Mall Pretzels

I love Aunt Annie, I wished she wasn't so determined to make me gain weight. I have yet to find a good warm mall pretzel that I didn't love. My breadmaker has a wonderful recipe booklet in it and I think they are some of the best breads I make. Last night we were all wanting a treat and this was the result. While my pretzel twisting skills need practice for sure, they tasted amazing. I also thought the resulting heart shape would be cool for Valentine's Day coming up. It's close to making bagels because you boil the bread before you bake it to ensure the "rubbery" outside and tender inside. These babies were awesome. The nutritional value wasn't too shabby either if you are looking for a treat. I think if you used whole wheat flour mixed in instead of all white flour you would have even better for you results. Here is the recipe and the pics... wished you could get the smell that accompanied them, yummy!

Soft Pretzels

3/4 cup water 80-90 degrees

1 1/2 tsps salt

2 1/2 firmly packed brown sugar

2 cups plus 6 Tbsp bread flour

2 tsps yeast, active dry, instant or bread machine

Place ingredients in bread machine in order given. Select dough/pizza dough setting and small loaf size. Allow to mix, knead, and rise. When cycle is completed, removed dough from machine and transfer to floured surface. Divide dough into eight equal pieces. Roll each piece into a thin rope and twist into pretzel shape. Put on parchment lined baking sheet, cover with plastic and allow to rest 20 to 30 min. Place 2 inches of water in a saute pan, bring to a boil. Preheat oven to 425. In separate bowl add 2 cups of water and 2 Tbsp of baking soda, stir and reserve. Once pretzels have rested and water is at a boil, carefully slide each pretzel in one by one boiling for 1.5 min on each side. Transfer to cooling rack to drain. Dip each pretzel into the stirred baking soda solution and place back on parchment-lined baking sheet. Bake in oven until dark and golden, about 10 to 15 min. I added kosher salt before baking and it added a nice "bakery" touch.

Each 2 oz pretzel:

Cal 141

Fat 1

Carb 28

Pro 5

Fib 1

Angel Food Cake Explosion

A cake gone crazy.... it was so good. I made it with Splenda and actually got good reviews from the crew. Needless to say it wasn't so pretty. I love the shot of all the spillover in the oven. This is the first homemade dessert that my family has eaten in two nights in a long time.

Wordless Wednesday

EAS AdvantEDGE Protein Bars Reviewed

On my new endeavor to eat more and get quality food inside me I have found these wonderful EAS bars. First, I love the EAS product line. I have consumed mass amounts of protein shakes from them on a daily basis for over a year. If you are afraid of carbs, as I am, these are the shakes and bars for you. They don't have that ridiculously gross "protein" flavor that most supplements do. If you take the shakes and mix them with ice and a tsp of espresso powder...BAM... Mocachino! As for the bars, they are higher in carbs but only 2 sugars. So if you are looking for an energy pick me up to help you get that run in....these are for you. These babies are awesome, tasteful, and cheap. I also had the chocolate peanut butter bar and the brownie chocolate chip bar; equally delicious. Here is the cookies and cream bar for viewing pleasure....

Nutritional Info: 1 bar

Cal 230 (yes, I know this is a bit high but it will keep you full)

Fat 8

Carb 25

Fiber 5

Sugar 2 (2 ONLY 2!)

Protein 17

Happy 8th Birthday Lexi!

Cookie Monster Cuppies!

These were Lexi's cupcakes for her 8th birthday celebration at school. These were super fun to make and were delicious too.

2010

I can't believe it is already time to start a new year! With this new year I have high hopes for many things. First is to get back to my blog, yes, I know everyone is so excited!!! I can't say how much fun I had with this and have gotten much to far from the things I enjoy over the past year. I am restarting my exercise program that made me so stupidly, blissfully, irritating. I started P90x and running again. This time I am going to track my food and do a better job of eating more. I sadly discovered over the past three days that I am only consuming about 500 calories a day, which may be why my metabolism is so jacked up. I am also pledging to no longer keep people in my life that are not nice to me or don't want to put into relationships the same effort that I do. I have never been good at making, having, or keeping friends. But, I have also kept people in my life that didn't need to be. I have tried to make relationships with many people and family members that never cared enough about me to even be that of an acquaintance. This does make me sad but why continue to want people in my life who don't want to be there.

And lastly, I am going to take more time to enjoy life and be thankful for all the greatness that surrounds me. I have quit a crappy job where people aren't nice or caring or smart, which is kinda important in nursing, and I am embarking on a new field of nursing that I have always wanted to learn. I am going to be more patient and kind and loving to those who have decided I am important to them and worth loving. I am not going to waste time with regret or anger. And perhaps have a piece of chocolate now and again!

So, I am back, Finally! And so get your comments ready and send them my way, I'm waiting!

New Pics

Here are a few pics of the Dance Recital we just finished and a few of my new black Christmas tree.... It's Fabulous!!!! xoxo Hannah