Tag Archives: Health

Cinnamon Coffee Cake Quick Bread

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I’m all about quick breads.

Cinnamon Coffee Cake Quick Bread | Beautiful Disasters

Especially during these painful days of Lent. My parents always give up treats for Lent, which I used to always do too, but now that I have completely given up meat, treats are fair game. However, baking a full batch of brownies, cupcakes, or cookies is basically asking for a heart attack since I am the only one available to consume said brownies, cupcakes, and cookies.

Cinnamon Coffee Cake Quick Bread | Beautiful Disasters

Enough about me. Quick breads are great and super easy to whip up. Having a loaf of banana bread, pumpkin bread, or this fabulous coffee cake bread, are all awesome to have on your counter ready to take a slice out of for a quick snack or easy breakfast on the go. My dad is a huge coffee cake fan, so I knew this would be a big hit with him. I had a hard time keeping him from devouring it before I got pictures.

Cinnamon Coffee Cake Quick Bread | Beautiful Disasters

Even though the swirls may seem like they’d be an extra step, everything is super easy where you just layer and layer the batter and cinnamon-sugar mixture. Enjoy and happy Friday everyone! :)

Cinnamon Coffee Cake Quick Bread

1 cup whole wheat flour
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 cup butter
1 cup white sugar
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
a little less than 1 cup of skim milk mixed with 1 Tablespoon white vinegar  (or 1 cup buttermilk)
1 cup brown sugar
2 heaping tablespoons ground cinnamon

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a loaf pan with cooking spray. I used a silicone loaf pan, but I still sprayed mine just in case.
  2. Whisk the flours, baking soda, and baking powder together in a bowl and set aside. Mix the milk-white vinegar mixture and vanilla in a small bowl and set aside. Mix the brown sugar and cinnamon together in a small bowl and set aside.
  3. Using the mixer, cream the butter and white sugar together. Mix in the eggs. Add 1/3 of the flour mixture and mix to combine, then add 1/2 of the milk mixture. Repeat this and end with the flour. Pour 1/3 of the batter into the prepared pan and top with 1/3 of the cinnamon mixture, repeat so that the final layer of cinnamon mixture is the topping on the bread. Bake for 50-60 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

Cinnamon Coffee Cake Quick Bread | Beautiful Disasters

Random Fact of the Day: Cow is a Japanese brand of shaving foam.

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Roasted Chickpeas-SRC Post!

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What?! Secret Recipe Club reveal time is already here?? What have I been doing with my life?

Roasted Chickpeas | Beautiful Disasters

I’m not sure why the time seemed to go by so much faster this time. It could been that February only has 28 days.. or maybe the copious amounts of Harlem Shake videos I have been watching (why don’t they get old?)..or maybe because I have approximately 192837019238 things on my mind right now between soccer tryouts starting today, figuring out college stuff, and keeping up with school work.

Roasted Chickpeas | Beautiful Disasters

Anywho enough about me. Let’s talk about Anne! I was assigned to explore her blog, Anne Jisca’s Healthy Pursuits this month and had a blast poking around her recipes. She has loads of yummy stuff on there, so be sure you check her out!! I decided on her Roasted Chickpeas, but I know I was super tempted by her breads-they look and sound ah-mazing.

Roasted Chickpeas | Beautiful Disasters

I’m so glad I chose the roasted chickpeas, they’re so tasty and a perfect snack for on-the-go or anytime! They’re so much better for you than a bag of chips and they really energize you to get you through that workout you’re debating.

Roasted Chickpeas | Beautiful Disasters

Roasted Chickpeas

(From Anne Jisca’s Healthy Pursuits)

1 can (15 oz) chickpeas (I used garbanzo beans, pretty sure they’re the same thing)

oil or cooking spray

spices and seasonings (See Note)

Salt, pepper (to taste)

  1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
  2. Coat your chick peas with oil, sprinkle with salt and seasonings of your choice (See Note)
  3. Spread seasoned chickpeas on a cookie sheet. Bake in preheated oven for around 25-30 minutes, shaking them around occasionally, until dry and crunchy. Watch them towards the end to make sure they don’t burn.

Note: for my seasonings I used about 1 Tablespoon paprika, 1 teaspoon onion powder, 1 teaspoon garlic powder and 1/2 teaspoon chili powder

Roasted Chickpeas | Beautiful Disasters

Random Fact of the Day: Penguins can convert salt water into fresh water.



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Chocolate Cut-Out Cookies

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For all you bloggers out there, I’m not sure if you ever pay attention to what is most commonly searched on your blog but I happen to look every now and then to see what is popular and what not.

I have mentioned before that I have had some pretty strange searches that are commonly searched here.

I decided today that I would address a few more of these common searches because apparently that is what the people want. Some things the people want are…

  • “puffin tattoo” (10 people searched this)
  • “lollipop stand” (I guess that’s not too weird)
  • “lip allergy”
  • “swollen lip allergy”
  • “spider army”
  • “josh klinghoffer 2012″
  • “guy bathing suits”
  • “there are vending machines in japan made to give out the telephone numbers of random girls” (4 people searched this..)
  • “can you stuff cupcakes with moose”

Those are about 1/10 of the super weird ones. And then there are some that are just way too wildly inappropriate to share.

So here we go, I’m gonna be super straight forward. Some of you may find this humorous and maybe some of you may find it informative, but here it is… puffin tattoo. There you go. Click this link.

Next up: lollipop stand. Hm, sorry I have no idea what the heck you’re looking for. Maybe a cake pop stand? If so, click on this link.

Aren’t I just a wealth of information?

lip allergy, this one actually does somewhat make sense. I had a post a way while back where I talked about my weird lip allergy, so you can read about that here.

If you want to learn more about spider armies, this post explains it all.

I’m not sure if Josh Klinghoffer was running for office or something…but I know he is the guitarist for the Red Hot Chili Peppers, so as of 2012 that’s what he is doing.

Here are some nice guy bathing suits, for those of you who were looking for that sort of thing. Ha!

I think the Japan thing was a random fact I may have had once.. Not sure, but that sure is a strange one.

Last but not least…no, you may not stuff cupcakes with moose. I don’t think the moose would like that and I’m not sure if you would exactly enjoy eating antlers.

I did not just post this to talk about the unique searches of readers, but I DO have a recipe for you!! What’s better than Christmas put-out sugar cookies? Chocolate cut out cookies. That’s what is better! Because everything really is better with chocolate. Let’s be honest. And eat some more cookies. Super easy, super tasty, and adorable. Perfect to add to your Christmas cookie platters!

Chocolate Cut-Out Cookies

(adapted from Our Best Bites)

2 1/2 cups flour

1/2 cup cocoa powder (I used dark cocoa powder)

1 cup (2 sticks) butter

pinch of salt

1 cup white sugar

1 egg

1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
  2. In a medium bowl, mix together flour and cocoa powder. Using a stand mixer, cream together white sugar and butter. Mix in egg and vanilla extract. Beat in salt. Slowly mix in flour-cocoa powder mixture until fully combined.
  3. On surface that has either been dusted with flour or cocoa powder (or mixture of both), roll out cookie dough until about 1/8 inch thick. Cut out cookie dough into desired shapes and bake in preheated oven for 8-10 minutes, or until dough no longer looks wet and the edges of the cookies hold up. Let sit on cookie sheet for 2-5 minutes, then transfer to wire rack.

Optional- I decorated mine with royal icing and sprinkles. By themselves, these taste just like the cookie part of an Oreo.  They still taste like that with the icing too, but I think the icing makes them taste even more like an Oreo, especially because the royal icing is somewhat reminiscent of the Oreo filling. And of course the sprinkles are always a fun touch to make them more festive.

Random Fact of the Day: Racehorses can wear out new horse shoes in one race.

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Week in Review (1/30-2/4)

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Monday I shared a new ice cream flavor. It has just a few of my favorite things ;) . I also went back to school and sucked it up like a champ. The coughing still sounds like strange goat screeches (in my head, not sure what they sound like to real people..) and my voice is what every 12 year-old boy wishes his could be. I’m quite the catch ;)

Tuesday I went to school again, still sick, and made up my ACT class that I missed right after school. It’s really a miracle that I drove home safely because I was capital T-Tired!!!! I also learned that people are not always nice in libraries…this one guy had the nerve to turn around at me every time I coughed (which was like every other minute) and give me like this little look. HELLO!?! Do you really think I enjoy coughing? People..

Wednesday I shared my post on Jessica’s “Better Than Crack Brownies”.

If by some minuscule chance you have not heard of her blog, it is called How Sweet It Is and you must go there immediately! Well…after you finish up over here :) . Anyways, I have been dying to make her “Better Than Crack Brownies” for like ever because she like always talks about them. I love Jessica’s blog; it was actually the first food blog that I ever read. She was the one who got me hooked on food, baking specifically. Because of her, I am now responsible for all the crazy recipes that are concocted, tried, failed, and loved in my house. Thanks Jessica! :)

I had another ACT tutoring session Wednesday…boy, do those things wear me out!! But hey a guy walked into the girls bathroom while I was blowing my nose, so that was kind of funny. I felt a little bad for him though, he looked pretty embarrassed. At least he just saw me blowing my nose! I’ve come so close to making the same mistake, especially in restaurants. Like seriously, why do they make the sign so confusing?! I don’t need you to put mermaids or make it fancy. Please, for everyone’s sake, just write men or women! Sheesh. But I won’t completely go into this little thing because I could write for days on bathroom signs, I really could.

Thursday I finally got my hair cut. I say finally because, well I’m a hair nazi. Yes, guilty. I LOVE my hair long. I NEED my hair long. When you cut my hair short, well, you really have something coming for ya. I’m the type of person who needs long hair to twirl and play with when I’m bored in class. I need it to look like, well, me! Getting hair cuts is a very bittersweet time for me. On one hand, I love the feeling of the hair washer person massaging your scalp and the hot water being spray on your head. It’s all quite soothing. I also love how healthy and light my hair feels when the cut is done and how it just seems to be all swishy and you can just swish it here, swish it there, just swish it everywhere!

And then….dum, dum, dum. I realize how much hair got cut off. I freak out. How long is this going to take to grow back? Don’t they know I need my hair for warmth!? It February for crying out loud! What am I going to do when I’m bored in class?!!!?! It’s all so much, but you know what? My hair looks pretty fabulous right now ;) . I love how it turned out and I’m glad I finally went in to get those dead ends chopped off. Want to know how long it had been since I got it cut?…ok, it’s bad. I’m warning you. Don’t scream! A whole year.. yikes.

Friday I shared some of the recipes that I think would make the perfect Super Bowl Sunday, because we all know Super Bowl Sunday is really all just about the food and commercials ;) . I also finally got to bake again after like two weeks of a hole in my heart where baking was! It was sad, but getting’ back in the kitchen made the wait even sweeter. But I will share more about those goodies I made latahh ;) . Till then, adios amigos!

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How Sweet’s Better Than Crack Brownies

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I have been meaning to try Jessica’s Better Than Crack Brownies for like EVERR. I love her blog so much! Her blog was the first one that I ever really started reading and I’ve been hooked to blogging since. She’s like my inspiration!

Anyways, I was reading the comments the other day on the post…I’m not sure why. It’s not like I’m a usual comment reader but, nonetheless I found myself reading them. There are some pretty interesting (aka. psycho) people on the internet these days. Here are a few of their comments…

This here is from Matt.. “you obviously never had crack”

Dee’s response?, “ lol..i agree:)”

Let’s see more, it gets even greater here folks.
Rick said, “so what happens if you actually put crack in them? better than heroin brownies?”
This one was part of one lady from Brazil’s comment “SO UNHEALTHY! Moreover lots of ready made stuff that we don´t have in Brazil! I Prefer wholesome Brownies that could at least be a LITTLE bit good for the health. No wonder Americans are SO FAT!”
       
Sheesh!! A little harsh, but sadly I guess it’s slightly true.
       
This other person’s response literally made me LOL, “really lady really?? its called being able to indulge every once in awhile…..yes some people overindulge sometimes…but hey whatcha gunna do! its not like we Americans are going to make these brownies and then sit there and eat the whole lot alone! were going to share them with our family and friends you idiot! that way we the bakers will most likely eat only 1 maybe 2…. get over yourself and your stupid brazilness…..boo on you! and who wants wholesome and little bit healthy for you brownies anyway! yuck!!! brownies are meant to be not good for you and delicious!!! duhhh!”
This is another pretty great response, “Brownies exist because people want to eat something really sweet and unhealthy once in a while. Therefore it’s a great idea to put processed candy in the brownies. Maybe you should make a Brazilian website called “How Semi-Sweet It Is” or “Brownies With Reduced Sugar Not Only Look Like Crap, They Also Taste Like It”. And Mrs. Cox, with a name like that, I find it ironic that you are talking about things that are hard to swallow.”
I could seriously read these comments all day and copy them on here but I think it’s just best if you all just go over to How Sweet and check them out…should give ya a pretty good laugh!
I adapted this recipe by converting it to an 8×8 inch baking dish. I also used this brownie mix that I got during post-Christmas sales! It says funfetti, but the candy chips are in a separate package in the box that you mix in separately so I just saved mine for a later use. 

Better Than Crack Brownies

(adapted from How Sweet It Is)

(This recipe was originally posted for a 13 x 9 dish, but I knew that many would be dangerous around myself!)

1 box mix or your favorite brownie mix, prepared

5 peanut butter cups, chopped

1/4 cup salted peanuts

3/4 cup chocolate chips

3/4 cup peanut butter

1/4 Tablespoon butter

3/4 cup rice crispy cereal

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease baking pan with butter or cooking spray. Prepare brownie mix according to directions on box. Pour half into an 8×8 inch baking dish, pour the remaining half into a plastic bag and you may freeze for later use. It’ll be good for a few months. Bake brownies in pan for 12-15 minutes.
  2. Take brownies out of oven and sprinkle peanuts and chopped peanut butter cups over top, return to oven for 2 minutes.
  3. Meanwhile, melt chocolate, peanut butter, and 1/4 tablespoon of butter in heat proof bowl in the microwave in 30 second increments, stirring in between each until fully melted. Mix in rice crispy cereal. Spread mixture evenly over top and place in fridge for at least 2 hours, until set. Enjoy and store extras in fridge!

Random Fact of the Day: The world’s most expensive burger costs $5,000 and is served at the Fleur de Lys restaurant in Las Vegas.

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