Banana Muffins

Our first baking adventure : Banana Muffins

 The summer has begun and we are ready to bake up a storm! (forgive my constant cheesiness... I cant help it...). This will officially be our first baked good post for The Sweetest Things.

Since it is our first post, how fitting for it to be a breakfast item, the first meal of the day!

Jenny (aka. The Queen of Baking) has concocted a delicious Banana Muffin recipe for us!
I tried them myself, and they are to die for!

Here's the recipe:

Ingredients:
1 3/4 cup flour
2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp baking soda
1 cup banana (2 - 3 bananas)
1 egg
1/3 cup vegetable oil
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 cup sugar

Instructions:
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
Sift together: flour, baking powder, and baking soda.
Blend in a blender: bananas, egg, vegetable oil, salt, and sugar until combined.
Mix the wet into the dry ingredients.
Pour mixture into muffin tin, fill 2/3rds of the way.
Bake for 15 minutes.

*if you make mini muffins, they will only need 8-10 minutes!

New Title, New Content!

Hello!
The school year has come to an end, and with that I have had some quality procrastination time to really think about the direction that I want this blog to lean towards.
With that said,
My friend Jenny Shuey and I are starting a baking company this summer, contingent upon our return to Dallas.
We decided upon the name "The Sweetest Things".
So as of today, this blog is fully committed to our baking.
I will post our daily menu, and contact information so that you can order our scrumptious treats!
We will also be posting recipes, as well as photos.

Thank you so much!
Sincerely,
Taelor

Blood Orange and Chicken Salad

So thanks to my lovely roommate, Miss Eva Tanenbaum, I had a delightful blood orange with my dinner this evening.
For those of you who have not been brave enough to venture out and try these delectable red oranges, I thoroughly recommend picking up a few on your next grocery run.

This orange has the perfect mixture of sweet, citrus, and a little bite of bitterness at the end.

So as a homage to this delicious treat, I give you the Blood Orange and Chicken Salad!

Ingredients:

Vinaigrette:

• 1/3 cup(s) fresh blood orange juice
• 3 tablespoon(s) minced red onion
• 3 tablespoon(s) olive oil
• 1 tablespoon(s) red wine vinegar
• 2 teaspoon(s) honey Dijon mustard
• 1 teaspoon(s) grated orange zest
• 1/4 teaspoon(s) salt
• 1/4 teaspoon(s) freshly ground pepper

Salad:

• 4 (5-ounce) skinless boneless chicken breasts
• 1/4 teaspoon(s) salt
• 8 cup(s) torn salad greens (romaine and Boston lettuce)
• 1 large firm-ripe avocado, sliced
• 1/2 cup(s) crumbled blue cheese
• 1/2 cup(s) honey-roasted sliced almonds
• 1/3 cup(s) dried cranberries
• 3 blood oranges, peel and white pith removed, cut into segments
• 1 tablespoon(s) sesame seeds, toasted
• 2 tablespoon(s) snipped chives, for garnish

Directions:

1. Vinaigrette: In a small bowl, whisk orange juice, red onion, oil, vinegar, mustard, orange zest, salt, and pepper. Pour 1/4 cup of the vinaigrette into a resealable food-storage bag.
2. Salad: Add chicken breasts to bag with vinaigrette; seal bag and turn to coat. Refrigerate 30 minutes.
3. Spray a stovetop grill pan with cooking spray. Heat over medium-high heat until hot. Remove chicken from bag; sprinkle with salt and grill 5 minutes per side, or until cooked through. Set aside.
4. In a large bowl, combine salad greens, avocado, blue cheese, almonds, and cranberries. Slice chicken breasts and add to bowl. Add the remaining vinaigrette and toss to combine. Add orange segments and sesame seeds; gently toss to combine. Garnish with chives.

Nutritional Information
(per serving)

Calories	641
Total Fat	36g
Saturated Fat	--
Cholesterol	--
Sodium	--
Total Carbohydrate	43g
Dietary Fiber	--
Sugars	--
Protein	40g
Calcium	--

So I promised an in depth analysis of coffee...



I literally have had 3 weeks to deliver this information to you guys, but for some reason I didn't have the heart to do it. For myself, and for all of you coffee lovers out there!
I will eventually give in, but first I would just like to discuss why we all love coffee so much.
Lets think of this as a coffee roast (haha, no pun intended), but with a positive spin. So let's praise coffee for everything that we love about it, before I completely tear it apart.

What is not to love about coffee?

It's hot and seems to warm the soul with even the first sip.
It's bitter, but can easily be thickened and sweetened to please.
It houses caffeine, which saves many a late night or early morning.
You can do so many things with it: heat it, drink it, cook with it, use it as a scent, use it's natural state as decoration, cover it in chocolate and eat it, and im sure a plethora of others.

Okay... now that that rant is out of my system.. I guess I'll get to work

American Airlines Introduces WiFi

So I know that this post is a little random, but I couldnt help myself! I am literally blogging and facebook stalking in the air right now.
I have always dreamt of being able to catch up on my Netflix and online shop while flying, and now it has finally become a reality!
Well... A reality that charges you 12.95 for a flight's worth of internet...
But I am basically a child of the 21st century, so I'll do anything to experience new advances in technology!

The inflight WiFi is through a service by the name of GoGo.

I mean, we have survived flights for years and years without access to our precious internet, the question at hand is, are we willing to pay the price for it? Do we really need it that badly?
.... I think I just might... haha

Coffee. How Bad/Good is it for you?

I have held off from looking into the nutritional value of coffee for a very long time now just because of my current dependency of it. My daily average of cups of coffee is probably around 4 nowadays.

So, as someone who is constantly looking for ways to make her life healthier, I am going to once and for all find out just what this caffeinated miracle has in store for our bodies. I'm also going to research alternatives to this drink, and I have an inkling (only due to the fact that you hear this piece of advice EVERYWHERE), that one of these alternatives is a little more on the herbal side.... Tea!

But... before I divulge into all of this.... I have a coffee date... haha.

Best Running Shoe




The ASICS Women's GT-2130 is one of women's most popular running shoes. This shoe offers a great blend of cushioning, support and overall comfort.

I run in my Asics every day, and I can honestly say that they are the most reliable running shoes that I have ever worn. Other running shoes have made my arches ache or agitated my knees. After owning these shoes for a couple months, I still havent seen these symptoms, which I would have gotten even after a week of running in other brands of running shoes.

Dallas Chocolatier of the Day

Chocolate Secrets on 3926 Oak Lawn Ave., 214-252-9801

(From the Dallas Morning News)..."where you can get a primer on cocoa percentages with expert Pam Eudaric-Amiri, sign up for wine and chocolate pairings or create your own custom mold. Visit with the two staff chocolatiers, who hand-swirl many of the shop's smaller, European-style bonbons, including confections infused with Earl Grey tea or even olive oil. You'll also find bonbons from French lines Michel Cluizel, Marquise de Sévigné and Fauchon, as well as Italy's Amadei."

My New Favorite Television Show



Crime. Theft. Matt Bomer (pictured above). Suspense. Intense Investigation. Matt Bomer...
What more can a girl ask for?

This new series airs every Tuesday @ 10/9 central on USA.

The setting is in New York city. Neal Caffrey, played by the previously mentioned Matt Bomer, is an incarcerated mastermind thief working for the FBI on probation. His cunning slyness and sexy nature are a gem to yet another show about New York city crime.

Watermelon, Feta, and Arugula Salad



I was watching the Food Network this morning at the gym, and I almost got off of the elliptical and drove straight to the grocery store after seeing this salad.

I don't know about you, but I am a huge fan of feta cheese. So, any recipe that uses feta as an ingredient gets my stamp of approval.

The ingredients to this salad are:

- Chopped up cubes of watermelon
- Crumbles or cubes of feta, probably use one block if you are cutting it into cubes
- Fresh Arugula
- Lemon juice and olive oil dressing, just add a little salt and pepper and it can be sweetened with agave nectar

You can use as much or as little of these ingredients as you want to satisfy your hunger and taste buds!

Nutritional Facts:

Arugula- This food is low in Saturated Fat, and very low in Cholesterol. It is also a good source of Protein, and a very good source of Dietary Fiber, Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Vitamin K, Folate, Calcium, Iron, Magnesium, Phosphorus, Potassium and Manganese.

Feta Cheese- This food is a good source of Protein and Calcium.

Watermelon- This food is very low in Saturated Fat, Cholesterol and Sodium. It is also a good source of Potassium, and a very good source of Vitamin A and Vitamin C. Watch out though, because a large portion of the calories that you consume from this fruit come from sugars.

Olive Oil- This food is a good source of monounsaturated omega-3 fatty acids. It is also very low in Cholesterol and Sodium.

Lemon Juice- This food is very low in Saturated Fat, Cholesterol and Sodium. It is also a good source of Folate and Potassium, and a very good source of Vitamin C.

Happy New Year!

My New Year's Resolutions:
1) Stay Healthy

2) Keep running

3) Figure out what I want to do with my life

4) Be more compassionate towards others

5) Learn French

6) Cook more

7) Stay Happy

So I'd like to take a quick look at the women who live in our world today who make the normal women feel absolutely and utterly FAT.

You know who I'm talking about. The 6'2 poles, the string bean models, the "beautiful" people.

I look at this girl and think "Wow, shes really skinny." I find myself envying her emaciated limbs. Why?

But the truth of the matter is, yes she is super thin, but our society today has brainwashed us to believe that these emaciated models are what is socially acceptable for people to look like.

Underweight is the new average.

Why are bony limbs so appealing?

Fashion magazines and movies don't advertise the downsides and cons to this kind of disorder.
When you are trying to stay THAT skinny, you're obviously not getting your daily intake of nutrients, which leads to malnutrition. Your body will slowly start shutting itself down because it wont have the necessary nutrients to run any more. You will start to lack the nutrients that fight against diseases and protect you from getting sick.

Models aren't the only people who create a false standard in society.
Celebrities, constantly scrutinized by the public eye, also have the pressure on them to stay thin.
But, sometimes they go too far.

Mary Kate Olsen, who has graced multiple headlines with stories of her weight problems, is a perfect example of this case.

There are countless others who have once been unhealthily thin.

These women and their bodies shouldn't be the ones that we are comparing ourselves to.
If we stay healthy and happy, then our bodies will do the work for themselves. Most of us don't have movies to be making and runways to strut on, so we shouldn't feel this pressure to be as thin as the celebrities and models that we see in magazines.

Losing weight should make you feel happy and comfortable with yourself. Eating should be rewarding. When it gets to the point where food is your enemy, or you are working out to the point of exhaustion, that might be taking it a little too far.

Real Women

So enough nagging about what people are doing wrong...
Let's talk about what people are doing RIGHT!

I woke up to the sweet music of Regina Spektor this morning
Her new album "Far" is amaaazingg! I would definitely check it out.

I woke up to the song "Laughing With". Listennnn and Enjoyyy.

Anyway... It got me to thinking.

She is someone that I greatly admire and look up to. She is talented, beautiful, and NOT A SIZE 0!

Her music is light and upbeat. I always listen to her songs when I'm feeling a little sad or just need a happy song to lift my spirits.

In the past year I have been to two of her concerts. She has such an amazing stage presence! She is so comfortable in her own skin. Its quite inspiring.

She is someone who is truly unique.

So, since it is the New Year, I think everyone should try to be more like Regina. Confident, Smart, Sexy, and most of all, Happy.

Fish for dinner!

So currently I am reading the book "Food Cures" published by Reader's Digest.

I highly recommend picking this book up if you are interested in a fairly simple explanation about the chemistry of food and how it affects your the body.

Food Cures at Amazon.com

I had fish for dinner tonight! My parents took me to this little Mediterranean food restaurant near our house for a welcome home dinner. It was delightful!
I had Red Snapper, Tri-color tomatoes, and cooked eggplant.

Immediately when I got home, I looked up these different dishes to see just how they're working and helping my body.

Chapter One in the book is alll about FAT.

One of the essential kinds of fat that your body needs are Omega-3 Fatty acids. These include fish, nuts, and olive oil.
We need these essential fats to stay healthy and help our bodies fight diseases.

FISH

"Each year, about a quarter of a million people in the United States with no prior history of cardiovascular disease die of sudden cardiac death, which occurs when the heart starts beating erratically."

BUT! Studies have shown that simply eating fish once a week cuts the risk of sudden cardiac death in half!
The American Heart Association recommends eating several servings of fish each week!

Polyunsaturated fats, that you get from fish and nuts, as well as monounsaturated fats, found in olive oil, help protect the cardiovascular system and lowers rates of heart disease and depression.

So I had Red Snapper for dinner, but according to most studies, Salmon is probably the best kind of fish that you could eat. This is because it is a very fatty fish, thus you get more of the oil and nutrients out of it.
Albacore tuna is another good choice.

Fun Fact:

Have you ever wondered why Eskimos aren't all depressed? (Well... I actually hadn't thought about that until I read this fact...) Anyway... Because of their lack of a full day's sunlight, you would think that these people would be gloomy and depressed. Well, think again, because some scientists believe that since these people consume a large amount of seafood, the the fish oil that they are consuming is keeping them from developing depression!

Il Primo Post

Ciao tutti!

My name is Taelor and I am a student at New York University. I am currently an art history major and enjoying all of the amazing opportunities that the city offers me!

It has always been my lifelong dream to be thin and chic.

This is me at the age of 15:



Sexy, I know...
After getting to a weight that I was completely uncomfortable with, I decided to take it upon myself to get healthy, be more active, and lose a little weight.

This is me today:



And my friend Annelese... she's a hottie.

So I've lost most of the baby fat... but during this process of brutal torture and starvation I discovered an interest in something completely different from all of my other life goals and hobbies:

Nutrition!!!

Health is of the utmost importance to me and I am always interested in learning more about it.
I feel like this blog will help inspire me and its readers to learn more about nutrition and health, as well as letting me blab about my amazing cultural experiences in New York city!

So... I am a health junkie and obsessed with fashion, art, urban culture, etc... Thus, the name of this bloggg, "Salute Elegante", which means Chic Health in Italian.

I want this blog to help inform people about their health, but also infuse it with little tidbits encompassing my other interests, the "chic" stuff. (Mainly so I dont bore you all to death... haha) But also because I want to crack the code on how to be healthy AND chic. Green AND glamorous.

So hopefully this little intro has intrigued you enough to come back and visit every once in a while!

Kiss Kiss,
Taelor