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Chickpeas of the Sea

Posted on October 2, 2012 by kissmybroccoli

What’s up guys?

I hope you are ALL having a fantastic week! And if your not, hopefully a few drool-worthy foodie pics will be enough to perk you up?

And if THAT doesn’t work, then maybe the TWO recipes I have for you today will! 😉

For this week’s WIAW, I have what I’ve been eating for lunch for the last oh……WEEK!

But before we get into the details, let’s take a minute to thank our hostess with the most-est, Jenn from Peas & Crayons, for putting on yet another fun-filled foodie party! Click here to check out all the deliciousness being linked up this week!

Now I’m not normally a creature of habit, but I’ll admit, I do tend to get a little obsessed with a certain food/flavor for a while….red velvet cake, mint chocolate chip, coconut mango…ring any bells? 😉

Well, as I hinted on Friday,
this week has been all about the tuna melt!

Wait!!! Don’t leave!!!

I promise these aren’t the sandwiches of our school cafeteria days…a big soggy glob of mush with a mysteriously fishy smell…oh no, I assure you these are in a league all of their own!

Ha! Take THAT cafeteria lady Brown!

Chickpea Tuna Melt

By: Heather @ Kiss My Broccoli

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 2-3 minutes

Keywords: broil entree sandwich high fiber high protein tuna chickpeas cheese

Ingredients (Serves 1)

2 oz. canned tuna
1/8 cup cooked chickpeas
1/8 cup ricotta cheese (or Greek yogurt)
1 tablespoon minced onion
1 tablespoon dijon mustard
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1/8 teaspoon dried dill weed
salt and pepper to taste
1 slice whole wheat bread
1/2-1 oz of your favorite cheese, shredded

Instructions

1. Position an oven rack in the top 1/3 and set oven to broil.
2. Place slice of bread under broiler to toast, while you prepare the salad.
3. Combine all ingredients except for bread and cheese in a small bowl, roughly mashing the chickpeas with a fork while stirring.
4. Spread salad onto bread slice, top with shredded cheese and place under broiler for 2-3 minutes or until cheese is melty.

This is where it all started. I had a craving for tuna, but c’mon, I can’t just have a plain ol’ tuna sandwich…I had to mix it up a bit!

I loved the added texture from the chickpeas and with the tanginess of the mustard and the addition of the dill, this was no standard tuna salad…THEN I went a step further and covered it in melty cheese!

*insert happy dance* 😀

But if that wasn’t enough of an explosion of flavors, I didn’t stop there…

Replace the mustard with sun-dried tomato spread, the dill with Italian seasoning and cover in tomato-basil mozzarella cheese and you have an Italian version!

Or how about some salsa and a bit of your favorite spicy seasoning (I am in LOVE with this one right now) with a little fresh cilantro for a bit of Mexican flair?

Or maybe Greek is more your thing?
Keep the dill but add some kalamata olive spread to the mix and well, since feta doesn’t really melt, you can stick with some Gruyere instead!

Another manager’s special score FTW!

And let me just say…this stuff is like total CRACK!! I want to eat it straight up with a spoon!

Still, I know everyone isn’t a fan of tuna…so that’s why I made yet ANOTHER variation for today’s lunch…and I’m gonna have to say, it was pretty flippin’ delicious!

Chickpea Tuna-LESS Melt

By: Heather @ Kiss My Broccoli

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 2-3 minutes

Keywords: broil entree sandwich high fiber vegetarian chickpeas cheese

Ingredients (Serves 1)

1/4 cup cooked chickpeas
1/8 cup ricotta cheese (or Greek yogurt)
1 tablespoon minced onion
1 small celery stalk, diced
1 tablespoon dijon mustard
1/8 teaspoon garlic powder
1/8 teaspoon celery seed
1/4 teaspoon lemon juice
1 slice whole wheat bread
1/2-1 ounce of your favorite cheese, shredded

Instructions

1. Position rack in upper third of oven and set to low broil.
2. Place bread slice under broil to toast as you prep the salad.
3. Combine all ingredients except bread and cheese in a bowl, roughly mashing chickpeas with a fork.
4. Remove toasted bread slice from oven and spread salad on top, cover with shredded cheese and place under broiler for 2-3 minutes or until cheese is melted.

The celery seed is a MUST! Soooooo good!

No matter which way you decide to make your melt…you have to promise me ONE thing…

Ditch the knife and fork and go at it kiddie style!

Just please…no food fights…we can’t be wasting such deliciousness! 😉

What is/was your favorite thing to get from the school cafeteria?
Pizza and french fries nearly every day of my four years in high school…it’s a wonder I can even stand the thought of pizza now! Lol

What did YOU eat for lunch yesterday?

Posted in Entree, Vegetarian, What I Ate Wednesday | Tagged bread, cheese, chickpeas, dips, Greek yogurt, recipe, salsa, tuna | 47 Comments

Sprinkle, Drizzle, Dip, & Spread

Posted on October 1, 2012 by kissmybroccoli

Hey guys!

Happy Monday!

Happy October! <- Whoa! How did THAT happen?!

But more importantly…

Happy Foodie Pen Pal Reveal Day!!

A big THANK YOU to Lindsay for all the hard work she puts into this program each and every month! And hey, how about that sweet new button Calee created!

Love…IT!

This month I was paired up with a blog reader, Gin, from Ohio and I have to say she did a darn good job picking out my goodies:

I was so excited to see my box was filled with unique local items! I received a packet of spicy dry rub mix, a baby jug of pure maple syrup, some cranberry honey mustard, and the CUTEST little tin of peach honey spread.

#tinythingsarecute

The rub has been sprinkled on everything from roasted veggies, to grilled chicken, to scrambled eggs…it has an amazing smoky flavor that I just can’t get enough of!

My Sweet Potato Pie Pancakes claimed the debut drizzle of syrup…

And I’ll give you two guess as to how I ended up eating the mustard 😉

It says “honey mustard” but I swear it tastes like a fruity cocktail sauce…forget the celery, I need some shrimp!

But the best? Well of course I saved that for last…

Toasty bagel + goat cheese + peach honey = HEAVVVVVVEN!

I’m sure that jar was meant to have something around the line of 4 or 5 servings, but I’ll admit, after breakfast the other day, there’s only a small spoonful left!

Oops? 😉

Thank you SO MUCH for everything, Gin…I loved it ALL!

As for the recipient of MY foodie package, Ashleigh, a new mother and blog from North Carolina, welcomed this lovely haul:

I think I got a little carried away! 😉

Through our email exchange, I knew she liked a mix of sweet, salty, and crunchy as well as a fine admiration for chocolate, hazelnuts, and black tea…

So I packed up some of my favorite snacks that I thought she might enjoy, including my coveted orange date nut honey jelly (I’ll be honest, it was hard letting that go!), a variety of bars, some pumpkin spice, chocolate, and chai tea (with some Stevia for her to try), and well, it only made sense to throw in some Justin’s chocolate hazelnut butter!

But believe it or not, there was still room left in the box after all that!

Of course, I couldn’t resist adding a little something extra…

I think she earned it! 😉

While she wasn’t able to type up a guest post, she did send me a lovely email the weekend after she received her goodies…

“Heather, I just wanted to say THANK YOU for my goodie box. I shared everything with my family too and my dad ate all the plantain chips if that tells you anything. LOL I really enjoyed the almond and coconut bar it was the shizznit. The Justin’s Hazelnut butter was also fabulous spread on top of walnut browines. I have not tried the chocolate tea yet but its nice and rainy this evening an it with some lavender bubble bath sounds divine. Lavender is my fav. So that was very much so appreciated!! :-)”

So there ya have it…another INCREDIBLE Foodie Pen Pal experience!

Wanna join in on next month’s fun?

Here are some deets:

-On the 5th of every month, you will receive your penpal pairing via email-
-You have until the 15th of the month to put your box of goodies in the mail-
-On the last day of the month, you will post about the goodies you received-
-The boxes are to be filled with fun foodie things-
local food items or even homemade treats!
-Spending limit is $15-
-Open to blog readers AS WELL as bloggers-
-For US & Canadian residents only-

Try it for a month, if it’s not your thing, there’s no commitment! But I’m pretty sure you’ll be hooked just like me!

What is your favorite jam/spread?

Any exciting tales from this weekend?
I was on call this weekend, and ended up getting called in (Boo!), but I still managed to get in a couple of good workouts, scored some AWESOME deals at the supermarket (more on that later), and watched a bit more Netflix than I care to admit! 😉

Posted in Breakfast, Foodie Pen Pal, Snacks | Tagged cheese, goat cheese, mail, maple syrup, mustard, pancakes, snacks | 39 Comments

The Coffee Dilemma

Posted on September 30, 2012 by kissmybroccoli

Buon Giorno!

Happy Pancake Sunday my lovelies!

A couple of weeks ago, after a chilly morning at the farmer’s market, I returned home with a perfectly dunkable cookie. It only made since that I got my first coffee craving in months so I decided to go with it and indulge in a warm steamy mug. Without any thought to the fact that it had been nearly TWO MONTHS since my last date with dear ol’ Joe, I brewed up a cup and got my dunk on!

The flavor was just how (if not better than) I remembered it…smooth yet strong, rich and nutty. Somehow, I managed to savor that single mug far longer than any from my past and when it finally came time for that last sip, I’ll admit, it was bittersweet.

Less than an hour later…

I felt like I was having a heart attack.
Nervousness…heart palpitations…cold sweats?

What? No! How could this be?! Before I started having my morning ACV cocktail, my relationship with coffee was practically religious…each and every day…at the very least, a single cup was enjoyed. How could I deny all those mornings where I was gently awakened by the robust flavor running over my palate, instantly bringing a smile to my face as it warmed me from the inside out…

What could this possibly mean for the upcoming winter?!

So I got to thinking…there had to be a way…a way to satisfy my taste for coffee without leaving me wanting to peel my face off. With Sunday right around the corner, obviously you know where most of my thoughts were pointed…so I guess this really should come as no surprise.

Ladies and gentlemen, allow me to introduce to you…

Tiramisu PROTEIN Pancakes!

Light and fluffy protein pancakes FULL of coffee flavor, layered with a sweet “cream” filling and dusted with just the right amount of cocoa powder.

Tiramisu Protein Pancakes

By: Heather @ Kiss My Broccoli

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 10-12 minutes

Keywords: blender fry breakfast high protein no sugar added low-sodium protein powder oats coffee bananas Pancake Sunday Italian winter summer spring fall

Ingredients (Serves 1)

For the Pancakes

1/3 cup rolled oats
1 scoop (30g) vanilla protein powder*
2 Tablespoons ground flax seed
1/2 teaspoon sodium-free baking powder
1 egg white
1/4 cup strong brewed cold coffee
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon coffee extract

For the Sweet “Cream” Filling

1/3 cup low-fat no-salt-added cottage cheese
1/2 large banana
1/8 teaspoon coffee extract
unsweetened cocoa powder for dusting

Instructions

For the Pancakes

1. Heat a non-stick skillet or pancake griddle over medium heat.
2. In a small food processor or blender, ground oats into flour.
3. Combine oat flour, protein powder, ground flax, and baking powder in a bowl.
4. In a separate bowl, whisk egg white until frothy.
5. Add coffee and extracts to egg white, stir and add to dry ingredients.
6. Stir until flour is incorporated.
7. Let batter sit at least 5 minutes before continuing.
8. Spoon batter onto skillet surface, forming 3 medium-sized pancakes.
9.Cook 5-6 minutes per side, or until golden brown with crisp edges.

For the Sweet “Cream” Filling

Combine cottage cheese, banana, and extract in a small food processor or blender and blend until smooth.

*Originally, I tried the recipe with chocolate protein powder, but unfortunately the chocolate covered up the taste of the coffee…which of course was NOT my point!

The banana has only the faintest taste beneath the flavor of the coffee extract and lent the perfect amount of sweetness to the creamy layer between the cakes.

Dare I say, it was bordering richness?

Nutrition stats on the left are for the pancakes only…the right includes the
sweet “cream” filling which you really wouldn’t want to go without: