Wednesday, January 7, 2009

Resolutions and Veggie Purees

To make a long story short, skip to the recipe at the bottom of the post!!

A bit ago I posted a picture of myself and people have commented that I "look so thin". Thanks for noticing and for not saying "you used to be such a cow!" My new years resolution last year was to loose all my baby weight plus 5 lbs by December. I did it by October and have kept it off since! Outside of exercising (like I always did) at least 3 times a week for 20 minutes (sometimes I just stretched... stretching burns calories too and is super good for you) I made a huge effort to cut down on desserts. Since I married Brad I have eaten more sweets than ever. Leaving the salty air of Hawaii made it so much easier. I've only made ONE brownie mix the entire time I've been in Va. I only ate ice cream occasionally instead of every night. And I stopped eating after 9 o'clock. Easier as saying no to seconds of pie to shed those extra pounds. The hardest thing I did was switch from margarine to butter. I LOVE margarine. I know it's bad for you, I KNOW! It was just really hard to give up. We went with out any type of butter or margarine for like a month because I just hate butter, but now we only buy and use butter. A huge accomplishment for me. I still don't like it, I eat a lot less of it, but it does make stuff I bake turn out way better!

This year I am determined to eat more veggies and less corn. I LOVE corn. I love raw veggies, but Kaci still has a hard time with those. I want to make yummier food with more veggies. I also want Brad to eat better, he chokes down a small serving of whatever vegetable I make for dinner, but that is the only veggie he eats all day (horrible I know, that's why we're working on it). I eat pretty well already, but we can do much better! I found a crazy cook book that uses vegetable and fruit purees in EVERYTHING and am giving it a go. I'm a little nervous because I HATE the smell and texture of cooked veggies, but I'm going to try. Deceptively Delicious by Jessica Seinfield (yes Seinfield as in Jerry Seinfield's wife-y).
She has a dessert section in the book. BROWNIES with SPINACH and CARROTS... say what? I had to try it. I am a brownie fanatic. I have NEVER made home made brownies and liked them... UNTIL TODAY!! NO kidding, the BEST brownies I've ever had! YOU HAVE TO TRY THIS!!

3 oz semi sweet chocolate (I used milk chocolate because I think it's way better!)
1/2 cup spinach puree
1/2 cup carrot puree
1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1/4 cup cocoa powder (unsweetened)
2 tbs butter or margarine
2 tsp vanilla extract
2 lg egg whites (I used one whole egg)
3/4 cup oat flour (I used all purpose flour)
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt

Melt chocolate on low heat. Combine chocolate, purees, brown sugar, cocoa powder, butter, and vanilla extract in a large bowl. Whisk until smooth. Whisk in egg. Stir in the rest of the ingredients, pour into 8x8 greased pan. Bake for 30-40 minutes. MUST COOL COMPLETELY before serving. (she claims they'll taste better if they're cooled first, but I tried the batter and still liked it, I also ate one warm and cool, couldn't tell a difference, but that's what she says)


Kaci liked it, I LOVED it, and Brad had no idea he ate veggies today! 133 calories and 3 grams of fiber in a BROWNIE!!! I'm a fan, a big FAN!

10 comments:

Alicia said...

I love this book. I have it and love the recipes. we really like the potato soup and green eggs! Another great way to eat veggies is in smoothies. They can hide pretty well. My kids love "Shrek juice" All it is is bananas, as much spinach as you like and then O.J. concentrate to taste. Alittle ice is good to. Try it you'll like it.

Meg said...

Kerri!!! I'm so glad that you left a comment! I've actually been thinking about you lately and was about to ask some Hawaii people if you were still out there and how you guys were doing. Your little girl is adorable! What a sweetheart! I need to be better at the sweets thing... it's a huge downfall for me. Good for you, thanks for posting the brownie recipe, I want to try that one out.

Nancy K said...

The reason we said you looked so fabulous was because you looked fabulous before so how could it get better? Oh and eating ice cream in small quantaties (spelling?) with brad--quite an accomplishment!

Hebner Happenings said...

What a great idea sweetheart...I think I will give this recipe a try myself. And you could never look anything but great, no matter what color you are. Although I know what you mean about being inside so much. My brain gets foggy if I don't go outside and soak up some sunshine.

mikensi said...

came across your blog again, hehe. i can't believe that is kacie in that picture! she has grown.. A LOT! anyway- email me at mikensi.jung@gmail.com and i'll invite you to our blog. had to set it on private :)

Kim's just sayin' said...

so many of my friends use that book and love it. good job on the healthy eating choices!!

newsinaminute said...

Hi kerri
fun post--I emailed you...with a note..when you get a chance to look at it (:

Val said...

I totally agree with you I got the book and year ago and still love it. It also helped Claire to get use to the idea of vegetables. Now she loves veggies most of all. I have only made the brownies once and used the unsweetened chocolate, but thought that it would be better with milk chocolate too. I will have to try it. Good job accomplishing your goal. I am so worried about getting rid of all this baby weight after my baby comes.

larissa said...

thanks for the recipe idea. I'm pretty sure I'll love it too.
congrats on the resolution to eat more veggies.

Cierra said...

kerri! you have always been my healthy-choices example since we were roomies...my question is, how do you puree the spinach and carrots? do you have to cook them first and then blend them up? i am thinking i need to try this brownie recipe...

p.s. like i've said before, you may miss hawaii, but hawaii stinkin' misses you! come back! (within the next 3 months actually, cause after that i will be in the same boat as you...homesick for hawaii!)