Tuesday, July 24, 2012

Need Extra Fiber?

I know that seems a personal question.

But actually I just wanted to know if you would like to have more Fiber One.

I have been given an opportunity from My Blog Spark to giveaway to one of you, my lovely readers a prize pack from Fiber One cereal to include:


Fiber One contains 11 grams of fiber and 23 grams of whole grain...I know we can all use a little help getting this into our daily diet.

I have to say that even though cereal is typically a breakfast food, for me I think it tastes best as a night time snack (in place of sweets like ice cream and cake).

Do you like to eat cereal? 

If so when?

If you would like to win the prize pack pictured above leave a comment and a way for me to get in contact with you.

The giveaway will be open through Thursday evening and a winner will be announced in Friday's post.

Disclosure:  The product, gift pack, information, and additional sample have all been provided by General Mills through MyBlogSpark

Wednesday, July 11, 2012

Blueberry Lemon Cheesecake

Last night I looked at my ingredients and was inspired to make a dessert.

I had fresh blueberries from the farmer's market and vegan cream cheese (compliments of Follow Your Heart).


I decided vegan blueberry cheesecake was in order and I thought "Hey let's throw in some lemon."

I felt I needed some inspiration and had to look no further than Inspired Taste.  Adam's fantastic photography and Joanne's delicious recipes are enough to make your mouth water. 

I searched around their site and found this recipe.

I made some modifications.

For the crust:

6 Lucy's Ginger Snap cookies
1 Tbsp sugar
1/8 C Earth Balance melted

Crush the cookies, my favorite method is in a ziploc bag and then smash the hell out of it with a meat tenderizer. 

Mix with sugar and Earth Balance then press into your dish.

Bake at 325 degrees for 10 minutes.

I have a sidebar here to illustrate just how much fun it is to have kids.

While the crust is cooking I hear a phrase I don't ever want to hear again "Mommy I have a kernel up my nose."

Seriously?  Who thinks it is a good idea to put a popcorn kernel UP your nose?  Well apparently Caroline did.  However after several attempts to get it out (q-tip, tweezers, bulb suringe, and pepper) it fell out due to her nose being a little lubed up from crying.

It was a harrowing 25 minutes and luckily I was able to get my crust out without burning it and allowed it to cool before I moved on to the next step.

Continuing with the recipe...

For the cheesecake

8 oz vegan cream cheese (I recommend Follow Your Heart)
zest of 1 lemon
juice of 1 lemon
1 "egg" (I used ener-g egg replacer)
1/4 C sugar

I put all of the ingredients in a food processor and whipped it together in no time.

OH MY GOODNESS!

It was good enough to eat straight out of the food processor as a dip (and since it was vegan there was no fear of food issues like salmonella)...I know because me and the boys tried it (several times).

Place the lemon cream mixture in your cooled crust them top with fresh blueberries.

I baked it for 40 minutes at 325 degrees (with a convection oven).  It will take a little longer if you use a conventional oven.



The cheesecake came out a little thin, but the flavor is PHENOMENAL.

The vegan cream cheese reacts and turns out just as regular cream cheese would, and this for me is a big plus, as I am a big cheesecake fan.  Now I can enjoy it vegan and take another step towards less dependance on dairy products.

Next time I make it I will double the recipe so that it will be typical cheesecake size.

I hope you all have a fantastic Tuesday and as a public service announcement "be aware of popcorn kernels you never know what trouble lurks."

If you have kids have they ever put anything up their noses?  Or as a child did you ever?

Monday, July 2, 2012

What to do when you forget

Sometimes we forget.

Like today I forgot my pictures and don't have everything necessary for the post I wanted to provide to you.

Sometimes we forget.

Like Friday when I forgot to post the winner of my Conscious Box giveaway (sorry Tonya).

Sometimes we forget.

Like Friday (again not a good day for me apparently) that it is a co-workers birthday and we should have taken her out to lunch (sorry Steph)!

Sometimes we forget.

That being young is so much fun. 

Today I got my reminder and after all only a child who enjoys colors and dressing herself could have put together this fantastic ensemble.


My favorite part is the two different colored socks which are two different lengths.

When it comes to clothing she puts on what she enjoys and is not ashamed at all to show it off.

I do love her originality and exhuberance.

May we all remember to have such a flair and love for life.