Fun with Batter

I have to admit, I absolutely love batter (especially cake and brownie) and had to be "scared away" from it as a child in order to have enough left to actually make something. Now I am finding many wonderful recipes that either utilize cake mix in a new way or replicate the flavor to a "t"...can you imagine my excitement? Trying to be more health conscience has made me more alert to fruit dip recipes or sweets that are not going to completely derail my efforts and I have been fortunate to find ways to indulge and keep the goal of a slimmer figure in sight! One recipe is for a glorious fruit dip that only needs 3 ingredients: cake mix, plain yogurt and whipped topping! Honestly you mix a couple tablespoons of each in a bowl and you have this amazingly flavorful fruit dip that will make you and any picky eater wanting to go back for more. So, my charge to you is to find a way to make an indulgent treat a little more health-friendly by using it in a different way, fixing an alternative recipe, whatever makes you happy! Whatever you do, make it trendy and treat those tastebuds!

Pinterest...a foodie's dream!

My DIY nature has taken me to the inner-depths of pinterest and I am now an addict! For those of you unaware of this new web phenomenon, Pinterest is an invite-only website that allows you to maintain virtual pinboards to show the world your interests. You can follow friends, make new friends and have people follow you...wow, sounds a bit stalkerish, but it really is a great way to exchange ideas. If I visit your "boards"and find something that I like or want to try, I can repin what you have and share it with my followers,exciting! I have to say, it has been wonderful to receive new recipes and gather a huge list of party ideas. I also now have a honey-do list as long as my body!
What makes us so interested in the do-it-yourself world these days and much more eager to try cooking at home (gasp) or being creative with upcycling? In my opinion, our lackluster economy is driving people to be more thrifty and conscientious of their surroundings. Granted, restaurants are trying to amp up the attractive factor with their "two for twenty" menus, but sometimes we just have to stop and look at how much we can cook in the home for that amount of money. There is no doubt that I absolutely love to dine out and try all kinds of unique cuisines, but for the sake of our families financial health, I need to cut back. So, pinterest has opened the world of possibilities for food, fun and a little bit of craftiness. I mean, I even found a link on how to make a beautiful lamp out of a doily and a balloon!
So, that is my conquest! To continue to enjoy wonderful food, but making sure my spending limit is clear :) I better get into the kitchen, these recipes certainly are not going to fix themselves.
Whatever you crave, just keep rockin' those trendy tastebuds!

Recipe for a New Me!

Welcome! I am a self-proclaimed foodie that is trying to balance my love for great cuisine with a new lifestyle of healthier living. My main approach is this: nothing is off limits, all things in moderation! So, with that being said, let's dive right in!
Many of you know me personally and are doubtlessly aware of my love for cooking and cookbook collecting. Of course, I married a very accomplished cook with a foodie persona that matched mine to a t! A great romantic outing for us includes a trip to Jungle Jims or Whole Foods and a stop at one of our fave restaurants. Our taste buds tend to live on the wild side and have a notion to crave the strangest foods. We enjoy coming up with new recipes and do our best to recreate dishes that we have tried at various restaurants. In honor of that, this blog will include: new recipes, tips and tricks in the kitchen, restaurant reviews, new foods and so much more. So, what is cooking today...holiday shortcuts! Just thinking about all of the candy, cookies, trail mixes and sweets adds a few pounds to my waistline, but rest assured because there are great ways to have your cake and eat it too!

Spiced Angel Trifle:
One, round angel food cake cut into 1 inch cubes
1 (8oz) container lite whipped topping, thawed
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon Cinnamon
1 lb strawberries, sliced (can use frozen)
1 can peaches (in own juice or light), chopped (may also use frozen)
Trifle Bowl or Medium Serving Bowl

Mix whipped topping, vanilla and cinnamon and set aside. Line bottom of bowl with 1/3 of angel food cake cubes, top with 1/3 of each fruit and then 1/3 of the whipped topping mixture and continue layers (2 more times). You may also add an additional touch of cinnamon on the top. Chill for at least one hour and serve!


Mini Fruit Pizzas
1 dozen sugar cookies (pre-made work well)
1 (8oz) block reduced-fat cream cheese, softened
3/4 cup powdered sugar
1/4 cup orange juice
3 cups fruit, chopped (oranges, bananas, strawberries, anything)

Mix cream cheese, powdered sugar and orange juice in a bowl. Spread mixture on each cookie (if you have extra cream cheese mix, don't worry, it makes an excellent fruit dip) and top with assorted fruit. I'm a HUGE fan of fruit pizza and these individual ones help to control my portions.

Smooth Sailin' Shrimp Dip
2 blocks (8oz each) reduced-fat cream cheese, softened
1 1/2 cups salad shrimp ( I buy pre-cooked salad shrimp that have been frozen, just make sure to thaw)
1/4 cup chopped green onion (more or less, depending on your taste)

Mix together and serve with crackers or veggies!