Author Archives: danapeters21

WIAW #27: The One that Wasn’t

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So… do you want the good news or the bad news first? The good news? Well, the good news is that it’s What I Ate Wednesday and it’s still February so we are celebrating our infinite love for veggies. The bad news? This WIAW post is going to be lacking in food photos. You see, a funny thing happened today (Tuesday). I forgot to photograph just about every meal. I blame it on this winter storm Rocky we have rolling through these parts…

However, I am hoping to make all of this up to you by offering up some veggie love straight from my favorite FLOTUS, Mrs. Obama.

American GrownI started reading this book at the beginning of the week and am already about half way through it. If you are looking for useful information on how to start a garden, the story of the White House garden or how gardens impact our communities and our health, look no further than American Grown. You might even be inspired to try a new veggie or two. Plus, it’s the perfect time to learn about what to plant in your own garden with spring quickly approaching.

This week’s (somewhat) nonexistant eats:

Okay – so here are the two things I managed to actually take pictures of on Tuesday.

WIAW #27Yep. That’s a well-balanced diet of trail mix and bread, both served as snacks. Here’s what else you missed behind the lens.

Breakfast – Oats (of course)

Lunch – Mixed greens salad with avocado, pomegranate seeds & blue cheese, sweet potato fries, clementine

Dinner – Potato soup and a glass of red wine

What were your eats for this week? Do you grow your own vegetables? Are you good at remembering to take pictures?

Mat Reflections: What is Saucha?

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If you think there is anything better than a morning yoga class, I refuse to believe it.

NamasteFrom the first child’s pose to the last breath in savasana, right there on my mat is the only place I want to be. Saturday I was grateful to start my day with a challenging, but thought-provoking yoga session.

For those who don’t practice yoga, let me explain that every class (or practice) can have an intention. The intention can be for yourself, for something you seek, or dedicated to another person or idea. Saturday’s teacher introduced the idea of Saucha, one of the yoga Niyamas (read more here), which means purity or cleanliness as the intention for that class.

He opened with a small discussion of what it means to be of clean mind and clean body. Clean minds erase negative thoughts and only focus on the ones  which help them grow. Clean bodies are fueled with healthy, unprocessed foods.

Admittedly, this was a lot to take in on a sleepy Saturday morning, but the more I thought about it, the more I loved this new (to me) idea. It reinforced that living healthy isn’t only about one element, but rather a sum of parts.

We need to strive for balance from all areas of our lives, not just one to live fully and well. Running a marathon makes no difference if you’re fueled with Big Macs; A week’s worth of lunch salads don’t make up for countless hours spent in front of the TV.

I was happy to be reminded of all of this, so I thought I’d share. My hope is you’ll take even a little piece of saucha and carry it with you throughout your day, week, month and year.

Namaste, y’all. (p.s. – I’m dying for one of these shirts!)

Sweat. Everyday.

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Have you ever read Lululemon’s manifesto? Go ahead. Take a peek. It’s well worth it.

Sweat EverydayAs you might’ve guessed from the picture above, one of my personal favorite elements of the manifesto “sweat everyday.” Exercise isn’t just important for our physical health – it’s good for our mental clarity too. A good sweat can lift our mood, boost our confidence and build strength and character.

After a weekend sometimes it’s hard to get back  in the swing of things, so here’s to lifting our spirits in the simplest way, through physical activity. Sweat today, sweat everyday.

Curl Up and Read Link Love

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Does anyone remember SSR (Silent Sustained Reading) from middle school? Or something like it?

Winter Reading Scene

I’m probably among the few who actually enjoyed having time during the school day to read a book of my choosing. Let’s be honest though, only half of the time was spent actually reading. The other half was spent trying not to burst into giggles with my best friend (oh sixth grade, you were good to us).

Anyway, what I’m trying to say is this post is my version of  online SSR. A good chunk of the country is getting hit with snowstorms as we speak, so why not spend this weekend curled up at home, cozily reading articles and testing new recipes. Quite frankly, I just described my ideal weekend, but I think you’ll like it too.

Here’s the latest collection of web finds inhabiting my bookmarks bar.

Oscar Night Champagne Cocktails: Perfect for this Sunday’s award show or for anytime really…

Thoughtful piece on antibiotic resistance. This is such a fascinating issue.

I’m drooling over these... just drooling.

It’s no wonder it’s hard to put those chips down. Junk food can be addictive.

This is one of my new favorite blogs for candid insights on life (and quality writing) including a recent post on change.

What are you reading lately? Leave your favorite links in the comments!

Photo credit

Sugar & Brews: Triple Chocolate Stout Brownies

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I have a confession. I don’t love chocolate. I never have.

Triple Chocolate Stout Brownies

Hopefully you’re still with me and haven’t fallen to the ground, panic-stricken with shock. The confession is true though, and I only thought it fair to be up front and honest prior to writing a post with the words “triple chocolate” in the title.

While my love doesn’t run as deep as many when it comes to the desire to eat every piece of chocolate in sight, I do appreciate a tasty bit of cocoa when I see one. In this case, in the form of a brownie.

Triple Chocolate Stout Brownies

This sweet treat’s bold chocolate flavors come from three different types of freshly-melted Ghirardelli chips and Oscar’s Chocolate Oatmeal Stout from Sand Creek Brewing Company. The consistency is dense, but not too dense and fills you up enough to make a meal of it because everyone should eat a brownie for a meal and one time or another.

Triple Chocolate Stout Brownies

Triple Chocolate Stout Brownies

Makes about 24 brownies

Ingredients:

1 cup all-purpose flour

3/4 cup cocoa powder

6 tbsp. unsalted butter, cut into cubes

8 ounces dark bittersweet chocolate chips

3/4 cup white chocolate chips

4 eggs

1 cup sugar

10 oz Oscar’s Chocolate Oatmeal Stout* (room temperature)

1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

Powdered sugar for dusting

Preparation:

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Grease a 9 x 13 in. baking pan and set aside.
In a medium bowl, mix together flour and cocoa powder; set aside. Melt butter, dark bittersweet chocolate and white chocolate chips over low heat, stirring constantly until completely melted. In a large bowl, beat eggs and sugar on high until light and fluffy. Add melted chocolate mixture and beat until combine. Then add the flour mixture. Fold in the stout slowly, whisk to finish mixing. Drop semi-sweet chocolate chips evenly on the top of the batter.

Pour into prepared baking pan. Bake 25 to 30 minutes until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out almost clean. Sprinkle powdered sugar on top once cool.

*Do not include foam in the stout measurement. Either spoon off the foam or let it rest until the foam subsides.

Triple Chocolate Stout Brownies

Additional suggested beers:

Guinness 

New Holland Dragon’s Milk

Southern Tier Chokolat 

Pin Pals: A Bowl Full of Oatmeal

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When there’s frost on the window and the sun refuses to shine as your alarm clock goes off on a winter’s morning, getting out of bed is like trying to escape Fort Knox. Impossible. The only thing making me gradually tip toe out from under a tunnel of covers is knowing I have a warm bowl of oatmeal waiting for me in the kitchen.

Everyone’s experience with oatmeal is different, so I don’t blame you if the thought of oatmeal actually sounds rather unappetizing. A bad bowl of oats can impart fear on an otherwise rational set of taste buds. If this is you, I urge you to please give oats a chance. If you already love oats, I know you’re drooling over these recipes finds just like me.

Cinnamon Roll Oatmeal (Two breakfast treats in one!)

Cinnamon Roll Oatmeal

Caramelized Apple Oatmeal

Caramelized Apple Oatmeal

Pumpkin Spice Steel Cut Oatmeal

Pumpkin Spice Steel Cut Oats

Bonus: Oatmeal Scotchie Cookie (with butterscotch chips – one of my fav cookies! For breakfast? Maybe, maybe not.)

Oatmeal Scotchies Cookies

What’s your favorite oatmeal recipe? 

40 Days of Gratitude

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Never worry about numbers. Help one person at a time, and always start with the person nearest you. - Mother Teresa

Take a look around. You might not think of it this way, but the person nearest to you has always been, and always will be, you. Take care of yourself, love yourself and be thankful for all that you have – whether you feel it’s too much or much too little.

That’s the funny thing about life. We usually have all that we need, but we’re too busy searching and planning for what else we want or what must be next to see it. That’s where gratitude comes in.

40 Days of Gratitude

Depending on your personal faith, you may or may not know Wednesday was Ash Wednesday and marked the beginning of the Lenten season. For many of us, that means two things. No meat on Fridays and choosing something to give up. This year, instead of giving up, I plan on gaining gratitude and perspective.

In the days proceeding Easter, I’m going to write down one thing I’m thankful for each day. It can be something big, something small, something deeply meaningful or something simple that makes me smile.

I think at times it might be a bit challenging (hey, we all have bad days), but in the end I think it will be rewarding.

What are you grateful for today?

WIAW #26: Love your Veggies

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In case you haven’t noticed (cue lame saying about living under a rock), there’s a lot of love going on this month. Little sparkly red hearts dot the aisles of just about everywhere and I want to eat a sprinkled chocolate-covered strawberry or cupcake after every meal.

I’d try to refrain from the latter as much as possible, but where’s the fun in that? To counteract the sugar rush that is the month of February, Jenn over at Peas and Crayons themed this month’s What I Ate Wednesday link-up around veggie love.

It’s been a conscious effort of mine to add more veggies to my meals over the past year or so. I’ve never had a problem eating fruit, but veggies left something to be desired. Not always because of the taste, but more so that I prefer carbs (who doesn’t?) and that I didn’t have a very large arsenal of veggies to work with – you can only eat so many carrots and cucumbers.

I digress. Now I try to work more leafy greens, peppers and the like into pasta dishes. I make sweet potatoes instead of mashed potatoes. I put green veggies in smoothies… So in a way, this labor of veggie love has already begun, but I’d like to take this time to renew it.

Here’s to exploring more of the produce section and trying new seasonal veggies!

Now, time for Tuesday’s eats.

Breakfast – Steel cut oats with chia seeds (for adding protein & to fill me up) and Justin’s Maple Almond Butter(pictured). I’m obsessed with this stuff! Have you tried it?!?

Justin's Maple Almond Butter

Snack – Popcorn! Because nothing brightens your day like popcorn.

Popcorn

Lunch – Leftover black bean burger and half of stuffed potato, apple

Lunch Feb 12

Dinner – Southwest Three Bean Turkey Chili

Turkey and bean chili

Wine – Don Simon Tempranillo, this wine is delicious and it cost $4. How could you want more!?!

Don Simon Tempranillo

Fancy Me a Grocery List

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I love lists. To-do lists, clothes-to-buy lists, things-I-should-do-over-the-weekend-but-won’t lists… lists about lists! The list goes on…

Okay – I hear you – enough. But really, can we talk about one more list? Please? What if it’s reallllyyyy pretty?

Emily Ley Grocery Notepad

Source: Emily Ley Notepad

Told ya it was pretty. Now, if you told me you still had no desire to write a weekly grocery list after seeing this, I wouldn’t believe you. iPhone apps (or what have you) are convenient and work wonders for making shopping lists, but is there any greater satisfaction then putting pen to paper? For me, no, there is not.

I really believe actually writing out lists or letters is a lost art and after spending some time on Emily Ley’s website, all I want to do is buy pretty paper and pens. In fact, I’d better write out a list of all the new things I need.

Do you make lists? Do you use pen and paper or a smartphone app?
I was in no way compensated for this post, I just really like Emily’s products and wanted to share. 

Pin Pals: Red Velvet Valentine’s Treats

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There’s no denying I have a sweet tooth the size of Texas and my affinity for a popular southern cake is just as large. If you’ve been reading this blog for any amount of time, you’ve probably run in to a post or two related to Red Velvet cake.

Lucky for me all of us, February brings on a whole new slew of recipes and treats featuring this Valentine-appropriate hued cake. So in the spirit of the holiday that celebrates love, here are my choices for reinventing this classic, most delicious treat.

Red Velvet Truffles

Red Velvet Truffles

Chocolate Cake with Red Velvet Heart

Chocolate Cake with Red Velvet Heart

Red Velvet Puppy Chow

Red Velvet Puppy Chow

What’s your favorite red velvet treat?