Peanut Butter Cups!!

Hi ~

I hope every ones weekend was great. It was 60 degrees here on Sunday and we bbq of course. Here's a few recipes that I made.

 I looked at other recipes for Peanut butter cups but wasn't happy with what I found. I didn't want a bunch of sugar and shortening which to my surprise was in a lot of the recipes I found. So I put on my thinking cap and came up with these.. I know that there is a lot of hype with Agave now. But I would rather have a little agave over real white processed sugar. You can replace it with what ever you like. I thought about using honey but it would have changed the flavor of the filling so I didn't. But that might be a nice twist!

Peanut Butter Cups

about 2 good scoops of Organic Peanut Butter
7-8 oz dark chocolate
2 tsp of agave
sea salt


Mix the agave and the peanut butter. Melt the chocolate using a dbl boiler or in microwave start with 30 secs and stir then continue with 30 secs at a time stirring every time for microwave.
line your mini muffin tin with  mini cupcake wrappers put a small spoonful of choc in bottom of ea cupcake wrapper.

 place in freezer for about 10 mins, then put a small dollop of peanut butter mixture into each wrapper, spray your finger with a little pam and push down the peanut butter just a little. Then put a large spoonful of choc. on the tops of each. put back into freezer for 5 mins, remove and sprinkle a little bit of sea salt on each peanut butter cup and put back into freezer for 15-20 mins. The combination of the sweet and salty take these from good to GREAT!!

these are rich and delicious and so much better than any store bought!!

I also made some delicious twice baked sweet potatoes

 I used 2 med size sweet potatoes
2 small scoops of 0% plain greek yogurt
1/4 tsp garlic powder
1/4 tsp cumin powder
1/4 tsp onion powder
1/4 tsp tumeric powder
1/4 tsp chili powder
1/4 tsp ginger powder

First I oiled them on the outside with just a little EVOO then baked them until done in a 400 degree oven, let them cool and carefully cut them length wise. Gently scoop out inside leaving a small border inside skins. then I mashed them with the greek yogurt and added all but about 1/2 tsp of the spice mixture. this made enough filling for about 3 of the skins.. I like my skins to be bursting otherwise you could make it stretch and fill all 4 skins. place bake in 350 oven until warmed through and crispy!! These were so good. I will be making them again!!

Last but not least.. I LOVE Tarragon.. I have a great recipe for Tarragon Turkey Sliders and found these perfect little buns to go with them..

1 pkg ground turkey breast
1/2 cup bread crumbs or ground oats would be great and a bit healthier too
1/2 cup finely grated zucchini
1/4 cup finely chopped onion
2 tbls chopped fresh tarragon or 2 tsp dried tarragon
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp sea salt
1/2 tsp black pepper

mix everything together and make into 12 small slider sized burgers. spray your bbq with pam and cook these little delights for about 3 mins on each side... here's my hardworking man cooking up some delicious grub!!

that about sums up our delicious Sunday Bbq.. great company, being my sister and niece and nephew, and great healthy food with a side of Stella Artois!

I hope you try some of these recipes and let me know what you think of them!! You won't be sorry!! :)

Sherice ox

Smooth & Creamy

Hi Guys ~

I hope everyone's week has started out fabulous!

I've been so broke lately I haven't had the money to get any kind of face wash or cream. I've been using Oil of Olay for the past year or longer, which has worked. But the more I educate myself on health and fitness the more I don't want to be putting crap, meaning unneeded chemicals, deodorant is another issue into my body.. that also means onto my body. Your skin is your biggest organ and it absorbs EVERYTHING you put on it!

The other day I was at Fred Meyer, in the organic section and found some products I'm loving!! I have used the shampoo and conditioner before and let me tell you, it will transport you directly to a tropical location! Alba Botanica is the brand. They are mostly organic, 100% vegetarian, NO animal testing, Parabens, Sulfates, & Phthalates free! Better for our bodies, animals & planet. They also have an average rating of 5.6 for health on the Good guide product list.

If your wondering what the Good guide is? It's a website that you can put in any product you want and find out how good it is for you. I'm still researching the website myself but so far I think products are rated on a scale of 0-10 and the have different categories like, Health, Environment, Society and Overall. They have an Iphone app that I'm going to get that allows me to scan the item before I buy it.. How cool is that! I love my Iphone! Here's a quick video on what the Good guide is...

I got the Face cream which doesn't have any sunscreen in it.. but maybe they have one that does. I will check next time. I also got some body oil that's amazing and some Coconut Milk face wash. So far I really like them. And it makes me warm and tingly to know that I'm doing something better for animals and the planet!

 I had a great workout on Sunday.. It always surprises me how fast you lose your stamina when your not working out as you should be. Lately I haven't been doing a lot of H.I.I.T training and this workout about killed me. Plus I haven't been drinking as much water as I should be and I really noticed a big difference in how I felt doing this super intense workout. In fact, let's keep it real here, I had to stop more than once and catch my breath because I thought I might pass out. How embarrassing would that be?!! Maybe I shouldn't push myself so hard but honestly I don't know how not to.

workout from 3/18/12

15 sec rest/35 sec work/32 rds/4x thru = 26 mins

1. plie squats with 15 kb
14, 16, 17, 18

2. Crab toe touches
20, 24, 26, 29

3. Dynamic squats
27, 22, 19, 23

4. side lunges w/  shoulder press & knee tuck w/ 12 lb (R)
13, 10, 12, 11

5. side lunges w/ shoulder press & knee tuck w/ 12 lb (L)
12, 11, 12, 12

6. Bosu burpees no pushup
7, 8, 7, 8

7. Plank knee tucks w/bosu
30, 27, 27, 32

8. Ab roll outs w/ SB
10, 10, 10, 10

Looking at my scores. I'm happy with them. I did take a few breaks but over all my last set looks good.

How's your fitness goals? I'd love to hear all about them, so don't be shy! :)
Sherice oxox

workout and body image

Hi guys!

I hope everyone's week has been going well. It's been rainy and wet here and it's making me homesick for the other side of the mts.

I've been on call at my job this week and so far haven't been called in. I do work tomorrow which is great but this on call stuff is really hard to swallow. I know that in due time I will have more scheduled hours but it's hard to keep that in mind when I've got bills breathing down my neck. So today instead of staying cooped up in my misery I got a work out in.. It always makes me feel better.

One thing that doesn't make me feel better is looking at myself in those full length mirrors in the gym dressing room. UGHH!! I feel like I'm thin and lean but the reflection tells me other wise and then I spend the rest of the day beating myself up about it. Why can't you be more consistent. Why can't you eat only healthy foods. Why do you look so fat and jiggly? remember that the next time you want to eat cheese!! All sorts of crazy stuff runs through my head.

I want to be fit and healthy. To have guns and a 6 pk stomach. Is it possible, will I get there? No one is stopping me but me!!

Negative self image plagues everyone at sometime. I try.. now I said TRY... to think about the things I like about myself.. my green eyes, my smile, my compassion for others, my will to prove you wrong when you say I cannot do something. But sometimes it doesn't help. We all are a work in progress and I have made huge strides to change things I don't like about myself. I want to love me and know that I'm worth it and I deserve it... I saw this quote framed and on the bathroom counter of a clients house we clean.. it was her daughters bathroom and I thought to myself what a great mom this kid has.... This is what it said..

" Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate, our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure, it's our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented and fabulous? But actually, who are we not to be" 

This quote has really stuck with me. Why? Because it's true.

Some days my workouts are great, other days not so much.. today happened to be one of those days.. I kept getting tangled in my skipping rope, kept getting charlie horses in my hips when I was doing the pass the ball abs exercise and while skipping I was getting a side ache.  The charlie horses and the side aches are because I'm not as hydrated as usual. An easy fix! But I pushed through anyway and got it done, knowing I would feel better after and I did. :) 

This was my workout...

3 sets.. reps are posted beside exercise b/c they weren't all the same

45 sec skipping rope

1. Squats with 20 lb KB touching butt on dynex ball 15 reps

2. Renegade rows w/ 10 lb weights  15 reps

45 sec mountain climbers

3. Side bends w/ 10 lb KB (R) 15 reps

4. Side bends w/ 10 lb KB (L) 15 reps

45 sec skipping rope

5. Stability Ball (SB) passes from feet to hands 15 reps, 10 reps, 10 reps

6. med ball slams w/10 lb medicine ball 15 reps

45 sec mountain climbers

7. reverse flys on SB 15 reps w/ 10lb, 15 reps w/ 8 lbs last 2 sets

8. low back lifts on SB.. fore arms on floor, hips and stomach on sb lifting legs up and really squeezing your low back, going slow with control.. you will feel this in your low back, glutes, hamstrings and core.. great exercise. 15 reps

Have a great rest of the week
Sherice ox

Breakfast for dinner... Eggs Benny Sherice Style

Hi guys ~

Sorry my posts of been sporadic lately. Between working, my wife/mom duties and trying to get to the gym, it's been a challenge to keep up with this blog as much as I'd like to. But I will do my best to blog a couple times a week.

I have another family recipes to share with you. Eggs Benedict with a twist.. instead of a Hollandaise sauce I make it with a cheese sauce. This recipe is not a low calorie meal, but it could be made into one. I will give you a few healthy alternatives at the bottom of the post.  I make this about 3 times a month. Usually on Sundays. It's perfect with a tall cold Mimosa!!

Eggs Benedict Sherice style...

I have a great pan I got from my mom that poaches the eggs perfectly... I use 2 egg whites per cup for mine and my husband and daughter like regular eggs with theirs, so they get 1 egg per cup... tonight was just the hubs and I. He was being greedy and wanted 3 eggs, that's why there is one cup with just water. I spray the cups with some organic olive oil and put some salt and pepper into the bottom of the cups then a little on the tops as well. This is the ONLY salt I put into this.. you will be adding in some chx bullion so you don't want to over do the salt.

that's how I make the eggs...

Cheese sauce..
4 Tbls butter
4 Tbls flour
1 tsp dry mustard powder
1 Tbls dried Basil
a couple shakes or twist of pepper
2 tsp of chx bullion.. I use organic Better than Bullion
2 cups 1% milk organic
3 pre sliced, slices of pepper jack or 1/2 -3/4 cup shredded
Extra crispy English Muffins
Bacon

melt your butter in a sauce pan until bubbly then add in your next 4 ingredients. I usually put them into a little bowl so that it's all ready mixed. make a nice rue.. stirring every couple mins until the flour is  cooked and golden brown. then add in your milk and chx bullion while stirring. Heating your milk but not boiling it. Stirring every couple mins on med to med high heat until your milk has thickened. This is the tricky part. You want to take the milk off the heat and stir it to help it cool some before you add in your cheese. If you add in the cheese when the milk is to hot the cheese will separate and your delicious creamy cheese sauce will be gritty! No one wants to eat gritty cheese sauce!

cook your bacon & Toast your english muffins. Now build your Benedict!!

 Healthy alternatives....

use whole wheat English muffins or Ezekiel muffins
use just flour and milk to thicken the milk
use turkey bacon or omit it altogether
use low fat cheese


ENJOY!!











My work out this weekend was a good one.. I've realized how much I need them since I've not been able to get to the gym as much as I'd like or I'm used to.

3 sets of.....

1. side lunge with press 10lb (R) ~ 15 reps
2. side lunge with press 10lb (L) ~ 15 reps
3 deadlifts w/ 15 lb Kettle Bell ~ 20 reps

1 min toe taps

4. standing oblique crunches ~ 15 reps ea side 30 total
5. 21's ~ 10 lbs ~ 1 set
6. star crunches ~ 15 reps

1 min jumping jacks

7. single leg toe touches ~ 15 reps (R)
8. single leg toe touches ~ 15 reps (L)
9. Rev crunches on bench ~ 15 reps

1 min toe taps

you will have a very sore butt and tummy in the am :)

sherice ox

Weekend Coffee Cake

Hi guys~

I posted a picture of my breakfast this morning and a couple people wanted the recipe so I decided to do a blog post on it!

This coffee cake is not healthy at all. It's got white sugar, bisquick, brown sugar and butter.. you know, all the usual suspects! But it is oh so moist and yummy when you've eaten clean all week long!

I would have taken some better photos had I known this would be a blog post but this will have to do! This is a recipe that my mom used to make when I was growing up and I replaced the Sour Cream with Honey Vanilla Greek Gods Yogurt. But any yogurt would do or you could just use Sour Cream if you fancy that!

Yogurt Coffee Cake
1 1/2 cups Bisquick mix
1/2 cup sugar
2 Tbls butter, softened
1 egg beaten
3/4 cup yogurt or sour cream
1 tsp vanilla
Struesel topping:
1/2 cup bisquick mix
6 Tbls brown sugar
1/4 tsp cinnamon
 3-4 Tbls butter, softened

Mix together bisquick mix, sugar, & butter. Stir in yogurt, egg, & vanilla. Beat by hand 1 min or until mixed. Put about 3/4 mixture into a greased 8x8 baking pan.  Combine Struesel mix and use fork to blend together then add 1/2 Streusel topping then add remaining mixture on top and spread so it covers streusel topping. Add remaining streusel topping. put into a 350 degree oven for about 30 mins.. if not done cook for 5-10 mins more but keep an eye on it! cool 10 mins before slicing.

This is so moist and delicious. A real treat for the weekend or a holiday morning like Christmas or New Years!

After eating my yummy Coffee Cake I headed out to spend the day with my sister.

I'm on the left

we window shopped in a couple cute boutiques and had a satisfying lunch at a local place called Twigs Martini bar.. No Martini's for us.. but I had a half Blackened Chicken Caesar wrap w/ their signature fries and Gorgonzola sauce.

Then we headed to a place I've seen but never been to, so what better time than today.. It's a little cafe called Madeleine's Cafe & Patisserie.. our own little piece of Paris here in Spokane Wa.
My sister and I shared a delicious dessert called a Cigle.. pronounced Cig lei... it's a thin wafer cookie filled with chocolate mousse and chocolate ganche. It was so rich that you could probably split it in 3rds and be fine. We also got a warm frothy Cappuccino to wash it down.

Hmmmm.. do I have something on my face?

It was a much needed time with my big sis and a wonderful day!

Tell me about your Saturday!
Sherice oxox