Doing it Like Dana

Spring is in the air. Finally this short cold winter will be over... I just like the fact I can get home from work and walk the dogs.

I am at the point in my life where I need to step my game up. 26 years old and dying for a job that makes my brain work and use my creativity. I taught a healthy eating class two days a week this past month for 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders. What an experience. Every question asked was why do we have to do it healthy? Did you read anything about the Healthy Eating Class before you signed up? WHAT IS WRONG WITH HEALTHY? Broaden your horizons and learn how to eat food that is good for you. Have you ever heard the saying "you are what you eat." ?

I taught Cheesecake in my after school High School class. Ms. Vera had the all but 1 oven filled with oven spray. Five cheesecakes in 1 smoky oven led to disaster. Extra long cooking time and no time to set ended up in runny take home cheesecakes. But after you let them cool and firm up so yummy! (Made from scratch fruit topping masked the burnt oil taste that the oven left lingering on the top layer of these cakes)

Today I am experimenting with foods from the Bulk aisle. Lentils, dried fruits, nuts, Israeli cous-cous, fresh produce, and some dried herbs. I am also trying to come up with sugar, dairy and oil alternatives. The oil will be the hardest challenge and I may have to cave. Whatever is the best out of my 5 or 6 experiments will be what I demo on Sunday at Pearl St. Whole Foods; 3-6 pm. Just call me demo girl.

Off to the kitchen to start small chopping, nice cubing, maybe a julienne or two? Knife skills at my finest :)

Goals. Dreams. Aspirations.

Whew. Another holiday season is over and a new year has begun!!!! I baked cookies galore. I mailed cookies galore to people like grandpa, family gift exchange, and etc. They were chocolate peppermint cookies, my favorite gourmet chocolate thumbprint cookies AKA, Steve's Favorite Cookie, and molasses gingery cookies....

I am starting to teach 3 days a week. 2 days to 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders and one day to an after school high school program.

The 3rd,4th, and 5th graders is a healthy eating program. My menu is as follows; Day 1 Breakfast: Buckwheat Pancakes with maple syrup and fresh fruit and green smoothies to drink while making. Day 2: Vegetarian Sloppy Joe's with Whole Wheat Buns and Baked Sweet Potato Fries. Day 3: Kale Chips, Granola, and Hummus with Fresh Veggies.... Day 4 will be up to them!

I am so freaking excited teaching kids about healthier good food.... You've got to start somewhere. The thought of going back to school for a bachelors to be able to be a Home-EC teacher and possibly my own personal cooking school. Good food is what I love and saving the world is really what I want to do, so why not start with the young...

The Holidays are all about good food and company, appreciate what you have. The new year is to learn how to be better than you were in the last.

I want to cook more better for you food. Leave out so much processed stuff. I want to educate myself on Colorado and build a green house. Let the planning and educating begin. Big dreams start with a lot of work.

Cold Weather and no Snow.

It's that time of the year when all I want to do is bake!..

Yesterday I made cinnamon rolls, I tried my best to make them healthy...

Haha yea right! I used half wheat flour half white flour and a cup of pecans and walnuts... Butter, brown sugar, cinnamon, and Cream cheese frosting. Delicious.

Wheat flour really is a noticeably different but without a doubt it has a sweetness that is added... The cream cheese frosting I made still has a couple lumps but talk about imitation Cinnabon. I may have created the exact same frosting. 8ounces butter, 16 ounces cream cheese, a little less than 2 cups powder sugar, and vanilla all whipped up to unhealthy perfection. I still have 6 unbaked rolls if anyone wants to come over and enjoy them with me...?

Today I will make pumpkin cupcakes with the same cream cheese frosting... Last year I mailed out cookies and breads to all my friends and the family that was on my parents exchange list. My grandpa said it was the best pumpkin cake he's ever had. Happy 88th birthday grandpa, I'm sending dad with some treats!

The reason why winter is so great; you can keep your house smelling like baked goods day after day. I love it.