(Super) Quickie Friday: Whole Wheat Flax Bread

On the date this post goes live, I will be safely returned from my honeymoon and adjusting to married life.  And probably eating copious amounts of the bread I deprived myself pre-wedding.

Whole Wheat Flax Bread

• 1 cup milk
• 2/3 cup water
• 2 Tablespoons butter
• 2 Tablespoons light agave nectar
• 2 teaspoons salt
• 3-3/4 Cups whole wheat flour
• 3/4 Cups flax seeds
• 2-1/4 teaspoon yeast

Throw it all in your bread machine in the order recommended by your manufacturer.  Set the bread machine for a 1 1/2 pound loaf, with the crust color of your choosing, on the whole wheat setting.  Then enjoy!

No shoes today, but we'll be back in action next week!

Quickie Friday: Slow Cooker Balsamic Chicken

A lot of the crockpot recipes that are in my comfort zone include cream soups.  In an effort to change that, I went this route, and am glad that I did!

Slow Cooker Balsamic Chicken
1 tablespoon olive oil
4 cloves thinly sliced garlic
4 frozen, boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
1 can diced tomatoes (I used garlic and oregano seasoned tomatoes)
red pepper, salt, and black pepper to taste

Set your crockpot on low for 8 hours, and enjoy a warm, light dish when you get home.  I served ours over orzo mixed with parmesan and spinach.

In other exciting news, we got new plates for the wedding, so the pics will continue to improve.  HOORAY!

These totally fake stingray sandals from F21 are good news, too.

via

When Mr. Mustachio (aka Daniel) got booted from Project Runway this season, I pouted over not being able to see more of his stingray accents.  These will scratch that particular itch quite nicely (and cheaply!)

Flour Free Banana Bites

Dieting for my wedding was no fun, and there were certain cravings that I had to try and head off in creative ways.  Such as wanting cookies.  Mmmm.  Cookies.

Flour Free Banana Bites
3 super ripe bananas
1/4 cup flax seeds
1 1/4 cup quaker oats
4 Tbsp. sweetened coconut flakes
1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chips

Combine all of that goodness together in a bowl, then drop by rounded tablespoons onto a baking stone (or sheet).

Bake them at 350 for fifteen minutes, just to firm them up, and enjoy!  One of these has 78 calories (I got 19 out of the recipe - random, I know).

Because these are good sized, one was enough to satisfy my sweet tooth.  And since they're flour-free, they taste nice and light!

I am writing this post pre-wedding, so right now I'm off gallivanting in a mystery country with my now-H (formerly F).  And I am hopeful that I am wearing something like this:

Jimmy Choo via Saks

They scream gallivanting newlywed, do they not?!

Favorite Things Thursday: Knockoff Scrubby Bars

Are you fortunate enough to live near a Lush, but unfortunate enough to not be able to afford their fabulous goodies?  Look no further.

I decided to try my hand at making something similar to the Buffy, and I think it turned out pretty well!  I set an 8 cup pyrex measuring cup in a large saute pan filled with boiling water, and I melted the following together:

3 oz. organic cocoa butter
8 oz. organic shea butter
5 oz. organic coconut oil
lemon essential oil
lavendar essential oil

In the meantime, I pulsed a cup of rice and a cup of rolled oats in my food processor.

When the butters and oils were completely melted together, I added the rice and oat mixture.

Then I poured the whole thing into silicone muffin pans.

Pop them in the freezer for a few hours and you're good to go!  Just scrub 'em on at the end of your shower, rinse the foodie bits off of your bod, and air dry!  (Or towel off, if you're not inclined to prance around naked and drip water everywhere).