Tasty Tuesday: Grilled Sides and CHOCOLATE!!!

I have to admit, these recipes are partially inspired by my stepmom. She makes the best grilled carrots and her and my dad make the best grilling team! Even if it is just for the family on the front porch. And on top of that I was kinda of jealous that my cat didn't get me anything for Mother's Day and my stepmom got these delicious chocolate covered strawberries from Edible Arrangements. You would think my cat would know how to order a present online by now... 

So anyways, last night I was in the grilling mood... And by that I mean I wanted my food to be grilled so Briam had to cook! I'm not a woman of the grill.. or fire. But he loves it so it works out for both of us. We grilled carrots, potatoes, and a giant pork loin that cam in a package so there's no recipe for that because, well, I bought it already fancied up. And with grilling season finally showing up, these recipes are perfect for a hot spring/summer night!

What I Ate Wednesday

I know you're super curious as to what I ate today... Well, here ya go!

Breakfast:

I love love love Ruby Red Grapefruits! They are beyond amazing! Just sprinkle a little bit of stevia on them and you are good to go! Bananas are another favorite of mine. The keep me full for quite some time. I've also read that bananas help to calm depression. Now I'm not saying I'm depressed, but I haven't been the happiest person for quite a while, hence the lack of blog posts. So after I had a banana the other day and noticed that my mood had gotten better, I bought a crap ton of bananas... I'm gonna need to make some banana bread now... And we can't forget the Apple Maple Chicken Sausages! OMGoodness these are beyond delicious. And so easy to cook too. 

Lunch:

Not the healthiest of lunches I suppose. I had one of those Marie Calendar's meals. It was the Shrimp and Chicken Alfredo I think... I tossed the box before I could remember what it was! It was the best thing I've ever eaten... but it wasn't terrible either. And of course another banana. Trying to get as many in as I can before it's bread time!

Dinner:

So, I ate it all before I could take a picture of it. Sorry, I was seriously hungry. Just imagine delicious food. 

For dinner Briam and I had leftover homemade fried rice from last night along with Sesame Garlic Chicken! I love this stuff. I'm pretty addicted to Chinese food, so being able to make it at home is a super plus! Probably should've had some more veggies with dinner but hey, we're running low on food right now, time to hit up the grocery store! 

Dessert:

Only a few Milano cookies and some almond milk for me! I love soaking my cookies in the milk until they're super soft. This just makes them even more delicious! 

Drink of The Day:

I love my super tasty hydrating water! I started drinking this and it was amazing what happened to my skin! Practically all of my trouble spots were gone! My skin was more clear and brighter than I've seen it in a long time. The recipe for this super hydrating water will be up tomorrow on Thirsty Thursday! 

What did you eat today?

Recipe: Special Holiday Sugar Cookies

I love cookies, and so does Briam. I wanted to make a holiday treat that was fun, flavorful, and easy to make. I found this recipe from Alton Brown and altered it just a little bit to my liking and how I wanted to make the cookies. To see how to make your own holiday sugar cookies, keep reading! Don't forget to share your sugar cookies with me on Twitter and Instagram by using the hashtag #cmxoxosugarcookies 

What You'll Need:

3 C All Purpose Flour, 3/4 tsp Baking Powder, and 1/4 tsp Salt 

1 C Unsalted Butter (softened), 1 C Sugar, 1 Egg (beaten), 1 tbsp Milk for dough and 6 tbsp for icing, 3 C Powdered Sugar for icing

Extracts: Mint, Cinnamon, and Raspberry. Food Coloring: Green, Red, and Blue

Holiday Cookie Cutters

Directions:

Sift together the flour , baking powder, and salt. Set Aside. 

Mix butter and sugar until mixed thoroughly and looks like the picture below 

Ta Da! 

Add the egg (I forgot to beat mine, still did just fine) and 1 tbsp of milk. Beat again. 

Add the flour mixture to your butter mixture and beat until it becomes a solid dough. Separate  into 3 different bowls.  

Add 1 tbsp of food coloring and extract to each respective dough bowls and mix together. Roll them in plastic wrap and let set in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours.  

Bake your cookies at 375 degrees for 7-9 minutes. They should be slightly brown around the edges. 

Oh Christmas Tree Oh Christmas Tree 

Some of mine had too much fun in the oven...  

To make the icing: Combine 3 C Powdered Sugar with 6 tbsp of Milk. I t will look and taste like what goes on a cinnamon bun.  

SPRINKLES!!!!

MORE SPRINKLES!!!!

SO MANY SPRINKLES!!!!!

Let the icing harden for about 1 hour and plate your cookies! Yummy! 

 To see the full video recipe, click here! 

Get Fit Recipes: Baked Apples

I love apples. I love apple pie even more. But alas, I cannot have apple pie. I've been wanting to come up with a recipe that allows me to enjoy my apples in a way that would remind me of pie, but obviously wouldn't be pie. I wanted to keep it simple, but still hold plenty of flavor. This recipe is delicious and perfect for yourself or for two! It's also been boyfriend approved! 

Ingredients:

2 Royal Gala apples 

4 tsp of cinnamon (to be split)
Light Agave Nectar

Quick notes: You can use any apple of your choosing. Just pick your favorite apple and go with it! My favorite apples are the Envy apples. But Publix didn't have any yesterday, so I went with the gala apples. Also, I prefer the taste of the light agave nectar to the darker ones, but this again is up to you, which ever one you like better!

1. Pre-heat the oven to 350
1. After removing the stems from the two apples, cut them in half and remove the cores. Place in a glass baking dish. (or what ever you have on hand!)
2. Sprinkle 1 tsp of cinnamon on each apple half.
3. Drizzle the agave nectar over each apple.
4. Let bake in the oven for about 45 minutes or until apples are slightly golden on the top.
5. Let cool for 5-8 minutes and enjoy!

What's your favorite healthy dessert?

Have you tried baked apples before?