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Roni

Food, Savory

Easy Mashed Cauliflower

Mashed Cauliflower

One of my girlfriends just started Weight Watchers. What does that mean for me? It’s means I’m trying to find recipes that not only I can eat, but that won’t spoil her diet if I invite her over.

If you don’t already know, Weight Watchers lets you eat all the vegetables you want without penalizing you. As an avid calorie counter, that means so much to me. I mean, how painful is it that every time I eat a banana, I cringe because it’s 100 calories or more. So you can see how jealous I’ve been when she can eat all the veggies she wants and I’m left to look for low calorie options.

So I compromised with myself and decided to make something we both could eat – Mashed Cauliflower. Does it takes like potatoes? Not exactly, but I bet you certainly could confuse enough people with mashed cauliflower to get them to eat a healthier option than mashed potatoes.

Try it and let me know what you think!

Mashed Cauliflower

Gather
Medium sized head of cauliflower
1 wedge of Light Creamy Swiss Laughing Cow Cheese
1/4 cup of Parmesan Cheese
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon of salt
1/8 teaspoon of ground black pepper

In a large pot, boil water.

Clean and cut cauliflower into small pieces, add to boiling water and cook for 6-7 minutes, or until well done. Drain and do not let cool. Pat dry with paper towels.

In a bowl, combine hot cauliflower, Laughing Cow Cheese, Parmesan cheese, garlic powder, salt, pepper. Blend with either an immersion blender or in a food processor (I actually used my regular blender, but had to do it in shifts because it wasn’t getting everything). Cauliflower should be smooth.

Serve and top with a sprinkling of fresh ground black pepper.

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Health

My Favorite Things – When I’m Sick

We may be strong independent women, but everyone wants to be pampered when they dont feel well.

Sometimes I wonder if when I take medication, if it’s really making me feel better. Because when I took my doctor-prescribed medications over the weekend and today, I have moments where I just feel worse. Like my body has just realized it’s actually sick.

So I’ve tried to trick my body into thinking it’s not so uncomfortable with some of my favorite things, like the following. This is the basic list of my go-to items that always make me feel better. What’s yours?

Junk Food

When I’m really feeling sick – and it doesn’t matter if I have strep throat or my throat is scratchy from coughing all day – all I want to do is binge eat food that’s bad for me. Sometimes, I’m not even hungry, but I think when I was little I used to find comfort in chocolate pudding, cookies, and macaroni and cheese. So anything remotely sugary usually ends up in my belly. It’s about the only sure fire way to tell that I’m sick is if you catch me with a chocolate chip cookie or Boston Cream Pie doughnut in my hand.

Also, frozen S’more Pop-Tarts are the best thing in the world.

Disney Movies

Candleshoe.png

Did I ever tell you that my grandparent’s used to work at Disney World? No? Oh, well guess what? I was one of those spoiled kids who went all the time, so I could pretty much tell you everything and anything you want to know about the greatest place on Earth. EPCOT is still my favorite place to go, and if you tell me you don’t like going to Innovations, then I’m sorry, we probably can’t be friends anymore.

So back to Disney movies. When I’m sick, the best thing that calms me down is being curled up on the couch with Beauty and the Beast, Mulan, or even any of the old classics like Candleshoe or Pete’s Dragon. If you’ve never heard of Candleshoe, please watch it, particularly if you’re a Jodie Foster fan. She was such a great little actress in that film!

A Warm Bath

Everybody Loves a Good Bubble Bath!

Bubbles. Warm water. Playlist with Elephant Revival. Enough said.

Fluffy Blankets

Aw.... this looks like my Peech when she was a baby.

Or towels right out of the dryer. I have no idea what it is, but I just love snuggling in warm sheets. So warm. So comfy. Who wants to throw all my blankets into the dryer and then make me a fort of fluffiness?

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Fitness, Health

Early Morning Green Juice

I woke up very early yesterday morning. I don’t know if it was because it was raining, or because my pain medication wore off (had to go to the doctor late last week, but I’m fine, don’t worry). I ended up making breakfast at 5:30 a.m., then did two loads of laundry, and proceeded to watch the documentary “Fat, Sick, and Nearly Dead” – which I totally recommend. It’s on Netflix and is about this man who decides to only eat juiced fruits and veggies to lose weight and get healthier. It’s amazing how a simple change can make such a difference. We eat such processed and bad food that if we just took the time to eat fresh fruits and veggies, we’d be much, much healthier.

So by 9 a.m., I was both drawn in by this film, as well as craving fruits and veggies. That’s how I found myself wandering through the rain for a 10 minute walk to the Dover Natural Marketplace.

Grabbing a Green Drink In the Rain

Yes, I make awkward faces when I take selfies.

However, the ladies at the store were very kind and even though their juicer was down, they were still able to puree some kale, spinach, pineapple, apple, and orange for me as a mid-morning snack (a.k.a. breakfast number two).

photo 2 (3)

It was so good. I promise, there’s nothing scary about these. It’s just fruits and veggies, and to be honest, it just tastes like a smoothie. No harm in getting some early morning exercise with a walk, and then enjoying an added dose of vitamins.

Dover Natural Marketplace

Next time I’ll tell you all about their bulk spice section. I could get lost in there for hours.

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Fashion, Life With Kids

Bonjour – Babies Onesie

It’s been a long time since I’ve designed something. So I was pleasantly surprised when one of my girlfriends said she had a baby shower needed help designing an invitation for (not her, but she’s hosting it for her friend who has a bun in the oven). I was so excited. We chatted about designs, colors for the shower, and I finished up a few variations for her. I’ll show you all a version after she has the baby shower because I don’t want to spoil any surprises, but let me tell you, it was pretty darn cute.

I also learned a brand new term – new to me, anyway. Sprinkle. No, not the rainbow colored candies you put on your ice cream. She kept telling me her friend was having a sprinkle. Is that some new term for a baby? Turns out it just means the mommy-to-be has already had a baby and this is the second or third, or whatever. Get it, a smaller shower.. just a sprinkle .. of rain. SOO cute!

bonjour

Anyway, you’re probably wondering what that has to do with onesie with “bonjour” on it. Well, it was inspired by me trying to come up with some baby clothing ideas. Mostly, what would I want to buy someone for their baby shower (or sprinkle). The pink and blue tulle-covered onesies are so overdone. I’m quite a fan of the more thoughtful ones or out of the ordinary, like these:

Chemistry Baby

Chemistry Boys Science Onesie for Baby - Blue

 

Baby Cardigan

Baby Cardigan Onesie and Bowtie, Baby, Little Man Outfit, First Birthday Party, Baby's First Pictures

 

Or for the Bio-Major, Insect and Plant-Inspired

Custom, hand-drawn onesiesIf you like the one I designed, check it out here: Click.

 

 

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