Capitol Inspired Macarons

So this fancy little dessert has been on my to-do list for some time now. I've always wanted to try it but I never had the almond needed, nor did I think I could do it. So I took a leap and tried it out. To me, this is a dish that the Capitol would serve perhaps on the victory tour. These little treats are very delicate and temperamental so when you attempt them as well just let them know who's boss. This recipe is not in the book, but I followed one that was on Yum Sugar, and can be found on Yum Sugar.

Anyway, onto the photos!

Porridge for the Poor-The Unofficial Hunger Games Cookbook

Hey I'm back! So this recipe isn't for Thanksgiving it was one that I had done weeks ago but I totally forgot about it! Anyway, it's inspired by District 13's 'waste not, want not' mentality, So the main thing I learned from making this is that unless I want to eat something separately I shouldn't add it into anything I plan to eat. I added honey at the end, as suggested and I hated it so much! This porridge is really great for a warm filling breakfast, it's just not one for a quick out the door meal. Enjoy the very few photos I have for it :)

 See those bananas in there? Never again in porridge...

 Until next time!
~Vanessa

Post-Thanksgiving Plan

Hey all!

So I do have some food posts coming up, some new recipes I tried and some came out great; others not so much. Anyway the point of this short post guess what I did today?


I worked out :D Now I know this isn't a world changing event, and I'm sure you're thinking Vanessa this is a blog about becoming healthy at some point you had to work out. But here's the thing, I actually did it! I had this plan this morning because I wanted to take a shower and start cleaning the house. So I decided I would work out then shower, but as I got out of my bed I thought it was too cold and I didn't want to get on my treadmill and walk/run. I had myself convinced I would just shower, then all of a sudden bam! My work out shoes were on and I was walking into the living room to run. After running for about 1 mile (I know baby steps) I turned on my Wii and danced for 30 minutes to Just Dance 3.

I feel so great you guys! Anyway I'll wrap this up so it doesn't become too awkward.

~Vanessa

A Raspberry Cobbler from The Unofficial Hunger Games Cookbook

So when I made this cobbler my aunt said that it couldn’t possibly be from The Hunger Games. It is called the hunger games for a reason. However once I made it, the fruit is really the main thing that sticks out. The other ingredients might be found more easily around the Seam and District 12. The recipe, Even the Seam has Sweets; Blackberry Cobbler for Special Days, from The Unofficial Hunger Games Cookbook.

I went shopping at Smart and Final and raspberries were on sale so I used those instead of blackberries. Thinking back on it I would have rather included another berry with the raspberries because the immediate flavor after it was done was so very tart. The bread part was fairly dense and cinnamon-y and didn’t really soak up most of the sugar glaze with the berries. After it was cooled and reheated (when my aunt came over) she said it wasn’t nearly as tart as she thought it would be. So perhaps it will stay in the more mellow department.

So the verdict here is that I really liked trying out the recipe (I did have to double the dough part by the way...) I think if I were to make it again it would be for a holiday and mixed berries this time or no raspberries! Enjoy the photos!

White Chocolate Chocolate Cookies-The Unofficial Hunger Games Cookbook

So apparently I can’t really read or pay attention to recipes. I’ll admit that right now I don’t always have everything on hand so I substitute quite a lot. I like baking and want it to be more of a fun thing to do, not well I have to go spend $60 first then I can come home and make everything. So anyway, these are the White Chocolate Chocolate Cookies from The Unofficial Hunger Games Cookbook.

 I missed the whole chocolate cookie part (how I don’t know...maybe I saw cookie and my eyes glazed over) but I wanted to make a nice batch of chocolate chip cookies to have some sweets on hand for when I’m feeling a sweet tooth. I find that one of these cookies will keep me satisfied for a few hours and keeps me from running off to a fast-food drive thru to get something.

So here they are, some yummy cookies that won’t break the bank and aren’t terribly bad for you, I’m still working on finding out the points for these types of things :) Oh, and why are these in this book? I guess the they are like Katniss’s spirit, mostly dark with some bright parts. I think that’s a little negative, referring to her as a dark spirit isn’t really all that fair.

 

Finding Passion Again

So as I mentioned yesterday I really want to get back into baking again. I want to make my own meals and really invest in myself. So this first recipe comes from The Unofficial Hunger Games Cookbook. I have no affiliation with Emily Ansara Baines (the author) nor with Adams Media (the publisher).

The recipe is Milk Chocolate Honey Brownies with a Kick. What I love about this book is that every recipe is tied into some scene in the movie or book. It really brings out my book-ness and makes me want to do more. I think that people who dress up in costumes inspired by books and movies are quite unique and since my talents don't fall that way, I will use what talents I do have to recreate different worlds the best I can.

These are somewhat of a basic brownie recipe but with honey added, and it does make a difference.

 

Seriously Vanessa? What's wrong with you...

Ok so I know I'm the first one to ask myself that question, everyday. So I noticed that even on days when I didn't post my meals here I ate the same thing. Every day. Every week. How many food options available and I ate the same thing every day. This is why I stop or fall of the wagon. Ok, not fall, I leap off after the second week of ham lunchables.

I figured out something for me though, wait for it...it took me days (years) to figure it out. If I have a passion for something I go full force for it. (duh) If I want to make myself food I will. If I have something that inspires me, I stick with it. So what does this mean gentle reader? I'm going to start re-learning how to cook and bake. Now I must admit baking I'm pretty good at. So it's more this cooking thing I need to master. So the next few posts will be all about my little baking adventures. How can I be so sure? I already made some stuff ;) I'm just editing photos and adding commentary to it now.

I had to wait years to figure this out, surely you can wait one more day?

~Vanessa

Day 2...already off the wagon

Well not completely off. I did go over my point allowance by 4 points. Not terrible but I think it's mainly because I don't have many healthy snacks at home. Maybe by payday I'll be able to buy some more healthy desserts. Oh and not this Saturday but next Saturday I have a (little) date....yup me. So I main concern (knowing very well I can't shed all my pounds by then) is to get my hips down. I have a small issue fitting in some chairs and since I don't really know where we're going I don't want too many surprises happening. My main plan is water. Lots of it.

Anyway, onto what I ate (yesterday)
Breakfast-
Special K Chocolate Shake-5pts
Monster Trail Mix (2x)-10 pts

Lunch-
Ham and Cheddar Lunchable-7pts
Popcorn (1.5 servings)-8pts

Dinner-
El Pollo Loco Chicken Salad (x2 but 4 hours appart)- 16pts

Snacks/Dessert-
Pears-3pts
Churro- 4 pts.

See, that last churro was the culprit. I was in the drive through for El Pollo Loco and thought hey, I want one. I'm paying for it I can buy what I want! Yup, stubborn 12 year old me :/. So already I can see where I spend my points and what I can do to improve.

~Vanessa

What Happened...?

So I started this blog with every intention to start my journey to becoming healthier. And then I just dropped off into nothingness. Well let me tell you it was not by choice. Recently I had to take a medical leave of absence from work due to an injury so my income was null. Yup, nada. So now that I decided to start again I do so having a guess at my weight and a shoddy plan at best.

I'm taking another shot at Weight Watchers since that's the most experience I've had. I know the basics of the old plan and found an app to help me track my food intake. I think another thing that will help me is to track on here my food intake too. I'm warning your, don't follow in my foot steps, my first few weeks are going to be rough and not be the best in nutrition but that will change ;).

Breakfast-
Special K Chocolate Shake 5pts.

Random-
Dr. Pepper (2.5)  3 pts. so 7.5 pts total

Lunch-
Ham and Cheddar Lunchable 7 pts. (yikes!)
Monster Trail Mix 5 pts.

Snack-
Another Ham and Cheddar Lunchable 7 pts.

Dinner-
El Pollo Loco Chicken Salad w/ dressing 8pts

Dessert-
Burger King Sundae 8 pts.

So in total: 49 points...give or take.

Just a small update...

So just a small post to say that tomorrow (Friday) after work I will go shopping and buy a scale. I know that a number doesn't define me but it is something I will need to know as I can't improve my BMI without it. Can I just say that I am soooo looking forward to a time when I won't have to think about what I wear on a summer day? I just had to alter my entire work outfit for tomorrow because I was (am) afraid that if I sweat too much it will show through.

I am slowly making changes, these last two days I've been drinking more water and brought lunch to work with me. Nothing fancy, just a smart ones lunch. Pictures to come soon :)

~Vanessa

Time to Start my Journey

Hello amazing reader! Thank you for coming here to read my story and (hopefully) see me succeed. I've been heavy all my life. I can't remember ever shopping in my age section at any store. As a pre-teen I had to shop in the adult section and now as an adult I shop in the plus size section, if I'm lucky.

But enough about that, in this blog I will be setting goals and one by one achieving them. Photos will be added and we will all see a change.

Step One: Buy a real scale, the sport Wii one does not count. Will check back in tomorrow and add more :) Thank you for reading so far and thank you more if you decide to follow!

~Vanessa