Caffeine ~ I Need It!

 I woke up this morning with a horrible headache.  I hate when that happens, because I usually can't get rid of it, and it ruins my entire day.  I kind of knew that this mornings headache was due to my lack of caffeine intake, because as soon as I got some diet coke into my system, my headache eased off a little bit.  It never really went away, but it did get tolerable.  Instead of a pounding, it became a dull ache. 

My life would be easier some days if I drank coffee, but no matter how many times I try it, I just don't like it.  I have two sisters and a mother who live on coffee, whether it be hot or cold.  My mom has a few different types of coffee makers, from a cup at a time one to a cappuccino machine.  I think the only thing she doesn't have is one of those Saeco Espresso Machines.  I have days when I wish I could down an espresso or two.  Driving all day can be tiring, and all the caffeine in an espresso would surely keep me awake.

For now, though, I'll stick to my diet cokes, and hopefully they will keep my headaches away.

Paint It Purple

My kids love grape juice.  I love it, too.  I remember after having each of my kids, the doctor wouldn't let me have soda in the hospital because I had c-sections.  All I was allowed to have was water or juice.  I remember having people bring me grape juice, because that was all I wanted.  These days, I actually add the juice to my lemon lime soda, and it tastes so good.

I found this recipe, and I am looking forward to trying it out the next time I have some Welch's in my fridge.  (it's hard to keep it...the kids drink it pretty quickly!) You can find other recipes in Welch's Recipe Box.

GRAPE INFUSED FORTUNE COOKIES
1 cup flour
2 tablespoons cornstarch
1/4 cup sugar
pinch salt
1/3 cup canola oil
3 egg whites
1/3 cup Welch’s 100% Grape Juice
oil for cookie sheet
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly coat baking sheet with canola oil.

2. Combine dry ingredients in a large bowl. Set aside.

3. Whisk liquid ingredients together in medium bowl.

4. Add liquid ingredients to dry ingredients and whisk vigorously until the batter is smooth.

5. Spoon one tablespoon of batter onto the cookie sheet and pat the cookie sheet on counter gently to thin to a 4 inch circle. Repeat.

6. Set cookie sheet in the oven; bake for about 10 minutes or until the cookies begin to brown lightly. Remove 1 cookie from oven with a spatula….leave other cookies in oven with door open until ready to use.

7. Flip it over and place a fortune in the center, fold in half then fold over edge of a bowl to make the fortune cookie shape. Set cookies muffin tin to keep their shape until cool (2 cookies per muffin section works well).

8. Repeat process with remaining cookies.

9. Enjoy!

Sounds good, right?  I am going to let the kids write some silly fortunes to go inside...maybe something Easter themed so we can serve the cookies to family.  When I asked the kids to write some up, my girls came up with a poem about the juice instead.  Check it out:

Grape juice is not the same
Without the Welch's name
It is so perfect
Every sip is worth it
It has a natural taste
By the time you're done, there is no more to waste
If you are sad
Welch's will make you glad

Not too bad, right?  My kids are pretty talented.  As you all know, I am now doing the day to day parenting stuff on my own since Bob left.  It's crazy and overwhelming at times, but they are worth it.  I like to think I am doing a good job, and I am pretty sure the kids will agree.  I have never given much thought to all the things I am passing on to them, from my parenting skills to my genes.  Yes, I said my genes.

I know there is heart disease in my family, but I am not sure to what extent.  Welch's can help me, and you,
trace our family's health history by using a tool called Welch's Family Vine Tool. With this tool, you can:

• Enter your family health history.
• Print your family health history to share with family or your health care provider.
• Save your family health history so you can update it over time.
• Use the health history you create to have more productive and proactive conversations with your physician.

Knowing your history, and that of your kids, can help you make changes now to prevent future health problems.

You can follow Welch's on twitter and also find them on facebook.

I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour by Mom Central Consulting on behalf of Welch’s and received a product sample to facilitate my review and a gift code to thank me for taking the time to participate.

Tea

 I have been trying, for the past few months, to eat better. I want to get healthier.

Losing weight has been a bonus. 

My one vice is diet soda.  I drink it from the moment I wake up until I go back to bed at night.  I have tried to drink plain water, but it never lasts more than a few days.  I need something that has some flavor, and I am not a fan of those little packets you can add to bottled water.

I have heard lots of good things about drinking tea, and how different teas can help you with different things.  I know some teas are good for weight loss, while others can help with depression.  There is such a variety of flavors, too.  There's black tea, green tea, white tea, herbal teas, and fruit teas.  Of all of these, I think I want to try the fruit tea.  I found a website where I can buy tea, and they do have a fruit tea that contains Vitamin C rich hibiscus, rose hips, apple, lemon, and orange.  To this base, they add either blackberry or dragonfruit.  Sounds delicious, right?

I hope that it tastes as good as it sounds, because I have got to find something else to drink besides diet soda.