Author: Carma Spence

Carma Spence has been experimenting in the kitchen since she was four years old and loves trying out new recipe ideas. She is the author of Bonkers for Bundt Cakes and Your Perfect Pie, as well as author and contributor to several more non-food-related books. With Carma's Cookery, she is taking her passion for empowering people and blending it with her passion for cooking, gift-giving and entertaining.

Recipes

Simple Chocolate Cake

Post author By Carma Spence
Post date November 7, 2017

A simple chocolate cake to make tea time more fun for you and your guests!

Serves: 6-8 people
Cake Recipe and Photo Source: Chococraft
Frosting/Filling Recipe: Developed by Carma Spence from a variety of sources

Ingredients

Cake

4 oz plain chocolate, chopped into small pieces
3 Tbsp milk
1/2 cup unsalted butter or margarine, softened
Scant 1 cup light muscovado sugar*
3 eggs
1-3/4cups self–raising flour
1 Tbsp cocoa powder
1 quantity Chocolate Buttercream, for the filling
Icing sugar and cocoa powder, for dusting

Chocolate Buttercream

1 cup unsalted butter, softened (but not melted!)
3-1/2 cups powdered sugar
1/2 cup cocoa powder
2 tsp vanilla extract
4 Tbsp heavy cream

Directions

Cake

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease two 7 in round sandwich cake tins and line the base of each with non-stick parchment baking paper.
Place the chocolate and the milk in the top pot of a double boiler**. Put water in the bottom pot and bring to just below the simmering point. Place the pot containing the chocolate mixture on top. Leave for about 5 minutes, until the chocolate softens, then stir until smooth. Leave the top pot over the bottom pot, but remove from the heat.
Cream the butter or margarine with the sugar in a mixing bowl until pale and fluffy. Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Stir in the chocolate mixture until well combined.
Sift the flour and cocoa over the mixture and fold in with a metal spoon until evenly mixed. Scrape into the prepared tins, smooth level and bake for 35-40 minutes or until well risen and firm. Turn out on to wire racks to cool.
Sandwich the cake layers together with a thick, even layer of chocolate buttercream. Dust with a mixture of icing sugar and cocoa just before serving.

Chocolate Buttercream

Cream butter for a few minutes in a mixer with the paddle attachment on medium speed. Turn off the mixer.
Sift 3 cups powdered sugar and cocoa into the mixing bowl. Turn the mixer on at the lowest speed (this helps prevent the dry ingredients from blowing all over you and your kitchen) until the sugar and cocoa are absorbed by the butter.
Increase the mixer speed to medium and add vanilla extract and cream.
Beat for 3 minutes.
If you prefer your frosting/filling to be stiffer, add a little more powdered sugar. If you want your frosting/filling to be thinner, add additional cream, 1 Tbsp at a time.

Notes

* Muscovado sugar is a type of partially refined to unrefined sugar with a strong molasses content and flavor. It contains higher levels of various minerals than processed white sugar, and is considered by some to be healthier.

**If you don’t have a double boiler, you can use a small saucepan and a heatproof bowl that will fit over it.

Make sure your kitchen is well-equped for baking. Read Basic Baking Equipment

You can find more great recipes and product reviews from our friends at the Village Bakery.

Tags Chocolate Buttercream Frosting, chocolate cake

Healthy Living

Curious About Superfoods?

Post author By Carma Spence
Post date October 31, 2017

I’ve written about superfoods before, in part because this is a trending topic and in part because I believe in their health benefits. That said, I understand that it can be hard to figure out the scientific fact from the hocus pocus nonsense that floats around the Internet about what you should and shouldn’t eat. Is it really that important to eat something pickled and yellow on a Tuesday as well as three leafy greens on a Saturday? The fanciful and faddy nature of dieting and healthy eating has made many people look at the idea of superfoods through cynical tinted glasses … and rightly so.

It is important that you are well informed about superfoods so you can use them for the benefit of your well being and health. What I like best about superfoods is that they can negate the need for yo-yo dieting, unrealistic weight loss programs and developing a poor relationship with food. Eating is meant to be a pleasure, and cooking is supposed to be fun and creative. By adding more superfoods to your diet, you are free to experiment with your culinary creations and reinvigorate your relationship with food.

The idea of superfoods really isn’t anything new. Remember the cartoon Popeye? Well, thanks to him, we’ve all known that spinach is an exceptional source of iron. It is rich in the leafy green version of omega 3 and aids in reducing the risk of heart disease, stroke, and bone weakness. The popular cartoon sailor would gulp down a can of the good green stuff to reveal larger muscles and a stronger physique. While this ventured into the realm of hyperbole, there was a strong element of truth in that animation. Spinach is good for your health. It always has been. Only recently has it had the label of ‘superfood’ attached to it. (By the way, I don’t recommend canned spinach — it tastes AWFUL!)

Superfoods are nothing new — it is the aura and ethos surrounding them that is now trending. People are making careers out of being superfood gurus when really all you need to use is your common sense and Google once in a while. Take a look at these foods that you should be adding to your meals to ensure that you are giving your health and wellbeing the attention they deserve.

Yogurt

[three_fourth] Anything fermented can sound pretty gross. (Although wine and beer are fermented and quite popular!) However, it is the fermentation process of the creamiest of yogurts that give it the seemingly infinite amount of good bacteria and probiotics that are so beneficial to our guts.

With a strong digestive system, we are more regular, IBS symptoms decrease, and we can feel less sluggish and more alert. Adding a dollop of natural or Greek yogurt to a handful of berries or fruit every day means you are getting a protein and calcium-rich snack that is a much healthier alternative to the candy, chocolate or processed fiber bar you might be used to. [/three_fourth][one_fourth_last] [/one_fourth_last]

Mushrooms

There are a ridiculous amount of mushrooms that you will come across when you meander down the relevant aisle of your local supermarket. And this is merely the tip of the iceberg. Whether you love shitake, can’t get enough of the oyster or simply adore the flat cap, mushrooms are full of iron, antioxidants and Vitamin D. As this is the vitamin that most humans on the planet struggle to get their daily allowance of, any time you can add a handful of button mushrooms to your dishes is beneficial.

Many varieties of mushroom contain high levels of selenium. A recent study showed that the higher your level of selenium, the lower your chances of contracting bladder cancer. This was especially pronounced for women. Mushrooms are tasty and nutritious. However, if you’re not the biggest fan of their texture, why not try reishi powder as an alternative? Reishi mushroom powder holds all of the natural goodness and health-promoting properties of the mushrooms you cook with, but you can take a simple supplement rather than go through the “trauma” of finding an enoki in your stir-fry.

Walnuts

The king of the healthy nuts, walnuts are a fitness fanatic’s dream. Just seven nuts have more omega 3 than four ounces of salmon. To give your immune system a bit of a helping hand, try to sprinkle some chopped walnuts over a salad for lunch or over your oatmeal for breakfast. There is, of course, nothing wrong with simply munching on nuts for a healthy snack.

If you are a gym bunny and like pumping some iron, you may be used to filling up on chicken, fish, and pasta. It pays to add some walnuts to your diet as they are rich in protein and can be an added string to your muscle building bow. Just be careful to avoid the mold that often grows on walnuts.

Berries

Goji and acai berries have had a bit of mixed press in recent years. There is no doubt they add nutritional benefits to any diet, but their elevation to superfood has come with some ridicule and extortionate prices to match. The whole hippyish persona that superfoods often have makes the average Joe feel somewhat sidelined. People often view superfoods as something that only commune dwelling vegans entertain when nothing could be further from the truth.

By adding a variety of berries to your diet, you will be bombarding your body with more vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants than you can shake a stick at. The phytochemicals and nutrients that blueberries, raspberries, strawberries, and cranberries contain can help lower your risk of developing cancer and are a delicious sweet snack alternative to the more refined sugar snacks of candy, brittles, and chocolate.

Cinnamon

This delicious spice is one of those additions to your diet that can aid in rebalancing your body. Adding cinnamon to your daily eating plan can help regulate your blood sugar levels (which is great for those with diabetes) and contains anti-inflammatory properties, as well. Your immune system will be boosted, and you may recover more quickly from ailments and infections. All of this doesn’t mean that you can have a daily pudding of cinnamon laden apple crumble or apple pie after your evening meal, but it does mean that you could add a cinnamon stick to your curry sauce and pasta ragu bases. I also like adding it to smoothies, oatmeal, and yogurt.

Beans

Whether you’re a fan of the flageolet bean or an advocate of the good old green bean, beans and legumes are one of nature’s cheapest and most nutritious superfoods. The key benefit of eating beans is that you are putting more soluble fiber into your body. By doing this, any cholesterol that is lingering around inside your body can be absorbed before it’s deposited on to your artery walls. By eating beans two or three times a week, maybe as a meat substitute, you are maintaining a healthy heart and reducing your risk of heart problems in the future. Your blood pressure will remain at a sound level and, if this wasn’t good enough, beans are full of antioxidants.

Add Superfoods to Your Life

You may not be a fan of the term superfood and all of the connotations that this it brings with it, but you cannot deny that some foods are heavily laden with a variety of health benefits. It pays to look at your current diet and make a list of any health issues that you may currently have. Take a look at this list of superfoods and attempt to work them into your meal plan. Before long you will begin to feel the health benefits and continue to be motivated to stick to a well balanced and nutritionally healthy way of eating.

Tags beans, berries, cinnamon, legumes, mushrooms, superfoods, walnuts, yogurt

Taste Tests

Pumpkin Season 2017 Taste Test #2

Post author By Carma Spence
Post date October 23, 2017

Last week I was able to fit in a few more tastings of the current pumpkin offerings. Here are the good, the mediocre and the indifferent.

Trader Joe’s This Pumpkin Walks Into a Bar … Cereal Bar

[two_third] I’ve had mixed reactions to cereal bars of this ilk (fruit-filled breakfast bars and cookies). Some are good and some are way too sweet for my taste. That said, I am a big ban of Fig Newtons, even though they are on the sweet side.

So now onto my experience of this Trader Joe’s pumpkin cereal bar. Thankfully, it is not too sweet. As you bring the bar to your mouth, I noted a delightful cinnamon-ginger aroma. Once on the tongue, I found the flavor more reminiscent of a Fig Newton. The pumpkin flavor is soft and muted to me. This is not surprising given that there is more “apple powder” than pumpkin in them. There is a note of cinnamon in the aftertaste, which I found nice.

This pumpkin product didn’t knock my socks off, but I did enjoy eating them. [/two_third][one_third_last] [/one_third_last]

Rating

[one_fifth] [/one_fifth][one_fifth] [/one_fifth][one_fifth] [/one_fifth][one_fifth] [/one_fifth][one_fifth_last] [/one_fifth_last]

Trader Joe’s Organic Frosted Toaster Pastries, Pumpkin

[two_third] I believe a good Toaster Pastry should taste just as good straight out of the packaging as it does when heated in a toaster. Therefore I tasted this pastry under both conditions.

At room temperature, the crust dominated the flavor except for that one bite that comes out of the center. So, what I experienced was a mix of whole wheat crust, a touch of sweetness from the icing, and a center that tasted like a brown sugar cinnamon pastry. Not much pumpkin or pumpkin spice to speak of here.

Now toasted was a different experience altogether. The heat brought out the pumpkin-pie-like flavor so that it partially overrode the brown sugar cinnamon flavor. Not enough for my taste, so I wouldn’t buy these again. [/two_third][one_third_last] [/one_third_last]

Rating

[one_fifth] [/one_fifth][one_fifth] [/one_fifth][one_fifth] [/one_fifth][one_fifth] [/one_fifth][one_fifth_last] [/one_fifth_last]

Jell-O Pumpkin Spice Instant Pudding & Pie Filling Mix

I don’t know how they did it, but this tastes just like regular pumpkin pie filling. The texture is a little softer, but that’s it. This one’s a winner.

Here are a couple of creative ideas for using this mix when you need to make a pumpkin pie but don’t have a lot of time:

Quick and Easy Pumpkin Pie #1: Make the pudding and pour into a graham cracker crust. Yep, that’s it. You’re done. For extra pumpkin flavor, you can fold in between 1/4 and 1/2 cup pumpkin puree. And you can top it with Cool Whip or whipped cream.

Quick and Easy Pumpkin Pie #2: Make the pudding. Fold in some Cool Whip or whipped cream (about 2 cups). Pour into a graham cracker crust. Garnish as desired.

Want to spice those recipes up? Instead of using a graham cracker crust, use a ginger snap cookie crust! Crush gingersnaps until you have 1-1/2 cups finely ground crumbs. Stir in 6 Tbsp melted butter. Press mixture into an 8 or 9-inch pie plate and bake at 375° F for 7 minutes. Let cool completely before adding the filling.

Rating

[one_fifth] [/one_fifth][one_fifth] [/one_fifth][one_fifth] [/one_fifth][one_fifth] [/one_fifth][one_fifth_last] [/one_fifth_last]

Limited Edition Breakfast Belvita, Pumpkin Spice

[two_third] I was first introduced to Belvita Breakfast Cracker aboard a plane. It was what they served as their “breakfast snack.” Although I was skeptical at first, I was quickly won over. I like them in general and have tried several of their variety of flavors. I find that they are tasty and easy to use as a quick meal on the go. When I saw they had jumped aboard the pumpkin spice wagon, I had to give this limited edition flavor a try.

It did not disappoint. The crackers were lightly seasoned with cinnamon and had a touch of pumpkin flavor, as well. They won’t bowl you over with pumpkin or with spice, but it is a nice change of pace. [/two_third][one_third_last] [/one_third_last]

Rating

[one_fifth] [/one_fifth][one_fifth] [/one_fifth][one_fifth] [/one_fifth][one_fifth] [/one_fifth][one_fifth_last] [/one_fifth_last]

Trader Joe’s Petite Pumpkin Spice Cookies

[two_third] If you like shortbread cookies in general, you’re in for a treat. These pumpkin-shaped shortbread cookies are coated with pumpkin spice and yogurt coating. They reminded me a lot of one of my favorite packaged cookies: Mother’s Animal Circus cookies.

In the box, you’ll find two different kinds of these pumpkin spice cookies: creamy white and orange. I’m not sure if it is a trick of the mind or if the coatings actually taste different. I found that the white ones were more vanilla flavored with a touch of pumpkin spice. Whereas, the orange ones had a more spicy flavor.

These cookies would look lovely displayed on a platter for guests to nibble on. And I’m sure kids would love to find them tucked into their lunch pails. [/two_third][one_third_last] [/one_third_last]

Rating

[one_fifth] [/one_fifth][one_fifth] [/one_fifth][one_fifth] [/one_fifth][one_fifth] [/one_fifth][one_fifth_last] [/one_fifth_last]

Trader Joe’s Pumpkin Joe-Joe’s

[two_third] Remember the random video my husband and I found on YouTube that inspired this year’s pumpkin product tasting series? Well, it was this product they said was the best of the lot available at Trader Joe’s. And I’m inclined to agree.

These clever sandwich cookies are both spicy and pumpkin-y at the same time. They were fantastic! My husband and I gobbled them up in record time.

The two cookies create a solid pumpkin shortbread style foundation for the sandwich cookie. The filling is creamy and flavored with a ginger-cinnamon flavored pumpkin spice blend. They have a little bit of kick to them (from the ginger) but they aren’t overpowering either. I think they’d taste great with milk, or even egg nog. Alas, I was chowing down on them too quickly to take the time for such niceties.[/two_third][one_third_last] [/one_third_last]

Rating

[one_fifth] [/one_fifth][one_fifth] [/one_fifth][one_fifth] [/one_fifth][one_fifth] [/one_fifth][one_fifth_last] [/one_fifth_last]

Trader Joe’s Autumnal Harvest Creamy Pasta Sauce Made with Pumpkin and Butternut Squash

[two_third] Looking for a change from your typical pasta sauce? Trader Joe’s has created a winner here. At first blush, the sauce doesn’t taste much different than a mild tomato-based sauce. It has a rich blend of herbs and spices that give it texture and depth.

But then, with each bite, you’ll start to notice the notes of pumpkin. Pumpkin itself has a very mild flavor, so it is often overpowered by other flavors. This is why the tomato is the dominant flavor in this sauce. That said, the pumpkin and butternut squash, which is very similar in flavor, give the sauce a nice thick consistency.

I served Trader Joe’s Autumnal Harvest Creamy Pasta Sauce last night over spaghetti along with Trader Joe’s Party Size Mini Meatballs. Yum! As a side dish, I made garlic cheese bread, which was simple to make.

Quick and Easy Garlic Cheese Bread

Take a slice of garlic loaf bread (we get ours at Ralph’s, but I’ve seen similar loaves in other grocery store bakery sections) and toast it in the toaster, set on light. When it comes out, spread some butter on in. Atop that, place a slice of cheese (in this case I used Muenster). Pop in the microwave long enough to melt the cheese. If you have time, heat it in the oven, it will taste better.[/two_third][one_third_last]
[/one_third_last]

Rating

[one_fifth] [/one_fifth][one_fifth] [/one_fifth][one_fifth] [/one_fifth][one_fifth] [/one_fifth][one_fifth_last] [/one_fifth_last]

Trader Joe’s Pumpkin Waffles

If you’re looking for a waffle infused with pumpkin or pumpkin spice flavor, look elsewhere. These simply tasted like plain multi-grain waffles.

I served them with some of Trader Joe’s Pumpkin Ice Cream, which I reviewed last week, and that helped.

Now don’t get me wrong, the waffles tasted just fine. They just didn’t taste as described on the packaging.

Rating

[one_fifth] [/one_fifth][one_fifth] [/one_fifth][one_fifth] [/one_fifth][one_fifth] [/one_fifth][one_fifth_last] [/one_fifth_last]

Previous Pumpkin Tastings

Tags pumpkin, pumpkin spice, pumpkin taste tests

Creative Cookery

Bored With What’s for Dinner?

Post author By Carma Spence
Post date October 20, 2017

Inspiration To Spice Up Supper

One of the reasons I’m a recipe and cookbook collector — or should I say, junkie? — is that I get easily bored eating the same things over and over. I, and perhaps you, as well, try to prepare meals at home, at least in part, so that I can be eating well and more healthfully. And, making meals at home — especially if you’re busy — takes some planning. Without the planning, you’ll be more likely to pick up something that’s quick and tasty, but probably not all that good for you. But what happens when you get bored with the meals you’re making? It’s easy to do when you’re in a cooking rut. But, you don’t need to head out to the nearest takeout joint. Instead, spice up your dinner with some of these tips below.

Bored Buster #1: Go with a Theme

Mexican Mondays, anyone? There’s a whole world of food out there, so why not travel across the globe from the comfort of your own home during dinner time? Pick a food type and make that your mission for the evening. We’re all guilty of relying too heavily on those go-to dishes that we can make with our eyes closed; indeed, it’s this autopilot nature that makes preparing the meals boring. We’re just not challenged enough! Selecting to make a meal from say, India, will test you in the kitchen and keep you engaged on the task at hand.

Here are some additional theme night ideas:

Alliteration Themes: Thai Tuesday, Hawaiian Hump Day, Throw Back Thursday (vintage recipes), Finger Food Friday, Salad Saturday and Slowcooker Sunday
Fun Themes: Movie Monday – recipes inspired by your favorite films; TV Tuesay – recipes inspired by your favorite TV shows; Disney Princess High Tea
Cuisines of the World: Try your hand at Indian, Swedish, Hungarian, wherever your tastbuds (and cooking skills) want to go

Bored Buster #2: Add New Equipment

Never underestimate just how big a difference a new gadget can make. I’m still working my through all the cool kitchen gadgets I got when I got married last year! These gadgets are fun to shop for, and you’ll start planning the meals you’ll make with them even before it arrives. Then you’ll be excited to get into the kitchen once it’s in your hands. We’ve come a long way over the past couple of decades, and now there are dozens of cool kitchen gadgets that can put the fun back into cooking. Even the basics can be fun! There are some seriously awesome chopping boards available, ones with art, slogans, fun facts and more. Who knew taking care of the legwork of cooking could be so enjoyable?

Bored Buster #3: Mix up the Drinks

We tend to make dinner time all about the food, but that part only accounts for a percentage of the whole experience. The rest is in the atmosphere, who’s there, the music, and of course the drinks. If your dining routine has become second-nature, mix it up by adding some new and interesting drinks to the menu. Choose wines that complement the meal you’ve prepared. Look for after dinner drinks that will cap off the experience; this Kikori whiskey review, for instance, makes a note of its smooth taste, which will be perfect after a meal. You normally build the dining experience around the food; for once, build it around the drinks you’re serving.

Bored Buster #4: Make it an Event

If you’re one of those people that thinks happiness is only real when it’s shared, then it could be that you’re not so much bored with your food as you are bored with being in the kitchen all by yourself! On select nights, get the family to pitch in and help. You’ll enjoy the cooking process much more if you’re having fun with the ones you love!

Plan B

Finally, if you’re really tired of your food, give yourself the night off and check out a local restaurant. But there are rules:

No Fast Food! Make sure it’s high quality so you can savor the flavor.
Either try out a new restaurant or a dish from your favorite restaurant that you haven’t tried yet.

Tags ideas, inspiration

Healthy Living

Looking for Healthy Recipe Ideas? Here’s Some Inspiration

Post author By Carma Spence
Post date October 19, 2017

For many, eating healthy can be tough. That’s why it’s something you have to make the decision to commit to. Having a generally healthy diet is better for you than yo-yo dieting and limiting what you eat when you want to lose weight. However, if you’re trying to be a healthy eater, you can sometimes get bored or frustrated. I know I’ve been there. Sometimes you just what to put a frozen pizza in the oven. And that’s OK sometimes, but just don’t do it all the time. If you often find yourself getting bored of eating the same old things, you need to keep discovering a new healthy recipe to enjoy. That’s part of the mission of Carma’s Cookery, to help you be more creative in the kitchen. The good news is this: It’s easier than you might think to find healthy food you’ll love.

Healthy Recipe Inspiration Idea #1: Look Online

If you’re stuck for ideas and you need one quickly, looking online is always the best thing to do. However, you might get a little overwhelmed if you’re not great at making choices. Simply searching for healthy recipes will get you started. But if you want to narrow it down, try adding some extra keywords like quick, mid-week, soup, protein, or anything else you think of. You can find huge archives of recipes, like Food Network, as well as people sharing recipes on their blogs and personal sites. And if you need some extra guidance, there are plenty of videos too.

My Favorite Recipe Sites

Taste of Home: Home cooked recipes for all types of people.
AllRecipes.com: A great resource! Pretty much anything you could want to make can be found here.
Betty Crocker: I’ve got the cookbook at home, and love receving recipe ideas from their weekly email.

Healthy Recipe Inspiration Idea #2: Follow the Fads

Sometimes, seeing what’s currently popular can be a great way to find some new ideas. There are always newly popular healthy foods that can help to inspire you. If you take a look at the healthy food trends in 2017, you’ll find things like jackfruit, skyr, and coconut flour. All of these ingredients can get you thinking, or you can just search for recipes that use them. Of course, sometimes these healthy foods can be hard to find if they’re not well-known. Try buying them online or looking for specialty shops that sell healthy food or perhaps ingredients from around the world.

Healthy Recipe Inspiration Idea #3: Buy New Recipe Books

If you enjoy cooking, you probably like leafing through a new cookbook. Although lots of people just use the internet these days, a recipe book can be lots of fun. I love my collection! Crucially, they tend to have lots of recipes from one chef. This is great if there’s someone you like and who you know can offer you lots of healthy recipes. If you want healthy food, look for books with a healthy theme. They might be vegetarian or vegan recipes, or they could just have a healthy twist to them. For some ideas, take a look at the cookbooks I’ve reviewed.

Some of My Favorite Healthy Cookbooks

The New Laurel’s Kitchen: I swear by her recipe fo soy burgers!
Whole Body Reboot: The Peruvian Superfoods Diet to Detoxify, Energize, and Supercharge Fat Loss: I love leafing through the pages for inspiration
The Six O’Clock Scramble Meal Planner: I have to admit that after receiving a review copy of this cookbook for people with diabetes, it has become my go-to when I want quick, healthy meal ideas.

Healthy Recipe Inspiration Idea #4: Turn to Health and Fitness Groups

If you’re looking for a source of healthy recipes, other healthy people can help you out. You don’t necessarily have to be losing weight to benefit from the recipes from dieting and fitness groups. They often have great suggestions for making healthy swaps in your ingredients too. Maybe you’re also a member of a running group, you attend a fitness class, or you have friends at the gym. You can ask for healthy recipe recommendations to try out.

You don’t have to run out of ideas for healthy food. There are so many things you can cook, so stay inspired and creative.

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Take Charge of Your Health!

Changing your eating habits can be tough. But it doesn’t have to be if you take a little time to think it out and create a plan.

This Healthy Eating Worksheet will walk you through the process of creating a healthy eating plan. All you need to do is print it out, set aside some time to complete it, and then fill it out. Then you can create your plan, knowing that you have addressed potential obstacles and came up with some creative ways to handle them.

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Tags healthy recipe, ideas, inspiration

Restaurant News & Reviews

Review: Pumpkin Offerings at Ruby’s Diner

Post author By Carma Spence
Post date October 17, 2017

Ruby’s Diner is a semi-national chain 1940s style diner, with most of its locations in Southern California. There are locations in Las Vegas, Texas and the Northern East Coast, as well. Every year starting in October, they offer a special Fall menu. This year it features a pumpkin milkshake, pumpkin pancakes, and pumpkin waffles. The latter two are only available before 11 am, but the shake is available throughout the day.

Ruby’s Diner Pumpkin Pancakes

Ruby’s Pumpkin Pancakes are served in a stack of three with a dusting of powdered sugar and whipped cream. You have the option to also have two eggs and your choice of bacon or sausage.

The pancakes had a rich pumpkin taste with notes of cinnamon and ginger. They weren’t great, but they weren’t bad either. When you add eggs and sausage to the mix, there is too much food for me, so I ended up taking home about 3/4 of the pancakes.

You are provided with maple syrup, but I put their pumpkin milkshake on mine.

In summary, I would order these again, but I wouldn’t go out of my way to have them.

Ruby’s Diner Pumpkin Waffles

Ruby’s Pumpkin Waffles are served with a caramel sauce, a dusting of powdered sugar and whipped cream. You have the option to also have two eggs and your choice of bacon or sausage.

Although it is highly likely the waffle batter is simply the pancake batter with some additional oil, the waffle really didn’t work for me. I found the caramel sauce a bit too sweet for my tastes. And the process of making a waffle toned down the spice evident in the pancakes and changed the texture, as well, from a normal waffle.

In summary, I wouldn’t order these again at all.

Ruby’s Diner Pumpkin Milkshake

The pumpkin milkshake uses a vanilla shake as it’s base and adds in pumpkin and pumpkin spice. It is served with whipped cream and a candy corn garnish.

This is, by far, the best item on the pumpkin menu. I’ve had three of them so far! (My huband and I eat at Ruby’s once or twice a month.) The texture is smooth. The flavor strikes a wonderful balance of cream, pumpkin, cinnamon and other spices. This is the best pumpkin milkshake I’ve had this season (Jack-in-the-Box offers one, too. And so does Arby’s.)

In summary, if you like pumpkin milkshakes, this one is a true winner.

Miss the first post in the 2017 Pumpkin Season Review Series? You can read it here:

Pumpkin Season 2017: Taste the Variety

Tags pumpkin, pumpkin milkshake, pumpkin pancakes, pumpkin taste tests, pumpkin waffle, Ruby's Diner

Taste Tests

Pumpkin Season 2017: Taste the Variety

Post author By Carma Spence
Post date October 16, 2017

It’s that time of year again … time for all things flavored pumpkin! Now, this is a flavor after my own heart since I am currently working on an expanded version of my pumpkin cookbook, A Passion for Pumpkins. Inspired by a random video my husband and I found on YouTube, I’ve decided to do a tasting of many of new (and traditional) pumpkin and pumpkin spice flavored foods that are currently on the market.

So, I’ve gone on a pumpkin binge, purchasing a sampling of a wide variety of pumpkin and pumpkin spice flavored products available at your local grocery store, Trader Joe’s and restaurants. Over the next several weeks, I’ll be sharing with you my experiences and my opinions of these various offerings. (And no, I will not be tasting the dog biscuits!)

Before I even came up with this idea, I had already sampled several pumpkin inspired offerings. Here are my thoughts on each of them. In this post, you’ll find my thoughts on the following pumpkin flavor products:

Pumpkin Cups Candy
Chobani Greek Yogurt Flip, Pumpkin Harvest Crisp
Limited Edition Pumpkin Spice Life Cereal
Pilgrim Joe’s Pumpkin Ice Cream Super Premium
Limited Edition Pumpkin Spice Cheerios
Trader Joe’s Pumpkin Cream Cheese Muffins

Pumpkin Cups Candy

I saw these while in line at the 99 Cents Store, so I grabbed a bag. They kind of look like peanut butter cups, but have pumpkin flavored candy where the peanut butter would be.

The flavor was more sugar than pumpkin and way too sweet for my tastes. I did not purchase any more, which is why I don’t have a photo for you.

I think they are clever idea poorly executed. If I were to create pumpkin cups candy, the candy would be much more pumpkin-y and I think I’d dip them in dark chocolate, rather than milk chocolate.

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Chobani Greek Yogurt Flip, Pumpkin Harvest Crisp

Chobani Greek Yogurt makes a line of “Flip” packages that are yogurt in one cup and crunchy items in another that flip over into the yogurt when ready to eat. Their Pumpkin Harvest Crisp features pumpkin low-fat yogurt with pie crust pieces, pecans, and glazed pumpkin seeds.

The pumpkin yogurt is, in my opinion, da bomb! The crunchy bits had texture, which is fine, but I would totally purchase this yogurt without them. The yogurt achieves a nice balance of smooth pumpkin flavor with a touch of pumpkin spice blend. I love eating this with my lunch.

Rating
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Limited Edition Pumpkin Spice Life Cereal

Many of the fall flavors available are “pumpkin spice,” which means they use the flavor blend that is commonly used in pumpkin pie. This blend usually consists of cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg and either cloves, allspice or mace (which are very similar in flavor). Cinnamon is usually the dominant flavor, but not always.

In the case of Life Cereal’s Pumpkin Spice version, the cloves’ bite is quite prominent. I tried it sans milk, so the bite was strong. I believe that if you ate this cereal in milk (or the milk alternative of your choice — I’ve been favoring Oat Milk lately), this spiciness would be very nice.

That said, if the strong flavor of cloves is not your thing, I’d leave this item on the shelf.

Rating
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Pilgrim Joe’s Pumpkin Ice Cream Super Premium

One of the traditional fall stand-bys at Trader Joe’s is their pumpkin ice cream. This year is the first time I’ve had the opportunity to try it. It was well worth the wait.

The texture of the ice cream is as promised — super premium. It is smooth and creamy. The dominant flavor is pumpkin, but with strong notes of cinnamon and cloves. I’m looking forward to trying this ice cream out with some of the other pumpkin products I’ve purchased. Some of my ideas include:

Ice Cream Sandwiches: Take two pumpkin toaster waffles and fill with pumpkin ice cream.
Pumpkin Pancakes Supreme: Dollop some pumpkin ice cream on pumpkin pancakes instead of using maple syrup or whipped cream.
Cookie Dip: Dunk the pumpkin cookies in the pumpkin ice cream — a decadent treat!
Pumpkin Bread a la Mode: A scoop of pumpkin ice cream will go well with a nice warm slice of pumpkin bread.
Breakfast Dessert: Toss in some pumpkin Os cereal with the ice cream to add a bit of extra texture.

Even my husband, who is not as into pumpkin as I am, thought the ice cream was good.

Rating
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Limited Edition Pumpkin Spice Cheerios

I’ve had other flavored versions of Cheerios before, so I was confident that this cereal would at least be edible. But I think they did a really good job with this one. Although it is spicy, it has stronger notes of cinnamon than the Life cereal had. I think these would not only taste great with milk, but also mixed in with vanilla yogurt.

Will you like them? It all depends on whether you like Cheerios to begin with — their signature taste is quite present — and if you like cinnamon with a touch of cloves. If yes to both, this is a nice change of pace to your breakfast routine.

It will be interesting to compare and contrast these with Trader Joe’s Pumpkin O’s, which I will do in a future post.

Rating
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Trader Joe’s Pumpkin Cream Cheese Muffins

I love a good pumpkin muffin and these did not disapoint. These muffins have a “cream cheese filling and a sprinkle of pumpkin seeds” for flavor and garnish.

The frosting has a perfect balance of cream cheese and sweetness. It is not too sweet like so many commercial cream cheese frostings are. The muffin is mildly spiced with an almost molasses-ginger flavor mixing in with the pumpkin.

As I took my first taste, I was reminded of a molasses coffee cake I tasted once when I was a child. I love molasses (and often would lick the cup clean after measuring into the molasses cookies I made), so that flavor note was unexpected but delightful.

Rating
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Previous Pumpkin Tastings

Upcoming Pumpkin Tastings

As you can see from the topmost pictures, I have purchased quite a few pumpkin flavored products to taste and tell you about. Some of those include:

Pumpkin Pancake Mixes by Krusteaz and Trader Joe’s
Pumpkin Bar Mixes by Betty Crocker and Krusteaz
And a variety of items from Trader Joe’s including cookies, snack bars, mluffins, toaster pastries and more.

I’ll also be posting my reviews of pumpkin offerings at local and chain restaurants, as I experience them.

Let’s enjoy pumpkin season together!

Tags pumpkin, pumpkin candy, pumpkin cereal, pumpkin ice cream, pumpkin muffins, pumpkin spice, pumpkin taste tests, pumpkin yogurt

Ingredients

Cake

Chocolate Buttercream

Directions

Cake

Chocolate Buttercream

Notes

Yogurt

Mushrooms

Walnuts

Berries

Cinnamon

Beans

Add Superfoods to Your Life

Trader Joe’s This Pumpkin Walks Into a Bar … Cereal Bar

Rating

Trader Joe’s Organic Frosted Toaster Pastries, Pumpkin

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Jell-O Pumpkin Spice Instant Pudding & Pie Filling Mix

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Limited Edition Breakfast Belvita, Pumpkin Spice

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Trader Joe’s Petite Pumpkin Spice Cookies

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Trader Joe’s Pumpkin Joe-Joe’s

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Trader Joe’s Autumnal Harvest Creamy Pasta Sauce Made with Pumpkin and Butternut Squash

Quick and Easy Garlic Cheese Bread

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Trader Joe’s Pumpkin Waffles

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Previous Pumpkin Tastings

Inspiration To Spice Up Supper

Bored Buster #1: Go with a Theme

Bored Buster #2: Add New Equipment

Bored Buster #3: Mix up the Drinks

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Bored Buster #4: Make it an Event

Plan B

Healthy Recipe Inspiration Idea #1: Look Online

My Favorite Recipe Sites

Healthy Recipe Inspiration Idea #2: Follow the Fads

Healthy Recipe Inspiration Idea #3: Buy New Recipe Books

Some of My Favorite Healthy Cookbooks

Healthy Recipe Inspiration Idea #4: Turn to Health and Fitness Groups

Take Charge of Your Health!

Ruby’s Diner Pumpkin Pancakes

Ruby’s Diner Pumpkin Waffles

Ruby’s Diner Pumpkin Milkshake

Pumpkin Cups Candy

Chobani Greek Yogurt Flip, Pumpkin Harvest Crisp

Limited Edition Pumpkin Spice Life Cereal

Pilgrim Joe’s Pumpkin Ice Cream Super Premium

Limited Edition Pumpkin Spice Cheerios

Trader Joe’s Pumpkin Cream Cheese Muffins

Previous Pumpkin Tastings

Upcoming Pumpkin Tastings