Feelin' the Love

So I've come to terms with the fact that I'm never going to be a regular blogger. 

Look how cute my coworkers are!

 

Mini cupcakes and a heartwarming card for a (belated) birthday. You know I went for one of them sprinkled ones. Feelin' the love today.

Catch'ya later!

Baking Spree

Sooooomebody stop me! Is this reference completely behind the times?

I'm on a baking spree.

I've developed a loaf obsession.

Weird bulbous protrusion eaten by me before anyone could notice.

I have a bookmarks folder dedicated specifically to the delightful oblong treats.

Recipes from the top: Chocolate Avocado Muffins from 750 Best Muffin Recipes (I'm too lazy to list out the ingredients--I'm sure there's something similar on the interweb if you're intrigued), Very Berry Muffins, Quick Wheat Bread, Eggnog Bread, and a Berry Loaf (same recipe as the muffins.)

Concerning the eggnog loaf, I eagerly grabbed a carton of So Delicious Eggnog after hearing good reviews about the product on other blogs.

Not really knowing what eggnog is to begin with. Verdict: so sickeningly sweet. I've struggled to incorporate it in my daily eats by diluting it with regular unsweetened soy milk or even water. I guess I don't have a big sweet tooth. I've been on the lookout for eggnog baked good recipes in the hopes that it will be consumed more readily that way.

Note: I very rarely follow recipes exactly. Even when I have all the ingredients. It's an inexplicable compulsive behavior of mine. So, these recipes will very likely give you something pictured above, but I can't guarantee that. You know what they say, spontaneity makes a great chef. Just kidding. I know spontaneity is dangerous in the kitchen, especially when it comes to baking. Humor me. 

Hella Popcorn

So quite a while ago I won a giveaway...

For a ton of popcorn! Thanks Anjali!

Of course, coming from a healthy living blog, it couldn't be just any popcorn: In my giant package came five gourmet creations from G.H. Cretor's: Kettle Corn, Just the Cheese Corn, Just the Caramel Corn, Caramel Nut Corn, and Chicago Mix. I think the Chicago Mix is kind of combination of the caramel nut and cheese varieties. I liked the little cardboard bowls included in the nifty box and can't wait to use them at a cute roomie movie night or something of the sort. 

In addition, I received two bright neon bags of Angie's Sea Salt Popcorn (as if I needed a reminder to eat them) plus an equally bright shirt--woot! 

So far, I've tasted the Kettle Corn, Cheese Corn, and the Sea Salt Popcorn. The Kettle Corn has a light sweetness that brought me back to my swim meet days, where there was always a kettle corn stand. I actually brought the bag to a movie night at a friend's, where there was another brand of kettle corn, and I think mine really stole the show. The Cheese Corn bursts with cheddar flavor, and definitely doesn't shy away from a bold salty taste. It's tasty, but I don't think I could eat more than a small bowl of the stuff at a time. In contrast, I like the Sea Salt Popcorn for its very subtle seasoning--just salty enough to keep you grabbing for the next handful, which is not a terribly worrisome thing with only 35 calories per cup.

Having so many snacks is demanding a series of movie nights in the near future. What could be better than a friend- and food-filled winter break? 

How did eating popcorn come to be associated with watching movies? 

I can't believe I never thought it weird until recently, but the pairing is really quite random.

Book Review: For Darkness Shows the Stars

For Darkness Shows the Stars by Diana Peterfreund

I found this in the teen section of the library. Commence the typical themes of unrequited love written in a girly narrative, stringent parent figures, and a rebellious spirit. For Darkness Shows the Stars takes place in a dystopia setting where there are two distinct classes of human beings--thus, the featured relationship is even more dramatic because it is forbidden. I need light and cheesy books like these to entertain me during the semester. Reading the classics isn't much of a break from reading textbooks for me. 

This book served its purpose for me: a light diversion from the stress of school. The heroine, unsurprisingly, achieves her happily-ever-after ending, and the reader is left with a satisfied feeling.

Side note: one of the back pages of the book promoted a "killer unicorn" series by the same author. It actually said "Forget everything you every knew about unicorns." WTF? First of all, who knows anything about made-believe creatures? Second of all, as corny it sounds, it does intrigue me...

Energy Bar Review: Nature Valley Sweet and Salty Almond

Popping in for a much-needed energy bar review. 

I am delighted to present to you another creation from one of my favorite food companies, Nature Valley:

I did the eating-in-class-and-then-snapping-photo-later thing again. I'm a devoted blogger! Haha, not...

I will sing the same praises as before: This bar is a good size, hearty enough to give the needed energy boost, but not heavy enough to weigh one down during a run or ruin an appetite for the next full meal. I like the combo of distinct flavors: the bar has a sweet creamy layer at the bottom, which provides while the crisp portion contributes the salty quality. Overall, sweetness overpowers saltiness, but a little sugar hit usually does well for a workout.

My rating: 4/5.

It's a Baking Kind of Day

In my book, rainy days are baking days...

Banana bread (recipe altered a bit) and carrot muffins galore!

Energy Bar Review: Luna Bar Peanut Honey Pretzel

I'm pretty excited about this one...

Visually, the Luna Bar Peanut Honey Pretzel flavor is a party! The peanut butter chips make the bar so look so fun and appetizing, thereby sealing the deal for me. The sweet and salty taste combo is a pleasant balance on the palate, too. I was worried that the pretzel pieces would be or somehow lose their crunchiness, but they still added a nice crisp to complement the smoother components of the bar. This is the perfect fuel to turn to when you can't decide between a sweet or salty snack (you know the feeling, right?).

My rating: 5/5.

Unexpectedly, this one not only fueled a quick 2-mile run at the gym, but actually filled me up for the rest of the afternoon/evening! For some reason, I was just not that hungry at dinner and did not crave my usual midnight snack. I guess this is a heartier bar, with more healthy fats from the peanuts and carbs from the pretzel bits.