Wednesday, August 3, 2011

A small cupcake in this BIG world

Whoever coined the expression " it was a piece of cake," was a bit oblivious to reality. Nothing in life is or was ever easy. Okay so maybe some thing are... if your rich, or get really lucky. I am neither, which would be fine if I were a small child and still thought money grew on trees. Anything and everything is moving quickly but sloth-like at the same time. Don't underestimate the pressures young adults go through with school, work or family. A stranger may glimpse at you and think to him or herself, that other person's life seems pretty good, her hair is perfect, she seems so happy ( ya ta ya ta whatever the case may be.) In actuality that girl pretends to be happy to make others happy, makes a fuss over her appearance to be a decent image in the eyes of others to not hear criticism(she gets enough at home.) As said by someone famous(the hell should i know) he/she believes you should not judge a book by it cover. There is more to the naked eye, the underlying meaning that many overlook. I am more than meets the eye, I have goals and dreams that could benefit others if only were given the chance. I have no clue where to start and currently zero motivation to get me going. please tell me someone else cares... a stranger that believes in me?

Tuesday, April 5, 2011

Wonderous Beauty

Being a female isnt easy whoever said otherwise was undoubtly wrong. One step out of the house and eyes are on you. People will study your curves, your body language, the way you laugh or speak. Women judge women and men judge women.It's one battle you simply cant win, unless you have a lot of money. So hit the gym.. skinny women are "perfection", tanned body is a must, and for a bonus breast enhancement. Motivation is watching celebrities on E! hottest countdown and victoria's secret model's fashion show. Impossible expectations for the average income women who HAS no choice but to do what it takes to live up to the expectation otherwise feel the shame.
When it comes to dating there are a few rules one has to follow:
- Never complain
- Don't be upset if he doesnt think your anniversary is important or he goes away for vacation without you every three months
-Do everything for him and expect nothing in return otherwise you'll get your heart broken
-If he doesnt talk to you for a couple of days pretend like thats okay
- Better yet just be a robot

Its too bad im human.. I have feelings they are often hurt. I try to do it all but feel ten steps behind everytime. So heres a list of things to not do:
-Tan at a salon in a bed for more than 20 minutes
-Pretend like everything is fine when its not
-Do more for others than they will ever do for you
-Not eat for 4 days due to depression

Too bad i've done all those things in more. Maybe in a few years ill change...Ill find the perfect balance in myself. Maybe one day i will be good enough

Saturday, March 19, 2011

Crispy Peanut Butter Chocolate Truffles

Ingredients:

Batter:
8 ounce package cream cheese
1/2 jar creamy peanut butter
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1/4 cup chocolate chips (to be melted)
4 cups confectionary sugar
1/2 cup chocolate chips (not melted)

1.       In stand mixer combine cream cheese and peanut butter until smooth. On low speed add granulated sugar, and then turn off mixer.
2.       Place ¼ cup chocolate chips in small microwave safe bowl and put in microwave for 30 second intervals stirring after each until thoroughly melted.
3.       Pour into peanut butter mixture and turn on low speed. Gradually add 1 cup of confectionary at a time until combined, scraping edges occasionally. Finally stir in ½ cup chocolate chips and place in freezer for ten minutes to set up.
4.       Line baking two baking sheets with parchment paper and set aside. Take out batter from freezer and roll walnut sized balls. 
Coating:
3 cups chocolate rice Krispy cereal
1/4 cup confectionary sugar

1.      Fill plastic zip bag with cereal and confectionary sugar. Close bag and shake well. Lay on counter and using something hard bang cereal into smaller crumbles; then set aside.
2.      Put balls two at a time in zip bag, then close and shake until it is fully coated.
3.      Place on baking sheets once coated. Allow to set up in freezer another 10 minutes.

Drizzle:
1/4 cup chocolate chips
2 tablespoons shortening

1.       Right before the peanut butter chocolate truffles come out of freezer, melt the chocolate and shortening in microwave safe bowl for 30 second intervals stirring after each until thoroughly melted.
2.       Drizzle on top of truffles and place back in freezer for 5 minutes.
3.       Serve immediately or store in refrigerator in air tight container for up to a week.

Saturday, February 26, 2011

Culinary bucket list

Dessert

Pastries:
-danish
-strudel
-eclair
-cream puff
-lobster tails

Cookies/Bars:
-7 layer bar
-Ginger snap cookie
-Fortune cookie
-Pizelles


Yeast/ Bread goodies:
-Doughnuts
-Croissants
-scones
-Pepperoni bread
-Cheese rolls
-Cinnamon bread


Cake:
-Italian Cream
-Red velvet
-Black forest
-German chocolate
-Rum
-Angel food
-carrot
-roll
-coffee
-Double layer pie cake
-Petite fours
-Flaming strawberry cupcake
-Jewish apple cake

Pie:
-Banana
-Berry
-Cobbler(apple, peach etc)
-Rhubarb
-Fruit tart
-Key lime

Chilled/frozen:
-baked Alaska
-Ice cream cake(tiramisu)
-Ice cream sandwhich
-Sorbet
-Sherbert



Custurd/ Puddings:
-Tiramisu
-Bread pudding(apple bread pudding)
-Banana pudding
-Flan

Miscellenous:
-Cannoli
-Fudge


Candy:
-Peanut brittle

Dinner

Main course:

-Lasagna
-Stuffed Shells
-Manicotti
-Eggplant/ Veal parmesan
-Homemade noodles
-Pizza
-Calzone
-Stromboli
-Chicken caccitore
-Chicken cordon bleu
-Chicken marsala
-Stuffed Turkey
-Steak Diane
-Meatballs
-Pot roast
-Shrimp Scampi
-Meatloaf

Soups/Salads:
-Minestrome
-chicken noodle
-Pasta figioli
-Beef stew
-Dumplings

Sides:

-Garlic roasted potato wedges(not garlic tho)
-Sweet potato fries
-Stuffed mushrooms
-Antipasto
-Crab cakes
-Stuffed bell peppers
-risotto
-Ratatouille
-Potato skins


Breakfast:

-Crepes
-Ricotta pancakes
-Quiche
-Perfect omelete
-Hash browns
-Poached eggs

Saturday, February 5, 2011

Female and Male Evoluionary Standpoint

I recently learned that no matter how much you do for someone or what you sacrifice for that person, it will not guarentee happiness. Most of my life i have been a people pleaser to my friends, family or a boyfriend. Time after time i am dissappointed or feel underappreciated by the people i love. I have come to a few conclusions; everyone will walk all over you, you have to be selfish to be in a a relationship for it to work, people in this world are screwed up. Many girls will be with douch bags and and stay with the guy even if he has done her wrong. But the nice guy always finishes last, i guess because women like to walk over men. Think about it women used to have less freedom, they couldn't vote, their place was in the kichen, and few jobs to choose from back in the day. Since then things have changed, women now have more power then men ever before and are instinctively out for revenge on the males. Imagine a girl with a nice guy, the revengeful girl leaves him for a douchbag, she then switches position and becomes the nice girl to the douch. Women cannot trust any guy if your nice because its to good to be true. This is our instinct...you hurt us before(past generations) who says you wont do it again? The messed up thing is that we are attracted to the asshole because this is all we have ever known, it hurts far more to be hurt by the nice guy. The males cant help themselves they are trained to believe they are the head of the household and always has to be in control of everything. A few reasons as to why their is actual nice guys in this world could be because he has no male rolemodel in his life or he is a momma's boy. Maybe if we all cut the bullshit and treated one another as equals then the divorce rate would be lower than 50%. WHAT A FUCKED UP WORLD WE LIVE IN.


Sunday, October 17, 2010

Healthy Eating Habits

This is a list I compiled from a few websites that may help those of you who are looking to cook or bake with different ingredients for a healthier meal.
**Interesting fact my sister discovered_Coffee stops burning sensation after eating hot/ spicy food***Let me know if that worked for anyone else.

SUBSTITUTIONS
- vanilla yogurt instead of buttermilk
-applesauce instead of oil,
-and cut out the sugar
 
Whole-wheat flour for half of the called-for all-purpose flour in baked goods
* Whole-wheat pastry flour is less dense and works well in softer products like cakes and muffins.
Bacon :Canadian bacon, turkey bacon, smoked turkey or lean prosciutto (Italian ham)
Butter:shortening or oil in baked goods
Applesauce or prune puree for half of the called-for butter, shortening or oil
* To avoid dense, soggy or flat baked goods, don't substitute oil for butter or shortening.
Butter, margarine, shortening or oil to prevent sticking:Cooking spray or nonstick pans
Creamed soups: Fat-free milk-based soups, mashed potato flakes, or pureed carrots, potatoes or tofu for thickening agents
Dry bread crumbs: Rolled oats or crushed bran cereal
Eggs: Two egg whites or 1/4 cup egg substitute for each whole egg
Enriched pasta: Whole-wheat pasta
Evaporated milk: Evaporated skim milk
Fruit canned in heavy syrup: Fruit canned in its own juices or in water, or fresh fruit
Fruit-flavored yogurt: Plain yogurt with fresh fruit slices
Full-fat cream cheese: Fat-free or low-fat cream cheese, Neufchatel(very good) or low-fat cottage cheese pureed until smooth
Full-fat sour cream: Fat-free or low-fat sour cream, plain fat-free or low-fat yogurt
Ground beef: Extra-lean or lean ground beef, chicken or turkey breast (make sure no poultry skin has been added to the product)
Iceberg lettuce: Arugula, chicory, collard greens, dandelion greens, kale, mustard greens, spinach or watercress
Margarine in baked goods:
Trans fat-free butter spreads or shortenings that are specially formulated for baking
* If ingredient lists include the term "partially hydrogenated," it may have up to 0.5 grams of trans fat in one serving. To avoid dense, soggy or flat baked goods, don't substitute diet, whipped or tub-style margarine for regular margarine.
Mayonnaise: Reduced-calorie mayonnaise-type salad dressing or reduced-calorie, reduced-fat mayonnaise
Meat as the main ingredient: Three times as many vegetables as the meat on pizzas or in casseroles, soups and stews
Oil-based marinades: Wine, balsamic vinegar, fruit juice or fat-free broth
Salad dressing: Fat-free or reduced-calorie dressing or flavored vinegars
Seasoning salt such as garlic salt, celery salt or onion salt: Herb-only seasonings, such as garlic powder, celery seed or onion flakes, or use finely chopped herbs or garlic, celery or onions
Soups, sauces, dressings, crackers, or canned meat, fish or vegetables: Low-sodium or reduced-sodium versions
Soy sauce: Sweet-and-sour sauce, hot mustard sauce or low-sodium soy sauce
Syrup Pureed fruit: such as applesauce, or low-calorie, sugar-free syrup
Table salt Herbs: spices, fruit juices or salt-free seasoning mixes or herb blends
White bread: Whole-wheat bread
White rice: Brown rice, wild rice, bulgur or pearl barley
Whole milk: Reduced-fat or fat-free milk
1 cup heavy cream (in recipes, not for whipping): 2 teaspoons cornstarch or 1 tablespoon flour whisked into 1 cup nonfat milk

SUGAR SUBSTITUTIONS
Sugar is responsible for the texture, flavor and tenderness of a baked product; the color of the crumb changes with increases or decreases in sugar content.
Substitutions for sugar include brown sugar, maple sugar, maple syrup, honey, sorghum syrup and corn syrup.
Brown sugar can substitute for white sugar, except in white shortened cakes and sponge cakes. However, the texture will be different, because brown sugar causes the grain to be coarse, and the volume may not be as great. Brown sugars are usually used in bakery products, cereal coating, table syrups, baked beans, mincemeat, hams, bacon, and popcorn coatings. Use one cup firmly packed brown sugar for each cup granulated sugar.
You can use various syrups in cake batter, but there will be a difference in the appearance and flavor of the baked product.
In many cake or cookie recipes, you can replace up to one half of the sugar with corn syrup without seriously affecting the results. Reduce the liquid in the recipe by 1/4 cup for each cup of syrup used.
Maple syrup can substitute for sugar in some recipes. Use 3/4 cup maple syrup for each cup of granulated sugar. Add 1/4 teaspoon soda for each cup of maple syrup used. Reduce the liquid by 3 tablespoons.
You may use molasses in recipes calling for brown sugar. Substitute 1/4 cup molasses or sorghum for canning, freezing fruits or for jelly-making. Their flavor can overpower the fruit flavor and their sweetness varies.
Coconut milk nutrition facts therefore vary depending on whether you are talking about the actual milk squeezed from the fruit or the water that is left behind when the fruit hardens. The water makes a refreshing beverage which is rich in electrolytes and so is naturally rehydrating. It is low in fat, relatively low in calories and has no cholesterol. It makes a great sports drink because it replenishes several essential vitamins that are lost when we sweat, like potassium and chloride. It also contains lauric acid, a nutrient found in natural mother’s milk.

Sunday, September 26, 2010

Ever wondered why?

I think about it everyday...for every second that I'm awake. Maybe I'm just a dreamer, who wants it all but will never reach the finish line. Time is a teacher who decides the outcome for which anything can unfold. I think about my purpose or a career I'm destined to pursue. What I know is that I really enjoy bringing happiness to those who really need it. If I can put a smile on someone's face, help that person out in some way or make their life just a bit easier than I have fulfilled my purpose. Unfortunately more often I am not needed and its quite disheartening when all I want to do is help. Is it wrong for wanting to make a difference or shall I say an impact on the world. Deep inside there's this feeling pressing down on me its screaming do something and get out there! However I fear sometimes that I never will reach my potential or do all the things I want to do before my life is through.  None the less giving up is not an option for me I will prevail for all that I stand for and all that I am. The weight of life is on my shoulders, its like a big backpack that I simply can't put down. The person I am today is not who I was a few years ago. It's the people, places, and, events that have formed mind, body and, soul. Isn't it strange to look at pictures from years ago comparing yourself then to yourself now? What goes through my mind is how much I have changed and learned since that time period. My philosophy is that everything happens for a reason whether good nor bad it was meant to happen to effect one's life a certain way so other things can come together and make up that persons' destiny. Therefore life is what you make it so if you think you're going to fail you probably will. It's better to be optimistic I'm really starting to learn that what I do effects others, so ms. negativity has to change which in actuality will make not only make myself happier but those around me. To all of you out there never give up because you'll never know your full potential if you do... Have you ever wondered why?