Monkey Bread

Ok, so I still have my sweet tooth, and every once in a while...well, you just gotta cave in.  :)

My Grammy used to make this using the refrigerated biscuit dough, which I suppose is ok in a pinch..but I prefer my (little bit) "healthier" version, using my "Better Biscuits" dough.

1 C. whole wheat flour
1 C. unbleached white flour
1 T. baking powder
1/3 C. butter flavored crisco (yeah, I know...bad stuff)
3/4 C. almond/soymilk

(for what you see in the pictures, I doubled this recipe)

Mix the dry ingredients, cut in the shortening.  Add the milk and mix until just combined (do not overmix)

Then you just pull apart bite-sized chunks and roll in cinnamon sugar (mixed to your taste) and place in an oiled bundt or loaf pan.

I then make a brown sugar sauce (I don't measure, just add enough brown sugar to the melted butter to form a sauce and add a dash of vanilla extract.  I pour about 3/4 of the sauce over the unbaked "monkey bread" saving the last 1/4 for after it's baked.

Bake at 400 degrees until the dough is baked through.  Invert onto a serving platter and drizzle with the remaining sauce (you may have to reheat it)

 There really is no need to use a fork, you can just pull the bite-sized pieces off :)

Honey Whole Wheat Pretzels

Here is a "healthier" version of those warm soft pretzels we all love...

1 1/3 C. Warm water
2 t. salt
1 pkg fast acting yeast
2 1/4 C. unbleached white flour
2 1/4 C whole wheat flour
2 oz. melted vegan margarine
1/4 C. honey

Oil for pan

10 C. water
1/3 C baking soda

(egg wash- large egg yolk mixed with 1 T. water)

Mix water, yeast, salt, flours, butter, honey using a dough hook and stand mixer.  When it forms a ball of dough, remover from the mixer.  Clean and oil the mixer bowl and place the dough back in it and cover with plastic.  Allow to raise for about 50 minutes.

Preheat oven to 450 degrees, line baking pans with parchment paper brushed with oil.

Bring the water and baking soda to a boil.  While that is heating up, turn the dough out onto an oiled work surface and divide into 8 equal parts, roll out into a 24 inch rope and shape into pretzels.  Place on the baking pan.

Put the pretzels one by one into the boiling water, for about 30 seconds each, remove and place back on the baking pan and brush with the egg wash, sprinkle with coarse salt.

Bake approximately 12-14 minutes.

We had lots of help :)

A quick catch up

So, I've found it way to much to photograph all my days, and all my meals, and keep up with exercise and "normal" life.  So to update you, Sara and I have finished the Ripped in 30 days...it took a bit longer than 30 days because we both ended up sick for about a week.  So we back tracked at little to get back into it and pushed on through to the 4th week and finished STRONG!  I couldn't be prouder of our accomplishments!

So far we have done the Biggest Loser Power Sculpt (6 weeks) and now Jillian Michaels Ripped in 30 (30days).  So we purchased the 30-day Shred...another Jillian Michaels video, however much older.  We suffered through the level one...it was much slower and boring compared to her Ripped in 30, yet still enough to work up a sweat.  So that was the end of that video workout, I doubt it will ever go back into the DVD player.

This past week, the weather cleared up and warmed up enough that we decided to venture out for a "run".  For giggles, I decided to run a full mile and time myself.  I finished in 7 minutes and 30 seconds...shocked and pleased.  I can't ever remember running a mile in under 8 minutes EVER, much less my first run of the spring!  So the next day, we head back to the track with my goal of running 2 miles straight.  My first mile of that run was in 7 min and 20 sec...with my 2 mile run coming in at 15 min and 45 sec.  I have been on a happy high ever since!  Even though I could see a difference in my muscle tone and body over the past 3-5 months, the real proof to me was the time on those runs, not to mention I had no cramping or jello legs at the end...not once did I feel like I was going to die!

So tonight, after the 4+inches of snow from last night and today, we chose to go for the gold and do Jillian Michaels "Hard Body" 45 min workout...

The result was SWEAT...and LOTS OF IT!  Definitely a hardcore workout, but we did it, and finished strong...not just strong, but strong smelling! LOL.  Our plan now is to incorporate running (in the good ol' outdoors) with this video, along with her Kickboxing video to mix it up a bit.  By summer time we'll be beach ready!

PS--anyone wanting to try these videos, they are only about $9 at WalMart where you can also purchase hand weights (1-10lbs) fairly inexpensive.

For added info, I am currently reading Jillian Michaels newest book: