Easy, Delicious Chocolate Chip Cake Recipe

   Last weekend was my annual GWA weekend, but one thing was missing ~ the traditional Chocolate Chip Cake. My bff tasked to bake this treasure ran out of time. So here I am on a snowy weekend poised to make one of my own (to fill the void!) Awesome weekend but I need that easy, delicious, mouth watering Chocolate Chip Cake now!! It is relatively speaking, good for you. It has a small amount of shortening, protein packed eggs, good for you spice cinnamon, great for you dark chocolate & calcium (from the sour cream, ok that may be a stretch!) So here is the recipe:

¼ lb. margarine/butter       2 cups flour

1 cup of sugar                   1 tsp. vanilla

2 eggs                               1 tsp. baking soda

1 cup sour cream               6-oz. chocolate chips (I use semi-sweet)

1-1/2 tsp. baking powder   

1 tsp. cinnamon mixed with ½ cup sugar

Cream butter, sugar & eggs. Add sour cream, vanilla, flour, baking powder & baking soda. Spread half batter into greased 13” x 9” pan. Spread half the chip & half cinnamon sugar mix over batter. Add rest of batter, then chip & cinnamon sugar mixture on top. Bake at 350 degrees for 20-25 minutes. So easy & delicious! It is a huge hit at brunches, parties, heck anytime. Yum.

Simply Stated, Walking Works!

    February’s Real Simple magazine cover story is ‘yes, walking works!’ Since I embrace all things simple in my blogs I wanted to share their tips. The walking advantage: lowers the rate of weight gain, staves off dips in energy, lifts your spirits, strengthens memory, protects you from heart disease & may decrease your risk of some cancers. Wow! I am, admittedly, a fair-weather walker. I love from this list, since I enjoy walking outdoors most, is the lifts your spirits benefit. It is something you notice immediately. Call it instant gratification that is actually good for you!

   Some do’s:

Go outdoors – your multi level terrains will give your muscles a more effective workout.

Get creative indoors – Dial up the incline on your treadmill & turn around so you are also walking backwards for a few minutes.

Use a pedometer – or a smart phone app like Moves mobile app. Keeping track has been shown to increase physical activity by 27%!

   Some don’ts:

Don’t dress for a run. Choose a flexible, lightweight walking sneaker you can twist with your hands.

Don’t carry weights – They are not heavy enough to make a difference & may increase shoulder injuries.

Don’t go too slow – The brisker the pace the better.

   Walk the right way:

~ Your spine should be straight with ears over shoulders, shoulders over hips & hips over knees.

~ Your arms should be bent at 90 degrees and swing back & forth.

~ Your feet should land heel first, then roll through the foot and push off with your toes.

   My tip, remember to enjoy the scenery as you walk & take time to smell the roses!

7 Burn-Boosting Foods

    Health magazine in November listed 7 burn-boosting foods. Most can be simple additions to your daily & weekly diets! I love simple additions for huge rewards! These foods will keep your metabolism stoked:

~ Egg Whites – rich in branched-chain amino acids which rev metabolism.

~ Lean Meat – full of iron. Iron deficiencies can slow metabolism.

~ Water – being mildly dehydrated can slow metabolism. Drink cold water to rev it even more.

~ Chili Peppers – contain capsaicin which will kick metabolism into high gear. One tablespoon of chopped chilies a day added to a meal will do it.

~ Coffee – 16% higher metabolism than decaf drinkers!

~ Green Tea – contains EGCG, a plant compound that promotes fat-burning.

~ Milk – studies show that consuming calcium may help your body metabolize fat more efficiently.

   So try an egg white omelet with chilies & calcium-rich cheese with a glass of green tea for breakfast one morning. A bowl of iron-fortified cereal with milk & a cup of coffee seems simple enough for another morning. Keep drinking the water too!

Garnier Nourishing Cleansing Oil Review

  I am very excited about this first product review of 2014. I have blogged about cleansing oils for the face before, but now there is an economical way to do it! And, no surprise to me, Garnier brand is leading the way. Their Garnier Clean line now has a Nourishing Cleansing Oil! Chock full of oils like jojoba, macademia & safflower, this wonderful smelling cleanser is just what we have been waiting for, Ladies. It comes in a 4.2 oz pump bottle at a price $5.99!! (Target) That was not on sale or with any coupons (and I know they will come soon). If you were hesitant about buying a higher priced oil (because that’s all there was), now is the time to try this revolution in cleaning skin. I rate this higher than the Philosophy & Josie Moran that I have been using in ‘lathering’ (which none of them really do), fragrance, & the ability to leave my face silky smooth. Remember, if you have normal to dry skin, then you should be cleansing only at bedtime & not in the morning. In the morning, just shower & continue with your moisturizers. (especially this dry, winter time of year.) Go out & purchase this product soon & don’t suffer another minute with tight, dry skin. Enjoy!

Friendships! Simply Wonderful!

    Last but not least, simple idea #7, spending time with friends, does coincide with laughter but has many more health perks too! We can pull it all together here, that happy, healthy, simple 2014. So here’s to our friendships & making more time for them in the coming year.

    It is proven that being socially active will increase the likelihood of survival for diseases such as cancer by 50%. Another WOW! University of Michigan researchers have found that having one go-to friend reduces stress levels significantly. A woman who has 10 or more friends to socialize with has better mental well being in midlife than those with fewer friends. Lastly, if you surround yourself with health/weight conscious friends, you will be more likely to pay attention to shedding your own weight & getting healthy. And we have already talked about the benefits of laughter. Friends nights out & laughter just seem to go hand in hand! Spending time with friends is just plain fun!

   In summary of my 7 simple ways towards a healthier 2014, I think you could do it all in one swoop. Make a date with friends to go walking & bring your water bottles (laughs are free along the way) Afterward, go to a friend’s house to snack on apple slices, nuts & some wonderful green tea! Simply fun!

Simply Keep Moving!

    So simple idea #6 may sound like exercise, but it’s not. We are not meant to be sedentary, period. In his book, “Is Your Chair Killing You?”, author Kent Burden describes why we need to move (yes, sitting for long periods of time may be just as bad for you as smoking cigarettes!).

    Some of you may have already found ways to move that you actually enjoy. I feel if you enjoy your means of exercise, then you will pursue it for a lifetime. For some it is walking, cycling, yoga, running, swimming & working out in general. This is awesome! If there isn’t movement yet in your daily life, then my wish for this coming year is for you to explore different ways to keep moving & I hope you will find one or two to enjoy. In the meantime, we may spend hours a day because of our work situation in a chair. This is where I want the movement to begin. Get up and move every half hour at least. Do not call your co-worker from across the room to ask a question. Get up & move! Your employer will benefit from more productivity & less sick days from you in the long run. When you come home from work, move off the sofa frequently if you are watching TV. Get on the ground & do some yoga stretches or just walk around the house during every set of commercials. This time will add up & simply add to your quality of life!

Simply Laugh More!

   So #5 is as simple as it gets, yet is hard too! As the proverb says, laughter is the best medicine. It has been medically proven. It has been proven that even forcing a smile will help you feel better! So whatever it takes to tickle your funny bone, do it! I watch certain TV shows that guarantee a laugh-out loud responses. For me, these are The Middle, The Millers, The Goldberg’s (yes, all very funny families!) & Big Bang Theory & Impractical Jokers (very funny friends!) Funny book series like Janet Evonavich’s Stephanie Plum novels are also laugh out loud funny. I think we all enjoy spending time with friends & family that make you laugh. The trick is finding more of that time to get together! There are even Laughter Yoga classes being taught; I haven’t been to one yet but what a concept! Find what works best for you. LOL

Drink More Water!

   I will keep #4 as simple as possible, because it is as simple as it gets – drink more water! You will simply have a healthier body, younger looking skin & shinier hair just to name a few beauty benefits. For overall good health, we need water (to prevent dehydration & the 3pm sluggies!)  I know people shy away from the whole concept because they think they need eight glasses a day. This is no longer the rule. Of course, your level of activity plays a role. Also, if you hesitate because you think you’ll be up all night in the bathroom, just don’t drink after say 7pm or whatever works for your body. Just up what you have been drinking even if it’s by one or two glasses a day. I always take a water bottle with me in the car. When I think I have just one more errand & it turns into three, it’s always refreshingly waiting for me! Yes, cold water burns more calories than room temp water but it’s about health & adding a simple addition to your day & warm water has benefits too! With so many choices out there, I’m sure you can find one for you, but remember too, it is FREE (and with a squeeze of lemon – healthy & yummy!)

Simply Go Nuts!

    My #3 simple, beneficial idea is to go nuts! Yes, eating them can help you live longer! We already know nuts can lower inflammation, blood sugar levels & blood pressure. The study below proved so much more.

    Recent results of a lengthy study of over 119,000 men & women from the 1980’s to 2010 was recently published in the New England Journal of Medicine. In a nutshell, eating nuts makes you less likely to die from heart disease and cancer. They found just having a handful of nuts a day reduced dying from any cause by 20% & a 29% reduction in heart disease deaths, and 11% for cancer! Another WOW! You may have thought the calories were too great, but studies also show regular nut consumers are actually lighter & have less weight gain over time. The participants ate pistachios, almonds, Brazil nuts, cashews, hazel nuts, macadamia nuts, peanuts, pecans, pine nuts & walnuts. I’m sure you can find a few favorites in that list! Keep the serving to 1.5 ounces a day & reap the rewards. My favorite trick when I buy a bag or can is to immediately put some in smaller serving sizes in baggies or a small container. I also mix in some raisins which are very high in iron. Also, eating nuts from their shells will also slow your consumption down.

    We know that frequent snacks are mandatory in keeping cravings at bay & blood sugar in check; Now try eating some healthy nuts for one & an apple for another with perhaps a cup of green tea to accompany… Yes, you are simply getting healthy deliciously!

Green Tea ~ Simply Delicious!

     My #2 simple, beneficial idea to enhance your health & your New Year to come is green tea.

    The graphic to the left says it all. Besides curbing appetite & burning calories (yes, it revs your metabolism!) green tea:

~ Reduces cancer risk

~ Improves brain health, boosting memory

~ Lowers cholesterol, blood sugar levels & blood pressure

~ Promotes overall oral health

~ Promotes skin health & good circulation

~ Reduces stress

~ Keeps bones strong

~ Provides Vitamins B, C & E and trace minerals

    The health benefits of drinking green tea are staggering & it tastes great. Think what great things we could be doing to our bodies if we had one cup a day. Better yet, if we substituted another glass of iced green tea for soda/sugary drinks or for diet drinks, that’s positive change. My favorite way to drink hot or cold is with honey & lemon. There are flavors of green tea galore; you will definitely find some favorites. Also, Trader Joe’s grocery sells Green Tea Infused Mints right at the checkout. Three mints are supposed to equal the benefits of a cup of tea! Enjoy!

An Apple A Day ~ Starting the Year Out Simply

    If you remember last year’s blog, NO to Resolutions, YES to Simple, you will know I am not a big fan of the destined to fail resolution. So I am offering a week’s worth of simple, beneficial ideas to enhance your health & your New Year to come. I start with the simple pomme – yes, the apple.

    So we all know the saying, an apple a day to keep the doctor away. The most recent study, from the University of Florida, found women who ate apples every day had 14% lower total cholesterol. This included a 23% decrease in bad LDL cholesterol & a 3% rise in good HDL. Also, their C-reactive protein (another heart risk factor) levels also went down 32%! The women in this study made no other changes to their health habits (diet or exercise). Simply, WOW! We also know apples to be rich in fiber, low glycemic and they contain quercetin (a powerful antioxidant). I think this idea is simple enough to get our year started right!

    If you have never like apples raw them peel & cook in a sauce/fry pan with a little orange juice, a bit of brown sugar & some cinnamon until soft. Delish!

Looking Ahead to the New Year

    Happy New Year! I know the hustle & bustle is over. (Whew!; another successful holiday season over.) For some that warrants a resounding, ‘Yay!’ For others, the big letdown is also felt this time of year. So here are a few things that can help with that letdown. Here’s what we can look forward to in the next few months:

~ The days are getting longer as of Dec. 22^nd!!

~ Rereading Simple Abundance – begin at the beginning Jan. 1^st!

~ Leftover cookie binge nights.

~ Clementines are still in season.

~ Downton Abbey Season 4 begins January 5^th.

~ A year of adding new items to vision boards and expanding dreamscapes.

~ Another year to try to learn to fold a fitted sheet. lol

~ Only four hundred & something more Candy Crush levels to go!

~ Clearance shopping with besties.

~ The Olympics

~ The 2014 garden planning begins!

   So here’s to a new year full of health, joyful moments, beaucoup laughter & the mantra of not taking it all too seriously!