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"Staten Island + San Francisco = Statencisco" - Jess

"Drink Up." - Erin

Key Lime Mini Cupcake Recipe

First we must all give a great big 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!

to the hubs.

So his favorite thing for a sweet treat has always 

been Key Lime Pie.

Last year his Mom made him these amazing little

Key Lime Mini Cupcakes.

They were to die for, so I knew that would be happening again this year.

I mentioned on the Facebook the other day that I was looking for a good 

recipe and many of your said you wanted to know as well....

So here it is!

What you will need:

(makes 24 cupcakes)

cakes:

1 cup all purpose flour

1 tsp baking powder

1/8 tsp salt

6 tbsp unsalted butter, softened

1/2 cup plus 2 tbsp sugar

1 large egg

1/4 cup Key Lime juice

1/2 tsp vanilla extract

frosting:

1 1/2 cups confectioners sugar

6 tbsp unsalted butter, softened

1 tsp vanilla

Step 1:

Heat oven to 350° F

Line the indents of 24 mini cupcakes with paper liners.

Step 2:

Combine in a medium sized bowl:

Flour, salt, and baking powder.

In another medium sized bowl,

beat butter, vanilla, and sugar with an electric mixer 

on medium high speed for 1 minute.

Step 3:

Add half the flour mixture to the wet mixture, combine on low speed.

Then add all of the Key lime juice,

then the rest of the flour mixture.

Step 4:

Once evenly combined, 

spoon evenly into prepared liners.

Make at 350° F for 17 minutes.

Cool in pans on wire rack.

Step 5:

In a small bowl,

combine confectioners sugar, butter, and vanilla.

Beat until smooth.

Spread frosting onto cooled cupcakes.

Tip:

I also topped the cupcakes with 

Annie's Organic Snickerdoodle Crumbs.

I ran them through the food processor so that I could get an even dusting.

Yum!

Go away cold.

I am bond and determined to convince my body that I am not sick.

I knew it was coming.

It's really just my luck.

So I have spent most of the day willing this little bug away.

Combined with this vitamin packed juice...

I will be healthy in no time!

Achoo.

Eat Cleaner and Greener

We are one week down, two to go.

My ideas about food are changing, wether I want them to or not.

My insides just don't lie.

Eating healthier makes you feel healthier.

I still miss my coffee, 

but I am finding that getting out of bed in the morning is so much easier.

And while there are some juices and smoothies that I hope never to encounter again,

I really was getting used to it.

I feel good about what I am putting into my body

and am reaping the benefits of the added energy and weight loss.

Down to 160 lbs.

That feels very good.

Although we have fallen into routine with our 

smoothies and juices for breakfast,

a solid food was welcomed with a smile this morning.

MMMMMMmmmmm. Banana Oat Pancakes.

You can find the recipe here!

These gluten free vegan pancakes were to die for.

They will definitely replace the old 'bisquick' kind.

I was a little thrown off by how filling they were, 

but after a week of feeling like I was on the verge of starvation,

I am not complaining.

We are looking forward to all the tasty 

meals and full bellies to come this week! 

Green Mushy Cheaters.

I have been surviving on this for what feels like and eternity,

actually only 3 days.

I guess when all you really eat for 8 meals straight is some sort of 

blended, puréed, of juiced vegetable or fruit

3 days is an eternity.

It's probably also why my "hangry" got the best of me.

Last night, in a fit of hunger rage,

when I could not stand another bowl of puréed broccoli and avocado soup,

the hubs and I broke down.

I couldn't say no to his sad starving eyes, so when he asked if we could have subs for dinner,

I couldn't say no.

In fact I bee lined so dang fast to the nearest Publix Supermarket

you would have thought there was some sort of grocery emergency.

Well needless to say,

my tummy regretted my poor choice.

Although my baby food diet has been working since as of this morning 

I was down to 162.

Thats 6lbs so far.

16 if you count the 178 I weighed three weeks ago.

Not bad at all.

Today started off a much brighter day, despite the all day rain storm.

I found myself getting out of bed easier 

and less grouchy.

I was pleased to get a little 

Pineapple Spinach Juicing in before everyone woke up.

My routine friday morning yoga class

seemed to have more meaning to me today.

It was more than going through the motions.

There was a lot of thought and intent behind my practice.

It felt amazing.

The boy's and my new favorite smoothie is this 

Blueberry Mint Smoothie.

It's so smooth and refreshing.

I made a little substitution to the ingredients though.

I have been skipping the honey in my green tea,

and adding it to my smoothies instead.

I have found that it helps balance out the 'green' taste. 

This little 'baby bella' and kale scramble

with fresh sliced tomatoes is now my favorite lunch.

For a little late afternoon pick me up,

I have been making mint infused green tea.

Just plain. No honey or lemon.

I think I like it best this way.

Plus making it in my reusable Starbucks cup

makes me miss coffee less.

Dinner was to die for.

French Lentil Salad with a mountain of fresh green beans.

I made the hubs a chicken breast to go with his,

the lack of substance was wearing hard on him and I didn't want him to back out 

on being my cleanse buddy.

These are the meals that I have been waiting for in this cleanse menu.

Luckily I tried out some of these later recipes in the weeks before starting our cleanse,

or after 3 days of eating green mush I would have said 

F* this!