First and foremost I am not a cheater and I despise those who pride themselves as such!...but for the last 3 months I have really looked forward to cheating. Let me explain. I haven't always been in good shape and if you have ever "caught" me saying that I was in good shape you are one of the few so pat yourself on the back!! This journey all started in 2003 when I had the realization that I was still growing...not necessarily "up" but "out"...yikers!!! I had to correct this and do it now. I joined a gym and have been working at it since... Sometime I wonder about different dreams, goals, and what not. Somewhere in the back of my mind I always wanted to have a trainer. Yes I am sick and twisted for wanting personal torture and constant pain. But I know that they (well most of them...) are educated and know what they are doing. So 3 months ago when my friend and I were at the gym and we got a sales pitch for a trainer, I knew it was going to be an adventure.
The most embarrassing part is when they take all of your measurements. I am not sure why they feel the need to repeat the numbers aloud as they write them down. Maybe they have that short of a memory that hearing it aloud will help them remember or maybe they feel the need to draw everyone’s attention to them. Either way it is embarrassing if you are the one being measured. They also like to make you hold your arm out or up or bent and twisted like so while taking the measurement...again making it look like the know what they are doing...
The first week we worked out with "M". We were scheduled to work out with him 3 times that week and we ended up having to cancel one because of the inability to move. A lesson I learned and can share with all of you is that when you can't lift your arm to brush your hair you might want to get a new trainer! That is exactly what we did. Then we learned how much "M" didn't know...or at least didn't share with us. Our new trainer is "J". The first thing that he did was outline a diet for us. I have eaten right (in my mind) for several years but this is harsh! We had to count calories at every meal and eat at specific times and that was it. But he never mentioned cheating...awe and I am a sucker for chocolate, especially when it comes to chocolate and peanut butter (aka...Reese’s cups and the like). That is a long introduction but it was necessary to explain why I think that cheating is good!
Faithfully every Saturday since we started with the trainer we cheat...I don't throw everything that "J" said out the door, but most of it. Several weeks ago I was making a fresh fruit pie for cheat day. The recipe is in the "Family Favorites" book. I was flipping through the dessert section and stumbled across a recipe that I hadn't noticed before called "Immoral Brownies", just the name drew me to them...then I noticed that they were made with caramel. I promised to make them in the next couple of weeks. To date I have made them twice...and eaten more than my fair share I am sure.
Immoral Brownies
Box of German Chocolate cake mix
1 cube melted butter
1 cup chopped nuts (your choice)
2/3 cup evaporated milk
40-50 caramels (basically a bag of the wrapped caramels)
1 cup chocolate chips
***Variations
1 cup Peanut butter (add to caramel mixture)
2/3 cup shredded coconut (add after first layer of chocolate chips)
Directions:
Mix cake mix, butter nuts and 1/3 cup of the evaporated milk together. Press about half of the mixture into a greased 9 x 13 pan and bake for 6 minutes at 350.
On stove top heat caramels and 1/3 cup of evaporated milk together stirring constantly (this can also be done in microwave).
When first section is done in the oven sprinkle with ½ cup of the chocolate chips, then pour on the caramel mixture and add the other ½ cup of the chocolate chips. Crumble the remaining dough onto the top and bake at 350 for 16 minutes.
Box of German Chocolate cake mix
1 cube melted butter
1 cup chopped nuts (your choice)
2/3 cup evaporated milk
40-50 caramels (basically a bag of the wrapped caramels)
1 cup chocolate chips
***Variations
1 cup Peanut butter (add to caramel mixture)
2/3 cup shredded coconut (add after first layer of chocolate chips)
Directions:
Mix cake mix, butter nuts and 1/3 cup of the evaporated milk together. Press about half of the mixture into a greased 9 x 13 pan and bake for 6 minutes at 350.
On stove top heat caramels and 1/3 cup of evaporated milk together stirring constantly (this can also be done in microwave).
When first section is done in the oven sprinkle with ½ cup of the chocolate chips, then pour on the caramel mixture and add the other ½ cup of the chocolate chips. Crumble the remaining dough onto the top and bake at 350 for 16 minutes.
