I'm a Weekend Splurger & Vega One Review

Don't forget to enter the giveaway for free entry to any open wave at a 2014 US Spartan Race!

As part of Fit Approach and as a Sweat Pink Ambassador I was given the opportunity to review Vega One shakes, a plant-based nutritional shake. They must have known I was a vanilla girl because they sent me a 10-day supply of the shakes. I am always on the search for new shakes because I like variety and tire quickly of the same shake day after day, so I was really excited to give this shake a try. I've tried Isagenix, Shakeology, and countless protein powders before this and my mind was really open to Vega One's plant-based shake.

Before my review, let me tell you about my persona as part of the #OneChange campaign, the Weekend Splurger. I'm really good with my eating habits during the week, but there is always one really, really bad splurge meal on the weekends. You know that meal where it makes you feel like you have undone all the work you put in during the week? For me, that meal usually involves beer, burgers, fries, onion rings, and dessert. I didn't realize this was my persona until I started looking more closely at my eating habits and the pattern I get into on the weekends, especially on those long, hard days of parenthood when all I want is an easy answer for dinner.

One thing that has helped me combat the Weekend Splurger mentality is having a shake for breakfast. That, in a way, sets the tone of the day for me and reminds to me to be more mindful about what I am putting into my body throughout the day. With nutrition and eating, this is my #OneChange this year: have a shake for breakfast and get into the eating healthy mentality first thing. Whatever shake it is, whether it be a Vega One shake or Isagenix, I need to resolve to have a shake so that I am not regretting all my eating choices Sunday night.

Now, on to the Vega One shakes. First time I tried it I had it with a cup of almond milk, a tablespoon of  almond-chocolate spread, and ice. That shake did not impress me. It tasted chalky and like liquid popcorn. The next time I made a shake I made it with a cup of almond milk, a tablespoon of peanut butter, a banana, and ice. Wow! What a difference. This was a shake I could actually drink and enjoy and I found myself thinking about drinking it again. I didn't even bother making any other recipes because I was so in love with this combination. I'm happy I found this combination that I like because now I can add a new shake to my shake mix. Even better, Whole Foods sells the packets of the powder!

I have so many goals and changes this year that it feels good to have this #OneChange set. What will be your #OneChange this year?

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Bacon-Infused Whiskey

I'm going to admit something: we are bacon freaks. As in, we love bacon and will try anything that has bacon as an ingredient. A few months back we had seen an ad for a bacon vodka  and it got us thinking about how hard it could be to make an infused liquor like that at home. Christmas rolls around and we decide to give infusion a try as a gift for the whiskeylover in our lives. A quick search yielded plenty of recipes and, while all seemed similar, I went with this recipe because I liked its thoroughness. Getting everything together was easy, filtering out the fat was just plain tedious. We filtered ours three times and each time took between 45-60 minutes. The end result was pretty spectacular as the whiskey really picked up the bacon flavor and the bacon soaked up the whiskey flavor. I think you can get drunk off of eating the bacon bits alone.

Bacon-Infused Whiskey
Source: Adapted from Matthew Walrath on What Is Bacon

1.75 liter bottle of whiskey (we used Jack Daniel's Tennessee Honey)
16 oz bacon
Large jar
Coffee filters

Cut up bacon into 3-inch strips. Over medium heat, cook all the bacon until slightly crispy. Yes, cook all of it.

Place cooked bacon and all of the bacon fat in the large jar. Pour in whiskey, seal jar, and store at room temperature. For the next 48 hours, shake the jar every 4 to 6 hours.

After 48 hours, place the jar in the refrigerator for a few hours. This is key as it helps the fat solidify so that it is easier to remove once you start filtering. Spoon out whatever fat you can (there was at least an inch worth of fat accumulated on top of the whiskey for me) and, using coffee filters, begin filtering out the leftover fat into another container.

Filter at least two times or until you get a semi-clear liquid. Pour whiskey into a new container or back into its original bottle. The bacon can be saved to garnish drinks or for baking (recipe coming soon!).

Serve and enjoy! Our whiskey lover served it with orange juice and said it was like breakfast in a cup.

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Pumpkin Week: Pumpkin Smoothie

Two posts tonight because this weekend turned out to be busier than I expected so Pumpkin Week day 5 is a little late in the series. Almost all of the recipes I made involved baking so I wanted to try my hand at a smoothie since I have a smoothie each morning for breakfast. I wasn't too sure if I was going to like this recipe because it involved pumpkin puree in pure form and I wasn't sure if I would like the taste or consistency of the smoothie. The smoothie was, however, pretty good. My only complaint is that I wish I had added more spices to it to make it feel more fall-ish. You can still taste the pumpkin but it wasn't overwhelming and it gave the smoothie a very creamy and smooth taste.

Day 1: Pumpkin Bread

Day 2: Pumpkin Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies

Day 3: Healthy Oatmeal Pumpkin Pancakes

Day 4: Pumpkin Muffins

Pumpkin Smoothie
Source: Adapted from Low Fat Cooking
Serves 1

1/4 cup pumpkin puree
1/4 cup almond milk
1/4 cup plus 2 Tbsp Greek vanilla yogurt
1 scoop vanilla protein
1 tbsp honey
Pinch of cinnamon
1/4 tsp vanilla extract
1 cup crushed ice

Place all ingredients in a blender and puree until smooth, making sure the ice is completely crushed.

Sprinkle with cinnamon. Serve and enjoy!

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Peanut Butter Banana Protein Smoothie

I love smoothies. Since I started running and working out, smoothies have become a part of my day. My favorite smoothie is this Peanut Butter Banana Protein Smoothie. If you've tried Jamba Juice's Peanut Butter Moo'd, this smoothie tastes like a healthy version of that smoothie. 

Peanut Butter Banana Protein Smoothie

1 cup milk
1 banana
1/4 cup vanilla protein
1/4 peanut butter
1/4 cup oatmeal
1/4 cup wheat germ
4 ice cubes

Combine all ingredients in a blender. Blend, serve, and enjoy!

Adult Piña Colada Smoothies

There are times when you are craving something tropical and refreshing. In those times, this drink is for you. This drink is especially for you if you are like us and like coconut vodka. This drink is also perfect for saying goodbye to summer. Although I will miss summer, I am looking forward to the apples, pumpkins, and cooler weather of fall.

Piña Colada Smoothies
Source: Adapted from Kitchen Simplicity
serves 2

1 1/2 cups chopped pineapple
1/2 cup cream of coconut
1 banana
2 oz coconut vodka
1/2 cup ice cubes

Put all ingredients in a blender and process until smooth. Serve immediately or cover and refrigerate until ready to serve.

Frozen Hot Chocolate, Serendipity Style

Before we even decided to go to Serendipity 3 for our fifth wedding anniversary, I made us this Frozen Hot Chocolate. For years I had gone on and on about this drink and thought it was finally time to introduce Alex to its deliciousness. The drink will take on the flavor of whatever hot chocolate mix you use so it makes for fun experimenting. The sad thing is that after I made this, having the real deal at Serendipity 3 was kind of a let down. It was as if all the magic was gone because I knew how to recreate the drink at home (at a fraction of the cost too!)

Frozen Hot Chocolate, Serendipity Style
Source: Picky Palate
Makes 4 servings

2 cups whole milk
Five 1.25 ounce packets of Hot Chocolate mix
4 cups ice
1 cup heavy cream
2 tablespoons granulated sugar
1/4 cup mini chocolate chips or grated chocolate

Place milk into blender. Add hot chocolate packets and blend until combined. Add ice and blend until ice is blended into tiny chunks. Pour evenly into 4 glasses on top of plates to catch any dripping frozen hot chocolate.

Whip cream and sugar until whipped cream. Top each glass with whipped cream and sprinkle with mini chocolate chips.

Green Smoothie

There is a debate raging in our house. An interesting one at that because it involves differing views of fitness. It all started when I saw this picture:

@ http://www.beccasfitlife.com

This girl (Becca) looks amazing to me. I love her body and want it for myself. I think it's the right amount of muscle and definition. This is my fitness goal. Alex, on the other hand, thinks it's too much muscle and too much definition. He doesn't agree with my fitness goal. Yet, he wants to look like those guys on the muscle magazines with their veins bulging out of their arms. I don't even know if I have the dedication or the willpower to even have a body like that, but I want to try. One step toward that goal is this green smoothie. It's delicious and healthy and the perfect in-between meals snack. The best part is that Cati likes it so I'm able to sneak in spinach into her diet.

What do you think of my fitness goal? Too much muscle?

Green Smoothie
Source: Iowa Girl Eats
Yields 2 Servings

1 frozen sliced banana
1 Tablespoon peanut butter
1/2 cup 0% Vanilla Chobani Greek yogurt
1 cup Unsweetened Vanilla Almond Breeze (or other kind of milk)
4 cups baby spinach (or more, or less)
2 Tbsp ground flaxseed
2 Tbsp wheat germ

Combine all ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth.

Oatmeal Week: Horchata

I am many days late in posting this. I was so on top of things up until I got sick and then I've been having issues with supply, so I have kind of been all over the place. Today has been the first day where I feel like a human again and like I can do more than simply go through the motions. Anyway, on to this drink: Horchata. There used to be this Mexican place I loved going to down here. Not only was their food great, but they also had some of the best horchata I'd ever tasted. The horchata at this restaurant was made with rice and I'm assuming milk because it was thick and creamy, almost like a rice pudding drink but smooth. I came across this oatmeal-based recipe in my quest for oatmeal recipes and it's pretty good. Not like the restaurant's, but still good enough that I will be making again. Anything to get more oatmeal in my diet!

In addition to these Chocolate Walnut Oatmeal Cookies, I have also made Lactation Cookies, Peanut Butter & Banana Oatmeal Smoothie, Oatmeal Cookie Pancakes, No Bake Chocolate Oat Bars, Brown Butter Oatmeal Chunk Cookies, and Chocolate Walnut Oatmeal Cookies.

Horchata
Source: Marcela Valladolid
Yields 4 servings

1 cup old fashioned rolled oats
1 (4-inch) cinnamon stick, broken into tiny pieces
4 cups water
Sugar or agave nectar, as needed

In a large pitcher, soak the oats, cinnamon and water for a minimum of 30 minutes. Blend the mixture (including the cinnamon) in a blender. Strain and sweeten with sugar or agave, to taste. Serve well-chilled or over ice.
 

Oatmeal Week: Peanut Butter & Banana Oatmeal Smoothie

I love smoothies. I love that you can pack a lot of delicious and healthy things in a drink. I especially like that you can sneak certain healthy things into smoothies. Cati isn't so much of a fan of smoothies but she loves to say the word "smoothie." Imagine my surprise when I gave her some of this smoothie and she liked it and asked for seconds. Alex, on the other hand, thought the smoothie tasted "too healthy." If you like the banana-peanut butter flavor combination then you will certainly like this smoothie. Or not, if you are adverse to anything healthy like Alex. At the very least, I know I will definitely be making this smoothie again and again for myself.

This is the second recipe as part of Oatmeal Week. You can find the first recipe for Lactation Cookies here. 

Peanut Butter & Banana Oatmeal Smoothie
by Becky of Project Domestication

Ingredients:
1 cup milk
2-3 Tbsp peanut butter*
1 medium frozen banana
1/4 cup old-fashioned oatmeal
1 Tbsp honey
1 Tbsp milled flax seed (I used ground flax seed)
1 Tbsp wheat germ (I omitted because I didn't have any)
4-5 ice cubes (optional)*

Blend all ingredients in blender until smooth. Pour in cup and enjoy.

*If using ice, increase peanut butter to 3-4 tablespoons. You may use fresh bananas in place of frozen, if so, ice is recommended.
 

Accomplished & Celebrate

I am so happy for today. I took an online class this semester so I wouldn't fall behind in school and I took the final exam today. I am officially done with the semester. First of all, online classes are a lot harder than I expected because of the discussion board requirements. Secondly, even though I had doubts about my ability to take an online class while also caring for a toddler and newborn, I am so glad I took the class. I feel so accomplished! My course on community consultation is over and I am one step closer to becoming a marriage and family therapist. Go me!

Now I want to celebrate by reading another good book (I just finished The Fellowship of the Ring) and drinking my favorite beer:  Sea Dog's Wild Blueberry Ale. I first got turned onto blueberry beer when we lived in Boston. I used to go to Beer Works in Fenway and order their blueberry beer. At first, it was because I got a kick out of seeing little blueberries floating around in my drink. After that, however, it was because the beer was refreshing and actually tasted like blueberries (minus the tartness). I've tried other blueberry beers since and some have been real doozies. One even tasted like it was plain beer mixed with blueberry sauce. Gross.

So tonight I pray both my girls sleep well because tonight will the first night in what feels like ages that I can sleep without a deadline breathing down my neck. Cheers!

Banana Peanut Butter Smoothie

I love all possible combinations of peanut butter and bananas. I am known to eat whole bananas slathered in peanut butter. That's how much I love the taste of that combination. So it was no surprise when I tried this smoothie recipe and loved it. I added more peanut butter because I couldn't really get the peanut butter flavoring with just one tablespoon. This is a perfect breakfast.

Banana Peanut Butter Smoothie
Source: Adapted from Mama Grubbs
Serves 1

1 banana
2 Tbsp fat-free vanilla yogurt
2 Tbsp cup milk (any kind you like)
2 Tbsp natural peanut butter
3/4 cups ice cubes

In a blender, combine all ingredients. Blend until smooth, and serve immediately.

Fruity Summer Cocktail

A very, very, very long time ago POM Wonderful contacted me about trying their new Pomegranate Cranberry juice. I was really excited because we drink POM Wonderful juice in real life and I'm always game for more of it. Everyone in the house loved this cranberry variety and, for some reason, I feel really guilty about enjoying this juice the most in an alcoholic beverage. My new favorite way to drink a Cosmopolitan is with this juice.

I'm always trying to come up with new drink concoctions. Most of the time, I fail miserably (special sorry to the person who was subjected to my mangorita concoction). Sometimes, I make something that's passable and rarely do I make something that is beyond delicious. When we had a bbq last weekend with my dad, I wanted to create a fruity drink that would be perfect for the heat outside. The drink I got was definitely fruity, a little too sweet, but perfectly matched by the alcohol.

Fruity Summer Cocktail
Serves 2

2 oz pina colada mix
2 oz pom cranberry juice
2 oz vodka

Place all ingredients in martini shaker with ice. Shake and then pour into martini glasses.

Enjoy!

Cotton Candy Martini

My friend introduced me to Pinnacle Vodka a few weeks back. This vodka comes in an assortment of flavors, but the popular ones seems to be their whipped cream and cotton candy flavors. Being a lover of cotton candy I decided to give this vodka variation a taste. I wanted to try my hand at bartending (I suck) so I did a little experimenting.

Recipe #1: Alex tried to make me a lemon drop martini and without the sugar rim the drink was really tart and citrus-y. To sweeten the drink up, I added cotton candy. That made the drink drinkable but not anything I would want to repeat. I used the drink he made as a base but then added triple sec and switched out the regular vodka for cotton candy vodka. The result was the most perfect cotton candy drink on the planet. So perfect, in fact, that I sent a text message to half of Miami telling them about the drink. The drink tastes just like cotton candy, which is good and bad. Good because that's what I wanted to accomplish; bad because you can't taste the alcohol and this drink is very dangerous. Don't be fooled by the ingredients, this is a manly drink too. Sort of. It can manly if the man of the house says "This is the best fruity drink" right? 

True Cotton Candy Martini
Created by me :)
Serves 1

1.5 oz Pinnacle Cotton Candy vodka
1 oz sour
1/2 oz  lime
1 oz triple sec
Handful of cotton candy
Ice

Combine all ingredients in a shaker and shake. Pour into martini glass

For a less sweet cocktail, use regular vodka.

Recipe #2: I went with a combination of vodka and raspberry lemonade. Our drinks came out a little too strong so next time I will make the vodka and lemonade equal parts. Also, I tried to garnish with cotton candy but it melted as soon as it came in contact with the wet cup. I actually put cotton candy in the drink but since I did this after I mixed the liquids together it wasn't really well dispersed. I thought it tasted a little like cotton candy while Alex declared it tasted like cough syrup.

Cotton Candy Martini
Created by me :)

Serves 2

5 oz Pinnacle Cotton Candy vodka
4 oz raspberry lemonade
Cotton candy

Combine all ingredients in a shaker with ice. Shake and then pour into martini glasses.

Garnishing with cotton candy.

Calling All Potter Fans!

Although I'm not as big of a fan as some out there, I am definitely a big fan of the Harry Potter movies and an even bigger fan of the books. Needless to say, I was really excited when I came across this recipe for Butterbeer. The best part about this drink? How deliciously sweet it tastes and how buttery it smells. If you like cream soda and whipped cream then this drink is for you, even if you don't care about Harry Potter or know what Butterbeer is. The second best part about this drink? Sharing it with another Potter fan. Thanks Jeselyn!

Homemade Butterbeer
Source: Sugarbear
Makes 6 servings

FOR THE BUTTERBEER
6 12-ounce bottles cream soda
3 teaspoons butter extract

FOR THE FOAM
2 cups heavy cream
6 tablespoons sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 1/2 teaspoons butter extract

To make the butterbeer: Set out 6 16-ounce glasses. Place 1/2 teaspoon of butter extract in each glass. Pour 12 ounces of butterbeer into each glass. Lightly stir, if necessary.

To make the foam: In a large bowl, or the bowl of a standing mixer, whip the heavy cream on medium high speed for 3-4 minutes until it starts to thicken. Add the sugar and continue whipping until very soft peaks begin to form, another 3-4 minutes (if you need to whip more or less, then be sure to do so, the times can vary quite a bit based on environment). Stir in the vanilla and butter extracts, then whip for another 30 seconds or so, until soft peaks form.

Spoon a generous portion of foam on top of each glass of butterbeer. Serve immediately.

PS I really need to invest in some real beer mugs. 

Homemade Bailey's Irish Cream

I am so excited about this recipe. I have never made anything like this before and I was so thrilled when my homemade version actually tasted like the store bought stuff. The original recipe calls for Irish whiskey but all I had was Canadian (Crown Royal). I don't know much about whiskey so I can't tell you if using Irish whiskey would have made this recipe taste more authentic. What I can tell you is that this stuff was beyond awesome. It was sweet with just enough alcohol. I don't like whiskey on its own, but I loved it in this recipe.

Homemade Baileys Irish Cream Recipe
Source: Cupcake Project (here)

1 cup heavy cream
14 oz sweetened condensed milk
1 2/3 cup whiskey
1 tsp instant coffee
2 Tbsp Hershey's chocolate syrup
1 tsp vanilla

Combine all ingredients in a blender and set on high speed for 30 seconds.

Bottle in a tightly sealed container and refrigerate. Shake before using.

Will keep for up to 2 months.

 

Homemade Hot Chocolate

I ran out of my favorite hot chocolate mix. This is a HUGE problem considering I have a cup of hot chocolate every night. I don't like using Hershey's syrup for my hot chocolate because it doesn't give my drink any depth. I like the syrup for ice cream but not for hot chocolate. I made my own hot chocolate and I can't get over how easy it was! The chocolate base started off like a ganache and once it was mixed with the whipped cream, it was more like a mousse. The hot chocolate was very rich and thick. Alex said it was a little too rich for him (he's a Hershey's syrup kind of guy) so this drink is for those hot chocolate purists.

Hot Chocolate Base
Source: Sara Perry's Deep Dark Chocolate
makes 15-20 servings

2 oz premium bittersweet chocolate, chopped (I used semi-sweet)
1/2 cup water
2/3 cup granulated sugar
Pinch of salt
2/3 heavy cream
1/2 tsp vanilla extract

In a heavy saucepan or in the top of a double boiler, combine the choclate and water over low heat, whisking occasionally until smooth. (As the chocolate melts, it will appear stringy) Add the sugar and salt and continue to cook and stir over low heat until the sugar dissolves, 3-4 minutes. Remove from heat and let cool to room temperature.

In a stand mixer or with a hand mixer, whisk the cream and vanilla until stiff peaks form. Fold in the cooled chocolate mixture until blended. (Don't worry if tiny flecks of chocolate appear. They won't affect the delicious outcome) Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator. The mixture will keep for up to 10 days.

For Hot Chocolate
Serves 1

6 oz milk
2-3 Tbsp Hot Chocolate Base
Marshmallows (optional)

Heat milk in either a small saucepan or in a mug in the microwave. Stir in Hot Chocolate Base. Partially swirl or totally blend. Garnish with marshmallows.