Recipes: Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups

So today, I felt like getting creative... whether it was being creative with baking or crafts! ...I chose baking. (; I chose to make homemade chocolate peanut butter cups. I hope you enjoy this simple and DELICIOUS recipe! 


(Please note: I came up with this recipe ALL BY MYSELF!) ;)


Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups


Bottom Layer:
1 1/2 c. semi-sweet chocolate chips
2 tbsp. butter (or margarine)


Top Layer:
1/2 c. creamy (or chunky) peanut butter
1 tbsp. butter (or margarine)
1/4 c. powdered sugar


Melt chocolate chips and butter until smooth. Place mixture into small baking cups. Melt peanut butter and butter. Add powdered sugar. Pour peanut butter mixture over chocolate. Top with powdered sugar or peanuts. Let chill. 

NO, they may not look like the most beautiful thing you have ever seen, but they sure do taste WONDERFUL! (:

Bon Appetite! (:

-Sophie

Recipes: Chocolate Chip Cookies

My favorite cookie would PROBABLY have to be the classic, but delicious chocolate chip cookie! I chose to make some today just for fun, and here is the recipe! 

Chocolate Chip Cookies
2 1/2 c. All-Purpose Flour
1 c. Light Brown Sugar, Packed
1 c. Butter (2 sticks), Softened
1/2 c. Granulated Sugar
2 Eggs
2 Tsp. Vanilla Extract
1 Tsp. Baking Soda
1 Tsp. Salt
2 c. Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips
1 c. Chopped Nuts (optional)

Preheat oven 375ºF.
Mix all ingredients except chocolate chips and nuts in large mixing bowl. 
Beat on medium speed until blended.

Stir in chocolate chips and nuts. 
Drop by rounded teaspoonfuls onto ungreased cooking sheets.

Bake 10-12 minutes, or until lightly browned. 
Cool slightly before removing from pan onto wire racks. 
Makes about 3 1/2 dozen.

Bon Appetite! (:

-Sophie

Recipes: Banana Bread

Today I made some WONDERFUl banana bread! It came from a cute little church cookbook, and my mom and I make it all the time. Use the recipe to experience its WONDERFULNESS! ;)


Banana Bread


1/2 c. butter
1 c. sugar
2 eggs
3 tbsp. sour cream (or milk)
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
2 c. flour
3 bananas (1 c. mashed)


Mix together and bake in bread or muffin pans for 1 hour at 350º. Add chocolate chips or nuts for extra flavor!:)


... And of course, PICTURES! 

The ingredients you will need...

Ready for the pan!

The cute (very umm... used) cookbook the recipe came from.

And the finished product looks a little like this...!

Bon Appetite! 

-Sophie! (:

"The Natural Ham"

Has anyone ever seen "Julie and Julia"? Well the movie was based on a famous chef; Julia Child. She is mostly known for bringing French cuisine to the American public. She wrote a cookbook called Mastering the Art of French Cooking and starred in her own TV show, the French Chef, which debuted in 1963. In 1948, her husband's work swayed them to Paris, France where her love for French cooking budded. She took classes at the world-famous cooking school there Le Cordon Bleu (where I would LOVE to go some day ;)) Julia had a spunky personality, and was never afraid of making mistakes. “Remember, if you are alone in the kitchen, who is going to see you?” she reassured her television audience. She was also known for her "tallness" because she was over 6'2"! Julia Child died just two days before her 92nd birthday, on August 13, 2004. 

Julia Child at the Cordon Bleu in France.

Julia Child's kitchen (which is on display at the Smithsonian... I would love to see it!)

...And as Julia Child would say, "Bon Appetite!"

:)

Being Fit Can Be Fun!

The amount of child obesity in the U.S. has TRIPLED in the last 30 years! So many people think that exercise is "boring" and that healthy food "tastes bad"... But that doesn't necessarily need to be true! Here are a few fun tips to keep you fit! 


1. Eat a variety of nutrient-rich foods. You need more than 40 different nutrients for good health, and no single food supplies them all. Your daily food selection should include bread and other whole-grain products; fruits; vegetables; dairy products; and meat, poultry, fish and other protein foods. 


2. It doesn't exactly matter WHAT you eat as much as HOW MUCH you eat! You can still eat what you'd like, just be sure to keep on eye out on the portion size... The recommended serving of cooked meat is 3 oz. , similar to a deck of playing cards. 


3. Balance your food choices over time. Not every food has to be "perfect." When eating a food high in fat, salt or sugar, select other foods that are low in these ingredients. If you miss out on any food group one day, make up for it the next. Your food choices over several days should fit together into a healthy pattern.


4. Video games can actually make you thin! DDR ( Dance Dance Revolution ) is a GREAT way to exercise! 


5. Get outside! Going for a short bike-ride is fun, easy, AND good exercise! If I feel like I need some exercise, but don't really feel like doing it, I reward myself with biking to a nearby gas station! Also, a short run ( less that 1 minute ) followed by a short walk is pretty easy and helps if you want to lose weight! 


6. Workout with a partner! Working out with a partner is always a great idea! You'll have someone to keep you company, as well as to motivate you.


Strawberry Banana Smoothie


10 oz. strawberries (without stems)
2 ripe bananas
3 tbsp. sugar or honey
1 c. ice cubes
3/4 c. milk


Wash strawberries and remove banana peels. In a blender, process all ingredients until smooth. 

Crazy Cake Paintings!

So... On this rainy, somewhat BORING day, I decided to do one of my favorite past-times...PAINT! I love to paint pretty much ANYTHING, but I am not THE BEST at detail...(;  I also love cakes, so might as well combine them both, right?! ;) 

Say hello to my painting buddy! (: It consists of acrylic paints, oil paints, watercolors, canvas, and multiple kinds of brushes! 

My first painting! ...What do you think?! 

...And the second! A little whimsical right? ... Just like the one I did a couple days ago! 

Soul Surfer Movie Review

Has anyone ever heard of Bethany Hamilton? If not, she is a 21 year old (now professional) surfer who lost her arm in a shark attack when she was only 13! She has written a few books as well as a couple devotionals for young girls. Recently they came out with a movie about her life and how she got back in the water after the attack. The movie is called called Soul Surfer. I saw it a few weeks ago and LOVED IT! If you are interested in reading more about Bethany, and what she does visit her website below. I DEFINITELY recommend the movie, her books, and devotionals to anyone, especially a teenage girl! 

                              

Soul Surfer Website:  http://bethanyhamilton.com/

Bethany Hamiltons's Blog: http://bethanyhamilton.com/about/bethanys-blog/

                                           

Soul Surfer Movie Website: http://www.soulsurferthemovie.com/page/surf.html