Hello blogging world!

I really have not purposely been ignoring the blogging world I have just been really busy! Starting a new semester is always interesting! Anyways not to worry I have some delicious stuff to upload from a Super Bowl sunday full of baking and cooking :) not so much football watching....but go Beyonce! I did watch that, gotta work on my moves haha. First things first, I read a children's book, more like young adult book, called "Hoot" ,surprise right? It was really good! A wonderful story by Carl Haisson about a "new kid" in a small town in Florida who began to fit in and find some unlike friends through compassion for owls??? Yes! I loved learning about the environment of Florida and some middle school kids who made a huge difference in their community. Currently reading more good ones I will update soon, I still appreciate suggestions:)

And now for some kookin...
#1 Lettuce Wraps-my roommate and I made these Sunday, all we needed:
frozen chicken
soy sauce
$0.50 packet of "lettuce wrap mix"
Celery
Water chestnuts
Carrots
Head of lettuce
Brown Rice
And voila! Lettuce wraps! ( We sautéd thawed diced chicken, finely chopped carrots, celery, green onions, and water chestnuts with the packet in a pan in the fridge for about 20-30 min then just cooked it all in a pan). So easy so yummy mmm P.F. Chang's but healthier and in my apartment! (sorry about the picture I was super hungry and already ate half of my wrap haha)

#2 Breakfast Bake-well I do not know exact measurements but one word, Pinterest, haha or Google search, or just make however much you want!
Dry: oats, ground flax seed, brown sugar,cinnamon,crushed walnuts
Wet: nonfat milk, vanilla, tablespoon butter, egg
Sliced banana on the bottom (3) of 9x9 pan, 1/2c blueberries, sprinkle on dry ingredients, pour on wet, sprinkle with 1/2c blueberries, and some more walnuts, bake on about 375 for about 45 min. Warm and eat for breakfast! -next time we make this I would definitely try to add more protein so it's a little more filling, maybe greek yogurt to wet ingredients or protein powder itself? Also cinnamon raisin or pecans vs walnuts or strawberries or raspberries vs blueberries would be just as good!

#3 HEALTHY FUNFETTI CUPCAKES AND FROSTING!
So easy...1 box of funfetti mix with 1c Sprite Zero(replaces egg, oil, and butter)-bake like normal in cupcake tin.
Frosting- Low-fat Cool Whip in the tub, 1 box of French Vanilla pudding packet, mix together and set in fridge to set up a little.
OH MY GOSH SO MUCH BETTER THAN NORMAL CUPCAKES AND FROSTING, and better for you at the same time?! We thought we died and went to heaven haha.

#4 Wheat Berry Chili
1.5 lb lean turkey meat cooked
1c choped celery
1/2c or a little more shredded carrot
1/2 diced potato
2c Spicy V8 veggie juice
1 14oz can diced tomatoes
#5 This Wheat Berry box with included spice packet from a farm in Waitsburg WA!!! Just boil with 1.5 c water for 3 min then add the rest of the ingredients (and whatever else you want:)) and cook on simmer for 45 min. While that was kookin I mixed together and baked some Marie Calendar's cornbread muffins. Topped the chili with nonfat sour cream, onions, and a tiny bit of shredded cheese. MMMM! Prefect for a grey cold day and for left overs for the next like 3 meals haha.

Hope everyone has a wonderful week! Here is a quote for your thoughts from one of my favorite books "Calm My Anxious Heart" ~ Beware of what you dwell on for that you shall surely become- Ralph Waldo Emerson (Dwell on the positive!) xoxo