Showing posts with label Betty Crocker. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Betty Crocker. Show all posts

Friday, April 2, 2010

Day # I'm still not sure

Cooking vegan at home is great. I think I modify or 'invent' a new recipe a week. It is a constant trial and error process which I love as I am constantly learning what works best together in terms of flavors and consistency. I made banana chocolate chip muffins that my non-vegan friends LOVED. Can I admit that I neglected to write down the recipe? Oops. I gave up chocolate for Lent so when I made them, I couldn’t taste them to see if they were any good. I wont post recipes on my blog without first confirming that the food actually tasted good. (Speaking from experience, I have found and tried recipes only to find out that the measurements are off etc)

I am learning about myself through running. It is an amazing process. I have determined that time is precious. It is a major challenge to consistently find time for myself with the demands of my every day life. If I do have the time to spare, sometimes I just don’t have the energy. Each day brings new paths to navigate and hills to climb.

It is imperative for me to realize in order to conquer this mountain, I must be even better at traveling the road of my every day life. There are only a few precious things that can be considered more important to me than this goal….and they go to bed at 8:30. After the magic bedtime hour, it appears that the dishes will have to wait, as will the laundry and dusting and the balance of daily tasks that weigh heavily on my mind.

June 6 is rapidly approaching and I have only managed one run that was 5 miles.  I have to run 13 miles. I am beginning to wonder if I will do it.

Thursday, February 4, 2010

Vegan Snickerdoodle Cookies



Above is the link to the traditional Betty Crocker cookie recipe. And below is the modified vegan recipe....


Vegan Snickerdoodles 
1 1/2 cups sugar 
3/4 cup vegan butter 
2 eggs worth of egg replacer 
1 1/2 cup whole wheat flour 
1 c regular flour
1/4 c ground flax 
2 teaspoon baking soda 
1/4 teaspoon salt 
1 tsp cinnamon 
1/4 cup sugar and 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon (for sprinkling on top)
Directions:
Mix together sugar, butter and egg replacer. Add dry ingredients and mix well. Drop by rounded spoonfuls onto ungreased cookie sheet. On top of each dough ball, generously spoon some of the cinnamon and sugar mixture. Bake in 400 degree oven 8-10 minutes

These cookies were fantastic! They looked, smelled and tasted like they were from a bakery.
My son and I experimented a little with the ingredients and found we really enjoyed a little more complexity in the flavoring that comes with the whole wheat flour and flax. The cookies were still light and soft though!

Monday, January 11, 2010

Day 8

January 11, 2010

Running:
Today is a scheduled run per Running Club. My pace group was assigned a 30 minute run, of which I completed. I paced myself as I normally do with a four minute warm up and then interval running / walking.  And after I ran for the designated time frame, I did a short cool down.

Todays run was a challenge for me. There are several potential reasons for todays difficulties.

1. Last night I could not sleep to save my life. At best I may have slept for four hours? Regardless, I was wiped before I even started the run.
2. I am all of a sudden STARVING all the time. What the heck? I cant seem to funnel enough food down my throat throughout the day. I am feeling like I did when I first became vegan and had to seriously eat every couple of hours.  Today there was no way I could run after work without eating something.  I went ahead and ate two small tangerines followed by a small portion of plain brown rice.  I haven't tried to run with food in my tummy before and I am pretty sure I will avoid that again going forward.  (Could I really feel it sloshing around? Or was it just in my head??)
3. I tried a new area to run tonight and it was hills, hills and hills! Hills are fantastic when I am running down them! I actually could feel the burn in my calf muscles as I ran.

Tonight's run was rough. I stuck with it and even went a little longer than recommended. I actually hope to work my way into the next better pace group soon. I covered 2.66 miles with a pace of 12:06 min/mile. Maybe I should just worry about the 5 mile run that will be upon me before I know it. . ..

Cooking:
Tonight was moms not cooking dinner. We warmed grillers vegan patties and hash browns. We will have something to report in the food department tomorrow. Although we didn't prepare our own meal, I still feel like the kids ate relatively healthy. It was still vegan and tasted good!

Sunday, January 10, 2010

Day 7

January 10, 2010

Running:
Scheduled day off! I am a little sore today and tired but still thrilled with yesterday and look forward to tomorrows run.

Cooking:
Betty Crocker's French Breakfast Puffs - Vegan French Breakfast Puffs

Here is the link to Betty Crockers recipe. This recipe was an all time favorite in my house growing up. The muffins are sweet and a total treat.
http://www.bettycrocker.com/recipes.aspx/french-breakfast-puffs/8ad41733-6664-428f-b0c7-0033c1e1bee6

We made them this morning for breakfast, vegan style. They were beyond fantastic and although I felt the tiniest bit guilty eating them, I know the vegan version is actually soooo much better than the regular. So I threw caution to the wind and ate THREE!

Vegan French Breakfast Puffs
1/3 c vegan butter
1/2 c brown sugar
Egg replacer for 1 egg
1 1/4 c whole wheat flour
1/4 c flax meal
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp sea salt
1/4 tsp nutmeg
1/2 soy milk
Cinnamon and white sugar mixture
Melted vegan butter

1. Heat over to 350 degrees. Grease 12 muffin cups
2. Mix butter, brown sugar and egg replacer in bowl. Stir in dry ingredients, add milk. Spoon into muffin tin.
3. Bake 20- 25 minutes or until golden brown.
4. Roll hot muffins into melted vegan butter and then into cinnamon and sugar mixture. Serve warm







ENJOY!

Day 6

January 9, 2010

Running:
This morning was running club.  I woke up a little early and couldn't go back to sleep. I was too nervous. I laid in bed and thought about why I am doing this. It's Saturday morning and here I am at 6:15 am fitful in bed when I should be soundly sleeping. What am I doing? Why am I doing this? I have to smile at myself. Why do any of us do anything? I guess I have something to prove to myself about fitness.

The real truth about being fit is to learn how to enjoy it and be fit and healthy for myself. I can blame my ex-husband because he would guilt me into excercise and eventually I resented him and exercise.  But even that being said, I must take responsibility for my own health, fitness and happiness.  I have to prove to myself that I can set goals and achieve them, for myself. People around us can do and say things that impact us negatively. But, as in  my situation, I can ponder and it and suffer for it OR I can choose to change my perspective. I am changing. Running club is change.

After embracing the WHY, I got up and got ready. I wore regular sweatpants and t-shirt, put on my running shoes that are still new looking and packed up my ipod. (love that thing while I exercise) I drove to the location and was right on time. The running club I joined is the West Coast Road Runners. There were a TON of people, all in their running clothes that breathe and look all professional. Needless to say I felt totally out of place. My outfot alone screamed AMATEUR. It was also one of those things where everyone seemed to know everyone. But I sucked it up and went to check in. We listened to Dan (the guy in charge) talk about the program and then it was time for the time trials.

I timed my mile last week so I had an idea of the pace group I would be assigned to. We set out on a course that was 3 miles. I ran the course in just over 42 minutes. I checked nike plus and it logged the course at just over 3.5 miles. Hmmmm. Honestly I am a little bit bummed just because the course was actually longer than they said and my time for 3.5 miles puts me in the bottom group. I thought I would be in the second to bottom group. The second to bottom group should have run the course in 39 minutes and I took 42. My time was spot on to what I thought it should be per mile but since the cousre was .5 miles longer that they said, I look like an even worse runner. I guess it allows me greater potential for improvement!

I stuck to my running plan. I started out with a brisk warm up walk, about 3 minutes. The balance of the run I ran for 4 minutes and then walked for one minute. The course was on the streets, through an industrial park here in San Diego. The sun was bright and warm and the streets were empty except for our group. It was a long run for me and I had to talk myself into sticking with the run plan. I didnt give up. I ran the plan all the way to the end. Despite my non-running clothes and my placement in the slowest group, I am thrilled. It is an achievement for me to have pursued the interest, signed up, showed up and stuck with it. I look foward to next Saturday and running with the group again. I have the run schedule for this week and plan on following the rules to the letter.

Cooking:
Upon my arrival home, my babies were hungry and so was I! We whipped up some cinnamon blueberry pancakes. They were fantastic and will definately make them again!



I started with the Betty Crocker pancake recipe and modified it to be vegan.  Here is the Betty Crocker recipe from my Betty Crocker cookbook.  I have Betty Crockers 40th Anniversary Edition Cookbook.

Betty Crockers Pancakes:
1 egg
1 c all purpose flour
3/4 c milk
1 Tbsp sugar
2 Tbsp oil
3 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
Margain, butter or shortening

Beat egg with ahnd mixer in medium bowl until fluffy. Beat in remaining ingredients except margarine just until smooth. Heat griddle or skillet over medium heat or 375 degrees.

For each pancake, pour a scant 1/4 c batter onto hot griddle. Cook pancakes until puffed and dry around edges. Turn and cook other sides until golden brown.

Here is the modified recipe to a vegan version:

Vegan Cinnamon - Blueberry Pancakes
Egg Replacer for 1 egg
1 c whole wheat flour
1/2 c soy milk
1/4 c soy creamer
1 Tbsp brown sugar
2 Tbsp vegetable oil
3 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp sea salt
1 tsp cinnamon
Blueberries

Mix all ingrediants except the blueberries just until smooth. Heat griddle to 350 degrees. Pour 1/4 c batter onto griddle and hand place blueberries into pancakes (approx 5 - 7 per pancake).  Cook pancakes until puffy and dry around the edges. Turn and cook other side.

Our recipe made 10 pancakes. The house smelled fantastic and the pancakes were YUMMY
Enjoy!





Thursday, January 7, 2010

Day 4

Cooking: Roasted Garlic
As promised I will explain how I roasted my own garlic.  I purchased whole fresh garlic bulbs. I peeled off a bit of the excess skin on the outside.  The top of the garlic bulb needs to be cut off then drizzle some olive oil on the top of the garlic bulb. Put the garlic bulb on a pan, cover with aluminum foil, place in the oven and bake for 25 minutes at 375 degrees. Not only does the house smell amazing as it roasts but the garlic keeps in the fridge for several weeks and it is super easy to use in cooking (actually way easier than unroasted garlic).

Running:
Tonights run was a bit of a challenge as my son who is 9 wanted to come with on his scooter. There were pro's and con's to allowing him to come but my love and dedication to promoting fitness as a family, I couldn't resist. So we embarked upon our adventure together. Amazingly enough we walked / ran / scootered 2.11 miles in a little over 27 minutes. Justin and I talked while we exercised. It was a fun to be with him and it was a good bonding experience. My kids are really neat people.

I was listening to my ipod during the warm up (as it is the hardest part for me) and Justin was flagging me down to get my attention at one point. I pulled my ear phone out and he said that the guy in the black truck that just drove by was calling to me out his window. I was like Really? Justin told me the guy said 'hey do you want to go on a date with me?'  It is my first cat call. Of course the response to any guy screaming out his window at me is No, no and no. But, honestly, I am the tiniest bit flattered.  Is this considered progress?

Wednesday, January 6, 2010

Day 3

Cooking: Garlic Mashed Potatoes Round 2
(ding-ding)
The second go 'round today was waaaaaaaaay better than the first attempt yesterday.  This recipe is definately a 'do-againer'.

Heres the recipe to replicate my results.

Creamy Vegan Garlic Mashed Potatoes
5 medium sized gold potatoes
1/2 c soy creamer
2 Tbspn vegan cream cheese
1/2 c vegan butter
4 cloves of roasted garlic
sea salt and  pepper to taste

1. Boil potatoes until soft. Drain.
2. Put in bowl and immediately add creamer, cream cheese , butter and roasted garlic
3. Mix with hand mixer until blended
4. Add desired seasoning

Modifications:
What I did was leave the skins on the potaotes. I like the skins in the mixture as it adds texture and can help to disguise if the potatoes are not completely blended perfectly. I use the gold potatoes for mashed potatoes specifically because a great chef once told me that russet potatoes were too soft for good mashed potatoes and red potatoes were too waxy. Gold potatoes are perfect so ever since then, thats what I use.

The cream cheese and soy creamer really worked to make the mashed potatoes creamy and decadent tasting. There was zero ability to distringuish between vegan and non-vegan with this recipe. The consistency of the potatoes was also absolutely perfect. Honestly I was thrilled and very surprised at how great they turned out today. (Not to mention they were absolutely yummy)

Another element that really worked for this recipe was the roasted garlic cloves. Not only do they make the house smell like a restaurant but they are so easy to use in cooking. Tomorrow I will post how to roast your own cloves of garlic. It is actually simple and the results are amazing.







Running:
Today I did exercise as well, while my son was in his karate lesson I took the liberty of walking. I walked for just under 25 minutes and covered 1.50 miles.  I am actually a little tired and my legs are a tiny bit sore. I have exercised several days in a row and am feeling the affects. Tomorrow will be a non-exercise day.

I also found that this morning I was starving! I was surprised as I am not usually a morning eater but perhaps I will discover that with the increased exercise regime, my eating habits will change as well.

Still feeling very positive about the whole thing!

Saturday, December 26, 2009

A Deciding Moment

I have come to realize that I will be turning 40. Despite the best face creams and hair coloring, I am aging. I was shocked and moderately dismayed to find a grey hair. I am only 38. Apparently I thought I was exempt from the aging process.

I work full time, am in school working towards a PhD in Business Administration, have two amazing children and am single. My life plate is full. Yet I have found that aside from the fulfillment I receive from being the best mother I can be, my life seems lacking in a true deeper meaning.

Now that I have confessed my partially empty heart, it is my goal to fill my life and heart, and hopefully yours as well, with purpose and satisfaction of sharing, growth and self realization.

I am vegan and have been since September 2009. I must openly admit that I am not a devout vegan. I do occasionally succumb to sacrificing my ideals for the sake of time or social obligations. I have struggled to find the ability to cook and live vegan with minimal time and limited cooking know how.

I will be sharing with you my journey to my 40th birthday (October 18, 2011) and in this time I have two main goals. One is to learn to cook healthy and vegan. I will share my modified recipes and all that I learn in this process. My mother primarily cooked using Betty Crocker's Cookbook and I will cook vegan using my mother and Betty Crocker as the inspiration. The second goal is to run. I want to run. Before I turn 40 I want to run (4) 1/2 Marathons and 1 full marathon. I don't run. I have never been a runner. I have tried to run and have do so only for short periods of time with a tiny degree of success. I used to joke with my brother (of whom is a runner and who I adore) that I can not run, except to the bathroom. (Making this personal journey all the more seemingly unrealistic!)

Ahhhhh, I said it. It scares me to admit openly my goals. But I said it. Its out there and I wont take it back. I am fearful that I wont succeed but I want to challenge myself. I have less than two years before I turn 40.