Veggie Challenge Update

My work’s nutrition challenge is over. It ended on March 24th and I was ready for it to end. Not because I was tired of eating so many servings of fruits and vegetables, because I was super over tracking them daily for 8-weeks.  I was already tracking all of my foods in My Fitness Pal, then the fruits and veggies were tracked separately in the Mix it Up app… I felt like it was overkill x1000. I started to not enjoy eating… kind of the same way I got after years and years of doing Weight Watchers.

My team ended up placing 12th. I placed 18th out of nearly 600 employees that participated in the challenge. I am very happy about both things, but more proud of my placement as an individual.

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We were able to see our final numbers/blender results for the entire 8-week challenge. Like mentioned in my previous challenge update posts, I clearly favored fruits and vegetables from the green and red categories. I continued to make a conscious effort to get in the other 3 colors, but a daily red apple, lots of mixed greens, spinach, brussels sprouts, asparagus, kale and other high point value items really bumped up the green and red categories. My veggie rainbow was definitely not even.

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My average servings worked out to be 8/day. I aimed for 9, but ended up with quite a few 7 serving days. I didn’t get crazy with top choice points like some participants did, but I tried to hit a few of those each day – since they did increase point values.

All in all, it was a great way to learn about fruits and vegetables, which ones contained more nutrients, how to eat more balanced on the color wheel and daily check-ins with some of my team members was the encouragement I needed to make it through the entire 8 weeks.

The second fitness challenge started the day after the nutrition challenge ended. My previous team is going strong! Each team member is working out 60+ minutes a day – most are working out 120+. I had to sit this one out due to an injury. I’m on my 4th week of dealing with it. Rest, ice, heat, Advil… I finally was able to start back up with treadmill walking 2 weeks ago. I’m going to increase my workout time and start the exercise bike and elliptical next week. I’m super bummed that I had to sit this fitness challenge out, but there was no way I could commit to 60+ minutes a day… when I could barely put on a pair of pants. 🙂 8 weeks without a single rest day – that’s hardcore. I did it in the Fall, but I’ll leave it to the ironman triathlete, marathon runner and other fitness gurus this time around. Less pressure is good right now, at least until I’m 100%.

It’s time to get back in the kitchen. I’ve been a little crazy on Pinterest lately – pinning a million different recipes to try. Pinning is my new diet… I just pin everything that looks delicious, then I make up a bunch of excuses as to why I don’t have time to cook, bake or make anything – that way the calories stay within my computer. While it seems to be helping my waist line, it’s not so awesome for creating new food blog content.

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Carrots Everywhere!

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My house was filled with carrots for Easter. I do have egg and bunny decor, but not the traditional fluffy bunny variety. I’ve picked up different kinds of carrots over the years and prefer that overall theme. All different shapes, color variations and sizes. I forgot to photograph my giant carrots, but they are over 2 feet long.

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Carrot cars? Why yes… you didn’t know they existed? Come on, what bunny doesn’t yearn to one day own his/her very own carrot car?

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A carrot wreath for the vintage door… don’t mind if I do…

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More white, iron bunnies sitting on vintage packages of carrot seeds…

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Drawers full of vintage wooden bunny cutouts, green moss, eggs, carrots and vintage seed packs. I picked up the wooden drawer box last year through Joss & Main. I’m kind of addicted to the website and have purchased some really cool things from it. I even have the app on my iPhone so I can watch the sale events. Things sell out really FAST!

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I was too lazy to switch out the numbered ceramic eggs, but I did add some wood speckled eggs on top. I used several blue glass eggs with vintage bunnies throughout my decor.

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My house always seems so empty between Easter and the 4th of July… it’s too long of a stretch for this obsessed holiday decor girl.

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Well, that’s all I’ve got… until the next holiday…
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Lemon Jello Pudding Poke Cake

Lemon Jello Pudding Poke Cake

I was asked to bring an appetizer and dessert for the family Easter get together. My friend Kristen kept talking about the Lemon Jello Cake that her Great Grandmother Agnes used to make and that she was going to be bringing it to her own family celebration. It sounded super easy and I pretty much like lemon anything… so I asked her for the recipe. She explained that there are many different recipes floating around online… some use packages of lemon Jello, some use packages of lemon pudding. She had made it before with pudding, so I was on board for that version.

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The Ingredients:

  • 1 Box Yellow Cake Mix
  • 1 Small (3.4 oz.) Package Lemon Flavored Jello Pudding
  • 4 Eggs
  • ¾ Cup Water
  • ¾ Cup Vegetable Oil
  • Juice of 2 Lemons
  • 2 Cups Powdered Sugar
  • Cool Whip
  • Lemon Zest

Directions:

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  2. In a large bowl combine: 1 package yellow cake mix, 1 small package lemon jello pudding, 4 eggs and ¾ cup water. Mix ingredients for 3 minutes using an electric mixer.
  3.  Add ¾ cup vegetable oil and beat for additional 1-2 minutes on medium.
  4. Pour batter into an ungreased 9×13 pan.  Bake according to cake box instructions. (Mine took close to 40 minutes) Remove from oven and poke holes throughout cake.
  5. Combine the juice of 2 lemons and 2 cups powdered sugar. Gently pour glaze over cake after letting it cool for 5 minutes. (Note: It seems like it is going to be way too much, but it absorbs. Even the stuff that gathers along the sides does.)
  6. Slice into pieces and top with cool whip and lemon zest.

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Finn – my little kitchen helper,  really wanted at the cake batter before it went into the oven.

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I got my glaze ready while the cake was baking in the oven.

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My total bake time was longer than the cake package directions… my oven tends to do that, so just keep a close watch. I used two bamboo skewers to poke my holes. There was no pattern, I just poked away. The recipe mentioned using a fork, but I thought it would work better with the skewers.

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Kristen made sure to send me a follow-up email mentioning that I should let the cake cool for about 5 minutes before gently pouring on the glaze. I ended up using a tablespoon to get the majority of the glaze into the center section holes… then I just dumped the remaining and spread it over the cake with a rubber spatula.

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I waited a day to take the after photos… couldn’t really justify cutting a piece out of the cake before bringing it to the family Easter event… all though, my family is used to my food blogger ways and they probably would not have minded.

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The cake was so moist. The flavor was the perfect combination of sweet and tangy… I really liked having a lighter option for dessert. While I’m the first person to ask for extra frosting, it’s nice to have something different.

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The leftovers did not go to waste – think cake after every meal… 🙂 This was such an easy thing to bring to a get together. I will for sure be making this again. White cake with orange Jello and an orange juice glaze sounds like something I’d like to try next. I’m also thinking that a white or yellow cake with coconut pudding and a coconut milk glaze with shaved coconut would be a good combination too.

Hope you enjoyed lots of good foods for your Passover or Easter celebrations. I’ve still got Easter decorations to share… will save that for my next post.
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