Another promised recipe!

Have I ever mentioned that my friend Shannon is the best baker, cook, seamstress, and craft maker I know?  Well, she is.  It’s awesome being friends with Shanny Pants!  If this recipe doesn’t convince you, I don’t know what will.

Shannon’s Apple Cider Cupcakes

For the cupcakes:

Ingredients

  • Spice Cake Mix
  • Apple Cider

Directions

  1. Follow the recipe on the box to bake the cupcakes, substituting apple cider for water.

For the frosting:

Ingredients

  • 1 block of cream cheese
  • 1/2 stick butter
  • 1-1.5 boxes confectionery sugar
  • A couple of tablespoons of apple cider
  • Cinnamon
  • Nutmeg

Directions

  1. Cream the butter and cream cheese together.
  2. Add in apple cider.
  3. Slowly add in powdered sugar until desired consistency.
  4. Blend in cinnamon and nutmeg until satisfied with the taste.

apple cider cupcakes

WARNING:  Hard to eat only one.  I bet you wanna lick that frosting right off your computer screen, don’t ya?  Go ahead.  It’s okay – everyone needs a little apple cider cupcake in their life.

To make up for it, just go do this workout.  I did it yesterday and it’s a good one!  I was looking for some different moves to switch up my usual regimen, and Fitnessista’s Schweaty October Workout did just the trick.  I love finding new routines on other blogs!  I did modify it a little bit, replacing any of the upper body work with abs instead, since my shoulder impingement (yes more to come on this new development later) is not cooperating.

workout

I decided to take this outside for a reservoir workout, but it can be done indoors as well.  Just realize that if you do some of these moves outside, you might get some weird looks, but who cares?

resorvoir workout

  • Warmup:  5 minute brisk walk or jog
  • 25 slow squats
  • 25 fast squats
  • 1 minute walking lunges
  • 30 seconds lunges right
  • 30 seconds lunges left
  • Tabata Intervals (20 seconds sprint, 10 seconds jog for 8 times, total 4 minutes)
  • 1 minute oblique twists
  • 30 seconds elbow to knee pull ins
  • 30 seconds elbow to knee pull ins other side
  • 1 minute plank
  • Repeat Tabata Intervals (20 seconds sprint, 10 seconds jog for 8 times, total 4 minutes)
  • 25 slow calf raises
  • 25 fast calf raises
  • Repeat oblique twists, elbow to knee pull ins, and plank
  • Last Tabata (20 seconds high knees fast, 10 seconds high knees slow)
  • Cooldown / Stretch

walking lunge

plank

plank 2

oblique twists

calf raise

Have a great Saturday, everyone!  Hopefully us Bostonians don’t get too much snow.
(Really, weather?  Snow in October?!)

Off to a family event and then Halloween #2.  Pictures coming soon!

Question of the Day:  What’s your favorite workout / type of exercise to do outside?