Quick, Easy Nutella Cups

I love to bake.

but it can be time consuming.

But these Nutella Cups are quick and easy.

AND are perfect to make for your sweetheart

or give to the kid's in their lunchbox.

To make 10, you need:

1 jar (16 oz) nutella, justins chocolate hazelnut butter, or any nut butter/chocolate spread you like

1 pie crust dough (homemade or store bought)

  

What to do::

1. Preheat the oven to 450 (or to what your refrigerated dough box says)

2. Cut 2 inch circles into the pie crust.

3. Butter a cupcake pan and put one circle in each spot.

3. Cut mini hearts into the pie crust (you dont have to do hearts but its cute.)

4. Line a tray with foil and place the mini hearts on it.

5. Bake the hearts for about 5 minutes and the Pie crusts about 10. (until golden brown)

6. Fill the pie crusts with nut butter and top with your pie crust hearts.

ENJOY!

xoxo.
maddalena

Nut FREE Chocolate Spread

You need:
5/8 cup oats
1/4 cup cocoa powder
1/4-1/2 cup milk* (i used 2%) Add 1/4 cup. then little by little to desired consistency.
1/4 cup sugar
Canola Oil may be needed to make it more smooth add one tbsp at a time.
1 tsp pure vanilla extract
1/8 tsp salt (optional)

*(you can substitute with different milks and oils)


What to do:
1. Grind oats in a food processor until they are fine grains. 

2. Add the other ingredients and blend until smooth. 
   *You want it to be more creamy because once it sets in the refrigerator, it will be thicker. 

3. Place in the refrigerator until ready to use. 
       *Its best to use at room temperature so
          it makes the Chocolate easier to spread so remove it from the 
          fridge and leave it out for a little while before using (if you like).

Enjoy and let me know your substitutions/results.
Thank you for visiting.
Come back soon.
xoxo.
Maddalena

Watermelon Tapioca Pearl Smoothie

You Need:
1 cup watermelon cubes (or any fruit you like)
1 cup ice
1/2 cup water
1/4 cup simple syrup
1/4 cup tapioca pearls (optional)

What to do:
Blend the watermelon, ice, water and syrup until smooth. Scoop Tapioca pearls into a glass and pour the smoothie over. Enjoy.


The recipe for Simple Syrup

You need:
1 part agave nectar 
1 part hot water

What to do:
Stir until the Agave Nectar has dissolved and let it cool completely and it's ready to use.
Store in the refrigerator if you have any left over.


The Tapoica Pearls

You need:
8 parts water
1 part semi moist tapioca pearls

What to do:
Boil the water and add the pearls. Let them simmer for 40 minutes. DONT cover the pot. Remove the pot from heat
 and let it sit for 30 minutes. When the pearls are as soft as you like, drain them and rinse under cold water until completely cool. 
They are ready for use. =]

Let me know your results/substitutions.

Enjoy and let me know your substitutions/results.
Thank you for visiting.
Come back soon.
xoxo. 
maddalena

Brazil Butt Lift Review

Does it work?

Will your butt be lifted as promised?

I bought the Brazil butt lift...and at first I followed the workout plan every day. Then I went back to my old routine because I missed it...but I will tell you what I found..

                                                                

I haven't done the entire program, but from the workouts -(there are plenty on the dvds)- you will see results. I did and I didn't even do the entire program. My mom asked me why my butt looked so high also, which was a funny question, but that just shows the workouts really shape your back side nicely. So a couple times a week I still do them. My favorite workouts in the program are high and tight and bum bum. I also like rio extreme (weight lifting/cardio spurts). I may do the whole  60 days and see if it works and i will post results as I go. Let me know if you'd like to see that.

There are two kinds, the deluxe set which comes with an extra dvd that contains two workouts,

3 resistance bands, workout cards and ankle weights.

If you order from the beachbody site they send you a shakeology protein powder ($40 value) (chocolate is so tasty) 30 day supply and activit vitamin supplements for metabolism  for free( i dont know the price of these and i dont recommend taking diet pills) and the deluxe kit, but its like $120.00, and that is for the deluxe package.

So I checked some websites to cut the cost.. The lowest I found were..

$45.75 at buy.com for deluxe set (pictured above)

You can also bid on ebay and save a lot more money.

hard work pays big.

xoxo

maddalena.

No Tang Cheesecake Cups

I made these from Tyler Florence's Ultimate Cheesecake..
just changed a little.

Sometimes Cheesecake is too tangy and I don't like that taste, so I took out the lemon zest and added a little margarine.

Note:: Bring eggs and cream cheese to room temperature before beginning.

You need:

• 2 (8oz) Cream Cheese Packages
• 3 eggs
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 cup light sour cream
• 1/4 cup margarine

If you want a crust. (I didn't add one).. 

You will need:

• 2 cups finely ground graham crackers (about 30 squares)
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 stick unsalted butter, melted

What to do:

   For the CRUST:

1. Preheat the oven to 325 F.

2. Combine graham crackers, butter, and cinnamon.

3. Spray your cupcake pan with non stick spray.

4. Press the mix into the bottom of the pan (about 1 inch)

5. Refrigerate 5 minutes.

For the filling:

1. Mix Cream Cheese and sugar until blended.

2. Add eggs one at a time until smooth.

3. Add the sour cream and margarine. Mix Well

4. Spoon  this mix onto the graham cracker crust.

5: Bake about 25 min.

Add sprinkles.

or any topping you like.

Enjoy.

xoxo.

Yoga Transformation: Weight Loss and Balance

Yoga for me always felt slow and like it wasn't doing anything.
I was about to give up on it.
When I  was looking around my library..I stopped by the fitness section and looked through workouts..
The first yoga video i tried was called total yoga.. and I didn't like that one.. So i took it back right away.
Then I tried Yoga Transformation: Weightloss and Balance with Dr. Deepak Chopra and Tara Stiles (the instructor in the video)
I was actually sore, especially in my shoulders the next day, which has never happened from a yoga exercise before. For me at least.
And I really enjoyed it.
So if you'd like to try it I'll post a picture and give you some places to find it.

It's a good work out and very relaxing.
You can buy it on amazon..not sure if they're in the stores.
I got it from the library..and I'm thinking of buying it..cause I like it and sometimes its nice to do a slower workout.


You can buy it here on amazon for $14.99.. as an instant download..if you like making your own dvd

for a physical copy:
$9.79 on ebay...free shipping

I found it on walmart.com for $8.14..but you might have to pay shipping. so call your local store and see if they carry it..or do in store pick up.

You can also check your library and see if they carry it to test before you buy.
but it is fantastic.

healthy yoga-ing.
xoxo.
maddalena

Yummy Cranberry Apple Flax Cake!

You need:



1.5 cups flax meal
1.5 cups white flour
1 cup brown sugar
1/2 tsp salt
2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp baking powder
1/4 cup milk
1/2 cup apple juice
2 flax "eggs" (2 tbsp flax meal in 6 tbsp water)
1 peeled, shredded apple
1/2 cup dried cranberries/craisins
1 tsp vanilla extract

What to do:
1. Preheat your oven to 350
2. Mix flax meal, flour, brown sugar, salt, baking soda and baking powder.
3. After well mixed add flax eggs. Mix.
4. Add milk, apple juice and vanilla. Mix well.
5. Line a pan with aluminum foil or grease your pan. I'm not sure if there will be a time change if you don't use aluminum foil like I did, but pour the batter into your pan and bake 30 minutes.

Sprinkle with powdered sugar and enjoy.
xoxo.