Days 9 & 10: Sweet Tooth & The Dessert Flip

Sorry I didn't get a chance to blog yesterday -- it was a busy night in the PICU and I didn't get a chance. But half rested I am back and excited! Brother is coming into town tonight, we will get some raised beds made for our garden attempt #2, parents in town tomorrow, Asheville Saturday, and plans for an all around great weekend!

So a couple interesting things to share.

I do love sweet things and baking, but am always amazed at how much white sugar the recipes contain. That step always makes me hesitate. Here's a great article talking about sugar substitute options (and not Splenda) for baking.

Sweet doesn't have to mean white sugar

So after you have baked your fabulous cake, pie, brownie, bar or cookies there's that whole problem of who is going to eat it all. I bake muffins in fear that the hubby is going to eat them all in a couple days. Or when you cut yourself a piece of cake, it's easy to go overboard with it a little. Well, introducing...

The Dessert Flip



We serve cheesecake with a couple strawberries on top. We serve chocolate cake with a raspberry or two on the side. The dessert flip is swapping portion sizes on your plate and is just as satisfying. Take a small square of cheesecake and surround it in fresh berries. Take a piece of chocolate cake and pair it with orange slices, raspberries, and a few raw cashews or almonds. Take a small single spoon of ice cream and place it on top a bowl of peaches and blueberries, or whatever fruit you choose. The fruit is amazing on its own, but if you have that occasional sweet tooth, eat your dessert, enjoy it, but in limited proportions served with limitless fruit and nuts. You can even spice it up a little by grilling your fruit (grilled pineapple = yum) or baking it (baked pears or apples).


Wish I could write more but on the way to the airport to go pick up Sagar!!


Sweet dreams!

Day 3 - Pretty please with sugar on top...

I love this PSA video that NY put out...

It's easy to drink a lot of calories without realizing it. Read your labels. Think twice before you say yes to a refill at a restaurant. Watch out for those lovely waiters and waitresses that just fill up your cup while you're in the middle of conversation.

And watch out for sugar and high fructose corn syrup hiding in other foods you yet. Often times, foods labeled as "low fat" are full of sugar and salt to make them taste better. Even something as simple as a fruit flavored yogurt can be full of tons of sugar.

My handy tip: every 4 grams of sugar on the label is equal to 1 teaspoon of sugar. Look at the label and figure out how many teaspoons you are about to buy...area you  with willing to eat that many teaspoons of sugar?

Diet, sugar free drinks are not without flaws either - but more on that later.

Recipe of the Day: Water Infusions

You can make your own fancy spa water at home, and often times it makes it easier to down a lot more water

Fill a jug or bottle with water (or sparkling water) and add any combination of...

Limes

Lemons

Oranges

Tangerine

Strawberries

Any other berries

Kiwi

Mango

Apples

Watermelon

Canteloupe

Honeydew

Pineapple

Peach

Cucumber

Mint

Cinnamon

Basil

Rosemary

Lavender

Lemon verbana

Rose petals (careful they weren't sprayed with pesticides)

You are adding just a bit of flavor, with some fruit to eat at the end. If you need just a little sweetness, grab the honey or agave nectar instead of sugar...but just add a touch.

It's pretty, yummy, and definitely makes me drink more water.

What's your favorite combination of agua fresca?