I plan to get this thing going now, once and for all. Unfortunately, this decision comes at a very cliché time of year. Today is New Year's Eve, and the only thing that means to me is that I get to get all dolled up and have a fun girls' night. I don't do resolutions. Everyone always makes the resolution to lose weight, and I did that, so that covers all of my resolutions for the rest of my life.
There is a giant recipe project in the works. I am gathering together all of my favorite recipes, and will be collecting all of my friends best recipes. These will all be compiled into one of those fabulously tacky church-style cookbooks, which I plan to sell to raise a little bit of extra moo-la. I'll be highlighting some of the best or most under-appreciated recipes here, where you will become inspired to try them for yourself!
Fearsome women always act and look fearsome...and today I'm obsessed with the "looking" aspect of it all. However, today was definitely my most frumpy day in a while - tromping around the mall in too big and short jeans, no make-up, hair a frizzy humid mess, glasses, and a gigantic winter coat. The best part of me today would have to be my Pumas...which have that lovely white line that appears from the salt in the wintertime. But I digress. I spent a lot of time online today, shopping for the right pair of boots, which I have yet to find. I rejoiced when one of the shirts I bought today rung up at $6 instead of the $15 I had expected. Going home with three new blouses that will look great with jeans or pencil skirts, all in colors that are lacking in my closet...well, I'm just elated with how today went.
Also purchased today: cookie dough scoop, pastry brush, coffee scoop, Glad Press N Seal, and 50% off Christmas stuff. My mom and I are masters at finding great deals, and while a deal is not hard to find this time of year, that doesn't make them any less satisfying.
Off to watch The Office while I sort through recipes!
Thursday, December 30, 2010
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
Desserts
After a failed adventure into blog template switching, I've lost my poll. But before I lost it, desserts were the top pick. I feel that today is a great day for me to think about low sugar, healthy desserts, for many reasons. First, I just made an impossible huge cake that is anything but healthy, and could use a reminder that I have other options. Next, summer makes me crave sweets. Finally, today is my one year anniversary of having gastric by-pass, which is the reason that I control my sugar intake.
CHOCOLATE PUMPKIN MUFFINS
You will need...
15 ounce can of pumpkin pie filling (check that the only ingredient is pumpkin)
1 box devil's food cake mix
Mix together until a sturdy dough forms. Scoop into a regular or mini muffin tin sprayed with cooking spray. Bake for 20 min at 400 degrees.
I prefer the mini muffin tin - bite size is fun, and is the perfect size for a little snack when you're craving chocolate. Don't like pumpkin? No worries, because you can barely taste the pumpkin in these muffins. Eat as is, or top with a bit of Reddi Whip (only 15 calories per 2 tablespoons!). I like these frozen, as well.
With 12 servings...181 cal, 3.5g fat, 2g protein, 37g carb, 2g fiber. Adapted from hungry-girl.com
TIRAMISU
You will need...
1 prepared angel food cake cut into 1 inch cubes
1/2 cup instant sugar-free cappuccino mix
2 cups skim milk
1 package (8 ounces) fat-free cream cheese, softened
1 package (1 ounce) sugar-free instant vanilla pudding mix
2 cups low-fat whipped cream
1/2 teaspoon baking cocoa
Evenly distribute cake cubes in a 13 x 9 x 2 inch dish. In a small bowl, combine 1/4 cup cappuccino mix and 1/2 cup milk, mix. Pour over cake cubes.
In a mixing bowl, beat cream cheese. In another bowl, combine pudding mix and remaining cappuccino mix and milk; whisk until smooth and tickened. Add to the cream cheese; mix well. Fold in the whipped topping; spoon over cake mixture. Refrigerate for 3 hours or overnight. Sprinkle with cocoa just before serving.
This is fun to serve in individual bowls, perhaps some ice cream bowls. Decorate with small wafer cookies
Serving size: 1 cup. 351 calories, 6g fat, 797 sodium, 62 carbs, 11g protein.
More recipes to come! However, dessert is the perfect meal to skip the recipe and embrace some pure ingredients. Mix together whatever fresh fruit you can get your hands on, and dress with some sugar substitute mixed with lime juice and mint. Fruit, granola, and yogurt (try Greek yogurt!) make a healthy and refreshing end to any meal.
Recipe books are great to collect. Make sure your collection has at least one diabetic cookbook in it! Not diabetic? Me either. Diabetics have taste buds, too, and they want their food to taste just as good as if they didn't have dietary restrictions. Diabetic cook books are full of creative, healthy recipes.
Keep on keeping on, my fearsome friends!
CHOCOLATE PUMPKIN MUFFINS
You will need...
15 ounce can of pumpkin pie filling (check that the only ingredient is pumpkin)
1 box devil's food cake mix
Mix together until a sturdy dough forms. Scoop into a regular or mini muffin tin sprayed with cooking spray. Bake for 20 min at 400 degrees.
I prefer the mini muffin tin - bite size is fun, and is the perfect size for a little snack when you're craving chocolate. Don't like pumpkin? No worries, because you can barely taste the pumpkin in these muffins. Eat as is, or top with a bit of Reddi Whip (only 15 calories per 2 tablespoons!). I like these frozen, as well.
With 12 servings...181 cal, 3.5g fat, 2g protein, 37g carb, 2g fiber. Adapted from hungry-girl.com
TIRAMISU
You will need...
1 prepared angel food cake cut into 1 inch cubes
1/2 cup instant sugar-free cappuccino mix
2 cups skim milk
1 package (8 ounces) fat-free cream cheese, softened
1 package (1 ounce) sugar-free instant vanilla pudding mix
2 cups low-fat whipped cream
1/2 teaspoon baking cocoa
Evenly distribute cake cubes in a 13 x 9 x 2 inch dish. In a small bowl, combine 1/4 cup cappuccino mix and 1/2 cup milk, mix. Pour over cake cubes.
In a mixing bowl, beat cream cheese. In another bowl, combine pudding mix and remaining cappuccino mix and milk; whisk until smooth and tickened. Add to the cream cheese; mix well. Fold in the whipped topping; spoon over cake mixture. Refrigerate for 3 hours or overnight. Sprinkle with cocoa just before serving.
This is fun to serve in individual bowls, perhaps some ice cream bowls. Decorate with small wafer cookies
Serving size: 1 cup. 351 calories, 6g fat, 797 sodium, 62 carbs, 11g protein.
More recipes to come! However, dessert is the perfect meal to skip the recipe and embrace some pure ingredients. Mix together whatever fresh fruit you can get your hands on, and dress with some sugar substitute mixed with lime juice and mint. Fruit, granola, and yogurt (try Greek yogurt!) make a healthy and refreshing end to any meal.
Recipe books are great to collect. Make sure your collection has at least one diabetic cookbook in it! Not diabetic? Me either. Diabetics have taste buds, too, and they want their food to taste just as good as if they didn't have dietary restrictions. Diabetic cook books are full of creative, healthy recipes.
Keep on keeping on, my fearsome friends!
Sunday, August 15, 2010
Vote!
I am far too indecisive about what to write about first. Currently, I am obsessed with cooking/baking/food, so I have narrowed it down to that. Look below the Fearsome Artisan title, and you'll see four options: baking bread, killer sugar cookies, healthy desserts, and the joys of coffee. Vote on which one you'd like to hear about first, and I'll have it up promptly! To help you decide, allow me to break each choice down.
Baking bread, without a machine, always seemed like an impossible art form to me. It was the stuff of legend, and I would never be able to do it. After I got over that fear and smelled my first loaf, I was hooked. Not only was it easy and delicious, I found that fresh bread makes everyone inexplicably happy. With a little bravery and three simple ingredients, you will soon be dazzling those around you with your beautiful loaves of artisan bread.
Sugar cookies may sound rather simple, and they are. However, the way you decorate them is what distinguishes you between bland and fearsome. With a few affordable tools, you will quickly be pumping out cookies that will wow everyone.
Desserts can be delicious and guilt free! I used to believe that if a dessert was healthy, low sugar, or low fat...then it wasn't any good, and therefore not a true dessert. After going through a gastric by-pass, I had no choice but to accept all of those "horrible" desserts. Boy was I wrong about them! I've picked up some recipes along the way that can fool anyone into thinking they're eating the most sinful of treats.
Coffee makes me oh so very happy. I love going out to coffee shops, but I hate paying the prices. I've learned ways to make coffee shop quality drinks at home, and it's ridiculous how much money you save that way. Plus, coffee has some useful traits that go beyond the mug that I'm dying to tell you about.
Vote away! Then you can proudly pull out your "I voted!" pins, slap 'em on to your lapel, and confuse the heck out your family. You only have a few days to vote, so get on it!
Baking bread, without a machine, always seemed like an impossible art form to me. It was the stuff of legend, and I would never be able to do it. After I got over that fear and smelled my first loaf, I was hooked. Not only was it easy and delicious, I found that fresh bread makes everyone inexplicably happy. With a little bravery and three simple ingredients, you will soon be dazzling those around you with your beautiful loaves of artisan bread.
Sugar cookies may sound rather simple, and they are. However, the way you decorate them is what distinguishes you between bland and fearsome. With a few affordable tools, you will quickly be pumping out cookies that will wow everyone.
Desserts can be delicious and guilt free! I used to believe that if a dessert was healthy, low sugar, or low fat...then it wasn't any good, and therefore not a true dessert. After going through a gastric by-pass, I had no choice but to accept all of those "horrible" desserts. Boy was I wrong about them! I've picked up some recipes along the way that can fool anyone into thinking they're eating the most sinful of treats.
Coffee makes me oh so very happy. I love going out to coffee shops, but I hate paying the prices. I've learned ways to make coffee shop quality drinks at home, and it's ridiculous how much money you save that way. Plus, coffee has some useful traits that go beyond the mug that I'm dying to tell you about.
Vote away! Then you can proudly pull out your "I voted!" pins, slap 'em on to your lapel, and confuse the heck out your family. You only have a few days to vote, so get on it!
Saturday, August 14, 2010
Welcome!
Welcome to Fearsome Artisan! This is a place where countless amazing things are about to happen.
I am excited to present to you everything it takes to become a fearsome artisan, that is, a fearsome thing to behold. What does that mean, you ask? I'll allow the talented Jane Austen to explain, through this excerpt from Pride & Prejudice:
Here I will share my secrets to being accomplished. With projects and ideas for everything from crafts to baking, fashion to music, and everything in between, I promise that you can do everything. And well. With a focus on easy, affordable, and realistic things, being a fearsome artisan is in your near future.
My name is Sara, and I am many things. Of course you already know that I am a fearsome thing to behold (remember that you are, too!). However, I am also an opera singer, a teacher, a daughter, an animal lover, a student, a Minnesotan, a red head, a sister, a baker, a friend, a 23 year old that has no clue what to do with her life, and many other things. Yes, I am young, but I have no fear. I will try anything once, and then probably a few more times just to give it a fair shot. That is why I can confidently present all of these exciting projects and ideas that are about to appear on this blog.
Want to know when new things are posted? Email me at fearsomeartisan@gmail.com, with "email updates" in the subject line. I'll email you when there is something new to read about. Follow @fearsomeartisan on twitter, and look for the Fearsome Artisan fan page on facebook.
I look forward to working alongside you to prove Mr. Darcy wrong.
I am excited to present to you everything it takes to become a fearsome artisan, that is, a fearsome thing to behold. What does that mean, you ask? I'll allow the talented Jane Austen to explain, through this excerpt from Pride & Prejudice:
MR BINGLEY
It’s amazing, how young ladies have the patience to be so accomplished.
CAROLINE BINGLEY
What do you mean, Charles?
MR BINGLEY
They all paint tables, and embroider cushions, and play the piano. I never heard of a young lady, but people say she is accomplished.
DARCY
The word is indeed applied too liberally. I cannot boast of knowing more than half a dozen women, in all my acquaintance, that are truly accomplished.
CAROLINE BINGLEY
Nor I, to be sure!
ELIZABETH
Goodness! You must comprehend a great deal in the idea.
DARCY
I do.
CAROLINE BINGLEY
Absolutely. She must have a thorough knowledge of music, singing, drawing, dancing and the modern languages, to deserve the word. And something in her air and manner of walking.
DARCY
And of course she must improve her mind by extensive reading.
ELIZABETH
I am no longer surprised at your knowing only six accomplished women. I rather wonder now at your knowing any.
DARCY
Are you so severe on your own sex?
ELIZABETH
I never saw such a woman. She would certainly be a fearsome thing to behold.
Here I will share my secrets to being accomplished. With projects and ideas for everything from crafts to baking, fashion to music, and everything in between, I promise that you can do everything. And well. With a focus on easy, affordable, and realistic things, being a fearsome artisan is in your near future.
My name is Sara, and I am many things. Of course you already know that I am a fearsome thing to behold (remember that you are, too!). However, I am also an opera singer, a teacher, a daughter, an animal lover, a student, a Minnesotan, a red head, a sister, a baker, a friend, a 23 year old that has no clue what to do with her life, and many other things. Yes, I am young, but I have no fear. I will try anything once, and then probably a few more times just to give it a fair shot. That is why I can confidently present all of these exciting projects and ideas that are about to appear on this blog.
Want to know when new things are posted? Email me at fearsomeartisan@gmail.com, with "email updates" in the subject line. I'll email you when there is something new to read about. Follow @fearsomeartisan on twitter, and look for the Fearsome Artisan fan page on facebook.
I look forward to working alongside you to prove Mr. Darcy wrong.
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