Pineapple Bundt Cake

OMG ... this cake is heavenly. If you like Pineapple upside down cake, you will SO love this cake even more. Holy Cow, to quote Harry Carey. (Cubs announcer).

And It is EASY.. A level one baker could wipe this up. You would be so proud of yourself. An accomplished baker would appreciate a delicious and easy recipe. NO one would even know how easy this cake is. I am so glad I found this recipe.

Pineapple Bundt Cake
recipe adapted from Dole.com
Ingredients
1 can (20 oz) Crushed Pineapple
1 box Yellow Cake mix
1 pkg Jello Pudding mix
3/4 cup vegetable oil
4 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup vanilla yogurt
1 cup powdered sugar
1 teaspoon butter, melted
GLAZE
1 cup powdered sugar
2 tablespoons milk

Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray bundt with cooking spray. Set aside

Drain pineapple in a bowl. Measure out 3/4 cup juice to use for the cake. Set aside remaining pineapple juice. In a stand mixer with a paddle attachment, combine the cake mix, pineapple juice, pudding mix eggs, oil, yogurt and vanilla extract. Beat on high for 2 minutes.

Fold in crushed pineapple into the batter. Pour the batter into the prepared pan and place in oven. This is a VERY moist cake. I bake this cake for 40 minutes. It really needs to be that long. Your cake will be slightly brown on top.

While the cake is baking, combine the remaining pineapple juice, 1 cup powdered sugar and melted butter together. Remove cake from the oven. Poke holes into the cake with a skewer. all around the cake. Gently pour the soaking mixture over the warm cake. Allow the cake to totally cool before removing from the pan.

Once totally cooled, with a serving platter, flip your cake upside down. Remove pan. Cool for another 20 minutes. Make your glaze. And drizzle over the cake.

Basic ingredients for an amazing cake

Totally drain the pineapple. You will need all of the juice

Fold in the Pineapple into the batter

This bundt pan is completely full

Remaining Pineapple Juice, Powdered Sugar, and melted Butter 

This will send your cake over the top

Poked and Pouring on the filling

The finished product BEFORE the glaze

This puppy was glazed. 

If you want less, glaze, make half as much. 

An Easter treat for a customer

A cake treat for my Husband. HE LOVED it.

Green Almond Cleanse

Green Almond Cleanse... I went off the tried and true and outside my box. This recipe was just delicious. If I would have had raw almonds, it would have tasted better. You were suppose to soak your almonds overnight in water, used the water and pulverized the almonds. WELL, I was making this last night for today, and I am not at all that organized to make this into a two day drink. I can barely plan my days let along a two day drink. So, I punted and used Almond Milk. It is in the frig and need to be used.

This is a quick recipe, and without a doubt, it can be modified. GO for it people. Live a little

Look at that pretty green color. 

Rich, dark and intense

Green Almond Cleanse

adapted by ME

Ingredients

1 cup Almond Milk

1 green apple, cored and chopped

1-2 cups spinach

4-5 dates, pitted

Directions

Add all ingredients into high powered blender, mix until totally smooth. Drink up

Simple ingredients that you would have on hand

Because of the dates, there is NO added sugar

Trying to work on my photo skills. 

I really just need to commit more time. 

Easter Centerpiece

OK .... I robbed this idea from Pinterest. Not totally original. But it has been sitting on my kitchen table for over two weeks, and it still looks great. I am going to incorporated into my theme events throughout the year. This was fun to make and eat.... and I used a few creative juices.

This year, besides the centerpiece, I did a new wreath. There is "almost" always a wreath on my front door. It changes throughout the year. I think I like Spring the most, because of the bright colors. This winter has lasted FOREVER... I have White and Yellow Tulips and Daffodils in my front flower beds. I thought the combination of outside and my front door would be cool. Due to the crappy weather, my flowers still have not bloomed. Just ridiculous. 

This my centerpiece. 

It probably took longer to pick out the flowers

Just a vase inside of a vase. 

Three bags of Starburst Jelly Beans. or any type you want

A package of 12 peeps. I did not need 2, so... they were consumed

Cut the fake flowers to the length I wanted. 

Placed them inside the inner vase

Finished project. I like it when things pop together quickly.

These were fun to work with. They just stick together

This arrangement is by my front door. 

I used colored beads for inside of this vase. 

Adds some fun color

Happy Easter and/or Happy Spring

Green Cleanse - 8

I am starting to get bored drinking the same green drink everyday. They are always delicious, and clean out of the garbage in my system, but I need to vary....

So today I pulled out a cucumber...(giggle giggle). Back to the drink...
I still have mint and ginger in the frig and they have not been used in awhile. Maybe tomorrow, I can go a little Cuban and live outside of the box. Right.

Why I like green cleanse, besides all of the nutrients and lack of calories, they taste fresh. Some days, with all that is thrown at you and the crappy weather we are still having, it is nice to taste fresh. This drink is quick, one less thing that feels like a task.

LOOK at that INtense Green color. 

Those are Vitamins baby..

Good for you fruits and vegetables

Green Cleanse - 8

adapted by ME

Ingredients

1 cup water

1 green apple, cored and chopped

1-2 cups spinach

1 juiced lime, pulp also

1/2 sliced cucumber

1-2 squirts Agave Nectar

1-2 cups Ice

Directions

Place all ingredients in a high powered blender and mix away. MY apple took an extra minute. Use your tamper if needed. Mix until totally blended. 

I do not always picture the Agave Nectar. 

That is the sweetener that I like to add. If you prefer Honey,

be my guest. Some people like to add nothing, that is good also

Like most of my recipes, quick and easy.

Open the refrigerator, take out 

Just some rough cuts to make everything blend better

Water versus a Green cleanse. I will drink the Green cleanse all day

Ready to roll. Got my drink and I am out the door. 

Have a great day

Green Cleanse - 7

If you were wondering, I am still drinking my Green Cleanse drinks. I have not ventured outside my box on these lately. If I like it, I stick with it. OR I am just boring. Whatever. I think they are doing something. There may or may not be a glow, but my skin is clearer. I do not feel bloated. My colon is definitely cleansed....

I also feel that I am adding all these nutrients to my body in a refreshing drink. That is one of the main reasons why I like them. They taste great. I am not saying you have to bail on the Easter candy, but if you work a bit, you can still lead a very healthy life.

This Green Cleanse was not as dark green as normal. With the pear and cucumber, it was lightened up. BUT, it sure did taste delicious. Fruits and Vegetables co-mingling together. Fun and healthy.

I was working on my photo styling. I need so much work and more time.

Pale color of green, but it tasted amazing

Green Cleanse - 7

adapted by ME

Ingredients

1 cup water

1 pear, chopped

1 lemon, juiced

1/2 cucumber 

1 sprig mint

1-2 spring mix or spinach

1 cup ice

Directions

Place all ingredients in a mixer, blend until smooth. Drink up.

Nice mix of greens

my sprig of mint

nice shade of pale green

this is just delicious.

Chicken Sausage and Rice Skillet

Quick, Easy Dinners. I have no time to cook, tooooo busy.
                                 I do not know how to cook..... really, this is easy
                                 You can skip take out & save some money
                                 You can make a dinner in 20 minutes that taste great

I made this the other night. You can make a Semi-Homemade dinner for your family. NO excuses. This was easy. If you are a newbie or non cooker, just have all the ingredients and throw this together. YOUR family will be Hugely impressed.

The beauty of this recipe is, it can be modified. use Turkey links instead of Chicken, Change the spinach for Zucchini, Change the spices or the cheese. If you are feeding more than 3 or 4 people, add more sausage, vegetables or rice.  Live people -- move outside of the box...

Chicken Sausage and Rice Skillet
modified from dashrecipes.com
Ingredients
2 tablespoons of olive oil
1/2 cup chopped onions
8 ounce package of cremini mushrooms, sliced
8 ounce package of spicy chicken sausage
10 ounce package of frozen spinach
3 tablespoons of tomato paste
1 cup chicken broth
1 8.8 ounce pouch precooked Brown rice
1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
Salt and Pepper
Red Pepper Flakes (optional)

All easy ingredients. 

As you can tell, sometimes I buy all my groceries at Target. 

Heat oil in a large skillet pan over medium heat, add onions and cook for 2-3 minutes, they will start to look clear. Add your chopped mushrooms and let cook. The mushrooms will start to turn brown and release their liquid.  Stir occasionally, 5 minutes. Take your chicken sausage and cut into small pieces and add to the pan. Stir in with the onions and mushrooms. Add the frozen spinach. (DO not defrost) Salt and Pepper everything at this time. Gently stir until the spinach is no longer frozen and starting to mix through. Add the Tomato paste and stir. Add Chicken broth and Rice Pouch and mix in.Once it is thoroughly heated through, Add the Parmesan cheese.

Totally heated through. Ready to add the Cheese

A quick easy dinner in 20 MINUTES.

There really was more to dinner that night

Serve with a Salad and some Italian Bread.

Even a glass of Wine!!! Enjoy

Spring Green Cleanse

Holy cow thunder and lightening. From 1:00 am on last night, we have been up. Windy and Rainy like you cannot believe. If you ever wondered about Chicagoland weather, just live here for awhile. HIGHLY unpredictable and forever changing. As I made this delicious beverage, I watch it just pour outside. There is no running for me today. I would be hanging out in the basement with Shaun T doing some type of Insanity workout. Over the winter, I have not lost any weight, (depressing) but I have lost inches. My jeans still fit. I can actually do several big girl push-ups, (NO Knees) and jumps. My feet will leave the ground. I am grateful to have ran 4 days this week. That is the most since last November. WOW. Yoga is still a large part of my fitness routine. I have spread myself out to three different Yoga studios. Different teachers, techniques, and philosophy's. I keeps me from getting bored and betters my mind.

So why am I selling this drink as a Spring Green Cleanse. Well, it is green and it SO reminds me of Spring. Winter has lasted somewhere close to forever here this year. Usually with a green cleanse, I only use water, but today, I went with Almond Milk. I also used plain non fat Greek Yogurt in this recipe. I am going outside the Box with this recipe. So unsure, but it TASTE Delicious. A bit of Orange Sherbet, but way healthier. This recipe is a keeper, and this is why I am sharing it with you.

Green creamy goodness

Spring Green Cleanse

adapted by ME

Ingredients

1/2 cup of Almond Milk

6 ounces of Greek Yogurt, plain

1 cup of Spinach

1 Green Apple, cored and chopped

1 Tangelo or Mineola, peeled and quartered

1 piece Fresh Ginger, size of fingernail

1/2 Avocado, peeled

Juice of 1 lemon

1-2 cup of Ice (optional)

Directions

Place all ingredients in a blender. Blend until completely smooth. Drink up or place in the refrigerator and drink tomorrow. 

Very basic ingredients. 

The Almond Milk was not present for the picture

Rough chop and peels. 

This was a very simple healthy drink to throw together

The Vitamix was pretty full. 

I always mix everything first and then throw in the ice.

 This drink had a nice creamy texture. 

I think I will try to skip the Almond Milk next time and just use water

With both an Avocado and Yogurt, and all of the fruit, this drink is just delicious

I like my Lime Mint Drink, but this may be my new favorite.

Pina Colada Protein Smoothie

I SO went outside of the box..

This Protein Drink was delicious and so healthy for you. NO powders to fluff this up. Eliminate the crap people, lets move on and drink healthy. 

Chickpeas, or Garbanzo beans whatever you want to call them, they are loaded with protein and fiber. You will feel full for hours with feeling fat. I am so glad I stumbled upon this recipe. As with any smoothie recipe, modify to your liking. I like coconut and pineapples, you may not. use frozen berries, mangos, whatever is to your liking. With using the chick peas, this smoothie was thick. I also added Agave Nectar. (NOT photograph), I felt this recipe needed to be sweeter. Use Honey or Nothing. It is up to you. You can always add more milk to make this drink more liquidy. Up to YOU.

Pina Colada Protein Smoothie

The SNOW is finally gone. The flowers are just starting to bud. 

I am celebrating with a summer drink

Pina Colada Protein Smoothie

modified from thesmoothielover.com

Ingredients

1 cup Almond Milk

1 frozen banana

1/2 cup chick peas

1 cup frozen pineapple

1/2 cup shredded coconut

1-2 cups of ice

1-2 squirts of Agave Nectar (optional)

Directions

Add all ingredients into Vitamix or high power blender, and mix until smooth. Drink up

These are not complicated ingredients. 

The Chick peas are near the kidney beans or black beans in the grocery store

My Husband and I really enjoyed these smoothies.

HE had NO idea there were beans in his fruit smoothie. 

I am just making him Healthier.