Recipe: lime bars

Don't worry, they're not as scary as they sound.  One of my colleagues has a birthday this weekend and we celebrated Friday at work.  We ordered lunch in and I decided I was going to make something sweet.  I needed a good excuse to try my new lime bar recipe, however, because I gave up sweets for Lent I was hesitant to try a new recipe.  If they didn't turn out I didn't want to bring them to work.  I don't know how it happened but I have cultivated a reputation as a good baker and I've been trying very hard to not mess that up.  I debated for a while and finally decided to give them a whirl.  I figured, worst case scenario they turn out bad and I just explain that it was a new recipe that I'd never tried before.

Well, after whipping these bars up, I decided that there was no way that they could be bad.  I brought them into work and they got rave reviews.  And, in the spirit of full disclosure I ate a tiny one and it was amazing.  There I admit it, I cheated on Lent. Although, I'm not Catholic so it's not that bad, right?!?!?  I've decided that these bars are the perfect spring dessert.  They're not too sweet but they're not pucker your lips tart.  They are an amazing green color and are just perfectly refreshing! I told Karla that I was going to make them for Peyton's baptism in April...I can't wait!

For the crust you will need:

1 c. flour
1/4 c. powdered sugar
1 stick butter (unsalted), cold*
1/4 tsp. sea salt*

*I used salted butter so I left the salt out and I think it was perfect

For the filling you will need:
1 1/4 c. white sugar
1/4 c. flour
4 large eggs
2/3 c. lime juice (about 6 limes if using fresh)
green food coloring (enough to reach desired green color)
2 tsp. zest (optional if you want it more tart)

powdered sugar for dusting

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

To make the crust, combine the powdered sugar, flour and sea salt in a large bowl. Cut in the cold butter and work with your fingers until the mixture resembles cornmeal. Press into a greased nine inch pan and bake for 20-25 minutes, or until golden.

To make the filling, whisk together the granulated sugar and flour in a bowl. Add the eggs, one at a time, whisking well after each addition. Add the zest, lime juice and enough green food coloring to produce desired green color and mix until everything is smooth and combined.

Pour filling over hot crust and return to oven to bake for another twenty minutes. When done, the filling will no longer jiggle. Let cool completely in the pan before slicing and dusting with powdered sugar.

I got 25 bars out of my 9x9 pan and they came to about 117 calories each. Not too bad!  I also should mention that I didn't add the zest because I didn't use fresh limes.  I cheated and bought the bottled lime juice to save my hands the burning from having to squeeze citrus fruit. If you want a really tart dessert, and some people do, you could definitely add it.

These bars were amazing and so very easy to make.  There really isn't any way that you could mess them up so if you need a quick, easy and delicious dessert I say give them a try!

New specs and itty bitty specs...

So I finally broke down and went to the eye doctor.  I've worn glasses in the past but they never help me see better (mostly because I've never had vision issues) and they just get in my way.  However, lately I've been noticing that when I read I have a hard time getting the words to focus. I've put it off and put it off, I was worried that they would tell me that my perfect left eye was going bad and I didn't want to hear it.  As it turns out, my left eye is still perfect and my right eye still blows.  Dr. Knight prescribed reading glasses for me and, yay, they were ready in an hour. I had a hard time deciding between the pair I got and a really cool pair of eco metal frames (they're made from 100% recycled material) but in the end these won out.

I also finally talked myself into, well more like talked myself out of talking myself out of, buying the one thing that I told myself I would buy when I lost 100 pounds.  When I started out on this journey, months and months ago I told myself and anybody else who would listen that when I lost 100 pounds I was going to buy myself a pair of diamond earrings. As 100 approached I started to think of all of the more practical things I could spend that kind of money on.  I hemmed and hawed trying to decide if it was worth it.  I really, really wanted them but I have a hard time spending that kind of money on necessities let alone extravagant purchases (under which heading diamond anythings fall).  However, I had an hour to kill from the time my eye exam was done until I could pick my new glasses up.  I didn't really feel like clothes shopping and there was a conveniently located jewelry store right next to Pearle.  As if I needed any other signs, they were having a sale!! And boy, did I get a good deal. They were on sale for $299 and when I declined the lifetime warranty they offered to give me the 'managers' discount and the lifetime warranty for $310.  I figured for 10 extra bucks it was worth it.  I already love them!  It's funny how something as small as switching out cubic zirconia for real diamonds can make a girl feel like a real grown up!  Anyway, here is a picture.  They're not huge but they're perfect for me!!

Anyway that's all I've got.  I'm probably going to spend the remainder of my weekend doing laundry and cleaning...woot!

I hope you all had a fabulous weekend and wonderful St. Patrick's Day!

Shamrocks and Shenanigan Success

My first race has come and gone and it was a success! My only goal going into the event was that I didn't want to walk. I wasn't sure if I'd be able to accomplish  that goal, especially as we approached the top of a half mile incline but Julie was there reassuring me the whole time. Some of my speeds were quite slow but I managed to jog the whole 3.11 miles!!  I have to say that I'm really proud of myself.  There were a few points that I really wanted to just walk, if only for a short time, but I managed to push through the feelings of death and keep my feet going.  In all honesty, without Julie there I probably would have walked at one point.  It was really nice having someone around to keep me accountable. In the end I managed to finish in 39:40.7.  It might not be fast but it's mine!!

Anyway, the first group 5K of the pediatric EKG lab was a great success. Sadly Jill was really sick and couldn't make it but we stuck her bib under Corey's and she got a time, even though she wasn't there.  I think the next run we're going to do is the Dexter-Ann Arbor run in early June. Corey is planning to run the half marathon but the rest of us will do the 5K. I really excited to start training so I can improve my time!

Apparently I'm all about pictures lately so here is the group shot after the race. One of our fellows found us before the race and then he waited at the finish line to cheer us on as we finished.  He's one of our favorites!!

p.s. if you buy new running tights make sure you try them out before the race.  I spent the first 10 minutes of the race holding my pants on so I didn't flash the poor kid behind me...

A picture is worth 1000 words...

And I have three!  I was working in my closet today (it's a disaster!!) and I stumbled across the two pair of before pants that I am keeping for the end of my journey so I can remember just how far I've come.  I took them to the bathroom and tried them on and then held them up...wow.  I just had to take some pictures!!

p.s. please ignore my cluttered laundry room :-)

Just wanted to say...

Back in 2008, when Jenny and I started our blog together, I had set a  goal of losing 100 pounds.  This morning I stepped on the scale and I have officially lost 100.5 pounds!!  I can't even tell you how happy I am right now.  I honestly never thought I would make it to this point.  I'm pretty sure that I weigh less now than I did when I graduated from high school.  I'd have to dig out old medical records or something to confirm but I'm pretty sure I was somewhere around 270 at the time. It feels so good to hit this milestone but I also think it's an indicator of just how overweight and unhealthy I was. 

Even after losing 100 pounds I am still considered morbidly obese (eesh...I can't wait to get out of that category) and I know that I still have limitations because of my weight.  However, I refuse to let those things stop me. I have already set my next goal, I want to lose another 50 pounds and get, forever and ever, out of the 200's!  Once I'm there I'll set one final goal, however, I'll burn that bridge when I get there...one step at a time.

Anywho, I took some terrible self-portraits today.  I figure 100 pounds lost warrants some new pictures.  So yeah, here are some before and  after 100 pound pictures.