Studio 5 "10 Pound Challenge" "quick" calorie-burn workout! (no equipment needed)

This video didn't work for me.  So if it didn't work for you try clicking here http://stage-v2.ksl.com/video/FitnessVideo.m4v

Studio 5 "10 Pound Challenge" is ending today and I am just starting.  Their first challenge is to go to bed  a little bit hungry.   K, I will go to bed a little bit hungry.   I will go to bed a little bit hungry.   I will go to bed a little bit hungry.  I did the quick calorie burn and it was great.  Here is the link:

Enjoy!

Fixer Elixer

This is great stuff and addicting. It's great for when you have a cold or you are cold. It's great to use as a snack when you are trying to loose weight. It's great just as a refreshing healthy drink. You can add a little cilantro too if you want to include greens. Adjust the ingredients to your taste. This is pretty potent.  Enjoy!

Fixer Elixer

Add the following to a blender

• 2 cups fresh squeezed Lemon Juice
• 5-10 cloves of Garlic
• 1-2 inches of Ginger
• 1/16 tsp. Cayenne Pepper
• 1/2 to 3/4 cup Raw Honey (see note)
• 1/4 tsp. Raw Salt

Blend until smooth and add 5 cups of very warm water. Blend again and enjoy!

Note: my raw honey is thick and hard so you may need to adjust depending on the consistancy of your honey

Fig and Ginger Truffles

I made Fig and Ginger Truffles right after my daughter was born.  I wanted something healthy yet chocolaty decadent.  These did the job!  They are healthy too.  I was reminded of these little gems today by a friend.  She hasn't been able to forget them either.  Guesss what I'm making tomorrow?

Find the recipe here:  http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/healthy-appetite-with-ellie-krieger-/fig-and-ginger-truffles-recipe/index.html

Chocolate Bread Pudding

I've been making this recipe forever.  I think I got it originally from a Eagle Brand Chocolate Sweetened Condensed Milk can.  Unfortunately, they don't make chocolate sweetened condensed milk anymore.  This is the recipe that was on Eagle Brand's website quite a few years ago.  It has been a hit every time I make it for parties or family gatherings.  It's also a delicious way to use up old bread.  Enjoy!

Chocolate Bread Pudding

4 c. French bread cubed
½ c. chopped nuts
3 eggs
2 tsp vanilla
1 can sweetened condensed milk
2- 1 ounce squares of unsweetened chocolate melted
1 ½ c. water
2 tbs. butter melted
Whipped cream

Preheat to 350.  Butter a 9-inch square-baking dish. Place bread cubes in baking dish and sprinkle chopped nuts evenly over bread. Blend melted chocolate and sweetened condensed milk. Set aside. In bowl beat eggs and vanilla.  Add, water, butter and chocolate milk mixture. Mix well.  Poor evenly over bread, moistening completely.  Bake 40 to 45 minutes or until knife is inserted and comes out clean.  Serve warm with whipped cream.
Makes 6-9 servings

Make a Compost Bin from a Plastic Storage Container

We don't have room to create a compost pile. At least, that is what I thought until now.  I just found this awesome idea that most anyone can do even if they only have a balcony.  I'm going to get started on this right away.  Here is the link to find out how http://organicgardening.about.com/od/compost/ht/storagecompost.htm

Yummy Healthy Tomatillo and Avocado Salsa

Made this yummy salsa and it was a hit.  It's also very healthy so it's a double good whammy!   Enjoy!

Yummy Healthy Tomatillo and Avocado Salsa

2 cups coarsely chopped rinsed husked tomatillos (I had about 6 tomatilllos and didn't chop and measure)

1 4 oz. can diced green Chiles

2 large avocados, halved, peeled, pitted, diced

3/4 cup chopped white onion

1 garlic clove, thinly sliced or chopped

1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro

3 tablespoons fresh lime juice

1 tablespoon vinegar (I always use Bragg's apple cider vinegar)

Place tomatillos and chiles in food processor or blender. Using on/off turns, process until coarse puree forms. Pour puree into medium bowl. Mix in all remaining ingredients. Season with salt and pepper. (Can be made 4 hours ahead. Cover; chill).

Adapted from http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Avocado-and-Tomatillo-Salsa-108062

Messy Volume Thin Headband Updo

I love the thin little headbands that ladies wear nowadays but I never to look good in them.  I have a chunky square face and need lots of volume in my hair to offset it.  I love the messy bun and with a lot of backcombing I can get a nice poof with my bun.  Today I found this picture.  I adored the hair and wished I could look like the model!  She is wearing a thin band but has volume in front and in back of the band.  I tried to imitate it with my hear and it worked beautifully!  So for those who need and want extra volume in there hair here is the picture.

If you are have messy volumized hair ideas please share.  Post your website in the comment section below.

Source:  http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://media.tumblr.com/tumblr_l8mrj7zCQi1qd1euq.jpg&imgrefurl=http://monolidlove.tumblr.com/post/1108689036/style-saturday-autumn-beauty-trends&h=338&w=298&sz=20&tbnid=Hv6WeH_Sm6xt-M:&tbnh=91&tbnw=80&zoom=1&docid=E337WmHcUQ3Z9M&sa=X&ei=OBUfT_HZHcTq2AWrvrCGDw&ved=0CDwQ9QEwAg&dur=597

Hot Fudge Sauce . . . You will want to eat in one setting!

This hot fudge sauce is so darn good I could probably eat it by the spoonful  . . . . OK, maybe I have but it is really good!  I love adding this to my Double Chocolaty Chip Frappuccinos (DCCF).  Enjoy!

Hot Fudge Sauce 

1 cup butter
1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
3 cups white sugar 1 (12 fluid ounce) can evaporated milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract 


Combine butter, cocoa, sugar and evaporated milk in a saucepan over medium heat. Bring to a boil and boil for 7 minutes. Remove from heat; stir in vanilla. Carefully pour hot mixture into a blender and blend for 2 to 4 minutes. Serve immediately. Store in refrigerator.

Source: http://allrecipes.com/Recipe-Tools/Print/Recipe.aspx?RecipeID=22810&origin=detail&&Servings=16

Favorite Hot Cocoa

I love to make my own hot chocolate.  If you look on the ingredients of a store bought mix, you will find that there are some not so natural ingredients.  I also don't like the taste of most of them.  This is a great recipe and you can save the leftovers in the fridge for chocolate milk.  

Favorite Hot Cocoa

1/2 cup sugar
1/4 cup cocoa
Dash Salt
1/3 cup hot water
4 cups milk
dash salt
3/4 tsp. vanilla extract

Mix sugar, cocoa and salt in saucepan.  Stir water.  Cook and stir over medium heat until mixture boils.  Boil and stir for 2 minutes.  Stirl in milk and heat.  DO NOT Boil.  Remove from  constantly until mixture boils over medium heat; cook and stir 2 minutes. Stir in milk and heat, do not boil. Remove heat; add vanilla.   

Source: Hershey's Cocoa

Making a very simple meal fun

So it's morning.  My kids are suddenly starving and I haven't made anything for them. I have some homemade bread and boiled eggs.  I can just hear my kids complaining that they want something different.   In the back of my mind I remember seeing a picture of a face with eggs and toast.  I try it.  It's simple but different and fun and it was a success!

Egg Face with boiled eggs, homemade bread and honey butter.

Move Over Starbucks!

I had this major addiction to Starbucks Double Chocolaty Chip Frappuccinos (DCCF) but as I would drink them I couldn't understand why they would cost so much. There didn't seem to be $5 plus worth of ingredients in them.  So I did a little search on the Internet for a copycat version and I struck gold.  I could make one for a fraction of the cost!  Without further ado I give you the homemade DCCF recipe


Double Chocolaty Chip Frappuccinos (DCCF)

• 1 cup of milk (whole, reduced fat, or skim. For a special treat, add coconut milk)
• 2 tablespoons of sugar
• 1/3 cup chocolate chips (mmm... chocolate!)
• 3 tablespoons chocolate syrup (Hershey's will do)
• 2 cups of ice
• 1/8 teaspoon vanilla extract
• Whipped Cream 

Blend it all up, top with whipped cream and Enjoy!  


NOTES:  Sometimes I add a pinch of two of salt. I will also be posting an amazing chocolate syrup recipe that you can use with this recipe.  If you are like me and run out of syrup but really need a DCCF you can use 2 TBS of sugar and 2 TBS Cocoa instead (vary the amounts to your taste).  AND if you are like me you might add a little spinach or spouted sunflower seeds and turn this into a semi healthy kinda green smoothie.  


Recipe Source: http://my.opera.com/IceArdor/blog/2007/09/13/how-to-make-starbucks-double-chocolate-chip-frapuccinos