There are just some things...

Mmmmm....salad.

That I refuse to stop eating. I've had this conversation with folks several times in real life, and friends have told me it's re-assuring, so here's the blog version.

Friend: "Sooooo, you don't eat processed foods or refined carbs, right? Now you don't eat meat either? What DO you eat (weirdo)?"

Me: "I eat a clean, un-processed, plant-based diet most of the time. BUT, here's the deal. There are just some foods I'm not willing to give up. If I did, I may never survive this clean eating lifestyle. I love clean foods, don't get me wrong. I love fruit, vegetables, unsweetened tea, Shakeology, brown rice and all that business. BUT...I also love not-so-healthy things, and eating them in moderation isn't wrong, as long as I get right back on track with the next meal."

Here' a list of some of those things on my list: 

Cherry Coke. It's been my favorite for as long as I can remember. It's extra good when it's made behind a bar with a fountain coke and some grenadine. You think? I think. I have maybe one a month, or less and I don't get a refill. Definitely not going to inhibit my clean eating lifestyle at that rate.

Pizza. For a variety of reasons, it would basically be sacrilegious for me to stop eating pizza. I love it. It loves me. I will eat any kind of pizza from the gourmet variety shown below to sick-nasty freezer pizza. I love it all. I even LOVVVVVE cauliflower crust pizza, which is clean! If I had to pick one meal to eat for the rest of my life, it would probably be pizza. Again, I usually only eat it on special occasions - birthdays, anniversaries or other parties.

Cherry Cordial Ice Cream from UDF. I'll be honest, when I started clean eating almost two years ago, I stopped eating dairy regularly. It wasn't intentional, it just sort of happened. Now, when I eat ice cream, it makes my stomach hurt. Sooooo....I reserve my ice cream indulgences for Homemade Brand (aka UDF) Cherry Cordial. Seriously - best ever - worth the hurt. Been my favorite for many o' years. Yes, my favorite ice cream comes from a gas station. S-U-E  M-E.

Oh, also? If you're going to do this, go get ice cream OUT. Yes, it's more expensive this way, but guess what...there's not a chance that you're going to take a box of ice cream to bed with you and be really super sorry the next morning when you wake up with a spoon glued to your face and an empty ice cream box on your bedside table. Just saying.

Donuts. If you've known me for more than thirty seconds, you know that I've never met a donut I didn't like. My favorite? I know you want to know. Boston cream aka bavarian cream aka long john, etc. I just can't even. I remember getting donuts with my dad so many times growing up. My husband and I used to go for donuts on Friday and Saturday nights, in college, and today I go on donut dates with two of my friends and all the kids. It doesn't happen often at all and I try to reserve these indulgences for special occasions; but, no, I won't turn down a donut. Ever. Don't even try to tell me they cause XY or Z. I'll keep eating them. Donut diva for life! 

Coffee. Yeah. If we go on vacation, the Keurig comes, too. Guess what guys, I have four kids. Having a cup of coffee is like my own personal Happy Hour. I even use that toxic candy flavored liquid creamer (but only a tablespoon). That's right, no shame. Try to pry this Starbucks cup out of my hot little hand, I dare ya'.

So, there you have it. Even hardcore foodies like me can survive the clean eating life. I've managed to lose 40+ pounds while still eating this crap every now and then. I try not to take "breaks" (unless I'm incredibly off the tracks and that's a topic for another post) and I don't take whole days off - just one "treat" meal one time a week.

So, go for it! Have that donut and then get back to your veggies. 

Homemade Oatmeal Creme Pies

Ok, I know what you guys are thinking. Some days she's a clean eater; some days she's a vegetarian; some days she's a smoothie nut; AND, some days, she does things like this....

HOMEMADE OATMEAL CREME PIES. 

Listen. I just like culinary experiments. AND...I saw an Oatmeal Creme Pie on Pinterest. Then, I wanted said Oatmeal Creme Pie. If we're honest, we'll admit that the only thing making those plastic-wrapped cookie-esque things delicious is nostalgia. They really aren't that delicious. Who didn't get an Oatmeal Creme Pie in their school lunch once or twice, right?!

I told my husband about my sudden hankering for oatmeal creme pies and he reminded me of Grandma Carey's delicious oatmeal cookies. No sooner was I feverishly messaging sisters and calling up old blog posts for the recipe. It really is amazing. I know store-bought Oatmeal Creme Pies are probably filled with a combination of garbage and HFCS. So, after consulting with the hubs, we decided the only appropriate filling would be homemade cream cheese frosting. I know, right!?

So, the hubs started dinner while I started the frosting and cookies. Everything was finished about the same time and we enjoyed warm, delicious oatmeal cookies joined together with a layer of decadent homemade cream cheese frosting, right after supper.

Here's the cream cheese frosting recipe (it makes more than you need):

Here's what you need:

• 1 block softened cream cheese
• 3 cups confectioners sugar
• 1 tsp vanilla

Here's what you do: 

• Add all to mixing bowl and blend until thoroughly combined. (Easy peasy, right?)

Grandma Carey's Oatmeal Cookies

Here's what you need: 

▪ 1/2 cups brown sugar
▪ 1/2 cups white granulated sugar
▪ 1/2 cups shortening
▪ 1 egg
▪ 1 teaspoons vanilla
▪ 1 tablespoons milk, cow's
▪ 1 cups all-purpose flour
▪ 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
▪ 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
▪ 1/2 teaspoons salt
▪ 1 cups oatmeal

Here's what you do:

• Heat oven to 350 degrees. 

• Beat brown sugar and granulated sugar, shortening (can use coconut oil, canola oil or butter), egg, vanilla and milk until smooth.
 
• Sift together flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt. 
• Add all at once to egg mixture. Beat until smooth.
Add oats and mix well. 
• Add 1/2 cup (optional): butterscotch chips, nuts, chocolate chips, raisins, Craisins, or other mix-in to oatmeal mixture. 

• Drop from teaspoon onto cookie sheet, 2 inches apart. Bake 12 minutes or until light brown. Remove from oven and allow to cool on cookie sheet for 2 minutes before removing.

• Yield: 3 dozen cookies

Notes: 

• I used a butter-flavored Crisco stick for my shortening. 
• I used a medium sized cookie scoop and got about two-dozen instead of three. 
• I want to make these again, tomorrow. :)