This past year, I really have begun to think about the foods I am placing in my mouth. I have always tried to eat in a semi-healthy manner, but lately I have found that even things I have believed to be "healthy" might not really be that good for me after all.

In one of my classes, for extra credit, we were allowed to watch Food Inc., or the Great Debaters. My desire to be more wise about the food I eat (and the fact that Oprah is a producer for the Great Debater) led me to watch Food Inc. It was really good and started to peak an interest in organic foods.

I was checking my e-mail and on yahoo, news stories pop up before you log in. 7 Foods Experts Won't Eat, popped up. Here is the list:

1. Canned Tomatoes
2. Corn-Fed Beef: For Grass Fed Beef Click HERE: YONDER WAY FARM
3. Microwave Popcorn
4. Non organic Potatoes
5. Farmed Salmon
6. Milk Produced with Artificial Hormones
7. Conventional Apples

You can check out the reasons and explanations by clicking the link above.

Now, let me clue you in to one thing about college folk, we are dirt poor! So, how on earth am I going to buy organic? It is so expensive. While I was checking out this list of what I should not be placing in my mouth, or cooking for other people, I found this link to finding and buying organic foods at a smarter and cheaper rate. How to Pay Less for Organic. I was really encouraged and feel a lot better about the foods I am buying.

A Sign of Things To Come?

Thanksgiving is over and the end of school is looming over my head. You might be thinking I am super excited about this, and yes, I am... BUT our profs like to put as much on our plate as they can right before the end of the semester. The DAY BEFORE our break my profs told me I have a 7 page paper- WITH presentation due Wednesday and a Geology project due Thursday. So along with my two Geology exams, debate, quiz, and 2- one-page papers, what is a little extra work? In conclusion, I have decided that they don't like us and want to make our lives miserable. Mission accomplished.

On a much brighter note, I had an AMAZING Thanksgiving break. It was so much fun to spend some time with all of my family. Have I told you how amazing they are and how much the Lord has blessed me with the most awesome family EVER?!? I spent a lot of time driving back and forth to Belton to spend time with the Crosby's as well. I was able to attend the Crosby Thanksgiving Reunion. It was so much fun and I am so thankful that they allowed me to be a part of it.

I am ready for Christmas break! Abel and I are going to Colorado to visit Jake and Lauren (his brother and sister-in -law). I have not skied since 5th grade, so please pray I do not make a fool of myself or get hurt. I am praying my tincy wincy bit of athleticism kicks in and I am able to glide down the slopes with grace. Oh, boy. I am sure there will be stories to come.


Let's hope this isn't a sign of things to come.

For now, I am going to stop procrastinating and work on that paper of mine!!!

Banana Cake

I am always looking for new reciepes to try out. I got this banana cake and let me tell you, it is simply sinful!!! My boyfriends mom said, "She has yet to find a man who doesn't like it." I made it for our Breakaway dinner last night.

Ingredients:
3/4 cup butter
2 1/8 cups white sugar
3 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
3 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cups buttermilk
2 teaspoons lemon juice
1 1/2 cups mashed bananas
Icing:
1/2 cup butter, softened
1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
3 1/2 cups confectioners' sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions:
Preheat oven to 275 degrees F (135 degrees C). Grease and flour a 9x13 inch pan. In a small bowl, mix mashed bananas with lemon juice, set aside. In a medium bowl, mix flour, baking soda and salt. Set aside.

In a large bowl, cream 3/4 cup butter and 2 1/8 cups sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs one at a time, then stir in 2 teaspoons vanilla. Beat in the flour mixture alternately with the buttermilk. Stir in banana mixture. Pour batter into prepared pan.

Bake in preheated oven for 1 hour, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean. Remove from oven and place directly into freezer for 45 minutes. This will make the cake very moist.

For the frosting: In a large bowl, cream 1/2 cup butter and cream cheese until smooth. Beat in 1 teaspoon vanilla. Add confectioners sugar and beat on low speed until combined, then on high until frosting is smooth. Spread on cooled cake.

** instead of buying buttermilk you can make your own.

1/2c of milk + 1 teaspoon of vinegar.

Anyone got any good/cheap reciepes to bake and/or cook?

Pumpkin Bars

Well, needless to say I have been baking up a storm. Just about everyday I come home from school with the urge to bake something, I guess as a stress reliever. My mom's friend gave her the recipe, and I don't think she will mind me sharing it. IT IS SOOO YUMMY! I have made about 4 in the past week! (gave them all away in case you were worried=)

Pumpkin Bars

4 eggs
1 ⅔ c. Sugar
1 c. Oil
1 16 oz can Pumpkin
2 cups Flour
2 tsp. Baking soda
2 tsp. Cinnamon
1 tsp. Salt
1 tsp. Baking powder

In mixing bowl, beat together egg, sugar, oil and pumpkin until light and fluffy. In a separate bowl, stir together flour, baking powder, cinnamon, salt, and soda. Add to the pumpkin mixture and mix thoroughly. Spread batter in an ungreased 15x10 pan. Bake at 350° for 25-30 minutes. Cool. Frost with Cream Cheese Icing. Cut into bars.


Cream Cheese Icing

1 3 oz. Package of cream cheese
½ c. butter or margarine, softened
1 tsp. Vanilla
2 c. powdered sugar

Cream together cheese and butter, stir in vanilla and powdered sugar a little at a time, beating until smooth.

Personally, I keep in the in the refrigerator. They are much better cold.