Easter Menu Planner, Printable Download

Hi there! I's Freebie Friday here at the Paisley In Paris™ blog! I'm very excited about today's printable download. I know that most wonderful and organized hosts have already decorated their homes and planed out every detail. But for all you busy bees that haven't quite had a chance to get to it, I have a little gift that might come in handy...my new Easter Menu and Event Planner!

The planner provides space for you to jot down your entrees, side dishes, desserts, snacks, condiments, beverages, and even includes a quick check-off list for your setup, and an area for you to enter notes and kids activities. One of my favorite features, is the shopping list at the bottom. Just cut on the dotted line and take only the shopping list with you, so your planner stays safe at home, where you need it.  So head on over to my website and get your complimentary copy today. Happy planning my friends! 

~ Dio

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Banana Guava Protein Shake

I absolutely love my GNC on-the-go personal blender. I was never a breakfast person, until I started working out and started feeling hungry all the time. I make protein shakes at least 3 times a week, which I drink during my half hour commute to work.

One of my favorite smoothie flavors for shakes is Banana Guava, which I discovered recently after trying to figure out what to do with all the fruit my mom's guava trees have given this year. Actually, over the last two years, I've been experimenting a lot, creating my own recipes. I never really measure anything, I just "eye-ball" it. Truth is, there's much flexibility when creating your own blended drinks, you can always substitute one ingredient with another or omit it all together.

Banana Guava Smoothie / Protein Shake, Ingredients: 
1/2 large banana
4 medium guavas
1/4 cup yogurt (I like Greek Yogurt)
1/4 cup Milk (I use 1%, you can omit the milk or substitute with soy milk)
1/4 cup water
1 scoop protein powder (Optional ~ I use Designer Whey, French Vanilla)
4-5 ice cubes
1 teaspoon honey (optional)
dash of cinnamon

Directions: 
Cut the banana in half, save one half in the fridge or freezer for later use, and peel the other half and place in your blender. I usually just cut the ends of the guava and place them in the blender without taking the seeds out. I just drink them, but if you prefer to take the seeds out, you can cut the guavas in half and scoop them out. Add the rest of your ingredients, blend and enjoy! Yields a about two large glasses, which gives me plenty to share with my 8-year old daughter before I drop her off at school.

Note: Sometimes, I add two tablespoons of dry uncooked oats to make it more filling, depending on how hungry I am or how much "fuel" I'll need to get me through the first hours of the day.
 
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Happy Healthy New Year

So our first day of "back to normal" at the Perez household went well. My daughter came home from school quite cheerful and it was nice to have (mostly) everyone back at the office. As much as I love the holidays, I am glad they are over so I can go back to eating healthy. No more tamales for me! For a while at least. I hate to admit it, but I gained a few pounds over the holiday season. So, to kick-start my good eating habits again, I'm going to pack a lunch all this week. I work minutes away from my favorite park, and packing a lunch will allow me enough time to walk to the park and back getting me a nice 40 minutes of cardio during my lunch hour, followed by 20 minutes to eat and settle back in at the office for the rest of the afternoon.

So what's for lunch? Just a few mixed greens, apples, walnuts and grilled chicken breasts. I marinated the chicken in a Cranberry Pear balsamic vinaigrette combined with a bit of olive oil infused with Italian herbs. The chicken will have enough flavor so that I can avoid any other form of dressing, helping me cut calories that way. To finish off the day, I plan on going to the gym after work for at least 30 minutes of strength training. The more muscle you have, the faster you burn fat.
So, what's your plan of action? Remember, the only way to get in shape is by acting now. What can you do today to get you closer to where you need to be? In my case, it was packing a healthy lunch and creating a plan that I will follow tomorrow. If something happens and I can't follow through with my complete plan, for instance if I can't make it to the park or the gym, I won't beat myself up about it. I'll be happy that I ate healthy, and find another way to move my body in a way that burns calories. Maybe I'll come home and dance like a madwoman with my daughter. She'd love that!
Happy New Year to you all and may you have a HEALTHY, happy, joyous year ahead.

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Asparagus Roll-Ups

I love it when good things happen by chance! I don't know how, but I was volunteered to make a greenbean casserole for Thanksgiving. I've never made one before, but with internet service at my fingertips, I agreed, knowing that a sea of greenbean casserole recipes were only a Google search away.
Unfortunately (or should I say luckily), when I went to the store all the greenbeans were gone. But guess what? They had tons of asparagus AND it was on sale, so I looked up asparagus recipes and found this one at AllRecipes.com.

I knew I couldn't go wrong with these! The recipe asked for all my favorite ingredients (cream cheese, bacon, chives, bread, asparagus and Parmesan cheese) and it seemed fairly easy to make! I had most of the ingredients at home, all I needed were two loafs of bread, two bunches of asparagus and back to my kitchen I went.
I was so thankful for my little chef who helped tremendously by removing the crust off the bread and rolling each slice with a rolling pin. I then cut the rolled out bread in half, spread the cream cheese, bacon and chives mixture to the center of each piece, topped it with asparagus and rolled each one up like a taquito.
Brushed a little butter on top, sprinkled freshly grated Parmesan cheese, 12 minutes in the oven and done! The best part - they were a total hit at our Thanksgiving dinner. Yay!

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Homemade Peanut Butter Banana Protein Bars

It's been about 9 months that I got serious about getting in shape and leading a healthier lifestyle. I had changed my eating habits about a year prior, but staying away from high fat foods just wasn't enough. It wasn't until I began a steady exercise routine that I noticed a significant change in my appearance and the way I felt.

I have lost 18 pounds in the process, but there's still so much more to improve and work on as I get used to this new health-conscious lifestyle. That's what it narrows down to. A lifestyle, where you make daily choices planning meals, eating nutritious food and incorporating some kind of physical activity that will keep your metabolism going and the endorphins flowing. As Elle Woods said: "Exercise gives you endorphins. Endorphins make you happy. Happy people just don't shoot their husbands, they just don't." - Amen sister! Ha, ha!

I find that I am hungry all the freakin' time now, and it makes sense. The body needs fuel to feed on before and after a workout. I am a busy-bee, I work full time, I have 7 year old, a business on the side, a blog, a workout routine, a husband and a big family that I like to spend time with. This leaves me with very little time to do the simple things, like eating breakfast. BIG NO-NO! If you all you have time for is a cup of office coffee (if your place of employment provides it), put your baking hat on and make yourself a batch of these to keep in the fridge, ready to grab on your way out!

Peanut Butter Banana Homemade Protein Bars, Ingredients:
2 cups uncooked oats
1 or 2 scoops protein powder (I use Designer Whey Protein Powder, French Vanilla)
1/4 cup flaxseed meal
1 cup peanut butter
3 tbsp honey
2 medium ripe bananas
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 cup unsweetened apple sauce
1 cup chocolate chips (optional)
2 tbsp chopped walnuts (optional)

Directions:
Mash the bananas, add the peanut butter, honey, apple sauce, vanilla and mix together. In a separate bowl mix the dry ingredients: wheat flour, flaxseed meal, cinnamon, oats, protein powder and baking powder. Once the dry ingredients are mixed together, add them to the first mix (peanut butter & bananas) and continue mixing until well blended. At the end, add the chocolate chips. You can actually omit the chocolate chips or substitute them with some walnuts instead.

Bake: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Place mixture in 9x9 lightly greased pan and bake for 20-22 minutes until medium brown. (I bake mine in my toaster oven).

It's quite a bit of batter for a 9x9 inch baking pan, but I it's the largest that fits in my toaster oven, so that's what I use. It makes 10 thick bars about 264 calories each, or 20 square bars at about 132 calories each. I like to cut them into the smaller 20 pieces and wrap them individually to keep in the fridge or freezer ready to go. I keep them small because they are quite filling and I'd rather eat this and a piece of fruit or veggie sticks. You know, keeping my intake of processed foods low and eating more natural stuff. I hardly ever like to eat them as a meal replacement, but if I have to, then I do eat two of the small pieces to get the full 264 calories.

I've gotten pretty good about taking food with me to work. I drink a protein shake every other morning, and on my way out I also grab a piece of fruit and any other form protein for the afternoon. This protein can be in the form of a hard boiled egg, deli meat, string cheese, whole wheat crackers with peanut butter, nuts, or a homemade protein bar. Especially on gym days when I know I'll need the extra fuel to burn. I keep healthy snacks at work too (pretty much the same things mentioned above), so I know I have something to eat once I get there in the event that I'm running late and I don't have time to make my shake, or I forget my lunch and snacks as I often do.

Hope you enjoy the recipe! If you are new to protein bars, let me just tell you, I do not like the store bought ones. I've tried a couple and I just throw them away after the first bite. It makes me uneasy to not know what I'm eating. Especially the chocolate gooey ones. I don't feel like I'm eating anything nutritious if it looks like a chocolate bar coming out of a wrapper. This led me to scour the web, combine and tweak a few recipes to make this one that was right for me.

Just note that these bars are not as sweet as a pastry would be, so your taste buds might be confused at first and demand more sweetness. Just ignore them, they'll get used to it. They're quite tasty once you get used to them, they are filling and much better for you than, oh let's say, donuts.

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Pumpkin Spice Latte

It's when I discover things like Starbucks' Pumpkin Spice Latte that I wonder where the heck have I been? All I can say is OMG - all these years I could have been enjoying it, and I haven't until now!
I am so thankful for Facebook and Twitter where I've seen many people's comments on how happy they are to have this seasonal delight back at their fingertips. It was because of those comments that I decided to try it today.
I must admit, ever since I started couponing, I'm much more frugal and careful about the way I spend my hard-earned cash. I have always enjoyed Starbucks, but I don't consider it a necessity. It's more of a treat for me. My husband makes a killer cup of coffee anyway, so it's not like I'm depriving my taste buds of the java they love. I'm simply opting to enjoy the less expensive cinnamon honey latte my personal live-in barista, Mr. Perez, prepares for me every morning. I do treat myself to the "gourmet" coffee shop stuff once in a while though, and today was one of those mornings when I woke up wanting something with a little extra kick. I remembered the posts about this famous Pumpkin Spice Latte, so I figured what the heck, let's give it a shot...I'm feeling adventurous today! Who can go wrong with pumpkin, anyway? I love pumpkin pie, pumpkin bread and pumpkin cheesecake. Pumpkin coffee should be just as good. Oh boy, is it ever! I think I heard angel harps playing in the background when I took my first sip. Yum! I loved it so much that in the evening, I invited a buddy to Starbucks to chit-chat and catch-up. You guessed it...I ordered the same thing. Might as well! It's a seasonal delight, which makes this the season to indulge.

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Takin' the kids to the bar

No, not that kind of bar, this kind of bar...The Popbar! With the weather still in the triple digits around here, I'm sure my girls would love to go to The Popbar with me. My mouth is watering just thinking about their handcrafted gelato on a stick. Unfortunately, I'm on the west coast, and their only location seems to be in NYC (of course). I'm sitting here hoping someone around here decides to buy a franchise so we can put these suckers to the test. They look amazing, don't they? Lucky NYC peeps. They get all the fun!

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Food Art

Art comes in all mediums, shapes, sizes and yes, flavors too! Today I'd like to feature the work of a talented little momma over at Little Food Junction who so graciously shares all her little creations on her weekly posts. Below are just a few of my favorites.




Eye candy that's nutritious and fun! Okay, break time. I think I'm hungry now.


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Cake Pops

I'm so excited! Bakerella's book on Cake Popsis finally out on the market! For those of you who are not yet familiar with these artistic little edibles, they're actually cake on a stick (giving them a lollipop effect), which you can shape as any character imaginable. In this book Bakerella shares her secrets, tips and recipes. Can't wait to add this book to my collection!


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Reusable Snack Bags

Only a few more weeks and my little girl begins 1st grade. I'm so excited, yet nervous for her. What can I say? I'm a mom, I worry. It's as if mommyhood suddenly activated a worry chip in my wiring that has no "off" button. Prayer will always pause it, but sooner or later life kicks in and activates the worry feature in my mommy wiring. I know she'll love it though, she's very social and was at the top of her class last year in kindergarden, so I guess all I really have to worry about now is purchasing a few uniforms, shoes and school supplies. I've also added these adorable and reusable snack bags to my shopping list. I'm a sucker for fun eco-friendly products that help me save money along the way. You may pay more upfront, but you'll save in the long run by being able to reuse them.

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Little Chefs dressed for the occasion

Awww, I wish I would have found this adorable Little Chef playset from WallCandy® Arts a few weeks ago before my daughter's birthday. She LOVES cooking with me and she's always interested in finding out about the ingredients used in the recipe of a meal she enjoys. I know that this would have made a great gift for her, but it's never too late! I think I just found the theme for my daughter's birthday next year. Shhh...don't tell her because she'll be counting the days and we still have 11 months and 2 weeks to go.

Cupcakes for Breakfast??? ~ No Silly, it's a Breakfast Cupcake with a Side of Pretend Fries!

My 6 year old has been getting more and difficult to feed these last few weeks, so in order to make breakfast more appealing this morning I disguised it as cupcakes and fries. Crazy combination I know, but she got a kick out of it!

So how did I do it?
First I baked a batch of pre-made refrigerated Pillsbury biscuits. While they were baking I scrambled some eggs and added ham, salt, pepper, and shredded cheese. I let the biscuits cool for a couple of minutes, then while still warm, I used a spoon to push down on the center and form them into little cups. I placed each biscuit in a cupcake liner and filled the center with scrambled eggs and added a cherry tomato as the finishing touch.

I served them with a side of Mango slices (pretend fries) and watched as my daughter enjoyed. Ahhh...at last, a morning meal that required no force feeding. In fact, she liked them so much she had two! Try it and let me know how it works for you.

Watermelon Invitations Set & Summer Fun

When we think of summer, images of pool parties, running through sprinklers, family barbecues, popsicles, watermelon and potato salads come to our minds. We think of kids playing in the sun and people breaking the routine to "stop and smell the roses"...or to cringe at the smell produced by their smelly sweaty kids, or that of other people's smelly sweaty kids if they don't have any of their own. ~ In any case, in honor of summer and all of our wonderful memories that evolve around food, I've created a stationery set that can be customized to fit any of your summer events. From company picnics, to family reunions, pool parties, barbecues and more! ~ Enjoy the stationery and most important of all, enjoy your summer!

Edible BBQ Artwork

I love discovering new artsy blogs that are geared towards special events, crafts and entertaining. The Decorated Cookie blog by Meaghan Mountford covers all three categories! I am particularly fond of her "How to Draw on Food" series. In this last entry, she posts instructions on how to create these adorable and edible BBQ marshmallow treats. Hop on over to her blog to view step by step instructions!

Felt Birds Cupcake Toppers

Felt bird toppers by Gifts Define.

I'm a sucker birds and cupcakes.
When I see them together, it's absolute joy.

Sesame Street Cake Pops

I'm so thankful for all creative people who post their "how to's" online. One of my favorite bloggers is Bakerella. Her website/blog is full of amazing photography, delicious recipes, fun giveaways and instructions on how-to create the most amazingly creative treats.
This week, in celebration of Sesame Street's 40th Anniversary, she posted step by step instructions on how to create these fun Sesame Street character cake pops. The post includes more amazing pictures, a list of supplies and recipes. Thank you Bakerella! You've made many moms and kids happy with this post. I'm sure there will be lots of Sesame Street themed birthday parties coming up soon!