A Marvelous and MEATLESS Monday!

Posted on August 27, 2012 by kissmybroccoli

Happy Monday lovelies!

I hope you all had a fabulous weekend and a great start to the week.

I’m so excited about linking up with Katie and all my girls for my second MIMM post! A lot of great things happened this weekend and I can’t WAIT to share them with you!

Plus, how can you not love all the positive vibes from this link party?!

Mondays are no longer Munnnnnnndays! 😉

This weekend started out as usual with my Saturday morning trip to the farmer’s market.

I was SO happy to see some zucchini…last week all the farmer’s were out and I was a little worried since I haven’t quite met my “zucchini quota” for the summer yet…probably one of my most favorite summer veggies! And heck yeah, for FINALLY picking up some corn…I haven’t had ANY this season and I’m really wanting to try it grilled!

After the market, I hit up the gym. I didn’t have a plan going in, but I have to say (especially since I’m STILL feeling it today) I did a pretty good job of kicking my own butt!

Here’s what it ended up looking like:

I did my pushups on my knees because I’m still a little girl ;), but daaaaaaaaaang, in less than an hour, I was totally SMOKED!

#PROOF

Oh yeah, Mr. Tricep is DEFINITELY growing! 😀

And JUST when I thought the day couldn’t get any better, a little spontaneity proved otherwise…less than two hours later I was on a boat…with a hunk by my side!

Guess who’s FINALLY done traveling for work?!

I met up with BB and a friend of his at Kentucky Lake and the rest of the day looked like this:

One of the BEST salads I’ve ever made from a salad bar…that wasn’t Whole Foods! 😉

Seriously, that corn muffin was unbelievable, and the tomato and barely salad at the top right? Omg, I HAVE to recreate that!

Followed by the DELICIOUS albeit unphotogenic blueberry cobbler that led to yesterday’s pancake inspiration! 😀

I may or may not have shed a tear after this pic was taken.

Seriously can it get any more MARVELOUS than that?!

——————–

Now, onto the MEATLESS part of this post!

I have been DYING to join in on Heather’s Meatless Monday celebration for weeks now but my biggest problem was my timing.

I mean, c’mon…I rattled off not one, not two, but THREE beet recipes last week…yeah, only ONE WEEK late to the party! :-/

When I realized that this week’s featured food would be dates, I got a little more excited than is probably considered “normal” but who are we kidding? Me? Normal? Please!

I LOVE dates…the chewy consistency, the perfect amount of sweetness, and hey, stuffed with a little peanut butter, they make one of the BEST pre-workout snacks!

So I actually took THAT idea and put a little “spin” on it!

I’m sure you guys have seen those cheese-stuffed, bacon-wrapped dates appetizers that parade around Pinterest ever time a holiday rolls around…

But how about a VEGAN version?! 😉

VEGAN Bacon-Wrapped Dates

by Heather Powers

Prep Time: 20-30 minutes

Cook Time: 10 minutes

Keywords: bake appetizer snack vegan eggplant dates nut butter

Ingredients (6 dates)

1 small eggplant
1 tablespoon soy sauce (I used Bragg’s Liquid Aminos)
1/2 tablespoon water
1 teaspoon maple syrup
1/4 teaspoon liquid smoke
1/4 teaspoon maple extract
1/8 teaspoon garlic powder
6 medium-sized dates
2 tablespoons nut butter or vegan cream cheese
toothpicks

Instructions

1. Slice eggplant lengthwise into 1/4 inch slices. Spread slices on a layer of paper towels and sprinkle with salt. Allow salt to bring out the excess moisture in the eggplant for about 20 minutes, flipping and salting the other side halfway through.
2. Meanwhile, prepare your “bacon sauce” by combing soy sauce, water, maple syrup, liquid smoke, maple extract, and garlic in a small bowl.
3. Preheat oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
4. Blot the eggplant slices with a dry paper towel before dipping into the “bacon sauce” then set aside.
5. Cut a slit into each date and stuff each one with 1 teaspoon nut butter (crunchy peanut butter is my favorite) or vegan cream cheese.
6. Wrap/roll a slice of eggplant bacon around each date and secure with toothpicks.
7. Arrange on a sheet pan and bake for 10 minutes.
8. Serve warm or refrigerate for 2-3 hours and serve cold.

The salty smoky flavor of the “bacon” combined with the natural sweetness of the dates is unbelievable…and if you are a big texture person like I am, the addition of crunchy peanut butter takes this little nibble to a whole new level of enjoyment!

Although I have to say the soft and smooth cream cheese was pretty rocking too! 😉

But that’s where the fun comes in…and YOU get to decide!

Have you ever tried a date?

Share something MARVELOUS from your weekend!

Posted in Meatless Monday, MIMM, Vegan, Workouts | Tagged Broccoli Babe, cream cheese, eggplant, gym, peanut butter, recipe | 34 Comments

Blueberry Cobbler Protein Pancakes

Posted on August 26, 2012 by kissmybroccoli

Am I the only one who immediately thinks of cobbler when it comes to summertime desserts? Or is that just the southern girl in me?

Well yesterday, I FINALLY got a chance to satisfy my summertime craving in the way of some warm blueberry cobbler.

It was perfectly smooth, flaky, buttery…and GONE in about 5 minutes!

Obviously I have a hard time with the whole “savoring” thing…

Since the “strange disappearance” of said cobbler (roughy about 18 hours), my mind has been REELING with ways I could recreate that amazing dessert….what can I say? I have something good, and I want MORE!

And MORE I shall have!

Breakfast? Dessert? Same thing, right?

Good, glad we’re all on the same page! 😉

Blueberry Cobbler Protein Pancakes

by Heather Powers

Prep Time: 12-15 minutes

Cook Time: 8-10 minutes

Keywords: fry breakfast high protein no sugar added vegetarian blueberries egg whites protein powder whole wheat pastry flour summer

Ingredients (Serves 1)

For the Blueberry Cobbler Topping

1/2 cup blueberries
1/4 cup water
5-7 drops liquid stevia (or other sweetener)
1 teaspoon cornstarch

For the Pancakes

1/4 cup whole wheat pastry flour
1/2 scoop (14g) vanilla protein powder
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
2 egg whites
1/4 cup cottage cheese
1 tablespoon unsweetened applesauce
2 tablespoons unsweetened almond milk
1/8 teaspoon butter extract
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions

For the Blueberry Cobbler Topping

1. Combine blueberries, water, and stevia in a small pot over medium-high heat.
2. Once boiling, lightly stir in cornstarch and reduce heat to low.
3. Cover and simmer for 5 minutes or until thickened.
4. Remove from heat and set aside.

For the Pancakes

1. Preheat griddle to medium heat.
2. Combine flour, protein powder, baking powder, and cinnamon in a medium-sized bowl.
3. In a separate bowl, whisk egg whites until light and foamy (about 30 seconds)
4. Carefully stir milk, cottage cheese, apple sauce and extracts into egg whites.
5. Add wet ingredients to dry ingredients and stir until combined.
6. Spoon batter onto griddle and allow to cook 4-5 minutes per side.
7. Plate and top with blueberry cobbler topping.

*For an “ala mode” option, add 1/4 cup whipped cottage cheese sweetened with a bit of stevia.

Oh my gosh, you guys…the light and fluffy buttery pancakes with the perfectly sweet and smooth blueberry topping?

To.Die.For!

And those stats? That’s with the “ala mode” topping and EVERYTHING! 😀

NOW I’ve truly had my summertime craving satisfied!

What are you waiting for? Get to the store before blueberry season is over and make these before it’s too late!

Pick one: Pie…cake…or cobbler?

Posted in Breakfast, Pancake Sunday | Tagged blueberries, pancakes, protein, protein powder, Southern cooking, summer, whole wheat pastry flour | 27 Comments

Waffles & Chopsticks?

Posted on August 24, 2012 by kissmybroccoli

I want to thank you all for your condolences regarding the passing of young Fred.

He will truly be missed.

I know I’m in a bit of an emotional state right now, but I honestly cannot believe I lost my manners last night and missed out on making proper introductions…

Everyone, meet Willie…Willie, everyone! 😀

Ahhh, that’s MUCH better!

Now, I have to introduce you to a little recipe, but not BEFORE I give you a little background…

Ok, so last night, I obviously had some beginners luck with my very first waffle experience…in that it LOOKED good.

But I’ll be honest, it was a bit chewy. So this morning, I pushed up my sleeves (obviously figurative since it was a blazing 97 degrees out today) and set out to improve my technique!

And that’s when I made this:

Soft, fluffy, and NOT chewy whole wheat cinnamon waffle smothered in peanut flour sauce and topped with bananas and carob.

It was SO incredibly delicious…I just couldn’t believe it…AND THEN I found out what today is…

NATIONAL WAFFLE DAY!!

I was like #score! I HAVE to post this recipe today!

But first, I had to an errand to run. It was very important. It couldn’t wait.

But the whole time I was out, I was thinking about that waffle…thinking about the ingredients, the toppings, and how badly I wanted another one! So as soon as I got home, I did just that.

I was famished (errand running does that to me) so I quickly whipped up the recipe making only ONE small change…

In the original recipe, I noticed my batter wasn’t really thick enough so I threw in a tablespoon of coconut flour, butttttttttttt since I know not EVERYBODY has coconut flour (even though you all SHOULD…it’s the best thing EVER…next to peanut flour), I decided to make an alteration. I simply cut down on some of the liquid and removed an egg white…

Easy peasy, no?

WRONNNNNNNNNNG!

I couldn’t understand…the batter seemed like it was the right consistency. So how the hell did it turn into friggin’ super glue?!

Lot’s of picking, scraping, and cleaning later…I was back to work! Oh no, I wasn’t giving up THAT easy! I was hungry….and I wanted that waffle!

So I tried again. This time I left the egg whites and liquid alone and added some protein powder…

Mother *&*&%@@$#!

At this point I’m STARVING…it was either scrap the waffle and have cereal or find some way to salvage it…

What would you do?

Waffle-in-a-bowl, anyone?

I’m still not sure what happened…my simple changes should have worked. I know it’s no pancake, but I think I know a thing or two about batter by now.

Unless…

Unless he knows…

Unless he knows what came home with me today…

I’m sorry Willie, but you’re not the only new kid ~~at school~~ in the kitchen!

And Debbie’s* not going ANYWHERE!

*Not to be confused with this Debbie* 😉

So I’m sorry to all of you who are coconut flour deprived…I owe you.

For everyone else, here’s your friggin’ recipe!

Whole Wheat Cinnamon Waffles

By: Heather Powers

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 5 minutes

Ingredients (Serves 1)

1/4 cup whole wheat pastry flour
1 tablespoon coconut flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon cinnamon
3 egg whites
2 tablespoons unsweetened almond milk
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
3-5 drops liquid vanilla stevia (or other sweetener)

Instructions

1. Whisk together dry ingredients to combine.
2. Place egg whites in a blender and blend until white and foamy (approximately 1 minute)
3. Add egg whites, milk, and extract to dry ingredients and stir JUST until flour is incorporated.
4. Transfer batter to waffle maker and cook until done (minute took less than 5 minutes)

Happy National Waffle Day.

*grumble*

Now, for all you non-coconut flour owners, go here and buy this…I like this company…AND they’re having a sale on the best coconut oil ever…what you don’t use in the kitchen you can slather on your body for a primo moisturizer…AND they didn’t pay me to say ANY of that! 😉

Did YOU celebrate National Waffle Day today?

What do you do with your kitchen failures…scrap ’em or save ’em?