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Sprinting with Broccoli

Posted on August 2, 2012 by kissmybroccoli

Hey loves!

How is everybody doing this fine Thursday evening?

Why do I seem to be in such an exceptionally good mood, you ask? Well, this week
(if you subtract out the hours I was imprisoned behind the four walls of the hospital)
has been FABULOUS!

And I can’t wait to tell you why!

So I won’t! 😉

This week has been FULL of excitement…in the way of manicures, Bodypump, hot protein cocoa, CHOCOLATE Egg White Oats (told you I was becoming a convert), mail surprises, and reaching for my Almond Butter Granola Bars like they’re going out of style (crumbled over a bowl of my two favorite GNC powders)…FYI, they went “out of style” about an hour ago when I devoured the last one! 🙁

And for the record, the newest Bodypump (track 82) is KILLER! If they offer it at your gym, you HAVE to try it…you’re legs will be burrrrrrrning!

What’s that? You wanna know what came in the mail?

Oh well, I just HAPPEN to have a pic 😉

When Chobani contacted me a few weeks ago telling me about their new 16 oz TUBS of yogurt and offering to send me some, you have to know I ~~jumped up and down, did my best version of the Carlton dance and then~~ promptly returned their email with an ever grateful “yes, please, and thank you”! And how exciting (slash coincidental) that my Cho showed up on the EXACT same day as my loot of Lifestyles Granola that I won from Sarah over at Snixy Kitchen!

Yeah, I’m sure this should last me at LEAST a week or two! 😉

And if that couldn’t get any better, my Netrition order finally came in today:

1. Doctor Kracker’s Apple Oat Crunch Chips – just had to get some more when I ran out of my bag from TJ Maxx
2. Ms. Kay’s Protein Cereal – super tasty AND Diva Approved 😉
3. Whey Crisps – new to me, but I can’t wait to experiment with them in some new bars for some added CRUNCH!
4. Fruit Punch Nectar Whey – my favorite brand protein powder…so excited to have a non milk-based flavor for those super sweaty workouts where the thought of something creamy afterwards induces nausea 😉
5. PEANUT FLOUR!!! – two bags of my regular brand (Protein Plus) plus a new one with raspberry flavor (curiosity got the best of me)
6. Wheat Grass Juice Powder – hoping to use this for extra energy when I need it on the night shift instead of reaching for a second cup of coffee
7. Lavender essential oil – which will meet with some water and be my new pillow spray!
8. Capella drops – I’ve tried some of these before, but after hearing Laura from Sprint 2 the Table RAVE over the cake batter and butter flavors, I couldn’t resist! And I sure as heck wasn’t passing up the apple pie and cheesecake flavors!
9. And finally, my “FREE” t-shirt – hey, it’s the LEAST they could do for the money I slapped down on this order! 😉

And it fits pretty well too! Forgive the wet hair, I had just gotten back from swimming at the gym.

Speaking of Laura…I guess I should explain the title of this post, huh?

You ever get on those pinning/drooling sprees when you’re catching up on blog posts? You know, where after an hour, you’ve got enough recipes saved to feed starving African babies for the next 6 months?

C’mon, you can’t say you haven’t done it!

But tell me, just HOW MANY of those recipes do you ever actually get to making?

EXACTLY!

So this week, I decided to go for it…and at the risk of looking like I have a total girl crush going on (ok, so maybe I do…but that’s ok, because we’re going to prom, right Laura?), I thought I’d share what I made this week!

PB&J Zeggs: My take on her Peanut Butter & Jeggs, only I just HAD to put my little spin on it and add zucchini…it was like having PB&J on zucchini bread!
Paleo N’oatmeal: I’ve seen this one going around blog world forever now but I knew I had to try Laura’s version! It was SO good…and actually tasted like a bowl of creamy oatbran!
Blueberry Protein Parfait: I made a few changes with this one since I was out of peanut flour (hence the two VERY large packages I just bought). I added a bit of coconut flour to the “crust” and also a little to the topping and it was fabulous!
Oatmeal Cookie Dough Shake: This was actually the first recipe of hers that I tried and followed the recipe to a TEE…although I didn’t really like the flavor that the nutritional yeast added to it, I thought it had a great texture and thickness and will definitely be making it again without the nooch.

But out of everything that I tried, nothing beats what I had for lunch the other day!

Prepare yourself friends…

As in, grab a napkin to wipe your chin, because this one is a doozy!

Tiramisu…

Protein…

Parfait!

As a person who’s not really a fan of tiramisu (I think I’ve just never had one done the right way), I was intrigued with this rendition of hers…and with a huge bowl of fresh cherries in the fridge, how could I say no to her “melted cherries” topping?

OMG!!!!!!!!

There are not enough exclamation points in the world to put at the end of that!

By far the BEST thing I’ve eaten all week!

The cold chocolatey oats with a hint of coffee flavor, the sweet and creamy flavor of the layers of “cream” and THOSE MELTED CHERRIES!!!

The only complaint I have?

It was gone TOO soon!

Do you have a habit of saving/printing/pinning recipes without ever actually making them?

What’s the last new recipe you’ve tried?

Posted in Breakfast, Desserts, Shopping, Thursday Things, Workouts | Tagged blends, Chobani, granola, Greek yogurt, mail, oats, parfait, peanut flour, protein | 26 Comments

WIAW: Summer Staples

Posted on July 31, 2012 by kissmybroccoli

Hey guys!!

Wow, so this weekend and past couple of days have just FLOWN by, right? Ugh, if only I didn’t have to work and could just stay at home making variations of
Almond Butter Granola Bars! 😉

Who knows, maybe I’ll win the lottery someday*
*Highly unlikely since I’ve never ever purchased a lottery ticket! Lol

But annnnywho…

Who out there is excited for the new What I Ate Wednesday theme?!

Jenn is absolutely BRILLIANT with these themes! Be sure to head over to Peas & Crayons and let her know how much we all appreciate the awesomeness she puts into this shindig each and every week!

As an outdoorsy-type person living in the south, I’m not exactly a fan of summer, but as a FOODIE…I’m all about it! And thanks to the new “Summer Staples” theme, I can show you guys how this summer’s seasonals have been popping their way into my eats!

So let’s get staplin’! 😉

I had a bit of energy when I got off my night shift Monday so I took advantage of it and hit the gym (I know, after a 1o hour night shift…who am I?). When I got home I knew exactly what I wanted…

CHEESY EGGS!

But I needed something more…I needed a bit of sweet to go with my savory…

Hey, if cheese and JAM work, why not cheese and berries?

For the record, it most certainly DOES…especially when you use grated pesto jack cheese.

Seriously, I’m drooling all over again!

And of course, I know Jenn has my back when I say, WHAT would summer be without salads?!

I’ve actually had the SAME salad for three days in a row now and I STILL can’t get enough!

Wanna know the secret to a KILLER summer salad?

Well, first…and most importantly…is the bowl/plate you choose…

You should choose a nice deep bowl or an extra wide plate for the best salads…

Preferably something about the size of your face…or larger! 😉

Then, it’s just a matter of steps:

Step 1: Greens
Steep 2: Beans/Grains
Step 3: Protein
Step 4: VEGGIESSSSSS!
Step 5: Sprouts…because let’s face it, a salad’s just not a salad without sprouts!
Step 6: Dressing

You could get all fancy with vinegars, oils, and spices, but me? I’m a minimalist kinda gal…

You just can’t go wrong with salsa, hummus, or especially this kalamata olive bruschetta.
And it’s EVEN better if you stir it up with a little nutritional yeast!

I never met a salad I didn’t like!

But what I love most about the summer months when it comes to food isn’t the sweet summer berries, or the amazingly crisp squash, peppers, and okra…

No, what I love most is a big spoonful of cool and creamy!

And lucky for YOU, I just happen to have a recipe for a delicious chocolate treat!

Dark Chocolate Brownie Protein Pudding

By: Heather Powers

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: N/A

Ingredients (Serves 1)

1/2 cup low-fat cottage cheese
1/2 frozen banana, sliced
1/3 cup almond milk
1 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder
1/4 teaspoon cocoa bean extract
5-7 drops NuNaturals Orange NuStevia (optional)
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon xanthan gum (optional but helps with thickening)
Orange zest and mini chocolate chips for garnish

Instructions

1. Combine all ingredients in a blender or food processor until smooth and creamy.
2. Serve immediately or freeze for 4-6 hours.
3. Top with orange zest and mini chocolate chips.

********

Yesterday afternoon, I was craving something cold after a super sweaty workout…my first thought was my Cake Batter Protein Pudding, but something stirred in me when I spotted an orange (leftover from Sunday’s pancake diaster) lying on the counter.

Remember when I said there are only few exceptions that will lead me to choosing chocolate over vanilla? Well, I’ve decided to add the orange and chocolate to that list too!

If you love the combo of citrus and chocolate too but don’t have access to the orange Stevia liquid, try subbing in orange extract or a bit of orange zest (+ sweetener of choice) and then blend with the other ingredients.

I also realize not everyone may have a bottle of this lusciousness lying around, but never fear, I believe it will come out JUST fine without it…and if you feel you need a little something more, just have a little “whoops” when you top with your chocolate chips! 😉

Smooth and creamy, rich chocolately pudding,
with a sweet citrusy burst hidden within…

A few more of these, and I’ll be a chocolate convert in no time! 😉

What are some summer staples that have been making their way into YOUR meals lately?

What’s your favorite flavor to pair with chocolate?

Posted in Breakfast, Desserts, Vegetarian, What I Ate Wednesday | Tagged cheese, chocolate, eggs, nutritional yeast, okra, orange, pudding, raspberries, recipe, salad, spinach, summer, tofu, veggies | 62 Comments

Almond Butter Granola Bars

Posted on July 30, 2012 by kissmybroccoli

Sorry guys, but I just couldn’t help but tease you a little yesterday!

As promised I have a recipe for you today. But not just any recipe…this would actually be my first ever attempt at making my own homemade granola bars!

It’s no secret around here that I have a bit of an addiction to snack bars…

#proof that a hoarder CAN in fact be organized…despite the portrait painted on
prime time television.

Weekend project: Over the door shoe organizer turned snack bar holder! Feel free stand in utter awe of my genius-ness and then steal it for yourself! 😉

Unfortunately, there aren’t many bars out there that meet 100% of my expectations in the nutritional department. Alas, they can’t all be Simply Bars! 😉 I try to ignore the fact that some of the tastiest selections (here’s looking at you Luna) also have a pretty lengthy ingredient list with at least three different types of sugar.

So, I got in the kitchen on Saturday determined to make an all natural, low sugar but FULL of flavor snack bar!

It started with homemade almond butter…
Just almonds and a food processor…and maybe a little coconut oil at the end if you’re impatient like me! 😉

And ended with pure deliciousness!

Almond Butter Granola Bars

By: Heather Powers

Prep Time: 10-15 minutes

Cook Time: 25-30 minutes

Keywords: bake snack dairy-free vegan vegetarian low sugar peanut free almonds oats maple syrup

Ingredients (12-15 bars)

2 cups rolled oats
1/4 cup coconut flour
1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon
1 flax egg (1 Tablespoon flax + 3 Tablespoons water)
1 cup sliced peaches (fresh or thawed from frozen)*, pureed
1/3 cup creamy almond butter
1 teaspoon almond extract
1 teaspoon maple extract
1/8 cup pure maple syrup
10-12 drops liquid vanilla stevia (or more depending on taste)

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350F.
2. Prepare flax “egg” in a small bowl and allow to set.
3. In a medium-sized bowl, combine oats, flour, and cinnamon.
4. Puree peaches in a blender until smooth then add to a bowl with almond butter, maple syrup, extracts, and flax egg and stir to combine.
5. Add wet ingredients to your oat and flour mixture.
6. Transfer onto a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper and bake for 25-30 minutes or until edges start to crisp and turn brown.
7. Remove from oven and allow to cool on pan for 10 minutes before slicing.
8. Store in an airtight container for 2-3 days or wrap tightly in plastic wrap and freeze.

Notes:
You can really used any mild flavored fruit for the fruit puree. I was out of applesauce, so just used what I had on hand and it worked just fine. Pumpkin puree would also work.

If you don’t have maple extract (which I HIGHLY recommend. It’s fabulous in oats!) then you can sub in vanilla extract instead…they just won’t be as maple-y! 😉

And finally, if want to sub in regular flour for the coconut, I think it would work, just fine, but I would maybe increase it to 1/2 cup to compensate for the high absorption of the coconut flour.

Soft and chewy, and a little crumbly, these babies were calling my name from the kitchen counter all day yesterday. I did my best to save enough to photograph, but after that…

All bets were off!