Comfort Rolls

Hello, blog.. After a holiday hiatus I’m back!
Bad news is I’m still in full blown holiday mode.
I don’t think I have had an actual meal for 5 days. #fail
I have baked cookies, cakes, brownies etc. --- from a box.
Grazed at 6 family get togethers. And…
I have pretty much have finished off my entire stocking of crap also.
Although I  did perfect my aunts rolls, from scratch might I add.

They were perfectly fluffy, soft and comfy.

I won’t mention that they took me 8 hours to make because I have issues with fast rising yeast.
Dang it.

After several texts and phone calls with my aunt, prayers and curse words I was blessed with raised dough.

Can I get a..Hallelujah?

Orange Rolls

Ingredients
Dough:

• 1/2 C. sugar
• 2 tsp. salt
• 1/2 cup butter
• 1 C. Scalded Milk
• 2 pkg dry yeast
• 1 C. Warm water
• 2 eggs
• 5-6 C. sifted flour

Orange Paste

• Grind the peel of 2 oranges
• 4 T. of butter
• 3 T. Sugar

Frosting

• Juice from one orange (not the whole thing, just enough for flavor)
• 1 stick of butter (room temp)
• 1 C. Powdered sugar (give or take—add until desired consistency is achieved)

Directions:
Measure sugar, salt, and butter in large bowl
Add scalded milk and set aside Let cool till luke warm.
Add yeast to warm water and let stand for about 5-7 minutes
Stir to dissolve.
Add eggs, 2 cups of flour and yeast blend to milk mixture then mix in the other 3 cups of flour. Place dough in greased bowl – cover and let raise for 1 hour. Punch down and let sit for 15 min. longer.
Roll out and spread orange grinds/butter/sugar over dough.


Roll and slice using dental floss
*cross and pull!
place in glass pan and let raise for 35-45 minutes
Bake at 375 for 25 minutes.
Make frosting by combining ingredients and mix with hand mixer--Add frosting when cooled.

YES!!

Now, I realize these aren’t classified as “healthy”…
But I do believe it is healthy to indulge a little every now and then and with that being said what do you expect I should do with the rest of this?

OH I guess I have a few more days to take care of it before the new year starts.
Lets get ready to buckle down!
But before new year resolutions take place. Make THESE rolls!! Heck, they have at least one serving of fruit in them.. and whole grain. right?

Q. What do you think I should do with the rest of this candy?

• A. Throw it away
• B. Give it away
• C. Pack it up for next year.
• D. Melt it all together and make lovely Christmas candy truffles?

Something funny? 

Check this story out. Pretty much sums up the excitement of Christmas eve..

Merry Christmas!

Hope you all are having a Merry Christmas today! Filled with love, family and friends.

From my family to yours… Happy Holidays!

Grapefruit Halibut

It is getting a little crazy around here. I still can’t believe Christmas is in 3 er.. almost 2 days!! Whoo hoo!! Am I ready? I have cranberry sauce to make and orange rolls! All on the list to-do for tomorrow.

Along with 30 million rds of Peek-a-boo

and catch me if you can..

Today, Brent got off a little early and we ran a few errands including a little lulu stop..

Thank you Santa..

We came home for dinner and I had some halibut that I pulled out of the freezer a week ago to make this meal and never got to it.. (It’s been a crazy week.) How long is fish okay in the fridge for? a week? Hmmmm…I guess we will find out…

I prepared the halibut by squeezing half a grapefruit over the top and sprinkling with parsley and a little sea salt.

Place grapefruit slices on the top and bake for 25 minutes at 350 degrees.

 

Easy right?

I roasted some cauliflower and green beans to eat on the side.

Great meal! I love halibut, the grapefruit flavor was light, next time I want to marinate over night in the juice to make it a little stronger. Halibut doesn’t taste to “fishy” but boy does it smell fishy.. Good thing I’m making cranberry sauce tomorrow! I love making it just because it makes my home smell like Christmas!

We set out to deliver a few bags of homemade kettle corn to our neighbors

Brent is off for the holiday and I have to work tomorrow.. So its time to go snuggle and enjoy him home while I got him. Off to watch a Christmas movie and enjoy a little dessert!

Good night!

Holiday down time

 

Down time? During the holidays? Never…

I mean down time at the gym. I think everyone and their dog are busy with holiday parties this week because there was hardly anyone at the gym tonight. I guess I should enjoy it because once January hit its going to be a mad house! Got to love those new years resolutions!

Workout: GPP, Body pump, 1 mile run.

Yes. 1 freaking mile. And it was hard. I purposely planned on just 1 mile so in my head that’s all I had to get through, but I will admit it felt like the never-ending mile! Why is that? I think my body has gone into hibernation for the holidays and is just wanting a little R&R. Guess what? I’m going to listen to it. There are only a few weeks left of the “off season” before race training commences and I’m going to take these next few weeks a little lighter then hit it hard. (By hard, I mean stick to my training plan). Every body needs to rest and your body is smart and knows when it needs a break. It will tell you when, you just have to learn to listen.

This is hard for me to do because I am go-go-go all the time then all of sudden I feel weak, fatigued, NO energy or motivation to run/swim/bike. It lasts about 2 weeks before I feel that drive that energizes me through my workouts comes back. Does this happen to you? I bet it does. Take a break! You don’t have to stop working out completely but just take it easier- lift lighter, run a little slower etc.  Enjoy this holiday down time. I know I am.

This morning I actual was one to embrace that holiday down time, by sleeping in! Hence the reason I was up waaaaaay to late wrapping presents!

I believe wrapping presents is the WORST part of this whole Santa gig, and or gift giving thing. I don’t mind shopping (by myself) or spending our life savings on presents but wrapping… I think it might just be worst then putting away laundry. And I hate spending money on wrapping paper.. kind of like how you hate paying for quality T.P.. But its sort of a necessary thing.

Anyway, This morning I got to sleep in a little (ahem, 7:30am) I woke up and just couldn’t do egg whites and veggies. I wanted something warm, topped with syrup and bananas.

Pancakes

These pancakes with a few alterations.

{Protein Pancakes}

• 1.5 scoops of vanilla protein
• 3 egg whites
• 1/4 C. almond milk
• 2 TBSP of coconut flour (I have used oat flour before as well)
• 1/2 tsp. of baking powder
• 1/2 TBSP of Cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp. of nutmeg
• 1 tsp. of vanilla
• 1/2 cup of pumpkin
• 1 TBSP of agave nectar

I mixed all the ingredients and poured onto hot skillet, covered with a lid on med/low heat and let it cook for about 2 minutes before flipping.

Did you spy our holiday card in one of those pictures???

Merry Christmas!! From my family to yours!

I have a few more presents to wrap so I’m off! Except, I left it out last night and the twins got to it before I did.. now I need to go get more.. Would it be okay if I just used T.P?

Q. What is the one thing you dread about the holidays?

Don’t say your MIL. That’s just rude. jk. I have to say wrapping presents and or family parties (although they are wonderful, they can just be stressful)

Q. When can you tell your body needs a break? Either mentally or physically?

White chocolate-Cranberry Cookies

It wouldn’t be the holidays without cookies right?!

Lots of cookies.

These little gems are whole-grain and low fat. So healthy you can have two.

White Chocolate-Cranberry Cookies

Ingredients

• 1/2 C. All purpose flour
• 1/2 C. Whole Wheat flour
• 2/3 C. whole Wheat flour
• 2 Tbs. Wheat Germ
• 2/3 C. Old fashioned Oats
• 1/4 C. Shredded coconut (optional)
• 1/4 tsp. sea salt
• 1/2 tsp. Baking Soda
• 1/4 tsp. Baking Powder
• 2/3 C. Applesauce (unsweetened)
• 1/2 C. Brown Sugar
• 1/4 C. Agave Nectar
• 1 tsp. Vanilla extract
• 1 whole egg
• 1 egg white
• 2/3 C. Dried Cranberries
• 2/3 C. White Chocolate Chips

Directions

1. Pre-heat oven to 350
2. Mix the first 9 ingredients together in a large bowl
3. In a separate bowl beat with electric beaters the remaining ingredients
4. Combine and using Tablespoon to transfer balls to greased cookie sheet
5. Bake for 12 minutes.

 

Cookies are easy, affordable, delicious and make great neighbor gifts!

Q. What is your favorite holiday cookie?

holiday weekend recap

On Saturday my family had the annual Hale Christmas party. I love my family and I’m very close to all my cousins, aunts and uncles. I love that we do this every year. And it is getting bigger and bigger every year!
My family always knows how to have a good time.
We started with dinner before breaking out the festivities.

I filled my plate with turkey, veggies, variety of different salads, orange roll and a white roll with raspberry butter. –>homemade rolls are amazing! B helped eat my plate so you know I went back for seconds! After our bellies were full, it was time for entertainment.
Courtesy of buddy the elf.

aka. My dad!!!!
He stayed in character the entire time. It was hilarious.
We played a few minute to win it games.
Hanging ornaments


With your partner or significant other you had to hang 3 ornaments on string without using your hands.
The 2nd game you had to hold a string in you mouth with a red puff ball on the end, put Vaseline on your nose and you have to flip the red puff up to stick to your nose without using your hands.

The 3rd game you tied a tissue box full of ornaments around your waist and you have to shake your booty. First one to empty the box wins!
Shake shake shake!!
The 4th game I didn’t get a picture of but they had to put a gingersnap cookie on their face and get it in their mouth without using your hands.
These games are sure to make you laugh till you cry!!
Then we had a special visitor!
B wouldn’t sit on Santa's lap but after a minute she warmed up to him.


T wasn’t to sure but was happy to get a gift.

We had a good time hanging out with our cousins!

This morning I got a quick 5 mile run in before heading over to GPP to complete this workout. – I love team workouts!

For breakfast I just had some egg scramble with butt load of vegetables.

5 egg whites, some yellow pepper, green pepper, green beans, onion, avocado and tomato.

Perfect start to a Monday!!!
Last night I made some whole grain-
 white chocolate cranberry cookies!
---->Recipe will be up later today!

Q. Do you like team workouts?
Q. What is your favorite “Minute to win it” game?

Tis the Season!

Oh my its been awhile since I have blogged… sorry.
Brent has been super busy with finals and work and I have been playing single mom to the twinners. Kudos to all you single moms out there. It’s tough work. But now FINALS are over and we get to enjoy some quality family time together!

We also have had Christmas parties since Wednesday.. and we have one tonight as well!
I started out today with a mile run before heading into body pump! We taught release 80 today and that lunge track gets me every time. Afterwards, I hopped back on the treadmill and did 5 miles of tabata interval sprints. Got to love speed work! I was sooooo sweaty, feels good to look and smell disgusting. ha!

When I got home I made a quick recovery shake


In the mix:

• 1 1/2 C. Almond breeze Vanilla unsweetened milk
• 5-7 ice cubes
• 1 scoop vanilla elite gourmet protein powder
• 3 squeezes of mio berry, pomegranate flavoring
• handful of spinach hence the lovely green color.

I found mio at the grocery store and was curious to see what it was like. I had a coupon for it so figured this impulse buy was justified

I must admit the mio added quite the berry punch to the shake! I have never used it before . Its advertised to add flavor to your water but I figured it could add a little twist to my shake as well!
I was still hungry after, and hand some leftover pumpkin puree in my fridge that needed to be used so I made some pumpkin oats.


We have so much shopping to do today! I am dreading the stores cause I’m pretty sure I’m not the only person who has procrastinating some Christmas shopping!
Have a good day!! 
Worth the read:
Push through your plateau – via oxygen magazine
10 food label lies- via shape
Tips to avoid holiday weight gain-