Marvelous Meal Prepping!

Posted on October 29, 2012 by kissmybroccoli

Hey guys!

I’m so so glad you all got just as much of a kick out of yesterday’s pancake post as I did! I guess I’ve reached the point where my pumpkin consumption is starting to make me delirious!

Darn! ‘Cause I was really hoping for that tan! 😉

I hope you all had a fantastic weekend FULL of pumpkin lovin’, some fun and exciting activities, and of course, a little R&R!

While I handled the pumpkin lovin’ and the R&R rather well this weekend, (Can I get a heck yeah for 10 hours of sleep on Friday AND Saturday…all on my own?! No pills or sleepy teas or anything…oh yeah!), the festivities were lacking. It seems our lovely 80 degree weather has decided to abandon us rather abruptly this season as it hasn’t gotten over 55 degrees in over a week!

Brrr!

I did manage to go out with some friends from work on Saturday night and had a delicious dinner of chicken tacos and grilled veggies from our local Mexican restaurant (sorry, no pics as I didn’t want to be “that girl”). I’m just proud of myself for showing some restraint with the free basket of chips and salsa instead of face-planting in it like I use to. Lol!

Yesterday was spent lounging around the house for the good part of the day (you know, before the bad part where I had to get ready for work…boo!), but believe it or not, I was pretty productive for a person who stayed in her pj’s all day!

Pretty productive at some “marvelous” meal prepping!

Be sure to head on over to Healthy Diva Eats and see what other marvelous things are being linked up this Monday! And as always, thanks Katie, for hosting!

I normally have the hardest time finding the motivation to prep any of my meals ahead of time. Which is why most of what I eat ends up being a random bowl
(or “bug” as Sarah so geniusly coined) of whatever I grab from the fridge in my I’m-about-to-chew-my-arm-off-need-food-right-now state.

But I’ll admit, lunch and dinner?…they aren’t really my problem.

It’s breakfast.
(Or whatever you call that meal I eat after I get off work, before I face plant into my pillow while everyone else is getting their day started). Sometimes I have the energy to whip up something brilliant, but most of the time I just want to cram something in my mouth and hit the hay!

So I set to work on a recipe that would solve that problem…

AND give me a chance to break in the new whisk! 😉

Pre-oven lovin’…

Cheesy, eggy VICTORY!

Southwestern Cheesy Egg Cups

By: Heather @ Kiss My Broccoli

Prep Time: 10-15 minutes

Cook Time: 25-30 minutes

Keywords: bake breakfast low-carb high protein sugar-free eggs egg whites

Ingredients (Serves 4)

  • 4 large eggs
  • 6 large egg whites
  • 1/4 cup milk
  • 1/2 cup diced onion
  • 1/2 cup diced bell pepper
  • 1/2 cup diced tomato
  • 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
  • 1 1/2 tablespoon of your favorite salt-free Mexican blend (I used Mrs. Dash)
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon pepper
  • 4 oz shredded/crumbled cheese

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350 and coat a regular-sized muffin pan with cooking spray.
2. In a large bowl, whisk eggs, egg whites, and milk.
3. Add veggies and spices and stir well.
4. Transfer mixture to muffin pan, filling each cup 3/4 full.
5. Top cups with cheese.
6. Bake for 25-30 minutes or until edges start to brown.*
7. Allow to cool completely before removing from pan.
8. Serve warm or at room temperature topped with your favorite salsa.

*Note: The cups will naturally rise during baking, but will “deflate” (like a souffle) after you take them out of the oven…which creates a nice little “nest” for salsa or other toppings!

Powered by Recipage

Nutrition facts for one serving (3 egg cups):

Fat content will differ depending on the cheese you decide to go with. I used my
roasted garlic cheese curds…which I will now refer to as “nuggets” since it sounds more appealing! 😉

Certainly not the most photogenic breakfast, but I’m pretty sure you’re tummy won’t care after you’ve had your first taste!

All packed up and ready for the workweek!

Although I really have no idea what I plan on doing with that grain mix, but I’m sure with some help from the shelf below, it shouldn’t be a problem…

It’s official, I AM the condiment QUEEN! 😀

Do you prep meals for the week?

What’s the weather been like where you live?

Posted in Breakfast, Entree | Tagged , , , , , | 40 Comments

Invasion of the Pancake Eaters

Posted on October 28, 2012 by kissmybroccoli

Good morning everybody and Happy Pancake Sunday!

As promised, I have the recipe for the Pumpkin Pecan Pancakes I whipped up during my visit to St. Louis last weekend.

Only, there was a bit of a problem…

In an effort to make a topping that was a bit “different”, I ended up with something, albeit delicious, that resembled a scene from my favorite television show.

See what I mean?

But it smelled so good. The aroma completely filled the house!

Then…all of a sudden, I heard a sound. A shuffle from the next room…

What could that be?

To my surprise, I was met by early trick-or-treaters!

I told them I didn’t have any candy, but since they were just the cutest little things, I was sure I could spare some of my pancakes.

But the one on the left didn’t like that idea much. I figured he must’ve been “hangry” and thus not in the mood for sharing.

Then I felt the tension in the room start to build.

Next thing I know, everyone’s getting all bent out of shape and looking at me with those “eyes”…you know the ones…all because Steve forgot to bring his hands with him!

I told them to relax…take a breath…I could easily cut them all a piece.

But it was too late…

They’d already called their friends!

And they took matters into their OWN hands…well, except for Steve.

Luckily, they got their fill in a matter of minutes and with full bellies, wandered out through the walls, the floors, the ceiling…

But I’m afraid they’ll come back…

Thirsty hungry for more!

So I guess I’d better get that recipe up quick, huh?

Of course, you could always go without the blood…

You know, if you’re too scared! 😉

Pumpkin Pecan Pancakes with Cranberry “Blood” Syrup

By: Heather @ Kiss My Broccoli

Prep Time: 5-10 minutes

Cook Time: 5-10 minutes

Keywords: fry breakfast high fiber low sugar pumpkin whole wheat pastry flour Pancake Sunday fall

Ingredients (Serves 1)

For the Cranberry Syrup

  • 1/3 cup cranberries (fresh or frozen)
  • 1/2 cup water
  • 1 teaspoon cornstarch
  • 1-1 1/2 tablespoons maple syrup
  • 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon

For the Pancakes

  • 1/3 cup whole wheat pastry flour
  • 1/2 teaspoon sodium-free baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
  • 1 egg white*
  • 1/4 cup + 1 tablespoon milk
  • 1/4 cup pumpkin puree
  • 1/2 teaspoon maple extract
  • 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1/8 cup chopped pecans

Instructions

For the Cranberry Syrup

1. Combine cranberries and water in a small pot over medium-high heat and allow to come to a boil.
2. Once boiling, turn down to a simmer and immediately whisk in cornstarch, mashing cranberries while you do.
3. Add maple syrup and cinnamon and allow to simmer until thickened (about 5 minutes)

For the Pancakes

1. Heat a non-stick skillet over medium heat and coat with cooking spray.
2. Combine flour, baking powder, and pumpkin pie spice in a medium-sized bowl and whisk to break up any clumps.
3. In a separate bowl, whisk egg white until foamy.
4. Add milk, pumpkin, and extracts and stir well.
5. Add wet ingredients to dry ingredients (careful not to over stir)
6. Fold in chopped pecans.
7. Spoon batter onto skillet surface forming 3 small pancakes (or two larger ones) and allow to cook 4-5 minutes per side.
8. Top with warm cranberry “blood” (or any other spooktacular topping!)

*Note: Can use one whole egg if doubling…which is what I did with the original recipe. The consistency/taste stays the same.

Powered by Recipage

Nutrition facts pre-blood splatter:

To balance out this meal and add a bit more protein, feel free (like I did) to add some Greek yogurt to the top!

Now if you need me, I’ll be in my room…

Hiding under the covers.

Who knows what might happen if Steve comes back…WITH his hands!

Storytelling aids brought to you by Pic Monkey.

Posted in Breakfast, Pancake Sunday, Photography | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 22 Comments

Fun Finds Friday!

Posted on October 26, 2012 by kissmybroccoli

Happy Friday, loves!

I hope you all had a fantastic week!

Mine has been pretty great…shortened workweek since I took an extra day after my mini vacay to St. Louis (always good to have a day to recoup after vacation, am I right?), fabulous 80 degree weather which I’ve been taking advantage of with regular walks through the park…

And some other fun and exciting things that have been causing random happy dances…which may or may not have happened in public…

#noshame

First up…Twinnings tea!

I’ve always been a huge fan of chai tea (I swear I sold my sold to Starbucks shortly after discovering their chai tea latte back in college) so when I saw these babies at a World Market that I just happened to pop into on my way back from St. Louis ;), I couldn’t resist.

And they are all AMAZING…especially with almond milk and bit of stevia!

Take THAT Starbucks!

On Monday, I headed out to the store to pick up a few essentials and couldn’t believe my eyes when I spotted WHOLE MILK Oikos at Wal-Mart (of all places!). I’ve never seen anything but the 0% in all the stores around here and sadly, the consistency of fat free yogurt just isn’t the same.

Mmm, thick and creamy!

Then I stopped by Big Lots for nothing in particular and ended up walking out with these HoneyMaid Grahamfuls as a little treat (among other things of course).

Not exactly the healthiest, but there are a lot worse options. They make the perfect tide-me-over snack and I love how they come in little portion-controlled packs because let’s face it, you hand me a jar of peanut butter and a box of graham crackers and THAT is my serving size! 😉

I also picked up some Turkey Perky Jerky (can’t help but giggle every time I say that out loud) which is actually something I’ve been secretly obsessing over for weeks now. Only 220mg of sodium per bag with 100 calories and 18g of protein?

Sign.me.up!

Yesterday, I went back to The Country Pantry since I knew my excitement during the last trip surely caused me to miss out on a few things and boy was I right!

How could I have missed the almond flour?! I’ve been wanting to experiment with this flour for a while now and got it a heck of a lot cheaper than if I’d bought it at Whole Foods! I also picked up some pepitas after Meghan was generous enough to send me a sample of her Pumpkin Cranberry Crack Crunch…seriously you guys, if you haven’t tried her recipe, you are missing out!

I found local eggs for only $2.15 (holy cow chicken, Batman!) and something I was a little hesitant to try…cheese curds.

I mean, c’mon…how does the word “curds” sound appealing? But in the end the other words…”roasted garlic cheddar” won me over and…?

OMG, cheese HEAVEN!

I’ve been adding them to everything…

Including this morning’s bowl of oats!

Cheese and apples (and celery seed) were meant to be!

While I was there, I also picked up some smoked paprika and maple extract since I was out of both and this fun little whisk!

Funny thing about the whisk…when I was whipping some Pumpkin Pie French over the weekend, I asked my friend Eric for a whisk.

I got an odd look…typical.

So I dug through the bachelor pad kitchen drawers and found this little guy…

And yes, I was so amused that I took a picture!

But it is so much FUN to use! It bounces as you hit the bottom of the bowl, which actually helps “fluff” your liquid a bit more, but I just liked it because I thought it was cool!

And now I have one!

And now you all think know I’m a goober! Lol!

My Mission Impossible

Don’t forget to join Kristin and me in our FunFinds Fun! Just add the hashtag #funfinds to your Twitter/Instagram pics whenever YOU come across something that gets you happy dancing in the middle of the grocery store! 😉

Or join us by posting your finds on Fridays with this new fancy button that Jenny made! Isn’t it cute?

What FunFinds have you discovered this week?

Are you easily amused by kitchen gadgets?

Posted in Fun Finds Friday, Shopping | Tagged , , , , , , , | 29 Comments