How far along? 22 Weeks, 6 Days
Total weight gain/loss: Up about 7 kg! Whoa!
Gender: Girl!
Maternity clothes? Oh yes, every day. I'm so happy I bought maternity pants in the US, they are just so much more comfortable than wearing my regular pants with a belly band.
Stretch marks? None
Sleep: Either sleeping through the night or getting up maybe once
Best moment this week: a relaxing Friday night pizza, ice cream and movie at home with the husband
Miss Anything? Mmmm medium cooked steak
Movement: Yup, I feel the little one move every day particularly when I'm eating
Food cravings: Chocolate, any baked good with chocolate chips, yogurt gelato and randomly a cheese danish (specifically from Costco)
Anything making you queasy or sick: Nope
Labor Signs: Nope
Belly Button in or out? Majority still in, but starting to become flat (p.s. I don't really like belly buttons or like how mine is changing/looking weird)
Wedding rings on or off? On
Happy or Moody most of the time: A little stressed with lots of changes happening soon, but overall not too emotional this week
Looking forward to: Babymooning in Paris on Friday! This trip is planned all around meals and my cravings of course.
Sunday, January 26, 2014
Tuesday, January 21, 2014
Super Moist Low-Fat Chocolate Cake
I watched this clip of Bethenny making a lower fat version of chocolate cake. I thought the recipe looked pretty simple and I had all of the ingredients on hand (minus the oat flour) so I thought I would give it a try. I was curious since the recipe barely used any butter or eggs, which are usually essentials in a cake recipe. Though I didn't have oat flour on hand, I just replaced it with regular all-purpose flour (I know, not as "healthy"). I also used a good quality cocoa powder, which I think is important for the deep chocolate flavor.
The cake came out surprisingly moist and delicious for using only 2 tablespoons of oil and some water. I also liked baking it in a loaf pan, which make it easy to slice and also freeze individual portions to take out when I wanted a sweet treat. I also made the peanut butter glaze suggested to go along with the cake, which was good though a little runny, but I actually prefer to have the cake without the glaze and with a tall glass of cold milk.
I definitely recommend you give this recipe if you are craving chocolate cake and don't want to use any butter or eggs! Another plus, it's a one bowl recipe. Just mix and put into the pan.
^^Ingredients are all gathered with the recipe on my iPad (though the salt is not pictured here, oops!).
^^Mixing all of the dry ingredients together with a wooden spoon.
^^Adding in all of the liquids to the bowl.
^^Pour into a greased pan. I was out of cooking spray so I used a tad of butter.
^^Not the most photogenic cake, but here it is cooling on a wire rack. Also notice, my cake doesn't have much height since my loaf pan is longer than most regular sized ones.
^^Ready to be devoured with a glass of milk.
About 8-10 slices
Barely adapted from Bethenny.com
1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup raw sugar
1/3 cup good quality unsweetened cocoa powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup warm water
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
2 tablespoons vegetable oil (I used corn oil because it's all I had)
1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar (I used regular apple vinegar)
Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit or 180 degrees Celsius.
Grease a loaf pan or pan of your choice with cooking spray. I used a 13 x 5 inch loaf pan.
First combine all dry ingredients (up until the salt) in a large mixing bowl. Mix well.
Add the remaining ingredients and mix until just combined.
Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan.
Bake in preheated oven for 35-45 minutes. Be sure to turn the pan around halfway through the baking time.
The cake is done when a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean.
Cool the cake on a wire rack in the pan for about 10 minutes. Then release the cake from the pan and let cool completely on the wire rack.
Serve with a tall glass of cold milk, ice cream or some fresh berries. If you would like to make the peanut butter glaze, you can find the recipe here.
To freeze, I slice the cake in individual portions, wrap each in plastic wrap then place then all in a ziploc bag.
Saturday, January 18, 2014
Baby Senso Gender Reveal!
After months of trying to convince A we should find out if the baby is a boy or a girl, he finally came around and decided he was eager to find out too!
So are you ready???
*Edit: After A saw this post, he pointed out that I failed to mention this is a cupcake gender reveal. After the first picture, he laughed and answered, "No, I don't Baby Senso is a cupcake..." Oh so funny A. So let me quickly mention that this is in fact a cupcake gender reveal that you have probably seen on Pinterest, but I thought it was perfect since I do have a love for cupcakes. :)
Do you think Baby Senso is a.....
boy or girl?
last guesses?
......
here we go...
We are both super excited to be having a little girl in just a few short months. Now, it's so much easier to plan what furniture & decor to buy and to start buying Baby Senso some cute clothes! Plus, the pinterest inspiration picture can now come true :) We are also happy to report after our 21 week ultrasound that the little bebe is healthy and growing strong. Yay!
p.s. For those interested in a great cupcake & frosting recipe (vanilla bean cupcake with whipped vanilla buttercream) plus step by step instructions on how to make your own gender reveal cupcakes, click on this link.
Sunday, January 12, 2014
Weekly Dinner Menu - January 12th
^^Sunday Dinner in progress
SUNDAY:
Ina's 1770 House Meatloaf with Garlic Sauce
Mashed Sweet Potatoes
Sauteed Zucchini & Carrots
MONDAY:
Baked Eggplant Parmesan
Salad with Lemon Mustard Vinaigrette
TUESDAY:
Pulled Pork Tacos
Homemade Whole Wheat Tortillas
Picked Red Onions
Guacamole
WEDNESDAY:
Spicy Sesame Noodles
THURSDAY:
Chicken Pot Pie
FRIDAY:
Pizza Night Out
SATURDAY:
Chinese No Clay Pot Chicken Casserole
Week 20
How far along? 20 Weeks, 6 Days
Total weight gain/loss: Up about 5 kg
Maternity clothes? Oh yes
Stretch marks? Still none thank goodness
Sleep: Getting up once or twice, the baby tends to move a ton around 4am for some reason!
Best moment this week: A felt baby move!
Miss Anything? Mmmm medium cooked steak
Movement: Yes! Baby Senso is actually moving as I write this and moves particularly when I eat gelato which I have been tons this week since I got my wisdom tooth removed
Food cravings: Citrus especially orange juice, and cheeseburgers of course though I haven't had one this week!
Anything making you queasy or sick: Nothing this week, but was in a lot of pain after my wisdom tooth since I couldn't take anything for it besides a couple of Tylenol
Have you started to show yet? Yup, there's a bump for sure
Gender prediction: According to a couple more old wives tales (Chinese gender chart & preference of laying on my right side), it's a girl
Labor Signs: Nope
Belly Button in or out? In, although the very top part is starting to look a little flat
Wedding rings on or off? On
Happy or Moody most of the time: A little moody this week, mainly hangry because my diet has consisted of yogurt, smoothies, bananas, gelato and tofu
Looking forward to: The next ultrasound on Tuesday to see the little baby :) Plus we booked our Babymoon to Paris for the end of this month! France is after all the place where A and I met, fell in love, and most likely where Baby Senso was conceived ;)
Total weight gain/loss: Up about 5 kg
Maternity clothes? Oh yes
Stretch marks? Still none thank goodness
Sleep: Getting up once or twice, the baby tends to move a ton around 4am for some reason!
Best moment this week: A felt baby move!
Miss Anything? Mmmm medium cooked steak
Movement: Yes! Baby Senso is actually moving as I write this and moves particularly when I eat gelato which I have been tons this week since I got my wisdom tooth removed
Food cravings: Citrus especially orange juice, and cheeseburgers of course though I haven't had one this week!
Anything making you queasy or sick: Nothing this week, but was in a lot of pain after my wisdom tooth since I couldn't take anything for it besides a couple of Tylenol
Have you started to show yet? Yup, there's a bump for sure
Gender prediction: According to a couple more old wives tales (Chinese gender chart & preference of laying on my right side), it's a girl
Labor Signs: Nope
Belly Button in or out? In, although the very top part is starting to look a little flat
Wedding rings on or off? On
Happy or Moody most of the time: A little moody this week, mainly hangry because my diet has consisted of yogurt, smoothies, bananas, gelato and tofu
Looking forward to: The next ultrasound on Tuesday to see the little baby :) Plus we booked our Babymoon to Paris for the end of this month! France is after all the place where A and I met, fell in love, and most likely where Baby Senso was conceived ;)
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