Days 28 and 29--All-Natural Cupcakes

Day 28


Breakfast--banana and peanut butter
Mid-morning snack--nothing
Lunch--Wendy's Dave's Big and Juicey
Afternoon snack--peanuts and chocolate chips

Dinner--Maggiano's....chopped salad, bread and Rigatoni Pomodoro
Bedtime snack--Cherry Crunch
Workout--Insanity Cardio Core and Balance




Day 29

Breakfast--Mom's Best Cocoa Crisps cereal
Mid-morning snack--nothing 
Lunch--sliders, chips and dip
Afternoon snack--nothing
Dinner--30th Birthday Party!!! Woot woot! :) Besides the all-natural cupcakes I made, everything else was decidedly unnatural...chicken fingers, quesadillas, spinach and artichoke dip and queso and chips




All-Natural Vanilla Cupcakes

1 cup whole-wheat pastry flour (I couldn't find pastry flour, so I just used 2 cups of cake flour)
1 cup cake flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup granulated sugar
1/4 cup canola oil
1 whole vanilla bean, split lengthwise (I used 2 teaspoons of vanilla extract instead)
1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
1 large egg
1 large egg yolk
1/2 12-ounce can low-fat evaporated milk

Preheat oven to 350°F. Line 12 (1/2-cup) muffin cups with paper liners.
Whisk whole-wheat flour, cake flour, baking soda and 1/2 teaspoon salt in a medium bowl.
Beat granulated sugar and oil in a large mixing bowl with an electric mixer on medium speed until combined. Scrape the black paste out of the vanilla bean into the sugar mixture. Add applesauce, egg, egg yolk and vanilla extract and beat until well combined. With the mixer on low, alternately mix in the dry ingredients and 1/2 cup evaporated milk, starting and ending with dry ingredients and scraping the sides of the bowl as needed, until just combined. Divide the batter among the prepared cups (they will be full).
Bake the cupcakes until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, 20 to 22 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack and let cool completely.

Eating Clean Day 7--Maggiano's Chopped Salad and Homemade Breadsticks

Breakfast--I had MOPS today so there was an assortment of wonderful breakfast foods. Here's a tip I've run across several times and put into use today--when going to a buffet or meal with lots of choices, take just a bite or two of each dish that appeals to you. That way you get to taste everything, but don't over do it. So, I had two bites of potato casserole, two bites of two different egg casseroles, bite of coffee cake and half of a half of bagel with cream cheese. I was satisfied and full :) 
Mid-morning snack--nothing 
Lunch--Pepsi Max (I know, totally not nutritious or healthy, but I was still full from breakfast and just really wanted a pop! All about moderation! ;)
Afternoon snack--two spoonfuls of peanut butter with some chocolate chips
Dinner--we had a lovely dinner with our friends, Karie and Kyle. They introduced us to a super delicious pizza from Donatos, the Mariachi Chicken Pizza. Yummo! I also made Maggiano's Chopped Salad (recipe below) and homemade, all-natural whole wheat bread sticks (recipe below).
Bedtime snack--nothing
Workout--P90X Cardio X


Paula's Bread Sticks
from allrecipes.com

1 1/3 cups warm water (110 degrees F/45 degrees C)
3 tablespoons butter, softened
4 cups bread flour
2 teaspoons salt
1/4 cup white sugar
1/4 cup sesame seeds
2 tablespoons dry milk powder
2 1/2 teaspoons active dry yeast

Directions:
1. Place ingredients in the pan of the bread machine in the order recommended by the manufacturer. Select Dough cycle; press Start. Spray two baking sheets with cooking spray.
2. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). When dough cycle is complete, remove dough to a lightly oiled surface. Divide dough up into 18 pieces. Roll each piece on an oiled board, from center of piece to the outside edges to form bread sticks. Place bread sticks at least 1 inch apart on the prepared pans.
3. Bake in preheated oven for 10 to 15 minutes, until golden. Remove to a wire rack to cool.


Copycat Maggiano's Chopped Salad and Dressing
Salad:

1/2 head iceberg lettuce, in 1/2-inch dice
1 head romaine lettuce, in 1/2-inch dice
2 plum tomatoes, in 1/2-inch dice
1/2 cup danish blue cheese, crumbled
1/2 cup prosciutto, pan fried until crispy and chopped
Italian dressing (recipe follows)

Garnish:
1 avocado, small dice
1 teaspoon prosciutto, pan fried

Dressing:
1 1/2 teaspoons Coleman's dry mustard 
2 tablespoons granulated sugar (or Splenda)
1/4 cup water
1 1/2 teaspoons garlic, finely minced
2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
1/4 cup white vinegar
salt, to taste
3/4 cup canola oil
1/2 cup virgin olive oil
1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes 
1/2 teaspoon whole black peppercorn, fresh ground
1/4 teaspoon fresh oregano (or 3/4 t. dried oregano)
1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, grated

Directions:
1. Combine mustard, sugar, water, garlic, red and white vinegar and salt in food processor. Mix until smooth. Slowly drizzle in the oils, continue to blend. Add remaining ingredients and blend until well mixed. Recipe can be doubled with remaining stored in sealed container in refrigerator for up to a week.
2. Place lettuce in large mixing bowl Add all the ingredients except garnish and mix well. Add dressing and mix well.
3. Serve, topping each portion with garnish.