healthy rice crispy treats and xagave

So i'm going to be sharing quite a few recipes in the coming weeks featuring agave.. and more specifically xagave. I have been a huge fan of agave for a long time now. I like to keep my diet free of refined sugar but i also have a ginormous sweet tooth. Agave is a lifesaver in so many recipes and it really can be "the complete sugar replacement" (thats xagave little catch phrase and i love it). There has been some controversy over the topic but i'm just here to tell you about my opinions and experiences with it.

When I am eating too much sugar, i can feel it. I get headaches, i have no energy, i feel spaced out all day, my skin reacts badly, and in the end i still crave more sugar. When I cut sugar out and use agave in its place there are no side effects. No sugar rush then crash. It's an amazing thing! And thats enough proof for me that its a healthy alternative.

Read more here about other health benefits
Read more here about how its safe for diabetics
And here for some FAQ


That aside, you can use it in everything (sauces, jams, ice cream, cake, cookies, ect) and i'll be showing you how!

The first recipe is a favorite of mine because it is so simple. (very similar recipe here)

Healthy rice crispy treats

1/3 cup xagave
1/3 cup peanut butter
1 teaspoon vanilla
3 cups rice crisp cereal (trader joes sells a rice crisp cereal with no HFCS)

Heat agave and peanut butter over medium heat until it looks like a thick syrup, about 2-3 minutes. Add vanilla.
Spray a medium sized bowl with oil and add the rice cereal, pour syrup mixture on top, and mix until evenly coated and chocolate is melted in.
Press into oiled 9x9 dish. Refrigerate for 1 hour.


Other recipes i have using agave: chocolate peanut butter no bake cookies & breakfast parfait

halloween 2010

This halloween i dressed up as a 1920's flapper.
I bought this dress last year for $14 to wear on new years or something special but it was never worn.. so it became this years halloween costume. (Although I might still wear it on new years eventually)
I bought a feather and the sequin trimming at a craft store.
And I was busy making caramel apples so i didn't have time to curl or do anything with my hair.
What did you guys dress up as??


(pardon my "poses".. haha. it feels really awkward for me to have my picture taken by myself. i never know what to do with my hands! anyone else have this problem?? they always end up on my hips.. which feels ridiculous too)

carving pumpkins

it's been awhile since i've carved a pumpkin and i forgot how fun it was. pulling the guts out might be my favorite part.
i tried to be creative and carve an owl.. and josh did kermit. And they are both almost completely rotten now so it looks like we'll be carving a couple more for the pumpkin carving contest we're having with friends sunday.

san francisco (2)

we ate lunch at the cliff house and it was AMAZING. It had a beautiful view and i felt fancy. I ordered sourdough french toast with apple compote.. (bliss!).

and i'll conclude the san francisco pictures with a dorky one of me in front of the bridge at dusk.

San francisco!! (1)

I got the opportunity to go to san francisco with my sister and her husband last week, and i'm soo happy i went. I had been to san francisco before but i didn't do much of anything as far as actually seeing the city.. so this time i was really excited. And luckily for us, my brother in law's aunt lives there and she showed us around the entire day. (Traveling tip: go with someone who knows the city!) She took us around to all the touristy spots, but also showed us around some not as touristy but super amazing neighborhoods and areas. And thats when i fell in love with san francisco. It's a GORGEOUS city.. (it probably helped that it was clear skies and 80 degrees)

peanut butter chocolate cupcakes

Hello!


I guest blogged last weekend over at the dujour magazine blog.
They are the most delicious cupcakes i've ever made, so i would strongly suggest checking it out.



Click here for the recipe!

p.s
i was traveling around california last week. i have tons of pictures and stories to share soon!

fall(ish) recipe: breakfast quinoa parfait

i saw this recipe the other day. and knew i had to try some version of it. here's what i came up with.

i cooked red quinoa with apple juice instead of water.
cooked down one chopped nectarine, 1 tablespoon agave, cinnamon and nutmeg.
and layered them in a small glass with greek yogurt.

it. was. amazing.

i want to add pumpkin puree next time.. make it even more fall.

october fun.

Hello friends.

the past couple weeks have flown by like crazy. (well, really this whole year has flown by like crazy)
its been a fun couple weeks so far hanging out with lots of family and friends. but i also miss my husband a ton (awww..)
the northwest is great as always. the weather has been abnormally warm for this time of year but its cooling way down now and this morning i woke up early to go to a dr appointment with my sister (to check on baby) and it was FREEEEEZING outside. my body was in shock. but i love when its so cold the only way you can warm yourself up is by drinking a big cup of hot tea. (aka perfect running weather, which makes me a happy girl)


NW 23rd. one of my favorite streets in portland.

Another great thing about being here.. going to this church. Josh and i have been listening through podcasts for almost 3 years. So it was really strange/awesome to be there in person. I love it and everyone is super nice. if you live in the area and you're looking for a church, check it out. they have services downtown portland and in tigard.

speaking of downtown portland, these little cupcakes are from saint cupcake, which is probably the cutest cupcake shop i've ever seen. we had pumpkin spice, chocolate peanut butter, chocolate cream cheese and "big top".

(if you ever find yourself in portland, you gotta come here. they sell "day old" cupcakes for super duper cheap too)

then there is Fubonn. I've been wanting to check this place out for AGES! I am a huge grocery store nerd. I love regular boring grocery shopping, but i especially love going in new-to-me grocery stores, and walking down every single aisle.. inspecting every single thing. I also love asian food, so i was in grocery store nerd heaven. (aka josh's worst nightmare.)

i was flipping out in the candy aisle, and the noodle aisle, and the sauce aisles.. not to mention the incredible selection of tea. it was amazing.
i got some noodles, tapioca pearls for bubble tea and ingredients for homemade pad thai.

i hope fall has been treating you well so far.