The Daily Balance

This serves as a Good Living post, created for a special opportunity from FAGE Total and the the Foodbuzz Featured Publisher program. The team invited a selection of bloggers to create blog posts illustrating how the Greek concept of “good living” and FAGE Total contribute to a positive, healthy life.

Each post enters me to win an 8-day trip to Greece, and at the end of this post, I have included details on how readers can enter the same competition and hopefully join me eat my weight in Baklava.

“Good living.”

What comes to mind?

Family, friends, good food, a comfy couch, a warm blanket, laughter, a roaring fire, homemade apple pie, family dinners, the great outdoors, family vacations, an ice cream sundae, a walk in the park, afternoon picnics, stargazing, holding hands with the man I love.

While many of those elements revolve around people — family, friends, loved ones — you may notice that there is another constant that should not be overlooked — food.

Food is what brings people together — it’s the backdrop for all family occasions, holidays and celebrations. A birthday without cake? Not OK. A Christmas without cookies? How dare you go there. A 4th of July without a burger or hot dog? Now that’s just un-American. So while the focus should certainly remain on the people and the memories in the making, good food is mandatory.

With my Dad’s Birthday just around the corner, I want to do my part to make it special. Having recently shifted his focus with “healthy eating,” my Dad has lost more than 50 pounds this year. Incredible! I am so proud of him, In fact, I’ll say it again — my Dad has lost more than 50 pounds this year. I hope you are clapping. Through healthy activity and good food choices, he’s been able to maintain his loss and we’re all so proud of him.

But just because he’s adopted healthier habits doesn’t mean (gasp) that he won’t be enjoying his fair share of Birthday cake. The horror!

But instead of the trans fat-laden grocery store variety, I’m thinking I’ll whip up one of my favorites— Yogurt Marmalade Cake

You’ll need:

• 1-½ cup All-purpose Flour
• ½ teaspoons Salt
• 2 teaspoons Baking Powder
• 1 cup (heaping) Plain, nonfat Greek yogurt, such as FAGE
• 1 cup Sugar (or sugar substitute if you want to lighten things up)
• 3/4 cups egg-substitute
• 1 teaspoon Vanilla
• 1 whole Zest Of Lemon
• ½ cups Canola Oil

Glaze

• 1/4 cups nonfat plain Greek yogurt (like FAGE)
• 1/2 cups prepared marmalade (I used apricot, but I’m sure anything would be delish!)

 Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

In a mixing bowl, combine 1 cup of yogurt, sugar, eggs, vanilla, lemon zest, and canola oil until just combined. In a larger bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder and salt. Gradually add the wet ingredients and mix until combined (don’t overbeat).

Coat a loaf pan with non-stick cooking spray and pour batter into pan. Bake for 45 minutes.

Allow cake to cool slightly and remove from pan.

Meanwhile, add marmalade to a saucepan on low heat and stir until melted. Next add the 1/4 cups yogurt and remove from heat. Stir to combine and pour on top of the cake, allowing the gooey goodness to pool along the sides. Serve warm.

Good Living never tasted so delicious.

 What does Good Living mean to YOU?

As part of the Foodbuzz Featured Publisher program, I have been entered for the chance to win a trip to Greece courtesy of FAGE. You too can enter to win one of three trips to Greece by entering the FAGE Plain Extraordinary Greek Getaway here: http://www.fageusa.com/community/fage-greek-getaway