Giveaway on Natasha's Kitchen Blog!

Good day to all of you!

I have been a bit busy with my new life as a wife and haven't had a chance to blog about our wedding or any of the juicy details, but I am planning on it in the coming weeks. For now I am too busy with trying to figure out how to be a full-time working wife and take care of my husband as well. I have been relying on the internet to help me out with those problems. I can cook up a storm in the kitchen but lately I have been so caught up at work and haven't had time to be creative in the kitchen which is why I had to use Natasha's awesomely amazing website to help me out with the few problems. Her website features a huge variety of very easy to follow recipes for Russian/Ukrainian food. I have to thank her for saving me from a huge headache a couple times last week. Which brings me to this post, I saw that she had a great giveaway for a $100 dollar gift card to Crate & Barrel. You know that this deffinetely caught my eye as I am still in the process of making our appartment a wonderfully cozy little home that we can come to every evening and spend quality time with each other. One of her requirements was to feature her in a blog post which was not hard at all since I love her website and have been using it for years! I am very excited for this giveaway and wish good luck to all of the wonderful ladies who entered. Thank you Natasha for giving me and the other gals out there an opportunity to look like superwomen with our creations in the kitchen due to your easy recipes!

If you haven't heard of Natasha yet you can visit her website here.
I was also very excited when she created a YouTube account because it's even easier to follow instructions when someone shows you how to do it. Her YouTube name is Natasha's Kitchen Blog or you can simply find her by clicking the link here.

{A Healthier You Equals a Happier You- Food Tips to Fight Off the Blues}

I have a few tips I have researched to help all of you dear readers become healthier and to help you overcome those "blues" that sometimes seem to want to drag you down. Don't let the bad mood ruin your entire day, instead try to get rid of it as fast as you can.

Source <3

For those days when you are feeling sluggish: Instead of reaching for the second or third cup of coffee, try a spinach salad instead.


If you are PMSing: We all know how that can ruin a whole day or even a couple of days. Well do not despair, but instead eat an egg-salad sandwich. It's normal to crave carbs when you are PMSing, but you should try to control that but opting for the "healthier" carbs and an egg-salad sandwich on wheat bread is perfect!

Feeling a little sad? Whole grain cereal with low fat milk is your best buddy and it will meet your vitamin D and calcium needs.

For the time when you are stressed: do not be weary of chocolate because it will actually help you relax. Obviously the dark chocolate is the healthier choice, but if you really hate dark chocolate then eat your milk chocolate because it will de-stress you.

Are you feeling angry? Reach for that green tea before you lash out and make matters worse.It will help to calm you down and let you think clearly which is a great idea epecially if you are angry at someone like your boss.

There are days when you are just downright cranky: this is the day to grab an apple smear some peanut butter on it and munch on it and after a while your cranky mood will be gone. This can also be used when you are tired and still have a couple more hours to go at school or on the job because it gives that boost of energy that lasts for a long time.

Are you feeling anxious? We all do once in a while. Well salmon will help you with that because salmon is full of omega-3 fatty acids (those things work magic on anxiety).

Here is a list of a few other foods to turn to in case you are having a bad day and don't have all of the things listed above:

-Greek yogurt
-asparagus
-honey
-cherry tomatoes
-eggs
-coconut

{Red Velvet Cupcakes}

This recipe is so simple and easy to follow that you will be amazed at how quickly you will have the ever famous red velvet cupcakes on the table. You will need about an hour to finish this whole process including frosting them. This particular recipe makes about 30 cupcakes.

Ingredients

• 2 1/2 cups flour (preferably cake flour)
• 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup butter, softened
• 2 cups sugar
• 4 eggs
• 1 cup sour cream
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1 (1 ounce) bottle Red Food Color
• 2 teaspoons Pure Vanilla Extract

Vanilla Cream Cheese Frosting

• 1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
• 1/4 cup butter, softened
• 2 tablespoons sour cream
• 2 teaspoons McCormick® Pure Vanilla Extract
• 1 (16 ounce) box confectioners' sugar

        Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Mix flour, cocoa powder, baking soda and salt in medium bowl. Set aside.
2. Beat butter and sugar in large bowl with electric mixer on medium speed 5 minutes or until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs, one at a time. Mix in sour cream, milk, food color and vanilla. Gradually beat in flour mixture on low speed until just blended. Do not overbeat. Spoon batter into 30 paper-lined muffin cups, filling each cup 2/3 full.
3. Bake 20 to 25 minutes or until toothpick inserted into cupcake comes out clean. Cool in pans on wire rack 5 minutes. Remove from pans; cool completely. Frost with Vanilla Cream Cheese Frosting.
4. Vanilla Cream Cheese Frosting: Beat cream cheese, softened, butter, sour cream and Pure Vanilla Extract in large bowl until light and fluffy. Gradually beat in confectioners' sugar until smooth.

Stay Smart...