Baking...

I truly enjoy baking...cakes, cookies, pies, pastries and desserts of all kinds.

For this, I thank my parents. 

You see, Dad loved to eat sweets...and Mom loved Dad.  So, we always had some form of dessert at every meal, the cookie jar was never empty, and the smell of baking always permeated the house. My mom made everything from scratch - and I learned how to bake from watching her.

Baking brings back fond memories.

Homemade cakes, cookies, and pies were such a normal thing at our house that I didn't realize not all homes had an endless supply of sweet treats.  I thought everyone had a recipe box filled with family traditions. And no kitchen was complete without the baking staples - flour, granulated sugar, brown sugar, powdered sugar, vanilla, baking soda, baking powder, chocolate chips and butter or shortening.

Growing up, I didn't realize what how lucky we were. 

I envied my friends who always had store bought cookies in their kitchens - nothing home made.  They, on the other hand, loved coming over to my house where we always had warm cookies coming out of the oven.

I remember visiting my parents when I was in college living on my own and Mom always baked something special to celebrate my homecoming. I had a particular fondness for her Danish Puff Pastry - so simple but so good. She used to make a double batch - one for my visit and one for me to take back to Eau Claire and my roommates. This became a favorite treat - one that I have not had in ages...

When I met Lance and started to bring him along on my visits home Mom not only made one special treat but TWO! For Lance - chocolate chip cookies - always. For me - whatever she was in the mood to make. I guess she thought we each needed our own treat to feel special.

No wonder I have this obsession with baking sweet concoctions as a way to say "I love you"!

A friend of mine told me her mother-in-law once said that everyone needs a signature dessert.  Something that they could be known for.  That was why she got her granddaughter a Crème Brule kit for a wedding gift - it was the perfect signature desert. 

It made me wonder - what would my signature be?

I make a lot of banana bread - and it is pretty good if I say so myself.  But I don't think that really counts as dessert.  Plus, the reason I make so much banana bread is that we don't eat our bananas fast enough - so bread they become!

I guess my signature dessert is variety...

Now that I am trying to live a healthier me - and by default so is my husband - I am attempting to figure out how I keep baking without sabotaging our efforts.

You see, baking goodies brings me pleasure.  I enjoy finding new recipes to try.  I like the mixing, forming, and creativity of putting together a tasty treat.  I love the smells that take over the house when I am baking.  And I can't wait to see the smiles and hear the sighs of enjoyment as the dessert disappears from sight. 

Sharing special food with others is a way of sharing my love.

So, is there such a thing as a healthy, tasty dessert?  I am about to find out...

This is my new challenge - because I can't give up this delicious way of showing my love and friendship. 

The search in on...

Happy New Year!

How does the saying go? “A new year – a new you…” Seems like you can’t avoid the sales pitch this time of year when everyone is working on their New Year’s resolutions. Now is time to make a change.

It is kind of funny, Lance and I seem to both have made the same resolution – but never told the other about it.

I noticed that Lance has been trying to eat healthier – and so am I. Yet neither of us mentioned that we wanted to start a new track on life.

Wonder why?

I think it is because we are both not sure we want to be held accountable in case we “fail.”

Well, I guess we are now being held accountable (sorry Lance).

Or at least I am.

Over the last six years I found myself gaining an average of five pounds a year (yes, you can do the math). I realized I am leading a very sedentary life as I sit at a desk most of my week days and in front of a TV at night. Blahhhh! I am tired too often, lose my breath too easily on the rare occasions I do something physical, and am feeling a little “blue” more often than I should.

Bottom line: I no longer like what I have become or what I see in the mirror (or in photographs – that New Year’s Eve photo was a real eye opener – I thought I was hiding those rolls of fat…)

So, I have decided to do something about it.

In the past I tended to go all gung ho with life changes, trying to make a zillion adjustments at once - keeping the resolution my little secret – which usually leads to disappointment when I don't to keep up. (This is most likely why I seldom tell anyone I am making a change - the perfectionist in me hates to let others know I failed.)

This time I am  going to be more like the turtle – slow and steady wins the race.

Changes need to come one step at a time.

My starting point: using Healthy Blue (a program available to everyone at my company through our health insurance) as my guide. I am paying more attention to what I am eating and drinking (including when and why); trying to add more fruits, vegetables, and whole grains to my diet. I found logging everything that goes in my mouth is a real eye opener – and makes me plan better. I started wearing a pedometer and logging my steps daily as a motivation to get off my butt.  And will soon be adding exercise to my life...what a concept!

This is not a diet – it is a lifestyle change. 

And posting this for others to see is SCARY...

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My New Year’s Challenges

1. Adopt a healthier lifestyle – including eating better and moving more.
2. Make two new healthier meals a month from scratch.
3. Jog an entire 5K by late spring.
4. Hike at least two new trails with Lance this summer.
5. Sing special music at church at least one time this year.

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I will keep you posted on my progress.....