Happy First Day of Spring!

To all you readers in the Northern Hemisphere. And the sun came out!! This is a big deal for upstate NY. No joking we get weeks upon weeks of no sunshine. It actually sucks.

The canal behind the studios where we film The Lake to Lake Girls podcast.

The sunset on the drive home. Lovely.

That one time I bet $500 I could lose 10% of my body weight in 12 weeks...

I tend to only post meals on here that I think are particularly interesting or OMGosh mouthwatering good. I feel others aren't that interested in what I eat on a day-to-day basis, however because this is my blog, I do what I want and I'm going to tell you regardless. Actually, J and I have a bet going. A bet with $500+ at stake. I KNOW! That's a lot of money for me ya'll. We are currently on the eve of week 3 of a 12 week long fitness challenge, and the loser gets to pay for both of us to go sky diving this summer. Side note: does anyone else find it a bit ironic that we're celebrating making healthy choices by jumping to our possible deaths out of an airplane?

Because our fitness goals are so different (mine is to lose 10% of my body weight -don't fret it's doable in 12 weeks for a healthy weight rate loss of an average 1.5 lbs per week) and Jared wants to put on 6 lbs of lean muscle. I hit it out of the park week 1 with a 5 lb weight loss! However I did not prepare for week 2 and I feel off the band wagon with a total weight loss of 0.3 lbs. Ugh. So I'm glad I learned the lesson of how important preparation is early on in the challenge. Below is the handy spread sheet of my planned meals this week.

Notice Meal 1 just says "Breakfast," that is because I cannot predict what I will be hungry for in the morning. Sometimes the thought of eggs makes me nauseous or Greek yogurt with berries is just not filling enough, so I eat what feels right each morning. Here is a list of what I may eat for breakfast: 1 whole egg with 1 egg white with sauteed onions, grape tomatoes and sliced mushrooms; 1/2 cup Greek yogurt with berries, honey, cinnamon and almonds; Paleo pancakes (1 banana, 2 eggs and 1/2 tsp of cinnamon with natural maple syrup.) Also notice that I do not have any meals planned from Friday M5 through the rest of weekend, because I'm just not that good at predicting where/what I'll be doing at those times on the prior Sunday (which is when I plan my week day meals out). Come Thursday, I'm planning the rest of the week out. Also, I'm trying to limit coffee, and sugar/processed food/bread. Easier said than done. However, I do plan on blogging my meals as I eat them throughout the week to keep myself accountable!

Disclaimer: I am not a nutritionist, a trainer, nor a doctor. This is not expert advice, just the journey of a 25 year old girl taking steps for a healthier lifestyle. This is what I'm doing for my individual body and what works for me may not work for you. As always consult with your doctor before starting a new diet or exercise regime.

The Best Sesame Chicken in Upstate NY

The picture speaks for itself.

You are welcome to disagree with me, but I truly believe that Asia Cuisine Korean & Japanese Restaurant in Ithaca, NY has the best sesame chicken (Korean Style) in upstate New York to ever grace my lips. This is not your run-of-the-mill local neighborhood Chinese buffet sesame chicken (unless of course you do live in or near the Ithaca Commons, then well...lucky you).

These are juicy yet crispy yet tender little nuggets of chicken in a red spicy sauce from heaven. Yeah, it's that good. When you order in for this dish you also get some tea...I thought it was green tea at first, but does not taste like green tea...kinda tasted like rice actually...anywho. If anyone does know the name of the tea, kindly leave a comment below to educate me.

 

When you order this dish in, you also receive a side of rice and a variety of kimchi. What is kimchi exactly? It is a Korean condiment made of fermented vegetables with a variety of spices. (Thank you Wikipedia). I encourage you to not be a ninny and try the stuff, you may surprise yourself and actually like it.  

It's a bit of a hole-in-the-wall type of place, but who cares really? The food is phenomenal.

Also Asia Cuisine has a HUGE selection on it's menu with daily specials. 

Jared had the Smoked Salmon Roll, California Roll and Tuna Roll (8 pieces a roll).

Who: Asia Cuisine Korean & Japanese Restaurant

What: blow-your-mind good Sesame Chicken & a whole host of really yummy Asian dishes

Where: 126 N. Aurora St., Ithaca, NY (in the Ithaca Commons)

Click here for menu.

Red Velvet Cupcakes: The Comeback

I feel I can confidently say I have redeemed myself. If you remember this post from this past July my first encounter with Red Velvet cupcakes was a bit of a disaster. Not one to be defeated, I had to revisit this romantic classic for this Valentine's Day.

Comment on this post for a chance to win tickets to the Seneca County Triangle Concert Series. The first concert will be at Ventosa Vineyards on February 23rd! Watch the Lake to Lake Girls Podcast on www.fingerlakes1.com next Wednesday, February 20, 2013 when we announce the winners! Winners will be picked at random.

If you're looking for a last minute gift idea for Valentine's Day, take a swing at these tasty cupcakes and surprise someone you love and impress their socks off when you tell them they are made from scratch. 

Red Velvet Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting

Yields 12 Cupcakes

For the Red Velvet Cupcakes You Will Need...

3/4 cup butter, softened to room temperature

1 cup sugar

2 large eggs, room temperature

2 1/2 tbs red food coloring

1 1/2 tbs baker's cocoa powder

3/4 cup buttermilk

1 1/2 cups flour

1 tsp vinegar

3/4 tsp baking soda

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Farenheit and line a muffin tin with 12 cupcake liners.

I used these adorable ones to get with the romantic and cutesy Valentine's Day theme.

Then beat together the butter and sugar until lightened in color and fluffy -this could take 3-5 minutes. Add in the eggs one at a time and beat until well combined. In a separate bowl, mix the food coloring and cocoa powder until it forms a paste, then add the paste to the butter mixture and blend well. Next add the buttermilk and blend well. Then add the flour and blend until just combined, do not over mix or your batter will fall when baking! In another separate bowl, combine the vinegar and baking soda, then add to the batter until fully incorporated. Distribute evenly between the paper liners and bake for 20 minutes. They are done when a tooth pick is inserted to the middle of the cupcake and comes out clean. While letting the cupcakes cool (for at least a half hour) prepare the cream cheese frosting.

For the Cream Cheese Frosting you will need...
1 cup (8 oz) of cream cheese, room temperature
6 tbs butter, room temperature
4 cups confectioners sugar
2 1/2 tsp vanilla extract

Beat the butter and cream cheese until well combined and fluffy. Then cup by cup add the confectioners sugar until well combined and there are no lumps, remember to scrape the sides down between cups. Finally add in the vanilla extract and combine well. Once the cupcakes are completely cooled (this is very important otherwise the heat from the cupcakes will melt the frosting off the cupcake), pipe the frosting onto the cupcakes. Garnish with some dusted cocoa powder on top or a sprinkle of shaved chocolate.

This 'n' That

Hello lovely readers! Today's post is going to be random and only semi-food related, but here's what's been going on in my life over that past few weeks. If you follow me on Instagram, you've probably seen this photos already, but if not enjoy :)

1) From the previous post you know that I went to ladies night at the Hotel Clarence. However what you may or may not know is that my new years resolution is to drink less (how cliche, I know). And this was my first glass of wine...I've only had 2 more glasses since then! Go me!

 

2) I've been attempting the Primal Blueprint Diet (very similar to the Paelo Diet) and if you're not familiar with these eating lifestyles, you basically eat what our caveman ancestors ate. Click on the links for more info about both. Here is a Primal/Paleo steak dinner! Nom nom nom.

Grilled steak with a dry rub marindate (basically whatever I could find in the pantry...oregano, garlic powder, onion powder, dried thyme, red pepper flakes, cinnamon, nutmeg...there were probablly others that I'm forgetting. Be brave and experiment with a variety of flavors! This dry rub turned out to be so yummy:) Roasted sweet potatoes with olive oil, rosemary, salt & pepper, along with steam broccoli and Thyme Finishing Butter from Wegman's Supermarket.

3) Then the next morning created these Primal pancakes. We substituted coconut flour for regular flour. I'm not completely sold on coconut flour -it tastes great but has a gritty, sandy texture that I'm not a fan of.

4) My On The Go Life Planner from Erin Condren finally arrived! This is the most I have ever spent on something like this. However I am a sucker for cutesy marketing and they have it down to a science. Everything on that site is sooooo adorable. I need new stationary and gift wrap and a recipe box and a canvas photo for my bedroom wall, right?! Not really. A huge part of their appeal, is their southern California easy living lifestyle that comes across in their products. Meanwhile I'm stuck in freezing cold upstate NY. 

Even the packaging that your purchases arrive in are so colorful and happy. PS. I'm totally in love with the quote on this planner. (The white spots are blanked out for personal protection ;)

5) Speaking of freezing cold. This you guys, it hurts my soul a little bit.

Yes, that says a high of 9 degrees Fahrenheit for this past Wednesday.

6) My sister and her chicklins came to visit me over the past weekend! She now lives in a pretty swanky part of Connecticut now and she has become a master of finding treasures from her local Goodwill stores. I'm talking authentic Gucci, Coach, Ferragamo, Louis Vuitton, Prada and the list goes on....we didn't find anything nearly as exciting as any of those, but I did score this book that gives you a wine-for-dummies approach. I'm excited to start going through it and learn all sorts of wine things. Oh and did I mention it was only $2.99?!

6) Despite these bone chilling temps (ie. see point # 5) it does make for some beautiful pictures.

Happy Saturday all :)

Ladies Night

At the Hotel Clarence.

Who: Ladies Night at The Hotel Clarence

What:$5 glasses of wine with specially priced appetizers

When: Every Wednesday night from 5 to 7 PM for the month of January

Where: 108 Fall Street, Seneca Falls, NY 13148

Mandy's Sweet Heat Chili

First of all Happy New Year!!! The holiday season has distracted me with real life things for the past two weeks and I've neglected you dear readers, but I am back! I hope you rang the new year in with style because we are now all back to the grind. After the holidays I always fall a little bit into a funk. On one hand I'm exhausted from the crazy schedule, but on the other I am a little sad that the radio stations have stop playing Christmas music. Also the prospect of three more months of snow really puts a damper on things. This melancholic combination and a need for warmth puts me in the mood for some serious comfort food, and what is more comforting than a hot bowl of flavorful chili? Not much, maybe some mac'n'cheese.

This recipe is perfect for watching Sunday's football game or on those busy week nights as we fall back into our hectic everyday lives. I developed this recipe by taking parts of chili recipes I've made over the years and ideas gathered through Pinterest in my down time. This chili is sweet and packs a punch of heat for an irresistibly savory combination.

Mandy's Sweet Heat Chili

 Serves 8-10

You will need:

Ingredients

16 oz can kidney beans

16 oz can canellini beans

2 tbs grape see oil

2 medium onions, chopped

2 green peppers, chopped

1 lb ground beef

1 lb Italian sausage, taken out of its casings (I used turkey sausage)

12 oz tomato paste

2 tbs Worcestershire sauce

1 & 1/2 cups brown sugar packed

4 tbs chili powder

2 tbs cumin

2tbs dried oregano

1 tbs paprika

1 tsp cayenne pepper

1 tsp baker's unsweetened cocoa powder

1/2 tsp cinnamon

1 tsp sea salt

28 oz can crushed tomotoes

28 oz can tomato sauce
For garnish
Sour cream (greek yogurt is an excellent substitute)
Shredded jack cheese
Sliced green onion

Equipment

Dutch oven (I used a cast iron one)

Large crock pot (AKA slow cooker)

Rinse a 16 oz can of kidney beans and a 16 oz can of cannellini beans, place in a large crock pot (make sure it is off! You will turn it on at the end of the recipe). In a dutch oven, put 2 tbs of grape seed oil (I'm partial to this kind) with 2 chopped medium onions and 1 lb of ground beef on medium high heat. Once the beef is browned and the onions are translucent, transfer the beef & onion mixture to the crock pot with the beans. Next in the same dutch oven, cook 2 chopped green bell peppers, 1 lb of Italian sausage out of its casing, and 3 minced garlic cloves. When the sausage is almost completely browned, stir in 12 oz of tomato paste and 2 tbs of Worcestershire sauce. You want to cook this for 1 to 2 minutes more to release the flavors of the tomato paste. Now transfer the sausage mixture to the crock pot. Then directly into to the crock pot, add 1 & 1/2 cups of packed brown sugar, 4 tbs of chili powder, 2 tbs of cumin, 2 tbs of dried oregano, 1 tbs of paprika, 1 tsp of cayenne pepper, 1 tsp of baker's cocoa powder, 1/2 tsp cinnamon, and 1 tsp sea salt. Carefully mix the spices with the rest of the beef, sausage and beans. Now add a 28 oz can of crushed tomotoes and a 28 oz can of tomoto sauce, mix with the contents of the crock pot. Now is when you want to turn the crock pot on, put on Low setting for 6-8 hours or High setting for 3-4 hours. I suggest serving it with shredded jack cheese, sour cream and sliced green onions.