Wednesday, October 24, 2012

Homemade Pumpkin Pie Made From Scratch!!!

It definitely had a stronger pumpkin taste than the canned pumpkin. It did take quite a while to make, but it is so nice being able to make food your way!!! I bought my pumpkin at Target (only $3!).  





First, you need to make it soft; cut in half, scoop out the seeds & the strings (the strings were really the only tough part in baking the pie...darn you strings!) & cut off the stem. Place them on a cookie sheet with foil (the cut part facing down) & cover with foil. Bake at 350 degrees F for 90 minutes. Let it cool before doing anything else.

In this picture, it had been out of the oven for about an hr & I began to scoop out the pumpkin (super easy!) It came out so soft, all I had to do with mash it with my fork a few times. Don't bother with the food processor with this recipe!


Mashed pumpkin (a little burnt, but you can't taste it in the final product!) Below are the rest of the ingredients you'll need!!!

1 1/2 cup of pumpkin puree (I used a little more since there was some puree left over)
1 12 oz can evaporated milk
2 eggs
1 yolk (save the egg white!)
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/3 cup white sugar
2 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp ginger
1/4 tsp nutmeg
1/4 tsp cloves
1/4 tsp lemon juice
1 pie crust (you can buy it already made or make it yourself like I did)

Mix all the ingredients (I am stubborn, I never follow the steps on to how to add the ingredients! lol) together & pour into the pie crust. Bake at 425 for 15 minutes, then reduce to 350 & bake for another 40-50 mins (mine was done in 40 mins)



I had some puree leftover (nothing goes to waist in this house!) so I made pumpkin "cupcakes". They baked at 350 for 25 minutes.


Below is the nutritional information for the pie (w/o the crust) with 8 servings. 

Calories 165
Total fat 5.1g
Saturated fat 2.6g
Cholesterol 80 mg
Sodium 67mg
Total carbs 26.1g
Dietary Fiber 1.7g
Sugars 23g
Protein 5.2g

Good points 

Low in sodium
Very high in Vitamin A (147%!)

Bad points

High in cholesterol
Very high in sugar

Even though I am still on my weight loss journey, does not mean I stop eating the "naughty" food, I just find a healthy balance between working out, eating right & a bit of indulgence every now & then! Watch for my next post on my pie crust!!!

Bon appetite!

xo,
Nancy

Sunday, October 21, 2012

Whole Wheat Zucchini Bread

My first attempt & it came out super yummy! I found a recipe & added some substitutions. Below is the nutritional information from Calorie Count. 



Freshly grated zucchini from a medium zucchini.

Ingredients

1 1/2 cup whole wheat flour
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp baking powder
1 1/2 tsp cinnamon
3 tbsp egg whites
1/4 cup smart balance butter
1/4 cup unsweetened applesauce
1 cup Stevia
1 1/2 tsp vanilla
1 cup grated zucchini

This recipe will make 1 8x4 loaf, 6 mini loaves or 12 muffins. Nutritional information is based off of 1 serving.

Mix all the ingredients & bake at 325 degrees F for 40-60 mins (8x4 loaf) 20 mins ( mini loaves) 12-15 mins (muffins)



Calories 80
Total fat 1.8g
Saturated fat .5g
Cholesterol 0mg
Sodium 187mg
Total carbs 13.2g
Dietary Fiber .7g
Sugars .8g
Protein 2.1g

Good points

No cholesterol
High in selenium

Bad points

Contains alcohol (bc of the vanilla)

ENJOY!!!!! 

xo,
Nancy

Tuesday, October 16, 2012

Handmade Crochet Jewelry Set - Necklace Bracelet Earrings Ring!

Yes, I am a artist at heart! I LOVE getting my hands covered in glue, my fingers pricked with needles, my clothes covered in paint! Below is a crochet set that I made & am super proud of! I love the sophistication of this look. The set is crocheted on a nylon cream cord with wooden brown beads. The necklace is super long (35") great for doubling or tripling. It also comes with a pair of earrings, ring & bracelet (which can be doubled as an anklet)

Please check out my facebook page: Two Hearts Boutique for credibility if you'd like!!! Just use the paypal button below to purchase. Cost includes shipping! How cool is that!!! This makes the PERFECT gift! 



Thank you everybody & if you have any questions, please feel free to email me at mytwoheartsboutique@yahoo.com or use the inbox function via my facebook page!

xo,
Nancy





Wednesday, October 3, 2012

Fat Burning Foods List

When I started my journey last September, I decided to some research & compile a list of foods that help burn fat. After the list was done, I realized that it is all common sense type foods!!! So, I wanted to share the list with everybody & hopes everybody can get some good use out of it!!!

I have lost a total of 95 lbs so far & I still have 65 more to go!!!





Almonds
Apples
Apricots
Artichokes
Asparagus

Avocados

Bananas
Barley
Bell Peppers
Beans
Beef
Beets
Berries
Bison
Blueberries
Broccoli
Brown Rice
Brussels Sprouts
Butternut Squash

Cabbage
Cannelloni
Cantaloupe
Carrots
Cauliflower
Cayenne Chiles
Cherries
Chicken
Chili
Chives
Cinnamon
Coffee
Collard Greens
Cucumbers
Celery
Cod
Corn
Crab
Cottage Cheese (low fat)
Clams
Currants
Cranberries
Cheese (fresh)
Cardamom Oil
Cabbage
Clams

Dates
Damson Plum

Eggplant
Edamame
Egg Whites
Eggs
Enova Oil

Flounder
Fish

Ginger
Guava
Green Tea
Grapefruit
Grapes
Green Beans
Garlic
Greens

Honey
Honey Dew
Habaneros

Jalapenos

Kale

Leeks
Lean Pork
Lemons
Limes
Lobster
Lentils
Legumes

Milk
Macadamia Nuts
Mussels
Mushrooms
Muskmelon
Mangoes
Mustard Greens

Oranges
Oatmeal
Oats
Olive Oil
Onions
Okra
Oysters

Pine Nuts
Protein Powder
Peanut Butter
Pasta
Parsnips
Papaya
Parsley
Pears
Peaches
Peas
Pineapples
Prunes
Pumpkin
Pomegranates
Pearl Yams
Potatoes

Romaine Lettuce
Red Cabbage

Sweet Potatoes
Sardines
Spinach
Shallots
Scallions
Sauerkraut
Strawberries
Sorrel
String Beans
Soy Beans
Salmon
Sea Bass

Turkey
Tuna
Turnips
Tilapia
Trout
Terrapin
Tangerines
Tomatoes
Tofu

Water
Watermelon
Whole Grain Cereal
Whole Wheat
Watercress
Walnuts
Watermelon

Yogurt (low fat)

Zucchini





Enjoy!





xo,
Nancy