Monday, August 29, 2011
Cardio Party!
While my cooking and baking have been a little on the "less than exciting side"(I'm not really sure how many salads with over easy eggs I can show you before I bore you to death), my workouts have been tons of fun. I should start out by saying that working out is NEVER a chore for me. I am the girl that would walk anywhere...you know, for the exercise. When FitTv went down the tubes, I decided to branch out and try some new things. I got some great suggestions from readers, but I wanted to try more. So, I looked on Amazon (it's cheaper) and started collecting some new stuff. The one I want to talk about today is...


Exercise Tv's Star Trainers Cardio. This video is actually a lot of fun. There are 5 different trainers that take you through 5 different 30 minute workouts. Some are more dance inspired and some are a great mix of cardio and muscle toning. I have to suggest, when you order videos, read the reviews! I did, so when the trainers pause to promote a "Propel" water break, I was not annoyed or surprised. In fact, I took a little water break.

Rob Glick does a really fun cardio party workout to start with. He is fun to listen to and he walks you through three segments of dance that he then puts together in the end. I love this one.

I love Violet Zaki! She does a martial arts inspired workout that gets your booty. The woman loves squats!

Gay Gasper is really fun. Her cardio espresso (I love my coffee!) is a lot of fun and gets your heart going!

Kimberly Spreen put together a really fun high energy workout. She takes your heart rate up and then brings it down while your working on toning. I love this mix!

Kendell Hogan is one of my favorite trainers! He has such an upbeat attitude and his moves are fun. He walks you through each move and really helps you get it before you move on...all while keeping your heart rate up!

These workouts are not hard core cardio junkie workouts (which I like too), but they are fun. I took dance until I was a sophomore in high school, so I love the dance inspired moves. There are no annoying negative comments and all the trainers are super supportive, encouraging and easy to follow. I would definitely recommend this video to anyone looking to have a little fun with their workout!

Have you found any new workouts you love?

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posted by Sarena Shasteen - The Non-Dairy Queen @ 5:00 AM   18 comments
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
Quick Chili Pie and Coconut Pudding!
Thank you all for your words of encouragement from my last post. It's a crazy week (life), but we will get through this together!

So, we were talking about easy eats last, well this one was super fast and so tasty!


I've definitely become better at throwing things together and hoping for the best. This is definitely one of those times. I had some chili kicking around in the freezer, so I mixed up a little cornbread topping (also known as my johnnycake batter plus 2 TBSP brown rice flour - add a little extra water if needed) and baked it off. I put enough chili in an 8x8 baking dish to fill it halfway. Then I poured the batter on top and baked it for 20 to 25 minutes at 400 degrees. This was a home cooked meal that came together in 30 minutes. You can't beat that! I melted a little Daiya on top and then garnished the whole thing with fresh cilantro. Dinner served! Thank you mister freezer man for keeping good eats for me when I have no time.


Now for treats...


Coconut pudding definitely takes a little extra time, but it's so worth it!


Thick, creamy, coconutty and so comforting!

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posted by Sarena Shasteen - The Non-Dairy Queen @ 5:00 AM   33 comments
Monday, August 22, 2011
Quick Sesame Green Beans!



I have discovered some easy tricks to getting flavors I crave without all the fuss! Here's one of my current favorites! When I started making fried rice, I realized that a key flavor to Asian dishes like that is the sesame oil (I can't have soy sauce, so it's an important flavor). Well, I had a boat load of fresh green beans from the farmer's market that needed to be used up and I was craving something Asian flavored. So, I decided to sautee some steamed green beans with a little sesame oil. My quick protein was egg whites and the whole dish was topped with rooster! Hello quick easy delicious flavors!


This totally hit the spot! The flavors were bold, fresh and delicious!

Do you have any tricks for quick easy meals with complicated flavors? I need ideas!

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posted by Sarena Shasteen - The Non-Dairy Queen @ 5:00 AM   17 comments
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
Pasghetti and Johnnycakes...
Yesterday, I made pasghetti for 80 people...cooked and cleaned all by myself. Seventy five of them were kids. It was a blast. I wore pasghetti from head to toe and the kids loved it. I even got thumbs up along with "that was the best pasghetti ever". If that doesn't make your day, I don't know what will. By the time I got home, the only place I wanted to be was in the kitchen. Weird, but true. Lately, I haven't had the chance to be very creative in the kitchen, but my wheels are still turning like crazy. I have a back log of goodies on the brain.


This little concoction has been sitting there for a while and I finally got the chance to just do it. I love cornbread and blueberries, so I thought johnnycakes, hoe cakes or corn cakes (whichever you would like to call them) smothered in warm blueberries with some F.R.O.G jam would be a perfect combination.


I was right! It was such a sweet delicious combination! The doughiness and slightly sweetened corn cakes worked so well with the tart blueberries and sweet jam! I loved the colors too!


Johnnycakes
(makes 4 medium cakes)

2/3 cup corn flour (masa harina - not cornstarch)
1 tsp baking powder
pinch of salt
1/4 cup egg whites or 1 egg
3/4 cup water
20 drops vanilla stevia (I used NuNaturals)

Combine the corn flour, baking powder and salt in a bowl. Stir in the remaining ingredients until mixed well. Cook in a skillet on medium heat. Flipping when browned on one side.


I topped mine with 1 cup blueberries slightly warmed in the microwave and stirred in a TBSP of F.R.O.G jam. YUM!

I'm sharing this on Simply Sugar and Gluten Free's Slightly Indulgent Tuesday.

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posted by Sarena Shasteen - The Non-Dairy Queen @ 5:00 AM   23 comments
Monday, August 15, 2011
My Baby Boy Turns 13!
I think my lack of blogging lately is proof enough of the craziness that has hit me lately. I'm horribly emotional lately...hold on and you will see why. Anyway, I miss blogging badly right now. While most people in my everyday life don't get the blogging thing, I have really discovered how much I love it. Really everyone that comments here or reads is a friend of mine. I love reading about everything that goes on in other bloggers' lives too. Blogging is definitely the modern day version of pen pals.

So, what's been going on...school for the boys, school meetings for the boys, work (which I love), house stuff, looking at properties (good and bad...will we ever find the dream land?) and...


a birthday!

(I miss those cheeks!)

Seriously, my baby boy turned 13 on Friday! How in the world did that happen?

(2010)
(2009)

 Looking at old pictures, I can't believe how much Jay has changed in the past year...

(2011)
 He actually looks and acts so much older now!


You know cookie cake is in order for the occasion! It's his favorite so that's what he got!


I don't have any of my baking supplies with me right now, but I do have the baking pans Better Homes and Gardens sent me from the cookie contest and the cookie cake was perfectly baked in it.

I have to say, change is hard. We are going through a ton of it lately. I feel so fortunate to have my beautiful little family. Happy Birthday to my little man. I've enjoyed every day I have had with you and look forward to so many more!

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posted by Sarena Shasteen - The Non-Dairy Queen @ 5:00 AM   18 comments
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
Craziness!
Craziness has definitely happened for us lately. I'm sorry to not be around so much, but I have A LOT going on. In other news...


Max is a 5th grader! My baby boy started 5th grade this week...where has the time gone?

I will be back with goodies soon...have a great Wednesday!

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posted by Sarena Shasteen - The Non-Dairy Queen @ 9:26 AM   16 comments
Thursday, August 4, 2011
Things I'm Loving Right Now...
Many of you asked about peanut flour. I'm still using a stash of Trader Joe's I have. Yep, I hoarded! Don't judge me! You can get peanut flour online, and while I've never tried it, I would imagine Protein Plus Flour would work as would PB2.

Things I'm loving right now...

I guess I'll start with peanut flour. I can't get enough of it! I eat this daily. It's an incredible source of protein and low fat. I said it...it's lower in fat and that makes me happy. I get my fat in other places just so you know.

 Besides, when you mix this with a little water, a pinch of salt and a little stevia...it tastes like peanut butter fudge! YUM!

F.R.O.G Jam! 

 After Heather posted about it and then Jessica posted about it, I had to find it. I finally jar of heaven at a little farmer's market here in town and am now in love! It's fig, raspberry, orange and ginger. Seriously, what's not to love? They also have a hot version...you know I'm going back for that one!

 I ate F.R.O.G on sliced apples wrapped in...

 Tortilla Factory Tortillas! I love these! They are huge too, so they are perfect for wrapping my crazy apples and for sandwiches! They are so soft and doughy...perfect!

 My Rocket Dogs! Max stole my Chuck Taylors and so these have been my go to shoes lately. I need to get more Chucks though! So sad when your kid takes the shoes off your feet!

 Summer vegetables...I know they are almost gone, so I'm definitely filling up on them. I stewed some squash, eggplant and cherry tomatoes with a few cloves of garlic for dinner. I threw it all in a pot and cooked it on medium heat with a little olive oil...it was so good!

It was the perfect topping form my socca with a sprinkle of nutritional yeast!

Nutritional yeast! I got this massive container of NOW nutrition yeast from Swanson Heath Products. I love this company and they are so easy to shop through. It's my go to place for supplements and health food products!

I love the nutrient stats on this stuff too! I've been really busy lately, so I've been cheating and getting my B vitamins through nutritional yeast. I would feel bad, but I'm really loving it!

So, tell me...what are you loving right now?

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posted by Sarena Shasteen - The Non-Dairy Queen @ 8:41 PM   28 comments
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
Deconstructed Dipping!
I want to start off with saying how much I love all of you! Seriously, you always say the nicest things and thanks to all of you, I was in the top 5 for the Better Homes and Gardens state cookie contest! I won a bake set and I'm really happy about that since I love the pan so much. Thank you, thank you, thank you for all your kind words and support!

How in the world has the time gone so fast? I feel like I completely missed August 1st! The days are really just flying by. Does anyone else feel that way or is it just me? We started the weekend with a trip to DCI in Murfreesboro, TN. For those of you that were not band geeks, its Drum Corps International. My inner band geek totally came out for this one. I have to say, as a former clarinet player though, I really think something was missing from the show...like the woodwinds! It was a completely different experience for me. I've never been to a show like that where I wasn't performing. I loved the streak of freak that really shined through too. Seriously, they really punked up the shows and it was fun to watch. I'm against the recorded music they had going on, but all in all, it was a fun show and it was great to go with the family! Jay and his cousin are in band, so it was a great experience for them since they will be marching next year.


 I love his face!

 Can you tell how hot and muggy is was? Jay's hair is a frizzy mess and Max's hawk is hurting!

The most fun thing I ate this past weekend was definitely peanut butter dip. This came from the need to use up the last of the Unsweetened Silk Pure Almond Milk (love that stuff...so creamy and smooth) and the want to dip. Do you ever just want to eat something strange and fun?


Well, I do. I had a few left over gluten free pancakes (I will share that recipe soon...I want to try it one more time), but I really wanted to eat my pancakes in a deconstructed way. It's funny because I don't normally like to eat with my hands, but when I eat pancakes, I like them dipped! 


This peanut butter dip is flecked with flax to thicken it up and sweetened with a little bit of vanilla stevia. It is smooth and creamy...perfect for dipping pancakes...


These pancakes were almost perfect. So close...


Then I started dipping some strawberries...some blueberries also went swimming at the end of this bowl. Nothing was safe from the peanut buttery goodness!


This would be a perfect sauce too. I'm definitely looking forward to making this one again.

Peanut Butter Dip
(makes 1 cup)

1 cup almond milk (I used Silk Pure Almond Milk Unsweetened)
1 TBSP flax meal
1/4 cup peanut flour
10 drops NuNaturals vanilla stevia (or brown sugar)

Combine the almond milk and the flax meal in a microwavable bowl. Microwave for 2 minutes. Stir and microwave another 2 minutes. Watch it so it doesn't boil over. Next whisk in the remaining ingredients and refrigerate for at least 4 hours. 

I'm sharing this on Simply Sugar and Gluten Free's Slightly Indulgent Tuesday.

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posted by Sarena Shasteen - The Non-Dairy Queen @ 5:00 AM   18 comments

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Sarena Shasteen - The Non-Dairy Queen
Home: Atlanta, GA, United States
About Me: Lactose Challenged
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