Connie's Recipes

Thought I'd share these... Thanks again, Connie!!!


Old Fashioned Applesauce Cake

1 c. whole wheat pastry flour
1 t. baking powder
1/2 t. baking soda
2 t. cinnamon
1/2 t. ginger
1/2 c. reduced calorie margarine (25% less fat and calories)
1/4 c. molasses
1/2 c. egg substitute (she used 2 eggs)
1 t. vanilla
1 c. Splenda
1/2 c. unsweetened applesauce

Preheat oven to 350*.

Spray an 8x8 metal cake pan with veg. cooking spray.

In a small bowl, stir together flour, baking soda, cinnaomon, and ginger. Set aside.

In a large mixing bowl, beat margarine and molasses with an electric mixer on high speed for approx. 30 seconds. Mixture will be very liquid. Add Splenda and beat on medium speed until smooth, approx. 1 1/2 min.

Add flour mixture and applesauce and beat on low speed until mixed, approx. 45 seconds.

Spread batter evenly into prepared pan and bake for 30 minutes at 350*.

Serves 8

Serving size 2.3 oz.
Calories 170, Carbohydrates: 24 g., Protein: 4 g., Dietary Fiber: 1 g., Saturated Fat 6 g., Cholesterol: 0 mg, Sodium: 310 mg

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Apricot Oatmeal Bars

1 1/4 cups whole wheat pastry flour
3/4 oatmeal quick or old-fashioned oats, uncooked
1/2 c. Equal Spoonful (or splenda)
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1/4 tsp. baking powder
1/8 tsp. salt
1/2 c. cold stick butter
2 Tbs. water
1 tsp. vanilla
3/4 cup apricot or peach spreadable fruit

1. Combine flour, oats, Equal, cinnamon, baking powder and salt. Cut in butter with a pastry blender until mixture is vey fine in texture and begins to stick together slightly. Stir in water and vanilla until well blended.

2. Reserve 3/4 cup flour mixture. Press remaining mixture firmly and evenly onto bottom of lightly sprayed 8-inch square baking pan. Bake in preheated 375* oven 12 to 15 minutes or until mixture is lightly browned at edge.

3. Remove from oven and spread with fruit. Sprinkle with reserved flour mixture, pressing gently into fruit.

4. Bake an additional 20 to 25 minutes or until flour mixture is lightly browned on top. Cool completly on wire rack. Cut into squares.

5. Store in airtight containers at room temperatures.

Makes 16 servings.

Nutritional information:

calories 108, protein 2 g., carbohydrates 14 g., fat 6 g., cholesterol 15 mg., sodium 27 mg.

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Double Chocolate Brownies

6 Tbs. stick butter, softened
1/2 c. unsweetened applesauce
2 large eggs
1 tsp. vanilla
3/4 c. flour/whole wheat flour
1 c. Equal Spoonful/Splenda
1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips or mini choc. chips
6 Tbs. unsweetened cocoa
1 tsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp. salt

1. Beat butter, applesauce,eggs, and vanilla until blended. Stir in combined flour, Equal, chocolate chips, cocoa, baking powder and salt until blended.

2. Spread batter in sprayed 8-inch square baking pan. Bake in a preheated 350* oven 18 to 20 minutes or until top springs back when gently touched. Cool completely on wire rack. Cut into squares.

3. Store in airtight containers at room temperature.

Makes 16 brownies.

Nutrition information per serving:

calories: 105
protein: 2 g.
carbohydrates: 10 g.
fat: 7 g.
cholesterol 38 mg.
sodium 77 mg

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Almond Granola Bars

1 1/2 cup rolled oats
1/4 c. oat bran (or just use more oatmeal)
1/4 c. finely chopped almonds
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
2 Tbs. veg. oil plus
1 tsp. veg. oil
1/3 c. honey
1/2 tsp. vanilla
1/4 tsp. almond extract

Preheat oven to 350* F. Spray a baking sheet with non-stick spray.

Combine dry ingredients in a large bowl. Combine remaining ingredients and add to dry mixture. Mix until all ingredients are moistened.

Press mixture into a rectangular shape 7 inches wide and nine inches long. (Wet hands or use one hand and a damp spoon.)

Bake about 12 minutes. Remove from oven and cut into 16 bars using a sharp knife. Separate bars slightly and return to oven for 3 to 5 minutes more. The browner the bottom of the bars, the crisper they will be when cool.

The edges will crumble slightly when cut - set aside for a snack. Remove to a wire rack to cool.

1 bar = 86 calories, 2 grams protein, 4 grams fat, 12 grams carbohydrates, 1 mg sodium, 0 cholesterol, 1 gram fiber.

Dessert!

Ya know what?

There are some really neat people in the world.

Wanna hear about one of 'em?

There's a lady at church whose hubby is diabetic. She's been emailing me recipes links here and there for the last few weeks, but wanna know what she did for me THIS week?

She went through her recipes, and made me FOUR different diabetic desserts. Of course, she kept some for her hubby, but because of the samples, I KNOW which recipes I want to try. I got a heaping plate full of apple spice cake, double-chocolate brownies, granola bars, and oatmeal-apricot bars. Plus their recipes of course. And all of them are LEGAL for me! YAY!!!! (Well, they're prob'ly not legal if I eat the whole plateful at once, but you know what I mean!!)

I have discovered though, that when eating the brownies, that you shouldn't try to sneak them up to the bathroom so the kids don't see you eating them - you should definitely put them on a saucer and eat it with a fork at the table. I got too many crumbles on the bathroom floor, and not only could I not eat 'em up after they fell, but I wound up on my hands and knees trying to pick up the evidence!. If I had been eating at the table, I could have eaten every crumb just fine and no acrobatics by a basketball-belly-lady. (I'm sure I was quite a sight!) LOL!

Awol!

Been awol for a while... sorry about that. I've been up to my eyeballs in school, and then trying to get the house "baby-ized" which means I'm having to rip apart the whole house. Well, at least it appears that way! Our loft area upstairs has been the kids' computer area, plus we have a gazillion books and games up there. It now needs to be the spot for a midnight feeding, so I'm trying to make it a cozy spot for a rocking chair (or whatever), and a bassinet or baby swing. The crib and dresser (which is still-to-be-got) is going to be in our room. That means, everything up there in the loft and in our room has been distributed throughout the house. But in order to put say the games downstairs, the kids' closets needed to be overhauled, which meant we had to pull everything they owned out, sort it, make piles of outgrown clothes (nearly everything!), etc. And for some reason, the overflow winds up in the livingroom. (Ever noticed that whenever your house is like that, the next door neighbor decides to visit? lol!)

So.

While trying to manage all this, I'm also trying to keep up the laundry, cooking, etc., with a basketball attached to the front of me. The dusting and floor-scrubbing is just plain not going to be done for another week or two, I'm certain. Yes, you can write your name on the mantle with your finger. No idea how this is all going to straighten out in the eight short weeks I have left before Little Fish arrives on the scene! And the baby stuff keeps pouring in! I had a baby shower this last weekend, and there is another coming up soon... Been having fun, don't get me wrong, but uff, pressure, pressure! Eight weeks! Yikes!

Hence, my absence from Blog Land! :O)

Corn Field Trip!

Went on a corn field trip today.

Well, that's what Aleksa was thinking we were going to do. Last night she told John, "Papa! Tomorrow, we're going to a corn field and then we're going on a train ride instead of doing school!"

And so the wires were a little crossed. We explained to her that we were going on a "Field Trip" and the the trip was a train ride where we'd learn about trains, kinds of trains, see beautiful fall leaves, etc.

I thought she got it. Really.

But half-way through the train ride she said, "Mama, when are we stopping in the corn field?"

Argh!

Ha-ha-ha

And so when John heard my idea about letting the kids in on my "science project" of helping with my blood tracking, etc., he very seriously sat me down and said, "Shelly, most people wait until they're dead to donate their bodies to science."

Hardy-har-har...

Broiled Tilapia Parmesan

And so you know I'm on a new diet. Well, not the lose weight kind (better not be anyway!) Been scouring the 'net looking for low-carb recipes and HAVE to share this one...

I have to confess, I'm not much of a fish-eater. I know it is super good for me and all that, but well, it tastes fishy.

I'm desperate to eat right these days, however, so last night I tried a recipe off of AllRecipes.com (don't you LOVE that site?) and I have to say, this was some kind of fish! John said it was as good as anything from Red Lobster. Whoa. And to think it only took a few minutes to throw together! Really!

And don't just take MY word for it, this recipe got 5 stars from over 2,000 reviewers. (That's the only reason I had the nerve to try it in the first place...) Really. Ya gotta try it. http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Broiled-Tilapia-Parmesan/Detail.aspx

Ok, enough advertising.

Anyone have any good low-carb/low sugar snack ideas? Sick of carrot sticks...

Feelin' Good!

I am amazed at how different I have felt in the last few days since watching my sugar/carbs... I feel like a million bucks! I haven't been dragging in the afternoons and "NEEDING" my nap, and I haven't needed to get up to use the bathroom 3+ times a night anymore! Just once! Usually on Sundays after dinner I have to catch a two hour nap or feel like garbage, and yesterday I didn't even need one! I still layed down for a bit, but I got antsy and got up. Unheard of for me, truly.

My biggest challenge is going to be coming up with snack ideas that are legal, but hopefully the dietician I talk to on Wednesday will have some good ideas for me.

Been thinking of the finger-poking thing... I'm thinking I'll include all three kiddos in the endeavor (since I have to poke myself four times a day!), and make it into a science project this fall. They can help me track my blood sugar levels and see how food affects them, and which kinds, etc. Great opportunity to learn about the food groups, and what carbs are, etc. (Plus, I have a feeling Liana's microscope will get some extra use - she loves looking at blood and gunk under that thing...) lol!

Rough Week

Been a gruelling week for me. With all the neighbor kids back to school, and us getting back into the "school schedule" the kids threw their usual fits trying to settle into the new routine. We had some major "testing Mama" moments, er, hours, this week. Was ready to hand in my resignation papers on Friday! lol! I find it so interesting that horrible behavior can be predicted so faithfully just by looking at what the calendar says.

Aside from that stress... I found out this week that I flunked my glucose test, and had to do the 3-hour one. Flunked that too. So, guess who has gestational diabetes?

*sigh*

That would be me.

I see a dietician next week the day before my doctor appointment. I'm such a baby about needles! I've been reading a friend's blog who just finished doing IVF, and hearing how many shots she had to give herself made my stomach churn... She's braver than I am, that's all I have to say! These four finger-pokes a day are gonna take some major inhales and exhales! (I could just let Liana do it for me, but uh, it would go to her head awwwwful fast!) lol!

Anyway, I've been watching my diet like a hawk, and writing everything down to show the dietician and doctor. My mom had diabetes so the drill isn't all-new to me, but wow, have I been tempted with the cookie jar this week! I'm proud to say, I haven't cheated and I've had more energy in the last two days than I have in weeks! I keep saying, "Shelly, you are NOT messing with the health of your baby for a stupid cookie... Do you know how many women would gladly trade places with you and never eat another cookie again in their LIVES if it would mean they could have this baby?" Somehow that reality check is all I need to "just say no."

Since telling my family about my diabetes, both of my sisters and a niece are going on the Little Fish Diet (Yikes, almost used Little Fish's name right there!) right along with me. I HAVE THE COOLEST FAMILY!!! Sharon even passed up a World Class Caramel Apple straight from the orchard this afternoon because it didn't fit the diet. We're checking in with each other every night to see how we each did. Aren't they the sweetest?

It's definitely true that misery loves company! lol! If I can't have my Monster Cookie, it is comforting that some of those closest to me aren't eatin' theirs either!

Money

John has been trying really hard to teach the kids about money, budgeting, saving, etc.

This morning after helping the kids put their money in their appropriate envelopes, Aleksa declared, "Mama, look how much blow-up money I have!"

*blink, blink, blink*

I've been really trying to keep excess "pregnancy stuff" off this blog, and keep a pg journal elsewhere... But. Just this once I have to make a small exception...

The neighbor lady came over today.

She asked me how many weeks along I was, etc., and when I told her I had 11 weeks left, she said...

*drum roll*

"You must be carrying all your extra weight in your butt then."

LOL!