About Moi

About Moi
My Name is Brittany, and I'm 23yrs old. I was diagnosed with Lupus when I was 15, and then diagnosed with RA, when I was 18. I also got married when I was 18, and I'm enjoying my happily ever after with my hubby! When I got married, I was slim and trim...But not for long. After getting married, I started to gain a LOT of weight! In 1yr, I gained 50lbs! Finally, I went to the Doctor, where I discovered I have low thyroid. After being put on medicine, my weight gain slowed down, although over the next 3yrs, I gained an additional 26lbs. When I was 20yrs old, I got yet another diagnoses of Poly Cystic Ovarian Syndrome. That's 4 diagnoses in a 5yr period, if you lost count. They all effect my weight, in one way or another. Add on top of that, my love affair with food, and every 1 of those 76lbs gained was accounted for. Being 76lbs over weight is unhealthy for anyone, but it was especially unhealthy for me, and my health issues. Since starting this blog, in Jan-2010, I have lost 40lbs! I'm a new, slimmer, and healthier me! Before losing weight, I was told I needed knee replacements. Losing weight was the ONLY tool I had to help me hold off on that life changing surgery. Since losing 40lbs, my knees have never felt better! My husband and I are also trying to start a family, but my PCOS was not going to make it as easy as 1,2,3, as I didn't have periods on my own. My doctor had told me if I wanted a baby, I HAD to lose weight. Since losing 40lbs, I've had regular cycles for the first time in my life! Which is very important when trying to have a baby ;) This journey of mine is more than me simply wanting to wear skinny jeans. It has been a quest to becoming :Deliciously Healthy, so ALL of my dreams can come true! I'm almost half way there! With each new day, I get closer and closer to my goal of 120lbs, and becoming :Deliciously Healthy!

Monday, October 17, 2011

Falling in-love with fall: A recipe + a 21 day challenge update.

This weekend, fall took my breath away.
The leaves on our street have all turned gold and red. For me, heaven was: sitting on the porch, in the perfect weather, and soaking in the beauty of fall.

But then I realized cookies would make that moment even more perfect.
So, I made these:
Oatmeal Pumpkin Pecan Chocolate Chip Cookies
:
What you need:
  • 1 cup whole wheat pastry flour
  • 2 cups quick oats
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • 1/2 tsp baking soda
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
  • 2 tsp pumpkin pie spice
  • 2 tbsp unsalted butter, room temperature
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 1/2 cup unpacked brown sugar
  • 1 large egg
  • 6 tbsp canned pumpkin (not pumpkin pie filling)
  • 2 tsp vanilla extract
  • 3/4 cup chopped pecans
  • 1/2 cup semi-sweet organic chocolate chips
What you're gonna do:
  • Preheat oven to 350°; line two baking sheets with parchment paper or spray with organic cooking spray.
  • In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, oats, baking powder, baking soda, salt, pumpkin spice and cinnamon.
  • In a mixer, cream together the butter and sugars on medium speed.
  • Add the egg to the butter and sugar mixture, followed by the pumpkin and vanilla extract.
  • Working by hand, stir in the dry mix until just combined and no streaks of flour remain; stir in the pecans, and chocolate chips.
  • Drop 1 tablespoon of the dough at a time onto prepared baking sheets. Bake for about 10-12 minutes, or until cookies become light brown at the edges.
  • Cool on baking sheet for 3 or 4 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
  • Makes 32 cookies, 1 tbsp each.
They're the perfect fall cookie. Hearty, crunchy, chewy, chocolaty and of course, pumpkiny.*Note: I made these cookies on a night that I was having some girls from church over, so that they would eat the majority of them ;) I only had two of these delicious cookies.

***

21 Day Challenge Update:
I was supposed to start my 21 day challenge last week. But, I ended up being sick all week. At first I was going to keep going with the challenge, even though I was sick. My eating was great (It helped that my apatite was completely gone;), but then I remembered that working out everyday was apart of the challenge. I definitely had not been doing that while I was sick. So, I decided to start it after I had gotten better.

My first official day of the 21 day challenge was last Wednesday the 12th.So far I have 5 little hearts!
What's your little piece of fall heaven?

9 comments:

Diandra said...

I love everything about fall - the colors and the clear air, the mist, the dark skies when it is about to rain, the storms, the darkness, the smell of mist and rain, ... - you could say I'm a real fall girl.

Josie @Skinny Way Of Life said...

I love everything about Fall! The colors, the smell, the food!! those cookies look divine btw : ) keep up the great work on your 21 day challenge!!

Jessica said...

I adore fall! I love watching the leaves change...I love cooking soups for dinner...I love running outside :) and all things pumpkin :)

Kat said...

I love that you kicked those cookies up a notch with pecans and oatmeal. Delightful.

Congrats on a five-day streak! Keep it up!

erica said...

Yum! What a delicious recipe! I love the fall pictures that you took!

xo

Anonymous said...

Those cookies look yummy! Sadly, I won't be making them only because I would be the only one eating them. :) My kids don't like cookies with oatmeal in them. Go figure.

Bella said...

Fall is such a great time of year because the weather is perfect - cool in the mornings and evenings and warm in the day. I love it!

Those cookies look soooo good! I'm going to share the recipe with my sister, because I know my nieces would love them.

NAN said...

So how is your challenge coming along? I was unable to comment before but now I can YAY! I am going to make your cookie recipe next week- I even have the WW pastry flour in the freezer. I have so many types of flour I have been freezing them to preserve the quality. Also, I hope your family is doing well in their grieving process. My youngest brother died tragically at age 19 in a motorcycle accident and it was really hard for us all but especially my youngest sister who was just a year older. Fortunately life goes on and babies are born and we always have our memories.

Mommy Minded said...

Sounds great and I love the picures of fall! :)