Sunday, January 27, 2013

Handy Kitchen Devices


I wanted to make some cookies last night so TJ and I made ranger cookies.  Basically they’re souped up oatmeal cookies. 

Some people measure their cookies with a scoop.  But after so many years of making cookies like my mother, I can eyeball them with an alarming amount of exactness.  See, aren’t they so beautifully uniform?

Besides just wanting cookies (I ran 17 miles so I was allowed a cookie or two…or four) I wanted to use my new three-tired cooling rack I got for Christmas!  It is super handy, especially for people who have limited counter space like me.



On a different note, I discovered on Pinterest that the top of a Parmesan can can be screwed onto any normal size jar.  Genius.  I decided to put my flax seeds in an old jelly jar so I can sprinkle them out easier for smoothies and oatmeal etc.

Hurray for simple devices that make life easier!

Monday, January 7, 2013

Red and Orange Mashed Potatoes


Lately I’ve been experimenting with ways to substitute higher calorie/fat items for healthier choices.  I believe in using real food, not chemically-enhanced choices (I always use butter, not margarine for example), but there are often ways to cut things down without compromising the flavor.  I’ve introduced plain yogurt to several of my recipes in place of butter, mayo, etc.  It hasn’t failed me yet!

Here is a lovely recipe I made for Red and Orange Mashed Potatoes.  Enjoy!

5 Medium red potatoes
1 Large sweet potato
1/2 C Plain yogurt
2 Tb Butter (you do need SOME, after all)
2 Tb Parmesan cheese (more if you’re using freshly shredded)
1/2 tsp Garlic powder
1/2 tsp Dried basil
1/2 Milk (1%)
Salt and pepper to taste



Peel the sweet potato and partially peel the red potatoes (I think the added texture of some of the skins makes it taste like it was made in a fancy restaurant).  Cube the potatoes and add to a salted, boiling pot of water (just enough to cover the potatoes).  Cover the pot, turn the heat to medium-low, and cook the potatoes until tender (about 15 minutes). 


Drain the water and add all ingredients except the milk.  Mash to your heart’s content until the potatoes chunks are small.  Adding a little at a time, add enough milk to make it creamy as you keep mashing.  Add the salt and pepper, keeping in mind that there is already some saltiness from the parmesan.

Serve it hot, while bragging to your family about how you can make restaurant quality mashed spuds while still keeping their waist-lines in check.  You are so thoughtful.  An added bonus is that because you use yogurt to substitute some of the butter, the leftovers don’t get dry and gross like most regular mashed potatoes.

Makes about 6 cups

1 cup serving nutrition information:
Calories:  180
Fat: 5g

Thursday, January 3, 2013

Racing Binder


I’m taking a chapter from my sister-in-law’s blog and putting my own spin on a product (Run Mom Run blog).  I’ve been wanting to do something with my bib numbers and finisher medals and found this to be a great solution.  And since I’m frugal (that’s a nice way of saying cheap) I just made it myself with a binder I’ve used a dozen other times.
 I'm kind of a binder/list/organization freak if you can't tell...



I can’t bring myself to throw this stuff out.  It represents so much work and although I don’t exhaust myself over the stats and numbers, it’s sure fun to remember what was happening the day of each of the races I’ve done.  Plus, I like scrapbooking when it takes all of 15 seconds to complete a whole page :).

Do you do anything special with your race paraphernalia?