Duct Tape Fixes Everything!

Posted on August 2, 2011 by kissmybroccoli

Hey hey guys and gals!

I am LOVING reading the stories about your first experiences with protein powders! Sounds like a lot of you had some pretty negative (and hilarious, might I add) first impressions, but hooray for sticking with the experimentation and finding flavors or mix-ins to make it work for you!

If you haven’t entered the Gotein giveaway yet, click here and change that ASAP…I promise it’ll be your new favorite way to get a good dose of protein in!

So how about title of this post?

It’s kind of an on-going joke here in the south that we use duct tape to fix everything. Speaking from experience (my old futon was duct taped about a bazillon times before meeting the big wood-whittler in the sky), I have to say that some people are right on the money with their “red-neck engineering”!

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Ok, how about a few “visual aides”?

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Torn sandal straps?…Duct tape!

[source]

Faulty pumbing?…Duct tape!

[source]

Misplaced the moving truck?…

Ok, so this one was a bit of a stretch! 😉

For the last few months I’ve been seeing a chiropractor for some problems with my left hip. I’ve mentioned it a few times on Twitter, but I don’t think I’ve really talked about it on the blog, just because it’s kind of one of those “hard to explain/I swear I’m not a hypochondriac” things….ya know what I mean?

It seems that the muscles in my hip (specifically my psoas muscle and iliotibial band) hate me have a hard time learning to relax and after a few months of increasing my activity level, it got to a point where I could barely even walk without a bit of a limp. After weeks of chiropractic therapy, stretching, and massage, the doctor informs me during today’s appointment of a new approach he’d like to take!

The skepticism started when I was told to don the oh so fashionable “patient” ensemble!

Yep, duct tape fixes EVERYTHING!

Ok, ok, so maybe it’s kinesiology tape and not duct tape, but regardless, could I look like a bigger loser?! I mean, I have TAPE…on my leg!

Oh yeah, and then he says, “Now I want you to wear this for five days.”

Um, sure doc, that’s fine…wait, did you say FIVE days?!?!

*Pout*

Supposedly, over the next FIVE days these little magical bands will support the muscles in my hip and possibly help to alleviate the discomfort/stiffness I’ve been dealing with over the past few months.

Until then, you can find me at TJ Maxx…buying up their supply of exercise pants and tights so I don’t get any weird looks at the gym! 😉

Anyone got any totally vain “I can’t believe my doctor is making me do this” horror stories?
I once got a deep cut on my eyeball and had to wear a gauze patch for 24 hours…luckily my mom went into the pharmacy alone to fill my prescription alone and left me in the car to “hide” my Quasimodo looking face from the general public! Haha!

Posted in Randomness | Tagged , | 19 Comments

Wake Me Up Before You Go-Gotein!

Posted on August 1, 2011 by kissmybroccoli

Hey boos!

Man, you guys REALLY know how to make a girl’s day! Thank you all sooo much for all the sweet comments on yesterday’s Pancake Sunday post!

I swear my head heart is swelling from all the love!

So, I was going to share the recipe for my Coconut Curry Salmon from last week’s WIAW post, but with all the love that’s in the air right now, I’ve changed my mind…and I have a sneaky suspicion that you guys won’t mind one bit…

How about a

GIVEAWAY?!

Yeah…I know…what recipe??

I figured! 😉

A couple of months ago, the awesome people over at Gotein contacted me about trying their ready-to-use protein packets. Since it’s no secret that I’ve been in the market for a new protein supplement, I JUMPED at the opportunity!

When they first arrived at Casa de Broccoli, I was excited…nervous…skeptical.

You see, after working at a supplement store for FOUR years while in college, I’m now a bit of a protein snob.

Here is my protein supplement criteria:

  1. Good mix-ability
  2. At LEAST 15-20 grams of protein per serving
  3. Short ingredient list WITHOUT the use of sugar substitutes/alcohols
  4. And it HAS to taste GREAT!*
*I mean, c’mon, who want’s to “force” themselves to down a sub par protein supplement?? Not this gal!

Knowing from my research that Gotein boasted 3 out of my 4 requirements, I eagerly began my adventures in taste testing!

All the flavors were mixed with water because in my opinion, if a protein shake is high enough in quality, you won’t have to try to mask the flavor by using milk and/or any other ingredients.

First up, vanilla! Name of the strategy: start out simple.

If you screw up vanilla, then I’m out!

It was PERFECT! Like a lightly sweetened milk…nothing overpowering and no aftertaste at all (ugh, I really hate shakes that leave that fake “sweet” taste in your mouth)!

Then the flavor I was the most skeptical about. I have never had good luck with strawberry flavored shakes…they always tastes so…fake! To my amazement (and excitement), I LOVED this flavor! It tasted just like…

Yes, strawberry Yoo-hoo! I kid you not!
Ohhhh, the memories of my childhood!

And of course, I saved the best for last.

Even though I’m not a huge chocolate fan (I’d take a warm doughy baked good over even your finest chocolate bar any day…so sue me!), chocolate protein shakes are always my favorite! Well, except for this guy…there’s always at least one exception, right?

Laaaaa-huved it!!

I seriously went into this review with an open and non-biased attitude thinking that I’d at least have “ehhh” feelings for one flavor, but as it turns out, the guys over at Gotein know their stuff! I was SUPER impressed with each flavor! Whether I used my shaker cup, a recycled kombucha bottle (don’t tell me you guys don’t reuse those expensive little buggers), or even just a spoon, the mix-ability was amazing! No chalky/gritty texture…no residue left at the bottom…it was just like drinking a pre-made shake!

And now for the good part!

Gotein supplied me with an extra packet of each flavor for one of my lucky readers to try
annnnnnnd Anna threw in a SWEET discount code for $4 off a box if you decide (like me) that these are the best flippin’ things since sliced bread and can’t live without them!

😉

So how do you win some Gotein of your own?

  1. Mandatory: Tell me about your very first experience with protein powder? How was it? Were you hooked…or scarred? Haha!
  2. Additional Entries: Leave a SEPARATE comment for each one you chose:
  • Subscribe to Kiss My Broccoli by email
  • “Like” Kiss My Broccoli on Facebook
  • “Like” Gotein on Facebook
  • Follow Gotein on Twitter
  • Follow Kiss My Broccoli on Twitter AND “tweet” the following:

“Gimme some free protein powder! @kissmybroccoli @Gotein #giveaway http://kissmybroccoliblog.com/2011/08/01/wake-me-up-before-you-go-gotein/”

Entries will be closed Thursday @ 11:59 CST and the winner will be announced on Friday (August 5, 2011)

Good Luck!

Posted in Product Review | Tagged | 85 Comments

Prosciutto, Fig & Brown Sugar Pancakes

Posted on July 31, 2011 by kissmybroccoli

This morning I set out on a little adventure…transfer the hundreds of recipe bookmarks I have stored on my laptop to my boards on Pinterest. After seeing Jenn do it with the WIAW posts, I wondered why on Earth I had thought of it myself! I’ve been hoarding some of these recipes since October of last year, but have forgotten all about them!

Not anymore…now this ADHD foodie has picture references!

While I was enjoying a big ol’ mug of black juice and pinning to my little heart’s content, I started getting a little hungry. The no-fail way to find your appetite: peruse food blogs and drool over other people’s recipes. 😉

I’m not sure exactly what got me thinking about proscuitto and figs…obviously somewhere in the depths of my hard-drive space, there was something that tipped me off, but all of a sudden I was overcome with a craving…sweet and salty…

And of course it HAD to be a pancake! It IS Pancake Sunday after all!

Sunday morning realization #1:
Though it may taste delicious, without the use of spell check “proscuitto,” turns into all sorts of things in my mind:

proscuttio…

prousitto…

prossuito…

prostitute?!?

Sunday morning realization #2:

At least in my opinion anyway…the sweeter, the better! 🙂

Anywho! You guys interested in a recipe that features some super sweet figs and a prostitute?

Um, er…I mean…

Pro-SHOOT-toe!

Prosciutto, Fig & Brown Sugar Pancakes: (serves 1)

  • 1 ounce proscuitto (or you can use bacon), diced into 1/2 inch pieces
  • 1/3 cup + 1 Tablespoon whole wheat pastry flour
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1 whole egg, whisked
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • 1/2-1 teaspoon brown sugar (depending on your taste preferences)
  • 1/4 cup unsweetened almond milk
  • 3 dried figs, diced
1. In a non-stick skillet, over medium-high heat, dry saute proscuitto pieces until crisp           and browned. Set aside.
2. Combine flour, baking powder, and cinnamon in a medium-sized bowl. Stir to mix.
3. In a separate bowl, combine whisked egg, vanilla extract, brown sugar, and almond             milk.
4. Add wet ingredients to dry ingredients and stir until all the flour is incorporated.
5. Stir in browned proscuitto and diced figs* (reserving a small amount of each for                 topping)
6. Spoon batter into a non-stick skillet over medium heat and cook approximately 3-4          minutes per side.
7. Plate and top with reserved proscuitto and figs and a drizzle of pure maple syrup.

*Don’t be surprised when the batter turns out to be pretty lumpy…it’s just FULL of the good stuff!

Freshly plated and waiting for some maple syrup love!

Drizzly goodness from the maple gods of Vermont!

Oh, hey Jess!

I know what you’re thinking…

But they haven’t come up with a way to incorporate “scratch ‘n sniff” on the interwebs yet.

Sorry.

Looks like you’ll just have to make them yourself!

I guarantee these babies will change your life…ok, so maybe they won’t elevate your social status or help you get that alluring job promotion, but hey, you’ve got a hankering for sweet and salty? Put away those chocolate covered pretzels, and make these ASAP!

You will NOT be disappointed!

Just don’t forget to leave the money on the bed. 😉

What’s your favorite sweet & salty combo?



Posted in Breakfast, Pancake Sunday | Tagged , , , , , | 28 Comments