Strawberry Pink Lemonade Cupcakes

A friend of mine was having a birthday party for her two girls.  She wanted a cupcake that was girl, and decided on pink lemonade.  I searched the internet for pink lemonade cupcakes and found that I like the way these were made the best.  Actually I've done a few recipes from the website I got this one form.  I test made these a couple weeks before the party to make sure I could make them good, and to make sure they tasted good.  They tasted delicious, and that's what everyone told me when I made them for the party as well.  The recipe called for strawberry puree in the frosting, but I left it out.  I did this because when I did the test, the amount needed to taste the strawberry, made it too runny.  It was probably because it's summer and hot out.  If I made these in the winter I would probably keep the strawberry puree.  If you want to do this just blend 1 cup of chopped strawberries.  Add the puree after you blend the rest of the frosting ingredients one tablespoon at a time until you get the consistency you want.

Strawberry Pink Lemonade Cupcakes

Yield: about 23 cupcakes

Ingredients:
For the cake:
2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 tsp. baking powder
3/4 tsp. salt
2 tsp. lemon zest
12 tbsp. unsalted butter, at room temperature
1 1/2 cups sugar
2 eggs
3/4 cup milk
2 cups fresh strawberries, chopped

For the lemonade syrup:
1 cup pink lemonade concentrate, thawed
3/4 cup confectioners’ sugar

For the frosting:
12 oz. cream cheese, at room temperature
18 tbsp. unsalted butter, at room temperature
2 2/3 cups confectioners’ sugar, sifted
3 tsp.  fresh lemon juice
1 tsp. vanilla extract

For garnish:
Fresh strawberries

Directions:
To make the cupcakes, preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.  Line muffin pans with paper liners.  In a bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, salt and lemon zest.  Stir together with a fork and set aside.  In the bowl of a stand mixer, beat the butter on medium speed until it is light and fluffy.  Add the sugar and beat until well combined.  Beat in the eggs one at a time, scraping down the bowl after each addition.  Add half of the flour mixture to the bowl and beat on low speed until just incorporated.  Add in the milk and mix until smooth.  Add in the remaining flour mixture and mix on low speed until just blended.  Fold in the fresh strawberries with a spatula.

Divide the batter evenly between the paper liners, filling them about 3/4 full.  Bake about 20 to 25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.  Allow to cool in the pan 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

Once the cupcakes have cooled, whisk together the pink lemonade concentrate and confectioners’ sugar in a small bowl to make the lemonade syrup.  Poke several holes in the top of each cupcake with a toothpick and pour the syrup over the cupcakes, allowing it to soak in.  (Place wax paper underneath your cooling rack so you don’t make a mess!)

To make the frosting beat the cream cheese and butter in the bowl of an electric mixer on medium speed until smooth and very fluffy, about 5 minutes.  Add the powdered sugar and mix until smooth.  Add the lemon juice and vanilla extract and mix until incorporated.   Frost cupcakes as desired and garnish with fresh strawberries.

Adapted from Annie's Eats

Southwestern Stuffed Peppers

I wanted something that was healthy and tasted good.  I had never had stuffed peppers, so I thought I would try them.  I was a little leery because I'm not a big fan of peppers plain, but I figured it would be ok with all the other ingredients.  This recipe called for ground turkey breast.  1) I don't have the equipment to grind up some turkey and 2) I could have got just ground turkey, but I'm not a fan of it at all.  I tried some with zucchini boats, and I didn't like it at all.  You could still use it if you like it, but I used ground beef.  I also only made only two peppers.  My husband and I were the only ones that would eat them, so there was no point in wasting any food.  I had a bit of leftovers, but I'm sure you can halve it.  I didn't because I was going to make more, but then realized my kids wouldn't eat it.

Southwestern Stuffed Peppers

Olive Oil
1/2 lb ground beef
1 cup chopped onions
1 heaping tbsp taco seasoning
2 cups of cooked rice (I used brown)
3-4 organic bell peppers, halved and seeds removed
1 can of black beans, drained & rinsed
½ cup of organic frozen corn
1 (15 -16 ounce) jar of salsa
Shredded Cheddar Cheese

Pre heat the oven to 400 degrees. Lightly coat the peppers with olive oil and roast in a baking dish about 20-25 minutes just until cooked thru. Remove the peppers from the oven and allow to cool until you can handle them.

Cook ground beef.  I sauteed the onions after cooking the ground beef.

In a bowl add the taco seasoning, cooked ground beef, chopped onions, black beans, corn and rice. Add in the jar of salsa and mix well.

Carefully spoon the ground beef mixture into each half of the bell peppers and place back into the baking dish. Cook the peppers for another 15-20 minutes or until the peppers are cooked all the way thru. Before removing from the oven sprinkle the tops of each pepper with shredded cheddar cheese. Place back into the oven just until the cheese has melted.

Remove from the oven and top with whatever you want.

Adapted from Simply Love Food

Getting back on track

First off we went to a marriage retreat through my husband's company.  That was actually great, and if I get the chance to do it again I definitely will.  It was a 2 night stay for free.  We also got breakfast and dinner for free.  The classes weren't very long at all, and we got to see some fantastic views.  This was the view from our hotel room.

The first day we didn't do much, but the second day the class got done early, and we didn't need to pick up the kids for a few hours.  We were going to enjoy every minute of it.  There was this thing called the Zugspitz where we took a cable car all the way up to the highest mountain in Germany.  It was a little scary because you watch everything below become so small, but the views were gorgeous.  This is what we rode in on the way up.

This is a view from the top.  Gorgeous I know.

There was one view that wasn't very pleasant.  We at at one of the restaurants that were up on the mountain.  A couple that was sitting in front of us had a 8 or 9 year old boy with them.  He was drinking a glass of beer, or at least that's what it looked like to the four of us.  I couldn't believe what I had seen.  He was chugging it like it was a glass of pop.  That's just crazy.  I would never let my child drink any sort of alcohol at that age.  Anyway the entire trip was good.  

Back to the point of the title.  The whole trip I at horribly.  I figured I'm on vacation so why not.  I also didn't exercise, except a little in the pool.  I don't count that though.  Every since I got back I just haven't been able to get back to eating good and picking back up on workouts.  I worked out maybe once, and I feel like I don't have much motivation anymore to try.  In fact, I should be working out right now.   I always start my day off good with eating, but then I get crazy for sweets so bad I tend to give in.  I know you can have sweets in moderation.  I'm not that type of person.  I can't just eat a little bit and put it away.  If it's in my house I will eat it, and I usually eat a lot if not all.  Oh well I just got to let it go.  Today is a new day.  I have a Zumba class tonight, and I'm excited for it.  Once the kids start school it will be a lot easier.  I will have to get up early and take them to school.  This will give me no excuse to not to go workout because I'll already be up and awake for the day.  Plus I have a friend that says she will go to the gym with me after we drop them off.  It's easier to keep on track when you have someone else willing to do it with you.  

Kids and what they say

I asked my 2 year old daughter to give me a hug.  This was the conversation:
 Me-"I want a hug."
Daughter-"No."
Me-"Fine be that way."  My 4 year old son then comes over.
Son-"I want a hug."  He give me a hug then says, "Not Arianna.  She's being a jerk."  Yes, my 4 year old son said that about his sister.  I tried to explain to him that no she just didn't want a hug right now.  Actually she says no to me wanting a hug a lot.  I can tell she does it because she thinks it's funny.  Anyway, after he said that my husband and I looked at each other and laughed.  It was hard not to.  Yes, he got that from me.  I haven't said it in awhile though.  When he would be mean to his sister I would tell her he's being a jerk.  Sometimes he would get so mad when I would tell her that.  It never made him any nicer though.  I was surprised to hear him say that because he knows it's a bad word.  He also knows not to say bad words, and he usually doesn't.  It's our daughter that doesn't quite understand that yet.  Kids are so funny sometimes with the things they say, and the faces they make.  My son's new saying now is..."I'm mad now."  He says this when he doesn't get him way, so it's quite often.  It's just so funny because right after he says it he crosses his arms in a huffy puffy way and puts his head down.  I laugh every time, and it just makes him more mad.  It's so easy to get mad at my kids, but looking at their face when I yell at them makes it hard.  I admit that I yell at my kids a lot.  They are just so frustrating sometimes.

A little about my kids...
Trayvon- He is 4 years old.  I think he's very smart, but that could just be me.  He's fully potty trained except at night which I have a feeling it will be awhile until he gets over that.  He loves just about anything.  His biggest things are playing and watching angry birds, watching mario, and dinosaurs.  He's obsessed with playing and watching these things on my computer.  When we shut it off he cries hard.  He has a fantastic imagination, and sometimes will pretend he is an angry bird.  He will throw himself at a pillow on the couch, and even explode like the black angry bird.  He's quite amusing sometimes.  I can rarely video tape him because he just likes to look at himself while I'm trying to film.  He has a temper like his mom for sure.  He will go out of his way sometimes to bother his sister and make her cry.  He is also a huuuuuuuuuuuge whiner. I mean majorly.  This kid whines about everything.  When he asks for something he whines.  He can be a little rough sometimes, but he's a boy.  At the end of the day he's a great kid.

Arianna- She just turned 2 a couple months ago.  I think she is also very smart.  This is probably because she has her big brother to repeat after.  She is also potty trained.  She has pooped on the floor a couple times, and once in her underwear.  I never had that problem with my son.  Both of them I let them decide on their own when they were ready.  It just seemed easier that way instead of forcing them.  We haven't taken her anywhere though to know if she does good outside of the house.  I really hope so.  We have a birthday party this weekend, so I'll guess we will find out.  She pretty much loves to do whatever her brother does.  She too will go out of her way to bother brother.  She gets a kick out of it.  Now this child is crazy.  She lives in her own world, and by her own rules.  She does listen for nothing.  I've tried everything, and I mean everything aside from hitting her.  I would NEVER do that.  She is very stubborn.  You tell her not to do something and punish her for it she will go two minutes later and do it again.  Her obsession is the bathroom sink.  She has flooded the bathroom twice, by stuffing toilet paper down the drain.  We pretty much have to keep anything that can make a mess, harm her, etc. in a place she can't get to.  Sometimes she still finds a way to get to it.  There's been a few things broken, lotion in places, baby powder, and pretty much anything you can think of she's probably done it.  When you yell at her for something she looks at you and smiles like it's nothing.  She is the one we definitely have to keep an eye on all the time.  She has no fear and will do dangerous things.  This scares me a bit, but she's really tough.  When she first started walking she fell a lot and not softly.  Everyone would always gasp, but she would just get back up as if nothing happened.  She loves to see her brother get in trouble.  They have started tattling on each other.  Her favorite food is string cheese.  This girl can eat six or more in a day, and still poop.

They both are starting a German Kindergarten next month.  They will go five days a week for four hours, and I can't wait.  It will be a nice break.  My son went for a year to a different one, and he seemed to like it a lot.  It's nice because the teachers will speak to them in German, but will speak to them in English if need be.  They will pick up on German a lot faster going to this school.  I just can't wait because four hours of me time.

Workouts

So, like I said in the about me page, I'm trying to lose weight.  Well about three weeks ago I got an invite to go to a Zumba class.  I have never done Zumba, and really I didn't know too much about it.  I was super excited because I had heard it was fun, and it's exercise.  Of course I would go.  This fat isn't going to go away by itself.  I was a little nervous though because it is out in the economy.  Needless to say that me and the girl I went with were the only Americans that were there.  It was ok though.  The teacher speaks English.  Most of the time she speaks German, but that doesn't bother me.  We are in their country, so they have every right.  I just had to watch what she was doing and copy her.  All the other people that have been there since have been really nice, and I haven't gotten one nasty look yet.  Well I have a lot of fun.  I actually laughed at some parts the first day.  Just because they are moves that I have never done before.  Let's just say that you shouldn't bring your little kid.:)  I even have caught myself during that last two singing parts of the song out loud.  How embarrassing, but I don't think anyone has heard me yet.  What can I say.  The music is catchy.  It's more expensive than going on the base, but it's at a more convenient place and time.  I look forward to it every week.  I'm even thinking about doing some zumba youtube videos.  That is if I ever have the time and space with my kids.  I do Blogilates, which I will talk about in a minute, at home.  If my husband isn't home it's not so much fun.  My kids like to run back and forth all around me.  I have to admit, I've kicked them a couple times.  On ACCIDENT, I swear.  That's what they get though for running in circles so close to me after I've told them time and time again to move back.  It must not bother them much because they go right back doing the same thing.  If my husband is home I can go up in the room and do it while he keeps them downstairs.

Ok, so now to Blogilates.  First here's the website: www.blogilates.com.  It is a must check out.  I promise.  I first heard of this website about a month ago from a friend.  Not sure if she's ok with giving her name, so I won't.  She told me about this website and about Cassey Ho, she's the girl on the website.  We were having a girls night, and she made us do part of a video.  Well, ok she didn't make us, but we had fun trying in non workout clothes.  That night we were also talking about losing weight, and how there is nothing so far that has been able to motivate me.  Anyway, I think the next day or a couple I decided to check Cassey out.  I love her!  She is motivational throughout all her videos.  She talks throughout all of them as well which I like. For some reason that is motivational to me, but she also keeps telling you to not stop and keep going.  I highly recommend checking her out.  She also has a lot of workout gear you can buy.  I'm still too big for any of them, but hopefully some day I won't be.  I haven't stopped doing her videos.  I do more than one video each time.  The videos aren't that long, so if you only have a few minutes that's fine.  They do give you a good workout.  Some of the moves I can't even do, or I can't do the full count with her because I'm not there yet.  What I really want to say is that she helped motivate me to want to keep working out.  Now I so Blogilates about three times a week, zumba once, walking six miles when I can, and hiking some too.  I have also been eating less.

I joined this website: www.loseit.com.  You are able to put in your information, how much you want to lose, and then it tells you how much you should eat.  You then put in what you eat throughout the day, and it calculates your calories.  It's not a diet, but just eating less.  I like it because I can still occasionally have the foods I like.  There are also forums where people ask questions, so you can get a lot of information and support through others in the site.  It gets hard sometimes, but then I just remember what I want to be able to fit into someday soon.  I hope everyone got some useful information.

What's in a name...

By this I'm referring to the title of my blog.  I sat at this computer for a very long time last night trying to figure out what a good blog title would be.  I didn't want anything that is common or something that wasn't really thought through.  I guess it wouldn't really matter because I could probably just change it if I though of a better one.  Anyway, I thought of one that, I think, fits pretty well.  When I first chose the name it was because, hopefully, someday there will be lots of people reading my blog.  Hence they probably wouldn't know me.  In which case I'm a stranger to them.  Duh, I'm sure you figured that out already.  Then as time passed I began to think on it more, and a thought came to mind.  I don't know how many people ever feel this way, but I do sometimes.  I feel like a stranger to myself in a way. There are times when I do something and I can't believe I did that.  Also, there are always those certain things everyone says they would never do.  Well of course I do sometimes, and I'm sure many of you do too.  You just never know until you're in a certain situation what you will or won't do.  Afterwards you may be surprised, and yep, feel like a stranger to yourself. It happens, and it's no big deal.  Well maybe it is.  I guess that would depend on the situation.  Sometimes I look at my life and can't believe this is what I have.  It's crazy, sometimes, to think that I've been married for 6 1/2 years and have two kids.  Another meaning that came to me is that I'm only 25, and I'm still figuring out who I am.  I don't fully know who I am, and maybe who I even want to be.  It's actually kind of hard to explain the meaning of the title in words.  When I said it in my head it came out smoother, and it made more sense.  Now when I read back it doesn't sound as good, but that's like sometimes.  Right?