Be Prepared!

In the Words from The Little Mermaid:
 And In the Words of Lion King
:


 And make sure to buy the essentials in preparation for Hurricane Sandy
-Wine
-Chocolate
-And more wine

And, if you are feeling crafty in the kitchen, then whip up some Chocolate Acorns:

 http://tastykitchen.com/recipes/holidays/chocolate-acorns/

So Fresh and So Clean

I gave up soda four weeks ago. And it's one of the best decisions I have made in awhile. I was drinking two bottles (not cans) of root beer a day. Yes, root beer. Some of my favorites included IBC root beer and Virgil's root beer (found at Whole Foods). I think some could call me a root beer connoisseur.

The downfall of drinking so much soda, besides the obvious ( nothing in it is good for your body!) I was filling up on the soda instead of finishing my delicious meals. So, I decided it was time. And I did it --- cold turkey.  How did I do it?  I decided that soda was not even an option. To me - it did not exist. And it worked!

http://water.aiche.org/

Two tests came within the first three weeks into my hiatus. 1)  when I was volunteering outside for five hours, and the only beverage around was cold Sprite. I started chugging---and all of a sudden I realized---soda was too sweet for me. All I wanted was a water. & 2) I was up in Boston visiting a friend and we stopped at the infamous Cheers bar and ordered a cold root beer (so, so, so good). Now here is the truth - that root beer never tasted any better. The nice, crisp taste had truly been missed...but I could only drink a few sips before I realized...I wanted water! I was thirsty--and root beer wasn't cutting it.

That is when I knew I succeeded!

Before giving up soda, I always though the 8-8 rule was a sham. There is no way someone can drink 8, 8 ounces of liquid a day. Believe me - give up soda and you will be amazed at how much water you can drink. I easily finish 1 liter of water in the morning alone.

I was also surprised to hear from others on how they had given up soda either recently or in that past couple of years and they all agreed-it was one of the best decisions they've made. They feel better, they're more energized, and all over are more healthier than they have ever been.

Now my coffee and wine...that is another story.

Pumpkin Overload: Soup, Muffins & Fluff

Once DC got its first crisp Fall day, all I kept thinking about was all the wonderful Fall recipes I have been dying to make. Whole Foods has on display their beautiful pumpkins so my theme last week was ---Pumpkins!  I made 3 recipes last week (overload).

One was healthy (soup); one was fattening (fluff); and one was quick (muffins).

I found a delicious recipe on the Washingtonian for a Butternut Squash and Apple soup. However, I felt like it needed to be sweeter so I added in half a can of pumpkin filling + sprinkled cinnamon on top. And it was delicious! I definitely cut time off by buying pre-cut butternut squash.

For dessert, I made Pumpkin Fluff (some may refer to it as Pumpkin fat)

• 16 ounces of cool whip
• 1 can of pumpkin filling
• 2 tsps of pumpkin pie spice
• 1 small box of vanilla instant pudding

Directions: Add all the above ingredients then chill in the refrigerator for 30 minutes.

Notes: I only used 8 ounces of cool whip. You can add more we just wanted more of the pumpkin taste than cool whip. I made this while the soup was boiling and then chilled in the fridge for 2 hours, although you could most certainly start eating it right away.


Lastly, on Saturday morning, I made Pumpkin Muffins...and get this, I only used 2 ingredients!

• 1 box of Yellow Cake Mix
• 1 can of Pumpkin Filling

Mix the two, then fill in muffin pan. Bake at 350 for 20 minutes. Notes: I totally messed up and wasn't thinking, and put the mixture into a bread pan. I do not recommend this ---it took 2 hours to cook all the way through. Again, I wasn't thinking. But the end result was still delicious. I also added a little of the fluff from the night before as an icing to the muffins (ok, I know, not healthy).

Mexican Layer Dip...to help me watch more baseball...

My house, like I am sure most homes right now in the DC and Baltimore area, has been consumed with Nats, Orioles, Ravens and Redskins. And who doesn't love watching a great game with some great food.


Today at 5PM the Baltimore Orioles will take on the NY Yankees in Game 5 of the Post-Season.

BuckleUp...if tonight is like the other games in this series, it'll be a close one. 

Today at 8:30PM, the Washington Nationals will take on the St. Louis Cards in DC.

http://mlb.mlb.com/was/fan_forum/multimedia.jsp

For those of you like me that are not lucky enough to go to these games, I will be at home, drinking my Sam Adams Oktoberfest and mixing up a 7-layer dip.

Mexican Layered Dip

1 lb. of lean ground turkey (whole foods has it up to 99%lean)
1 packet of taco seasoning
1 box of cream cheese
1/2 can of refried or black beans
5 ounces of sour cream
Packet of Guacamole (Or make some)
1/2 bottle of Pacante Salsa
shredded lettuce
diced tomatoes
shredded cheese
olives

OK...tonight's will be a 11-layer dip

Cook the ground turkey. Drain. Add in the taco seasoning
Layer a deep dish pan with the following layers: cream cheese; then beans; then sour cream; then meat; then salsa; then lettuce; then diced tomatoes; add 1/2 of your shredded cheese

Bake at 350 for 20 minutes
Add the rest of your shredded cheese so the top layer is all yellow
Bake for 5 more minutes
Then - add your olives

Enjoy! And "Let's go O's!" & "Let's go Nats!"

Source: stonewallkitchen.com via Audrey on Pinterest

Good News for DC today...yes, there is some

Bummer news about the Nats tonight, but hopefully they will come back swinging tomorrow...(pun intended)

In the meantime, a little DC cheer for you...

Georgetown will be getting an outdoor ice rink! According to Georgetown Patch, the rink should be done with construction just in time for Thanksgiving.

Back on the Blog..an Ode to Boston

After taking a hiatus from blogging this summer, I am back! Fall is here and I couldn't be more excited.  Pumpkins are now lined up outside Whole Foods, Pumpkin Spice Lattes are sold at Starbucks, Ravens football is back...I am definitely hoping Winter will wait it's turn this year to show up.

To kick off my Fall, I went and visited a dear college friend of mine up in Boston...I have never been to Boston nor did I have any expectations from the trip...and I don't think I could have  picked a more perfect time to visit. The leaves are just starting to turn colors along the Charles River and everyone was out in about in their blazers and boots. My friend and I walked along the Charles River; went to Cheers "where everyone knows your name"; hung out on the beach of Southie; and just enjoyed the wonderful season. If you've never been to Boston, I definitely recommend going in the Fall!

Bridge to walk along the Charles River

Few snapshots stiched together #picstitch

Stopped & got a Root Beer at Cheers 

Beautiful stream between the city and the Charles River

Cambridge, MA

Beach in Southie

Thanks again, C, for having me!