Pumpkin Pancakes, Tattoo Removal, and Mexican Wedding Cookies!

Today was a busy day! Despite being sore from last night's boot camp class (thank you Lisa!), I got up the courage to hit the gym. I hadn't been since last Wednesday and my baby biceps were reverting back to newborn biceps. Not okay. At the gym I did bench dips, raised leg push ups (ow), bar curls, lateral raises, inclined bench presses, lat pull-downs, assisted pull-ups, and tricep pull-downs. Tomorrow when I try to lift a pen I will cry.

Because I worked out this morning I had two breakfasts. My pre-workout fuel was one of my Pumpkin Pancakes! I This blog is about to be pumpkined out and I might be turning orange. That just means I can go to a Clemson game nude. 

Gross.

Pumpkin Pancakes, adapted from Martha Stewart, my hero

Ingredients:

• 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 tbsp sugar
• 2 tsp baking powder
• 1 1/2 tsp pumpkin pie spice
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 cup skim milk
• 6 tbsp canned pumpkin puree
• 2 tbsp 0% Greek yogurt
• 1 egg

Directions:
In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, baking powder, pumpkin pie spice, and salt. In a separate bowl, stir together milk, pumpkin puree, Greek yogurt, and egg. Slowly incorporate dry ingredients without over mixing. Pour 1/4 cup batter into a greased pan over medium heat. Cook first side until bubbles begin to pop, then flip and continue cooking. Makes 8 pancakes. 

These are thick and fluffy pancakes. They have a light pumpkin flavor, so I added extra cinnamon on top.

My second breakfast after the gym was Greek yogurt (yay protein!), a bit of blueberry conserve, and cinnamon. After I showered, I realized I had extra time before my doctor's appointment so I turned on the TV. The Golden Girls were on! I watch my girls every night before bed, unless I have a boyfriend forcing me to watch Sports Center. Say hello to Betty White - she's still kicking!

Two episodes later, I was off to meet my new friend Dr. Heidi Williams. Heidi is about to become my bestie because I'm letting her remove my tattoo. Laser? Nah. Skin grafts? Nah.  Heidi is snipping off my tattoo. She better be my bff because I'm allowing her to use sharp objects around my wrist. I told her to watch my arteries but she assured me that they weren't near my tattoo. Sure. Snip away bestie, I want it off.

So, in place of my nautical star, I will have a scar on my inner wrist. I look forward to explaining that one. She recommended I tell people I fell through a window. What? HOW? Readers, please, see that comment section below? Come up with an awesome story for me.


Then I had to go to work.
Work.
Work.
Work.  
Typing it makes me depressed. 
Not suicidal, promise.


A thousand hours later, I picked up my little brother. He is in 8th grade Spanish, and for Friday's party, he was required to bring in an traditional Hispanic dessert. On that note, I'd like to scream at everyone that Spanish is the name for the language of Hispanic countries. Please do not say you can speak Mexican. I beg.

Mexican Wedding Cookies/Polvorones, adapted from Perfect Mexican
Ingredients:

• 1 cup butter, softened
• 1 cup confectioners' sugar
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, plus extra for dusting
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 cup pecan or walnuts, toasted and finely chopped

Directions:

Cream the butter with half the sugar and vanilla extract in a large bowl. Whisk together flour and salt and fold into the mixture. Stir in nuts. Preheat oven to 375*. Shape dough into 1-inch balls and place on baking sheets. Bake for 10 minutes or until lightly browned. Let cool for 2-3 minutes and then roll in remaining sugar. Let cool and roll again in powdered sugar. 

These cookies are so light that throwing back all 22 of them would have been easy. We demonstrated self-control and split one, saving the other 21 for his classmates. Everybody wins.

What are your weekend plans? Come up with a scar story for me! Winner gets a virtual kiss from me. Seriously.