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That KIND of Week

Posted on August 30, 2012 by kissmybroccoli

T.G.I.T!

Thank GOD it’s Thursday!

That’s right folks, I know most of you still have one more day to squeeze out before welcoming in the weekend, but today is my Friday and I’ve definitely EARNED the right to celebrate it!

Forty hours FULL of dashes back and forth to the emergency room, squabbles with belligerent drunks who think it’s a good idea to hop on a motorcycle after TEN beers, and more scans for “I’ve been hurting for like a month” than I care to even count!

Needless to say, after I clocked out this morning, I immediately flipped into weekend mode starting with a quick and DELICIOUS breakfast:

Vanilla casein protein mixed with peanut flour and water and topped with vanilla blueberry clusters and the last of my farmer’s market blueberries!

Whoa, hold up…back that thing up a minute…what KIND of granola?

Only the KIND that makes you literally SWOON over your bowl!!

I randomly picked up a bag at TJ Maxx a week or so ago thinking I’d save it for one of my future Foodie Pen Pals, but something just told me this morning that I “needed” it in my bowl and…

OMG, I’m in LOVE!!

So much in love that it might’ve KINDa sorta made another appearance for once I woke up this afternoon…

Microwaved sweet potato, cottage cheese, TJ’s Valencia PB, chia seeds, and granola….I the sweet p was a little dry from the micro nuke so I ended up drizzling a bit of maple syrup over the top and then it definitely hit the spot!

Just the KIND of fuel I needed to get me through the rest of today!

As usual, I haven’t had ANY time to get things done around the house this week (I’m actually shocked that I’ve managed to post every single day) so after I polished off my bowl-o-yum, I decided to push up my sleeves and knock out a task I’ve been putting off for a while now…

After THREE MONTHS of sitting in the box in my garage, I FINALLY broke out my new lawnmower!

I couldn’t believe how simple it was to “assemble” (since it was pretty much 95% together straight out of the box)…I also couldn’t believe how many bajillion calories I probably burned once I mowed the front and back yards AND swept off the sidewalk and driveway!

Nothing like a good sense of accomplishment to start off the weekend!

But that wasn’t my only reward for a job ~~finally~~ well done…while I was working in the yard, I noticed a package on my doorstep!

The other day, I managed to find a few minutes to take Laura’s advice and check out the Healthy Heart Market. I was looking for one thing in particular (sodium-FREE baking powder) but of course, I couldn’t help myself and tossed in a few more things!

They carry a bunch of different things, but specifically low sodium, no sodium, and gluten-free products. And if there is ONE thing I look for in prepackaged foods, it’s is ALWAYS the sodium content.

Did you know you should consume no more than 2300mg of sodium per day…1500mg if you have certain health conditions? Sodium sneaks it’s way into a LOT of the foods we love…even if you’re not much of a salt-lover (like myself), you’d be surprised what your favorite cereals, granolas, and snack bars clock in at!

Btw, the KIND granola only has 20mg per serving!*

*I swear they’re not paying me for this review…they don’t even know who I am!!

I accidentally bought two packages of the chips, but after I cracked open a bag and had a few with my favorite salsa, I’m actually KIND of glad that I made that mistake!

And I couldn’t help myself…I’m a sucker for new snackage…so I might’ve dunked a few in the mustard too 😉

HOLY TROPICAL OASIS! This stuff is a mustard-lovers dream come true!

Now if only the jar was like 10 times bigger…so I could fit my face in there!

But anywho…before this post gets any more random…or I find any more places I can possibly place a pun…I’ll bid you all a good night!

Plus it’s getting KINDa hard to type with one hand shoved into a bag of granola! 😉

Posted in Product Review | Tagged blueberries, chia seeds, cottage cheese, granola, mustard, peanut butter, protein powder, sweet potato | 19 Comments

Mint Condition

Posted on August 29, 2012 by kissmybroccoli

It all started with a little green…

I just needed something for a that “pop” in the pic of Sunday morning’s
Blueberry Cobbler Protein Pancakes.

Enter discount mint stage left:

Can I get a “hell yeah” for impulse purchases?!

I mean c’mon, it was 50% off…how was I supposed to just…leave it hanging there on the rack??

But after my two leaf garnish, and not being much of a mojito fan, what in the world was I going to do with an entire package of mint?

Thoughts on the drive home from work Monday morning:

…starving…

…pancakes…

…no time for pancakes…

…PANCAKES…

…mint…

…green…

…leftover kale withering away in the crisper…

…blended green oats?

…blended green MINT oats?!

…mmm, with CHOCOLATE chips?!??

MINT CHOCOLATE CHIP PARFAIT!!

Best zombie thought process EVER!

Mint Chocolate Chip Parfait

By: Heather Powers

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 2 minutes

Ingredients (Serves 1)

For the Mint-Infused Oats

1/4 cup oat bran
1 cup water
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 scoop vanilla protein powder
1 cup steamed kale or raw spinach
5-7 fresh mint leaves (or 1/8 teaspoon mint extract)

For the Whipped Cottage Cheese

1/4 cup low-fat cottage cheese
1 tablespoons water
5-7 drops NuNaturals liquid vanilla stevia
1 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder (optional)*
1 tablespoon mini chocolate chips

*I used cocoa powder in remake of this and it was DELICIOUS…but not as photogenic!

Instructions

For the Mint-Infused Oats

1. Combine oat bran, water, and vanilla extract in a microwave-safe bowl and cook on high for 2 minutes, stopping to stir halfway through.
2. After cooking, combine oats, protein powder, kale, and mint in a blender and blend until smooth.

For the Whipped Cream Cheese

1. In a blender combine cottage cheese, water, sweetener and cocoa (if using) and puree until smooth.
2. Layer oats, mini chocolate chips, and whipped cottage cheese into a jar or glass until full saving enough chocolate chips for topping.

While this recipe is VERY similar to my Red Velvet Cake Parfait, I decreased the amount of cottage cheese so that I could add more chocolate chips…it’s ALLLLLLL about balance! 😉

Nutrition facts reflect one scoop of protein powder equaling 100 calories and 24 grams of protein.

Don’t be afraid of the greens people! As long as you’re using a GOOD QUALITY protein powder, you won’t be able to taste it at all!

Besides, if you left it out…it wouldn’t be as pretty! 😉

Warm minty oats…cool sweet cream…rich melty chocolate…

Oh hell, I’m drooling on myself!

So, I still have half a package of mint left…what should I do with it?

Posted in Breakfast, Photography, Vegetarian | Tagged chocolate, cottage cheese, greens, kale, mint, night shift, oat bran, pancakes, Photography, protein powder, recipe, sale | 33 Comments

WIAW: Get it While it’s FRESH!

Posted on August 28, 2012 by kissmybroccoli

Hey guys!

Can you believe it’s already the LAST week of August?

Which means it’s also the last week of our “Summer Staples” theme for
What I Ate Wednesday! 🙁

Be sure to hop on over to Peas & Crayons and show Jenn a little LOVE…not only is she our hostess with the most-ess but she’s ALSO throwing our little shindig in the midst of her hubby JUST getting back from deployment!

Welcome home Paul!

I don’t know about you guys, but with summer’s end getting closer day by day, I’ve felt myself LOADING UP on every bit of summer produce I can possibly get my hands on! Even with the promise of apple and pumpkin season right around the corner, I have to admit I’m going to miss my all of my summer staples.

But enough of the pining over produce….et’s get this party started, shall we?

I rolled out of bed in the wee hour of 2pm NSZT (night-shift zombie time) and headed straight toward the coffee maker…

You know, ’cause that’s where I keep my Fitmixer! 😉

I still can’t believe it’s been a MONTH since I’ve had one cup of coffee. I’ve always said I would never give it up because I love the taste, but I haven’t even had a craving for it in weeks!

After hitting the gym, I had a little appetizer before I got started on lunch:

Vegan Bacon Date Roll straight from the fridge and oh so delicious with it’s perfect sweet and salty combo!

Definitely hit the spot and held me over long enough so I could prep this masterpiece:

It’s been TOO long since I’ve made an Egg White Breakfast Pizza!

Loaded UP with fresh summer veggies!

Jalapenos, tomatoes and peppers oh my! 😀

After lunch, I got started on dinner prep. I knew exactly what I wanted and knew it would take a bit of time to put everything together…

Oh yeah, look who’s the spring roll MASTER!

When I picked up the package of spring rolls at the Asian market a few weeks ago, I honestly thought this would be a REAL challenge for me, but I’m telling you guys, it was a CINCH!

Stuffed with avocado, sprouts, tofu, carrots, and pickled ginger with a super easy spicy peanut sauce (2 T peanut flour + 3 T water + 1/2 tsp Bragg’s liquid aminos + 1 tsp sriracha)

DEEEEE-licious!

Snackage for the rest of the night included a perfectly juicy peach:

And a not so perfectly tasting Greek yogurt:

Never again, Kroger, will you lure me in with your enticing flavors!

I tasted no cranberry, no fig…just sugar…with a sandy texture! Ick!

And surprisingly, after a CAAAAAA-RAZY 10 hour shift at the hospital, (maybe it was the sugar high from the yogurt) I came home and whipped up this beauty: