Embrace Life

Today while I lay in the sun, I got to thinking...Life is GOOD! I feel so happy right now, and why wouldn't I? Summer is here, I don't have to wear a coat when I leave the house, and there is nothing like some Vitamin D.

Then I got to thinking...this is all going to be over in a matter of months, weeks if you really think of it. School is almost here, the Lily's have had their show. Things are going to go dormant and the snow is going to fall.

That's when my mind went, ugh.

But only for a minute, until I started to think of all the good things about each season. For those that know me, know I don't like winter...so that one is hard for me. But I figured out something fantastic about each season, and thought of the great things that I will be able to do when the leaves fall, the snow comes, and the tulips come back next spring.

So I went back to thinking " Life is GOOD" , and it's good in any season!

So as we embark on the last weeks of summer, embrace it and take it all in, because the next season is coming and we have to be ready to embrace that one too!

"Doing Daily"-July 15, 2011

Starting today and through to the end of the year, I will be great friends with my hooks and yarn! Hats are coming again this year to Cilicia's Home and Hearth, and I have some new ideas to try! Stay tuned!

Baking Antics- Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cake

After spending some time on my favorite new idea site-Pinterest. I came across this recipe, and quickly looked around for the ingredients. I had them! So, I started this cake journey.

I give credit for the recipe to "Bake or Break". There are many wonderful recipes here. As I started baking I quickly realized that this cake wasn't going to be calorie free. I figure about 15 servings per recipe. With total calories per piece being: 425. OUCH! So I quickly tried to figure out where I could cut calories and decided that for now I would just work on the frosting. Not only did I not have cream cheese in the house, that is the main cause for all the calories in the frosting, so I quickly looked for a frosting recipe with my favorite ingredient: Greek Yogurt! And I found one here at "Cupcake Project". This recipe was the perfect fix for the calorie laden topping! After re-figuring the calories I now brought a serving down to: 321. Still a lot, but 100 calories less.

Now for the taste test. My family loved it! We feel as though this will be a great cake for fall. It has the consistency of coffee cake, which went well with my ice tea!

As I search for recipes to put into a recipe book my girls can take with them when they get their own place, I think this recipe is going in.

In the future I may try and make it a bit healthier with whole wheat flour, apple sauce instead of butter, and agave nectar for the sugar. I will let you know how that turns out. :)

Have a creative day!

"Clean" Strawberry-Mango Lemonade

While on vacation this past week, my friend Jeanne made me some wonderful Lemonade. This is the recipe, with a few "tweaks". Instead of regular sugar based simple syrup, I used agave nectar. I also added strawberries because I had them on hand and they are in season! I hope you try this and enjoy as much as I did!




If you prefer your lemonade to be more sweet, feel free to decrease the lemon juice to 1 1/2 cups. Also if the mango puree makes the lemonade a little thick just add additional water to thin it out. Other than that, stay cool and hydrated this summer — make a batch and take it to the pool to share with friends or maybe even to a bbq for 4th of July! Just remember, sharing is caring and this drink will bring a smile to anyone’s face (unless you’re allergic to mangoes, strawberries or lemons)…

Ingredients for strawberry Mango Lemonade: (makes 10 x 8oz servings)
• 1 Cup Agave
• 9 cups water
• 2 Cups lemon juice
• 3 mangoes, peeled and pitted
• 8 medium strawberries

Directions:
In a small saucepan, combine agave and 1 cup hot water. Refrigerate until chilled. Puree the mangoes and strawberries using a blender or hand-held blender. If the fibers and strawberry seeds bother you then strain here.

Remove seeds from lemon juice, but leave pulp. In a pitcher, stir together chilled syrup, lemon juice, mango puree and remaining 8 cups water. Serve immediately chilled or on ice. (You can also freeze them in ice cube trays and make a strawberry mango lemonade slushie!)

Enjoy!!