Posts by Bekah Banihashemi
Carrot Cake with a Healthy Twist
It has only been a few months since I realized how delicious carrot cake is! It is quite an interesting concept- carrots in a cake?? Who ever thought of that!? Now, you may be wondering, “How carrot cake can have a “healthy” twist- just because there are carrots in it doesn’t make it healthy.” Well, you would be absolutely right! But, what would you say if I told you this recipe takes out 75% of the oil amount- decreasing the calories by 1,560 and the fat amount by 126 grams- and replacing the oil with PUMPKIN! Yes, pumpkin!
Not only does substituting the pumpkin for the oil make this cake a lot healthier, it also makes it so moist that I don’t think you will ever go back to using the full oil amount. Feeling a little iffy about this pumpkin switch…I guess you will just have to bake it (and eat it, of course) to believe it 🙂
This has become my husband’s favorite dessert, even with knowing the healthy substitute!!
What You Need:
3/4 Cup Brown Sugar
3/4 Cup Sugar
4 Eggs
2 Cups Flour
2 tsp Baking Soda
1 TBS Cinnamon
3/4 tsp Salt
1/4 cup Oil
1 cup + 1/4 cup Pumpkin
2 cups Grated Carrots
FROSTING
1/4 cup Butter
1/2 stick (1/2 cup) Cream Cheese
Scant 2 cups Powdered Sugar
1/2 tsp Vanilla
1 TBS Milk (Add more as needed)
The How-To:
1. Add all the ingredients except for the carrots into a kitchen aid bowl and mix. [Take out your butter and cream cheese to soften for the frosting]
2. Grate carrots. [If you have a newer Kitchen Aid, I would highly recommend this grater attachment! We received it as a wedding gift and have loved using it for grating cheese, carrots and more! …
Read MoreGet Out & Get Refreshed
Are you bored by your schedule and routine? Are you in a rut? Sometimes all you need is to get outside or get out of your routine to get a little refreshment! Here are five fun (maybe NEW) ideas to do just that:
1. Try a New Activity with friends
A few friends and I have recently been planning to attend a “Paint Nite.” There are paint studios all over where you go and get a step-by-step process to all paint the same picture (and it usually includes wine which is a bonus for many!). We are really excited to go be crafty, spend some quality time together, and try something new – and we get a canvas painting out of it, too! Rachel recently tried the “Ladies Night Out” at her local rock climbing gym with friends! There are so many fun, inexpensive ways to find refreshment.
“Learning something new is a fabulous way to be refreshed. When work can grind you down, something about learning a new activity thrills the soul. It reminds you that the world is bigger than your desk and your to-do list.” John Ortberg
2. Go on a date somewhere you have never been!
Try that new restaurant you have always been wanting to go to; Find a local, free activity; Go somewhere in the city you have never been; go to a movie in the park; find a yoga event in the park; go to a new exercise class with your spouse or find a video online (try YouTube!)
3. Go on a walk, run, hike or bike ride; Go to a new park with your kids
Spring is here which means the sun is shining (at least down in So Cal :D)! It can be so refreshing to just enjoy the …
Read MoreBirthday Cupcake Cones
First of all…
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, RACH!!
I hope your day is as AMAZING as YOU ARE!!
We love celebrating! And, celebrating can be refreshing – it is the opportunity to stop all the busyness of life and focus on somebody else! This weekend, our family got to put our focus on THREE “somebody elses” celebrating Calvin, Hanna, and Rachel’s birthdays all in one day!
Jess decided to try something new and fun for the party. Instead of just making cupcakes for the kids, she made Cone Cupcakes – literally making cupcakes that go in a cake cone. The kids thought this was so fun – they are easier to hold and easier to actually get the cake into their little mouths! The directions were on the box of the cake cones but were not descriptive at all. So, after we did a little research, Jess decided to give it a try!
Here is the How-to…
1. Follow the directions on the cake box to make the cupcake batter (Funfetti is our favorite and #1 choice :D)
2. Cover a muffin tin with a piece of foil so that you can tuck it over the edges. Poke a small hole in the foil in each of the centers of the muffin spots. Widen the holes so that the tube of the cake cone can fit into it so that they will not tip over.
3. Place the cones in the holes. Fill the cones with the batter in the tube and halfway into the upper section of the cone. Do not fill too much or the cake will spill out of the cone while baking.
4. Bake at 350º for 20-30 minutes. Check at 20 minutes and place a toothpick in the center of the cake to see if it is …
Read MoreNew Uses for Old Things
I love Real Simple’s book “869 New Uses for Old Things” – it is so fun to find ways to use what often times seems like “junk” in your home. Here are a few of their fun ideas that will make you say, “Why didn’t I think of that!”
Paper Towel Tube
USE TO: Tame a tangle of computer cables; Ward off wrinkles in a silk scarf – wrap it around a tube; Dispense plastic bags – Stuff them in a tube (stashed in a drawer) and pull out as needed; Preserve remnants of gift wrap – Wind them around the tube and fasten with a rubber band or just roll them and slide them in the tube.
Q-tips
USE TO: Make a quickie cosmetics kit for a tiny evening bag. Dip cotton swabs into eye shadow, concealer, and lip gloss. Roll them up in a plastic bag and go; Polish crevices in silver pieces; Extend the life of batteries in a cordless phone, cell phone or laptop – Clean the battery contacts with a swab dipped in alcohol; Touch up paint in tight corners, or apply stain in the ridges of architectural details
Tennis Ball
USE TO: To open a stubborn jar lid without straining, slice a ball in half, use the rubber lining to grip the lid, and twist; A halved ball is a great way to remove a warm bulb that has just burned out; Add resistance to jumping jacks and lunges with weights made from tennis balls filled with pennies (about 3/4 pound each) – make a small slit in a ball, insert the coins, and seal with duct tape or Super Glue; Cut dryer time for a bulky comforter by tossing a few balls in with it; To relieve neck tension, tie two balls in …
Read MoreProtecting Your Hearts and Minds Against the 50 Shades
50 Shades of Grey…For years now it has been on the bookshelves and now it is on our TVs previewing the (unforutnately) much anticipated movie coming out this weekend. I didn’t read the book and was very confused the more I heard about it as women all over the world began reading it. Then, when I began seeing the previews a few weeks ago, I decided that I had to see what all they hype was about. I googled it and could barely get passed the first paragraph of the article describing the plot. Now, I was even more confused. I knew I wanted to speak up but wasn’t really sure how to or what to say. It is hard to have such a strong stance on something that I haven’t actually read. But, I really don’t need to in order to know where I stand.
And, I hope you don’t hear me wrong, this is not a JUDGEMENT post, but more a CALL to STAND UP! Christian women, don’t succumb to the lies of this world – protect your hearts and your minds by looking to Jesus for your truth- in your marriage, for your future marriage, through honoring your husband!
In the last few weeks, I have found some really great articles. The first is from a blog that I just found in the last week- “PrSCISSORTAIL SILK” – her words are so encouraging, and true, and honest. The other articles are from FAMILYLIFE- a ministry that I trust and have come to use as a great resource in my life and in my marriage!
“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable–if anything is excellent or praiseworthy–think about such things.” – Philippians …
Read MoreStuffed Peppers with a Twist
I have always wanted to find a good stuffed peppers recipe! And, I think I finally did! I took the Mexican Quinoa Stuffed Peppers from “The Recipe Critic” and made a few swaps and changes and created a healthy, tasty meal! Full of protein, very colorful, yummy spices, and a new product from Grain & Simple that can be found at Costco! “2 Minute Grains” is full of red spring wheat berries, quinoa, farrow and barley with tomato, onions, and peppers- It is a perfect side for a night of BBQ turkey burgers or, as I discovered with this recipe, the perfect add-in for stuffed peppers! You will love this recipe!
INGREDIENTS
6 large bell peppers
Ground Turkey, 1 pound
1 medium onion
2-4 garlic cloves
2 TBS tomato paste
1 can black beans, drained
1 can corn, drained
1 can petite diced tomatoes
2 packs of Grain & Simple 2 Minute Grains (from Costco)
2 tsp chili powder
1 tsp cumin
2 tsp lemon juice
Salt and pepper to taste
Colby Jack cheese, shredded…
Read MoreTortilla Stack – REVISED
Tortilla Stack is one of our favorite crockpot dinners. However, this weekend, I wanted to make it when hosting dinner for a friend, but I did not have the 2 hours prior to start the crockpot. I decided to turn it into a Tortilla Stack Bake instead of making it in the crockpot! It was delicious!! We even found that baking the stack makes for better consistency for the tortillas! So, here is an oldie and a goodie, REVISED!
1 teaspoon Canola Oil or Olive Oil
1 small-medium yellow Onion, chopped
4-5 Garlic Cloves, pressed (or mince if you do not own a garlic press)
1-2 teaspoons of Fajita Seasoning
1 can Diced Tomatoes, Drained (14.5-ounce)
1 can Tomato Sauce (14.5-ounce)
2-3 Chicken Breasts, cut into small pieces
1-2 tsp Turmeric
1 can Corn, drained (14.5-ounce)
1 can Black Beans, drained (14.5-ounce)
7-10 Whole Wheat Tortillas (This number is for small tortillas; May need to be ripped in some places to cover the sauce areas)
2 cups Colby Jack cheese, shredded (Add more if desired)…
Healthy Cinnamon Oat Pancakes
A great way to start each day RENEWED is to eat a healthy breakfast! I found this recipe through a database of Biggest Loser Recipes. I have changed it slightly but it is still healthy and delicious and easy to make!
Healthy Cinnamon Oat Pancakes
6 Egg Whites
1 Cup Rolled Oats
1 Cup Cottage Cheese
2 tsp Sugar
2 tsp Cinnamon
2 tsp Vanilla
What to Do:
1. Place all ingredients into a blender, and blend until smooth.
2. Heat and grease a griddle or large pan at medium heat
3. Use a 1/4 or 1/3 cup to scoop out batter and place on the hot griddle. Flip when that side begins to bubble.
4. Repeat and Eat!
These pancakes are really delicious! They are also very moist so they are pretty tasty without syrup for a healthier option – Add extra cinnamon on top for more flavor!
Go here to see the Nutritional System Per Serving (The numbers will be slightly different with the modified recipe, but they will still be close)
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Be Full of Gratitude in 2015
Being more grateful is a common choice for a New Year’s Resolution. The website, HappierHuman.com, gives a list of “31 Benefits of Gratitude You Didn’t Know About: How Gratitude Can Change Your Life“. Some of these benefits include: Gratitude makes us happier, Gratitude makes us healthier, Gratitude makes us more optimistic, Gratitude makes us less self-centered, Gratitude improves your sleep, Gratitude increases your energy levels, Gratitude deepens friendships, Gratitude increases your productivity…Read the rest of the list to learn more about how gratitude can change your life! Being grateful can be difficult among busy schedules and your day-to-day monotony. Having a gratitude journal can be very helpful and effective to remember how many things in your life there are to be thankful for!
We, Weisser Women, received a Gratitude Journal for Christmas called “Choose Gratitude: Blessings Journal”. This gift has become a type of New Year’s Resolution for each of us. There is a space for every day of the year so every night or morning you write down a blessing from the previous day. It can be something that happened or just something you thought of throughout the day. But, it can really make a difference in what you are thinking about or your perspective on life.
Here is a blog post from the author of “Choose Gratitude: Blessings Journal”, Crystal Paine on how choosing gratitude has changed her life! Unfortunately, this has become such a popular Gratitude Journal that it is currently out of stock on Crystal’s blog and Amazon but you can still order it to receive it when more are published. Either order it at the bottom of the blog post above or on Amazon in the link below.
Choose to Be Full of Gratitude this New Year!
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Xmas Tree Bread Recipe-Winner Announced-Shopify
And the winner is…
Laura Payne!!
You will be receiving an email soon to claim your prize!! 😀
As promised, here is the Xmas Tree Bread recipe….
Ingredients
1 box Pillsbury Hot Roll Mix
1 egg
¼ cup sugar
⅓ cup flour
3/4 cup additional flour for kneading
½ cup melted butter
½ cup brown sugar
½ cup chopped walnuts
1 tablespoon cinnamon
½ cup powdered sugar
⅛ cup milk
colorful sprinkles
green and red candied cherries
Make Hot Roll Mix according to directions on box adding ¼ cup sugar, ⅓ cup flour and 1 egg. Mix until smooth dough forms kneading in the extra ¾ cups flour as needed to form a soft but NOT sticky ball of dough.…
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