Homemade Pizza and Peanut Butter Cookies

HOMEMADE PIZZA

I want to start this post with something new I tried the other night....Homemade pizza.

Why did I try homemade pizza?? Because I wanted to break out this baby and try it for the first time...

For those of you not familiar with kitchen wizardry, that is a breadmaker.  We got it for our wedding, but we never had enough room to store it remotely near a kitchen, let alone use it, before we bought this house.  So, I finally decided to break it out and try making pizza crust dough - and it worked beautifully!!

It looked great - the taste wasn't quite as impressive though, but I figure at least the machine works, and now I can start looking for a good pizza crust recipe!! 

So....if you have a wonderful pizza crust recipe, please share!!! We love pizza here and I am on the hunt for a good one!!

SHORTBREAD PEANUT BUTTER COOKIES

I decided to make some cookies this afternoon, and of all the recipes I have waiting to be tried, this seemed like an easy one for a Wednesday afternoon.

Just like the Brown Sugar Crumble Banana Muffins, I owe a huge thanks to "Get Off Your Butt and BAKE" for posting this delicious recipe.  The link is below...

Shortbread Peanut Butter Cookies

I made the dough and rolled it into balls....then rolled those balls in sugar...

Then I flattened them with a fork (not quite as thin as the original recipe, it was hard with all the chocolate chips in there...next time, I will use less chocolate chips) - and then they were sent to the pathetic appliance in my kitchen they called an oven when we bought the place (long story - let's just say that I learned not all ovens are a standard size...and didn't realize it until we had moved in and I tried to bake a sheet cake...)

And this is the yumminess that came out!!! 

My daughter keeps asking me every 10 minutes or so if she can have another one - I'd say they were a hit around here!!!

So we now have a cooling rack full of yummy cookies and I need to go figure out what's for dinner....Mac and Cheese anyone???

Lesson Learned....

I've been exercising fairly regularly at the house, and at least stopped the weight gain for the past few months - but I've realized that if I want to really lose some weight and be in shape I need to step it up a little.  Let's face it, I want to be around for a very long time - I'm not finished "multiplying and replenishing the earth" and I certainly want to be around long enough to see my children, and hopefully their children do the exact same thing...and I can't do either of those things easily if I don't stay in shape!!

This week I have made a commitment to go for a walk everyday with the kids in the Jogger, and so far I've done great!! Almost 2 miles Monday and today (yesterday was our day off!).  Now, this might sound easy, but keep in mind that the Jogger alone weighs at least 20 pounds - then add about 35 pounds of Karyl and about 30 pounds of Freddie - and you get around 85 pounds to push while walking.  We don't exactly live on flat land...there are hills here...lots of them....

In my younger days I would have complained, and maybe even not bothered walking....but in my old age I have come to appreciate these obstacles for what they truly are - built in cardio boosts!!! Sometimes it helps to look at things like the glass really is half full.  I actually like the variety in terrain, and Karyl loves to get out and walk with me at times, usually on hills, which takes 35 pounds out of the stroller (it's not cheating if she asks to get out on her own!!)

So...you're probably asking "where is the 'lesson learned' in all this babble..."

Get ready...

Here it is....

I have learned that there truly is a difference between running/walking/cross training shoes.  I always thought it was just a gimmick to charge more for "specialty" shoes - but then I read an article about shoes and what the specific ones are for and it finally explained why certain parts of my legs always hurt when I get done walking.  I have been wearing "running" shoes when I exercise and I have cross-training/walking shoes for everyday wear.  I wore my regular shoes today, and it was AMAZING what a difference it made!!

Apparently running shoes are designed for maximum comfort on the front of your feet, because, DUH, when you run, you tend to use the front of your feet....whereas when you walk, you lead from the heel.  So, walking shoes are a little harder in the back to help with the heel leading, whereas running shoes are softer in the back....

I will never wear my "running" shoes for walking again!!!

I am going to make some cookies now...slightly counterproductive?? Absolutely....totally worth it??? Yes!!

I am making some Shortbread Peanut Butter Cookies from my new favorite blog...I will post pics and the link later on tonight!!!

Brown Sugar Crumble Banana Muffins

These are BY FAR the best Banana Muffin I have ever had!! And with the brown sugar crumble topping, they are irresistable....

BEFORE THE OVEN

AFTER THE OVEN

They were super yummy warm out of the oven, but they were also surprisingly delicious the next day when they were just room temperature. Between you and me, I REALLY wanted to heat one up this morning and put some butter on it but I resisted - when you see the recipe you'll understand why, they already have enough butter in them as it is!!

The link to the recipe is below....Please give these a try and let me know what you think!!

Thank you to the "Get off your butt and BAKE" website - this is another winner!!

Brown Sugar Crumble Banana Muffins