health and happiness

I recently started taking Herbalife since I'm often strapped for time and unable to make meals or snacks for work or when I'm on the go. I know, I know, I should prepare things in advance so that I have food readily available... but that doesn't always happen, does it. And it's usually when I'm in this predicament that I don't make the right eating choices.

I tried Herbalife because after doing some homework, I realised Herbalife is the most nutritionally-rich out of all the other meal replacements I have tried. I wasn't wanting something that was only low-calorie. I wanted something that would still give me the vitamins and minerals that are essential to a healthy diet.

My flava flaaav is Vanilla but I'm also a fan of the Strawberry and Chocolate. There is a Cookies and Cream flavour that I still want to try! The Herbalife Healthy Meal replacement has been so convenient for me and I take it wherever I go... I have, in turn, lost some weight, but that has been with the assistance of exercise, obviously.  

I thoroughly recommend this to anyone who needs meals (or a snack - depends on how much you have, and what you have it with) that are quick, safe, and healthy. Done properly, weight loss is just another added advantage of this meal replacement. I have tried the Red Berries & Yoghurt low-G.I. healthy meal bars too, which are also a delicious snack. 

So with the combination of cardio exercise (running, skipping, etc), Herbalife, and healthy eating, losing weight is bound to happen. I will post an exercise playlist very soon to inspire your work-outs :)

Keep it real G's :)

P.S. If you're interested in trying out Herbalife, my Durban contact is the super informative and helpful Ryan - his number is 079 795 0289.

recipe: chocolate cake pops

I've been meaning to post this recipe for at least 2 weeks now but my spare time has been limited and my internet at home has reached a whole new level of temperamentality. Anyone with Telkom ADSL may find themselves agreeing with me... HUFF!

The first time I made cake pops I used a silicone cake pop baking tray from Yuppiechef. Whilst this specialized tray may work for some, it definitely didn't work for me. My first attempt went down like a lead balloon. I wasn't ready to give up yet though, so I started over, making up my own recipe and method - instead of the using the tray, I baked a normal slab cake and rolled the cake into individual balls then dipped them into white chocolate. These were far more successful, but as they say, different strokes for different folks!

So, first up, you gotta bake a chocolate cake. Here goes.

CHOCOLATE CAKE POPS

Ingredients:

4 large eggs
275 ml castor sugar
250ml boiling water
75ml sunflower oil
75ml cocoa
5ml vanilla essence
410ml cake flour
15ml baking powder
pinch salt

2 tablespoons of cream cheese (to bind the cake mixture)

1x slab white chocolate (or white chocolate melts)
sprinkles (I used mint green and turquoise coloured sprinkles)
lollypop sticks
a block of polystyrene or oasis

Directions:

Stage 1: Baking the cake

1. Preheat oven to 180 degrees. Line cake tin with foil and grease.
2. Whisk eggs and sugar together until light and fluffy.
3. Blend in remaining ingredients, mixing thoroughly. Pour batter into prepared tin and bake for 35 minutes. Allow to cool slightly.

Stage 2: Making the cake balls

4. Break cake into small pieces and transfer into the bowl of a food processor. Process until fine crumbs form. You can choose to add cream cheese or even a dash of hot water in order to bind the crumbled cake together. 

5. Roll tablespoonfuls of cake mixture into individual balls and transfer onto a lined baking tray. Once you have completed this, place the tray in the fridge for about 20 minutes or until cake pops are firm.

Stage 3: Coating the cake pops

6. Place the white chocolate melts in a heatproof bowl over a saucepan half-filled with simmering water. Stir with a metal spoon until chocolate melts. 

7. Place the sprinkles in a small bowl.

8. Dip the end of 1 lollypop stick in the white chocolate then insert into a cake ball. Return to the tray. Repeat with the remaining cake balls.

9. Dip 1 cake ball into the melted chocolate, turning to coat. Roll the cake ball in sprinkles to coat. 

10. Insert the cake pop into the polystyrene block to stand upright. Repeat with remaining cake balls, chocolate and sprinkles. 

11. Set aside for 30 minutes or until chocolate is completely set.