Skinny Paloma Cocktail

My husband and I had a date night at Bahama Breeze the other night, mostly because I wanted to eat on a patio and they happen to have one.

Come to find out, they have new skinny/healthy options on the menu.  I was very excited and proceeded to order the skinny paloma, red pepper hummus with veggies and a giant salad loaded with 5 kinds of fruit.  I was stuffed with fruits and veggies.  Of course, I could have made that all at home, but it's nice to go out and have someone else make stuff for you, occasionally :)

With the cocktail though, it tasted exactly what I've been drinking at home lately & a double take at the menu proved it was exactly the same.  So I'm keeping my recipe, but stealing their name.

Skinny Paloma Cocktail

serves 1

• 2 oz tequila (or more if you want it stronger)
• 4 oz (1/2 cup) grapefruit juice (I used a reduced calorie, low sugar juice)
• crushed ice
• diet lemon lime soda
• optional-raw sugar for the rim

Dip the rim in water and dip in sugar.  This raw sugar has big ole crystals, so it looks a little patchy.  You could also use salt on the rim if you are into that.

Pour the tequila in the glass first, followed by the grapefruit juice.  

Scoop in a handful or two of crushed ice and top with lemon lime soda.

It is the perfect relaxation drink for watching the Project Runway Allstars Finale!  Go Mondo :)
*note~I wrote this post after watching Project Runway Allstars Finale Part 1 & have no idea who won the finale as of yet.  I watch my shows on the computer a few days after they actually air.

For a good time, check out my other mixed drinks:

Blood Orange Margarita

Hot Toddy

Berry Infused Vodka

Watermelon Lemonade Slush

Tropical Cocktail

Black Raspberry Mojito

Cheers!

Easy Peacock Feather Pillow Tutorial

I read somewhere that the best way to makeover a room inexpensively was to add little details like pillows or accessories.  So, let's make a cute pillow :)

I've been seeing peacock feathers everywhere, lately, so I started sketching some last week and jotting down ideas.  I simplified the feather to a few basic shapes to make a super fun & easy accent pillow.

Supplies you will need for this project are:

• 2 16 x 16 squares of fabric (I used a basic cotton fabric in a natural finish)
• 1 14 x 14 pillow or pillow form (found at Hobby Lobby)
• Paint (fabric paint would be best, but I used acrylic paint)
• Paint brushes
• Scissors
• Thread & sewing machine
• Peacock feather template (below)
• Optional-fine tipped Sharpie for details

Start by measuring and cutting your fabric into 16 x 16 squares.  If you use a different sized pillow form for a bigger or differently shaped pillow, you'll need to modify this measurement.

Then print off these simple feather shapes or make your own.

I made copies of them and cut them out to form my composition on one of the 16 x 16 fabric squares.

This is where I made things super simple.

  

You could paint the feathers free handed if you want, but I find that I'm afraid to mess things up when I do that.

So, cut out the outer shape of the feather, lay it down, paint a line around it.

Then cut out the second shape and paint a line around it.  Fill in that space (in the case of these pics, I would be filling mine in with green).

I roughly painted these, so they would have a more rustic, artsy look to them to go with the natural fabric.  Do whatever you feel necessary.

Next, cut out the last little shape (looks like a Star Trek symbol, no?) and paint around it with your middle color (purple in my case) and fill in the middle space.  Then fill in the little shape with another color.

Easy peasy!

Repeat with all feathers and let it dry.  Notice I had cardboard under my fabric.  Very important, as it will bleed through a bit.

I went in after everything dried and did some detail lines with a dark green, fine tipped Sharpie.  This is optional, but I felt like it completed the feathers.  

Then you will take both fabric squares (the painted and plain), face the painted side in and sew up three sides.  Then turn it right side out & slip the pillow form in there.  Sew it up!  You are done :)

I think it turned out cute.  Boscoe seems unimpressed with it, but he's a tough critic.

It's a perfect little accent pillow to add a little fun to your room.

Inspiration from Alisa Burke's peacock lampshade.

Protein Enriched Chocolate Chunk Cookies

I have been jonesing.

For cookies, duh.

I take a core class on Saturdays for abs and such, and the instructor is always saying, "make your body into a 'C': 'C' for 'crunch'."  

In my mind, "C" will only stand for one thing.  And that is cookie.

Anyone else jonesing for a bowl full of cookies?

This is the best "healthy" cookie recipe I have tried, to date.  So dense and chewy with the nutty flavor of browned butter and just a touch of sea salt to counter balance the chunks of chocolate.

Let's do this thing.

Protein Enriched, Browned Butter Chocolate Chunk Cookies

makes 21 regular sized cookies

3/4 cup all purpose flour

1 cup whole wheat flour

1 scoop vanilla protein powder (see my protein powder of choice here)

3/4 tsp baking soda

3/4 tsp baking powder

3/4 tsp sea salt

1 stick butter (I used Smart Balance)

1 cup + 2 tbsp loosely packed dark brown sugar

1/4 cup egg substitute (or use 1 egg)

1 tsp vanilla

3/4 cup chocolate chunks

1/4 cup mini chocolate chips

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.  Mix the first 6 ingredients in a bowl and set aside.

Heat butter in a small pan on the stove (on medium heat) until bubbly, whisking occasionally. Once it starts to take on a brown color, remove from the stove.  

Measure the brown sugar in a small bowl and pour the melty, browned butter on top of it and whisk it up.  Add the egg and vanilla.

Pour the sugar, butter mixture into the dry ingredients and stir until combined.  Add in the chocolate chunks and chips.

Line your pans with parchment (or spray them, whatever) and scoop dough with cookie scoop (or heaping tablespoon), pressing them down slightly with your hands.

Bake for 11-12 minutes and cool on parchment or cookie racks.

Enjoy!

Recipe adapted from Eat the Love blog.

March Photo-A-Day Round Up #2

Time for this week's picture round-up!

Day 10: Loud

Every Saturday at 12 pm, they test the sirens in our area.  Our dogs (I say "our" because they live with my parents, but I call them "my" dogs), Finny (right) and Madmartigan (left) love to howl when the sirens are going off.  Then they have bark wars, barking back and forth for a few minutes.  It's pretty entertaining.

Day 11: Someone You Talked To Today

My 6 year old nephew is just about the most hilarious person I've ever met.  I caught him playing chicken with his shadow this weekend and just had to snap a pic.

Day 12: Fork

I might have cheated on this photo and recycled a pic from my Blood Orange Pancakes post.  I actually had oatmeal that morning, eaten with a spoon, so there was no forking around (what?).

Day 13: Sign

I struggled with this photo prompt.  I pass about a million signs on the way to work, but they are mostly road signs (boring).  This daredevil in front of my car inspired me to whip out my camera.  I mean, really?  Mobile sharpening?  That seems really dangerous.  Check out the right corner sign.  Hopefully nobody will flag a vehicle full of knives down in search of an ambulance (lol)!

Day 14: Clouds

I could take pictures of clouds all day.  They are so pretty and ever changing.  It amazes me when there are the beams from the sun shining through~so majestic.  Next to my cats, this is my favorite photo subject ;)

Day 15: Car

Um, yeah.  My car is a total old lady car.  I am actually the 3rd generation to drive this car.  It was my Nana's, then my Mom's and now mine.  I know the prompt just says "car" so I could have taken a pic of any car, but I seriously didn't see any cool cars that day.  Let's pretend I took a picture of like a Camero from the 60s or 70s.  I love those.  Anyways, this is just a detail shot of my awesome ride.  Don't be jealous! ;)

Day 16: Sunglasses

I got these sunglasses last year at Target for a buck.  I love how fun they are!  Speaking of fun, check my St. Patty's day accent nail!  

That's it for the round up this week.  

Check out last week's roundup or an explanation of the challenge.

Here's the list I'm going from:

 

Breakfast Quesadilla

This breakfast was too good not to share.  It has all the stuff you need to get your brain and body ready for the day: healthy fats, protein, veggies & carbs :)

Plus, you can eat it running out the door if you need to.  Um, and it's yummy.  Which is important.

It's alot like a breakfast burrito, but it is better for 2 reasons:  You get a crispier tortilla and it is less messy.

Breakfast Quesadilla

serves 1

1 egg

1 egg white

handful of spinach

1/4 avocado, sliced

tomato slices

1/2 Laughing Cow Swiss cheese wedge

sprinkle of reduced fat shredded cheese

1 reduced calorie tortilla

non stick cooking spray

2 slices of microwave bacon (or whatever you like)

Put your egg and egg white in a small bowl and whisk with a fork.  Cook it how you like in a skillet.  I fried mine, omelet style.  Cook your bacon per microwave instructions.

Spray a large skillet with non-stick cooking spray and heat to medium.

On one half of the tortilla, put the following:

• Swiss cheese spread
• Avocado slices
• Tomato slices
• Spinach
• Cooked egg
• Bacon
• Shredded cheese

Fold the tortilla and put it in the large skillet.  Press it down for a minute with a spatula to compress it a little. Cook each side until brown & enjoy :)

Here's my tortilla and bacon of choice (both found at Kroger):

source

source

 Totally my new favorite breakfast!

What I'm Reading Wednesday

Let's talk books, shall we?

I cannot say enough awesome stuff about this book:

 

source

And the second book in the series was just as good.

 

source 

I am sooo on the edge of my seat for book #3 that will be out Fall 2012!

So, the Birthmarked trilogy by Caragh M. O'Brien is about a dystopian society where America is basically a wasteland with limited resources.  The only chance for survival is to have strict policies and procedures by the Enclave, which is like their government.  The main character, Gia is a 16 year old mid-wife trained by her mother who is also a mid-wife.  She delivers babies and the first five babies of each month have to go to the Enclave to be given to the elite families.  Pretty intense, right?
I don't want to give too much away, so I'm going to stop there.  But get to the library (or bookstore, Amazon or ereader) and get a hold of this book and the next one, Prized, too.
If you liked the Hunger Games, you will love this.  I loved the HG & feel like this one is just as good, for real.

Other books I've read lately are:

Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? by Mindy Kaling

 

source

This book is pretty funny and such a quick read.  It is a memoir of this actress/writer, best known for her role as Kelly on The Office.  Really cute tales of her life and road to success.

The First Husband by Laura Dave

 

source

Just finished this one last night.  It was a quick read, also.  Plus the library only had the large print, so I could basically read it from across the room (which is fun).  This book is about a travel writer who thinks everything in her life is working out until things change rapidly.  So she is on a mission to be the opposite of herself on her journey towards happiness.  This book is a light read, kind of chick-lit, but I liked it.

Anyways, be sure to check out these books if you are looking for a new and interesting book.
If you have any book recommendations for me, I'd love to hear them ;)

Have a nice day!

Super Easy Homemade Fish Sticks

It is super easy to keep frozen convenience foods on hand for quick dinners, but did you know you can make your own fish sticks just as quick?

Oh, and they are pretty healthy for you, too ;)

These were actually better than any frozen fish stick I've ever had.

Homemade Fish Sticks

Frozen filets of cod, thawed

Butter, melted (I used Smart Balance butter)

Panko bread crumbs

Salt & pepper

Seasoning salt to taste

I didn't put any measurements in this recipe because it can be adapted for as many people as you would like to serve.  I just made a one person serving with a small cod filet~about 4 oz (which ended up being really plentiful).

Preheat the oven to 425 degrees.  Cut your thawed cod into sticks (or you could do nuggets).  Try to cut them uniformly.  As you can see, my knife skills are somewhat lacking.  Season the fish with the S&P.

Arrange the melted butter & panko in separate bowls.  Season the panko with a sprinkling of seasoning salt.

Dip the fish sticks in melted butter, then coat them in panko bread crumbs and place them in a single layer on   greased (or parchment lined) pan.

Bake the fish sticks in the oven until nice and golden (about 15 minutes).

I made a quick and healthy homemade tartar sauce on the side.

Bonus Recipe: Tartar Sauce
2 tbsp fat free mayo
1 tbsp plain greek yogurt
squirt of lemon juice
1 tbsp dill relish
sprinkle of onion powder
sprinkle of salt