Experiment-Cinnamon Coffee Cake

I REALLY should stay off of youtube.  I think I can kiss my dietbet challenge goodbye.  I've been in winter mode for a few weeks now and today's weather is just adding to my lazy chromosome.

I found this recipe on Divas Can Cook youtube channel.  What I liked about it was all the flavors of coffee cake in a simple pan form.  Mine didn't turn out as pretty as her's, but its still darn good.

I didn't use my mixer so it wasn't as whipped as her end batter.  I didn't really see that using a mixer was needed because the butter was melted so there wasn't the usual butter/sugar mixing until fluffy that is the baking rule in most recipes.  I added some nutmeg to the cake batter and didn't level off the cinnamon used for the cinnamon paste portion.  I love cinnamon and sometimes measured spices are somewhat weak.  I used more cream cheese (4 ounces) in the frosting cause it seemed too thin.

The end result was light, buttery and full of cinnamonie goodness!  I highly recommend it!

Experiment-Apple Cider Spiced Donuts

I really should stay off of youtube.  That has been my go to place for watching vlogs, looking up recipes and getting tips for just about anything that tickles my fancy.

I'm in love with Laura Vitale's channel at the moment.  She makes lots of yummy stuff and one that caught my eye is Apple Cider Spiced Donuts.  The only thing I don't like is that she makes you go to her website to get the actual measurements for the ingredients instead of placing them in the "about" section on youtube.

Here are some pics of the finished product in my fancy new donut pans.  One is mini and the other is regular sized.  The pic on the right shows the donuts frosted.












House Review:
The cake was good and light.  They did have a good flavor, but I think I will increase the spice mix if I make these again.  These totally needed the frosting.  The frosting really complimented and added to the overall flavor of the cake.  My frosting is thicker than on Laura's youtube channel.  If it turned out thinner I would've dipped the cake twice.

Food Experiment-Nature Box!

I found out about a deal on Nature Box online for which I basically just paid tax.  In exchange for my paltry sale I received a lovely cardboard box filled with 5 bags of snack goodness.  The items I received were fresh and very good.  So good that I took the bait and kept the subscription.

Chat about the products in this order.....
I am now holding an empty bag of Pistachio Power Clusters which are "nut squares with almonds, cashews and pistachios".  This was the only item I felt slighted because there should be more squares in this bag.

Masa Crisps-These are small sized corned chips with flax seeds.  The flax seeds are whole and everything I've read says to get the benefits they should be ground.  On this point I am unsure as I've seen them used whole in other snacks as well.  My only problem with these are that they are a bit salty.

Cherry Berry Bonanza-A mix of dried cherries, blueberries and cranberries.  I didn't try these, but my mom loved it.  So much I felt guilty placing another order and not including these so I had to go back and add on.

Vanilla Macaroon Granola-O.M.G.!  This is what granola should taste like.  Very flavorful with vanilla and shaved coconut.  I think this is my favorite out of the pack!  Well, this and the pistachio power clusters are neck and neck I think.

Roasted Kettle Kernels-Honey coated toasted corn.  I never had corn nuts and these were quite good.  I don't care for the ingredient maltodextrin so I won't be ordering these again.

My first order was a trial of preselected snacks.  Although I didn't get to pick my items I do not regret trying this service. 

If you'd like to try it out, please feel free to use my shareable coupon code for $10 off E8FDG

Oxygen Mag is Back!

My favorite magazine publication is back in action.  It went under with the death of Robert Kennedy. It was bought by a media group and has resumed publication.  I received my issue in the mail and was very shocked to see it.  Click on the image to go to the website.

This magazine got me started in appreciating weight lifting as well as a different physical form that I was used to seeing in magazines like Shape.

Off to read my issue!

Dietbet---Round 2!

I joined another dietbet using the winnings from the first one.  I thinks its kind of addictive to fight the odds and lose weight at the same time.  I actually joined two dietbets which start within two days of each other so it stands to reason if I win one I'll win the other too.  Can we say...moo money! 

I actually joined one early on and bailed.  I didn't feel like my head was all there and that group was kinda boring.  I encourage trash talk, suggestions, discussion, etc, but none of that was happening and I wasn't engaged.  The two that I'm in now are all of these things.  Strangely these bets will take me into early December which means they are going on during Thanksgiving.  I'm either going to have to exercise more or really limit what I eat.  Who does this during the holidays!!

Gettin' My Fitness On!

I broke my mental exercise barrier...yay!!  I did a fantastic workout on youtube by Keaira LaShae.  I've been looking at a lot of your workouts and even joined DailyBurn when I saw she was an instructor.  More on DailyBurn later. 

It amazes me how stiff I became after my three weeks of inactivity.  I probably was just loosening up when I suddenly stopped three weeks ago.  I guess this puts me back to square one.  If only we'd remember these feelings as its happening and not just in hindsight things would probably be given more rational consideration.  Anywho....Keaira is a fantastic dancer and has been doing it for years so I will never be flexible like her.  She is inspiring to watch, encouraging and just plain fun.  Give it a go!