals were out frolicking and getting their tan on.

Dinner at Blue Water Grill

- The fish and chips at this joint was so amazing that we had to pay another visit. Not to mention that one order was more than enough for us to split.

Pinkberry

- Mango and pomegranate yogurt topped with mochi, blueberries, raspberries, strawberries, and cheesecake bites...yum!

Drive home

- Goodbye California!

Paradise found.

noreply@blogger.com (Kimberly) — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 06:48:00 +0000

SAN DIEGO

Greetings dollfaces!

I'm sorry for not posting the last few days but I've been sunning it up in gorgeous San Diego! Yes, be jealous. 75 degree weather, amazing fresh seafood, staying in the heart of downtown all adds to a great trip and lots of pictures. There's too many pictures to post but being this is a food blog and all, I'm going to mainly post all the hedonistic foods we got to sinfully eat :)

Here goes:

Breakfast day one was at a great place called Urban Solace. Their concept is "New American Comfort Foods." The menu consisted of all the indulging favorites with a modern flare such as pork belly Benedict, butter-pecan french toast, Cheesy Macaroni and Egg Baked Casserole...delish right? I had the pork belly Benedict. It sat on a house biscuit with poached fresh eggs, smoked Ancho chili Hollandaise. . I'm glad Jessie was there to split this with me because the pork belly was very flavorful and tender and very very very rich. We also got to split their famous cinnamon roll. Check out the cream on that baby!

After our 3000 calorie breakfast we decided to take a walk on the longest pier on the west coast, the Ocean Beach pier. Here we are...say cheese! Look at the beautiful water.

Cityscape via Ferry landing park

Here's Jessie with the USS Regan behind her. Her former home away from home

Our Next Stop was to a dessert lover's heaven, Extraordinary Desserts. If you ever get a chance to come to San Diego you MUST check this place out. The desserts were all so beautifully arrange and the decor was nothing short of wonderful. Take a look at all the artistic edibles.

It seems like all we're doing is eating but I promise that we're doing a lot of walking too, plus I was able to get in a HIIT session before we left the hotel this morning. After lots of driving and sightseeing it was time for lunch. You can't come to San Diego without eating fish tacos. We headed to Blue Water Grille. It's a fish market slash restaurant known for their famous fish tacos that have been featured on "Diners, drive-ins and dives." While the fish tacos were tasty we both thought the grilled tilapia fish and chips received no justice. This was by far the best fish and chips I've ever tasted, so tender and flavorful! They blew the fish tacos out of the water. I'm thinking we might have to make another stop at Blue Water before we head back home.

Check out the grill marks on the tilapia! Sooooo good!!!!!!!!

For dinner tonight we went to the highly rated Oceanaire Seafood Room. Since I wasn't feeling particularly hungry I ordered a spicy tuna and avocado salad with ponzu dressing. Jessie ordered the grilled red snapper. My salad was BOMB and sadly her fish was good but nothing amazing. We did order a baked Alaska for dessert which tasted as great as it looked. Sorry for the lack of pictures of the actual dinner, the lighting was difficult to deal with.

It was a good start to our short trip. We got to see a lot and really experience what San Diego has to offer. I look forward to our final day. While I'm enjoying San Diego and the great weather, there's someone(s) missing. I wish my two Luvs were here with me...especially this one:

The rest of these pictures are just random shots we took throughout the day. Up for day two is 9 am rooftop yoga and more sightseeing and the dreadful drive home. :(

Green brunch...for St. Patty's day?

noreply@blogger.com (Kimberly) — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 21:09:00 +0000

BRunch

Hey there stranger. Is it just me or has this week just flown by? It's already Friday and I only have one more day of work before I'm officially on break. I'm so excited to be able to relax for a few days.

For today's post I combined breakfast and lunch because I had the same thing for both. Now before you get grossed out let me tell you that it tastes better than it looks and sounds. Actually pretty refreshing. I had a green smoothie, in honor of St. Patty's day. No really for St. Patty's day but it WAS green.

In the blend:

2 cups of spinach

1/2 avocado

1/3 cups of coconut milk

6oz. Chobani plain 2%