a nice mix

How is it Sunday night already?!  The weekend absolutely flew by.

I had a nice mix of things going on – Babysitting, shopping, going out to eat, working on applications, running and playing tennis, going to a football game, baking, just sitting around with the boys and the tv

I think my favorite weekends are one’s like this! I like having some plans and things to do, while also having some unstructured time that I can do whatever I want with. I like getting things done like errands and work but also having time to just relax and not think.

Here come the highlights…

Friday’s breakfast was a definite highlight.

PBJ Banana Pancakes

(For one)

Mix the following in a small bowl:

• 1/3 c. rolled oats
• 1/3 c. whole grain pancake mix
• 1 Tbsp. heaping ground flax seed
• 1 Tbsp. heaping vanilla protein powder
• 1 packet Stevia (or 1/2-1 Tbsp. sugar)
• 1/3 c. plain greek yogurt
• 1/4 c. almond milk
• 1/3 c. water
• 1 tsp. vanilla

Slice 1 small banana into thin slices. Pour batter into 2 pancakes in a pan heated over medium-high heat, coated with cooking spray. Place the banana slices on top of each pancake – it’s okay if they overlap. Lightly spray the top of the pancakes with cooking spray. Once the pancakes start to form (after a few minutes), carefully flip and cook until done.
Top with peanut butter & jelly. This was SO good.

My Friday night was spent at my cousin’s house babysitting – he lives nearby with his awesome wife and 1-year-old girl

I love their apartment – it’s simply and cleanly decorated and makes the space feel so big.

After I put the sweet girl to bed, I ordered Chinese food.

Chinese take out + Sex & The City DVDs made for a really nice Friday night! Over the course of a few hours I ate the whole order, and it was glorious. Sometimes take out Chinese is a must.

Saturday’s college football game was fun, as usual! BC lost but did make a comeback, and we got to see some old friends at the game

Chilly but gorgeous fall day.

It seems that my walks are getting more and more gorgeous as the days go on.

I am loving this fall weather and making fall-themed food! This weekend I was set on making some sort of fall-themed dessert. My mom has an awesome Apple Cake recipe that I adapted to include canned squash (which was going to be canned pumpkin, but the grocery store was out once again).

Fall Apple Cake

For cake:

• 1/2 c. oil (I used Smart Balance)
• 3 eggs
• 1 c. canned squash (or pumpkin)
• 1-3/4 tsp. vanilla
• 1-1/4 c. sugar
• 1 c. all purpose flour
• 1 c. whole wheat pastry flour
• 1 tsp. cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp. nutmeg
• 1 tsp. baking powder
• 1/2 tsp. baking soda
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 3 medium apples, diced (I used 2 granny smith + 1 gala)
• 3/4 c. walnuts, finely chopped

For glaze:

• 1/2 c. powdered sugar
• 1-1/2 Tbsp. milk
• 1 tsp. molasses

1. Preheat oven to 350. Coat a 9 x 13 inch pan with cooking spray.

2. Combine oil, eggs, squash and vanilla in a large bowl.

3. Add sugar, both flours, cinnamon, nutmeg, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.

4. Fold in the apples and walnuts.

5. Pour the batter into the dish; bake for 45-50 minutes.

6. For glaze, mix together powdered sugar, milk and molasses in a small bowl. Drizzle over the cake while still warm.

This is quite possibly one of the best things I’ve made in a while!

This weekend was definitely a nice mix of some of my favorite things to do

Hope you all had a great weekend as well – what was the best thing you did?