Apple Crisp

Autumn is here! I can already smell the bonfires sizzling at nighttime, hear the crunch of the fallen leaves being walked upon, see the trees changing into the most beautiful colors, feel the weather cooling down, and taste the crisp apples bite by bite.

Taken during my daily walk!

Every morning while eating breakfast I read the latest posts on the blogs that I follow. My one friend, Alexis, is just one of the few many that I follow. She and I met freshman year at OSU in the dorms. She was a dietetics major. With our passions to create and eat nutritious foods I knew it was a friendship to last a long time! The other day, she posted the most wonderful recipe and I couldn't wait to get my hands dirty in the kitchen and try it out! I put a few of my own touches on this recipe and it turned out superb. Actually superb cannot even describe this magnificent masterpiece. Words in general can't explain this deliciousness.

Apple Crisp

Apple Crisp
1 small apple, thinly sliced
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp nutmeg
3/4 tsp brown sugar sweetener
1 tsp light butter
Sprinkle of granola
Drizzle of sugar free syrup
Cooking spray

The ingredients!

Directions
-Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
-Spray ramekin with cooking spray.
-Combine thinly sliced apples, cinnamon, nutmeg, and brown sugar in a bowl. Toss until well coated.
-Place apple mixture into ramekin.
-Top with granola.
-Drizzle melted butter over granola.
-Bake for 20 minutes.
-Remove from oven, drizzle with syrup. Bake for 5 more minutes.
-Remove from oven and enjoy!

Muy bueno!

Not only does this taste delicious like a little slice of heaven, the aroma it creates for the apartment is absolutely outstanding! Who needs candles when you have homemade apple crisp cooking?

Thanks Alexis for this amazing recipe!

Apple pie for one? Yes please!

Question of the Day

What's your favorite pie?

Every Thanksgiving I always have a small sliver of all the pies! Pumpkin, apple, and pecan. It's impossible to choose which one is my favorite, but if I had to decide, I can never get tired of good ol' apple pie.

Pie love!

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Walking Wonders

I am on my feet all day at work. The only time they get any type of relief is when I’m in my car traveling to the next store. By the end of the work day, I’m usually on my feet for an average of 9 hours. When I get home all I want to do is sit on the couch and elevate them since they are actually swollen! The last thing I can imagine doing is an extremely intense workout. So how do I resolve this little issue? Walking.

Walking with others is great bonding time!

 

Every day after work I usually eat dinner and then lace of up my running shoes and head out the door for a long walk usually lasting at least an hour. My pace is not slow whatsoever. I’m booking it to say the least. I understand that I need to get my heart rate up so I power walk.

Yes, I realize running is where I get the most bang for my buck but I’ve realized that as a full-time working woman I need to be realistic when it comes to taking care of my body. Realistically, I cannot run 5 miles after work. Realistically, I cannot train for another full marathon until I get settled into my new promotion. Realistically, I know that walking helps clear my mind, get me outside of my apartment, and get my blood flowing. The wonders of walking are endless.

Want to know what else I realize? I realize that it was the first day of Autumn yesterday and tis the season of pumpkins! So I give you…Pumpkin Peanut Butter inspired from here.

 

A generous serving of Vitamin A!

 

Pumpkin Peanut Butter Dip 

1/3c canned pumpkin, not pumpkin pie filling!
1/2 tsp cinnamon
2 Tbsp PB (I used PB2)

1 tsp water
1/2 packet of Splenda
Pinch of salt

 

The ingredients!

Directions
-Put all ingredients in a bowl.
-Mix and enjoy!

 

Bon apetit!

 

This is a great dip atop toasted bread or even served with fruit! 

 

Question of the Day

 

What do you love most about Autumn? 

 

When I think of this season, I instantly want to sit around a bonfire while toasting burning marshmallows and sandwiching them between graham crackers and chocolate. The mallows are crispy on the outside and gooey on the inside. Pair that with the grahams and chocolate...to me, nothing in the world is better than that.

I prefer the one on the left!

Skinny Chocolate Cupcakes

Football season has arrived which also means that Halloween seasonal items have been popping up all over the place as well! Nothing beats watching a game in football apparel with some friends and some lots of food.

Ryder is geared up and ready for the game!

This past weekend I visited my cousins and watched the BGSU vs. Toledo football game at their humble abode. They all went to BGSU so you better believe we were chanting and hollering for the brown and orange to win! Sadly, they lost.

A little bit of family love ♥

We had a terrific tailgate at their house and my contribution to the festive foods was none other than cupcakes! I originally found the recipe here and put my own healthy twist on it by using sugar-free instant vanilla pudding. The great thing about these little gems is that not only did the colors go hand-in-hand with BGSU's colors, but also Halloween! This entire recipe of 21 cupcakes also only cost a total of $2.91. Bargain shopper, I think yes! Oh and I forgot to mention, each one of these moist, chocolatey slice of heaven is only 105 calories! So go ahead and eat one, or two, or three...

Skinny Chocolate Cupcakes
Cupcakes
1 box Devil's Food cake mix
1 can Diet Coke

Frosting
1 tub fat-free whipped topping
1 box sugar-free instant vanilla pudding

The ingredients!

Directions for Cupcakes
-Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
-Line 21 cupcake tins with paper liners.
-In a large bowl, mix together cake mix and Diet Coke until smooth.
-Pour in approximately 3 Tbsp of mixture in lined tins.
-Bake for 19 minutes.
-Cool before frosting.

The smell in the kitchen is divine!

Directions for Frosting
-In a mixing bowl, add whipped topping and pudding mix powder.
-Stir until smooth.
-Spread over cooled cupcakes.
-Decorate and enjoy!

These Halloween cupcakes are so tasty it's spooky.

So whether you're rooting for the BGSU Falcons, Cleveland Browns, or need a festive Halloween dessert, try my lightened up version of these festive cupcakes!

Question of the Day

What was your favorite Halloween costume?

My first Halloween as a freshman at Ohio State I dressed up in my mom's old workout clothes and was an 80's fitness instructor! I even went to the gym one day in this exact outfit. Were my friends surprised one bit by this crazy antic? Nope.

80's fitness instructor!

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PB Banana Overnight Oats in a Jar

One word can describe how the weather has been this summer: HOT

It's been such a scorcher that just walking outside I am instantly covered drenched in sweat. I'm also pretty sure that Columbus has either set the record or it's pretty darn close to having temperatures above 90 for such a long period of time. So do you really think that I want to cook oats over a hot stove after taking a long walk or short run outside? Nope.

Ladies and gentlemen I give you...

Peanut Butter Banana Overnight Oats in a Jar

PB Banana Overnight Oats in a Jar
1/4 cup uncooked old fashioned oats
1/3 cup light soy milk
1/4 cup low-fat Greek yogurt
1 tsp dried chia seeds, optional
1 Tbsp peanut butter (I used PB2)
1/4 Splenda packet
½ ripe banana, diced

The ingredients!

Directions

-In a half pint (1 cup) jar, add the oats, milk, PB, and Splenda.

-Put lid on jar and shake until well combined.

-Remove lid, add banana and stir until mixed throughout.

-Return lid to jar and refrigerate overnight or up to 2 days, adding the optional chia seeds right before consumption.

-Eat chilled.

How good? So good.

I'm not a huge banana fan but I could not get enough of this stuff! After putting all of the goods in my belly I was a little sad...I wanted more! Whether you're in a hurry in the morning, want to cool off from the hot weather, or want to try something new, these oats may be just for you!

Question of the Day

Do you prefer the frigid winter coldness or the sweltering summer heat?

I'm definitely a freeze baby so I will take the heat any day over below freezing temps. Once I'm cold I can never seem to warm up! My family and I have been going to Hilton Head, SC every summer for the past 19 years! Needless to say it's our home away from home. I love everything about it, especially the heat!

Hilton Head ♥

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Speedy Salad

I have been going nonstop for over a week. Hence, why I have not had a new post in quite a while! I feel like the Energizer Bunny.

Keep going, going going...

I started my new position as Sales Associate last week and it definitely has some many more responsibilities. But I love it so that's all that matters! However, with being on the go and on my feet the entire day I come home absolutely spent and exhausted. All I want to do is elevate my feet and pass out. I'm even too tired to cook myself a meal every night. So I had to come up with a solution to this problem. About 30 minutes of prep work and $6.24 later, I have a meal for each night of the week! Cha-ching!

I love salad and could eat it for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks. I could never get sick of the stuff. The price and time will vary by person in regards with the type of veggies that are bought and how quickly one can dice and chop.

The finished product!

Aly's Weekly Salad
1 head iceberg lettuce
1 bag spinach
1 cucumber
1 red pepper
1 orange pepper
2 Roma tomatoes
1 pound carrots

The ingredients!

Directions

-Wash and chop the veggies.

-Package in separate containers.

-Store in the fridge and enjoy at leisure!

♥ 

It's great coming home from a long day at work and having a meal ready in less than a minute. If you're a salad lover like me, then you surely will love this grand idea too!

Question of the Day

What is your favorite TV show?

While I chop up my veggies for the week I usually watch Chopped on the Food Network. I love that show! It combines food and competition, two of my passions in life.

Perfectly paired with a glass of wine.

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