Root beer pancakes

Serves: 4

2 c.  All purpose flour
1/2 c. Coconut sugar
1 1/2 tsp. Baking powder
1 tsp. Himalayan salt
2 eggs, beaten
2 c. Root beer * ( read recipe note)
1/4 c. Butter, melted

Directions:

 1.) a large bowl, stir together the flour, sugar, baking powder and salt. Pour in the egg,  root beer and melted butter; stir with a whisk just until blended.

2.)Heat a griddle pan over medium heat. Coat with vegetable cooking spray. Spoon about 1/4 cup of batter onto the hot surface for each pancake. When bubbles appear on top of the pancakes, flip, and cook until browned on the other side.

Recipe note:
For a healthier root beer you will need.
1 c. Water
1 - 1/2 c. Coconut sugar
1 "'Tbsp. Root beer extract
 1 liter carbonated water

Directions:

 1.)Mix water and sugar together in a saucepan, and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to a simmer, and stir until the sugar has dissolved. Stir in the root beer extract, and allow to cool.

2.) Pour root beer mixture into a 1-gallon bottle, and slowly pour in the carbonated water. 

Twice baked potato salad

 Serves: 4

1-1/4 lb potatoes, peeled
3/8 (16oz) cream cheese, softened
 2 tsp. Tartar sauce
 2/3 c. Shredded Cheddar cheese
 2 tsp. Dried chives
 2 tsp. Dried parsley flakes
 1/4 tsp. Himalayan salt
 1/4 tsp. Cayenne pepper
 2/3 c.  Prepared Broccoli slaw ( store brought)

Directions:

 1.) Place potatoes into a large pot and cover with salted water.
 Bringing to a boil over high heat, reduce heat down to med- low, cover and simmer until just tender, about 15 minute. Then drain potatoes, and allow to cool.

2.)place cooled potatoes into a bowl, and mix in the cream cheese, tartar sauce, cheddar cheese, chives, salt, Cayenne pepper, broccoli slaw.

3.) Refrigerate overnight.

Dessert pizza

* if allergic/vegan omit

Serves: 8

Cookie base:

1/3 c. + 1 Tbsp + 1 tsp. Sugar
 1/3 c. Butter,soften
1 egg
1/4 tsp. Vanilla extract
3/4 c. + 1 Tbsp. + 1 tsp. Flour
1/4 tsp. Baking soda

Directions:

1.) Preheat oven to 350.

2.) Lightly grease  a pizza pan, and press the dough shape around the pizza pan.

3.) Bake for 13 to 15 minutes or until edges light golden brown.
 Cool for 2 minutes.

 Pudding base:

4 Tbsp. Cocoa powder
4 c. Milk* 
2 pinches of salt
2 tsp. Vanilla extract
12 Tbsp. Sugar 
Cornstarch (add enough until thicken)

Directions:

1.) Combine sugar, cornstarch, cocoa powder, salt.
Until lumps are gone & blended until incorporated.

 2.) Pour milk into a saucepan, and turn the burner on high.

3.) Stir constantly until it reaches thickness, remove from heat and add vanilla extract.

 Pizza station:

1/4 c. + 3 Tbsp. Coconut flakes
 1/4 c. + 3 Tbsp. Kiwi, slice
1/4 c. + 3 Tbsp. maraschino cherries (you can find them in a jar)
Pudding

Directions:

1.) Spread pudding on cookie, an coconut flakes, kiwi, sliced cherries.

2.) Slice and Enjoy!

Spaghetti Salad

Serves: 12

3 (16 oz) pkg. Spaghetti pasta
1/2 c. Shredded carrots
 1/2 c. Kale, chopped
1/4 tsp. Lemon pepper
9 cloves garlic, sliced
3/4 tsp. Red chili pepper flakes

 Directions:

1.) Bring a large pot of water to a boil.

2.) Add pasta to the boiling water, and cook until you're desire texture.

 3.) Drain water from the pasta.

4.) Add cold into the pot, and repeat step 3.

5.) Add carrots, Kale, lemon pepper, garlic, chili pepper.

6.) Toss and Enjoy!

Brown sugar glaze

Serves: 20- 25

2 c. Brown sugar
3/4 c. Cornstarch
1/4 c. Evaporated milk
1 tsp. Vanilla extract

 Directions:

 1.) Blend brown sugar and cornstarch together, and pulse until it's the consistency Of confectioner sugar.

2.) Combine evaporated milk,vanilla extract into a medium saucepan.
And heat over low heat until warm.

3.) Stir in the blend of brown sugar and cornstarch, into the milk mixture.

4.) Whisk slowly until well blended.

5.) Remove from the heat, and allow to cool until it's thick enough to spread.

Sweet Potato Cupcakes

Serves: 24 cupcakes

2 1/2 c. All-purpose flour
2 1/2 tsp. Baking powder
3/4 tsp. Himalayan salt
1 1/2 tsp. Ground cinnamon
1tsp. Ground ginger
 1/2 tsp. Ground cardamom
1/4 tsp. Ground cloves
1 c. Brown sugar
1/2 c. Granulated sugar
3/4 c. + 2 Tbsp. Coconut oil * (read recipe note)
4 lg eggs
1 tsp. Vanilla extract
2 c. Pureed sweet potatoes * (read recipe  note)

Recipe note:
Melt the coconut oil in the microwave until it's melted. Keeping a close eye on it, until melt then measure the amount needed. 

For sweet potato puree, cook medium-sized sweet potatoes to make two cups of puree. Peel, dice, and boil the sweet potato until they are very soft. Mash well with a potato masher.


Directions:
1.) Preheat the oven to 350, while oven is preheating line cupcake tin with liners.

2.) Sift together the first seven ingredients in a small mixing bowl.

3.) In medium size bowl combine sugar, coconut oil, using a wooden spoon. Once partially blended add in the eggs, and vanilla extract.

 4.) Mix until slightly incorporated, stir in the pureed sweet potato with a spatula.

5.) Pour mixture evenly into cupcake tin's, Don't fill each cupcake liner more than 2/3 full.

6.) Bake for 20 to 23 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean.

Hot out of the oven.... Dieting

( some parts of this has been adapted from HTTPS://www.healthline.com)

* Please continue to read this blog article.

Note: Living Better Cafe is bring you Fresh out of the oven news, that you're going to love.  That no other blog source will ever  take you close into the story. I say more good reasons to love L.B.C, not only are you revising original recipes. You're also making them more healthier for you, while saving money in the long run.

2015 marks a fresh new beginning as everyone reaches for that new year's resolution that they have set for themselves. And what seem to always be the first on the top of the list? Yes you guess it "Dieting".
There are multiple types of diets out there, but which one is right for you? I'll leave that up to you. I want to get into many factors of pro's and con's on dieting, but were do I even begin. I'll just name a few, and take you on a journey of their good & bad factors. Before I even begin, what is your true meaning of dieting? as your mind being to pounder. Is you're meaning for dieting a good thing ? I want to believe so, because this lifestyle seem to get blown out of proportion.
Now lets get started on naming some of those dieting plans.
We of course have Ms. Jenny Craig, The Atkins diet, weight watchers,
And the list goes on an on from there. I'll just take you only on the few that I have named. So if you're ready then let's begin.


~Let's get talking on the  pro's of Jenny Craig

 Jenny Craig diet is  custom-tailored to the client according to their goals, current weight, and body type. That includes different types of meals that cater's to a person's diet restrictions: vegetarian, vegan, etc. As they are very  convenience  meals coming prepared, and can be delivered directly to your door. In one box, you have your meals ready for the week and preparations require nothing more than a few minutes in the microwave.

Now that we covered the pro's, let's talk about the con's of Jenny Craig.

 The only thing about Jenny craig is can be more costly than preparing your own meals at home, and may not suit your appetite after months of meals straight from the microwave. 

~Let's get talking on the  pro's of The Atkins diet

Low-carbohydrate diets have proven to be effective for weight loss for a limited period. These diet plans call for a reduction in snack foods and alcohol, which are often high in simple carbs and sources of "empty" calories that lead to weight gain. 

Now let's cover the con's of the Atkins diet

While in the past, the Atkins Diet was popular for allowing its followers to consume large amounts of fat (burgers, cheese, bacon, eggs, etc.) and still lose weight, as long as the carb count was low. Consuming a large amount of animal fat, and therefore cholesterol, is not good for your health. It increases your risk for heart disease, high blood pressure, and stroke. While in some cases, the Atkins Diet can also create unwanted side effects. These include:

bad breath (due to a condition called ketosis)
insomnia
dizziness
constipation (due to lack of fiber)
lethargy

Let's talk cover the pro's of weight watchers
(Adapted from HTTPS:// WWW. Weightloss.about.com )

Weight Watchers teaches an all-things-in-moderation approach where you can continue to enjoy your favorite foods in controlled portions. Your leader will share good nutritional advice with the group, such as the importance of eating plenty of vegetables, healthy fats, low-fat dairy and drinking enough water.  You can expect to lose one to two pounds a week after the first week on the program. This is a very healthy rate at which to lose weight. Weight lost at this steady rate is more likely to be maintained (diets that lead to quicker loss make re-gain likely). As you accurately track and record your Points values, you will need to measure your portions and serving sizes. This skill is valuable and will serve you well even if you go off the plan.

Now let's cover the con's of weight watchers

As cost of meetings are approximately $13 per week (varies by location). There may be a registration fee, which is due upon sign-up, of around $30. If you have a lot of weight to lose and you plan to stay in the program until you meet your goal weight, you may want to do the math: For example, assuming it takes an average of at least one year to lose 100 pounds, your minimum total cost would be $676. (Note: You can cancel your membership at any time.) You will probably receive a "free pass" card upon joining, which allows that you to not weigh in at one meeting. Other than that one instance, you must be weighed once a week in order to attend a meeting. Keep in mind that the only person who sees your weight is the person weighing you (she or he records the weight).