Adventures in the Kitchen: Blueberry Scones

     

     What can blue do for you?
     If you read my last blog, you know that my adventures in "reading" this month have focused on healthy eating and basically what should or shouldn't be going in to our bodies.  One such power food to add to the must-eat list are blueberries.
     According to my latest Adventures in Reading, blueberries may be small, but they are gifted with many naturally-packaged health benefits.  Besides being low in fat and calories, they are high in Vitamin C, manganese, and fiber, and they contain phytonutrients that give them anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.  (For more good news about blueberries, be sure to check out  www.littlebluedynamos.com).
     With the winter months ahead and plenty of tea to be sipped in front of the fire, I played with a twist on an Amish favorite I've baked many a time here at the cabin.  Not only do these Blueberry Scones feature one of the most nutritionally-potent berries, but they also contain a combination of coconut oil and plain Greek yogurt ~ two more foods that offer your body some good stuff.
     Now, as an eater and exerciser, I do my best to stick to the "80-20 Rule".  That is, if one is regularly disciplined in combining healthy dietary choices with an efficient workout plan 80% of the time, then 20% of the time one can feel free to indulge a little.  In this recipe you will find a little bit of sugar as well, which, per cookie doesn't amount to much. (I've given up any kind of artificial sweetener.)
    So, if you are one to enjoy a bit of a sweet treat now and then, this one's got a lot in its favor and in its flavor. Simple ingredients, easy to make, and perfect with a warm cup of tea:)
    
    Here you go: 

     Blueberries ~ 1 cup
     Coconut Milk ~ 1/2 cup
     Greek Plain Non-fat Yogurt ~ 1 cup
     Brown Sugar ~ 3/4 cup
     White Sugar ~ 3/4 cup
     Eggs ~ 2
     Butter ~ 1 cup, softened
     Whole Wheat flour ~ 5 cups (100% whole!)
     Baking Powder ~ 2 tsp.
     Baking Soda ~ 1 tsp.

     Turn oven on to 375 degrees.  In a large mixing bowl, add the Greek yogurt, butter, eggs, vanilla, and sugars. Be sure all ingredients have been mixed together thoroughly, then add the coconut milk and the blueberries.
     Combine the flour, baking powder, and baking salt in a separate bowl.  Once mixed, gradually add the dry ingredients to the large bowl with creamed ingredients.  (Keep flour close by in case you need to add a little more.  The dough should not be sticky.)
     Drop evenly about an inch apart by teaspoon on a baking sheet.  Bake for 10 minutes or until a light brown. Makes about 5 dozen scones ~ enough to last all week for you to grab in the morning, have for at your break, or enjoy after dinner.
     Now light a candle, put on the tea, grab a book, and serve these scones up with your favorite blanket.

~ Have a Wonderful Week ~

Adventures in Reading? Master Your Metabolism

    Some time ago, I started a feature on the blog called Adventures in Reading.  The idea was to give me incentive to read more books, so I reasoned that starting a blog series would force me to sit and read more.
    That was some time ago.   
    
   (http://bridgetscabin.blogspot.com/2012/07/adventures-in-reading-left-to-tell-by.html)

    I must confess, I am not someone to sit and read books much ~ and I've tried.
    (In fact, my effort has pretty much left me in awe of a third-grade classmate and reading fiend who cranked out about a hundred Scholastic paperbacks a month!)
    But, I do love a good story and learning new and sometimes life-changing information, so I have accepted that the best way for me to take it all is something different from the beautifully-bound books on the shelves of Barnes & Noble or even the popular and convenient Kindle.
     Instead, I listen to books on audio while I am busy about the cabin, or  when I am driving, cleaning, folding laundry, cooking...you name it.
     My audio-listening program of choice is Audible.com, which I came across as a book gift-giver and a workout DVD-buyer on Amazon.  There are different plans, but I opted for the free trial followed by a $14.95 per month fee, allowing me one monthly downloadable audio book and others at discount prices.  If I get one book per month (the credits get stored until they are used), I basically pay half price since a typical audio book goes for about $30.
     The first book I listened to, while painting my son's room one summer, was the incredible Left To Tell (featured in the above link). It inspired me to listen to its author, Immaculee Ilibagiza,  in person, and I now await the movie telling her unbelievable account of surviving the Rwandan genocide.  
     Since being hooked on Ilibagiza's New York Times Bestseller, I have taken in all kinds of interesting fare.
     This month, I am going with a completely different genre as I listen and re-listen to Jillian Michael's Master Your Metabolism.
     True, it may not seem like the best time of year to be listening to what might be considered a weight loss book.  With two weeks to go before Thanksgiving ~ and the whole sweet month of December ahead ~ reading a book about healthy eating may not seem altogether timely.
     But with every New Year being rung in with hopeful resolutions, I think it's a great time to do some homework on what should and should not be going in to our bodies from maybe the most trusted source in the business.
    In a nutshell, Jillian breaks the book down into three parts: Remove, Restore, and Rebalance.  She tells you what to get rid of, what to make as core foods, and the dos & don'ts throughout the day (how many meals, how far apart, how much sleep to get, etc.)  
     One of the reasons the audio book works here is Jillian's delivery.  She makes it easy to listen to explanations of the various hormones that, when thrown out of whack, can make feeling, looking, and being healthy from the inside out almost impossible.  I am not so sure I would have stuck with written version.  (With my reading track record...probably not.)
    Also nice about the download is that it comes with a PDF file that supplements the audio book with reminders and recipes ~ and even a shopping list so you have the right things on your shelves.
    I have listened once through and am about to begin again just to have a greater comprehension of some of the more involved explanations of the three and a half hour download.  I am definitely finding it worth the time.
     Thus, the audio book remains my "reading" of choice:)

~ Have a Wonderful Day ~
Related Links: 

Amazon Reviews of Master Your Metabolism
for your reading pleasure

Jillian Michaels Recipes on Pinterest

Game Day/Night Potato Skins

     

     So tonight's College Football match up between #3 Oregon and #5 Stanford sends us into Football Weekend mode just a bit early. 

      What better occasion to make these Game Day/Night Potato Skins to serve family and friends settling in on this fine fall evening to catch one of the week's most highly anticipated gridiron contests?

Here you go:

     This version is gluten-free and casein-free, but regular ingredients with either can easily be swapped in and out if neither of these food allergies is an issue for you or your guests:

          Potatoes ~ 16 medium, washed

          Butter ~ 2 to 3 tablespoons (I am using Earth Balance Buttery Spread)

          Cheese ~ 1 to 1.5 cups (cheddar or, if casein-free, use a package of Daiya cheddar-style, shredded)

          Bacon ~ 16 ounces of your preferred variety

          Green Onions ~ 1 stalk

     Begin by cooking the bacon, leaving the grease in the large skillet.  Set the bacon aside to blot on paper towels. (I always cook all the bacon to account for household bacon-lovers who slip a few strips while you are not looking.  Plus, I always give one or two to Harley.)
     Preheat the over to 425 degrees.  While heating oven, roll potatoes around in bacon grease, make a small slit on top of each, and set on cookie sheet.  Bake for 45 minutes.
     While baking, wash and chop the green onions and continue to protect bacon.  Set aside onions.
     When potatoes are baked, let cool for 10 to 15 minutes, then slice in half.  Scoop out the potatoes, leaving very little in each half. (Set aside this extra potato in a container to be used for hash browns in the morning or mashed with a dinner later in the week.)
     Melt the butter with a little bit of bacon grease (if desired) in a mug for 30 seconds or so in the microwave.  Using a spoon, pour a little into each of the potato skin "bowls", then sprinkle each with sea salt.  Put back into the oven for 8 to 10 minutes until crisp.
     When ready, take out of oven and sprinkle with cheese of choice.  I generally lay a quarter piece of bacon strip on each, but using bacon bits is also a good way to go.  Top with green onions and put back into oven.
     These house favorites will be ready in less than five minutes.  You can serve with sour cream, salsa, Greek yogurt, or guacomole:)

~ Have a wonderful football weekend~

Crock Pot Cheese & Bacon Potatoes

     Football games just seem like a natural invitation to make food. 

   So, today, while Penn State battled Indiana, Tennessee took on Georgia, and my boys at Notre Dame prepared for Arizona State this fine Saturday College Football Game Day, I pulled out the crock pot and a sack of potatoes to make a hearty game-time side to go with our beautifully grilled chicken.

     Here you go:

     Potatoes ~ Six or seven medium to large (The Irish know a little

     thing or two about them:)

     Bacon ~ One Pound of Thick-cut

     Cheese ~ About two cups of any kind (in this case, I went 

                     dairy-free mozarella)

     Start with turning the crock on high.  In a skillet, cook the bacon on medium to low and set aside on paper towels, BUT leave the grease in the skillet.  I opt to dice up the potatoes, brown them in the bacon grease, then blot them before adding them to the crock pot.  (If this does not suit you, discard the bacon grease and use sunflower or olive oil ~ or something similar ~ to brown the potatoes instead.)

     I cut the bacon into halves or thirds (saving two or three strips for my dog Harley and a few to top the entire crock dish), then stir them in with the potatoes and two-thirds of the cheese.  Once stirred, I top everything with the rest of the cheese and remaining bits of bacon.  

     Cook for about 3 to 4 hours on high, or until potatoes soften, and serve with sour cream, chives, and any seasoning your guests may prefer.

~ Have a wonderful game day ~

Crockpot Cheesesteaks

    

  "There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under the heavens."
~ Ecclesiastes 3:1

     This is one of my favorite passages, and, right now, it is a time for football.

     Whether it's Saturday's college lineup or Sunday's NFL games, the crock pot is a great way to go if you want to kick back and enjoy the game line-up while having a delicious meal set on warm and ready to go.
   
     Crockpot Cheesesteaks are an easy favorite that you can twist according to your own personal preferences, including making it onion-free, dairy-free, gluten-free, or whatever ingredients you want to swap in or out.

     Steak-Umms ~ Two boxes

     Onion ~ Large

     Cheese Slices ~ 6 to 10 of your preference

     Rolls ~ One dozen

     Pizza Sauce ~ One jar

     Dippers (optional):  crackers, sliced Italian bread, triscuits, etc.

     I fully cook the meat, in crumbled pieces, and sautee the onions in a skillet, then I layer the beef, then the onions, then the cheese, and I continue to layer until crock is full. I set on High for about an hour, then turn it to warm for game time. I don't add the pizza sauce in (though you can), but I offer it as an condiment, along with some dippers, on the side.

For a list of dippers, check out last season's

WTD: What to Dip? Post

Have a wonderful Game Day:)

Piece-of-Cake Pumpkin Muffins

     It's feeling so much like fall today, I went ahead with this simple recipe I saw on Facebook this past week.  All you need are two simple ingredients, and, in a half an hour, you have a dozen pumpkin muffins.

    Here you go:

    Pumpkin ~ One 15 ounce can
    Cake Mix ~ One box of yellow (regular or gluten-free)

    Set the oven to 350 degrees and line or grease a muffin pan.  Mix the two ingredients in a bowl and spoon them into the pan.  Bake for 20 to 25 minutes.  That's it!

~ Have a wonderful Saturday ~

Faith, Family, & Living A Dream

     

    The Football Family Kick Starter Project

      I went to my first high school football game when I was six months old.
     My dad was an assistant coach then, but, one year later, he was appointed the head football coach at the beloved place that would later become my high school.  He would remain at that post for 44 years, when, on his 51st wedding anniversary, he submitted his letter of resignation and retired from coaching.
     From the very start, back in 1968, he named his group of young men,  "The Rare Breed", hoping ~ and overwhelmingly succeeding ~ in setting them apart not just as football players, but as principled young men of values.  The motto of the team remains ingrained not only in those players, but their moms, dads, sisters, aunts, grandparents, and maybe even their children: "Faith, Family, Football."
     Now I am pretty sure my dad had no idea that "The Rare Breed" was actually the name of a 1966 cowboy movie starring Jimmy Stewart. But I am sure that, when reflecting on his 44 years with his own Rare Breed, he would identify with perhaps the most cherished of all Stewart's films, "It's A Wonderful Life."
     In Frank Capra's delayed classic, George Bailey is an imperfect, somewhat grouchy, but clearly goodhearted man of conviction with big dreams who, upon the death of his father, sacrifices these dreams to take over his dad's business so that the people of Bedford Falls can live better lives and create homes for their families.
     It is true my dad made sacrifices, but not pursuing his dreams wasn't one of them.  He knew ~ after he gave the priesthood some serious consideration ~ that he wanted to marry my mom, teach high school, and be a football coach.  That was his dream, his passion ~ and that's what he did.
    He told my mom outright that he wasn't going to make a lot of money, and she reminds him to this day that he wasn't right about much, but he was right about that.
     But he amassed untold wealth in those 44 years, and, just like when the people of Bedford Falls came through for George Bailey on Christmas Eve, the Football Family known as the "Rare Breed", the clan that forced me to give up my Saturday morning date with The Jackson Five, became the people I grew to know and love... and who, like family, swarmed my dad and his own in both the best and worst of times. 
     I was five years old when I figured out that my dad was a high school football coach and that my mom was not going to let me watch Saturday morning cartoons because we had to ride sometimes almost 90 minutes to a football game.  I wasn't too crazy about the whole football thing.
     But at some point I realized that this was not a "football thing."
     Faith. Family. Football.
     Faith... I learned believing in someone bigger, something greater than me.
     Family...I learned, no matter what our differences, we need to love and support each other.
     Football...well, as much as I get excited about it and get the basics, I can't say I actually mastered it.  (I was in my thirties when I finally got what the Statue of Liberty play was.)
     Because football, as much as we love it, isn't the thing.  It's about doing whatever it is we love, the passion in our heart ~ doing our thing.
      For me, that "thing" is creating ~ or at least trying to create ~ using art and often technology.
     For the past several years, I have wanted to tell the story of the Rare Breed, our "Football Family."  It began as fiction based on actual events... then became a non-fiction manuscript since the true story is that good...then talk of a film script emerged.
     In the end, at the wise suggestion of a former player, it led to the idea of telling the real story in the form of a documentary, Football Family.  (Click for the trailer:)  For me, working on this project is "living the dream".  Trying to combine over a thousand experiences, be them "good, bad, or ugly" into one final presentation is what I truly love to do.
     Still, no dream, no mission, no goal is to come before faith or be more important than family.
     In a few short weeks, my own family will come together on the beaches of the Jersey Shore and enjoy each other and the time we have been gifted here on this planet.  We will wade in the water, ride the waves, and float adrift the Atlantic Ocean that our grandparents crossed almost a century ago.
     Did they cross those waters with football in mind?  Not likely.  But they came with the belief of Faith, the commitment to Family, and the desire to live the Dream.
     So here's to Faith, Family, & Living A Dream. Yours:)

The Football Family Trailer

~ Have a wonderful week~

    
       
    

Crispy Chicken FIngers

     Last night, my mom, sisters & I spent the evening at Designer Handbag Bingo, complete with Coach, raffle tickets, lots of laughter, and lots of food.  It was BYOS, so we organized a great spread that consisted of tomato pie, Nachos & salsa, fruit, veggies, dip, and this great little recipe I found in Fitness Magazine.

    If you're looking to cut fat & calories, this is perfect AND easy to make.  Here's the link:

Fitness Magazine Lighten Up Healthy Crispy Chicken Fingers

Enjoy & have a wonderful weekend:)

Healthy Veggie Grinder

Fast, easy, satisfying ~ and as healthy as you want it to be!

Whole wheat hoagie rolls 
Hellmans Dijonnaise
Sliced Zucchini ~ 1/2 cup
Mushrooms ~ 1/2 cup 
Yellow Bell Pepper  ~8 to 10 strips 
Cheese ~ any kind (reduced fat if counting calories!)
Cooking Oil or Spray of choice
Pepper or preferred seasoning.

Sautee vegetables for 10 to 15 minutes in oil or spray. (I myself use a touch of margarine.) Spread Dijonnaise on wheat roll and set cheese on top.  Set hot veggies on cheese and allow to melt.  Season with pepper if desired.  Eat.

Have a wonderful meal:)

Adventures in the Kitchen: King Cake Cookies

    
      It's been over twenty years since I lived in New Orleans with my best friend, but the memories of life in "The Big Easy" remain as strong as a Pat O'Brien's Hurricane. One favorite memory is sharing in the tradition of the King Cake, which are baked and served frequently during the Carnival Season, lasting from Epiphany Eve until Fat Tuesday.  Inside one of the servings of the cake is a plastic baby, representing the Child Jesus. Whoever ends up with that particular piece must bake the next King Cake.

     With today's Super Bowl in NOLA, I decided to serve a variation of this Mardi Gras tradition with the following King Cake Cookie recipe.

     Here you go:

Margarine ~ 1 & a half cup

Sugar ~ 1 & a half cup

Flour ~ 7 cups, sifted

Baking Powder ~ 5 tsp

Salt ~ 1 tsp

Almond extract ~ 4 tsp

Eggs ~ 8 eggs

Icing ~ Vanilla , white, or butter cream

Sugar sprinkles ~ purple, yellow, green (Mardi Gras colors)

Craft Store "Babies" ~ Plastic, optional

     Preheat oven to 375 degrees.  

     Melt the margarine in the microwave at 15 to 20 second intervals. (Apparently, butter, which I usually use for cookie recipes, does not work for this recipe.)

     Mix in the sugar, flour, baking power, salt, almond, and 

eggs well.  Roll into balls about 1 tablespoon each and place on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake for about 8 to 10 minutes.

     Allow the cookies to cool before spreading each with icing and sprinkling with a mix of sugars.  I usually put the baby on top so no one chokes on it ~ and now everyone who eats one is obligated to make cookies until Lent.

Have A Wonderful Super Bowl:)

Adventures in Fitness: Meet My Little Friend Leslie

     Ok, so here goes. I'm going to start off this post with a confession.

     Well, on second thought, let me share my excuses first.  Since August, my life has undergone many changes.  I changed jobs, worked two of them for a time, had a long and tiring bout with the flu this winter, and dealt with some tough issues watching people I love suffer.

     But that's the stuff of life, right?  It has its challenges ~ sometimes more, sometimes less ~ but these forge us into stronger beings that are hopefully better, kinder, wiser.  I'm basically happy, and I am not even really complaining, just explaining.

     Explaining what, you ask?  The *%$@$!~pound weight gain that became an additional challenge on top of it all!
     In times like these, living inside my fitness DVD collection is an old friend named Leslie Sansone.  She doesn't know me, but I know her and several of her workout videos. (And when I say "little friend" in the title of my post, I only do homage to American cinema.  Trust me, Leslie has made BIG changes in a lot of people's lives.)
     For those who don't know her, Leslie is the one I turn to when my body needs to start moving again.  Famous for her walk-at-home video concept, you might know her from the "Walk Away The Pounds" info-mercials.
     All in all, her workouts are for a wide range of fitness enthusiasts: those who haven't worked out in a while (moi), those who have never worked out at all,  those who benefit from gentle and modifiable movement, and those who enjoy a regular intermediate workout. Though they can be intensified, they tend to be less harsh compared to the collections of Jillian Michaels or Cindy Whitmarsh ~ but it is exactly this tame approach that lures a girl back in to the world of workouts.  Knowing that you are not going to get pushed to the brink or screamed at is precisely why this walking series has appealed to and been effective for so many people.  
     I am one of them. 
     In a later blog, I will give you the the entire scoop on using Leslie's multiple walking workouts along with an effective eating plan for weight loss.  But for today, just giving a shout-out to my old pal Leslie. She's funny, encouraging, silly, and encouraging:)
     If you haven't worked out in a while (or ever), you will want to meet her. Here are some links:

Official Walk At Home Website 

5 Day Slim Down from Collage Video

Exercise TV 2-Mile Walk (30 Minutes)  

Amazon Customers Reviews of Walk Away The Pounds 

5 Day Fit Walk 

Have a Wonderful Walk:)

Cabin Style Irish Grannies Mac & Cheese

     When you've got the flu, you can sure watch a lot of movies.  So as 2012 drew to a close and 2013 opened its doors, I found myself pretty much down for the count on the couch, sipping ginger ale and taking in all kinds of movies from Country Strong to The Women to Law Abiding Citizen.
     
     One of those movies was the treasured classic Forrest Gump, complete with an out-of-this-world soundtrack, an unreal performance by Tom Hanks, and the classic line: "Life is like a box of chocolates ~ you nevah know whot ya gonna get."
    
     This has rung true for me in recent months, hence the lack of time to blog like I want to.  So many changes have gone on in my life (good, bad, & ugly) that I haven't even been to my beloved cabin since October ~ yes, October!
     
     But change is God's way of bringing us to bigger and better places in life, and, thankfully, to cabin this weekend.
     
     Since arriving, I've enjoyed the wonderful company of my family, played CDs I haven't listened to in years, lit my candles like an overzealous altar boy, and skimmed through cookbooks in search of a simple but satisfying recipe worthy of the cabin kitchen.
     
     I opted with an easy Macaroni & Cheese recipe from a gift I received this Christmas called the Irish Grannies Recipe Book, edited by Eoin Purcell. Now I made some changes to this basic recipe, but only because I didn't want to remove my slippers or myself from the toasty warm log home I've retreated to for the weekend. So you will see a few modifications listed below.
    
      Anyway, here you go:

     Corn flour ~ 1 and a half ounces
     Milk ~ 1 cup
     Butter ~ 1 ounce
     Grated cheese ~ 4 ounces
     Cooked Macaroni ~ 6 ounces
     Salt, pepper, mustard ~ a fourth tsp. each

     Set over to 350 degrees, then mix the corn flour with a little of the milk until smooth.  Bring the rest of the milk to a boil separately. Add the corn four cream to it, along with the butter and cheese.  Boil for 3 minutes.

     In pot, combine the cooked macaroni with the cheese mixture and seasonings.  Pour the entire mix in to a buttered pie dish and bake for 15 minutes or until edges are golden brown.

     The little changes I made were: Bisquick for the corn flour and onion salt for the mustard, since I didn't have either.  I also crushed a cup of Frito Scoops and topped the mixture before putting it in the oven.  

     Sometimes it's good to change things up.

     Have a wonderful MLK weekend:)