all i want to do...

all i want to do with my life is...
own a precious bakery and bake yummy treats all day for people to eat. and love. and that make them feel happy.

ironic that i'm about to become a dietitian? maybe. but who cares?

i will own a bakery one day. one day... for now, i'll just keep baking in my my parents kitchen. like these...

so not that i'm promoting myself and my small very small business. or maybe i am, but if you are in the market for a cake. i'm your girl. 

see more here: http://www.facebook.com/andieocakes

it's actually...delicious

so the first question i usually get when people find out i'm a dietitian almost a dietitian. is...

"so, do you like, never eat any sweets or junk food?" 

yeah, right. hey, i'm human! i like my chocolate chip cookies and texas roadhouse steak just as much as the next person. however, i do like to find ways to make dishes healthier when i can because i overall i do like to eat a pretty healthy diet.

"moderation in all things." right?

on of my favorite foods ever is fettuccine alfredo, but being moderation-al and all, i don't have it very often...until now. usually this stuff is loaded with fat and calories but i just found the most amazing recipe on pinterest (where else?) for healthy fettuchini alfredo, main ingredient: caulifower. i know, i know, i was skeptical too. but trust me, it's delicious and soooo easy to make. try it. trust me on this one. you'll be glad you did...

the most delicious fettuccine alfredo you've ever had:

Ingredients

• 1 lb. uncooked fettuccine noodles
• 3 small heads cauliflower
• 6 cups vegetable broth
• 6 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tablespoon butter
• 1 teaspoon salt
• pinch of nutmeg
• pinch of black pepper
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• ¼ cup heavy cream
• 1 cup starchy boiling water from pasta pot
• 3 chicken breasts, cubed (optional) 

Instructions

1. Chop the cauliflower. Bring the vegetable broth to a boil over medium high heat and add cauliflower. Cook until cauliflower is soft, about 15 minutes. In my experience, the longer you cook it, the smoother the sauce will be. Meanwhile, melt the butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the minced garlic and saute for 4-5 minutes or until soft and fragrant.
2. As the garlic and cauliflower are cooking, bring a large pot of water to boil and cook the fettuccine according to directions on package, reserving some of the starchy water to add to the sauce later.
3. Transfer cauliflower to a blender with about 2 cups of the broth. You may need to do this in batches depending on the size of your blender. Add the sauteed garlic, salt, nutmeg, and black pepper and puree until very smooth, about 5 minutes. Once the mixture is moving, stream the olive oil into the blender. Add more broth or water if the mixture is too thick to move through the blender. You want it to turn through the blender easily. When puree is very smooth, transfer back to the butter/garlic skillet.
4. Add the cream and cook over low heat. Add the starchy pasta water (or regular water if you’re not making pasta) and keep warm until ready to serve. Combine noodles and sauce in a large pot or skillet and serve immediately.
5. If you want to you can add some cubed chicken and even some broccoli or other veggies. I added chicken to mine and it was definitely a good decision. I didn't have any broccoli but I think it would be another great add-in! 
6. Then...enjoy!

*Makes 8 servings

Nutrition (Per Serving):
300 calories, 5 g fat, 56 g carbs, 12 g protein

...you can thank me later...

peanut butter lover's day

i just found out about the best day ever (well...after christmas...thanksgiving...and my birthday, of course) so i guess that makes it the fourth best day ever...peanut butter lover's day...whaaaa?

that's right folk's. march 1st is national peanut butter lover's day.

unfortunately, i found out a day too late. yet, that won't stop me from expressing my love for peanut butter.

as a future registered dietitian i am in full support of eating peanut butter. a lot...in moderation... okay, a lot.

but it's okay because while it is high in fat and calories  peanut butter is high in:

• good, heart healthy fats (your mono and polyunsaturated fats!) 
• and protein 

just watch your portion sizes and your good to add it to almost anything. apples, waffles, crackers, oatmeal, smoothies, celery...let's be real here. the only reason i eat pb and celery is because it makes me feel better than eating it straight off the spoon, but basically...it's the same thing.
mmmmm, hmmmmm! love me some peanut butter!

here's a great, healthy recipe for another fun way to use peanut butter:

p.s. is it or is it not the best feeling in the world when you are the first to open a new jar of peanut butter and dig into that smooth creamy deliciousness? i dare say it is indeed.

new year's...resolutions and all that.

i'm baaaaack. with interning and whatnot i've been too lazy and tired to blog much so after a long break i decided i should blog my new years resolutions...motivation to keep them or something i guess? i've always loved the start of a new year and being able to make new year's resolutions. a chance to start fresh. so here goes.

this year i will...

1. graduate from my internship and pass the rd {registered dietitian} exam

2. get a big kid job as a dietitian and move out of my parents basement

3. run either three 10k's {or} a half marathon..still deciding on this one

4. take a fondant cake decorating class

5. go to the temple at least once a month

6. have a more positive self-image and stop comparing myself to others

7. learn two new songs on the guitar and piano and write at least one new song

8. improve my relationship with my heavenly father by refocusing my priorities

i'm sure there are many more things i could work on but i feel this is a good start. yay for LUCKY 2013!

time for goodbye.

my amazing grandmother, blanche ovard, passed away yesterday. tomorrow would have been her 92nd birthday! she lived a good, long life and now is in a much better place with her husband, parents, and siblings.  i can't imagine how happy she must be, and that helps to compensate for the loss we feel for her here on earth.

it's times like these when i am reminded how incredibly grateful i am for the gospel in my life. sometimes i wonder "why me? why am i blessed enough to have been born into the gospel and always had it to guide me, comfort me, and give me hope" i think that is what the gospel does, above all else it give us hope. hope that no matter what happens in this life, if we live worthy we can live with our heavenly father in eternal glory again one day.

my grandmother was an amazing person filled with love, kindness, patience, and an incredible spirit. a spirit that has now moved on. the last few years have been rough for her and it became increasingly apparent that she was ready to move on from this life and onto far greater things. i am filled with joy knowing that she is in the company of her loved ones looking down on us.

happy 92nd birthday tomorrow. love you grandma.

i'm a big kid now.

it's been a while since i've posted and i know my thousands of readers, or maybe...hundreds, more like fifty...okay, my mom has probably been distraught over my lack of blogging.

truth is, i haven't had much time since starting my big girl job...internship. basically it's the same thing except i pay them instead of them paying me. super fun. but actually, it is. i am loving seeing how all of my education is actually of use in the real world. who would have thought!?

i've already started assessing, charting, and counseling patients on my own {with supervision of the real dietitian} of course. but basically, i evaluate and counsel them and she just makes sure i'm not doing anything crazy too crazy. and i love it. so far i've just been in a few long term care/assisted living facilities. next week i start my rotations at the dialysis center. talk about terrifying, but i'm pretty excited. i'm sure i'll learn a ton there.

i even have a name tag. nothing makes you feel as official as a name tag.

other happenings. oh yeah, we went to lake powell. it was as amazing as always. tanner (cousin) came home from his mission. finally. and joined us at powell. best part of the trip was having him back...well that and our houseboat neighbors who let us borrow their wi-fi and put on a fabulous firework show every night.  basically life is good. 

i miss you powell....

sorta kinda famous...

my awesome friend tanier is in charge of advertising for peterson motors here in boise.  they wanted to do a zombie commercial and needed some zombies...of course i was psyched to help. who doesn't want to be on t.v. looking horrible and creepy. ummm...yes! so here for your viewing pleasure...

it was a blast to make. i'm just waiting for the call to be invited to star in ryan gosling's next major motion picture. hope the fame doesn't go to my head...

ready...................................................................set....................................................................go.