Currently…..

Reading….samples of books on my kindle in hopes of finding the next big read. Just finished Seating Arrangements and loved it. Any suggestions?

Running….a half marathon this weekend. I will be running this half just before Baby G’s 4 month birthday. Considering how I felt those first 6 weeks, this is a major accomplishment!

Thankful….for for Baby G and this new life we have created…

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….for our Friday afternoon play group, for our health, for our families being so close, for old friends who came up to Madison last weekend, and for not being pregnant during apple season. Last year, I could barely even look at an apple. It was a major trigger for morning sickness. I can’t wait to pick some apples at this local orchard. On that note, I also can’t wait for pumpkin disorderly to come out this fall. 

Drinking….coffee and unsweetened vanilla almond milk. Coffee is back in my life after a long hiatus. Now to be honest, my coffee is mostly decaf but Baby G had an early morning this morning so there is a tidge of caffeine in there.

On the subject of coffee, I am getting a free Keurig! They have hit Madison hard with promotions and I got a coupon in the mail. I never win anything so this is a huge deal!

Hoping….that someday I will have the time (and energy) to make this homemade pumpkin pie spice creamer (no sugar, no dairy!).

Eating…treats like this (recipes below):

 

angel food cake with berries

Manatee’s Birthday Cake

 

clean monkey bread

Clean Monkey Bread

 

Sweet Potato Nachos

Sweet Potato Nachos

The Sweet Potato Nachos will be featured in my next cooking class at Orange Tree Imports. You will have to wait for that recipe!

Planning….my next two cookbook events in Wisconsin Rapids, WI. On November 1, I will be doing a happy hour signing at Cravings Coffee Shop from 4-8 pm and then speaking at the Wisconsin Rapids Rotary on November 11.

Ready…to get back into meal planning. I miss it!

Thanks for your patience with us as we get back into the groove. Here are some easy almost homemade recipes that we have enjoyed in the last few weeks.

 

Manatee’s Birthday Cake
Layers of cool whip and fresh berries make an easy end of summer dessert.

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Ingredients
1 angel food cake
More Cool Whip than I care to admit
Assorted fresh berries

Instructions
Remove the cake from its plastic container and hide the container. No one needs to know it was pre-made!
Cover the cake generously with Cool Whip. Who cares if it isn’t even?
Press berries into cake. Make sure to sample a few.

Badger Girl Learns to Cook by Kimberly Aime https://learntocookbadgergirl.com/

 

 

Clean Monkey Bread
A sweet way to use whole wheat pizza dough

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Ingredients
1 pound whole wheat pizza dough (uncooked)
[1/2] cup sugar
1 tablespoon cinnamon
[1/4] cup butter and/or coconut oil plus more to grease the pan

Instructions
Preheat the oven. Grease pie pan with butter or coconut oil.
Separate the pizza dough into bite size pieces and roll into balls.
Place dough balls in a gallon-sized zipper lock bag. Add sugar and cinnamon, seal, and then toss to combine so that sugar-cinnamon coats each ball.
Place dough balls in one layer in pie pan.
Melt butter and/or coconut oil in microwave. Pour over dough balls.
Bake for 30-45 minutes, until top is golden brown. Let cool for 10-15 minutes and then dig in!

Notes
I baked mine for 45 minutes and it was a little over done. Next time, I would take it out at 30 minutes.

Badger Girl Learns to Cook by Kimberly Aime https://learntocookbadgergirl.com/