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Keep Calm & Make Pancakes

Posted on April 3, 2011 by kissmybroccoli

Hey guys!

Hope you all had a very restful and relaxing Sunday!

So, my “free” wi-fi decided to be no more tonight…but instead of stressing, I took this as an opportunity to bust out the ol’ Starbucks gift card (thanks Cat!) and treat myself to a little iced decaf coffee while typing up today’s post! I’m actually sitting outside and it feels AMAZING! Better soak up the nice temperatures while I can since I hear a bad storm is coming in for tomorrow!

Fate didn’t make liar out of me this week, so you guys know what that means…

Happy Pancake Sunday from the new Casa de Broccoli!

Gluten-Free Lemon Poppy Seed Pancakes

Gluten-Free Lemon Poppy Seed Pancakes: (serves 1)

1/4 cup brown rice flour
1/4 cup tapioca flour
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/8 teaspoon baking soda
1/8 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon xanthan gum
1 flax egg (1 tablespoon ground flax to 3 tablespoons water)
1/2 cup unsweetened almond milk
1 teaspoon coconut oil, melted
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
1/2 teaspoon lemon zest
1 teaspoon poppy seeds

1. Stir together flax and water and allow to set for 2-3 minutes.
2. Combine dry ingredients in a small bowl and whisk together to break up any lumps.
3. Add wet ingredients into the dry mix and stir to incorporate.
4. Stir in poppy seeds and zest
5. Pour batter into a greased skillet and cook over medium heat for about 3-5 minutes per side.

These pancakes are gluten-free, vegan, dairy-free, and sugar-free!

I topped my 3 small cakes with a swirl of Sarena’s coconut cream, more poppy seeds and zest, and a little coconut. I loved the light color of the cakes…it went perfectly with the “pop” of color from the lemon zest!

This was my first time creating a gluten-free pancake from scratch. After doing a bit of research, I learned that the addition of xanthan gum is an absolute MUST in gluten-free baking to get the batter to stick together. Next time, I may fiddle around with the ingredients to see if I can make them fluffier like Alex’s because, I don’t know about you, but there are few things in my life that top a stack of big fluffy pancakes! 😉

The kitchen has officially been christened!

A pancake batter tear of happiness! 😉

After breakfast, I did a little catching up on some blog reading. The other day, Janetha shared a glorious cheese-loving casserole recipe in her post “Keep Calm & Make a Casserole” (if you are a cheese fiend like me, I suggest you go take a gander at that beauty)!

Her post got me thinking about the “calm after the storm” that I’ve experienced today. I spent the day doing light stuff around the house…I got all my clothes unpacked and put away and both bathrooms are stocked and organized! Quite a change of pace from the last few days. Honestly, I think there’s just something to be said about taking the time to make a special breakfast on a Sunday morning (or any day for that matter) that can set the mood for a relaxing day!

I mean, c’mon, if I had lost internet service a couple of days ago, I wouldn’t have thought, “Hey, I’ll just go to Starbucks!” I would have thought, “Ohmigod! I don’t have internet! My life is OVER!!” Yeah, I wish I was kidding. 😉

So, I’d like to steal Janetha G’s question…

Finish the sentence according to your mood today:
“Keep calm and _________.”

Posted in Breakfast, Gluten-free, Pancake Sunday, Sugar-free/No Sugar Added, Vegan, Vegetarian | Tagged almond milk, coconut, pancakes | 43 Comments

What’s Your Reason?

Posted on April 2, 2011 by kissmybroccoli

Hey guys! Hope everyone had a wonderful Saturday! Mine was busy and very productive!

I was just thinking how I’m not ready to go back to work tomorrow…then I realized that tomorrow is only Sunday! Whew, today has just been one of those days, ya know?

Most of the day was spent unpacking, organizing, and re-organizing (trying to figure out where I want everything), but I took a little break midday to see what you guys had for me as a solution to yesterday’s kitchen quandary while I snacked on a sweet/savory bagelwich.

Cinnamon raisin bagel thin, muenster cheese, and one microwaved scrambled egg.

Well…

I tried the grill tools…they fit, but since there’s actually two more pieces to the set, I think they’ll just reside in the drawer in the bottom of the stove for now!

Then I tried my rolling pin…

Hahahaha!!

For now, I think I’m gonna stick with the cupcake liners until I walk into the kitchen one day and have that “a-ha” moment! I’m not using it for spoons and spatulas mainly because I have a larger drawer on the other side of the stove and a tool caddy to keep on the counter as well.

My dad came over late this afternoon and we went to my now second home (aka Lowe’s) for blinds and a few other things. We weren’t able to get blinds for the big windows in the two front bedrooms since they didn’t have the correct size, but the most important thing is that I now have a set in my bedroom. Maybe I’ll actually sleep past 6:00am tomorrow!

While out, my dad got a craving for some barbecue chicken that’s sold at a little market right down the road from me. They have the works when it comes to barbecue: pork, chicken, ribs, and all the traditional southern sides (macaroni salad, potato salad, cole slaw, and baked beans) and they also have daily pie specials!

Once home, I shredded some of the chicken and had it on a bed of greens with some chopped roasted red peppers and TJ’s balsamic vinaigrette. My dad chose to eat his bird straight up!

As I was snapping a quick photo, my dad told me he had a question.

He asked, “Why do you eat the way you do?”

My answer: because I enjoy it. I love eating foods that I know are both delicious and nutritious. God only gave me one body and I should try to take care of it as best I can. Never once have I eaten a certain way for anyone other than myself. My meals may not be as convenient as stopping by a fast food joint and picking up a burger, but I never think of it as being a hassle. Plus, when I eat well, I feel well.

I’ve never actually been asked this question flat-out before. Most of my friends and family just think of me as “the quirky eater” and usually only ask me what “weird” foods I’ve eaten lately so they can shake their heads and look at me in disbelief assumably thinking that it can’t possibly taste good to blend spinach into a smoothie.

My healthy eating lifestyle has taken many years to evolve into what it is today. Only in the last 8 months or so has it really blossomed. Since it’s been such a gradual process, I find it hard to pinpoint only one reason for the dietary choices I make, yet at the same time it’s also hard to explain.

What do you guys think of my answer? Too vague?

What is YOUR reason for healthy eating?

Posted in Breakfast, Entree, Snacks | Tagged cheese, chicken, eggs, greens, salad | 37 Comments

Introductions & Kitchen Quandaries

Posted on April 1, 2011 by kissmybroccoli

Thank you guys so much for your sweet comments regarding my accident yesterday. I’m still doing ok…no residual soreness or anything like that, thankfully. I probably won’t hear any news on Vickie the Vibe until Monday, but for now I’d like to introduce you guys to her understudy:

Meet Andy the Avenger!

Power windows & door locks, leather seats, and free satellite radio!

Vickie? Vickie who?? 😉

I am totally loving my insurance company right now! Even though the officer that worked my accident failed to give me the other driver’s information (ie, name and insurance), my agent got me taken care of and in a rental car in less than 2 hours after calling him! Happy to say that was the most stressful part of my day!

For breakfast this morning, I broke in my new microwave! Wha, wha…it’s about time! 😉 Honestly, I rarely ever use a microwave…hence the reason it wasn’t that much of a setback when the one in my old house died unexpectedly in November, but I couldn’t wait to try out a recipe with it this morning!

So what did I make?

Ashley’s Buckwheat Bake!

I’ve made a couple of Ashley’s buckwheat bakes before in the oven, but I was curious to see the difference in the microwaved version….although it doesn’t have the crisp crust on the outside that it gets from oven baking, it was definitely just as delicious…and FAST!

I topped my bake with shredded coconut, TJ’s Crunchy Valencia PB and some red currant jam. Two minutes in the microwave…five minutes to get in my belly! Yeah, I was HUNgry!

After some unpacking and reorganizing in the kitchen, I left the house with Andy 😉 to run a few errands. Actually, I only had one errand to run…make a deposit at the bank, but somehow I managed to find myself in Kroger only minutes later!

I went in telling myself I was only going to get some salad greens…

Yeaaaaaaaaaah, well, at least I didn’t forget the greens! 😉

I couldn’t help myself! Stonyfield yogurts were on sale for 89 cents each and Yogi teas were only $2.99! I recently had a free sample of their Ginger tea and it is by far my new favorite! This one doesn’t have that kick that most other ginger teas have!

And the chips? They were FREE! I have no idea what the promotion was, but I’ve never been one to turn down a freebie!

Check out the size of this organic lemon!

My official fruit measurement device! 😉

I actually haven’t been full-on grocery shopping yet, but the other day, I did run to the store for almond milk, coffee, apples, bananas, eggs, and salsa…all definite must-haves in my kitchen! Wait, no…actually I originally went in to the store for a shower curtain and these things just leapt into my arms (and you read that right…I carried ALL that to the register!)

Back at the casa it was more unpacking, cleaning, and organizing…such will be the story of my life from here to eternity! *weak laugh*

So, I’ve got a question for ya…

What exactly is supposed to go in this teeny tiny drawer to the left of my stove?