Last week, “Things I’m Loving” was quite a hit, so I’m going to give it another go this Monday.
Sometimes I feel like all we are ever told is to “be realistic” and “live in the real world.” After all, dreaming is for dreamers and there’s no sense in having false hope right? That’s why, right now, I’m going to go ahead and embrace this phrase from one of my favorite movies of all time: “There is no life I know to compare to pure imagination.”
If Willy Wonka says it, ya’ll know it’s just gotta be true!
And sometimes I just want to let my imaginiation run wild…about dishes I may never be skilled enough to bake (and even if I do, they’ll never quite look like in the picture) or about delectable fried foods that magically won’t go straight to my thighs if I eat them for breakfast, lunch and dinner…or about picturesque little islands where you can escape at a moment’s notice…
CURRENTLY CRAVING
…These Angel Food Cake Churro Bites. Hold it right here: isn’t angel food cake supposed to be one of those “healthy sweets?” Nope, not when you slather them in cinnamon and sugar and then fry ’em in oil until they are moist and crispy. Who would have thought that you could turn angel food cake into one of those yummy things you pick up at the state fair? With only 4 ingredients, these little guys can be whipped up in a flash before a party.
But wait? I need something to dip these churro bites into. Maybe I should try some of this homemade apple butter? And then when I have a whole bunch of leftover apple butter, this recipe takes it a step further, and shows me how I can wash down every delicious bite with a heavenly Apple Butter and Maple Cream Vanilla Milkshake. Hey, when in Rome, or when eating fried food dipped in apple butter, you might as well finish it off with a sinfully creamy milkshake!
Seriously though, I am a healthy living blogger. I can’t just indulge in these churro bites and the milkshake without eating some sort of meal beforehand. My mom taught me well: no dessert before your meal. That’s why I’ll go ahead and make these apple brie quesadillas for dinner. It has all the essential food groups: dairy, carbs, fruit and ooey, gooey caramel sauce. Sounds like a proper meal to me! The best part of this recipe is that it’s not impossible to make. Perhaps we don’t have to dream….
And, speaking of caramel, I cannot let all of my leftover candy go to waste on Wednesday night. As soon as that last doorbell rings and all of the trick-or-treaters are gone, I think we’ll just need to go ahead and use up those last few Snickers bars in this caramel apple pie.
And as long as we’re headed down that path of leftover candy, might as well throw the rest of it into this Candy Pie. Honestly, simply eating all the candy until you are sick is SO last season. You must use it to make something creative and then eat said creative dish until you get sick.
Now, if we were really headed down the whole “pure imagination” path, we could pretend that none of the above items have any fat or calories. But, we’re not that delusional right??
CURRENTLY FEASTING ON
…All of these Halloween goodies. If you haven’t checked out Friday’s post, then you probably should, stat. I promise you there is something in here that you can use for your Halloween party this week. Choose between sweet n’ spicy pumpkin butter, creamy white chocolate popcorn, littered with candy corn and peanut M&M’s OR rich, silky Pumpkin Candy Corn Fudge. Plus, there’s a fun workout in the end as a bonus (and no, I am not using my imagination here…workouts can actually be fun!) Just don’t make all of these for yourself because then you will find yourself wondering if you need to put a lock on the snack pantry…like me.
Luckily, I’m not just eating my own food, I’m also “getting by with a little help from my friends.” One of them being these Kraft Caramel Bits. Do you sometimes nibble on those scrumptious chocolate chips while you’re baking with them? Bet you didn’t think it could get any better than that. Well, it can, in the form of chip-sized caramel bits.
Sometimes I pour them over this Pumpkin Patch Ice Cream and then douse the ice cream in whipped cream, chocolate syrup and Cupcake Goldfish. Hey, we’re in the land of imagination here folks.
If I must add a little nutrition into my diet, these Clif Kid Z Bars sure do the trick. As I mentioned before, my Girls on the Run team loves these nutritious, sweet energy bars. Don’t let the “kids” label fool you. If Willy Wonka taught us anything, it’s that adults are really just big kids. Thus, the “kids” label really just means you should probably eat two…
CURRENTLY FANTASIZING ABOUT…
…This little magical island, Isla Mujeres. It’s a small island just miles away from Cancun. Peaceful, pristine and just magical-looking. As you all know, I’m quite a fan of Mexico, and what I wouldn’t give to escape to this island right now…
Oh, and while I’m there, I will be taking advantage of the island’s primary form of transportation: golf carts.
Don’t think it comes with the kids and husband, FYI.
While I’m laying on the beach (since teleportation exists in the “land of pure imagination”), I’m going to go ahead and sip on this festive candy corn cocktail. Hey, when in paradise on Halloween…
Feel free to join me.
CURRENTLY SMILING ABOUT…
…My best friend’s wedding. You can read the recap here. If you’re in the mood for a good cry, I suggest you follow the link to this post and watch the video. Michelle has always been a bride who knew what she wanted, and on her wedding day, she walked down that aisle to the man of her dreams…as the rain POURED down outside. She had dreamed of a classic seaside Newport wedding, and although the last-minute downpour resulted in an indoor wedding, somehow, this wedding ended up surpassing what she could have hoped for even in her wildest dreams. The video captures the magical feeling of that night and how nothing, even torrential downpours could prevent it from being perfect.
Just goes to show you. No matter how much you dream, it might not look exactly the way you pictured it, but if you’re lucky, like Michelle and Rory, it can be even better.
And with that inspirational note, I’m out! Happy Monday to all – please check out the recipes and workout from Friday’s post 🙂
YOUR TURN:
What are you dreaming about right now?? Let’s have some fun!
Yum!! I don’t think I’d fit into a swimsuit after eating all of that deliciousness, but I’d join you on that island.
I’m always dreaming about laying by the beach with a cocktail in hand.
Ps. Have you tried the candy corn pretzels or m&ms? So much posting about Halloween treats I can’t keep track.
You’re welcome in my fantasy world any time haha.
Yes, I have tried Candy Corn M&M’s – they are delicious, but I can’t locate the Pumpkin Spice M&M’s. So frustrating!
Thank you for sharing my Angel Food Cake Churro Bites! 😀
They were just too delectable to pass up. Thank YOU for sharing them with everyone 🙂
Jamie recently posted…WIAW: Halloween Health Kick?