Doughy Pumpkin Cake

Both hubby and I had cravings for something made out of pumpkin. I knew that I still have an organic one in cans stored in our little pantry. So I decided to look for a recipe from a Diabetic Booklets that hubby collected. I found one but as usual, the recipe calls for an artificial sweetener. So I decided to modify few things making my cake doughy. But we both love it. It has a very different taste, not to sweet and really satisfies ones cravings inside.

Here is the list of things you need in order to try this:

• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon No Salt Baking Soda
• 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1 teaspoon ground ginger
• ½ teaspoon No Salt Baking Powder
• ½ teaspoon Salt Substitute
• ½ cup regular white sugar
• ½ cup canola oil
• 1 cup unsweetened (homemade) applesauce
• 1 can (15 ounces) solid pumpkin (about 2 cups)
• ¾ cup egg substitute

Here is how to do it:

• Preheat oven to 325º F. Coat 12X7-inch pan with nonstick cooking spray. Then set aside.

• Combine flour, cinnamon, baking soda, nutmeg, cloves, ginger, baking powder and salt in a medium bowl. Mix well and set aside.

• Beat sugar, oil and applesauce in a large bowl with electric mixer at medium speed until smooth.

• Beat in pumpkin and egg substitute until well blended.

• Gradually pour in flour mixture to pumpkin mixture beating until just blended.

• Pour into prepared pan. Bake for an hour or until toothpick inserted into center comes out clean. Cool completely in pan.

This is good to eat with tea.

Doughy Pumpkin Cake

Our Appetite

I read this fascinating article and thought it’s a good idea to share here. I copied everything from my source because I don’t want to distort everything that was said in it.

Here is how it reads:

Appetite control is not just a matter of willpower - the hunger sensation can be triggered by physical and mental factors. To tame cravings and avoid overeating:

• Eat a balanced breakfast with protein, healthy fats and whole grains to avoid overeating later. Avoid overly sweet cereals or breakfast pastries.

• Savor your food - it takes about 20 minutes for your brain to receive the “full” signal. Enjoy each bite by using spices and other strong flavors in your cooking

• Eat smaller meals spaced throughout the day.

• Eat only when hungry – not when stressed, bored or tired. Conquer these feelings with other strategies such as taking a break or using relaxation techniques.

• Allow 20 to 30 minutes for cravings to pass. Distract yourself by keeping busy- take a walk or talk to a friend.

• Get enough sleep- hormones released during slumber control appetite.

• Ask your health care provider if medication could be causing you to over eat.

• Allow an occasional splurge – in the long run it’s unlikely to get you off the track.

• Eat filling high-fiber and water-containing foods such as fruits, vegetables, beans, whole grains and soups. Get enough lean protein too.

Plan your meals carefully and your food won’t go to “waste.”

This is a brief and very informative article. It struck me straight to the bones because I do have some eating malpractices, too.

Picture: Google
Reading Source: The Health Promotion and Wellness Newsletter, May 2009

Our Appetite

Healthy Bran Muffins for Breakfast

Hubby gave me a copy of the recipe from the web but for some reasons, I was to lazy to try it. It just did not click to my cooking mood. However, I put the paper on one of my binders in anticipation of any future use.

I finally decided to make it but looking at the sugar the recipe is asking, I made a sudden change of it. Hubby does not like any artificial sweetener so I decided to use regular sugar. I also added few more healthy stuff.

Here is the list of ingredients in case you want to try:

• 1 cup Wheat Bran
• 1/3 cup sugar
• 3 tsp No Salt Baking Powder
• 1 tbsp cinnamon
  
• 4 eggs
• 8 oz Cream Cheese (softened)
• 1/2 Organic Unsweetened Soy Milk
• 1/4 cup ground flax seed
• 1/4 cup walnuts (chopped in smaller pieces)

Here is how you do it:

• Preheat oven to 350ºF
• Spray muffin pan with any baking spray.
• Mix dry ingredients in a large bowl
• Hand beat eggs in small bowl, add cream cheese and milk. Mix well.
• Mix wet and dry mixture and blend well.
• Spoon batter into muffin cups.
• Bake for 20 minutes.

This recipe yields 12 muffins.

Healthy Bran Muffins for Breakfast

Healthy Nutty Snacks

When I was still in the Philippines, I always had peanuts for my snacks. I love them and besides being very cheap for my pocket, they're everywhere. It's the only kind of nuts that are abundantly produced by the local farmers back there. I was just amazed to see so many types of nuts in the store here in America and all of a sudden, I started to dislike them. I have to force myself to eat them because my husband always shares the trail mix that he usually makes for himself. Sometimes I like them and sometimes I don't. But generally speaking, they are not on my list.

But here are few of the amazing facts that I read: The fats in some nuts are largely "good" fats. Nuts also provide vitamins, minerals and other nutrients that our body needs. Adding 1.5 ounces of certain nuts a day to a low-cholesterol diet may reduce the risk of heart disease.

To name a few, here is the following list you can try:

Pistachios - I have never pay attention to this small nuts. I tried it during my first year here in the US but I never realize how good these nuts are for the eyes. This will not bring back my 20/20 vision but at least my eyes get the nutrients they need.

Pistachios rank high in lutein which is considered a vision-friendly nutrient.

Walnuts - I really don't like these nuts for a snack. I don't like the fatty taste but I love to make it part of my baking ingredients.

Walnuts are rich in an omega-3 fatty acid (ALA), which can reduce inflammation that can damage arteries. ALA can also raise good cholesterol (HDL), while lowering the bad (LDL).

Almonds - I don't care too much about this nuts. These nuts are popularly mixed in chocolate candy bars which my sweet tooth always loves. I first tried almond nuts in Hershey Chocolate. It was so yummy but yet I did not develop a certain craving for these nuts.

But look what Almonds have. These nuts contain fiber (which make them filling) and vitamin E which is a very antioxidant that may play a role in reducing the risk of some diseases.

Hazelnuts - Honestly, I haven't tried these nuts yet. I really want to try this kind since it contains a lot of nutrients that are good for our body. I know that they are available in any market but I just don't want to try them.

Hazelnuts provide folate, potassium, calcium and magnesium. Intake of these nutrients may be an effective prevention against, cancer, depression and hypertension.

Pecans - These nuts are just too fatty for me and I don't really eat them raw. However, I love these in green salads and pastries.

Pecan nuts supply phytosterols. This type of plant chemicals help lower cholesterol level in our body.

There are still several nuts that I have not listed here. I am sure that they all have good things to offer our body.

Reading Source: Top Health, May 2009
Pictures: from Google

Healthy Nutty Snacks